Self-Renewing Human Bone Marrow Mesenspheres Promote Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion.

Strategies for expanding hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) include coculture with cells that recapitulate their natural microenvironment, such as bone marrow stromal stem/progenitor cells (BMSCs). Plastic-adherent BMSCs may be insufficient to preserve primitive HSCs. Here, we describe a method of isolating and culturing human BMSCs as nonadherent mesenchymal spheres. Human mesenspheres were derived from CD45- CD31- CD71- CD146+ CD105+ nestin+ cells but could also be simply grown from fetal and adult BM CD45--enriched cells. Human mesenspheres robustly differentiated into mesenchymal lineages. In culture conditions where they displayed a relatively undifferentiated phenotype, with decreased adherence to plastic and increased self-renewal, they promoted enhanced expansion of cord blood CD34+ cells through secreted soluble factors. Expanded HSCs were serially transplantable in immunodeficient mice and significantly increased long-term human hematopoietic engraftment. These results pave the way for culture techniques that preserve the self-renewal of human BMSCs and their ability to support functional HSCs.

Particle shape and orientation in laser diffraction and static image analysis size distribution analysis of micrometer sized rectangular particles

Laser diffraction (LD) and static image analysis (SIA) of rectangular particles [United States Pharmacopeia, USP30-NF25, General Chapter <776>, Optical Miroscopy.] have been systematically studied. To rule out sample dispersion and particle orientation as the root cause of differences in size distribution profiles, we immobilize powder samples on a glass plate by means of a dry disperser. For a defined region of the glass plate, we measure the diffraction pattern as induced by the dispersed particles, and the 2D dimensions of the individual particles using LD and optical microscopy, respectively. We demonstrate a correlation between LD and SIA, with the scattering intensity of the individual particles as the dominant factor. In theory, the scattering intensity is related to the square of the projected area of both spherical and rectangular particles. In traditional LD the size distribution profile is dominated by the maximum projected area of the particles (A). The diffraction diameters of a rectangular particle with length L and breadth B as measured by the LD instrument approximately correspond to spheres of diameter ØL and ØB respectively. Differences in the scattering intensity between spherical and rectangular particles suggest that the contribution made to the overall LD volume probability distribution by each rectangular particle is proportional to A2/L and A2/B. Accordingly, for rectangular particles the scattering intensity weighted diffraction diameter (SIWDD) explains an overestimation of their shortest dimension and an underestimation of their longest dimension. This study analyzes various samples of particles whose length ranges from approximately 10 to 1000 μm. The correlation we demonstrate between LD and SIA can be used to improve validation of LD methods based on SIA data for a variety of pharmaceutical powders all with a different rectangular particle size and shape.

Adaptation and validation of the Spanish Version of the 'Survey Work-Home Interaction-NijmeGen' (SWING) to Spanish speaking countries

The purpose of this study is the adaptation and validation of the"Survey Work-Home Interaction NijmeGen" (SWING) developed by Geurts and colleagues to Spanish speaking countries (SWING-SSC). In order to analyze the questionnaire"s psychometric properties, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out with a sample of 203 employees from various Spanish-speaking countries. Criterion related validity was tested by examining correlations between the SWING-SSC, and the theoretically relevant variables: health, role conflict, role clarity and supervisor support. Finally, reliability was tested analyzing the internal consistency of the scales. The analyses carried out indicate that SWING-SSC has good psychometric properties. In addition, the present results support the relation of the construct with health, role conflict, role clarity, and supervisor support. This study offers evidence for a sound work-life balance measure that contributes to the encouragement adequate conditions in the workplace, to reduce the conflict between the two spheres of professional and personal life, and to enhance positive relationships.

Necessitats dels familiars de pacients amb càncer

El càncer produeix un impacte a la família en totes les seves esferes, la família ha de modificar les seves rutines familiars i adoptar nous rols. En el moment del diagnòstic del càncer, a cada família hi ha una persona que assumeix el rol de cuidador principal. Aquest cuidador és el que s’ocupa del malalt a casa i fa d’enllaç entre la família i l’equip sanitari. En front del càncer, la família i el cuidador tenen un conjunt de dubtes, d’inquietuds, de preocupacions que s’acaben traduint en necessitats. L’equip sanitari i Infermeria especialment ha d’atendre aquestes necessitats i ajudar a satisfer-les. Objectiu: L’objectiu principal d’aquest treball es descriure quines són les necessitats que presenten la família i el cuidador dels pacients oncològics. Metodologia: Es va dur a terme una revisió de la literatura entre setembre del 2013 i maig del 2014. Es va utilitzar la base de dades Pubmed, a més de pàgines web i llibres. Es van obtenir un total de 75 fonts, 56 en angles, 18 en espanyol i 1 en català. Resultats: La bibliografia agrupa les necessitats de les famílies i els cuidadors en 7 grans categories: físiques, psicològiques i emocionals, socials, de informació i formació, econòmiques, de transport i espirituals. Pel que fa a necessitats més especifiques, algunes de les més freqüents són tenir informació sobre el pronòstic del malalt, assegurar-se de que l’equip sanitari està donant la millor atenció possible al malalt. Sembla haver-hi una relació entre el grau de no satisfacció de les necessitats i el grau d’ansietat i depressió en la família i el cuidador. Els autors consultats no coincideixen en afirmar si la majoria del les necessitats es veuen satisfetes o no. Conclusions: La família i el cuidador d’un pacient amb càncer també han de rebre atenció per part dels professionals. En moltes ocasions la família treu importància a les seves necessitats per tal de que l’equip sanitari es centri només en el malalt. Infermeria té un paper fonamental en detectar les necessitats dels familiars i cuidadors i en ajudar a satisfer-les, de manera que la família estigui en les millors condicions possibles per cuidar del malalt. Paraules clau: Càncer, família, cuidador, necessitats familiars, rol d’Infermeria

Towards a Network Government? A critical analysis of current assessment methods for e-Government

Contemporary public administrations have become increasingly more complex, having to cordinate actions with emerging actors in the public and the private spheres. In this scenario the modern ICTs have begun to be seen as an ideal vehicle to resolve some of the problems of public administration. We argue that there is a clear need to explore the extent to which public administrations are undergoing a process of transformation towards a netowork government linked to the systematic incorporation of ICTs in their basic activities. Through critically analysing a selection of e-government evaluation reports, we conclude that research should be carried out if we are to build a solid government assessment framework based on network-like organisation characteristics.

Arqueometria ceràmica: una arqueologia ceràmica amb més informació

[spa] En el presente artículo se presentan los tres grandes ámbitos en los que se desarrolla la investigación arqueométrica sobre cerámicas: la identificación de los materiales, la proveniencia de los artefactos y la tecnología en la que se inscriben. El artículo hace una incidencia especial en aquello que se entiende por tecnología, indicando que la tecnología de producción es únicamente una parte de la misma, y que el concepto básico es el de diseño, que debe adecuarse a una multiplicidad de características de desempeño, explicadas por la cadena conductual en la cual transcurre la vida de los artefactos. Dado que las culturas se expresan por medio de artefactos, la vertiente material de éstos refleja, aunque sólo sea en parte, los compromisos que dichos artefactos tienen en las culturas en estudio. La arqueometría, con un cuerpo teórico y metodológico adaptado a la investigación de esta vertiente natural de los artefactos, aparece así como una forma complementaria de hacer arqueología y no como un campo de estudio diferenciado.

La regulación de la Administración electrónica y sus principios rectores

[spa] Actualmente, nos encontramos inmersos en un proceso de globalización y tecnificación al que las Administraciones públicas, como parte integrante de l a sociedad, no pueden permanecer ajenas. Todas las Administraciones, en sus distintos niveles y ámbitos de actuación, han introducido en su actividad las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, y han puesto en marcha un proceso transformación de carácter cultural, organizativo y jurídico que ha fructificado en un nuevo modelo de gestión de la actividad pública conocido bajo el nombre de Administración electrónica. El uso de las nuevas tecnologías y la transición de una Administración «en pa pel» a una Administración electrónica han conllevado una serie de reformas de nuestro ordenamiento jurídico: nuevas normas y reforma de otras ya existentes que regulan los aspectos técnicos derivados de la utilización de las nuevas tecnologías por parte de la Administración, así como los derechos y garantías de los que están revestidos los ciudadanos cuando se relacionan con la Administración por medios telemáticos. Con este telón de fondo, podemos definir un elenco de principios que regirán la actuación de la Administración electrónica y en los que se erigen como protagonistas aquellos que persiguen garantizar la igualdad y la no discriminación de los ciudadanos, combatiendo la denominada brecha digital.

Indicadores sociales y psicosociales de calidad de vida de las personas mayores en un municipio = Social and psychosocial quality of life indicators of older persons in a municipality

A research about the quality of life of the older persons of a municipality starting from the analysis of the perceptions, evaluations and expectations related to concrete spheres of their lives (familiar characteristics, housing, health, nearby environment, activities, needs and dependencies and persons helping them to satisfy needs) is presented. Answers to 1988 questionnaires obtained from two representative samples of older per - sons living in private homes in the city have been analysed: persons over 65 years old and a specific one composed by a sub-sample of the general one, with persons over 75 years living alone. Data shaping contextual indicators related to housing have been analysed. The auto - nomy to drive and the evaluation of on’s health seem to be positive indicators to take in account while sutying quality of life at these ages. Sentinel indicators of the physical and relational conditions in the family and indicators of dependency are analysed as well. The evaluations of the older persons about their own life conditions are also analysed through psychosocial indicators connected to housing, nearby environmenent, their activities andincomes. The results obtained are applicable in order to improve the decision making process in social intervention programmes developed in the field of ageing aiming to take into account their perspectives

El comentario de textos electrónicos = Commentary on electronic texts

When sat in front of a computer screen and keyboard, we read and write different kinds of texts (chats, blogs, websites,etc.) and do so differently (with links, photographs, icons, etc.). However, we still comment on as many texts as in the pastin both public and private spheres. After setting out some typical features of reading and writing electronic texts, we givesome examples of students' colloquial commentary out of school, list some of the commonest academic tasks and offersome ideas and make some recommendations for making progress in this field