Inventario fúngico asociado a las semillas de cultivares de cardo (Cynara cardunculus L.)

Se caracterizó la micoflora presente en las semillas de 54 cultivares de cardo cosechados entre las campañas 1992-93 y 1997-98. 10 muestras procedentes del Servicio de Investigación Agraria, finca "La orden" (Badajoz) y 44 muestras de la Unidad Docente de Botánica de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Madrid. Se analizaron un total de 4400 semillas, identificándose 15 géneros fúngicos diferentes. La presencia de los diferentes géneros varió en función de las localidades y los años de cosecha, entre la microbiota fúngica aislada cabe destacar por su potencial patogenicidad especies de los géneros Fusarium, Aspergillus y Alternaria

Determinación de la capacidad parasitaria de la microbiota fúngica y de sus extractos acuosos en las semillas de cardo (Cynara cardunculus L.)

El presente estudio evalúa el efecto que 6 diferentes géneros hongos aislados a partir de semillas de 54 diferentes cultivares de cardo y sus extractos acuosos tienen sobre la germinación y nascencia de las semillas. Se han realizado pruebas de patogenicidad con dos aislados de cada uno de los seis géneros de mayor frecuencia del inventario (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Cladosporium y Alternaria), así como de los extractos producidos tras 3, 7 y 11 días de incubación de los micetos. Los resultados de las inoculaciones con los micetos muestran efectos negativos sobre los porcentajes de germinación, con reducciones en la germinación que fueron máximas tras las inoculaciones con Rhizopus stolonifer (29% de disminución) y Fusarium verticillioides (23%). Los porcentajes de emergencia disminuyen tras duplicar la concentración del inóculo, aumentando además drásticamente el número de plántulas dañadas sobre el total de las emergidas. En el significativo caso de la inoculación con Cladosporium la duplicación del inóculo disminuyó la germinación hasta en un 31% respecto al testigo. Las plántulas emergidas tras las inoculaciones con los extractos obtenidos a partir de cultivos líquidos de los hongos ensayados presentaban los mismos síntomas de atrofias y daños sobre raíz y coleóptilo que los descritos para cada hongo. Los extractos acuosos de los géneros estudiados disminuyen también la germinación. Los resultados nos muestran la diferente capacidad parasitaria de cada una de las especies estudiadas apreciándose además diferencias según los diferentes periodos de agitación de los hongos y permiten asegurar que la producción de toxinas está regulada por el hongo, y que no aumenta linealmente con el crecimiento miceliar

Lattice gas and lattice Boltzman for spatio-temporal simulation of gases in fruit storage chambers

The benefit of controlled and modified atmospheres for extending the storage life of fruits is world wide accepted. However, there are secondary effects such as the incidence of anaerobic respiration or the off-favour occurrence which are not sufficiently known and thus controlled. This study approaches the knowledge of those secondary effects by developing a spatio temporal model gathering fluid flow phenomenon and physic and physiological processes. The lattice Boltzmann model used as framework for mimicking the fluid flow shows to be a very flexible tool which reproduces complex macroscopic behaviours on a down up strategy better than Lattice Gas Cellular Automata (LGCA

The mechanism of silver(I) oxide formation on polycrystalline silver in alkaline solution. Determination of nucleation and growth rates

The nucleation and growth of Ag(I) oxide layers on polycrystalline Ag electrodes is studied by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic current transients in 0.1 M NaOH. A model involving the diffusion controlled growth of a basal layer followed by the nucleation and growth of a secondary layer is proposed. Various nucleation parameters are estimated by comparing experimental data with simulated transients, and the results are discussed in terms of the atomistic theory of electrochemical phase formation. The influence of the nucleation parameters on the shape of the current transients is analysed and some controversial results in the literature are explained.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y AplicadasFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

The mechanism of silver(I) oxide formation on polycrystalline silver in alkaline solution. Determination of nucleation and growth rates

The nucleation and growth of Ag(I) oxide layers on polycrystalline Ag electrodes is studied by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic current transients in 0.1 M NaOH. A model involving the diffusion controlled growth of a basal layer followed by the nucleation and growth of a secondary layer is proposed. Various nucleation parameters are estimated by comparing experimental data with simulated transients, and the results are discussed in terms of the atomistic theory of electrochemical phase formation. The influence of the nucleation parameters on the shape of the current transients is analysed and some controversial results in the literature are explained.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y AplicadasFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

Eye movements as a predictor of preference for progressive power lenses

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is any correlation between the characteristics of the user’s eye movements (EMs) and the preference of the user when wearing different Progressive power lenses (PPLs) distributions. An eye-tracker system with a sample rate of 120Hz and temporal resolution of 8.3ms (Tobii-X3-120) was used to register EMs of 38 PPL users when reading in a computer screen with 2 types of PPLs (PPL-soft and PPL-hard). Number of fixations, complete fixation time, fixation duration mean, saccade duration mean, saccade distance mean, and number of regressions were analyzed for 6 different regions of the computer screen. A statistically significant difference was observed between the characteristics of the user’s EMs and the user’s PPL subjective preference (p<0.05*). Subjects that preferred the PPL-hard presented significantly lower complete fixation time, lower fixation duration mean and lower number of regressions than those subjects indicating a preference for the PPL-soft. Results of this study suggest that eye-tracking systems can be used as PPL design recommendation systems according to the user EMs performance

Aplicação da metodologia de avaliação de impacto na saúde. Experiência na análise da fluoretação da água de consumo humano na Comunidade Autónoma do País Vasco

Introduction: There is currently a controversy about the appropriateness of the addition of fluoride to drinking water. The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a combination of methods and tools by means of which a proposal can be evaluated with respect to its effects on the health of the population and the distribution of such effects on it.Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of applying the HIA methodology in view of the proposal to review the appropriateness of maintaining the fluoridation of drinking water in the Basque Country at current concentrations.Method: We have applied the classic stages of the HIA methodology: screening , design and planning, the evaluation proper, and drafting the report on impacts and recommendations.Results: We have identified positive and negative impacts with regard to maintaining the current oral health policy or chaning it. The negative impacts are primarily related to a lack of care of and information to vulnerable sectors of the population, particularly those living in more deprived areas. The positive impacts are related to personal responsibility and education. We have made recommendations to minimize the negative impacts and inequalities.Conclusions: The HIA methodology is a useful tool for assessing the desirability of maintaining health policies that were needed at a given time and especially in those in which the socio-economic inequalities are crucial in their implementation.Introducción: En la actualidad existe controversia sobre la conveniencia de la aplicación de flúor en el agua de consumo. La Evaluación del Impacto en Salud es una combinación de procedimientos y herramientas mediante la cual una propuesta puede ser evaluada en relación con sus efectos sobre la salud de la población y la distribución de tales efectos sobre la misma.Objetivo: Evaluar la utilidad de aplicar la metodología de la Evaluación del Impacto en Salud ante la propuesta de revisión de la conveniencia de mantener la fluoración del agua de consumo de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco (CAPV) en las concentraciones actuales.Método: Se han aplicado las etapas clásicas de la metodología EIS: cribado, diseño y planificación, evaluación propiamente dicha y redacción del informe sobre impactos y recomendaciones.Resultado: Se han identificado impactos negativos y positivos para el mantenimiento de la actual política de salud bucodental y también para el cambio. Los impactos negativos se relacionan principalmente con la falta de atención e información de sectores vulnerables de la población, principalmente los de zonas más deprimidas. Los impactos positivos se relacionan con la responsabilidad individual y la educación. Se han elaborado recomendaciones para minimizar las desigualdades y los impactos negativos.Conclusiones: La metodología EIS es una herramienta útil para evaluar la conveniencia de mantener políticas sanitarias que fueron necesarias en un momento determinado y sobre todo en aquellas en las que las desigualdades socio económicas son decisivas en su implementación.Introdução: Existe atualmente uma controvérsia acerca da adequação da aplicação de flúor na água de consumo humano. A Avaliação de Impacto na Saúde (AIS) é uma combinação de procedimentos e ferramentas, através da qual uma proposta pode ser avaliada na relação com os seus efeitos, sobre a saúde da população e distribuição de tais efeitos sobre a mesma.Objetivo: Avaliar a utilidade da aplicação da metodologia de Avaliação de Impacto na Saúde, perante a proposta de revisão da conveniência de manter a fluoretação da água de consumo humano da Comunidade Autónoma do País Vasco (CCAPV) nas concentrações atuais.Método: Foram aplicadas as etapas clássicas da metodologia AIS: triagem, desenho e planeamento, a avaliação propriamente dita e a elaboração do relatório sobre impactos e recomendações.Resultados: Foram identificados impactos negativos e positivos para a manutenção da atual política de saúde oral e também para a mudança da mesma. Os impactos negativos relacionaram-se principalmente com a falta de atenção e informação nas populações mais vulneráveis, principalmente nas zonas mais deprimidas. Os impactos positivos estão relacionados com a responsabilidade individual e a educação. Elaborou-se um conjunto de recomendações que visam minimizar as desigualdades e os impactos negativos.Conclusões: A metodologia AIS é uma ferramenta útil para avaliar a conveniência de manter políticas sanitárias que se mostraram necessárias num determinado momento e sobretudo, naquelas em que as desigualdades socioeconómicas são decisivas para a sua implementação

The mechanism of silver(I) oxide formation on polycrystalline silver in alkaline solution. Determination of nucleation and growth rates

The nucleation and growth of Ag(I) oxide layers on polycrystalline Ag electrodes is studied by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic current transients in 0.1 M NaOH. A model involving the diffusion controlled growth of a basal layer followed by the nucleation and growth of a secondary layer is proposed. Various nucleation parameters are estimated by comparing experimental data with simulated transients, and the results are discussed in terms of the atomistic theory of electrochemical phase formation. The influence of the nucleation parameters on the shape of the current transients is analysed and some controversial results in the literature are explained.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y AplicadasFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

Evaluación del impacto en la formación continua del docente en innovaciones de estilos de vida saludable en Barranquilla, Colombia

Introduction: The impact of the training of primary teachers of a program for the adoption of innovations in health to prevent and / or control childhood obesity in 17 primary schools in Barranquilla (Colombia) was evaluated, using the Kirpatrick 4-Level Model. Materials and methods: The type of study is a retrospective cohort. The population was made up of 120 elementary school teachers from 13 public schools. A questionnaire was applied to evaluate the impact on satisfaction. For the impacts on learning, behaviour and results, the interview, and the development of demonstrations of knowledge and skills during the training sessions were used. Results: About 90% of the participants rated their satisfaction as "High" or "Very high". 89.10% asked that the educational program continue. Learning, measured in knowledge and skills; and attitude, measured in commitment, availability, and trust, had scores higher than 4.5 (scale from 1 to 5) in 73.5% of the participants in both categories. The impact of the results in the organization showed an increase in physical activity in 100.0% of the institutions while the incorporation of nutritional education in 61.5%. Discussion and conclusions: The application of the Kirpatrick model made it possible to determine the value generated by the training and estimate the return on expectations (ROE), while providing new elements that help to understand how innovations were being adopted. The study allowed us to ponder, not only to what extent the training impacted the level of learning, but also how this influenced the teacher\u27s initial perception - according to which overweight and childhood obesity were basically the competence of the health sector - and then acquire a meaning for them closely linked to the academic training of primary school children, and easy to apply.  Introducción: Se evaluó el impacto de la formación de docentes de primaria de un programa de adopción de innovaciones en salud para prevenir y/o controlar obesidad infantil en 17 escuelas de primaria de Barranquilla (Colombia), utilizando el Modelo de 4 Niveles de Kirpatrick. Materiales y métodos: El tipo de estudio es de cohorte retrospectivo. La población estuvo integrada por 120 docentes de básica primaria de 13 escuelas públicas. Se aplicó un cuestionario para evaluar el impacto en la satisfacción. Para los impactos en el aprendizaje, en el comportamiento y en los resultados se utilizó la entrevista y el desarrollo de demostraciones de conocimientos y habilidades durante las sesiones de formación. Resultados: Cerca del 90% de los participantes valoró su satisfacción de “Alto” o “Muy alto”. El 89,10% pidió que el programa educativo continúe.  El aprendizaje, medido en conocimiento y habilidades; y la actitud, medida en compromiso, disponibilidad y confianza, tuvo valoraciones superiores a 4,5 (escala de 1 a 5) en 73,5% de los participantes en ambas categorías. El impacto de resultados en la organización mostró un incremento de la actividad física en el 100,0% de las instituciones mientras la incorporación de educación nutricional en un 61.5%. Discusión y conclusiones: La aplicación del modelo Kirpatrick permitió determinar el valor que generó la formación y estimar el retorno de las expectativas (ROE), al tiempo que proporcionó nuevos elementos que ayudan a comprender cómo fueron adoptándose las innovaciones. El estudio permitió ponderar, no sólo hasta dónde la formación impactó el nivel de aprendizaje, sino cómo este influenció la percepción inicial del docente – según la cual el sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil eran básicamente competencia del sector salud- para luego adquirir para ellos un significado muy ligado a la formación académica de niños de primaria, y de fácil aplicación

The Loss of Functional Caspase-12 in Europe Is a Pre-Neolithic Event

Contains fulltext : 109878.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Caspase-12 (CASP12) modulates the susceptibility to sepsis. In humans, the "C" allele at CASP12 rs497116 has been associated with an increased risk of sepsis. Instead, the derived "T" allele encodes for an inactive caspase-12. Interestingly, Eurasians are practically fixed for the inactive variant, whereas in Sub-Saharan Africa the active variant is still common (~24%). This marked structure has been explained as a function of the selective advantage that the inactive caspase-12 confers by increasing resistance to infection. As regards to both when positive selection started acting and as to the speed with which fixation was achieved in Eurasia, estimates depend on the method and assumptions used, and can vary substantially. Using experimental evidence, we propose that, least in Eurasia, the increase in the frequency of the T allele might be related to the selective pressure exerted by the increase in zoonotic diseases transmission caused by the interplay between increased human population densities and a closer contact with animals during the Neolithic. METHODOLOG/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We genotyped CASP12 rs497116 in prehistoric individuals from 6 archaeological sites from the North of the Iberian Peninsula that date from Late Upper Paleolithic to Late Neolithic. DNA extraction was done from teeth lacking cavities or breakages using standard anti-contamination procedures, including processing of the samples in a positive pressure, ancient DNA-only chamber, quantitation of DNAs by qPCR, duplication, replication, genotyping of associated animals, or cloning of PCR products. Out of 50, 24 prehistoric individuals could finally be genotyped for rs497116. Only the inactive form of CASP12 was found. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrate that the loss of caspase-12 in Europe predates animal domestication and that consequently CASP12 loss is unlikely to be related to the impact of zoonotic infections transmitted by livestock