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Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread and growing global concerns. Nanoscale nutrients present higher absorption rates and improved nutrient availability and nutrient use efficiency. Co-application of nanofertilizers (NFs) with biological agents or organic compounds increases NF biocompatibility, stability, and efficacy. This study aimed to develop and evaluate zinc and iron bio-nanofertilizers formulated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and microalgae. Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized with the co-precipitation method and functionalized with Pseudomonas species and Spirulina platensis preparation. NPs were characterized and evaluated on seed germination, soil microbial growth, and early plant response under seedbed conditions. NPs corresponded to zinc oxide (ZnO; 77 nm) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3; 68 nm). Functionalized nanoparticles showed larger sizes, around 145–233 nm. The seedling vigor index of tomato and maize was significantly increased (32.9–46.1%) by bacteria-functionalized ZnO- and γ-Fe2O3-NPs at 75 ppm. NFs at 250 and 75 ppm significantly increased bacterial growth. NFs also improved early plant growth by increasing plant height (14–44%), leaf diameter (22–47%), and fresh weight (46–119%) in broccoli and radish, which were mainly influenced by bacteria capped ZnO- and γ-Fe2O3-NPs at 250 ppm. Beneficial effects on plant growth can be attributed to the synergistic interaction of the biological components and the zinc and iron NPs in the bio-nanofertilizers.

Geometrical and electronic properties of the main photosynthetic pigments in higher plants such as chlorophylls and xanthophylls were studied to find potential candidates that were able to participate in an eventual zeolite-dye artificial antenna. CRDFT (chemical reactivity density functional theory) and TD-DFT (time-dependent DFT) methods were employed in ground-state and excited-state calculations, respectively. The evaluated electronic properties at the gas phase included (a) energies such as HOMO-LUMO band gap (H-L, ranging from 2.168 to 2.504 eV), adiabatic ionization potential (I, ranging from 5.964 to 7.207 eV), and adiabatic electronic affinity (A, ranging from 2.176 to 2.741 eV); (b) global chemical reactivity indexes such as electronegativity (χ, ranging from 4.121 to 4.974 eV), hardness (η, ranging from 1.812 to 2.233 eV), electrophilicity index (ω, ranging from 4.365 to 5.541 eV), and electroaccepting-electrodonating powers (ω+, ranging from 1.671 to 2.115 eV, and ω−, ranging from 4.375 to 5.273 eV); (c) electron-hole reorganization energies (λ, ranging from 0.225 to 0.519 eV and ranging from 0.168 to 0.425 eV, respectively) and electron-hole extraction potentials (EEP, ranging from 2.570 to 2.966 eV, and HEP, ranging from 5.538 to 7.012 eV, respectively); and (d) local chemical reactivity indexes like condensed Fukui functions (fk), condensed dual descriptor (f2r), and condensed local softness (sk). These electronic properties allowed the association between molecules and reactivity-selectivity criteria, under the context of charge transfer and electronic transitions. Also, the aforementioned electronic properties were determined for combinations made with the selected molecules (β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin) and 5 solvents (n-hexane, diethyl ether, acetone, ethanol, and methanol) with upward dielectric constants (ε). From frequency calculations, IR spectra were obtained for combinations. Finally, excited-state computations were carried out to acquire UV-Vis spectra of the combinations. We conclude that the selection of dyes is controlled mainly by geometrical constraints rather than by electronic properties.

Conflict of interest: No Introduction and Objectives: Hepatitis C infection has a high prevalence in social rehabilitation centers and prissions; however, patient migration, lack of adherence monitoring and risk practices are determinants for abandoning treatment. Objectives: Determine the seroprevalence in patients deprived of their liberty in social rehabilitation centers for chronic hepatitis C infection, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of daily provision of antivirals in patients who are deprived of their liberty. Patients / Materials and Methods: Information was collected through the national hepatitis C elimination program database in patients screened for HIV infection, syphilis and hepatitis C during the period 2021-2024 in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Mass screening tests were performed with serological antigen and PCR for hepatitis C. Those patients with a positive viral load were treated with direct-acting antivirals for 2 months and a viral load was performed to verify sustained viral response. During this period, medical teams supplied the drug in a controlled manner provided by the health services in prisons. To keep the rehabilitation centers free of hepatitis C, serologies were implemented under informed consent for newly admitted people that were admitted. Results and Discussion: 3452 rapid tests were performed, of which 77 tests (2.23%) were reactive with positive viral load in 76 cases (98.07%), all patients were male (100%), with an average age of 42.1 years. Of the patients studied, the main risk factor was intravenous drug use (98%). Viral loads were measured 3 months after treatment where 98.68% had virological cure, 1.3% migrated from a social rehabilitation center and 0% presented virological failure. Conclusions: The intervention of health services continuously and jointly with the penal system is a determining factor in achieving virological cure and rehabilitation centers free of hepatitis C.

In this paper, we present the concept of being monotonic in sequence according to a specific direction for a collection of random variables. This concept broadens the existing notions of multivariate dependence, such as sequential left-tail and right-tail dependence. Furthermore, we explore connections with other multivariate dependence concepts, highlight key properties, and analyze the new concept within the framework of copulas. Several examples are provided to demonstrate our findings.

Abstract The application of bacteriophages as antibacterial agents has many benefits in the “post-antibiotic age”. To increase the number of successfully targeted bacterial strains, phage cocktails, instead of a single phage, are commonly formulated. Nevertheless, there is currently no consensus pipeline for phage cocktail development. Thus, although large cocktails increase the spectrum of activity, they could produce side effects such as the mobilization of virulence or antibiotic resistance genes. On the other hand, coinfection (simultaneous infection of one host cell by several phages) might reduce the potential for bacteria to evolve phage resistance, but some antagonistic interactions amongst phages might be detrimental for the outcome of phage cocktail application. With this in mind, we introduce here a new method, which considers the host range and each individual phage-host interaction, to design the phage mixtures that best suppress the target bacteria while minimizing the number of phages to restrict manufacturing costs. Additionally, putative phage-phage interactions in cocktails and phage-bacteria networks are compared as the understanding of the complex interactions amongst bacteriophages could be critical in the development of realistic phage therapy models in the future.

The BvgAS two-component system regulates virulence gene expression in Bordetella pertussis. Although precise three-dimensional structural information is not available for the response regulator BvgA, its sequence conservation with E. coli NarL and previous studies have indicated that it is composed of 3 domains: an N-terminal domain (NTD) containing the phosphorylation site, a linker, and a DNA-binding C-terminal domain (CTD). Previous work has determined how BvgACTD dimers interact with the promoter (PfhaB) of fhaB, the gene encoding the virulence adhesin filamentous hemagglutinin. Here we use molecular modeling, FeBABE footprinting, and crosslinking to show that within the transcription complex of phosphorylated BvgA (BvgA ∼ P), B. pertussis RNAP, and PfhaB, the NTDs displace from the CTDs and are positioned at specific locations relative to the three BvgA ∼ P binding sites. Our work identifies a patch of the NTD that faces the DNA and suggests that BvgA ∼ P undergoes a conformational rearrangement that relocates the NTD to allow productive interaction of the CTD with the DNA.

Abstract We tested whether periconceptional nutrition with cladodes from the cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, with or without protein-enrichment, improved the metabolomic profile and reproductive outcomes of adult female sheep. Sixty Rambouillet ewes of similar body weight were randomly allocated among three nutritional treatments that were fed during the breeding period (34 days): Control (Control; n = 20), Opuntia (Opuntia; n = 20) and protein-enriched Opuntia (E-Opuntia; n = 20). There were no effects of treatment on body weight but assessment of urine samples indicated that, for 76 metabolites, the Control and Opuntia groups differed completely (P

Globally, COVID-19 reached unprecedented levels of contagion, affecting the social meetings, public spaces, and many everyday aspects. During the first days of the pandemic, supply chains were severely impacted by a great uncertainty in socio-economic terms, causing irrational variations and the inability to forecast demand. In this paper, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the behaviour of different companies is analysed based on the variation in supply and demand of consumer-packaged goods. The pandemic outbreak disruption, the bullwhip effect caused by demand fluctuations, and the resilience of different companies were studied. A multiple case study methodology is used to analyse the decision-making process of fourteen different companies, from diverse sectors in Uruguay, affronting the pandemic. The paper’s main findings include the identification of disruption and operation risks along with coordination in supply chain management during the first four months of the pandemic. Moreover, due to the necessity of sanitation and comestibles, and the fear of stockout, consumers’ demand was uncertain, and the bullwhip effect was observed in critical channels of some products. Finally, the resiliency and robustness of the affected companies were studied and good practices for a resilient and robust response to the pandemic were identified and analysed.

A partir de una cita de La discreta venganza, escrita hacia 1620, analizamos la relación de Lope de Vega con la novella. El escritor cambia su posición respecto al género, que había utilizado como fuente de muchas de sus comedias en una primera etapa (1588-1613), pero que había dejado de interesarle en los años siguientes (1613-1620). En la segunda década del siglo XVII, sin embargo, Lope utiliza la novella para mostrarse como un autor de prestigio, no solo en las Novelas a Marcia Leonarda sino también en su teatro.

The present study describes the magnitude and spatial distribution of lung strain in healthy anesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs with and without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). Total lung strain (LSTOTAL) has a dynamic (LSDYNAMIC) and a static (LSSTATIC) component. Due to lung heterogeneity, global lung strain may not accurately represent regional total tissue lung strain (TSTOTAL), which may also be described by a regional dynamic (TSDYNAMIC) and static (TSSTATIC) component. Six healthy anesthetized beagles (12.4 ± 1.4 kg body weight) were placed in dorsal recumbency and ventilated with a tidal volume of 15 ml/kg, respiratory rate of 15 bpm, and zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP). Respiratory system mechanics and full thoracic end-expiratory and end-inspiratory CT scan images were obtained at ZEEP. Thereafter, a PEEP of 5 cmH2O was set and respiratory system mechanics measurements and end-expiratory and end-inspiratory images were repeated. Computed lung volumes from CT scans were used to evaluate the global LSTOTAL, LSDYNAMIC, and LSSTATIC during PEEP. During ZEEP, LSSTATIC was assumed zero; therefore, LSTOTAL was the same as LSDYNAMIC. Image segmentation was applied to CT images to obtain maps of regional TSTOTAL, TSDYNAMIC, and TSSTATIC during PEEP, and TSDYNAMIC during ZEEP. Compliance increased (p = 0.013) and driving pressure decreased (p = 0.043) during PEEP. PEEP increased the end-expiratory lung volume (p < 0.001) and significantly reduced global LSDYNAMIC (33.4 ± 6.4% during ZEEP, 24.0 ± 4.6% during PEEP, p = 0.032). LSSTATIC by PEEP was larger than the reduction in LSDYNAMIC; therefore, LSTOTAL at PEEP was larger than LSDYNAMIC at ZEEP (p = 0.005). There was marked topographic heterogeneity of regional strains. PEEP induced a significant reduction in TSDYNAMIC in all lung regions (p < 0.05). Similar to global findings, PEEP-induced TSSTATIC was larger than the reduction in TSDYNAMIC; therefore, PEEP-induced TSTOTAL was larger than TSDYNAMIC at ZEEP. In conclusion, PEEP reduced both global and regional estimates of dynamic strain, but induced a large static strain. Given that lung injury has been mostly associated with tidal deformation, limiting dynamic strain may be an important clinical target in healthy and diseased lungs, but this requires further study.

Pese a los avances de cirugía reconstructiva, el labio y paladara hendido unilateral (LPHU) representa un reto quirúrgico complejo cuando la brecha es mayor a 10 mm. En países de recursos limitados, la distancia geográfica, falta de centros de referencia multidisciplinarios, recursos económicos de las familias y actualmente, la pandemia; limita el acceso de pacientes al tratamiento prequirúrgico. El presente estudio descriptivo reporta 2 casos de LPHU completo, de similar tamaño por inspección visual profesional, sexo masculino, no asociados a síndrome. El propósito del mismo es hacer una revisión de dos técnicas de ortopedia prequirúrgica: Placa de Ortopedia Funcional Maxilar (OFM)-Moldeado Nasal (MN); y el Retractor Nasal (RN)-Taping, como alternativa de tratamiento a distancia. El paciente con placa OFM-MN fue tratado en el 2015, presencial, el paciente con RN-Taping, en el 2021 por telemedicina y un promotor de salud capacitado. Los resultados de simetría nasal y maxilar se midieron con software ImageJ, a través de 4 mediciones lineales y una angular, basadas en el método descrito por Barillas y de mediciones lineales realizadas a los modelos de yeso como las propuestas por Mazaheri. Las técnicas descritas para ambos pacientes lograron disminuir el ancho de la hendidura y moldear el cartílago alar del lado hendido. La técnica OFM-MN mostró ventajas en el desarrollo del arco maxilar promoviendo aumento de volumen de hueso y desarrollo en los tres planos del espacio sin colapso del arco. La técnica RN-Taping, restringió el arco maxilar, sin embargo podría ser una alternativa de tratamiento a distancia.

Este trabajo analiza el personaje de Corcina en La ingratitud vengada como uno de los escasos ejemplos de madre-alcahueta en la producción dramática de Lope de Vega. Por un lado, a partir de datos globales, se pone de manifiesto que la presencia de madres en escena es mayor en la primera época de Lope, y esta disminuye a lo largo del tiempo. Por otro, se expone que el personaje materno de La ingratitud vengada —una madre-alcahueta— es muy diferente del perfil habitual: una mujer noble, madre de un varón que es a menudo el protagonista. Se vincula la aparición de este personaje, construido a partir de la tradición celestinesca, a la ausencia de figuras paternas, al género de la comedia picaresca y a la probable inspiración biográfica del argumento, que emparenta La ingratitud vengada con El sufrimiento premiado y La Dorotea.

En este artículo estudiamos la aparición de la corte de Elisabeth I de Inglaterra en La española inglesa, de Cervantes. En primer lugar, repasamos brevemente las relaciones de Cervantes con el sistema cortesano y las ideas principales sobre la corte que se contienen en su obra. A continuación, mostramos cómo se representa en esta novela la lógica del servicio-merced. Mientras que todos los personajes ingleses pertenecen a la alta nobleza, los padres de Isabela, por su condición de burgueses, son ajenos a la cultura cortesana. La pareja protagonista, que en Londres está sujeta al servicio a la reina de Inglaterra y depende de sus mercedes, solo puede desarrollar su amor de una manera libre cuando se reúne en Sevilla y el personaje masculino renuncia a su nobleza y se inserta en el linaje burgués de su esposa.

El presente artículo analiza la inclusión de la “Descripción de la Tapada” dentro del volumen La Filomena, con otras diversas rimas, prosas y versos (1621). Se propone que este poema descriptivo, que elogia la casa de Braganza, fue incluido en el libro como parte de la estrategia cortesana de Lope de Vega para apoyar la difícil situación de Leonor de Pimentel con sus asuntos políticos portugueses.

Pathogens or genotoxic agents continuously affect the human body. Acute inflammatory reaction induced by a non-sterile or sterile environment is triggered for the efficient elimination of insults that caused the damage. According to the insult, pathogen-associated molecular patterns, damage-associated molecular patterns, and homeostasis-altering molecular processes are released to facilitate the arrival of tissue resident and circulating cells to the injured zone to promote harmful agent elimination and tissue regeneration. However, when inflammation is maintained, a chronic phenomenon is induced, in which phagocytic cells release toxic molecules damaging the harmful agent and the surrounding healthy tissues, thereby inducing DNA lesions. In this regard, chronic inflammation has been recognized as a risk factor of cancer development by increasing the genomic instability of transformed cells and by creating an environment containing proliferation signals. Based on the cancer immunoediting concept, a rigorous and regulated inflammation process triggers participation of innate and adaptive immune responses for efficient elimination of transformed cells. When immune response does not eliminate all transformed cells, an equilibrium phase is induced. Therefore, excessive inflammation amplifies local damage caused by the continuous arrival of inflammatory/immune cells. To regulate the overstimulation of inflammatory/immune cells, a network of mechanisms that inhibit or block the cell overactivity must be activated. Transformed cells may take advantage of this process to proliferate and gradually grow until they become preponderant over the immune cells, preserving, increasing, or creating a microenvironment to evade the host immune response. In this microenvironment, tumor cells resist the attack of the effector immune cells or instruct them to sustain tumor growth and development until its clinical consequences. With tumor development, evolving, complex, and overlapping microenvironments are arising. Therefore, a deeper knowledge of cytokine, immune, and tumor cell interactions and their role in the intricated process will impact the combination of current or forthcoming therapies.

We describe the respiratory mechanics and lung aeration in anesthetized obese dogs ventilated with tidal volumes (VT) based on ideal (VTi) vs. current (VTc) body weight. Six dogs with body condition scores ≥ 8/9 were included. End-expiratory respiratory mechanics and end-expiratory CT-scan were obtained at baseline for each dog. Thereafter, dogs were ventilated with VT 15 ml kg−1 based on VTi and VTc, applied randomly. Respiratory mechanics and CT-scan were repeated at end-inspiration during VTi and VTc. Data analyzed with linear mixed models and reported as mean ± SD or median [range]. Statistical significance p < 0.05. The elastance of the lung, chest wall and respiratory system indexed by ideal body weight (IBW) were positively correlated with body fat percentage, whereas the functional residual capacity indexed by IBW was negatively correlated with body fat percentage. At end-expiration, aeration (%) was: hyperaeration 0.03 [0.00–3.35], normoaeration 69.7 [44.6–82.2], hypoaeration 29.3 [13.6–49.4] and nonaeration (1.06% [0.37–6.02]). Next to the diaphragm, normoaeration dropped to 12 ± 11% and hypoaeration increased to 90 ± 8%. No differences in aeration between groups were found at end-inspiration. Airway driving pressure (cm H2O) was higher (p = 0.002) during VTc (9.8 ± 0.7) compared with VTi (7.6 ± 0.4). Lung strain was higher (p = 0.014) during VTc (55 ± 21%) than VTi (38 ± 10%). The stress index was higher (p = 0.012) during VTc (SI = 1.07 [0.14]) compared with VTi (SI = 0.93 [0.18]). This study indicates that body fat percentage influences the magnitude of lung, chest wall, and total respiratory system elastance and resistance, as well as functional residual capacity. Further, these results indicate that obese dogs have extensive areas of hypoaerated lungs, especially in caudodorsal regions. Finally, lung strain and airway driving pressure, surrogates of lung deformation, are higher during VTc than during VTi, suggesting that in obese anesthetized dogs, ventilation protocols based on IBW may be advantageous.

Frontline communities of California experience disproportionate social, economic, and environmental injustices, and climate change is exacerbating the root causes of inequity in those areas. Yet, climate adaptation and mitigation strategies often fail to meaningfully address the experience of frontline community stakeholders. Here, we present three challenges, three errors, and three solutions to better integrate frontline communities' needs in climate change research and to create more impactful policies. We base our perspective on our collective firsthand experiences and on scholarship to bridge local knowledge with hydroclimatic research and policymaking. Unawareness of local priorities (Challenge 1) is a consequence of Ignoring local knowledge (Error 1) that can be, in part, resolved with Information exchange and expansion of community-based participatory research (Solution 1). Unequal access to natural resources (Challenge 2) is often due to Top-down decision making (Error 2), but Buffer zones for environmental protection, green areas, air quality, and water security can help achieve environmental justice (Solution 2). Unequal access to public services (Challenge 3) is a historical issue that persists because of System abuse and tokenism (Error 3), and it may be partially resolved with Multi-benefit projects to create socioeconomic and environmental opportunities within frontline communities that include positive externalities for other stakeholders and public service improvements (Solution 3). The path forward in climate change policy decision-making must be grounded in collaboration with frontline community members and practitioners trained in working with vulnerable stakeholders. Addressing co-occurring inequities exacerbated by climate change requires transdisciplinary efforts to identify technical, policy, and engineering solutions.

Context: The fugacity of surface-seawater CO2 (f CO2sw) and the sea–air CO2 fluxes in the south-western tropical Atlantic (SWTA) were studied to increase the knowledge about the carbon cycle in this region. Aims: This paper aims to describe the distribution of f CO2sw in SWTA. Methods: The f CO2sw was measured from 2008 to 2020 by volunteer merchant ships with an onboard system that measures p CO2 while the vessels were underway. Key results: Higher values occurred north of 8°S than in the region south of 8°S. The north is a strong source of CO2 for the atmosphere, with an annual mean value of 3.14 ± 0.52 mmol m−2 day−1. The south is a weaker source of CO2, with an annual average of 0.93 ± 0.90 mmol m−2 day−1. In the months of July and August, a weak sink of CO2 was observed, with a mean of −0.55 mmol m−2 day−1. Conclusions and implications: The differences between these two regions are explained by the origin of the surface-water masses encountered along the ship track. The central branch of the South Equatorial Current (SEC) transports surface water, with a higher CO2 concentration and lower salinity, north of 8°S, whereas the surface waters between 8 and 14°S come from the southern branch of the SEC. The intertropical convergence zone is another physical process influencing the region north of 8°S. The carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration of surface seawater was measured from 2008 to 2020 in the south-western tropical Atlantic (SWTA) by volunteer merchant ships equipped with an autonomous system that measures CO2 while the vessels were underway. The study area is influenced by the seasonal variability in the main marine currents of the region, and the tropical meteorological system. The SWTA is as a large source of CO2 to the atmosphere, and further studies in this important area of global climate change are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El objetivo del documento es identificar los principales temas de la victimización que afectan a las empresas en México analizando el Programa para la Seguridad Nacional establecido por el gobierno federal aplicando sistemas de preferencias. La metodología utiliza un modelo matemático de sistemas de elección para votación con aplicado a una muestra de 33 mil 866 empresas de la Encuesta Nacional de Victimización de Empresas en México en 2014, 2016 y 2018. Los resultados muestran los impuestos, la inseguridad y delincuencia, y bajo poder adquisitivo de la población como los temas que afectan mayormente a las empresas, además de presentar las microempresas en el sector comercio como las más vulnerables al delito debido a que en ellas se concentra la victimización, impidiéndoles operar adecuadamente sus negocios. Se concluye considerando la necesidad de mejorar la seguridad pública manteniendo o incrementando el gasto público debido a que se recortaron los recursos para estas actividades desatendiendo la vigilancia en lugares recuperados por el gobierno, siendo altamente relevante atender la seguridad porque la reducción de las operaciones de las empresas o el cierre de las mismas atenta contra el crecimiento económico, siendo necesario que las políticas públicas en materia de seguridad atiendan las necesidades de los negocios.

El Ministerio de Educación en Ecuador, para favorecer las tendencias internacionales predominantes, unido al vertiginoso avance de la ciencia y la tecnología, exige en sus imposiciones, la formación profesional basada en competencias, interdisciplinariedad y trabajo autónomo del estudiante. Este constituye uno de los elementos integrantes de los currículos universitarios actuales. Por ello es indispensable rediseñar dichos currículos, planes de estudio, estrategias pedagógicas y evaluativas. En tal sentido, en el presente artículo se expone la importancia de desarrollar las competencias intelectuales en los estudiantes de la enseñanza superior, puesto que ello influye en la calidad del aprendizaje, en el desempeño profesional de estos, así como en la vida en sociedad. Con este objetivo, se muestra la pertinencia del enfoque holístico para la adquisición de dichas competencias, en el que se distinguen el desarrollo de habilidades intelectuales y sus objetivos específicos. Todo ello en función de preparar integralmente al estudiante para la vida y atemperar el contexto educativo a la sociedad actual.

Background: Periodontitis (P) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of periodontium support tissue generated by different immuno-inflammatory mechanisms, including the RANK/RANKL/OPG and the IL-23/IL-17 axis. Methods: The study was performed with healthy subjects (HS) and patients with periodontitis. Plasma samples were obtained from peripheral blood and the gingival tissue (GT) during periodontal surgery. The ELISA technique was used to evaluate the levels of IL-23, IL-17A, IL-23R, and IL-17RA. Results: In the plasma, a significant decrease in IL-17A was observed in patients with periodontitis than HS. In the GT, IL-23, IL-17A, and IL-17RA levels were increased in periodontitis patients; on the contrary, IL-23R levels were decreased in periodontitis patients when compared with HS. Finally, several positive correlations were found: soluble IL-17RA (sIL-17RA) levels in plasma between the percentage of radiographic bone loss (RBL%), and IL-23 with IL-17A in gingival tissue. Conclusions: The detection of the IL-23/IL-17A axis in gingival tissue and plasma provides us with more information on the behavior of this axis in a localized way in the periodontal microenvironment, in contrast to the systemic levels evaluated according to the new classification of periodontitis.

The last third of gestation is a period of high energy and protein demand for the dam to support fetal growth and the following onset of lactation. Methionine is an essential amino acid that contributes to protein formation, fetal development, and milk synthesis; thus, is likely to have positive effects on the weight and size of the newborn and, afterward, milk yield and milk composition, which may improve growth patterns of the progeny. To test these hypotheses, we used 60 pregnant multiparous Alpine goats with similar live weights and gestational ages (~Day 100 of pregnancy; Mean ± SD; 1410 ± 14 days old and 50.4 ± 6.6 kg) and were separated into two groups: control and supplemented with the delivery. Treatments were T-MET (n = 30; received 1% herbal methionine Optimethione® dry matter based on from Day 100 of the pregnancy to delivery) or T-CTL (n = 30; served as the control and did not receive methionine). The methionine powder provided individual supplementation and was adjusted every week as the live weight and dry matter intake changed. At birth, the weight, body mass index (BMI), birth type, and sex of the kids were determined. Subsequently, the progeny was weighed weekly up to weaning. Two weeks after parturition, the milk composition was recorded weekly, and the milk yield was recorded monthly. The maternal live weight at the start (Mean ± SEM; T-CTL: 50.5 ± 1.1 vs. T-MET: 50.3 ± 1.3 kg) and end (T-CTL: 54.2 ± 1.3 vs. T-MET: 52.8 ± 1.4 kg) of the experiment did not differ statistically among treatments (p > 0.05); however, daily live weight changes tended to differ between groups (T-CTL: 73 ± 10 vs. T-MET: 51 ± 7 g day−1; p = 0.06). The birth weight (T-CTL: 3.1 ± 0.1 vs. T-MET: 3.5 ± 0.1 kg; p < 0.001), daily live weight change (T-CTL: 121 ± 6 vs. T-MET: 141 ± 6 g day−1; p < 0.01), and weaning weight (T-CTL: 8.3 ± 0.2 vs. T-MET: 9.3 ± 0.3 kg; p < 0.01) differed between treatments. The BMI at birth (T-CTL: 0.28 ± 0.01 vs. T-MET: 0.3 ± 0.01 units kg m−2; p < 0.01) and at weaning (T-CTL: 0.85 ± 0.1 kg vs. T-MET: 1.00 ± 0.06 units kg m−2; p < 0.05) differed between treatments. Milk components (protein, fat, lactose, and solids non-fat) and milk yield were similar between treatments (p > 0.05). It is concluded that the inclusion of methionine in the maternal goat diet during the last third of gestation increases the birth and growth variables of the progeny but without significant influence on the milk yield and composition.

COVID-19 pandemic has changed the normal course of activities around the World. The measures implemented to slow down the spread of the disease and its impact on the health system have also suggested a change in population dynamics. In the educational aspect, the paradigm of the traditional education had to change completely to a remote environment, representing a challenge for students, teachers, and education institutions. In this work we report the students’ response to the actions taken by the faculty of the Chemistry Sciences School of Universidad La Salle México to face online courses ensuring student accompaniment. After the term, a qualitative and quantitative study was performed to the school population using an electronic survey to address the response of students to the applied strategy. Data was analyzed using SPSS® software. 266 responses were obtained, which represents a response rate of 44%. 75.6% of the alumni reported having a good or excellent disposition regarding virtual sessions. Likewise, 48.9% reported adapting appropriately to the remote working modality. Also, 83.5% of students recognize the labor of the teachers by acknowledging that their effort and dedication was excellent or good. Students showed development of soft skills such as self-time and learning management; written, oral and technological communication. These results suggest the advantages perceived by students during the transition to virtual modality, mostly oriented to self-management of their learning and that could conform the basis for the development of new strategies that can be useful not only for a contingency situation, but also in the structuration and innovation of science programs.

Abstract Morphological abnormalities in crustaceans have been registered and several are attributed to pollution and others anthropogenic activities. This study reports for the first time a temporal record of the amount and variety of morphological abnormalities in Acartia lilljeborgii, in an impacted neotropical estuary. The specimens were obtained from Suape port area, Northeast Brazil, between May 2009 and September 2010 using a 300 µm plankton net. Seven types of abnormalities were observed in one of the terminal spines of the prosome, but no temporal variation of abnormalities was found in our study. The deformities were registered in 85.7% of samples and they were found in up to 10% of the individuals (3.2 ± 2.9%). The proportion of females with abnormalities was greater than for males, in opposite to most previous reports. Due to its high distribution and abundance in part of the neotropical Atlantic coastal area, A. lilljeborgii has the potential to be used as a bioindicator of environmental conditions, although the reasons of the abnormality occurrences should be accurately investigated.

Summary: The efficacy of ALVAC-based HIV and SIV vaccines in humans and macaques correlates with antibodies to envelope variable region 2 (V2). We show here that vaccine-induced antibodies to SIV variable region 1 (V1) inhibit anti-V2 antibody-mediated cytotoxicity and reverse their ability to block V2 peptide interaction with the α4β7 integrin. SIV vaccines engineered to delete V1 and favor an α helix, rather than a β sheet V2 conformation, induced V2-specific ADCC correlating with decreased risk of SIV acquisition. Removal of V1 from the HIV-1 clade A/E A244 envelope resulted in decreased binding to antibodies recognizing V2 in the β sheet conformation. Thus, deletion of V1 in HIV envelope immunogens may improve antibody responses to V2 virus vulnerability sites and increase the efficacy of HIV vaccine candidates.

El artículo analiza la construcción del personaje de Marina en El subtil cordobés Pedro de Urdemalas. Frente a otros personajes cercanos a la picaresca femenina —muchos de ellos creados también por Salas Barbadillo—, Marina consigue abandonar por completo el mundo asociado a su condición social (moza de mesón) y construir una identidad de mujer honesta. En este sentido, contrasta también con Pedro, el protagonista, que simula ser un personaje noble pero mantiene ciertas características de pícaro.

El presente trabajo estudia la historia editorial de las obras de Alonso Gerónimo de Salas Barbadillo desde el siglo xvii hasta nuestros días, con especial hincapié en la situación actual de los textos. Pese a que no estamos ante un autor desatendido, se pone de manifiesto que gran parte de sus creaciones adolecen todavía de ediciones filológicamente fiables. Además, se muestra cómo en ciertos casos no se ha respetado siquiera la integridad de los textos, provocando ideas críticas erróneas sobre la literatura de Salas.

RESUMEN Introducción: El uso de las medicinas no convencionales (MNC) crece en la población; sin embargo, los médicos tienen un bajo nivel de conocimiento acerca de ellas, a pesar de su interés, debido a las preguntas que reciben de sus pacientes con respecto a sus riesgos y beneficios. No obstante, se desconoce cuántos y cuáles son los instrumentos que evalúan la calidad de la investigación de estas medicinas. Objetivo: Identificar las herramientas que se utilizan para evaluar la calidad de la investigación en medicinas no convencionales a fin de conocer sus avances y origen de sus limitaciones. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda de información en bases de datos científicas; acopiándose un total de 200 de estos, solo 75 fueron considerados adecuados; aunque, solo 12 respondieron a la pregunta de investigación. El análisis acogió algunas de las recomendaciones PRISMA. Resultados: Se encontraron 12 instrumentos que guían y evalúan la calidad de la investigación en medicinas no convencionales, 9 de ellas son extensiones CONSORT. China, Corea del Sur y la India son los países que promueven la estandarización de su medicina tradicional, la cual representa gran parte de las medicinas alternativas y complementarias de otras partes del mundo. Conclusiones: Se requiere seguir procedimientos específicos para la evaluación de la calidad de la investigación en medicinas no convencionales con el fin de encontrar los criterios más apropiados para la evaluación de su eficacia y seguridad.

Reseña de Lope de Vega, Romances de senectud, ed. A. Sánchez Jiménez, Cátedra (Letras Hispánicas, 804), Madrid, 2018, 400 pp. ISBN: 9788437638331.

A partir de los datos obtenidos en la base de datos Artelope confirmamos que el peso de la ambientación italiana es significativo en el teatro de Lope. Señalamos una mayor proporción de obras ubicadas en Italia en algunos géneros —comedias palatinas, comedias picarescas, comedias novelescas y dramas hagiográficos—, así como en las piezas denominadas en su título como «tragedia». Por último, analizamos la relación entre la ambientación italiana y las «comedias palatinas de materia literaturizada».

The use of fuzzy logic controllers in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, RACs, has as main objective to maintain certain thermal and comfort conditions. In this sense, fuzzy controllers have proven to be a viable option for use in RACs due to their ease of implementation and their ability to integrate with other control systems and control improvements, as well as their ability to achieve potential energy savings. In this document, we present a review of the application of fuzzy controls in RACs based on vapor compression technology. Application information is discussed for each type of controller, according to its application in chillers, air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and heat pumps. In addition, this review provides detailed information on controller design, focusing on the potential to achieve energy savings; this design discusses input and output variables, number and type of membership functions, and inference rules. The future perspectives on the use of fuzzy control systems applied to RACs are shown as well. In other words, the information in this document is intended to serve as a guide for the creation of controller designs to be applied to RACs.

El siguiente artículo aborda un tema de vital importancia para el sistema de salud de cualquier parte del mundo, la lactancia materna. De ahí que el objetivo esencial de este es mostrar algunos consejos y ventajas inmunológicas que brinda la lactancia materna. De ahí que esta problemática, contribuye entre otras, a proteger a los bebés y niños pequeños contra algunas enfermedades peligrosas. Asimismo, se pudo constatar a través de la aplicación de algunos métodos y técnicas que esta, ayuda a crear un vínculo exclusivo entre la madre y el hijo. Al mismo tiempo, mostrar algunos factores que perturban la lactancia materna exclusiva motivados entre otras razones por la falta de conocimiento de las madres, así como por mantenerse alejadas de sus pequeños por tiempos prolongados y carecer de facilidades laborales que les permitan compaginar la lactancia con el empleo.

El siguiente artículo trata sobre la homeostasis del organismo como un aspecto imprescindible para lograr el adecuado funcionamiento orgánico. De ahí que se proponen como objetivo, realizar una breve fundamentación teórica sobre la temática en cuestión. Para ello, se utiliza el método de revisión de documentos. Este, permite profundizar en la teoría existente sobre la hemorragia digestiva como una las manifestaciones más frecuentes en el tracto digestivo de pacientes con deterioro crónico de la función renal.

In this paper, a domestic refrigerator was tested to determine the power consumption for different positions of the shelves. The main contribution of this paper is the application of several strategies to analyze and model the power consumption of a domestic refrigerator when the fresh food shelves are changed of position. First, computer simulations were performed to analyze the power consumption using the moving average, the numerical derivative, and the Fourier transform. These simulations were used to study changes, periodic behaviors, minimum, maximum, and average values for the power consumption. Second, prediction methods were used to model the power consumption, these methods include cubic splines, the bilinear method, and artificial neural networks. With these methods, 2-D color graphs were built to predict the power consumption for any shelves positions. The validation results revealed that the cubic spline method provides the best results. Finally, it can be concluded that the models proposed in this paper provides new insights that can be used to design the internal compartments of the fresh food in order to try reducing the energy consumption.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are useful for the in-vitro micropropagation of plants, but little information is available on woody species. This work compares the effects of light quality and intensity on the growth and development of micropropagated olive plants from two different subspecies. Illumination was provided with fluorescent and LED lamps covering different red/blue ratios (90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40) or red/blue/white combinations, as well as different light intensities (30, 34, 40, 52, 56, 84, 98 and 137 µmol m−2 s−1 of photosynthetic photon fluxes, PPF). Olive plants exhibited high sensitivity to light quality and intensity. Higher red/blue ratios or lower light intensities stimulated plant growth and biomass mainly as a consequence of a higher internodal elongation rate, not affecting either the total number of nodes or shoots. In comparison to fluorescent illumination, LED lighting improved leaf area and biomass, which additionally was positively correlated with light intensity. Stomatal frequency was positively, and pigments content negatively, correlated with light intensity, while no clear correlation was observed with light quality. In comparison with fluorescent lamps, LED illumination (particularly the 70/30 red/blue ratio with 34 µmol m−2 s−1 PPF intensity) allowed optimal manipulation and improved the quality of in-vitro micropropagated olive plants.

Analizamos cómo la representación de Nápoles en el teatro de Lope varía notablemente según el género. En las obras de tipo histórico, la urbe aparece vinculada a las campañas bélicas y a la presencia española, lo que hace que sea frecuente la exaltación de personalidades político-militares, que hemos de entender como un intento del Fénix por establecer o afianzar ciertos mecenazgos; este componente lo encontramos también en Amor con vista, una comedia urbana, o en Los esclavos libres, comedia de cautiverio con rasgos bizantinos. Nápoles aparece como la oportunidad del pícaro para transformase en caballero en El caballero de Illescas; como una ciudad lejana dentro del universo de irrealidad de las comedias palatinas y como una urbe mítica en El ganso de Oro.

We tested whether the milk yield capacity of mixed-breed goats on a Chihuahuan desert rangeland in northern Mexico during the dry season affects milk composition, body weight gain, and weaning weight of their progeny. Milk yield and composition, and progeny postnatal growth performance, were recorded weekly. One week after kidding, mixed-breed goats (a mixture of Criollo × dairy breeds; n = 40) were allotted into medium (MP) or low (LP) milk yielding groups (20 goats per group). Mean 105-d total milk yield for MP and LP goats was 45.2 ± 12.5 and 20.7 ± 5.2 L, respectively. Milk lactose (4.3 vs. 4.2%) and solids-non-fat (SNF; 8.2 vs. 8.0) differed (p < 0.05) between MP and LP goats; milk protein content tended to differ (p = 0.08) between MP and LP goats with no difference for milk fat content (p > 0.05). Maternal body weight was positively associated with milk yield, milk lactose, and SNF content (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Goats giving birth to males produce more milk than goats giving birth to females, but milk fat percentage was higher in goats bearing females (p < 0.001). Milk yield and composition throughout lactation did not influence body weight gain (47.8 vs. 48.7 g/day for kids from MP and LP goats) and weaning weight (6.7 vs. 6.7 kg from MP and LP goats) of the offspring (p > 0.05). Birth weight and weaning weight of the progeny were positively related to maternal body weight (p ≤ 0.05). The postnatal growth of the kids was reduced, extending the time to reach market weight. Nevertheless, non-supplemented mixed-breed goats reared on semi-arid rangeland of northern Mexico have the potential for moderate milk production. Therefore, due to the limited nutrients ingested by grazing goats during the dry season, a nutritional supplement is necessary to keep up milk production and adequate growth of kids.

Blood cell manipulation in microdevices is an interesting task for the separation of particles, by their size, density, or to remove them from the buffer, in which they are suspended, for further analysis, and more. This study highlights the cell-free area (CFA) widening based on experimental results of red blood cell (RBC) flow, suspended in a microfluidic device, while temperature and flow rate incrementally modify RBC response within the microflow. Studies of human red blood cell flow, at a concentration of 20%, suspended in its autologous plasma and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer, were carried out at a wide flow rate, varying between 10 and 230 μL/min and a temperature range of 23 °C to 50 °C. The plotted measures show an increment in a CFA near the channel wall due to cell flow inertia after a constricted channel, which becomes more significant as temperature and flow rate increase. The temperature increment widened the CFA up to three times. In comparison, flow rate increment increased the CFA up to 20 times in PBS and 11 times in plasma.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la influencia de un alimento fermentado, elaborado con semillas de Canavalia ensiformis, sobre el comportamiento productivo y características de la canal de ovinos Pelibuey (n= 18). El diseño utilizado fue completamente al azar con dos factores con medidas repetidas en un factor. Los factores fueron tipo de dieta [alimento sin fermentar con canavalia (SFC), alimento fermentado con canavalia (FC), alimento sin fermentar y sin canavalia (SFSC)] y número de periodo de evaluación. Se evaluó peso vivo (PV), ganancia diaria de peso (GDP), consumo diario de materia seca, proteína cruda y energía metabolizable, así como peso y rendimiento de la canal. El tipo de dieta, número de período y la interacción tipo de dieta x número de período afectaron (P

We study some topological properties of the class of supermodular n-quasi-copulas and check that the topological size of the Dedekind–MacNeille completion of the set of n-copulas is small, in terms of the Baire category, in the Dedekind–MacNeille completion of the set of the supermodular n-quasi-copulas, and in turn, this set and the set of n-copulas are small in the set of n-quasi-copulas.

Resumen: En el siguiente artículo realizamos un análisis de contenidos teóricos y empíricos referentes a la vinculación entre deporte, la cultura y la sociedad contemporánea con la finalidad de realizar un estudio sobre el estado actual de la cuestión. Para ello se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica de las referencias publicadas en Web of Science y Scopus entre los años 2000 y 2017. Se realiza un meta análisis teórico de las diferentes categorías de estudio en las que se subdividen las referencias internacionales sobre el tema de estudio. También se realiza un análisis secundario de los datos aportados en las investigaciones que forman parte del monográfico. Como resultados principales se muestra el actual estado del desarrollo académico sobre el estudio del deporte la cultura y la sociedad, y varias reflexiones sobre las actuales características del mundo del deporte en la sociedad contemporánea. Abstract: In the next article we set out to analyse the theoretical and empirical content of the link between sport, culture and contemporary society, so as to assess the current state of play. This involves reviewing the literature published on Web of Science and Scopus between 2000 and 2017. The categories of the study into which the international references on the theme of the study can be subdivided are subjected to theoretical meta-analysis, dividing them into classic and current themes. A secondary analysis is also carried out on the data contributed by the research that forms part of the paper. The main findings reveal the current state of academic development of the study of sport, culture and society, offering a range of reflections on the current characteristics of the world of sport in contemporary society.

Resumen: En las últimas décadas, debido a factores sociales diversos, asistimos al desarrollo y a la transformación de las prácticas deportivas. En el presente artículo llevamos a cabo un estudio longitudinal de la práctica deportiva entre los años 1995 y 2014, en España, entre la población de 18 años y más, de ambos sexos, atendiendo a las relaciones sociales que se dan en la práctica deportiva. El análisis, obtenido a partir de bases de datos nacionales, ha demostrado la hipótesis principal de estudio en base al análisis de tendencias de práctica del deporte, puesto que la práctica del deporte individual ha aumentado frente a formas de prácticas colectivas junto a amigos o familia. Mostramos, también, las variaciones de la práctica deportiva dependiendo del tipo de relación primaria que se establece en el deporte según sexo, edad, hábitat, ocupación, formación, forma de hacer deporte, grado de competición, frecuencia, instalaciones deportivas utilizadas, tipo de deporte practicado, horas de tiempo libre y sensación subjetiva de felicidad. Abstract: We have seen a transformation in the development of sporting activities over recent decades. There are a number of social factors behind this. In this article, we report a longitudinal study of sporting activities in Spain between 1995 and 2014 among the population aged 18 and over, including both sexes, examining the social relationships that arise in sporting activities. Our analysis is based on national databases and analysis of trends in sporting activities. It demonstrates the main hypothesis of the study, which is that individual sporting activities have increased compared to group activities with family and friends. We also examine changes in sporting activities depending on the primary relations established in the sport, by sex, age, habitat, occupation, educational level, the form in which the sport is practised, the degree of competition, frequency, the sports facilities used, the type of sport, hours of free time and the subjective sensation of happiness.

Hoy en día la mayoría de las personas posee un teléfono celular, ya sea con un sistema operativo clásico o un smartphone , que no sólo tienen la capacidad de realizar llamadas, sino también de instalar software o navegar por internet. Estos dispositivos se han convertido en un medio de almacenamiento de información, por lo cual son vulnerables a robo. Por lo anterior, se presentan las vulnerabilidades que afectan a Android y se propone el uso de práctica de programación segura. Los resultados mostraron mitigar satisfactoriamente las vulnerabilidades, con lo cual se crean métodos eficientes de programación segura.

Flow maldistribution represents a problem of particular interest in the engineering field for several thermal systems. In flat plate solar collectors, the thermal efficiency strongly depends on the flow distribution through the riser tubes, where a uniform distribution causes a uniform temperature distribution and therefore a higher efficiency. In this work, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical analysis has been carried out using the commercial software FLUENT®, in order to determine the flow distribution, pressure drop and hence the thermal efficiency of a solar collector with distribution flow plates inside the manifolds. The obtained numerical solution for this type of thermal systems has been validated with experimental results available in literature for laminar and turbulent flow. Four distribution plate configurations were analyzed. Results show that using two distribution plates in each of both manifolds improves the flow uniformity up to 40% under the same operating conditions when distribution plates are not used. Besides, it is shown that there exists an increase in the overall pressure drop which is practically negligible for the tilt angles commonly employed in the installation of flat plate solar collectors in Mexico. The use of closed end distribution plates on the dividing and combining manifolds allows the thermal efficiency to become close to the ideal thermal efficiency which is obtained with a uniform flow distribution.