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We present the results of the experimental recreation of a warrior stele according to the models of six stelae found at the Middle Tagus Valley: Las Herencias I, Arroyo Manzanas (or Las Herencias II) and Barranca del Aguila (Talavera de la Reina) in the northern zone along the lower bank of the Tagus as well as the two from Aldeanueva de San Bartolome and La Estrella in the region of La Jara. The elaboration of the replica has lasted about four hours, using bronze chisels on a rectangular slab of greywacke schist collected in the Jara region (Toledo). Some characteristic motifs of these stelae have been reproduced through incisions and rattling, such as a warrior figure touched with a horned helmet and armed with a sword, spear and shield, an ingot, a mirror and a chariot with two horses. From this experience, some considerations about the manufacture techniques of the Final Bronze Age stelae are proposed.

La aparición en escena de un nuevo depósito compuesto por siete hachas planas en Yunclillos (Toledo) permite ampliar la escasa muestra de un tipo peculiar de utensilio, caracterizado por su gran tamaño y por su reducido perfil. Se analiza el fenómeno de los depósitos de hachas planas en la península ibérica y pese a la ausencia de un contexto arqueológico de referencia, la tipología y la composición elemental parecen indicar que los depósitos pueden corresponder a un momento inicial de la Edad del Bronce. A new hoard with 7 flat axes found in Yunclillos (Toledo) offers a new perspective about a specific type of axe characterized by its long size and thin section. A reflection about flat axes hoarding in the Iberian Peninsula, most of them without archaeological context, let us propose an Early Bronze Age Chronology based on typological criteria and elemental composition. Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad HAR2017–82685–R Diputación de Toledo

Archaeological research has traditionally considered that Iberian aristocracy showed its social status through the deposition of the finesh objects in the graves. Nevertheless, gold is basically absent of funerary contexts. This paper propases to consider gold as an object of highest value, fundamentally involved in iberian systems of heritage and transmission of power., Tradicionalmente se ha considerado que la aristocracia ibérica depositaba en las tumbas sus materiales más preciados como prueba de categoría social. Sin embargo, el oro está básicamente ausente de estos contextos. Este trabajo propone considerar el oro como un metal del máximo valor práctico, y por tanto no amortizable en las tumbas, sino objeto prioritario de la transición por herencia del poder y la propiedad.

There is evidence of the consumption of acorns from Quercus species in the Iberian Peninsula from prehistory through the 20th century up until the 1960s. Acorns were used primarily for human consumption, mainly during food shortages. The high abundance and even distribution of Quercus tree species made it possible for acorn consumption to be widespread across the Iberian Peninsula. The favored species was the holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota), because a large part of its harvest consists of sweet acorns, while in other species the acorns are almost always bitter. People developed a substantial knowledge base underpinning a great variety of uses of acorns, from eating them directly from the tree to preparation with very simple treatments, such as drying, roasting, or boiling. By manipulating levels of bitterness in a number of species, cooks were able to prepare dishes that ranged from salty to sweet. Based on interviews with knowledgeable people and a review of ethnobotanical papers, this article describes the forms of consumption, the processed products, and the other uses of acorns of the species of the genus Quercus in the central west of the Iberian Peninsula. We also suggest why acorns lost their prominence in the late 1960s. At present, the main use of the acorn is as food for Iberian black pigs to obtain quality sausages. In addition, new products such as acorn liquor, caramels, and other items have recently appeared, marketed as distinctive products on a small scale.

RNA modifications are important regulators of gene expression

Este artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento de um kit didático para auxílio nas disciplinas de automação, instrumentação e controle industrial. Aplicando os controladores em um protótipo de válvula proporcional o intuito é a obtenção da melhor topologia. Bem como a aplicação da interdisciplinaridade no currículo dos cursos, viabilizando também a absorção dos conhecimentos científicos com situações práticas. Os resultados apresentados são de controladores tipo P e PID , comumente encontrados em plantas industriais. Através de um potenciômetro é possível selecionar a posição desejada e com um sensor de posição acoplado ao eixo da válvula o controlador do sistema realiza o ajuste. O setpoint pode ser modificado online. O sistema de controle e aquisição de dados é feito com o uso da plataforma Arduino, os dados são adquiridos com auxílio do software PLX-DAQ trazendo também uma proposta de uso do software e de um hardware livre.

For Trypanosoma brucei arginine and lysine are essential amino acids and therefore have to be imported from the host. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants identified cationic amino acid transporters among members of the T. brucei AAAP (amino acid/auxin permease) family. TbAAT5-3 showed high affinity arginine uptake (Km 3.6 ± 0.4 μM) and high selectivity for L-arginine. L-arginine transport was reduced by a 10-times excess of L-arginine, homo-arginine, canavanine or arginine-β-naphthylamide, while lysine was inhibitory only at 100-times excess, and histidine or ornithine did not reduce arginine uptake rates significantly. TbAAT16-1 is a high affinity (Km 4.3 ± 0.5 μM) and highly selective L-lysine transporter and of the compounds tested, only L-lysine and thialysine were competing for L-lysine uptake. TbAAT5-3 and TbAAT16-1 are expressed in both procyclic and bloodstream form T. brucei and cMyc-tagged proteins indicate localization at the plasma membrane. RNAi-mediated down-regulation of TbAAT5 and TbAAT16 in bloodstream form trypanosomes resulted in growth arrest, demonstrating that TbAAT5-mediated arginine and TbAAT16-mediated lysine transport are essential for T. brucei. Growth of induced RNAi lines could partially be rescued by supplementing a surplus of arginine or lysine, respectively, while addition of both amino acids was less efficient. Single and double RNAi lines indicate that additional low affinity uptake systems for arginine and lysine are present in T. brucei.

Variations of the gonadal vein involve especial interest in general, vascular and kidney transplant surgery. We report a cadaveric case of abnormal drainage of the right testicular vein.During the dissection of a formalin-fixed adult male cadaver, an abnormal drainage pattern of the right testicular vein was found. Its morphology, length, caliber and angle of termination were registered and photographed. Finally a bibliographic research was made in databases PubMed and Scielo.The abnormal drainage of the testicular right vein was into the left renal vein. From the bibliographic research, only those articles considered of interest by the authors were taken into account.Even though it usually remains asymptomatic, its presence is associated with a higher risk of right varicocele although this pathology is more frequent at the left side. Also, this variant must be taken into account during retroperitoneal surgery or cadaveric dissection in the anatomy laboratory.

The techniques employed in the manufacture of Iberian stone sculptures have received very little attention by the specialists. Nevertheless, this kind of research has provided important results in other Mediterranean areas, offering key insights not only about techniques, workshops and styles, but also about the social role of sculptors and those who support them. Through the study of a particular example, the lion-griffin confronting a snake from the sculptural group of Porcuna, we offer a general view about the way in which the sculpture was made. We have also recognized for the first time the presence of what can be interpreted as a sculptor’s mark, and we discuss the purpose of these kind of signs., El estudio de las técnicas empleadas en la manufactura de las esculturas ibéricas ha recibido escasa atención por parte de los especialistas. Sin embargo, estas investigaciones han ofrecido importantes resultados en otras áreas del Mediterráneo, proporcionando conocimientos clave no sólo sobre las técnicas, talleres y estilos, sino también sobre el papel social de los escultores y de aquellos que los sostienen. Mediante el estudio de un ejemplo concreto, el grifo-león enfrentándose a la serpiente del conjunto de Porcuna, se ofrece una visión general del proceso de trabajo de la escultura. Se ha reconocido por primera vez la presencia de lo que puede ser interpretado como una marca de escultor, y se discute la función de este tipo de signos.

Desalting is a water-washing operation performed initially at the production field and thereafter at the refinery site for additional crude oil cleanup. Salt and water content specifications are even more rigid because of their negative effect in downstream processes due to corrosion, and catalyst deactivation. An optimum formulation concept is presented to describe emulsion breaking in desalting process. In the stabilization mechanism is accepted that water droplets are stabilized by the formation of a mechanically strong and viscoelastic film at the interface composed of asphaltenes. In the case of water-in-crude-oil emulsions, a balanced optimum formulation is attained by adding to the lipophilic natural surfactants contained in the crude oil, demulsifiers which are hydrophilic. The aim is to relate the nature and concentration of the added demulsifier products to the amphiphilic mixture at the interface. All formulation parameters, such as solvent, alcohols, kind and concentra‐ tion of demulsifier, amoung others, can be explained for proportional and saturation regimens.

To describe the study of the comparability of the measurements levels of biological tests processed in biochemistry in Catlab's 4 laboratories.Quality requirements, coefficients of variation and total error (CV% and TE %) were established. Controls were verified with the precision requirements (CV%) in each test and each individual laboratory analyser. Fresh serum samples were used for the comparability study. The differences were analysed using a Microsoft Access® application that produces modified Bland-Altman plots.The comparison of 32 biological parameters that are performed in more than one laboratory and/or analyser generated 306 Bland-Altman graphs. Of these, 101 (33.1%) fell within the accepted range of values based on biological variability, and 205 (66.9%) required revision. Data were re-analysed based on consensus minimum specifications for analytical quality (consensus of the Asociación Española de Farmacéuticos Analistas (AEFA), the Sociedad Española de Bioquímica Clínica y Patología Molecular (SEQC), the Asociación Española de Biopatología Médica (AEBM) and the Sociedad Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia (SEHH), October 2013). With the new specifications, 170 comparisons (56%) fitted the requirements and 136 (44%) required additional review. Taking into account the number of points that exceeded the requirement, random errors, range of results in which discrepancies were detected, and range of clinical decision, it was shown that the 44% that required review were acceptable, and the 32 tests were comparable in all laboratories and analysers.The analysis of the results showed that the consensus requirements of the 4 scientific societies were met. However, each laboratory should aim to meet stricter criteria for total error.

The sea eel, Conger conger is a common and widespread species all around the Adriatic, Mediterranean, North Atlantic and northern Africa's coasts. Biochemical analyses of fatty acid compositions in this species show a great content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially EPA and DHA, which makes its fatty acid profile more favourable. Since in recent years, n-3 PUFA have been acclaimed for greater potency in the amelioration of heart, cardiovascular disorders and immune functions, an acute experimental model of immune system stress induced by exposure of rats to a hypothermic shock (4 h at 4°C) was used to determine the capacity of Conger conger extracts to restore the function of peripheral T lymphocytes. After hypothermic shock, blood samples were collected and 100 µl of whole blood were exposed to 20 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml of Conger conger extracts and cultured in RPMI complete medium during 4, 16 and 24 h, respectively. After incubation, blood was stained with specific anti-rat CD4, C...

[EN] The surveys carried out in the municipality of Pinto (Madrid) have enabled us to locate various structural remains linked to the military operations that took place around the capital during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). In order to identify and record them, surveys were complemented with the use of GPS and air photographs from different time periods. Afterwards, and in collaboration with researchers from various universities, further methods aimed at generating a complete special representation of the area were applied directly to one of the sites which produced the best results, known as "los Yesares". These methods include topographic mapping that resulted in cartographic material at different scales, the photographic recording with flying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and the use of land scanners and GPS-corrected photogrammetrics with which to obtain 3D models., [ES] Los trabajos de prospección llevados a cabo en el término municipal de Pinto (Madrid) han permitido localizar diferentes enclaves con restos inmuebles relacionados con las operaciones militares realizadas en torno a la capital durante la Guerra Civil Española (1936-1939). Para su identificación y documentación se recurrió al uso de GPS durante las batidas de prospección así como a fotografías aéreas de diferentes períodos que ayudaron en el proceso. Posteriormente, en colaboración con investigadores de diversas universidades se aplicaron en una de las zonas de mayor relevancia, el yacimiento de "Los Yesares", diversas técnicas con el objetivo de conseguir una representación espacial lo más completa posible. Estas técnicas incluyeron levantamientos topográficos para realizar cartografías a diferentes escalas, la captación de imágenes mediante vuelos UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) y el uso de escáneres terrestres y técnicas de fotogrametría para la obtención de representaciones 3D.

CLC type anion transport proteins are homo-dimeric or hetero-dimeric with an integrated transport function in each subunit. We have identified and partially characterized three members of this family named TbVCL1, TbVCL2 and TbVCL3 in Trypanosoma brucei. Among the human CLC family members, the T. brucei proteins display highest similarity to CLC-6 and CLC-7. TbVCL1, but not TbVCL2 and TbVCL3 is able to complement growth of a CLC-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant. All TbVCL-HA fusion proteins localize intracellulary in procyclic form trypanosomes. TbVCL1 localizes close to the Golgi apparatus and TbVCL2 and TbVCL3 to the endoplasmic reticulum. Upon expression in Xenopus oocytes, all three proteins induce similar outward rectifying chloride ion currents. Currents are sensitive to low concentrations of DIDS, insensitive to the pH in the range 5.4 to 8.4 and larger in nitrate than in chloride medium.

Este trabajo ofrece algunas reflexiones sobre los orígenes de las sepulturas de cremación que comienzan a aparecer en el Sureste de la Península Ibérica en el comienzo del primer milenio a.C. Tras algunos siglos sin evidencias significativas, se detectan algunos enterramientos de inhumación y cremación, siendo este último ritual el que se convertirá en el exclusivo de las comunidades locales. Estas transformaciones ideológicas se consideran como un proceso interno relacionado con los contextos políticos y económicos de las poblaciones ibéricas. This paper offers some thoughts about the origins of the cremation burials that begin to appear at the South-East of the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning of the first millenum B.C. After some centuries without any significant funerary evidence, some inhumation and cremation burials are detected, and this last ritual will finally develop to be the exclusive one among the local communities. These ideological transformations are considered as an internal processus related with the political and economical contexts of the Iberian populations.

En este trabajo se describen una serie de láminas enrolladas de plomo aparecidas en el nivel iberorromano de Castellones de Céal y que habitualmente son empleadas como lastres en redes de pesca. Se deduce de ello el empleo de la pesca fluvial como recurso económico, revisándose los ejemplos conocidos de esta actividad en el registro arqueológico.

Choline is an essential nutrient for eukaryotic cells, where it is used as precursor for the synthesis of choline-containing phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC). According to published data, Trypanosoma brucei parasites are unable to take up choline from the environment but instead use lyso-phosphatidylcholine as precursor for choline lipid synthesis. We now show that T. brucei procyclic forms in culture readily incorporate [(3)H]-labeled choline into PC, indicating that trypanosomes express a transporter for choline at the plasma membrane. Characterization of the transport system in T. brucei procyclic and bloodstream forms shows that uptake of choline is independent of sodium and potassium ions and occurs with a Km in the low micromolar range. In addition, we demonstrate that choline uptake can be blocked by the known choline transport inhibitor, hemicholinium-3, and by synthetic choline analogs that have been established as anti-malarials. Together, our results show that T. brucei parasites express an uptake system for choline and that exogenous choline is used for PC synthesis.

[EN]The existence of pits filled with earth, ashes, pottery fragments and fauna, usually known as ash pits, rubbish pits or dumps, has been recognized on many Second Iron Age settlements of the Spanish Northern Plateau, generally linked with Vaccean and Vettonian groups. However, its distribution should be extended to the west of the Southern Plateau and eastern Extremadura, as evidenced by the example of the Cerro de la Mesa village and indications coming from other western sites. We offer here a detailed study of part of a rubbish pit where certain domestic remains were withdrawn in connection with a new project of urbanisation of the Vettonian village held on the transition from the 3rd to the 2nd centuries BC., [ES] La existencia de fosas rellenas con tierra, cenizas, fragmentos cerámicos y fauna denominadas genéricamente como cenizales, basureros o vertederos, es un hecho bien conocido en la Meseta Norte durante la Segunda Edad del Hierro, vinculándose con los grupos Vacceos y Vettones. Sin embargo, su distribución debe ampliarse al occidente de la Meseta Sur y oriente extremeño, como se evidencia tanto en el Cerro de la Mesa como a través de indicios documentados en otros yacimientos más occidentales. Se presenta aquí un detallado estudio de un sector de la fosa que actuó como vertedero para la retirada de ciertos restos domésticos con ocasión de la reurbanización en profundidad del poblado vettón que tuvo lugar en la transición del siglo III al II a.C., Este trabajo se enmarca en el proyecto HAR2011/25191: “Identidad y territorio en el valle medio del Tajo durante el Bronce Final y la Edad del Hierro” del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Agradecemos a los revisores externos sus anotaciones, que han mejorado sensiblemente la primera versión de este trabajo.

•NO is considered to be a key macrophage-derived cytotoxic effector during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. On the other hand, the microbicidal properties of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well recognized, but little importance has been attributed to them during in vivo infection with T. cruzi. In order to investigate the role of ROS in T. cruzi infection, mice deficient in NADPH phagocyte oxidase (gp91phox −/− or phox KO) were infected with Y strain of T. cruzi and the course of infection was followed. phox KO mice had similar parasitemia, similar tissue parasitism and similar levels of IFN-γ and TNF in serum and spleen cell culture supernatants, when compared to wild-type controls. However, all phox KO mice succumbed to infection between day 15 and 21 after inoculation with the parasite, while 60% of wild-type mice were alive 50 days after infection. Further investigation demonstrated increased serum levels of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) at day 15 of infection in phox KO animals, associated with a drop in blood pressure. Treatment with a NOS2 inhibitor corrected the blood pressure, implicating NOS2 in this phenomenon. We postulate that superoxide reacts with •NO in vivo, preventing blood pressure drops in wild type mice. Hence, whilst superoxide from phagocytes did not play a critical role in parasite control in the phox KO animals, its production would have an important protective effect against blood pressure decline during infection with T. cruzi., Author Summary When pathogens enter their hosts, they are fought by several resistance strategies, including capture by phagocytes and the production of pathogen-toxic molecules. Nitric oxide, a free radical, has been extensively studied as one of these toxic molecules that successfully mediates intracellular parasite killing, including Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas' disease. On the other hand, reactive oxygen species also mediate resistance to several pathogens, mainly bacterial. In this study, we addressed the role of reactive oxygen species in the resistance to T. cruzi using gene-deficient mice, a species which phagocytes lack the ability to produce (phox−/− mice). We found that phagocyte-derived reactive oxygen species are not critical to mediate resistance to parasite in the knock-out animals. However, phox−/− mice presented higher mortality and lower blood pressure due to infection with T. cruzi than non-deficient mice. The blood pressure was restored to normal by an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis by phagocytes. We hypothesize that superoxide (one of the oxygen reactive species) controls blood pressure during infection with T. cruzi, by reacting with nitric oxide and preventing its action on blood vessels.

With the help of a modern mason, the authors have discovered a series of scarcely visible markings on well-known limestone statues from southern Spain dating back to the fifth century BC. Unrelated to letters or religious symbols, their best point of comparison seems to lie with the kind of signature used by masons to denote a craftsman or workshop. One can certainly forgive any sculptor an expression of pride in the elegant and complex carvings of the Iberian culture.

Experimental models of infection with Leishmania spp. have provided knowledge of several immunological events involved in the resistance mechanism used by the host to restrain parasite growth. It is well accepted that concomitant immunity exists, and there is some evidence that it would play a major role in long-lasting acquired resistance to infection. In this paper, the resistance to Leishmania amazonensis infection in C57BL/6 mice infected with Leishmania major was investigated. C57BL/6 mice, which spontaneously heal lesions caused by infection with L. major, were infected with L. amazonensis at different times before and after L. major. We demonstrated that C57BL/6 mice previously infected with L. major restrain pathogenic responses induced by L. amazonensis infection and decrease parasite burdens by one order of magnitude. Co-infected mice showed production of IFN-gamma in lesions similar to mice infected solely with L. major, but higher TNF-alpha and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression was observed. Surprisingly, the restrained pathogenic response was not related to IL-10 production, as evidenced by lower levels of both mRNA, protein expression in lesions from co-infected mice and in co-infections in IL-10(-/-) mice. Examination of the inflammatory infiltrate at the site of infection showed a reduced number of monocytes and lymphocytes in L. amazonensis lesions. Additionally, differential production of the CCL3/MIP-1 alpha and CCL5/RANTES was observed. We suggest that the control of lesion progression caused by L. amazonensis in C57BL/6 mice pre-infected with L. major is related to the induction of a down-regulatory environment at the site of infection with L. amazonensis.

Sin resumen

A rare case of ganglioneuromatous polyposis of the colon found in association with mucinous adenocarcinoma and primary hyperparathyroidism caused by a parathyroid adenoma in a 77-year-old woman is described. We discuss the clinical implications of this finding and review the literature.

A prospective randomized study on 100 patients was conducted to determine the effect of the rectal digital examination on prostate specific antigen (PSA) serum concentration. The control group consisted of 50 patient, all with two PSA determinations with no urological manipulation between them. The study group had 50 patient, who underwent digital examination 24 hours before the second PSA determination. Mean difference in PSA concentration in the study group is 0.84 ng/ml, compared to 0.0048 ng/ml in the control group (p0.05). Only 7 patients with initial PSA within the normal range (0.0-0.4 ng/ml) had a second PSA higher than 4.0 ng/ml. Only a patient with initial PSA lower than 4.1 ng/ml, had a second PSA higher than 10.1 ng/ml. This minimal change is independent of the initial concentration and the diagnosis (benign prostate hyperplasia, prostate adenocarcinoma or chronic prostatitis). Though changes are statistically significant they are not clinically so because the 0.84 increase is irrelevant. Based on these data we believe rectal digital examination has no effect on PSA serum levels.

In this paper we present the excavation of an Iberian tomb with a complicated structure made of wood, mud bricks and stones. It contained the cremated bones of an adult male in an urn of painted pottery and accompanied among other objects by three more vascs. On the wooden roof there was a ritual offcring of plates and sorne hen's cggs. Special interest in shown in thc constructive method of the tomb., Se presenta aquí una tumba ibérica cuya estructura consta de madera, adobes y piedra. Contiene los huesos cremados de un individuo masculino adulto, incluido en una urna y acompañado, entre otras cosas, por tres vasos. Sobre el techo de madera se depositaron platos y huevos de gallina como ofrenda ritual. Se hace especial hincapié en el sistema constructivo de la sepultura.

The reference interval for the catalytic concentration of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) in serum was determined in 326 blood donors. The analytic method used p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-maltoheptaoside as substrate, which allows a continuous colorimetric measurement at 37 degrees C of the catalytic concentration of alpha-amylase in serum. The limits obtained were 0.7-3.8 mukat/l (42-228 U/l), which were in agreement with the only previous report found.