Effect of Neonatal Asphyxia on the Impairment of the Auditory Pathway by Recording Auditory Brainstem Responses in Newborn Piglets: A New Experimentation Model to Study the Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Damage on the Auditory Syste

Introduction Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a major perinatal problem that results in severe damage to the brain impairing the normal development of the auditory system. The purpose of the present study is to study the effect of perinatal asphyxia on the auditory pathway by recording auditory brain responses in a novel animal experimentation model in newborn piglets. Method Hypoxia-ischemia was induced to 1.3 day-old piglets by clamping 30 minutes both carotid arteries by vascular occluders and lowering the fraction of inspired oxygen. We compared the Auditory Brain Responses (ABRs) of newborn piglets exposed to acute hypoxia/ischemia (n = 6) and a control group with no such exposure (n = 10). ABRs were recorded for both ears before the start of the experiment (baseline), after 30 minutes of HI injury, and every 30 minutes during 6 h after the HI injury. Results Auditory brain responses were altered during the hypoxic-ischemic insult but recovered 30-60 minutes later. Hypoxia/ischemia seemed to induce auditory functional damage by increasing I-V latencies and decreasing wave I, III and V amplitudes, although differences were not significant. Conclusion The described experimental model of hypoxia-ischemia in newborn piglets may be useful for studying the effect of perinatal asphyxia on the impairment of the auditory pathway.

Early response to nanoparticles in the Arabidopsis transcriptome compromises plant defence and root-hair development through salicylic acid signalling

Background: The impact of nano-scaled materials on photosynthetic organisms needs to be evaluated. Plants represent the largest interface between the environment and biosphere, so understanding how nanoparticles affect them is especially relevant for environmental assessments. Nanotoxicology studies in plants allude to quantum size effects and other properties specific of the nano-stage to explain increased toxicity respect to bulk compounds. However, gene expression profiles after exposure to nanoparticles and other sources of environmental stress have not been compared and the impact on plant defence has not been analysed. Results: Arabidopsis plants were exposed to TiO2-nanoparticles, Ag-nanoparticles, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as well as different sources of biotic (microbial pathogens) or abiotic (saline, drought, or wounding) stresses. Changes in gene expression profiles and plant phenotypic responses were evaluated. Transcriptome analysis shows similarity of expression patterns for all plants exposed to nanoparticles and a low impact on gene expression compared to other stress inducers. Nanoparticle exposure repressed transcriptional responses to microbial pathogens, resulting in increased bacterial colonization during an experimental infection. Inhibition of root hair development and transcriptional patterns characteristic of phosphate starvation response were also observed. The exogenous addition of salicylic acid prevented some nano-specific transcriptional and phenotypic effects, including the reduction in root hair formation and the colonization of distal leaves by bacteria. Conclusions: This study integrates the effect of nanoparticles on gene expression with plant responses to major sources of environmental stress and paves the way to remediate the impact of these potentially damaging compounds through hormonal priming.

Estudio del vulcanismo submarino de edad Cretácico en la transversal de Errigoiti: Implicaciones petrogenéticas y geodinámicas derivadas del estudio de los diques.

[ES] Estudio del vulcanismo submarino de edad Cretácico en la transversal de Errigoiti. Implicaciones petrogenéticas y geodinámicas derivadas del estudio de los diques, mediante láminas delgadas, "visu" de las rocas de campo y análisis geoquímicos con sus respectivos diagramas e interpretaciones.

Grupos topológicos

The main goal of this work is to give the reader a basic introduction into the subject of topological groups, bringing together the areas of topology and group theory.

Pseudomona sp-ren bidez kate ertaineko gantz azidoen esterasa ekoizteko bio-erreaktore baten operazio baldintzen eta zinetikaren azterketa

[EUS] Proiektu honen helburua esterasaren lorpena aztertzeaz gain, lorpenerako erabilitako Pseudomona putida mikroorganismoaren hartzidura aztertzea da, ondoren mikroorganismo horri dagokion parametro zinetikoak lortzeko eta erreaktore baten diseinua egin ahal izateko. Horrekin batera, hartziduran eragin dezaketen faktoreak aztertuko dira (tenperatura, aparra, aireztapena, pH …) kontrol eta monitoriazioan kontutan izateko. Horrez guztiaz gain eta prozesua erreaktorean aztertzeaz gain, matrazeetan ere aztertu da, ondoren bi sistemetako hazkuntzak konparatzeko eta aztertzeko helburuarekin. Hartzidura prozesuaren ostean, esterasa proteina lorpena mintzen bidezko prozesuetan oinarrituko da. Proiektu honetan mintzak duten eraginkortasuna kalkulatuko da, baita lortutako emaitzen inguruko hausnarketa bat egin ere.

Puesta en marcha del nuevo cromatógrafo AC Reformulyzer M4 para la determinación de familias de hidrocarburos, oxigenados y benceno en gasolinas y naftas en refinería

El objetivo de este estudio es la puesta en marcha del cromatógrafo Analytical Control -Reformulyzer M4, destinado a la determinación de la composición de hidrocarburos, oxigenados y benceno en gasolinas y naftas de la refinería. Además, se trata de comprender la importancia del equipo en el marco industrial.

Sobresaturación y nucleación primaria en fluidos biológicos respecto a la hidroxiapatita.

Aunque en las últimas décadas se han producido considerables progresos en el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la litiasis renal, la compresión de su patogenia no ha ido en paralelo con estos avances. De hecho, a pesar de los grandes esfuerzos en investigación y de un considerable número de teorías, aún se desconoce la secuencia exacta de acontecimientos que llevan a la formación de los cálculos renales. En este trabajo se realiza un estudio de los principales tipos de cálculos renales y sus posibles causas. Se estudia, concretamente, la formación de la hidroxiapatita, un cálculo renal inorgánico relativamente frecuente. Se utiliza, para tal fin, el software comercial Medusa.

From the Cajal alumni Achucarro and Rio-Hortega to the rediscovery of never-resting microglia

Under the guidance of Ramon y Cajal, a plethora of students flourished and began to apply his silver impregnation methods to study brain cells other than neurons: the neuroglia. In the first decades of the twentieth century, Nicolas Achucarro was one of the first researchers to visualize the brain cells with phagocytic capacity that we know today as microglia. Later, his pupil Pio del Rio-Hortega developed modifications of Achucarro's methods and was able to specifically observe the fine morphological intricacies of microglia. These findings contradicted Cajal's own views on cells that he thought belonged to the same class as oligodendroglia (the so called "third element" of the nervous system), leading to a long-standing discussion. It was only in 1924 that Rio-Hortega's observations prevailed worldwide, thus recognizing microglia as a unique cell type. This late landing in the Neuroscience arena still has repercussions in the twenty first century, as microglia remain one of the least understood cell populations of the healthy brain. For decades, microglia in normal, physiological conditions in the adult brain were considered to be merely "resting," and their contribution as "activated" cells to the neuroinflammatory response in pathological conditions mostly detrimental. It was not until microglia were imaged in real time in the intact brain using two-photon in vivo imaging that the extreme motility of their fine processes was revealed. These findings led to a conceptual revolution in the field: "resting" microglia are constantly surveying the brain parenchyma in normal physiological conditions. Today, following Cajal's school of thought, structural and functional investigations of microglial morphology, dynamics, and relationships with neurons and other glial cells are experiencing a renaissance and we stand at the brink of discovering new roles for these unique immune cells in the healthy brain, an essential step to understand their causal relationship to diseases.

Sensing parasites: proteomic and advanced bio-detection alternatives

[EN] Parasitic diseases have a great impact in human and animal health. The gold standard for the diagnosis of the majority of parasitic infections is still conventional microscopy, which presents important limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity and commonly requires highly trained technicians. More accurate molecular-based diagnostic tools are needed for the implementation of early detection, effective treatments and massive screenings with high-throughput capacities. In this respect, sensitive and affordable devices could greatly impact on sustainable control programmes which exist against parasitic diseases, especially in low income settings. Proteomics and nanotechnology approaches are valuable tools for sensing pathogens and host alteration signatures within microfluidic detection platforms. These new devices might provide novel solutions to fight parasitic diseases. Newly described specific parasite derived products with immune-modulatory properties have been postulated as the best candidates for the early and accurate detection of parasitic infections as well as for the blockage of parasite development. This review provides the most recent methodological and technological advances with great potential for biosensing parasites in their hosts, showing the newest opportunities offered by modern “-omics” and platforms for parasite detection and control.

Aplicación de nuevas tecnologías a la enseñanza

La aplicación de las nuevas tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (NTIC) en la enseñanza se presenta, a menudo,como una innovación metodológica. Sin embargo, nuestra participación en algunas experiencias como tutores y estudiantes nos lleva a afirmar que no existe una metodología de enseñanza específica para este entorno. En este artículo se hace una revisión crítica de potencialidades y limitaciones de las NTIC en la enseñanza, y se defiende incorporar las NTIC como complemento a la actividad docente universitaria clásica. En ese contexto, se argumentará que la incorporación de herramientas multimedia y de comunicación ha de basarse en un análisis exhaustivo de todos los elementos que constituyen la formación, proponiéndose finalmente una metodología para el desarrollo de complementos formativos.

Hacia la adaptación al crédito europeo en autómatas y lenguajes formales

Durante el curso 2006-2007 la asignatura Autómatas y Lenguajes Formales se ha incorporado al proyecto SICRE (Seguimiento para la Introducción de los CRéditos Europeos). El presente documento recoge cuál ha sido la orientación de la asignatura, principalmente en cuanto a actividades realizadas y resultados de las mismas.

Complemento práctico en la enseñanza de lenguajes formales usando las expresiones regulares en el contexto de aplicaciones web

Tradicionalmente la enseñanza de los autómatas y lenguajes formales basa su principal aplicación práctica en la construcción de compiladores. Sin embargo, las tareas de diseño y programación necesarias son excesivamente complejas como para que los estudiantes, que están cursando el tercer cuatrimestre de la Ingeniería, puedan abordarlas con el rigor necesario. Es posible incorporar otro enfoque práctico, real y más actual de las expresiones regulares en estas asignaturas, aprovechando su frecuente uso como herramienta de especificación de patrones a la hora de diseñar formularios de entrada de datos en diferentes contextos y, particularmente, en aplicaciones web de tres capas. El hecho de trabajar esta competencia junto con el desarrollo teórico de las expresiones regulares permite a los estudiantes ser conscientes de la importante utilidad práctica de este concepto, sin restringirlo a otros usos más clásicos relacionados con el diseño de procesadores de textos o analizadores léxicos. Durante el curso 2006-07 se ha propuesto a los estudiantes de Ingeniería Técnica en Informática de Sistemas de la Universidad del País Vasco desarrollar fragmentos de código basados en una notación formal para resolver problemas de reconocimiento de patrones. La experiencia se ha llevado a cabo utilizando concretamente la notación, inspirada en las expresiones regulares, de JavaScript, resultando viable, efectiva y bien valorada por parte de los estudiantes.

Documentos de soporte para una práctica interuniversitaria de bases de datos

Este informe recoge la documentación generada para llevar a cabo una práctica interuniversitaria en el área de base de datos durante los cursos 09/10 y 10/11. Se ha desarrollado una experiencia entre la UPV/EHU y la Universidad de la Rioja incorporando de forma sistemática la telecolaboración, formando equipos de trabajo con estudiantes de las dos universidades que no se conocen entre sí y han trabajado a distancia. El proyecto se ha realizado en el ámbito de dos asignaturas de bases de datos concretas, una de cada universidad, donde las similitudes y diferencias entre ambas producen equipos heterogéneos. Los alumnos han colaborado en las diferentes fases de la creación de una base de datos, desde la invención de unos requisitos hasta la realización de consultas. Para el desarrollo de esta práctica se han elaborado enunciados detallados para cada fase con ejemplos del trabajo a realizar. Además se ha acordado una rúbrica de evaluación y una encuesta para valorar la experiencia. En el presente documento se recopila dicho material de soporte.

Seroprevalence of Triatoma virus (Dicistroviridae: Cripaviridae) antibodies in Chagas disease patients

Background: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and humans acquire the parasite by exposure to contaminated feces from hematophagous insect vectors known as triatomines. Triatoma virus (TrV) is the sole viral pathogen of triatomines, and is transmitted among insects through the fecal-oral route and, as it happens with T. cruzi, the infected insects release the virus when defecating during or after blood uptake. Methods: In this work, we analysed the occurrence of anti-TrV antibodies in human sera from Chagas disease endemic and non-endemic countries, and developed a mathematical model to estimate the transmission probability of TrV from insects to man, which ranged between 0.00053 and 0.0015. Results: Our results confirm that people with Chagas disease living in Bolivia, Argentina and Mexico have been exposed to TrV, and that TrV is unable to replicate in human hosts. Conclusions: We presented the first experimental evidence of antibodies against TrV structural proteins in human sera.

Efficient Synthesis of Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles via Amide Formation

Single-chain technology (SCT) allows the transformation of individual polymer chains to folded/collapsed unimolecular soft nanoparticles. In this work we contribute to the enlargement of the SCT toolbox by demonstrating the efficient synthesis of single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) via intrachain amide formation. In particular, we exploit cross-linking between active methylene groups and isocyanate moieties as powerful "click" chemistry driving force for SCNP construction. By employing poly(methyl methacrylate)- (PMMA-) based copolymers bearing beta-ketoester units distributed randomly along the copolymer chains and bifunctional isocyanate cross-linkers, SCNPs were successfully synthesized at r.t. under appropriate reaction conditions. Characterization of the resulting SCNPs was carried out by means of a combination of techniques including size exclusion chromatography (SEC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and elemental analysis (EA).