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Abstract Background Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is still one of the most economically important viral diseases of pigs. In endemic countries, the disease is controlled mostly through vaccination; hence, the availability of safe and effective vaccines is of utmost importance. Vaccines intended for application in developing countries must also be thermally stable, since the infrastructure needed to maintain a cold chain in those countries is usually lacking. Porvac® is a second-generation subunit marker vaccine against CSF that has demonstrates to be safe and protective. Previous studies have also shown that the vaccine is stable for 1 week at 37 oC and have a shelf life of at least 36 months at 2–8 oC. The aim of this work was to further explore the accelerated stability of Porvac® by assessing the physicochemical properties of the emulsion, and the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine subjected to more drastic conditions of thermal stress: (1) 25 oC for 12 months; (2) 30oC and 37 oC for one month and (3) 15 days at 37 °C after the cap of the vials had been needle-punctured. Results The vaccine subjected to all these conditions did not show significant changes in the physicochemical properties of the emulsion; did not produce local or systemic adverse reactions in pigs, and the chromatographic profile of the recovered antigen was preserved. All vaccinated swine developed neutralizing antibody titers ≥ 1:1000 at 28 days post vaccination. Conclusions Porvac® is stable in all the experimental conditions tested, even after cap puncture, and retains the capacity to induce high titers of neutralizing antibodies, well above the threshold of protection. These results reinforce the robustness of the vaccine, and support its use as a very attractive alternative to modified live vaccines in developing countries endemic for CSF.

One‐dimensional zinc oxide nanomaterials (1DZnO) have emerged as promising, cost‐effective nanoplatforms with adjustable properties suitable for electrochemical and optical biosensing applications. In this work, modifications in the inherent photoluminescent response of 1DZnO are harnessed to develop a novel immunosensor tailored for detecting enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. This nanobiosensor demonstrates a modulation in photoluminescence signal, effectively responsive to analyte concentrations ranging from 1 × 102 to 1 × 108 CFU mL−1, with direct visualization of targeted bacterial cells over 1DZnO structures through scanning electron microscopy. The conceptualization of this nanobiosensor is focused on a real‐time contact strategy that can significantly reduce processing and response times for pathogen detection, prospected for emergency scenarios. With this aim, the detection process unfolds in real time, with a mere 5–10 s interaction time, corroborated by the standard polymerase chain reaction approach. This synergistic validation underscores the reliability and precision of the developed biosensor. Notably, the utility of 1DZnO nanoplatforms extends beyond the realm of enteropathogenic E. coli, as the biosensing performance exhibited here holds promise for analogous applications involving other medically pertinent pathogens. This study paves the way for the broader implementation of 1DZnO‐based biosensors in medical diagnostics, offering rapid, sensitive, and real‐time detection capabilities.

Marine pollution poses significant threats to ecosystems by contaminating habitats and degrading marine life. This involves the need to develop efficient methodologies to evaluate the compounds that affect marine organisms, such as steroid hormones. The study of the presence of these compounds in marine organisms like sea urchins is very interesting given their role as bioindicators because they feed on algae and are constantly in contact with sediments. Given the low concentrations of steroid hormones in marine environments, it is necessary to develop extraction procedures that allow these pollutants to be extracted and preconcentrated before chemical analyses. Of all the extraction methods, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has been used for its many advantages compared to traditional extraction techniques, such as easy sample handling or scarce organic solvents use, and for providing very selective extractions. This study presents the novel MAE optimisation for the extraction of 15 hormones, including five oestrogens, three androgens, four progestogens and three glucocorticoids from sea urchin tissues. The extracted hormones were subsequently determined by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this approach has not been previously developed. To perform extraction optimisation, different variables were studied following factorial experimental designs. The optimised extraction method showed very appropriate analytical parameters, with limits of detection between 0.21 and 20.4 ng·g-1 for the four families of studied steroid hormones, and recovery extractions over 60 % for most target compounds. After optimisation, the analytical methodology was applied to samples of three different sea urchins species (Arbacia lixula, Paracentrotus lividus, Sphaerechinus granularis) caught in different locations around the Gran Canaria island (Canary Islands, Spain). The results showed the great applicability of the optimised methodology and two target hormones, boldenone and prednisolone, which were quantified in different samples and locations. This indicates the potential of sea urchins as bioindicators of the health of marine ecosystems and of anthropogenic contamination.

This article presents a response to the harsh criticism expressed against E. L. James’s Fifty Shades. Accusations have been made from many sides that it encourages gender-based violence within a romantic relationship, unjustly stereotyping the female character Anastasia (Ana) as a battered, submissive, weak woman and a “sex slave.” However, as this thorough analysis will argue, Anastasia does not fit the profile of a victim of gender-based violence. Rather, she embodies the traits of an empowered woman. From this viewpoint, it is unfair to consider Fifty Shades as promoting violence against women.

Degradation of water quality is an emerging issue in many developing countries. In this context, industrial and domestic effluents heavily contaminate the coast of Moknine Continental Sebkha in Tunisia. The present study aimed to biomonitor the seawater quality of the Moknine Continental Sebkha coast using physicochemical and ecotoxicological approaches. The ecotoxicological assessment was performed using three species representing different trophic levels, namely Vibrio fischeri, Selenastrum capricornutum, and Lepidium sativum. In the physicochemical analysis such as BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand), TSS (total suspended solids), TOC (total organic carbon), NO3− (nitrate), AOX (adsorbable organic halogen), the recorded levels of pH and total suspended solids did not comply with the Tunisian standard (NT.09.11/1983). The ecotoxicological data confirmed that the tested water samples displayed toxicity to two test indicators L. sativum and S. capricornutum. A targeted chemical screening of the Moknine Continental Sebkha coast previously performed revealed the presence of total mercury, four phthalate acid esters, and one non-phthalate plasticizer, a fact that could explain the observed ecotoxicological effects and therefore might harm the biotic area and the health of the surrounding population. HIGHLIGHTS Water quality biomonitoring of the coast of Moknine Continental Sebkha in Tunisia, which is heavily contaminated by industrial and domestic effluents.; Water quality assessment included physicochemical and ecotoxicological approaches.; Ecotoxicity for two target organisms (Selenastrum capricornutum and Lepidium sativum) was detected.; Industrial output affects the water quality and biodiversity.;

Cape Verde, a West Africa Island country, is exposed to climate change effect. An effective way of reducing its poverty and achieving food security is to provide its agricultural sector with water. The purpose of this study is to monitor treated water quality to ensure that any pollutants are below the limits set to ensure the safety and sustainability of reuse because only 10% of its treated wastewater is reused. For the first time on Cape Verde islands, besides chemical quality, the occurrence of 11 pharmaceutical compounds (PhC) in the influent and effluent of two natural wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was monitored to assess the effectiveness of the treatment technologies and removal efficiencies of these pollutants. Of the 11 target PhC, nine were detected in influent samples within the ng·L−1 to μg·L−1 range. Lower concentrations were detected in one WWTP vs. the other. Nevertheless, the removal efficiencies for most compounds were similar in both WWTPs: within the ranges of 82–92% for beta-blockers, 48–99% for stimulants and 44–95% for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, while carbamazepine (anticonvulsant) concentrations increased in effluents. WWTPs produce water that meets water quality standards for irrigation if a properly designed and managed reusing system is adopted. HIGHLIGHTS Pharmaceuticals in influent/effluent from two WWTPs were first studied in Cape Verde.; Nine pharmaceuticals were detected in influent samples of WWTP (ng·L−1–μ·L−1 range).; Erythromycin was detected in the WWTP which receives hospital sewage.; Achieved removals are similar to analogous systems located on semi-arid islands.; Proper water management assures negligible risk for pharmaceutical uptake by plants.;

Levrier Bay, located in the western part of Mauritanian Cost, has a strategic position in Mauritania’s fish economy and reproduction environment. Recently, fishmeal factories have multiplied in the bay. This study was carried out in Levrier Bay. It is the first one in this area which is interested in assessing the environmental impact of fishmeal factory discharges by measuring several parameters such as suspended matter, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), conductivity, turbidity, and salinity. A total of 27 samples were collected at 9 sites distributed on the link between effluents from factories and the Atlantic Ocean (discharge site). Results show that some parameters are over permissible values, like suspended matter content (SS), which reached 2020 mg. L.-1 level. The turbidity measure shows excessively high values (50 to 961 mg.L.-1); impacted by effluents at the reject point, the seawater conductivity and salinity are particularly low (4.53 to 188.2 and 13 to 56.4, respectively). The total organic carbon (TOC) values ranged from 200 to 780 mg/L, whereas the highest measured level of chemical oxygen demand was 4010 mg.L.-1 Biochemical oxygen demand content ranged from 685 to 961 mg/L. The biodegradability index (COD/BOD) shows that these effluents are not easily biodegradable because the index > 3.

Fundamento: el cáncer de ovario constituye un problema de salud pública en Cuba y en el mundo por su elevada morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo: caracterizar las pacientes diagnosticadas con cáncer de ovario atendidas en el Servicio de Ginecología Oncológica del Hospital Universitario Docente Celestino Hernández Robau en el periodo 2015 - 2018. Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con una muestra de 71 pacientes diagnosticadas de cáncer de ovario en el Hospital Universitario Docente Celestino Hernández Robau. Se consideraron las variables: edad, nivel de escolaridad, hábito de fumar, obesidad, antecedentes patológicos familiares de cáncer de ovario, antecedentes ginecostétricos, clasificación histológica, estadio clínico, tratamiento monoespecífico y respuesta al tratamiento primario. Se determinaron frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados: predominaron las pacientes entre 50-59 años (36,6 %), las multíparas (92 %), en etapa clínica IIIC con un 35,22 %, los adenocarcinomas serosos representaron el tipo histológico más frecuente (64,79 %). La cirugía subóptima se practicó al 52,11 % y la quimioterapia adyuvante al 45,07 %. El 35 % de las pacientes alcanzaron respuesta completa al tratamiento inicial. Conclusiones: los resultados obtenidos se comportan, en general, de acuerdo a patrones epidemiológicos reportados internacionalmente. Las pacientes entre 50-59 años, multíparas, en etapa clínica IIIC y con adenocarcinomas serosos, son prevalentes. La cirugía y la quimioterapia fueron los tratamientos estándar. Se obtuvo respuesta completa en la mayoría de las pacientes después del tratamiento inicial.

Background: ovarian cancer constitutes a public health problem in Cuba and the world due to its high morbidity and mortality. Objective: to characterize the patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer treated at the Gynecol Oncology Service of the Celestino Hernández Robau Teaching University Hospital in the period 2015 - 2018. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 71 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the Celestino Hernández Robau Teaching University Hospital. Variables were considered: age, level of education, smoking, obesity, family pathological history of ovarian cancer, gynecostal history, histological classification, clinical stage, monospecific treatment and response to primary treatment. Absolute and relative frequencies were determined. Results: patients between 50-59 years (36.6 %), multiparous (92 %), in clinical stage IIIC with 35.22 %, serous adenocarcinomas represented the most frequent histological type (64.79 %). Suboptimal surgery was performed in 52.11 % and adjuvant chemotherapy in 45.07 %. 35 % of the patients achieved a complete response to the initial treatment. Conclusions: the results obtained behave, in general, according to epidemiological patterns reported internationally. Patients between 50-59 years of age, multiparous, in clinical stage IIIC and with serous adenocarcinomas are prevalent. Surgery and chemotherapy are standard treatments. Complete response was obtained in most patients after initial treatment.

Introducción: los niveles de aceptación de la vacuna de COVID-19 varían a nivel mundial y es necesario tomar en cuenta los clientes priorizados, definidos como la población con poco acceso a salud por sus características sociodemográficas, migrantes haitianos y sus descendientes, con alta tasa de movilidad, escaso recursos económicos y un alto porcentaje sin documentos que avalen su estatus migratorio en República Dominicana. Esta población no se ve reflejada en ningún estudio encontrado hasta el momento. Material y métodos: el estudio se realizó usando la encuesta de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas (CAP) más creencias. Estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal. Resultados: sobre la intención de vacunarse, comparando si habría una diferencia según la condición serológica de los pacientes no se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa, al realizar el test chi-cuadrado se obtuvo un p-value de 0.080. Mientras que al comparar si había alguna diferencia con las personas iletradas no se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa, dado que el p-value fue de 0.664. Tampoco hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa al comparar los participantes según sexo, ya que el p-value fue de 0.664. Al realizar la prueba de T desapareadas con un intervalo de confianza de 95 % debido a que se estaba comparando sí o no los pacientes se vacunarían, con la edad sí se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa, pues el p-value fue de 0.001. Conclusiones: la aceptación de la vacuna puede estar determinada por la edad y por el nivel educativo de la población migrante. Por lo que habría que realizar más estudios sobre qué otros factores pudieran afectar la intención y percepción de la efectividad de la vacuna. Además de hacer campañas específicas para esta población.

Resumen: Introducción: El hiperinsulinismo congénito (HC) es una patología seria caracterizada por la aparición de hipoglucemias graves. Las mutaciones patogénicas en los genes ABCC8 y KCNJ11 son la causa más frecuente, aunque también se han descrito en otros (GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, SLC16A1, UCP2, HK1) y asociado a diferentes síndromes. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes con diagnóstico de HC en nuestra unidad durante los últimos 18 años (2001-2018). El análisis genético incluyó un cribado de 11 genes en ADN genómico a partir de sangre periférica (ABCC8, GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, INSR, KCNJ11, SLC16A1, UCP2, SLC25A15). Objetivos: Realizar una caracterización clínica y genética de los casos diagnosticados de HC en nuestro medio. Resultados: Desde 2001 hemos tenido 10 casos de HC persistente. Siete presentaron mutaciones en el gen ABCC8, uno en el gen HNF4α y en dos pacientes no se encontraron mutaciones patogénicas en los genes analizados. Cuatro pacientes presentaron mutaciones no descritas previamente. Se recurrió a la pancreatectomía en dos de los casos. El valor mínimo de insulina detectado en hipoglucemia fue de 6,81 μUI/ml. La incidencia de HC persistente para Gran Canaria y Lanzarote es de 1/15.614. Conclusiones: Cuatro pacientes presentaron mutaciones no descritas. El gen más frecuentemente afectado fue ABCC8. El 20% de los pacientes requirieron pancreatectomía. En todos los pacientes se objetivó un valor de insulina ≥ 6,81 μUI/ml en el momento del diagnóstico. La incidencia de HC en Gran Canaria es elevada. Abstract: Introduction: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CH) is a severe disorder characterised by the appearance of severe hypoglycaemia. Pathogenic mutations in the ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes are the most frequent cause, although its appearance also been associated to mutations in other genes (GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, SLC16A1, UCP2, HK1), and with different syndromes. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with CH in this unit during the last 18 years (2001-2018). Genetic analysis included screening for 11 genes in genomic DNA from peripheral blood (ABCC8, GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, INSR, KCNJ11, SLC16A1, UCP2, and SLC25A15). Objective: To carry out a clinical and genetic characterisation of the diagnosed cases of CH in Gran Canaria. Results: There have been 10 cases of persistent CH since 2001. Seven of them had mutations in the ABCC8 gene, one in the HNF4α gene, and in two patients, no pathogenic mutations were found in the analysed genes. Four patients presented with previously undescribed mutations. Pancreatectomy was performed in two of the cases. The minimum insulin value detected in hypoglycaemia was 6.81 μIU/ml. The incidence of persistent CH for Gran Canaria and Lanzarote is 1/15,614. Conclusions: Four patients had previously undescribed mutations. The most frequently affected gene was ABCC8. Pancreatectomy was required in 20% of the patients. An insulin value of ≥ 6.81 μIU/ml was observed in all patients at the time of diagnosis. The incidence of CH in Gran Canaria is high.

Introduction: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CH) is a severe disorder characterised by the appearance of severe hypoglycaemia. Pathogenic mutations in the ABCC8 and KCNJ11 genes are the most frequent cause, although its appearance also been associated to mutations in other genes (GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, SLC16A1, UCP2, HK1), and with different syndromes. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with CH in this unit during the last 18 years (2001–2018). Genetic analysis included screening for 11 genes in genomic DNA from peripheral blood (ABCC8, GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, INSR, KCNJ11, SLC16A1, UCP2, and SLC25A15). Objective: To carry out a clinical and genetic characterisation of the diagnosed cases of CH in Gran Canaria. Results: There have been 10 cases of persistent HC since 2001. Seven of them had mutations in the ABCC8 gene, one in the HNF4α gene, and in two patients, no pathogenic mutations were found in the analysed genes. Four patients presented with previously undescribed mutations. Pancreatectomy was performed in two of the cases. The minimum insulin value detected in hypoglycaemia was 6.81 µIU/mL. The incidence of persistent CH for Gran Canaria and Lanzarote is 1/15,614. Conclusions: Four patients had previously undescribed mutations. The most frequently affected gene was ABCC8. Pancreatectomy was required in 20% of the patients. An insulin value of ≥6.81 µIU/mL was observed in all patients at the time of diagnosis. The incidence of CH in Gran Canaria is high. Resumen: Introducción: El hiperinsulinismo congénito (HC) es una patología severa caracterizada por la aparición de hipoglucemias graves. Las mutaciones patogénicas en los genes ABCC8 y KCNJ11 son la causa más frecuente, aunque también se han descrito en otros (GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, SLC16A1, UCP2, HK1) y asociado a diferentes síndromes. Material, pacientes y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes con diagnóstico de HC en nuestra unidad durante los últimos 18 años (2001–2018). El análisis genético incluyó un cribado de 11 genes en ADN genómico a partir de sangre periférica (ABCC8, GCK, GLUD1, HADH, HNF1A, HNF4A, INSR, KCNJ11, SLC16A1, UCP2, SLC25A15). Objetivos: Realizar una caracterización clínica y genética de los casos diagnosticados de HC en nuestro medio. Resultados: Desde 2001 hemos tenido 10 casos de HC persistente. Siete presentaron mutaciones en el gen ABCC8, uno en el gen HNF4α y en dos pacientes no se encontraron mutaciones patogénicas en los genes analizados. Cuatro pacientes presentaron mutaciones no descritas previamente. Se recurrió a la pancreatectomía en 2 de los casos. El valor mínimo de insulina detectado en hipoglucemia fue de 6,81 µUI/mL. La incidencia de HC persistente para Gran Canaria y Lanzarote es de 1/15.614. Conclusiones: Cuatro pacientes presentaron mutaciones no descritas. El gen más frecuentemente afectado fue ABCC8. Un 20% de los pacientes requirieron pancreatectomía. En todos los pacientes se objetivó un valor de insulina ≥6,81 µUI/mL en el momento del diagnóstico. La incidencia de HC en Gran Canaria es elevada.

Introducción. Porvac es una vacuna de subunidad contra la peste porcina clásica, cuyo principio activo es la proteína quimérica entre el antígeno E2 y el adyuvante mo- lecular CD154. Se ha demostrado su capacidad para evitar la transmisión transpla- centaria y proteger 7 días después de una dosis. El presente trabajo ha resumido los estudios de seguridad y eficacia de esta vacuna en diferentes edades y condiciones de manejo. Métodos. La vacuna se produjo en condiciones de BPM. Para los ensayos clínicos se emplearon cerdos Dubroc x Yorkshire. Por lo general, se empleó un esquema de 2 dosis los días 0 y 21 y se administraron 2 mL por vía intramuscular. La respuesta de anticuerpos neutralizantes se midió por NPLA. Los ensayos de desafío viral se realiza- ron en áreas controladas. Resultados. Se demostró la seguridad de Porvac en crías y en cerdas gestantes. No se observaron reacciones locales ni sistémicas. El número de crías, su peso y sobrevida fue similar en las cerdas vacunadas y sus controles. Se evidenció la capacidad de Porvac al inducir títulos de anticuerpos neutralizantes (AcN) protectores con diferentes esquemas. Los títulos de AcN calostrales (AcNC) en las crías de madres vacunadas con Porvac® o con VVA y Porvac fueron superiores a 1:200 hasta al menos 8 semanas. Los AcNC fueron suficientes para proteger a las crías frente al reto viral letal. Se demostró que los AcNC no interferían en la vacunación con Porvac en crías a partir de 15 días de nacidas. Finamente, los títulos de AcN inducidos por Porvac persistieron durante 9 meses por encima de 1:2000 y protegieron frente al retoviral. Conclusiones. Los resultados evidenciaron la seguridad de Porvac y su capacidad para inducir una inmunidad robusta y sostenida en los animales desde su nacimiento hasta la muerte, sin ventanas inmunológicas durante todo el ciclo productivo.

Las poblaciones de razas bovinas criollas son valiosos reservorios de diversidad y esta es importante para la formación y diferenciación de las razas. Las poblaciones aisladas son de gran interés porque las frecuencias génicas dependen del ambiente en que se desenvuelven, ya que el aislamiento les ha impedido tener intercambio genético con otras poblaciones. El objetivo de la investigación fue realizar el estudio de la herencia del color del pelaje en el ganado criollo Romosinuano, a partir de la población de animales pertenecientes al hato de conservación del Centro de Investigación Turipaná, Cereté, Córdoba, Colombia. El color se determinó con la ayuda de los parámetros zootécnicos para la raza. Se aplicaron bases de la genética Mendeliana para el estudio de la herencia del color de la capa del ganado criollo Romosinuano respecto a los fenotipos bayo, hosco, rojo cereza y mono, a partir de la población compuesta por 325 ejemplares pertenecientes al hato de conservación de dicha raza. Se encontró que el 49% eran de color bayo, el 25% hosco, 15% rojo cereza y 11% mono y se concluyó que el tipo de acción génica que gobierna la herencia del color del pelo en la raza Romosinuano es de alelos múltiples; siendo el grado de dominancia de los fenotipos: bayo > hosco > rojo cereza > mono.

Foundation: active research is a tool that facilitates the detection of relevant diseases in the epidemiological profile.Objective: to describe the experiences in the implementation of a municipal community active research system for COVID-19. Methods: prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in the municipality of Cumanayagua, Cienfuegos province, Cuba, between March 19 and April 17, 2020. The universe was all the inhabitants (48,412) and researchers ( 627) in that period. Medical records, municipal statistics were reviewed and participatory observation was used.Results: active research structure, its basis from the family doctor-nurse's office and its form are described by interviewing the residents in their homes. A total of 627 researchers, mainly health professionals (43.38%) and medical students (33.33%), evaluated daily up to 88.88% of all residents and 95.28% of all homes dispensed in the territory. The research system allowed detecting 97, 08% of the acute respiratory infections diagnosed in the municipality.Conclusions: massive community active research carried out by the basic health team, medical sciences students and professionals from various sectors, has allowed: access to all the communities, daily research of the majority of the inhabitants and respiratory infection accuracy incidence in the municipality. The implemented system was properly articulated to the family physician-nurse program at the primary care level.

Los variados elementos de la arquitectura troglodita de la isla de La Palma se han ido abandonando gradualmente por sus usuarios en busca de unas mejores condiciones de vida. La falta de uso, el aislamiento geográfico, las elevadas pendientes de los caminos de acceso, así como la escasa protección de estos ante los desprendimientos del terreno han propiciado que no se realicen las debidas tareas de mantenimiento y, por tanto, el estado de conservación es deficiente. Ante la inevitable degradación que presenta la arquitectura excavada de la Isla se plantea la necesidad de revitalizar dicho Patrimonio Cultural mediante la incorporación de nuevos usos que sean compatibles con estos espacios excavados con la finalidad de devolverles algunos de los valores que han perdido con el paso del tiempo y para que puedan convertirse en un reclamo tanto para los lugareños como para los visitantes. Por lo tanto, es necesario encontrar un equilibrio entre el aprovechamiento social y económico incorporando medidas orientadas a la mejora de la calidad de vida de las personas que nos permitan recuperar un modo de vida sostenible y compatible con la naturaleza aprovechando los recursos naturales presentes en cada localidad.

Objetivo. Estimar la heredabilidad y las correlaciones de la para tres caracteres relacionados con el crecimiento en bovinos criollos Romosinuano, y construir un índice de selección (IS). Materiales y métodos. Se analizó una base de datos conformada por 4079 registros de peso al nacimiento (PN), al destete (PD) y a los 16 meses de edad (P16m), obtenidos en el periodo 1943 – 2018, proveniente del hato del centro de investigación Turipaná. Se estimaron tanto los valores de heredabilidad para cada carácter como sus correlaciones, mediante el modelo animal multivariado; los valores genéticos (VG) y su relación usando el análisis de componentes principales. Resultados. Las correlaciones genéticas entre PN y PD, PN y P16m, y PD y P16m fueron de magnitud moderada a alta y positivas, lo que indica una asociación genética favorable entre estos caracteres. Los VG estandarizados para PN, PD y P16m exhibieron una alta asociación con el primer componente principal. Las estimaciones de heredabilidad total para PN, PD y P16m fueron igual a 0.18 ± 0.04, 0.16 ± 0.04 y 0.13 ± 0.04, respectivamente. Conclusión. Los caracteres PN, PD y P16m responderán lentamente a la selección, sin embargo, podría mejorarse mediante la construcción de IS basados en los componentes principales.

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar el valor de heredabilidad del carácter intervalo entre partos en una población de 2.112 vacas Romosinuano, y determinar los factores responsables de la variación de este carácter mediante el modelo lineal mixto generalizado. Se analizaron 7.560 registros de intervalo entre partos en el periodo 1936-2016. La media del intervalo entre partos fue de 379,74 ± 49,22 días (CV = 12,96 %) y las clases mes de parto, número de intervalo entre partos y año de parto tuvieron un efecto estadísticamente significativo sobre este carácter. Los menores intervalos entre partos ocurrieron entre abril y junio (367,12 ± 46,06 días), en vacas de cuarto y quinto parto (373,93 ± 46,93 días), y entre los años 1956 y 1965 (370,48 ± 50,55 días). Los mayores valores se presentaron entre octubre y diciembre (388,92 ± 57,96 días) en vacas de segundo (389,70 ± 49,38 días) y tercer intervalo entre partos (382,18 ± 51,19 días) cuyo parto ocurrió en el periodo 1946-1955 (387,69 ± 56,75 días). La heredabilidad de este carácter fue de 0,0001 ± 0,002. Se concluye que la raza Romosinuano tiene eficiencia reproductiva; sin embargo, dada la baja heredabilidad del intervalo entre partos, la selección por este carácter tendrá un impacto relativamente bajo debido al efecto de factores ambientales sobre su variación. El modelo lineal mixto generalizado es una herramienta que permite este tipo de estudios.

Introduction: One of the most recurrent sequels in the neurological branch is the facial paralysis which not only affects the motor area, but also the psychological one, as the face is the person's representative image. Objective: To evaluate the influence of digitopuncture as therapeutic alternative in patients with facial paralysis, by using the photographic technique for measuring angles according to the proposed evaluation indicators. Methods: A panel experimental and longitudinal study was made, with a pretest and a posttest, in the Physiotherapy Service of Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay Hospital Central Military Clinical-surgical, in Marianao municipality, Havana, from May to July, 2016, for which two groups were formed: a control group, in which conventional treatment was applied (massage, exercises of the pantomime and physical agents), and an experiment group which received digitopuncture besides massage. Results: In the evaluation of both groups, it was obtained that in the control group the best results were in the central axis of the mouth, followed by the muscle contraction, while the whole experimental group showed remarkable changes in all the indicators, with prevalence of the muscle contraction. When comparing the results of both groups in the pretest and posttest, the incidence and effectiveness of the digitopuncture was evidenced in the experimental group. Conclusions: Digitopuncture, as part of the rehabilitation in patients affected due to facial paralysis, influenced in a better recovery and decreased the time of treatment considerably, which had a higher incidence in the female group.

El objetivo del estudio fue estimar la repetibilidad del intervalo entre partos y establecer la relación con diferentes caracteres de eficiencia reproductiva de hembras Romosinuano. Una base de datos con 3.112 registros útiles de 871 hembras, colectados en el periodo 1936-2016, y provenientes del hato de conservación del Sistema de Bancos de Germoplasma de la Nación para la Alimentación y la Agricultura, del centro de investigación Turipaná, fue analizada. El modelo empleado para calcular los componentes de varianza necesarios para estimar el valor de repetibilidad del intervalo entre partos consistió en un modelo animal de medidas repetidas en el tiempo. Los componentes de varianza fueron estimados usando paquete rptR del software R, especializado en el análisis estadístico de datos. Con base en el valor estimado de la repetibilidad, se calculó y correlacionó el valor genético y la capacidad más probable de producción para cada hembra. Los valores promedio estimados del intervalo entre partos, la repetibilidad, la eficiencia reproductiva y la correlación entre el valor genético y la capacidad más probable de producción fueron 379,74 ± 47,74 días, 0,02 ± 0,01, 96 % y 93,7 %, respectivamente. La repetibilidad estimada para el intervalo entre partos fue baja, lo que demuestra también una baja correlación entre los intervalos de las hembras del hato analizado. La alta eficiencia reproductiva de la raza Romosinuano indica una gran adaptación al medio ambiente y la perfila como una oportunidad de mejora reproductiva del hato nacional mediante cruzamiento con otras razas.

La escasez de agua en el estado de Chihuahua y la necesidad de elevar la producción de las cosechas, son factores que han propiciado la adopción de sistemas de cultivo más eficientes, tal como la hidroponía. En la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, se estableció un cultivo de tomate variedad "Gabriela" bajo condiciones de invernadero y utilizando el método hidropónico. Como sustrato se usó arena y riego por goteo. Se utilizó el diseño experimental de bloques al azar con tres repeticiones, donde cada bloque consistió en nueve plantas. El experimento se realizó durante el periodo del 21 de febrero al 27 de Julio 2007. El estudio tuvo como objetivos encontrar la concentración óptima de ácido giberélico para una mayor producción de tomate; y obtener las concentraciones de los nutrientes N, K, Ca y P en el tomate cultivado, con relación a los diferentes tratamientos. Se compararon cuatro concentraciones de ácido giberélico: 0, 20, 40 y 60 ppm; el manejo de las plantas fue similar, aplicándose la misma solución nutritiva. Se observó que con la aplicación de 40 ppm de ácido giberélico la producción de tomate fue 19.6 % superior al testigo, siendo además el mejor tratamiento del experimento. Abstract Water scarcity in the state of Chihuahua and the need to increase crop production, are factors that have led to the adoption of more efficient farming systems, such as hydroponics. In the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, has established a tomato crop variety "Gabriela" under greenhouse conditions and using the hydroponic method. Sand was used as substrate, and drip irrigation. A randomized block with three replications was used, where each block consisted of nine plants. The experiment was conducted from February 21 to July 27, 2007. The objective of this work was to find the optimal concentration of gibberellic acid to a greater production of tomatoes, and obtain the concentrations of N, K, Ca and P nutrients in the cultivated tomato according to the different treatments. We compared four concentrations of gibberellic acid: 0, 20, 40 and 60 ppm, the plant management was similar, applying the same nutrient solution. It was noted that the application of 40 ppm gibberellic acid tomato production was 19.6% higher than the control, and is the best treatment of the experiment. Keywords: phyto regulador, greenhouse, crop, productivity.

Introduction: There is an oxidative imbalance in the cases due to the decrease of the antioxidant enzymatic system where glutathione levels contribute to the increase of lipid peroxidation. Objective: To determine indicators of oxidative stress and risk factors in patients with premalignant and malignant lesions of the uterine cervix. Materials and methods: A total of 120 women were studied: 30 with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) I, 30 with CIN III, 30 with stage IIB epidermoid carcinoma and 30 with negative cytology taken as control, from the gynecology out patients service of "Chiqui Gómez" Polyclinic and the Oncology Service of "Celestino Hernández" Hospital of Santa Clara, with ages between 19 and 65 years. Information on the risk factors was obtained through an individualized interview, and the levels of enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as reduced glutathione and malonidialdehyde concentrations as indicators of oxidative stress were determined by spectrophotometric techniques. The comparison and association between groups was carried out with the support of the statistical program SPSS. Results: The levels of antioxidant enzymes showed a non-significant decrease in three groups of cases, reduced glutathione decreased significantly in CIN III (p=0,043) and epidermoid carcinoma (p=0,036) groups, while malonildialdehyde increased significantly in the same groups (p

Anthracyclines are a group of antineoplastic compounds used to treat acute leukemia and other cancers, and they are excreted after consumption by patients. These chemicals are often found in sewage at very low concentration levels. For this reason, the development of sensitive analytical methodologies capable of determining them at low concentrations is of prime importance. A simple, fast and sensitive analytical method using fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (UHPLC-FD) has been developed and validated for the extraction of anthracyclines from sewage samples. FPSE is a green, cheap, simple, selective and rapid sample preparation technique. The different parameters that affect the performance of the FPSE process, including extraction time, eluting solvent, elution time and pH, were optimized. The developed method showed satisfactory reproducibility, with intraday and interday RSD values lower than 15% for all the compounds and limits of detection between 0.1–0.15 µg·L−1. The unique combination of sample preparation by this micro-extraction technique with fluorescence detector have resulted in the satisfactory extraction of highly polar anthracyclines, without any noticeable matrix effect, a very common shortcoming of exhaustive sample preparation technique such as solid phase extraction (SPE) and mass spectrometry.

Introducción. El conocimiento de las variables biofísicas, tecnológicas y económicas de los sistemas ovinos, representan elementos de valor para la caracterización y el análisis productivo de la especie. Objetivo. Caracterizar técnica y económicamente, el sistema de producción de ovinos de carne en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia, con el fin de generar una línea de base que permita comparar las opciones tecnológicas con la tecnología local. Materiales y métodos. La información se obtuvo del trabajo realizado en cuatro unidades productivas con 108 ovinos machos de manejo semi-intensivo. Los datos se obtuvieron entre enero y septiembre de 2018. Como instrumento de información se usó la encuesta estructurada, se aplicaron técnicas estadísticas como medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión, para el análisis económico se usó un patrón de costos para cada unidad productiva y el cálculo de los indicadores de retorno como la tasa interna de retorno y valor presente neto. Los coeficientes técnicos se analizaron económicamente. Resultados. Las ganancias diarias de peso fueron de 80-132 g día-1, con peso promedio por animal de 31,7±3,2 kg. La producción de carne fue de 18 450 kg. Las mejores ganancias de peso diario (p

Objetive: to determine the indicators of oxidative stress and risk factors in patients with premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix. Methods: A total of 150 women were studied: 40 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 40 with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, 40 with stage IIB squamous cell carcinoma and 30 with negative cytology taken as a control, from the Gynecology Service of the “Chiqui Gómez” Polyclinic, and Oncology Service “Celestino Hernández” Hospital of Santa Clara, aged between 19 and 70. The information on the risk factors was obtained through an individualized interview, and oxidative stress indicators were determined by spectrophotometric techniques. The comparison and association between groups was carried out with the support of the statistical program SPSS. Results: The levels of antioxidant enzymes showed a significant decrease in both groups of squamous intraepithelial lesion, glutathione decreased significantly in the three groups of lesions, while malonildialdehyde significantly increased in the same groups with respect to the control. The risk factors with the highest incidence in the affected women were early sexual contact, the number of sexual partners, the use of oral contraceptives, exposure to environmental toxins and the habit of smoking. Conclusions: There is an oxidative imbalance in the cases due to the decrease of the antioxidant enzymatic system, where the reduced levels of glutathione contribute to the increase of the lipid peroxidation. Risk factors may influence exposure to the papilloma virus and lead to the development of premalignant and malignant lesions in the cervix.

Hormones in edible matrices, such as milk, are a subject of concern because of their adverse effects on the endocrine system and cell signaling and the consequent disruption of homeostasis in human consumers. Therefore, the assessment of the presence of hormones in milk as potential endocrine-disrupting compounds is warranted. However, the complexity of milk as a sample matrix and the ultra-low concentration of hormones pose significant analytical challenges. Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) has emerged as a powerful analytical technique for the extraction of emerging pollutants from complex aqueous matrices. FPSE allows for substantially simplified sample handling and short extraction and desorption times, as well as the decreased use of organic solvents. It is considered a green alternative to traditional extraction methodologies. In this work, the FPSE technique was evaluated to perform the simultaneous extraction of 15 steroid hormones from raw milk without employing any sample pretreatment steps. Clean and preconcentrated hormone solutions obtained from FPSE of raw milk were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to achieve low detection limits, which ranged from 0.047 to 1.242 ng·mL−1. Because of the presence of many interferents in milk, such as proteins, lipids, and sugar, the effect of fat content on the extraction procedure was also thoroughly studied. Additionally, for the first time, the effect of lactose on the extraction of steroid hormones was evaluated, and the results showed that the extraction efficiencies were enhanced in lactose-free samples. Finally, the optimized methodology was applied to commercial samples of cow and goat milk, and no measurable concentrations of the studied hormones were detected in these samples.

Live attenuated C-strain classical swine fever vaccines provide early onset protection. These vaccines confer effective protection against the disease at 5–7 days post-vaccination. It was previously reported that intramuscular administration of the Porvac® vaccine protects against highly virulent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) “Margarita” strain as early as seven days post-vaccination. In order to identify how rapidly protection against CSFV is conferred after a single dose of the Porvac® subunit vaccine E2-CD154, 15 swine, vaccinated with a single dose of Porvac®, were challenged intranasally at five, three, and one day post-vaccination with 2 × 103 LD50 of the highly pathogenic Cuban “Margarita” strain of the classical swine fever virus. Another five animals were the negative control of the experiment. The results provided clinical and virological data confirming protection at five days post-vaccination. Classical swine fever (CSF)-specific IFNγ T cell responses were detected in vaccinated animals but not detected in unvaccinated control animals. These results provided the first data that a subunit protein vaccine demonstrates clinical and viral protection at five days post-vaccination, as modified live vaccines.

According to the theory of continuity, older adults remains throughout life in a continuous process of development by maintaining the same activities, behaviors and relationships as they did in their first years of life. And understand that the desire to maintain normal activities generates preventive behaviors aimed at better enjoyment of old age and even allows adaptation to negative external situations. As Fernández-Ballesteros (2000) states, the older person must remain an active individual in an active environment and not a passive individual in a demanding environment and driver. Physical activity allows the greatest stay active and increase their well-being, both physical and psychological. Following the theory of Self-Determination, one of the indicators set as psychological well-being is the satisfaction with life. In this line, we wanted to check this indicator in a group of 37 older who were part of a program of physical activity, for which they spent Satisfaction Scale with Life (Diener et al. (1985). The results showed high satisfaction, responding positively most users, proving that as age increases people’s life satisfaction is improved. These results support the involvement of psychological factors as mediators in the relationship between physical activity and mental health.

Fish species can bioaccumulate different pollutants present in the marine environments and incorporate them into the trophic chain. In this work, the occurrence of organic ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers and filters in different species of fishes of high consumption has been studied. A multiresidue method based on microwave-assisted extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection was developed and then it was applied to nine fish species from markets in the Canary Islands and Catalonia (Spain). Three UV filters (BP-3, OC and BM-DBM) and two stabilizers (UV-328 and UV-329) were found in some of the studied species, in concentrations ranging between 0.067 and 0.683 µg g−1 dry weight (dw). BP-3 (UV filter) was the most frequently detected compound, followed by UV-329 (UV stabilizer). Thunnus thynnus was the most heavily polluted species, with a concentration of 1.201 µg g−1 dw as the sum of all measured compounds.

E2CD154 is a novel subunit vaccine candidate against classical swine fever virus (CSFV). It contains the E2 envelope protein from CSFV fused to the porcine CD154 molecule formulated in the oil adjuvant MontanideTM ISA50 V2. Previous works evidenced the safety and immunogenicity of this candidate. Here, two other important parameters related to vaccine efficacy were assessed. First, the existence of high maternally derived antibody (MDA) titers in piglets born to sows vaccinated with E2CD154 was demonstrated. These MDA titers remained above 1:200 during the first seven weeks of life. To assess whether the titers interfere with active vaccination, 79 piglets from sows immunized with either E2CD154 or a modified live vaccine were vaccinated with E2CD154 following a 0–21-day biphasic schedule. Animals immunized at either 15, 21, or 33 days of age responded to vaccination by eliciting protective neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers higher than 1:600, with a geometric mean of 1:4335, one week after the booster. Those protective levels of NAb were sustained up to six months of age. No vaccination-related adverse effects were described. As a conclusion, E2CD154 is able to induce protective NAb in piglets with different MDA levels and at different days of age.

To encourage the reutilization of treated wastewaters as an adaptation strategy to climate change it is necessary to demonstrate their quality. If this is ensured, reclaimed waters could be a valuable resource that produces very little environmental impact and risks to human health. However, wastewaters are one of the main sources of emerging pollutants that are discharged in the environment. For this, it is essential to assess the presence of these pollutants, especially pharmaceutical compounds, in treated wastewaters. Moreover, the different treatment processes must be evaluated in order to know if conventional and natural treatment technologies are efficient in the removal of these types of compounds. This is an important consideration if the treated wastewaters are used in agricultural activities. Owing to the complexity of wastewater matrixes and the low concentrations of pharmaceutical residues in these types of samples, it is necessary to use sensitive analytical methodologies. In this study, the presence of 11 pharmaceutical compounds were assessed in three different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Gran Canaria (Spain). Two of these WWTPs use conventional purification technologies and they are located in densely populated areas, while the other studied WWTP is based in constructed wetlands which purify the wastewaters of a rural area. The sampling was performed monthly for two years. A solid phase extraction (SPE) coupled to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was applied for the analysis of the samples, and the 11 pharmaceuticals were detected in all the studied WWTPs. The concentrations were variable and ranged from ng·L−1 in some compounds like diclofenac or carbamazepine to µg·L−1 in common pharmaceutical compounds such as caffeine, naproxen or ibuprofen. In addition, removal efficiencies in both conventional and natural purification systems were evaluated. Similar removal efficiencies were obtained using different purifying treatments, especially for some pharmaceutical families as stimulants or anti-inflammatories. Other compounds like carbamazepine showed a recalcitrant behavior. Secondary treatments presented similar removal efficiencies in both conventional and natural wastewater treatment plants, but conventional treatments showed slightly higher elimination ratios. Regarding tertiary system, the treatment with highest removal efficiencies was reverse osmosis in comparison with microfiltration and electrodialysis reversal.

Avian influenza virus H5N1 has caused extensive damage worldwide among poultry and humans. Effective expression systems are needed for the production of viral proteins required for monitoring this devastating disease. The present study deals with the establishment of a stable expression system for the hemagglutinin H5 (HAH5) of avian influenza virus using CHO cells in suspension culture transduced with a recombinant lentiviral vector. The synthetic gene coding the HAH5 protein was inserted in a lentiviral vector with the aim of performing a stable transduction of CHO cells. After the selection of recombinant clones, the one with the highest expression level was adapted to suspension culture and the HAH5 protein was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography from the culture supernatant. There were no significant differences when this protein, purified or direct from the culture supernatant of CHO or SiHa cells, was utilized in an immunologic assay using positive and negative sera as reference. It was also demonstrated that the HAH5 protein in its purified form is able to bind anti-HAH5 antibodies generated with proper and non-proper folded proteins. The results demonstrate that the CHO cell line stably transduced with a lentiviral vector coding the sequence of the HAH5 protein and cultured in suspension can be a suitable expression system to obtain this protein for diagnostic purpose in a consistent and reliable manner.

Until recently, sample preparation was carried out using traditional techniques, such as liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), that use large volumes of organic solvents. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) uses much less solvent than LLE, although the volume can still be significant. These preparation methods are expensive, time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly. Recently, a great effort has been made to develop new analytical methodologies able to perform direct analyses using miniaturised equipment, thereby achieving high enrichment factors, minimising solvent consumption and reducing waste. These microextraction techniques improve the performance during sample preparation, particularly in complex water environmental samples, such as wastewaters, surface and ground waters, tap waters, sea and river waters. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometric (TOF/MS) techniques can be used when analysing a broad range of organic micropollutants. Before separating and detecting these compounds in environmental samples, the target analytes must be extracted and pre-concentrated to make them detectable. In this work, we review the most recent applications of microextraction preparation techniques in different water environmental matrices to determine organic micropollutants: solid-phase microextraction SPME, in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and liquid-phase microextraction (LPME). Several groups of compounds are considered organic micropollutants because these are being released continuously into the environment. Many of these compounds are considered emerging contaminants. These analytes are generally compounds that are not covered by the existing regulations and are now detected more frequently in different environmental compartments. Pharmaceuticals, surfactants, personal care products and other chemicals are considered micropollutants. These compounds must be monitored because, although they are detected in low concentrations, they might be harmful toward ecosystems.

El presente estudio tiene como finalidad analizar el valor predictivo de un instrumento diseñado para la eficacia negociadora (CEN II) en su aplicación a la mediación. Desde una aproximación conceptual se delimita el campo de estudio y aportaciones científicas vinculadas al tema. Se realiza una investigación empírica a través de una muestra de 60 mediadores/as Los resultados obtenidos confirman la fiabilidad y validez predictiva del CEN II y su eficiencia en la determinación de las diferencias en la mediación familiar.

In this study, mortar specimens were prepared with a cement:sand:water ratio of 1:3:0.5, in accordance with standard EN196-1. Portland CEM I 52.5 R grey (G) and white (W) cements were used, together with normalised sand and distilled water. Different amounts of TiO2 photocatalyst were incorporated in the preparation of the mortar samples. The effect of the addition of TiO2 was studied on mechanical properties of the mortar and cement including compressive and flexural strength, consistency (the flow table test), setting time and carbonation. Characterization techniques, including thermogravimetry, mercury porosimetry and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), were applied to study the physico-chemical properties of the mortars. It was shown that adding the photocatalyst to the mortar had no negative effect on its properties and could be used to accelerate the setting process. Specimen photoactivity with the incorporated photocatalyst was tested for NOx oxidation in different conditions of humidity (0% RH and 65% RH) and illumination (Vis or Vis/UV), with the results showing an important activity even under Vis radiation.

This study presents the evaluation of seven pharmaceutical compounds belonging to different commonly used therapeutic classes in seawater samples from coastal areas of Gran Canaria Island. The target compounds include atenolol (antihypertensive), acetaminophen (analgesic), norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin (antibiotics), carbamazepine (antiepileptic) and ketoprofen and diclofenac (anti-inflammatory). Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for the extraction and preconcentration of the samples, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for the determination of the compounds. Under optimal conditions, the recoveries obtained were in the range of 78.3% to 98.2%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 11.8%. The detection and quantification limits of the method were in the ranges of 0.1–2.8 and 0.3–9.3 ng·L−1, respectively. The developed method was applied to evaluate the presence of these pharmaceutical compounds in seawater from four outfalls in Gran Canaria Island (Spain) during one year. Ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were found in a large number of samples in a concentration range of 9.0–3551.7 ng·L−1. Low levels of diclofenac, acetaminophen and ketoprofen were found sporadically.

Angleton grass (Dicanthium aristatum) is the dominant Gramineae specie in the Sinu River Valley. Its root growth is limited by soil compaction, a mixed effect of high density and penetration resistance. With the aim to determine the effect of vertical tillage and fertilization over root biomass, soil density and penetration resistance, four different kinds of grasses (Mulato II, Toledo, Angleton and Estrella) were established on an inceptisol soil located at Turipaná Research Center, in Cereté, Córdoba, Colombia. Four vertical tillage treatments with three repeats were evaluated: two with rigid chisel, 30 cm - 60 cm and two with grassland renovator, horizontal distance 30 and 60 cm, and 30 cm depth. Two levels of fertilization were evaluated: F1: 300 kg ha-1 of DAP (18% N - 46% P2O5), 200 kg ha-1 of KCl (60% K2O) and 150 kg ha-1 of urea (46% N) and F2: 50% of the previous described treatment. In a split plot design experiment, the effect of vertical tillage and fertilization during 18 months over soil density, penetration resistance and root biomass growth were tested by ANOVA and average Duncan comparison. No independent effect of tillage or fertilization on grasses was observed, but there are significant interaction between tillage and grasses, fertilization and grasses and tillagefertilization and grasses. It is concluded that differences in the variables soil density, penetration resistance and root biomass were due to grazing effect and tillage-fertilization-grass interaction.

Arabinoxylan gels exhibiting different rheological and lycopene transport properties were obtained by modifying the polysaccharide concentration from 3 to 4% (w/v). The apparent lycopene diffusion coefficient decreased from 2.7 × 10−7 to 2.4 × 10−7 cm2/s as the arabinoxylan concentration in the gel changed from 3 to 4% (w/v). A low amount of lycopene is released by diffusion from arabinoxylan gels. These results indicate that arabinoxylan gels could be carriers for lycopene delivery in specific sites after network degradation. The possibility to modulate lycopene release from arabinoxylan gels makes these biomaterials potential candidates for the controlled delivery of biomolecules.

The occurrence of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in the environment is a global concern due to their potential ecological risks. Several studies have shown that some OMPs are widely detected in environmental matrices such as surface water and sewage. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have received international attention over past decades because they are considered the greatest source of aquatic environmental contamination by anthropogenic micropollutants. Intensive sampling and analysis have been globally made to improve understanding of the occurrence, behavior and fate of OMPs in WWTPs using different types of analytical approach. Recently, special awareness has been devoted to developing new effective strategies to extract the micropollutants of wastewater. In particular, microextraction protocols have gained popularity because of their simplicity, low cost and in-field application for environmental analysis. Among these, fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) is reported as an excellent approach due to its properties, not only reducing the required time but also employing minor solvent volume. In this overview, we summarize the results obtained by the Research Group of Environmental Chemical Analysis of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) using this technique. Its aim is to show the potential of FPSE for the extraction of some micropollutants, such as personal care products (benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs)) and pharmaceuticals (steroid hormones and cytostatic compounds) in different liquid samples, prior to their determination by liquid chromatography.

The analytical performances and applications of various luminescence spectrometric methods to the study and determination of pollutants present at low levels in the environment are reviewed for the last two decades (1990 – 2010). The first part concerns luminescence stationary systems, including fluorescence, photochemically-induced fluorescence, phosphorescence and related luminescence methods. In the second part, the combination of these luminescence methods with flow techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and flow injection analysis (FIA) for the detection and determination of environmental pollutants is investigated. A part of the review is also devoted to the usefulness of organized supramolecular systems, such as micellar media, cyclodextrins and calixarenes, for improving the efficiency of luminescence methods.

A descriptive retrospective study, with the aim of assessing in five years the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy in the conservative treatment of breast cancer in patients treated from 2000 to 2003, was carried out at the Dr. Celestino Hernandez Robau University Hospital. A sample formed by 124 cases was taken; the most common age group was between 40 and 49 years of age, most of the patients did not have family antecedents of breast cancer and most of them were treated in the clinical stage I. A loco-regional relapse appeared in only 6.5 percent of the patients, most of them after 2-5 years. The most frequent location was the scar and the mammary tissue. There was not a significant relation between the treatment technique and the place of the relapse. The relationship between the loco-regional relapse and the tumor size and the clinical stage was significant; but the relation with the type of surgery, the status of the axillary dissection, the time between the surgical treatment and the radiotherapy, the use of radiation boosts and the suspensions during the treatment did not show a statistical relevance in the sample. The adverse reactions to the radiation treatment appeared in ten cases, and there was not evidence of a significant relation with the combined use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A few cases presented distant metastasis, most frequently bone metastasis, and most of them within 2 and 5 years.

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal a todos los pacientes que acudieron a una consulta provincial de Maxilofacial del Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Abel Santamaría a los que se les diagnosticó cáncer de piel facial, con el objetivo de caracterizar esta patología en nuestro medio en el año 2007, motivados por su alta frecuencia. Se le aplicó una encuesta a cada paciente, previo consentimiento informado y que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Los datos se plasmaron en un formulario y procesaron utilizando el sistema Epinfo 2002 y el método estadístico porcentual. Todos los resultados fueron expresados en cuadros y posteriormente analizados según los conocimientos previos de los autores y la información científica consultada. Predominó el carcinoma basal y de este la forma clínica nóduloulcerada. Los más afectados fueron los hombres de más de 55 años, con fototipo II, residentes en zonas rurales, de ocupación campesinos, la región de la cara que prevaleció fue la nasal y un alto porciento de los pacientes presentaron queratosis actínicas. La mayoría de los pacientes tuvieron antecedentes patológicos personales y/o familiares de cáncer de piel y el medio de protección más usado por nuestros pacientes fue el sombrero. Concluimos que el cáncer de piel facial más frecuente en nuestro medio fue el carcinoma basal y que su incidencia se relacionó con variables como la edad, sexo, fototipo, zona de residencia, ocupación, fotoprotección, presencia de lesiones premalignas en piel y antecedentes familiares y personales positivos de cáncer cutáneo.A descriptive cross - sectional study was performed in all patients attending to the provincial dental surgeon office in Abel Santamaría Cuadrado General hospital, they were diagnosed as facial skin malignancy in order to characterize this disease in our enviroment in 2007 being motivated by its high frequency. A survey was applied to every patient having the informed consent previously and meeting the criteria for inclusion.Data were recorded in a form and processed with Epinfo 2002 system and the percentage statistical method was used. All the results were shown in pictures and were analyzed later taking into account the previous author´s knowledge and the scientific information predominating the basal carcinomas being the clinical ulcer nodule the most frequent. 55 year-old peasants were the most affected showing phototype II and coming from rural areas. The nasal aspect was predominating as well as a high percent of actinic keratosis in patiens, most of them presented personal y/or family pathological backgrounds of skin malignancy and the hat was the most used protection. It is concluded that the basal carcinoma was the most frequent facial skin malignancy in our enviroment and its incidence was related to the following variables: age, sex, phototype, living area, occupation, photoprotection,skin premalignant lesions and positive family and personal skin malignancy.

Con el presente trabajose intenta detectar la percepción, que tienen las personas con deficiencia visual, de los beneficios producidospor la actividad física y/o el deporte. Estos beneficios percibidos por los sujetos han sido estudiados atendiendoa la edad, sexo, tipo de deficiencia y momento de aparición de la deficiencia en los mismos. El estudio decarácter eminentemente descriptivo se realizó con una muestra 130 sujetos ciegos y/o con deficiencia visual.Los resultados sugieren que los beneficios percibidos son valorados muy positivamente y representan unaamplia gama. Igualmente se aprecian ciertas diferencias atendiendo a la edad, sexo, tipo de deficiencia (total oparcial) y momento de aparición de la misma (desde el nacimiento o adquirida posteriormente). Como aspectosmás concretos destacan la capacidad física, sentirse bien consigo mismo, la diversión y la relajación que supone para los sujetos.

El autor realiza un acercamiento al deber ser de la democracia desde el abordaje de categorías como opinión pública y consenso, elementos indispensables en la construcción de una cultura política.

El autor realiza un acercamiento al deber ser de la democracia desde el abordaje de categorías como opinión pública y consenso, elementos indispensables en la construcción de una cultura política.

La formación y documentación del hato para la conservación del banco de germoplasma de la raza bovina criolla Romosinuano se inició en 1936; actualmente se cuenta con ocho familias y 502 ejemplares que permanecen en custodia en el Centro de Investigación Turipaná de Corpoica, Cereté, Colombia. Los datos registrados han sido digitados, ordenados, clasificados y analizados; lo cual permitió determinar el origen de los 270 animales que conformaron el hato inicial, procedentes de 11 hatos de las fincas: El Torno (43%), La Granja (16%), El Recreo (14%), Los Pinos (10%) y el 17% restante de La Vorágine, Colombia, Marta Magdalena y El Chorrillo. Aplicando el método de los cuadrados mínimos y el procedimiento de modelos lineales generalizados (generalized linear model GLM) (SAS,1995), se obtuvo la caracterización fenotípica de los pesos de animales en diferentes edades y etapas de producción: edad de la vaca al primer parto e intervalo entre partos; peso del ternero al nacer, al destete, a los 16 meses ajustados; peso de la vaca al primer parto, al parto y al destete del ternero; obtenido de 12673, 6543, 4363, 620, 7178 y 2847 registros, con valores de: 29,5±3,5, 163±35, 230±45, 393±51, 444±64 y 447±60 kg, respectivamente; la edad ajustada al destete y al primer parto, obtenidas a partir de 6572 y 2064 registros fueron 256±23 y 1133±200 días, respectivamente; el intervalo entre partos a partir de 9435 registros fue de 422±131 días. La eficiencia reproductiva de 86,3% confirma la adaptación de la raza en el valle del Sinú, Colombia.