Els cultius in vitro i el desenvolupament vegetal

Biotecnologia Vegetal de materials de treball que incorporin les TICs. El material elaborat ha estat un llibre electr��nic utilitzable tant on-line (web) com off-line (CD). Els materials generats com a resultes d���aquest projecte han estat situats en un servidor de la UdL accessible des de l���exterior de la Universitat. Aquest llibre electr��nic ��s d���acc��s obert i es pot consultar on-line a l���URL (http://sakai.udl.es/cursos/76304/indexC.htm). El llibre electr��nic cont�� un total de 98 Mb d���informaci�� hiperm��dia i hipertexual distribu��da en m��s de 380 arxius dels quals 50 s��n p��gines html, 10 arxius doc, 10 arxius pdf, 258 imatges fixes i 8 arxius de v��deo en format flash (swf). L���acc��s al llibre electr��nic es realitza a trav��s d���una pantalla inicial que d��na pas a un men�� que distribueix els materials en 7 apartats. Els textos estan acompanyats de gran quantitat d���imatges fotogr��fiques, gr��fics, esquemes, imatges infogr��fiques i videoclips generats de novo per aquest projecte. En dissenyar la web s���han tingut en compte criteris de confiabilitat, accessibilitat i usabilitat. El primer disseny de la web ha estat validat per un panel d���usuaris i utilitzat posteriorment amb alumnes durant el curs 2007-2008. Les observacions i suggeriments fets per aquests ja han estat incorporats en aquest document final. Una primera enquesta de satisfacci�� realitzada amb aquest alumnat permet concloure, a t��tol provisional donat lo redu��t de la poblaci�� enquestada, que l���alumnat mostra un grau de coneixement de les eines TIC suficient i que consideren positiva la incorporaci�� de materials multim��dia com a recurs educatiu. A m��s a m��s, la realitzaci�� d���aquest projecte i la seva aplicaci�� a l���aula ha estat presentada en dues pon��ncies al ���Congreso Internacional de Docencia y Innovaci��n Universitaria���.

Peer-Practual: una tutoria entre iguals interprofessional als estudis de magisteri i psicopedagogia

Es presenten els resultats d���un projecte d���innovaci�� did��ctica consistent en la realitzaci�� conjunta de pr��ctiques professionals entre estudiants de Magisteri d���educaci�� Infantil i Educaci�� Prim��ria, i estudiants de Psicopedagogia. Aquests estudiants van treballar en parelles i van realitzar un conjunt d���activitats, pr��pies de les seves futures funcions professionals, amb el suport del company. Concretament la pr��ctica va consistir en la planificaci��, desenvolupament i avaluaci�� d���una unitat did��ctica sobre un tema curricular. Mentre l���estudiant de Magisteri preparava els materials i activitats corresponents, la seva parella, l���estudiant de Psicopedagogia, l���assessorava en cada una de les fases d���instauraci��. Per afavorir aquesta din��mica, els estudiants van comptar en diferents suports i instruments: - Els tutors de la universitat, corresponents a cadascun dels estudis implicats, - Una plataforma Moodle espec��ficament organitzada per tal que els estudiants poguessin analitzar tot el proc��s conjuntament. En aquest espai podien utilitzar des de recursos per a la programaci�� de la unitat, eines per realitzar un diari personal, un calendari d���activitats conjuntes o esquemes gr��fics, fins a altres per editar v��deos gravats de les sessions de classe i per afavorir la seva comunicaci��. El projecte pretenia contribuir a millorar, tant algunes compet��ncies professionals relatives ambd��s tipus d���estudiants, com modificar determinades concepcions i actituds entre mestres i psicopedagogs. Els resultats mostren que ambd��s objectius van esser assolits amb escreix i que, a m��s d���aprendre determinades compet��ncies professionals, certs prejudicis i actituds sobre les dificultats i inter��s de treballar am altre, es van eliminar de manera contundent.

Improvement in coronary circulatory function in morbidly obese individuals after gastric bypass-induced weight loss: relation to alterations in endocannabinoids and adipocytokines.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of surgical gastric bypass-induced weight loss and related alterations in endocannabinoids (ECs) and adipocytokine plasma levels on coronary circulatory dysfunction in morbidly obese (MOB) individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS: Myocardial blood flow (MBF) responses to cold pressor test (CPT) from rest (&#916;MBF) and during pharmacologically induced hyperaemia were measured with &supl;��N-ammonia PET/CT in 18 MOB individuals with a body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m�� at baseline and after a median follow-up period of 22 months. Gastric bypass intervention decreased BMI from a median of 44.8 (inter-quartile range: 43.3, 48.2) to 30.8 (27.3, 34.7) kg/m�� (P < 0.0001). This decrease in BMI was accompanied by a marked improvement in endothelium-related &#916;MBF to CPT and hyperaemic MBFs, respectively [0.34 (0.18, 0.41) from 0.03 (-0.08, 0.15) mL/g/min, P = 0.002; and 2.51 (2.17, 2.64) from 1.53 (1.39, 2.18) mL/g/min, P < 0.001]. There was an inverse correlation between decreases in plasma concentrations of the EC anandamide and improvement in &#916;MBF to CPT (r = -0.59, P = 0.009), while increases in adiponectin plasma levels correlated positively with hyperaemic MBFs (r = 0.60, P = 0.050). Conversely, decreases in leptin plasma concentrations were not observed to correlate with the improvement in coronary circulatory function (r = 0.22, P = 0.400, and r = -0.31, P = 0.250). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric bypass-related reduction of BMI in MOB individuals beneficially affects coronary circulatory dysfunction. The dysbalance between ECs and adipocytokines appears to be an important determinant of coronary circulatory function in obesity.

Pelvic organ prolapse surgery with and without tension-free vaginal tape in women with occult or asymptomatic urodynamic stress incontinence: a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: We set out to determine if insertion of a retropubic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) sling at the time of pelvic organ prolapse surgery improves continence outcomes in women with pre-operative occult stress incontinence (OSI) or asymptomatic urodynamic stress incontinence (USI). METHODS: We conducted a randomised controlled study of prolapse surgery with or without a TVT midurethral sling. The pre- and post-operative assessment at 6��months included history, physical examination and urodynamic testing. Quality of life (QOL) and treatment success was assessed with the UDI-6 SF, IIQ-7 SF and a numerical success score. The primary outcome was symptomatic stress urinary incontinence (SUI) requiring continence surgery (TVT) at 6��months. Long-term follow-up continued to a minimum of 24��months. Secondary outcomes were quality of life parameters. RESULTS: Eighty women received prolapse surgery alone (n&#8201;=&#8201;43) or prolapse surgery with concurrent TVT (n&#8201;=&#8201;37). Six months following prolapse surgery 3 out of 43 (7��%) patients in the no TVT group requested sling surgery compared with 0 out of 37 (0��%) in the TVT group (ARR 7��% [95��%CI: 3 to 19��%], p&#8201;=&#8201;0.11). After 24��months there was one further participant in the no TVT group who received a TVT for treatment of SUI compared with none in the TVT group (4 out of 43, 9.3��% versus 0 out of 37; ARR 9.3��% [95��%CI: -1 to 22��%], p&#8201;=&#8201;0.06). Both groups showed improvement in QOL difference scores for within-group analysis, without difference between groups. CONCLUSION: These results support a policy that routine insertion of a sling in women with OSI at the time of prolapse repair is questionable and should be subject to shared decision-making between clinician and patient.

Temporary caval stenting improves venous drainage during cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVES: Assess the benefit of temporary caval stenting for remote venous drainage during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Temporary caval stenting was realized in bovine experiments (65+/-6 kg) by the means of self-expanding (18F for insertion, 36F in situ) venous cannulas (Smartcanula LLC, Lausanne, Switzerland) with various lengths: 43 cm, 53 cm, 63 cm vs. a standard 28F wire armed cannula in trans-jugular fashion. Maximal blood flows were assessed for 20, 25 and 30 mmHg of driving pressure with a motorized table height adjustment system. In addition, the inferior caval diameters (just above its bifurcation) were measured in real time with intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS). RESULTS: Venous drainage (flow in l/min) at 20 mmHg, 25 mmHg, and 30 mmHg drainage load was 3.5+/-0.5, 3.7+/-0.7 and 4.0+/-0.6 for the 28F standard vs. 4.1+/-0.7, 4.0+/-1.3 and 3.9+/-1.1 for the 36F smart 43 cm, vs. 5.0+/-0.7, 5.3+/-1.3 and 5.4+/-1.4 for the 36F smart 53 cm, vs. 5.2+/-0.5*, 5.6+/-1.1* and 5.8+/-1.0* for the 36F smart 63 cm. The inferior vena caval diameters at 30 mmHg were 13.5+/-4.8 mm for 28F standard, 11.1+/-3.6 for 36F smart 43 cm, 11.3+/-3.2 for 36F 53 cm, and 17.0+/-0.1* for 36F 63 cm (*P&lt;0.05 for 28F standard vs. 36F smart 63 cm long) CONCLUSIONS: The 43 cm self-expanding 36F smartcanula outperforms the 28F standard wire armed cannula at low drainage pressures and without augmentation. Temporary caval stenting with long self-expanding venous cannulas provides even better drainage (+51%).

Efecto de la deshabituaci��n tab��quica sobre la tensi��n arterial y los par��metros de rigidez arterial

Los estudios que relacionan el abandono del tabaco con los par��metros de rigidez arterial son escasos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es analizar el efecto del abandono del tabaco sobre la tensi��n arterial, la frecuencia cardiaca y los par��metros de rigidez arterial. Realizamos un estudio prospectivo de seguimiento en un grupo de fumadores activos que inician deshabituaci��n tab��quica. A los 3 meses se obtuvo una mejor��a en la presi��n arterial y el ��ndice de aumento. A los 12 meses de seguimiento el n��mero de pacientes es escaso pero se mantiene una tendencia a la mejor��a. En los que continuaron fumando no se observaron cambios.

Entorns col���laboratius virtuals as��ncrons basats en Web i enfocats en la gesti�� del coneixement = Web-based Asynchronous Collaborative Environments Focused on Knowledge Management

Report for the scientific sojourn at the University of California at Berkeley, USA, from september 2007 until july 2008. Communities of Learning Practice is an innovative paradigm focused on providing appropriate technological support to both formal and especially informal learning groups who are chiefly formed by non-technical people and who lack of the necessary resources to acquire such systems. Typically, students who are often separated by geography and/or time have the need to meet each other after classes in small study groups to carry out specific learning activities assigned during the formal learning process. However, the lack of suitable and available groupware applications makes it difficult for these groups of learners to collaborate and achieve their specific learning goals. In addition, the lack of democratic decision-making mechanisms is a main handicap to substitute the central authority of knowledge presented in formal learning.

Pork Value Chains: A Comparison of Catalonia, Spain and Manitoba, Canada

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of pork value chains in Catalonia, Spain and Manitoba, Canada. Intensive hog production models were implemented in Catalonia in the 1960s as a result of agriculture crises and fostered by feedstuffs factories. The expansion of the hog sector in Manitoba is more recent (in the 1990s) and brought about in large part by the opening of the Maple Leaf Meats processing plant in Brandon, Manitoba. This plant is capable of processing 90,000 hogs per week. Both hog production models ��� the ���older��� one in Catalonia (Spain) and the ���newer��� in Manitoba��� have been, until recently, examples of success. Inventories and production have been increasing substantially and both regions have proven to have great export potential. Recently, however, tensions have been developing with the hog production models of both regions, particularly as they relate to environmental concerns. The purpose of the paper is to compare the value chains with respect to their origins (e.g. supply a growing demand for pork, ensure farm profitability) and present states (e.g. environmental concerns, profitability). Keywords: pork value chain, hog farms, agri���food studies. JEL: Q10, Q13, O57

Fortificaciones fenicio-p��nicas de la isla de Cerde��a

Investigaci��n producida a partir de una estancia en la Universit�� degli studi di Sassari entre julio y diciembre de 2007. Se han investigado las fortificaciones fenicio-p��nicas de la isla de Cerde��a. Tambi��n se ha realizado labor de investigaci��n a nivel bibliogr��fico en diferentes bibliotecas de Cerde��a. Los resultados obtenidos han mostrado una imagen totalmente diferente sobre las fortificaciones fenicio-p��nicas de Cerde��a. La gran mayor��a de los vestigios estudiados han resultado ser de ��poca romana o pertenecer a estructuras arquitect��nicas que no tiene una funci��n defensiva. Estos resultados hacen que cambie totalmente la visi��n sobre la presencia militar cartaginesas en la isla, en especial sobre la conquista y el control de la misma.

Etiolog��a y evoluci��n a largo plazo de la hemoptisis amenazante en un hospital universitario.

La hemoptisis amena��ant (HA) es una emerg��ncia de la qual la broncosc��pia i l���angiografia han millorat el pron��stic. L���objectiu d���aquest estudi va ser seguir la evoluci�� d���aquests pacients a curt i llarg pla��. S���inclogueren els pacients ingressats per HA en un hospital de refer��ncia entre 1994 i 1996 als quals es realitzaren t��cniques broncosc��piques i angiografiques seguin la seva evoluci�� als 5 anys. Les etiologies m��s freq��ents varen ser les bronquiectasis i la tuberculosis. La broncosc��pia es mostra segura com a mesura de localitzaci�� i terap��utica transit��ria, la arteriografia va ser m��s definitiva a llarg pla��.

Intra-Party Democracy and middle-level elites in Spain

The gradual implementation of new, more participatory and thus, more democratic mechanisms of intra-party decision-making has been pointed out by several party politics scholars. This phenomenon has been studied as the party elite���s reactions to a widespread trend in Western countries: the party membership decline. Spain is still a deviant case in both the party membership decline trend, and with regards to the introduction of more participatory and democratic decision-making mechanisms. However, the paper point out that support for intra-party democracy is quite widespread within Spanish party middle elites (party delegates). That is why the aim of this paper is to explain which factors are underpinning the supports for intra-party democracy amongst Spanish party delegates. After conducting a multivariate analysis, the results show that ideology, the involvement in intra-party experiences and the degree of pragmatism, amongst others, are factors strongly associated with the support for intraparty democracy in Spanish party middle elites.

Nocardiosi pulmonar en pacients amb malaltia pulmonar obstructiva cr��nica: caracter��stiques i factors pron��stics

La Nocardiosi pulmonar ��s una infecci�� que afecta principalment a indivius amb immunosupressi��. En els darrers anys s���ha identificat un major n��mero de casos de NP en pacients amb Malaltia pulmonar obstructiva cr��nica. En l���actual treball es pret��n analitzar els factors que s���associen a la pres��ncia de NP en indivius amb diagn��stic de MPOC i estudiar-ne el pron��stic. S���ha realitzat un estudi restrospectiu en el qual s���han incl��s tots els pacients amb diagn��stic de MPOC i amb a��llament de Nocardia spp. en mostra respirat��ria entre els anys 1997-2009. S���han recollit dades demogr��fiques, cl��niques, microbiol��giques, el tractament rebut i la mortalitat als 30, 90 dies i a l���any.

Political Competition in Hard Times

This paper analyzes a spatial model of political competition between two policy- motivated parties in hard times of crisis. Hard times are modeled in terms of policy- making costs carried by a newly elected party. The results predict policy divergence in equilibrium. If the ideological preferences of parties are quite diverse and extreme, there is a unique equilibrium in which the parties announce symmetric platforms and each party wins with probability one half. If one party is extreme while the other is more moderate, there is a unique equilibrium in which the parties announce asymmetric platforms. If the preferred policies of the parties are not very distinct, there are two equilibria with asymmetric platforms. An important property of equilibrium with asymmetric platforms is that a winning party necessarily announces its most preferred policy as a platform. JEL classification: D72. Keywords: Spatial model; Political competition; Two-party system; Policy-motivated parties; Hard times; Crisis.

An��lisis de las bacterias responsables y resistencias a antibi��ticos en la peritonitis bacteriana espont��nea

L���objectiu de l���estudi ��s analitzar el tipus de bact��ries a��llades en pacients amb peritonitis bacteriana espont��nia (PBE) i la seva sensibilitat antibi��tica en dos per��odes de temps (gener 2001- juny 2004 i juliol 2004- desembre 2007). No hem observat un augment de cocs Gram-positius com a responsables de la PBE ni de resist��ncies bacterianes en els ��ltims anys. Les bact��ries causants de PBE intrahospital��ries o en pacients en profilaxi amb norfloxac�� presenten un elevat percentatge de resist��ncies a les cefalosporines de tercera generaci��, per tant en aquests pacients es podria valorar com a primera opci�� terap��utica emp��rica un carbapenem.

Insufici��ncia renal i mortalitat dels pacients cirr��tics amb peritonitis bacteriana espont��nia i baix risc de mortalitat no tractats amb alb��mina

L���expansi�� amb alb��mina disminueix la incid��ncia d���insufici��ncia renal i la mortalitat dels pacients cirr��tics amb peritonitis bacteriana espont��nia (PBE). Per�� no est�� ben establert si caldria administrar-la a tots aquests pacients. Aquest estudi determina la incid��ncia i evoluci�� de la insufici��ncia renal i mortalitat en una s��rie no seleccionada de pacients cirr��tics amb PBE i baix risc de mortalitat (urea&11mmol/l i bilirrubina&68��mol/l) no tractats amb alb��mina. La baixa mortalitat i la bona evoluci�� de la funci�� renal observades en els pacients amb PBE i baix risc de mortalitat no tractats amb alb��mina, suggereixen que en aquests pacients no caldria administrar alb��mina.