El Pueblo de Ceuta

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Pág. 16: 2ª Jornadas sobre el maltrato Infantil en Ceuta

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The Use Of Drones Against Al-Qaeda Is Inefficient To Prevent New Attacks In Europe And USA

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Javier Jordán, an expert in jihadism and a University of Granada professor states that, although drones are not efficient in preventing terrorist attacks in Europe and USA, they are the only instrument that USA has to undermine Al-Quaeda’s leadership and operativity in Pakistan

The unmanned aerial vehicles –also named “drones”– that the CIA is employing against Al-Quaeda in Pakistan are inefficient to prevent new terrorist attacks against Europe and the USA. Nevertheless, drones are likely to keep being employed at the short and medium term since, as CIA’s director states, these vehicles are the only instrument that the USA has to undermine Al-Qaeda and taliban’s leadership and operating capacity in Pakistan.

This is the conclusion exposed in an article recently published in the Newsletters of the Real Instituto Elcano, prepared by a University of Granada professor and an expert in jihadism Javier Jordán Enamorado. In his article, professor Jordán notes that the campaign launched by the CIA is reducing Al-Qaeda’s troops and is negatively affecting its operating capacity.

The employment of armed drones to undermine Al-Qaeda’s capacity was an option that was already being considered before the 11-S attacks. They started to be operated at the start of the intervention in Afghanistan, although it was Obama’s administration that finally launched drone attacks in Pakistan, which have gained a very significant intensity. This situation is putting the legal and ethical aspects of this strategy into question, while discussion has arisen as to the effectiveness of eliminating enemy leaders, in the light of the poor results obtained in previous experiences against other Al-Qaeda groups.

Lack of reprisals

Professor Jordán stresses “the lack of reprisals from Al-Qaeda in response to CIA’s stategy of eliminating their leaders”. Recently, Al-Qaeda has launched only one attack –against the CIA in Khost in December 2009- where they made it clear through a later communiqué that they acted out of a desire for revenge, for their leaders being eliminated by drones.

Javier Jordán notes that, in 2009, the number of attacks by armed unmanned aircraft vehicles was higher than that launched in 2004 and 2008 –53 against 43–. In September 2010, the number of attacks already exceeded the total number of attacks launched in 2010 (69).

Currently, most of the drones flying in Afghanistan belong to the US Air Force and perform military tasks –route and facility protection, infantry support, etc. These CIA-operated vehicles employed in Pakistan are of a different type. Their main aim is eliminating Al-Qaeda’s key leaders and the taliban insurgency, and their activities are secret.

CIA’s attacks have caused intense controversy within Pakistani society, which explains Islamabad’s administration ambiguity. On the one hand, Pakistani’s government has openly condemned what they consider a violation of their sovereignity, while at the same time, they are allowing drones to use their air space and the airfield of Shamsi, which belongs to the Pakistani Air Force, Javier Jordán states in his article.

Simultaneously, these attacks have caused critics in the USA. The legality of these actions is being questioned, and there are many critics to the unintended civil casualties caused. “As these attacks are launched in a region inaccessible to the media and to humanitarian relief organizations, having a clear perspective of the collateral damage caused is difficult” –the University of Granada professor affirms.

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The use of drones against Al-Qaeda is inefficient to prevent new attacks in Europe and USA

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The unmanned aerial vehicles -also named «drones»- that the CIA is employing against Al-Quaeda in Pakistan are inefficient to prevent new terrorist attacks against Europe and the USA. Nevertheless, drones are likely to keep being employed at the short and medium term since, as CIA’s director states, these vehicles are the only instrument that the USA has to undermine Al-Qaeda and taliban’s leadership and operating capacity in Pakistan.

This is the conclusion exposed in an article recently published in the Newsletters of the Real Instituto Elcano, prepared by a >University of Granada professor and an expert in jihadism Javier Jordán Enamorado. In his article, professor Jordán notes that the campaign launched by the CIA is reducing Al-Qaeda’s troops and is negatively affecting its operating capacity.

The employment of armed drones to undermine Al-Qaeda’s capacity was an option that was already being considered before the 11-S attacks. They started to be operated at the start of the intervention in Afghanistan, although it was Obama’s administration that finally launched drone attacks in Pakistan, which have gained a very significant intensity. This situation is putting the legal and ethical aspects of this strategy into question, while discussion has arisen as to the effectiveness of eliminating enemy leaders, in the light of the poor results obtained in previous experiences against other Al-Qaeda groups.

Lack of reprisals

Professor Jordán stresses «the lack of reprisals from Al-Qaeda in response to CIA’s stategy of eliminating their leaders». Recently, Al-Qaeda has launched only one attack -against the CIA in Khost in December 2009- where they made it clear through a later communiqué that they acted out of a desire for revenge, for their leaders being eliminated by drones.

Javier Jordán notes that, in 2009, the number of attacks by armed unmanned aircraft vehicles was higher than that launched in 2004 and 2008

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20 Minutos

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Pág. 4: La Feria del Empleo Universitario espera superar las 14.000 visitas y los 500 contratos

Francisco Manuel Anguas

Pág. 6: Copias en 3D

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Researchers Resurrect Four-Billion-Year-Old Enzymes, Reveal Conditions of Early Life on Earth

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A team of scientists from Columbia University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Granada in Spain have successfully reconstructed active enzymes from four-billion-year-old extinct organisms. By measuring the properties of these enzymes, they could examine the conditions in which the extinct organisms lived. The results shed new light on how life has adapted to changes in the environment from ancient to modern Earth.

In their study, published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the researchers used vast amounts of genetic data to computationally reconstruct the genes of extinct species, a technique known as ancestral sequence reconstruction. The researchers then went a step further and synthesized the proteins encoded by these genes. They focused their efforts on a specific protein, thioredoxin, which is a vital enzyme found in all living cells.

Dr. Julio Fernandez, professor in Columbia’s Department of Biological Sciences, and his team conducted a detailed biophysical analysis of the reconstructed thioredoxin enzymes, using ultra-high resolution atomic force microscopy methods. “Given the ancient origin of the reconstructed thioredoxin enzymes, with some of them predating the buildup of atmospheric oxygen, we expected their catalytic chemistry to be simple,” said Dr. Fernandez, “Instead, we found that enzymes that existed in the Precambrian era up to four billion years ago possessed many of the same chemical mechanisms observed in their modern day relatives.”

Further examination of the ancient enzymes by Dr. Jose Sanchez-Ruiz’ group at the University of Granada in Spain revealed some striking features; the enzymes were highly resistant to temperature and were active in more acidic conditions. The findings suggest that the species hosting these ancient enzymes thrived in very hot environments that since then have progressively cooled down, and that they lived in oceans that were more acidic than today.

“By resurrecting proteins, we are able to gather valuable information about the adaptation of extinct forms of life to environmental alterations that cannot be uncovered through fossil record examinations,” said Dr. Eric Gaucher, an expert in ancestral sequence reconstruction at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The researchers are now looking to apply their strategy to other enzymes to get a clearer picture of what life was like on early earth.

The work could have applications in biotechnology, where enzymes are playing an increasing role in many industrial processes. “The unique features we observe in the ancestral enzymes show that our technique could be adapted to generate enhanced enzymes for a wide range of applications,” remarked Pallav Kosuri, a graduate student and part of the team at Columbia University. “If we learn to harness these extinct features, we could potentially improve the efficiency of important processes such as the generation of biofuels,” he added. Columbia Technology Ventures, the technology transfer office at Columbia University, is working with the scientific team to explore commercial applications of the discoveries.

About Columbia University
A leading academic and research university, Columbia University continually seeks to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to foster a campus community deeply engaged in understanding and addressing the complex global issues of our time. Columbia’s extensive public service initiatives, cultural collaborations, and community partnerships help define the university’s underlying values and mission to educate students to be both leading scholars and informed, engaged citizens. Founded in 1754 as King’s College, Columbia University in the City of New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

About Columbia Technology Ventures
Columbia University’s technology transfer office, Columbia Technology Ventures, manages Columbia’s intellectual property portfolio and serves as the university’s gateway for companies and entrepreneurs seeking novel technology solutions. Our core mission is to facilitate the transfer of inventions from academic research to outside organizations for the benefit of society on a local, national and global basis. For more information on Columbia Technology Ventures, please visit www.techventures.columbia.edu.

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El Mundo

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Pág. 44: Un ‘ojo’ fabricado en el laboratorio

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Staminali, quando la ricerca fa ‘miracoli’

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Il primo occhio in provetta costruito con cellule che si auto-assemblano è solo l’ultimo dei successi della ricerca, ma segna una pietra fondamentale nella lunga corsa a tappe verso le future ‘fabbriche’ di organi. Lo stato attuale degli studi dimostra che con le cellule staminali, dall’intestino alla pelle, passando per gli occhi o i polmoni, si possono fare ‘miracoli’.

Ecco il percorso finora fatto:

Occhio
Cellule staminali embrionali di topo, immerse in un cocktail di sostanze nutrienti e che ne favoriscono la crescita, si sono assemblate spontaneamente fino a formare il calice ottico, ossia la struttura embrionale da cui deriva la retina.

Intestino
E’ il primo organo umano costruito in laboratorio a partire da cellule staminali. Ha una struttura tridimensionale e funziona perfettamente, come dimostrano i test sugli animali.

Polmoni
Primo organo complesso nato in provetta, con una tecnica che utilizza la struttura naturale dell’organo come impalcatura su cui si sviluppano le nuove cellule, all’interno di un incubatore che simula l’ambiente embrionale.

Cornea
Coltivata in Spagna, nell’universita’ di Granada, con cellule staminali di coniglio.

Cuore
Numerosi gruppi, fra i quali molti italiani, hanno cominciato test clinici basati su staminali del muscolo cardiaco e condotti su pazienti colpiti da infarto. I possibili beneficiari della tecnica sarebbero numerosi, ma prima di trarre conclusioni molti aspettano i risultati dei test in corso.

Pelle
E’ stato il  primo tessuto coltivato in provetta e il risultato piu’ importante risale al 2006, quando e’ stata ricostruita la pelle completa di strato superficiale e profondo utilizzando tre diversi tipi di cellule staminali.

Cartilagine
La coltivazione di questo tessuto si sta consolidando, decine di migliaia i possibili beneficiari; – OSSO: si sta avvicinando la fase del passaggio dai test pre-clinici ai clinici.

Vasi sanguigni
I test su animali sono in fase avanzata e si comincia a pensare a uno studio pilota.

Ghiandole endocrine
La ricerca riguarda soprattutto le cellule del pancreas addette alla produzione di insulina.

Cellule di fegato e rene
Sono utilizzate per realizzare bioreattori per riparare insufficienze acute o in persone in attesa di trapianto.

Mucose
Il primo risultato concreto arriva dall’Italia, con la ricostruzione della prima vagina biotech. Test pre-clinici sulla ricostruzione del sistema uro-genitale sono in corso negli Usa.

Denti
Sono stati ottenuti in provetta utilizzando cellule staminali della gemma del dente. L’esperimento e’ stato condotto sui topi da un gruppo giapponese.

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Ideal

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Pág. 3: Una instalación abandonada durante siete años… y continúa

Pág. 8 – Publicidad: Premios a la excelencia en la movilidad internacional de estudiantes

Pág. 11: La Feria de Empleo abre la puerta al universitario para irse a otros países

Pág. 16: Despega el centenario de la aviación

Pág. 61: Concierto, hoy, del percusionista Anguas

Pág. 73: Charla sobre la conservación del patrimonio / Concierto de Francisco Manuel Anguas Rodríguez / Los palacios medievales

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Granada Hoy

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Pág. 16: Miles de jóvenes abarrotan la ‘feria de la emigración’

Pág. 18: Los estudiantes de Medicina analizan la industria farmacéutica

Las células nerviosas influyen en la degeneración de retina

Pág. 23: Conferencia. El patrimonio en la Alhambra

Imágenes y obras de arte en 3D

Pág. 24: Anguas ofrece un concierto en Medicina

Pág. 25: Villafranca abre la Semana de las Ciencias Sociales

El mirador romántico del Generalife, abierto en abril

Deportes – Pág. 11: Rugby. Granada, tercera en el Campeonato

Pág. 53 – Publicidad: Premios a la excelencia en la movilidad internacional de estudiantes

Contraportada: La feria del empleo emigrante

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Conferencia sobre “Los palacios medievales de Santiago (siglos IX-XII)”

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  • A cargo del arqueólogo José Suárez Otero, tendrá lugar en el Carmen de la Victoria (Cuesta del Chapiz, 9), el jueves, 7 de abril de 2011, a las 19 horas

“Los palacios medievales de Santiago (siglos IX-XII)” es el título de la conferencia que impartirá el arqueólogo José Suárez Otero (Santiago de Compostela) en el Carmen de la Victoria (Cuesta del Chapiz, 9), el jueves, 7 de abril de 2011, a las 19 horas.

Organizado por el Grupo de investigación “Laboratorio de Arqueología y Arquitectura de la Ciudad” (Escuela de Estudios Árabes. CSIC), la Residencia de Invitados Carmen de la Victoria y la Cátedra “Emilio García Gómez” del Secretariado de Extensión Universitaria de la UGR, el acto forma parte del ciclo “Palacios medievales” cuyo seminario permanente, “Jueves mínimos”, se viene celebrando desde el pasado año con distintas conferencias.

Actividad

  • Conferencia: “Los palacios medievales de Santiago (siglos IX-XII)”
  • A cargo de: José Suárez Otero
  • Lugar: Carmen de la Victoria (Cuesta del Chapiz, 9)
  • Fecha: Jueves, 7 de abril de 2011
  • Hora: 19.00 horas
  • Organiza: Grupo de investigación “Laboratorio de Arqueología y Arquitectura de la Ciudad” (Escuela de Estudios Árabes. CSIC), la Residencia de Invitados Carmen de la Victoria y la Cátedra “Emilio García Gómez” del Secretariado de Extensión Universitaria de la UGR
  • Entrada: Libre, hasta completar el aforo

Jardines del Carmen de la Victoria

Contacto: Profesor Carmelo Pérez Beltrán. Director de la Cátedra “Emilio García Gómez”. Universidad de Granada. Tfn: 958 243484 y 958243574. Correo electrónico: carmelop@ugr.es

Profesores de 22 universidades participan en el II Congreso de Seguridad y Prevención “Nuevos tiempos para la seguridad”

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  • Los días 7 y 8 de abril en la E. T. S. de Ingeniería de Edificación

La Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Edificación junto con el Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas organizan durante los próximos días 7 y 8 de abril el II Congreso de Profesores Universitarios de Seguridad y Prevención: “Nuevos tiempos para la seguridad”, con el patrocinio del Vicerrectorado para la Garantía de la Calidad de la Universidad de Granada.

En este congreso participan profesores de 22 universidades y trata de ofrecer de nuevo un marco adecuado para el encuentro y debate entre profesores involucrados en la docencia universitaria de una materia tan importante y esencial en la formación técnica como es la Prevención y Seguridad.

El lema elegido para esta II edición, “Nuevos tiempos para la Seguridad”, abre un abanico de reflexión muy interesante sobre el proceso de integración de los estudios universitarios en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior que ha introducido importantes modificaciones, tanto en la organización de los estudios universitarios españoles como en la propia docencia. Asimismo se tendrá la oportunidad de intercambiar experiencias sobre buenas prácticas docentes en materia de Seguridad.

Para más información: http://www.ugr.es/~congresopusp/

CONVOCATORIA:

  • DÍA: jueves, 7 de abril de 2011.
  • HORA: 16:15 h.
  • LUGAR: E. T. S. de Ingeniería de Edificación. Campus de Fuentenueva.

Investigadores de la UGR descubren indicios sobre la influencia de células del sistema nervioso en la degeneración de la retina

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  • De comprobarse al 100% esta hipótesis ayudaría a explicar y tratar ciertas enfermedades degenerativas de la retina como la retinosis pigmentaria, el Síndrome de Usher o la degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE)

Un grupo de investigadores del Departamento de Biología Celular de la Universidad de Granada, liderados por el profesor Miguel Ángel Cuadros, descubren indicios de la influencia de las células microgliales, que se encuentran en el Sistema Nervioso Central y son responsables de eliminar restos celulares en el ojo, en la muerte de células fotorreceptoras, es decir, las encargadas de convertir la luz en señales reconocibles por las neuronas. De comprobarse al 100% esta hipótesis ayudaría a explicar y tratar ciertas enfermedades degenerativas de la retina como la retinosis pigmentaria, el Síndrome de Usher o la degeneración macular asociada a la edad (DMAE), informa Andalucía Innova.

“Si se conocen los factores relacionados con la muerte programada de los fotorreceptores se podrán desarrollar estrategias terapéuticas que eviten o retarden la evolución de las enfermedades degenerativas de la retina”, explicó el profesor Cuadros. Para ello, los expertos han desarrollado dos modelos experimentales: uno con ratones vivos a los que expusieron a luz intensa y otro con cultivos in vitro de explantes, fragmentos de retina, también procedentes de estos roedores.

Los investigadores han comprobado que las células microgliales de las capas internas de la retina de los ratones emiten prolongaciones hacia los núcleos de las células fotorreceptoras justo al final de la exposición a la luz intensa cuando comienza la degeneración de fotorreceptores; 24 horas más tarde hay numerosas células microgliales en la región eliminando células degradadas y a partir de las 72 horas la microglía intenta volver a la normalidad, aunque se mantiene la activación microglial, por si fuera necesario la eliminación de nuevas células muertas. Esta secuencia temporal de las modificaciones en las células microgliales ha sido recientemente publicada en el Journal of Comparative Neurology.

En los explantes -fragmentos- de retina, cultivados en condiciones aptas de nutrientes y temperatura durante un máximo de 18 días manteniendo las características generales de la retina, analizaron la viabilidad celular en el cultivo, que sufría un descenso durante los primeros días “probablemente como consecuencia del drástico cambio que sufre la retina cuando se prepara el explante y se pone en un medio de cultivo”, indica el profesor Cuadros. Posteriormente, la estructura general de la retina se conservaba durante dos semanas, tiempo en el que se realizaron los experimentos. También se realizaron explantes de retina de animales que carecían del enzima PARP-1, implicada en la reparación del ADN y relacionada con la activación de la función microglial, en los que la muerte de células se producía uno o dos días después en relación a retinas con PARP-1, aunque el equipo aún no ha logrado explicar el por qué.

En ambos casos los investigadores detectaron que la disminución de la viabilidad celular coincidía con un incremento de la activación microglial confirmado mediante citometría de flujo, técnica para contar o medir componentes y propiedades de células. Tras determinar la viabilidad normal de las células, los investigadores se centraron en determinar el efecto de alterar la función microglial sobre la viabilidad del fragmento de retina.

“Aunque tenemos indicios de que la activación de la microglía de la retina puede contribuir a la degeneración de fotorreceptores, no podemos decir que la hipótesis esté confirmada al 100%”, afirma el profesor Cuadros. Dos argumentos apoyan su tesis: con el uso de minociclina (antibiótico que impide la activación microglial y tiene un efecto anti-inflamatorio) y con la inhibición de la enzima PARP (implicada en la movilización de las células microgliales), se produce un incremento de la supervivencia de las células de la retina. Pero aún se desconoce si el efecto es transitorio o estable.

Minoclinina

En la actualidad, el equipo de Biología Celular de la UGR trabaja en la eliminación de las células microgliales en explantes de retina. Si logran eliminar la microglía obtendrán datos de alto interés acerca de su influencia en la degeneración retiniana. Además, este hito permitirá identificar si existen mecanismos alternativos que influyan y/o desemboquen en la muerte de fotorreceptores, premisa que el equipo no descarta.

Este descubrimiento forma parte de un Proyecto de Excelencia incentivado con casi 195.000 euros por la Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia de la Junta de Andalucía.

CONTACTO: Miguel Ángel Cuadros Ojeda. Teléfono: 958 246 332. Correo electrónico: macuadro@ugr.es