Collagen cross-linking: Strengthening the unstable cornea

Corneal ectasia, a weakening of corneal integrity, occurs both due to acquired and congenital conditions such as keratoconus. It is a progressing condition that affects both visual acuity, and corneal stability. Various methods exist for correcting this impairment, however none address the inherit pathology, an increase laxity of the corneal stroma. Collagen cross-linking, a new, minimally invasive method, aims to strengthen the stroma by inducing cross links between neighboring collagen fibers. This method results in an increase in corneal tensile strength, with no medium term adverse effects on its normal architecture. Clinically, treated patients display improvement in both visual acuity and keratometric readings. This method may provide clinicians with easily accessible tools to stop the progression, and even correct visual deterioration due to corneal ectasia. Here we review the current information regarding this new method, as well as discuss its potential benefits and downfalls

La investigación como medio de planificacón participativa ciudadana

The following research article aims to raise awareness about the underlining urgency to guarantee that throughout the entire planning process for local development, the decision-making responsibility is shared between citizens and municipalities, ensuring that adapted progress sustaining decisions are based on public knowledge of various factors studied by carrying out research, in order to solve local problems in a specific community. Ordinarily, research is the basis of discovery; it is the rational path to understand the reasons of the presence of certain phenomena, using different methodologies that have allowed scientific progress in every domain. This suggests that social development planning, and all decisions that are the prerogative of municipalities, must likewise be based on methodological studies of a scientific nature, that must assure these decisions are best suited for the social environment. In such respect, this article includes themes related to research and its importance in making decisions for a set of individuals, based on their knowledge of scientific research development, can achieve very sharp planning that is adapted to their reality and allows community participation in the creation of new fact based and proper decision-making, making it a truly participatory and responsible citizen.El siguiente trabajo tiene como propésito, generar conciencia participativa acerca de la urgencia de involucrar, dentro de todo proceso de planificacion para el desarrollo, a los ciudadanos. Trata que los ciudadanos en corresponsabilidad con sus municipios, tomen decisiones idéneas para impulsar el progreso de sus territories. Se plantea que los problemas de determinada comunidad sean resueltos en función de estudios con rigurosa implementación investigativa. La investigación se ha transformado en la herramienta para el descubrimiento de nuevo conocimiento, a través de ella se puede conocer el porqué de la presencia de ciertos fenomenos. Utilizando diferentes metodologías se ha permitido el avance cientifico en todas las áreas, lo que lleva a pensar, que la planificación del desarrollo social, circunscrito a las decisiones que realizan los municipios, debe basarse en estudios metodológicos con rigor científico. Esto permitirá que las decisiones sean las mas adecuadas para el entorno social. El presente artículo recoge temas relacionados a la investigación y su importancia en la toma de decisiones para un conjunto de individuos que, en función de su conocimiento de metolog´ía científica, pueden lograr una planificación más cercana a las características de su realidad, permite la participacion de una comunidad para la generación de nuevo conocimiento y la adecuada toma de decisiones, convirtiéndole en un verdadero ciudadano participativo y responsable

El tiempo como magnitud lógica que determina la constitución del sujeto del inconsciente y que hace posible el dispositivo psicoanalítico y su clínica.

Considerar al tiempo como magnitud lógica que opera en la constitución del psiquismo refuerza el descubrimiento del inconsciente freudiano y lo ubica como el axioma que lo anima. Reconocer cómo ello se revela como una constante en el cuerpo teórico freudiano, apertura nuevos modos de pensar la teoría y la práctica del psicoanálisis, que acaso ayuden a com- prender el malestar actual d e la cultura de forma más precisa. Para ello se leerán tres de las principales obras de Sigmund Freud; también se ofrecerá una lectura de la gran obra de Sófocles, Edipo rey, para demostrar que ella es una advertencia sobre lo que puede ocurrir si se infr inge n los edictos lógicos que marca el tiempo como límites de la existencia humana. Todo esto ha de resultar en la probatoria de que el tiempo es la medida funda- mental del psiquismo que no puede eludirse en los tratamientos de la teoría y la clínica psicoa nalítica. Las implicaciones prácticas de una investiga- ción como la presente son importantes, pues el síntoma pensado como modalidad lógica de habitar el tiempo permite que se acoja las demandas de aquellos que han sido defraudados por las promesas de l bienestar inter- minable que supondría vivir por fuera de aquel.Time considered as a logical magnitude that intervenes in the constitution of the psyche reinforce s the discovery of the Freudian unconscious and places it as the axiom which sustains it. To recognize how it reveals as a constant throughout Sigmund Freud’s body of work, opens new ways in which to ponder the theory and the practice of psychoanalysis, wh ich may also help to comprehend today’s society discontent more accurately. To that purpose, three of the Freud’s main works will be read. Furthermore, a novel interpretation of the great tragedy of Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, will be offered, in order to demo nstrate that it is a warning about that which will happen if the logical mandates that time dictates as limits of the hu- man existence are infringed. All these should converge to prove that time is the most fundamental way to measure the psychic realm which cannot be discarded when handling the psychoanalytical theory and clinical prac- tice. The clinical implications of thesis like the one here offered have value given that the symptom seen through the lenses of time helps to heed the symptom of those deceiv ed by the fraudulent promises of a never ending well being

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important link in the apoptotic pathway induced by hyperglycemia in Y79 retinoblastoma cell line

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) expression was found to be induced in the mammalian CNS, including the retina, by different types of stress leading to cellular apoptosis. Here, we tested possible involvement of AChE in hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis in a retinal cell line. Y79 retinoblastoma cells were incubated in starvation media (1% FBS and 1 mg/ml glucose) for 16–24 h, and then exposed to hyperglycemic environment by raising extracellular glucose concentrations to a final level of 3.5 mg/ml or 6 mg/ml. Similar levels of mannitol were used as control for hyperosmolarity. Cells were harvested at different time intervals for analysis of apoptosis and AChE protein expression. Apoptosis was detected by the cleavage of Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) using western blot, and by Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. AChE protein expression and activity was detected by western blot and by the Karnovsky and Roots method, respectively. MissionTM shRNA for AChE was used to inhibit AChE protein expression. Treating Y79 cells with 3.5 mg/ml of glucose, but not with 3.5 mg/ml mannitol, induced apoptosis which was confirmed by TUNEL assay and by cleavage of PARP. A part of the signaling pathway accompanying the apoptotic process involved up-regulation of the AChE-R variant and an N-extended AChE variant as verified at the mRNA and protein level. Inhibition of AChE protein expression by shRNA protected Y79 cell from entering the apoptotic pathway. Our data suggest that expression of an N-extended AChE variant, most probably an R isoform, is involved in the apoptotic pathway caused by hyperglycemia in Y79 cells

Experiencia de Capacitaciones sobre el Comercio Justo y Normas Agrícolas en Santa Elena, Ecuador

This article, derived from the project called “Training and support for Fair Trade certification and the application of standards in agricultural-based production in the communes of Manglaralto and Colonche, province of Santa Elena, Ecuador”. In the agricultural production sector of the province of Santa Elena, as in all production, there are risks of not complying with current regulations; These risks can range from the exclusion of access to certain markets, to the fine for non-compliance with labor standards, to being sued in cases of physical harm caused to a person in the absence of safety standards, to the seizure of agricultural production in case of severe infractions and even imprisonment in some cases. The project aimed to make accessible to agricultural producers in Santa Elena, and to the applicable laws in their sector, guiding them towards legal compliance, informing them of the steps they can follow for homologation, and providing advice on how to avoid the state of non-compliance of such regulations, where the entire certification process is online.El presente artículo, derivado del proyecto llamado “Formación y apoyo a la certificación Comercio Justo y la aplicación de normas en la producción de base agrícola en las comunas de Manglaralto y Colonche, provincia de Santa Elena, Ecuador”. En el sector de la producción agrícola de la provincia de Santa Elena, como en toda producción, existen riesgos de no cumplir con las normas vigentes; estos riesgos pueden ir desde la exclusión del acceso a ciertos mercados, a la multa por no cumplimiento de normas laborales, a ser demandados en casos de daños físicos causados a una persona en la ausencia de normas de seguridad, hasta la incautación de la producción agrícola en caso de infracciones severas e inclusive encarcelamiento en algunos casos. El proyecto apuntaba a tornar accesible a los productores agrícolas de Santa Elena, y a las leyes aplicables en su sector, guiándoles hacia el cumplimiento legal, informándoles de los pasos que pueden seguir para la homologación, y brindar la asesoría sobre cómo evitar el estado de incumplimiento de tales regulaciones, donde todo el proceso de certificación está en línea

Condiciones socioeconómicas de la Asociación “Tierra de Dios” consecuentes de la agricultura, La Libertad 2021

The importance of this research lies in establishing a broader picture of the socioeconomic conditions of small agricultural producers so that they can take corrective actions within their agricultural production processes and these allow them to improve their living conditions. The main objective of this research is to analyze the theoretical socioeconomic aspects related to agriculture and to interpret how its productive activities have contributed to improving its socioeconomic conditions. According to the above, the research is descriptive and quantitative in scope, measurable data was obtained that was statistically analyzed for a better understanding of the socioeconomic conditions of the study subject and how these were the result of their agricultural processes. Regarding the study subjects, a total of 30 members of the Association of Autonomous Agricultural Workers "Tierra de Dios" were included for the collection of information, which was established to be carried out through a census. In conclusion, the socioeconomic aspects were reflected in the main difficulties they presented; Insufficient means of production, difficulties in accessing microcredit and poor marketing channels for their products constitute limitations for the socioeconomic development of the association's small agricultural producers. Keywords: socio-economic analysis, agriculture.La importancia de esta investigación radica en establecer un panorama más amplio sobre las condiciones socioeconómicas de los pequeños productores agrícolas para que puedan tomar acciones correctivas dentro de sus procesos productivos y éstos, les permitan mejorar sus condiciones de vida. El principal objetivo de esta investigación es analizar los aspectos teóricos socioeconómicos relacionados con la agricultura e interpretar de qué manera sus actividades productivas han contribuido a mejorar sus condiciones socioeconómicas. De acuerdo con lo anterior, la investigación es de tipo cuantitativo con alcance descriptivo, donde se obtuvieron datos medibles que fueron analizados estadísticamente para una mejor comprensión de las condiciones socioeconómicas del sujeto de estudio y cómo éstas fueron resultado de sus procesos agrícolas. Respecto a los datos, un total de 30 miembros de la Asociación de Trabajadores Agrícolas Autónomos “Tierra de Dios” fueron incluidos para el levantamiento de información, mismo que se estableció que fuera realizado mediante un censo. A manera de conclusión, los aspectos socioeconómicos se vieron reflejados en las principales dificultades que presentaban; insuficientes medios de producción, las dificultades para acceso a microcréditos e inadecuados canales comercialización de sus productos, que constituyen limitantes para el desarrollo socioeconómico de los pequeños productores agrícolas de la asociación. Palabras claves: análisis socioeconómico, agricultura. ABSTRACT The importance of this research lies in establishing a broader picture of the socioeconomic conditions of small agricultural producers so that they can take corrective actions within their agricultural production processes and these allow them to improve their living conditions. The main objective of this research is to analyze the theoretical socioeconomic aspects related to agriculture and to interpret how its productive activities have contributed to improving its socioeconomic conditions. According to the above, the research is descriptive and quantitative in scope, measurable data was obtained that was statistically analyzed for a better understanding of the socioeconomic conditions of the study subject and how these were the result of their agricultural processes. Regarding the study subjects, a total of 30 members of the Association of Autonomous Agricultural Workers "Tierra de Dios" were included for the collection of information, which was established to be carried out through a census. In conclusion, the socioeconomic aspects were reflected in the main difficulties they presented; Insufficient means of production, difficulties in accessing microcredit and poor marketing channels for their products constitute limitations for the socioeconomic development of the association's small agricultural producers. Keywords: socio-economic analysis, agriculture. Información del manuscrito:Fecha de recepción: 01 de diciembre de 2021.Fecha de aceptación: 27 de diciembre de 2021.Fecha de publicación: 06 de enero de 2022

Evaluación de la pérdida de cohesión debido a la humedad en las mezclas asfálticas.

Uno de los problemas que más impacta el comportamiento de las mezclas asfálticas en los pavimentos de carreteras es el daño por el agua, en el presente trabajo se realiza un análisis de la pérdida de cohesión debido al efecto de la humedad en mezclas para capas de rodadura producidas con agregados de composiciones diferentes, evaluada a partir de la resistencia retenida en pruebas de compresión y corte directo con y sin inmersión en agua. Se seleccionaron 9 tipos de agregados de calidad variable empleando la misma exigencia granulométrica y porcentajes de asfaltos variables, buscando alcanzar un porcentaje de vacíos próximo al 7%.Los resultados obtenidos en ambos ensayos tienen tendencia parecida respecto a la pérdida de cohesión, aunque en general los valores obtenidos en la resistencia retenida a cortante son menores. El peor comportamiento atendiendo a las rocas estudiadas lo generan la Argilita y la Lutita aunque según la prueba de corte también se pudieran incluir la Pizarra y el Basalto 1.One of the problems that most impacts the behavior of asphalt mixtures in road pavements is the damage by water, in the present work an analysis of the loss of cohesion due to the effect of moisture in mixtures for road layers is performed produced with aggregates of different compositions, evaluated from the resistance retained in compression tests and direct cutting with and without immersion in water. 9 types of variable quality aggregates were selected using the same granulometric requirement and percentages of variable asphalts, seeking to reach a percentage of gaps close to 7%. The results obtained in both tests have a similar tendency with respect to the loss of cohesion, although in general the values obtained in the resistance retained to shear are lower. The worst behavior according to the studied rocks is generated by Argilite and Shale, although according to the cutting test the Slate and Basalt 1 could also be included