Pla d'intervenció individual en la dislèxia i suport a les famílies en el trastorn per dèficit d'atenció i hiperactivitat

Aquest projecte té com a objectiu principal la intervenció en un context d'educació formal, obtenir experiència professional i definir quin és realment el paper del psicopedagog. Consta de tres activitats: un taller per a pares i mares de nens amb TDAH, un pla reeducatiu per a una alumna amb dislèxia i un taller de competència social per a nens amb TEA. El procés d'investigació-acció ha regit tot el procés, el qual es basa en els principis bàsics de la LEC (12/2009) de qualitat i equitat educativa i d'atenció a la diversitat, mitjançant el model col·laboratiu des d'un enfocament educacional constructiu. La comparació entre la teoria i la pràctica ha estat un punt clau per a concloure quina és la millor metodologia a emprar per a cada cas.

Isolation of cardiovascular precursor cells from the human fetal heart.

Weakening of cardiac function in patients with heart failure results from a loss of cardiomyocytes in the damaged heart. Cell replacement therapies as a way to induce myocardial regeneration in humans could represent attractive alternatives to classical drug-based approaches. However, a suitable source of precursor cells, which could produce a functional myocardium after transplantation, remains to be identified. In the present study, we isolated cardiovascular precursor cells from ventricles of human fetal hearts at 12 weeks of gestation. These cells expressed Nkx2.5 but not late cardiac markers such as α-actinin and troponin I. In addition, proliferating cells expressed the mesenchymal stem cell markers CD73, CD90, and CD105. Evidence for functional cardiogenic differentiation in vitro was demonstrated by the upregulation of cardiac gene expression as well as the appearance of cells with organized sarcomeric structures. Importantly, differentiated cells presented spontaneous and triggered calcium signals. Differentiation into smooth muscle cells was also detected. In contrast, precursor cells did not produce endothelial cells. The engraftment and differentiation capacity of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled cardiac precursor cells were then tested in vivo after transfer into the heart of immunodeficient severe combined immunodeficient mice. Engrafted human cells were readily detected in the mouse myocardium. These cells retained their cardiac commitment and differentiated into α-actinin-positive cardiomyocytes. Expression of connexin-43 at the interface between GFP-labeled and endogenous cardiomyocytes indicated that precursor-derived cells connected to the mouse myocardium. Together, these results suggest that human ventricular nonmyocyte cells isolated from fetal hearts represent a suitable source of precursors for cell replacement therapies.

The use of micro-XRD for the study of glaze color decorations

The compounds responsible for the colours and decorations in glass and glazed ceramics include: colouring agents (transition metal ions), pigments (micro-and nano-precipitates of compounds that either do not dissolve or recrystallize in the glassy matrix) and opacifiers (microcrystalline compounds with high light scattering capability). Their composition, structure and range of stability are highly dependent not only on the composition but also on the procedures followed to obtain them. Chemical composition of the colorants and crystallites may be obtained by means of SEM-EDX and WDX. Synchrotron Radiation micro-X-ray Diffraction has a small beam size adequate (10 to 50 microns footprint size) to obtain the structural information of crystalline compounds and high brilliance, optimal for determining the crystallites even when present in low amounts. In addition, in glass decorations the crystallites often appear forming thin layers (from 10 to 100 micrometers thick) and they show a depth dependent composition and crystal structure. Their nature and distribution across the glass/glazes decorations gives direct information on the technology of production and stability and may be related to the color and appearance. A selection of glass and glaze coloring agents and decorations are studied by means of SR-micro- XRD and SEM-EDX including: manganese brown, antimony yellow, red copper lusters and cobalt blue. The selection includes Medieval (Islamic, and Hispano Moresque) and renaissance tin glazed ceramics from the 10th to the 17th century AD.

Una aproximación a las funciones ejecutivas en el trastorno del espectro autista

Introducción: La hipótesis psicológica de la disfunción ejecutiva desempeña un papel crucial para explicar el fenotipo conductual de las personas con trastornos del espectro autista (TEA), relacionada también con otras hipótesis como el déficit en teoría de la mente o la hipótesis de la coherencia central débil. Sin embargo, ninguna de estas hipótesis son mutuamente excluyentes y los comportamientos que tienen su origen en alguna de esas tres hipótesis están también moldeados y mantenidos por otros procesos y factores. Desarrollo: Este artículo revisa la manifestación conductual y el estado de la investigación sobre las funciones ejecutivas en personas con TEA y su impacto en las habilidades de planificación, de flexibilidad mental y cognitiva, generatividad, inhibición de respuesta, habilidades mentalistas y sentido de la actividad. Conclusión: Aunque la disfunción ejecutiva ha ido ganando peso como hipótesis explicativa en las personas con TEA, persisten algunas dificultades relevantes que precisan de mayor y más detallada investigación. Por otro lado, son muy escasos los programas de intervención con eficacia demostrada que minimicen los efectos de la disfunción ejecutiva en el autismo.

A unique role for Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels in starburst amacrine cell signaling in mouse retina

Direction-selective retinal ganglion cells show an increased activity evoked by light stimuli moving in the preferred direction. This selectivity is governed by direction-selective inhibition from starburst amacrine cells occurring during stimulus movement in the opposite or null direction. To understand the intrinsic membrane properties of starburst cells responsible for direction-selective GABA release, we performed whole-cell recordings from starburst cells in mouse retina. Voltage-clamp recordings revealed prominent voltage-dependent K+ currents. The currents were mostly blocked by 1 mm TEA, activated rapidly at voltages more positive than -20 mV, and deactivated quickly, properties reminiscent of the currents carried by the Kv3 subfamily of K+ channels. Immunoblots confirmed the presence of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 proteins in retina and immunohistochemistry revealed their expression in starburst cell somata and dendrites. The Kv3-like current in starburst cells was absent in Kv3.1-Kv3.2 knock-out mice. Current-clamp recordings showed that the fast activation of the Kv3 channels provides a voltage-dependent shunt that limits depolarization of the soma to potentials more positive than -20 mV. This provides a mechanism likely to contribute to the electrical isolation of individual starburst cell dendrites, a property thought essential for direction selectivity. This function of Kv3 channels differs from that in other neurons where they facilitate high-frequency repetitive firing. Moreover, we found a gradient in the intensity of Kv3.1b immunolabeling favoring proximal regions of starburst cells. We hypothesize that this Kv3 channel gradient contributes to the preference for centrifugal signal flow in dendrites underlying direction-selective GABA release from starburst amacrine cells.

Antibacterial activity of essential oils on Xanthomonas vesicatoria and control of bacterial spot in tomato

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of plant essential oils (EOs) on the growth of Xanthomonas vesicatoria, on bacterial morphology and ultrastructure, and on the severity of tomato bacterial spot. EOs from citronella, clove, cinnamon, lemongrass, eucalyptus, thyme, and tea tree were evaluated in vitro at concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 100% in 1.0% powdered milk. The effect of EOs, at 0.1%, on the severity of tomato bacterial spot was evaluated in tomato seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The effects of citronella, lemongrass, clove, and tea tree EOs, at 0.1%, on X. vesicatoria cells were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. All EOs showed direct toxic effect on the bacteria at a 10%-concentration in vitro. Under greenhouse conditions, the EOs of clove, citronella, tea tree, and lemongrass reduced disease severity. EOs of clove and tea tree, and streptomycin sulfate promoted loss of electron-dense material and alterations in the cytoplasm, whereas EO of tea tree promoted cytoplasm vacuolation, and those of citronella, lemongrass, clove, and tea tree caused damage to the bacterial cell wall. The EOs at a concentration of 0.1% reduce the severity of the disease.

Joergensenium rotatile n. gen., n. sp (Entactinaria, Radiolaria): its distribution in west Norwegian fjords

A new radiolarian genus and species, Joergensenium rotatile, is described. This species is restricted to recent sediments and plankton samples from the North Atlantic. Its recent distribution in the Norwegian Sea and West Norwegian fjords shows a strong affinity to the neritic province and reaches almost 2% in Hryangerfjord. This species is only known from late Glacial and Holocene sediments in the Nordic seas. This genus shows, however, a patchy stratigraphic distribution with its first occurrence in the south-west Pacific within Palcocene, in the Middle to Late Miocene from the Norwegian Sea, and in the Labrador Sea at the base of biozone NN 21. Two fjords are compared for the general radiolarian distribution, but with special emphasis on the occurrence of J. rotatile in both sediment and plankton.

Análisis descriptivo y comparativo del 16PF-5 en muestras americanas y españolas

En este trabajo se realiza un estudio descriptivo y comparativo entre las medias del 16PF-5 obtenidas en el estudio de normalización de Conn y Rieke (1994) [Conn, S.R. & Rieke, M.L. (1994). The 16PF Fifth Edition Technical Manual. Champaign, IL: Institute for Personality and Ability Testing, Inc.], el estudio de normalización española de Russell y Karol (1995) [Russell, M.T. and Karol, D.L. (1995). 16PF-5. Manual. Madrid: TEA Ediciones, S.A.], en base a los datos del equipo I+D de TEA Ediciones, y de 636 sujetos provenientes de una muestra de estudiantes universitarios, familiares y amigos con un rango de edad de 17 a 81 años. Se hipotetiza que si las muestras del estudio de normalización española provienen mayoritariamente de sujetos de selección de personal, las medias en los factores de primer orden relacionadas con Ansiedad serán más bajas, y las de Autocontrol y Extraversión más elevadas que las obtenidas en este estudio. Los resultados indican que estas predicciones se dan claramente en los hombres y en menor grado muestran la misma tendencia en las mujeres. Se discute sobre la necesidad de disponer de muestras de normalización para el 16PF-5 provenientes de sujetos anónimos y colaboradores, a fin de obtener baremos normalizados de referencia susceptibles de ser usados en los informes profesionales de los psicólogos.

Replicabilidad de los factores de segundo orden del 16PF-5 en muestras americanas y españolas

El objetivo de este estudio fue replicar las estructuras de 5 y 6 factores de segundo orden del 16PF-5. Para la estructura de 5 factores se toma como referencia teórica la estructura obtenida por Russell y Karol (1995), y para la estructura de 6 factores (incluyendo un factor adicional de Razonamiento) la obtenida en muestras americanas por Cattell y Cattell (1995). Se utilizan tres procedimientos para el estudio de la replicabilidad, a) análisis factorial exploratorio, b) análisis de la estructura ortogonal Procrustes, y c) análisis de los índices de congruencia entre las tres matrices factoriales. Las matrices factoriales obtenidas en el presente estudio son similares a las informadas en los estudios de referencia, aunque la solución Procrustes se revela ligeramente más parecida. Los índices de congruencia en ge- neral son aceptables por lo que se concluye que el 16PF-5 demuestra buena replicabilidad.

When cholesterol is not cholesterol: a note on the enzymatic determination of its concentration in model systems containing vegetable extracts

Background: Experimental evidences demonstrate that vegetable derived extracts inhibit cholesterol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. To further explore the mechanisms behind, we modeled duodenal contents with several vegetable extracts. Results: By employing a widely used cholesterol quantification method based on a cholesterol oxidase-peroxidase coupled reaction we analyzed the effects on cholesterol partition. Evidenced interferences were analyzed by studying specific and unspecific inhibitors of cholesterol oxidase-peroxidase coupled reaction. Cholesterol was also quantified by LC/MS. We found a significant interference of diverse (cocoa and tea-derived) extracts over this method. The interference was strongly dependent on model matrix: while as in phosphate buffered saline, the development of unspecific fluorescence was inhibitable by catalase (but not by heat denaturation), suggesting vegetable extract derived H2O2 production, in bile-containing model systems, this interference also comprised cholesterol-oxidase inhibition. Several strategies, such as cholesterol standard addition and use of suitable blanks containing vegetable extracts were tested. When those failed, the use of a mass-spectrometry based chromatographic assay allowed quantification of cholesterol in models of duodenal contents in the presence of vegetable extracts. Conclusions: We propose that the use of cholesterol-oxidase and/or peroxidase based systems for cholesterol analyses in foodstuffs should be accurately monitored, as important interferences in all the components of the enzymatic chain were evident. The use of adequate controls, standard addition and finally, chromatographic analyses solve these issues.

Abstracts of the refereed articles

Riitta Hänninen : The Meaning of Freedom in Snowboarding Culture, Inka Juslin : Dance narration and the feminine mimesis in Ob-Ugrian women•s dances, Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen : Multidimensional tradition : distinctions of native youths and their indigenous traditions in Brazilian Amazonia, Tea Virtanen : Pastoralists in Mecca : the moral economy of Mbororo pilgrimage

Tunnetta myllyssä : dokumenttielokuvaleikkauksen tunnekerronnan keinoja

Opinnäytetyö on monimuototyö, jonka teososan muodostaa dokumentti myllystä ja nykypäivän mylläristä. Kyseinen mylly on yksi noin sadasta vielä toiminnassa olevasta myllystä. Myllyn uudelleen käyttöönottoa edelsi monta vaihetta koneiden puhdistamisesta jauhatusprosessin opettelemiseen. Mylläri viljelee itse ja jauhaa luomuviljan omassa myllyssään jauhoiksi. Vaimo leipoo niistä myllypuodissa myytävät leivät ja leivonnaiset. Dokumentin ajatus oli kuvata toimiva valssimylly mylläreineen, vielä kun niiden taltioiminen on mahdollista, tallentaa pala katoavaa kulttuurihistoriaa. Toimin dokumentin käsikirjoittajana, ohjaajana, tuottajana, toisena kuvaajana ja leikkaajana. Teososan tekeminen on ollut lähtökohtana kirjallisen osan pohdinnoille. Kirjallisessa osassa tutkin, kuinka tunteita tuodaan kuvallisesti ja leikkauksellisesi esille dokumenttielokuvassa. Tavoitteenani on selvittää, millä leikkausteknisillä keinoilla voidaan elokuvaan luoda lisää tunnetta ja mahdollisesti vaikuttaa katsojaan. Tarkastelen ja reflektoin aihetta ohjaaja-leikkaajan näkökulmasta. Käyn läpi Mylly-dokumentin tekoprosessin ja keskityn leikkauksen eri vaiheisiin. Tiedonhankinta perustui Myllyliitto ry:n edustajan ja myllärin haastatteluihin, kotimaisiin dokumenttielokuviin ja kirjallisuuteen, joka käsittelee pääasiassa leikkaustekniikoita. Lisäksi tuon esiin omia huomioitani dokumentin tekijänä. - Opinnäytetyöhön kuuluu teososa, dokumenttielokuva Mylly.

Montrer « l'exorcisme » de Sarah Palin sur le web : enquête(s) sur la portée politique d'images religieuses

En septembre 2008, une vidéo est diffusée sur internet montrant Sarah Palin, alors candidate à la vice-présidence des États-Unis, en train de recevoir « une protection contre la sorcellerie » lors d'une célébration religieuse. La séquence est aussitôt reprise par les médias du monde entier qui s'interrogent et enquêtent sur les rapports entre ces images et l'engagement politique de la républicaine. Cet article suit la circulation de la vidéo au travers de différentes scènes de visibilité, allant des médias généralistes au site internet de l'Église où elle a été tournée, en passant par un blog qui a attiré l'attention publique sur ces images. L'enquête met au jour comment ce film a été compris dans ces différents contextes, et montre les effets de ce travail d'interprétation en 2011, suite à l'avènement du Tea Party et à l'horizon de la prochaine échéance présidentielle. La vidéo qui, en 2008, apparaissait dans les médias généralistes comme une illustration de la « bigoterie » de Palin a contribué à figurer, en 2011, une menace « théocratique » pour la démocratie américaine.