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Background/purpose: The training of teachers to use digital social networks implies a change in the cultural paradigm and new alternatives for the development of their digital skills. This research analyzes the effectiveness of a workshop-structured massive online open course (MOOC) to develop the teaching of digital skills associated with using digital social networks for educational purposes. Materials/methods: A quasi-experiment with pretest and posttest and intact groups was conducted. The population of the study was the teaching staff of Cuba's University of Informatics Science, with a sample of 30 teaching professors. Results: The statistical results justify that in the two experimental groups, the implementation of the MOOC was satisfactory as significant differences were evident. The results suggest and affirm that MOOC-type online courses are an appropriate means for the continuation of teacher training as professional development. It concludes by arguing challenges in teacher training to develop their digital skills, highlighting: (1) technological, social, and educational imaginary; and (2) teaching digital culture vs. cultural codes of the student body. Conclusion: The main contribution is the effectiveness of teacher training through the interaction and interactivity between the designed MOOC and learning activities conducted using Facebook, LinkedIn, and Telegram.

Oropouche virus is the aetiological agent of Oropouche fever. At present, this is currently considered one of the most important vector-borne diseases in Latin America. On 27 May 2024, the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba reported the first ever outbreak of Oropouche fever. In this report, we describe three human cases of Oropouche virus infection with symptoms and signs of neurological disease and clinical diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This study offers insights regarding that Oropouche virus is a causal agent of neurological disorders and it could be involved in the etiology of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teramnus labialis (of the Fabaceae family) is an under-utilized legume with immense potential to improve agricultural soils (through atmospheric nitrogen fixation) and for use as forage for livestock. Despite its pantropical distribution, only a limited number of studies is available to characterize germplasm of this genus. In Cuba, two cultivars are commonly grown, i.e., a light-brown and dark-brown seeded type. The current contribution reports on the phenotypic evaluation of these two cultivars in order to document and characterize plant traits. The results indicated that phenotypic differences were indistinguishable during the early phases of plant growth (up to 45 d), however, after 120–150 d, differences became apparent since the dark-brown seeded cultivar displayed a darker green leaf color and developed numerous epidermal hairs in leaves, petioles and flowers. Examination of the gross anatomical structure of harvested seeds revealed a rougher testa for the dark–brown seeded type compared with the light brown-seeded type. An additional important distinguishing feature was the extended mucro in pods of the light–brown seeded type (5.42 ± 0.13 mm) compared with that of the dark-brown seeded cultivar (3.75 ± 0.08 mm). To our knowledge, this represents the first report of morphological characterization of the two cultivars of T. labialis relevant to Cuba. This information adds to the scant body of knowledge on this under-utilized tropical legume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the complex evolution of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) situation reflects a change in the eco-epidemiology of the causative agent which, among other demands, renews the need for better understanding of the connectivity between countries through the main virus reservoirs to improve prevention, early warning and mitigate the associated risks. Our objective was to determine migratory connectivity of Blue-winged Teal and evaluate the risk of AIV introduction to Cuba by this species. The stable hydrogen isotope (d2H) value in flight feathers was analyzed. Individuals were sampled during the migratory season of 2021 (N=126) and winter residence of 2020 (N=152), in western and central Cuba, respectively. Based on banding records from 1955 to 2018, the transition probabilities from 3 breeding areas in North America to 9 wintering areas was estimated with a Burnham's live-recapture dead-recovery modeling framework. A map of likely origin in North America of the individuals sampled for each season was generated, combining the isotopic information and transition probabilities. Evidence of an age-related and phenological pattern in migratory origins was identified. Individuals harvested in the migratory season in western Cuba were most likely from molt or natal areas in the prairies and forest regions from United States and southern Canada. Alternatively, individuals harvested in winter in the center of Cuba had the most likely origin in the U.S. prairie region. The spatial-temporal pattern of AIV prevalence in the estimated region was analyzed and suggestions are made to assist the Cuban system of active AIV surveillance of wild birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti is the property of Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba Jose Marti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The lack of direct and indirect instruments and the features of the Cuban monetary and financial environment have implicated the need to base the monetary policy on the use of nominal anchors for price stabilization. This article has the objective of analyzing the relevance of the official exchange rate, the money supply, and the regulated prices as nominal anchors since the economic system reformation of the early 1990s. With this objective in mind, the analysis provided by the article is divided into two sections. In the first, the use of the main nominal anchors in the macroeconomic stabilization carried out in the period 1990–2010 is evaluated. In the second, the factors that explain the loss of the main nominal anchors in the period 2011–2022 are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mendive - Revista de Educacion is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Healthcare professionals undergo frequent job stress due to exposure to high cognitive demands. The present research was carried out at the "Héroes del Moncada" polyclinic in the municipality of Cárdenas, Matanzas. The objective is to apply indicators associated to mental fatigue. The indicators applied are: Simple Reaction Time and Yoshitake Test. Statgraphic Centurion 15.0 software is used as a tool for information processing. The results of the research obtained in this study show significant differences between before and after in some of the indicators applied, which evidences the presence of mental workload at the end of the working day. When applying the Yoshitake Test after finishing the assigned activity, all the health personnel of the study sample manifested the presence of subjective sensation of fatigue, highlighting both physical and mental fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the Braun Blanquet methodology in the Sierra Maestra's south slope, four classes, six orders, eigh alliances and 20 associations wetlands with water sea influence were found, one, one, two and nine was described for the first time. They were in five vegetation types included, in which the mangrove ecosistem was the more prolific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti is the property of Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba Jose Marti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti is the property of Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba Jose Marti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wetland-dependent birds are considered to be at particularly high risk for negative climate change effects. Bioclimatic models are widely used tools for assessing potential responses of species to climate change. We predicted current and future distributions of American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber; Family Phoenicopteridae), a resident species in Cuba, using ecological niche models in combination with climate data in Maxent software. We predicted four potential future distributions in Cuba under two emissions scenarios in both 2050 and 2070, combining three Global Circulation Models. Bioclimatic variables that contributed the most to modelled distributions of American Flamingo were mean diurnal temperature range [mean of monthly (max temp - min temp)], temperature seasonality, and precipitation of wettest quarter. Our results predict that the current distribution of American Flamingo will be reduced by 38% in a changing future climate under the most pessimistic scenario of 2070. The potential suitable habitat of American Flamingo under this same scenario would be 51% excluded from the National System of Protected Areas of Cuba. Species distribution modeling can inform the current and future management of the American Flamingo throughout Cuba, and our findings suggest a strong conservation strategy is needed to conserve American Flamingo populations under a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase 1, clinical trial to evaluate FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine in COVID-19 convalescent individuals was completed. Here, we report results of the phase 2, clinical trial. We studied 450 convalescent participants with a history of asymptomatic, mild, or moderate COVID-19 at the National Institute of Hematology and Immunology and the National Centre for Sexual Education in Havana, Cuba. The study included adults aged 19–78 years who had recovered from COVID-19 and had had a negative PCR test at least 2 months before the initiation of the study. Phase 2 was done sequentially in two stages. The first stage to assess safety comprised an open, non-controlled phase 2a study in participants aged 60–78 years who received a single dose of the FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine (50 μg of recombinant dimeric receptor binding domain [RBD]). The second stage comprised the placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 2b trial in participants aged 19–78 years, where participants were randomly assigned (4:1) into two groups: an experimental group vaccinated with a single dose of the FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine, and a control (placebo) group injected with vaccine excipient. The primary outcomes were safety, evaluated 28 days after vaccination by the occurrence of serious adverse events in all participants, and successful immune response, assessed by neutralising antibody ELISA, and defined as half-maximal surrogate virus neutralisation titres of 250 or more. Secondary endpoints included vaccine immunogenicity assessed by ELISA anti-RBD and live-virus neutralisation test. All randomly assigned participants were included in the safety analysis (safety population), and immunogenicity was evaluated in participants without study interruptions (per-protocol population). The trial is registered with the Cuban Public Registry of Clinical Trials , RPCEC00000366-En and WHO-ICTRP and is complete. From April 9, 2021, to April 17, 2021, 663 COVID-19 convalescent participants were enrolled in the study; 213 participants did not meet the selection criteria and 450 volunteers were recruited. 20 participants aged 60–78 years were included in the open, single-group, phase 2a study and 430 participants were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=344) or control groups (n=86) in the phase 2b study of participants aged 19–78 years. 19 (95%) of 20 phase 2a volunteers achieved a successful immune response after vaccination. No vaccine-associated serious adverse events were reported in the whole study population. Minor adverse events were found, the most common being pain at the injection site (105 [29%] of 364 in the intervention group; 13 [15%] of 86 in the placebo group). A successful immune response was found in 289 (81%) of 358 participants 28 days after vaccination. The vaccine elicited a greater than 31-times increase in anti-RBD-IgG antibodies compared with prevaccination rates, and the seroconversion rate was 302 (84%) of 358 on day 28 after vaccination; the geometric mean titres of live-virus neutralisation test increased from 15·4 (95% CI 10·3–23·2) to 400·3 (272·4–588·1) and high response was found against alpha, beta, and delta variants of concern. A single dose of the FINLAY-FR-1A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 strengthened the pre-existing natural immunity, with excellent safety profile. Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Sierra Maestra the rainforests occupied mountains territories between 800 and 1 500 meters above sea level (mosl). By using the Zurich Montpellier school methodology one new order are described, Clethro cubensis-Cyrilletalia silvae with two alliances and two associations that the late and mature succesional communities are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soy yoghurt production capacity depends on the processing capacity of industrial cultivation, being one of the fundamental stages, where time and temperature exert a direct influence on acidification. Objective: To evaluate the alternative of increasing the processing capacity of the industrial culture, from the experimental study and scaling of the fermentation operation, to increase the production of soy yogurt at Pasteurizer Santa Clara. Materials and Methods: The behavior of acidification in lactose fermentation was evaluated considering the effect of time and temperature, and a model relating these variables was obtained. Additionally, the installed fermentation conditions were scaled up, with the heat transfer requirements according to the experimental study, and the economic analysis of the proposal was performed. Results and Discussion: The required acidity was obtained at 8 h after the incubation time with a temperature control at 6 ºC, where the adjusted model showed a determination coefficient of 95.15 %. In turn, maintaining constant velocity at the impeller tip was selected as the most successful scaling criterion, ensuring geometrical and biochemical similarities in a working volume of 2 m3 . These conditions yielded a payback period of less than 2 years. Conclusions: Scaling up the processing of the industrial culture introduces an increase in the annual production value, with encouraging economic indicators of profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate healthy life expectancies in eight low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), using two indicators: disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) and dependence-free life expectancy (DepFLE). Method: Using the Sullivan method, healthy life expectancy was calculated based on the prevalence of dependence and disability from the 10/66 cohort study, which included 16,990 people aged 65 or above in China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, India, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, and country-specific life tables from the World Population Prospects 2017. Results: DFLE and DepFLE declined with older age across all sites and were higher in women than men. Mexico reported the highest DFLE at age 65 for men (15.4, SE = 0.5) and women (16.5, SE = 0.4), whereas India had the lowest with (11.5, SE = 0.3) in men and women (11.7, SE = 0.4). Discussion: Healthy life expectancy based on disability and dependency can be a critical indicator for aging research and policy planning in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mixed-species foraging aggregations of waterbirds result from foraging and anti-predator behaviors, and understanding the dynamics of these aggregations is useful in planning the conservation of waterbirds species and understanding their ecological functions within the ecosystem. This paper describes the dynamics in composition and structure of mixed-species foraging aggregations during the wet and dry seasons in the lagoon system of Las Salinas, Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba. We surveyed these aggregations monthly from 2009 to 2017. Aggregation structure was analysed through relative abundance per guild, percentage of presence, and participation weight and participation rate. Forty-two mixed-species foraging aggregations of waterbirds were observed throughout the study, with greater species richness (n = 12 species, confidence interval: 10–13) and number of individuals (n = 800 individuals, confidence interval: 565–1,055) in the wet season. During the dry season, the most prominent species in aggregation formation were Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula), American White Ibises (Eudocimus albus) and Roseate Spoonbills (Platalea ajaja), which have been identified as nuclear species in other studies. In the wet season, American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) appeared to be the nuclear species within aggregations, something that had not previously been described in mixed-species aggregations of waterbirds. Confirming these nuclear species at Las Salinas is an important next step, given that conservation efforts focused on nuclear species might benefit the maintenance and function of the entire assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Taking in account the neccesity to know the characteristics of rainforest developed over Nipeˈs plateau, the objective was to study the phytocoenoses by using Braun Blanquet method. One alliance and two associations besides their physiognomical, ecological and phytosociological characteristics are described which is too important for their floristic relations and ecological communities analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On May 2013, we conducted two visits at the seabird breeding colony in Cayo Hijo de los Ballenatos to count the number of seabirds and document the number of active nests in the colony. We identified the species associated to each nest, counted and measured the eggs present, and documented the minimum distance between nests. We documented 398 individuals of eight seabird species. One pair of Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), and Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) were found in the area, but no nest was found for them. Other four species showed abundant numbers and active nests; they were Laughing Gull, Leucophaeus atricilla, (27 nests, 200 individuals), Bridled Tern, Onychoprion anaethetus, (25 nests, 100 individuals), Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus, (26 nests, 60 individuals) and Sandwich Tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis (11 nests, 30 individuals). Nest density in the colony was 55.6 nest/ha and overall seabird density was 248,7 birds/ha. The spatial distribution of the nests was not homogeneous, likely determined by the variation in substrate availability and intra- and inter-specific relationships in the breeding colony. Here we recommend some management actions to protect this locally seabird colony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of PODIUM- Revista de Ciencia y Tecnologia en la Cultura Física is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mendive - Revista de Educacion is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nowadays, huge quantities of oily wastewater and oily solid wastes are associated with different industrial activities, which not only may harm the environment and human health but also a performance worsening of the installation. The goal of this study was to establish a resilient approach to cope with oily waste generation in industrial facilities. Several lessons learned from Cuban installations studied separately for ten years in the municipality of Cienfuegos were the cornerstone for the model definition. The approach included the development of a novel methodology to address integrated features of loss prevention in the operation of petroleum transport, storage, process, handling, and use. This methodology was designed and improved using the principle of convergence to integrate engineering procedures, standards, technical and management tools. The results from the methodology implementation generated a list of findings translated into industrial failures modes, that can impact both environment and human health. Then, a set of general and specific causes associated including the incidence of the natural events were deployed in different orders. The environmental monitoring around the plants offered a significant sample of points that allowed the spatial representation of how hydrocarbon pollution constitutes a complex network of permanent stress rooted in the territory of Cienfuegos. Moreover, a package of inherently safer solutions was generated as primary prevention, integrating the waste management hierarchy concept. At last, this iterative approach generated a research project to develop a bioremediation technique for the treatment of oily sludge from maintenance operations, which can be neither eliminated for the inherently safer solutions nor disposed to the environment. The lessons learned from Cuban installations enabled the conception of this resilient approach, which represents a framework to improve industrial safety performances contributing to the release reduction of oily waste. In addition, it represents a contribution to increasing the awareness of industrial vulnerabilities in the territorial resilience analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti is the property of Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba Jose Marti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de la Biblioteca Nacional Jose Marti is the property of Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba Jose Marti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Iberoamericana de Educación (Version impresa) is the property of Organizacion de Estados Iberoamericanos (OEI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Opuntia Brava is the property of Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas de Las Tunas, Centro de Documentacion e Informacion Pedagogica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Landscape structure can affect waterbird distributions across wetlands. In the Caribbean region, little focus has been given to the studies testing how waterbird communities are affected by the landscape structure of coastal wetlands. We investigated the effects of landscape configuration on waterbird communities in southwestern Cuba and evaluated the contribution of the configuration of lagoons, mangrove and anthropogenic land use to waterbird diversity. Additionally, we identified the scale at which descriptors of waterbird community are most sensitive to landscape variables. We conducted waterbird surveys at 14 sampling points in coastal wetlands of southwestern Cuba during fall migration of 2016. Landscape structure was described with five landscape variables at three spatial scales. We found that at 6 km scale, mangrove mean patch area had a negative influence on waterbird abundance, while the percentage of landscape covered by lagoons had a positive effect at 2 km. However, a higher percentage of both mangroves and lagoons had an influence in waterbird composition variation at 2 km. The percentage of anthropogenic land use did not affect any response variable at the evaluated scales. Detecting the scale at which two important landscape resources (lagoons and mangroves) influence waterbird populations is an important tool for the successful management of these habitats. Study of these features could contribute to the adequate planning of protected areas along the coast of Cuba and the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mendive - Revista de Educacion is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The recovery of ecosystems contaminated with hydrocarbons using microorganisms offers a practical and viable solution. The objective of the research work was to evaluate the degradation capacity of a bacterial consortium, composed of four strains (Pseudomonas sp. B10, Alcaligenes sp. F10S1, Bacillus sp. F9S and Bacillus sp. RFA) isolated from coastal areas of Cuba. A microcosm test was designed using crude oil and petroleum derivatives (kerosene, diesel, gasoline, Jet A1) as carbon sources. The cultures were incubated with shaking at 130 rpm and a temperature of 300 C for 90 days. During the trial, the viability of the consortium was evaluated at 0, 21, 45 and 90 days by counting on plates of cultivable aerobic bacteria (CFU/mL). The Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) technique for crude oil, diesel, kerosene and Jet A1, Gas Chromatography was used for gasoline and Total Hydrocarbons (HCT) determined the degradation efficiency of the consortium for diesel, kerosene and Jet A1. The saturated, aromatic, resin and asphaltenes (SARA) components of crude oil were determined at the beginning and end of the trial by the EPA, 2020 procedures. The consortium remained viable in cultivation with crude oil and derivatives, indicating that was able to use these compounds as a source of carbon and energy. The consortium was able to partially degrade the components of crude oil: saturated (38.46%), resins (89.5%) and asphalt (19.42 %), it also degraded diesel hydrocarbons (14.22 %), Kerosene (41.69 %) and Jet A1 (59.68 %), transformed the gasoline with the greatest influence on olefins (100 %) and paraffin (66.37 %). The consortium proved to be efficient in the degradation of crude oil and different petroleum derivatives, its application in bioaugmentation processes can be a viable alternative for the sanitation of ecosystems impacted by oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the way Cuba was represented in noticeable online media in connection with Bernie Sanders' aspirations to become the Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election. Traditional anticommunism and a historical one-sided view on Cuba in the press, as well as widespread conceptual confusion about "socialism" in US society, converged against Sanders over the run-up to the nomination, especially at a crucial moment in February 2020 when he was the frontrunner and was interviewed by CBS. The paper analyses the reaction of the online press to Sanders' comments on Cuba during the interview, but also considers other US press reports during 2019 as well as specialised literature on the topic. Discourse Analysis parameters are brought forward to highlight ideological discourse representations in the media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is an ongoing threat to public health. Its elimination requires greater efforts to broaden antiretroviral treatment coverage, availability and personalization. HIV drug resistance is currently a global problem due to its continuing increase in recent years, undermining efficacy of antiretroviral therapy. Pretreatment HIV drug-resistance surveillance is part of WHO's strategy for addressing antiretroviral drug resistance. This paper describes and analyzes pretreatment HIV drug-resistance surveillance in Cuba. It presents a chronology of HIV resistance studies in untreated patients, along with their results and programmatic actions related to first- and second-line treatment regimens. Cuba's incorporation into the Global HIV Drug Resistance Surveillance Laboratories Network and the advantages of having a WHO-designated laboratory in which to conduct periodic studies of HIV drug-resistance surveillance are described. HIV drug-resistance surveillance in Cuba is a necessary tool in HIV/ AIDS monitoring and control, as it obtains population-scale data used to inform programmatic decisions related to optimizing first- and second-line treatments for children and adults, as well as helping meet goals of eliminating HIV transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cuba's life expectancy at 79 is third highest in Latin America. Many attribute this to social investments in health and education, but comparative research is sparse, thus we compare Cuba with neighboring Dominican Republic, Costa Rica due to its strong social protections, and the U.S. Given high cardiovascular mortality, we focus on cardiovascular risk factor levels. To assess the role of health care, we distinguish medically amenable biomarkers from behavioral risk factors. To assess the role of Cuba's focus on equity, we compare education gradients in risk factors. Methods: We analyze Cuban data from the 10/66 Dementia Research Group baseline survey of urban adults ages 65 plus. Comparison samples are drawn from the Dominican Republic 10/66 survey, the Costa Rican CRELES, and U.S. NHANES. We analyze cross-country levels and education gradients of medically amenable (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, access to health care) and behavioral (smoking, obesity) risk factors,–using sex-stratified weighted means comparisons and age-adjusted logistic regression. Results: Neither medically amenable nor behavioral risk factors are uniformly better in Cuba than comparison countries. Obesity is lower in Cuba, but male smoking is higher. Hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia levels are high in all countries, though Cuba's are lower than Costa Rica. Hypertension awareness in Cuba is similar to Costa Rica. Cuba has a higher proportion of hypertensives on treatment than Costa Rica, though lower than the U.S. Comparative gradients by education are similarly mixed. For behavioral factors, Cuba shows the strongest gradients (primarily for men) among the countries compared: smoking improves, but obesity worsens with education. Hypertension awareness also improves with education in Cuba, but Cuba shows no significant differences by education in hypertension treatment. Conclusion: Smoking is comparatively high in Cuba, but obesity is low, and the resulting biomarkers show comparatively mixed patterns. Cuba's social protections have not eliminated strong educational gradients in behavioral risk factors, but the healthcare system appears to have eliminated disparities such as in hypertension treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basis of industrialization was and still is today, the massive use of fossil fuels. Relatively abundant studies in the scientific literature show that the reserves of these resources are limited and that their depletion is almost imminent. For this reason, the production of biofuels is one of the solutions to this problem, since it is a potential source of renewable energy. One of its advantages is being friendly to the environment due to the reduction of polluting gases. Biodiesel is considered to be a favorable alternative for reducing fossil fuel imports and especially second-generation fuel because it is the most appropriate option, among other reasons, due to non-competitiveness with food. Due to the importance of the subject, it is necessary to know the origin of biofuels and their evolution, highlighting their classification and specifically researching into biodiesel. It is also intended to carry out a review about the use of biodiesel in compression engines for livestock activities, reflecting the characteristics and influence when using it in internal combustion engines (ICM). An analysis of research in Cuba is carried out and the interest of the country in the development of renewable energies and the care of the environment is ratified. It is therefore necessary, from a scientific perspective, to examine the potentialities of the Institute of Animal Science (ICA) that contribute to national energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contract is urged for a change in its current role. It should not be assumed as a simple formal document that validates the will of the intervening parties, but should be conceived as an effective legal instrument that has a transcendental role in the efficient performance of our business system. In the present work an analysis of the main shortcomings that survive today in the economic contracting process in the field of inter-business relations in Cuba is made, making special reference to the role that the contract should play as an essential instrument of economic management that is taxed to a better performance of our companies and ultimately of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Opuntia Brava is the property of Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas de Las Tunas, Centro de Documentacion e Informacion Pedagogica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mendive - Revista de Educacion is the property of Universidad de Pinar del Rio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study was conducted in the municipalities of San José de las Lajas and Bahía Honda, Cuba, with the objective of knowing the level of accessibility to food by the population in 2013 and 2015. The indicators analyzed were availability based on the supply in the points of sale in popular councils of those localities. To carry out this work, a total of approximately 100 consumers were surveyed in each municipality, each year. In the month of August of each year surveyed, a total of 10 or 15 points of sale were visited in the two municipalities, visited several times. It can be concluded that the supply of accessible food products for the population of the municipalities is still poor in quantity, quality and variety. The most serious problem is the high prices of products in these popular markets. Frequently, will be able to find a small increase in years of diversity but the price has grown more. However, there is enough production and/or potential in them to solve this situation. In two ways: on the one hand prioritizing the amount of food that satisfies the demands, on the other increasing production accompanied by variety and quality through the installation of irrigation infrastructure and putting to produce the land that is still idle or weakly used, as well as through the reorganization and stabilization of the production chain of the products. It is necessary to update the infrastructure of the markets and their mechanisms. There is a capacity to respond to the risks of food vulnerability in both municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birds of the National Botanical Garden of Cuba have been under study since the 80s, however, in recent years they have attracted lots of attention, due to the gradual increase in the diversity of the birds on the site and their stability, which attracts great number of birdwatchers and researchers. For this reason there is currently a large volume of accumulated and scattered information in relation to the current composition of the bird assemblage in the site. This work offers an updated list of birds in the JBN registered between 1983 and 2019, its frequency and the families to which they belong. For this porpoise, the publications (n = 7), thesis (n = 4), the counts made by the authors (n = 121) and the ebird lists (n = 91) were used. There are 105 species belonging to 35 families, including eight endemic species from Cuba, 12 endemic from the Caribbean and four with some degree of threat. The importance of the National Botanical Garden for the conservation of birds in the region is evident; for more than half, 61 species (58 %) are migratory or have a migratory component while 33 (31%) are nesting in the garden. The results show that the NBG is an important area for birds in Havana and a tourist attraction of great potential for bird and nature lovers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ingeniería y Universidad is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cuban Journal of Biological Sciences / Revista Cubana de Ciencias Biológicas is the property of Cuban Journal of Biological Sciences / Revista Cubana de Ciencias Biologicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work is part of the process of improving the economic-financial management of the Ministry of Higher Education (MES) of Cuba and its network of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This process has the purpose of incorporating a faster response, synchronization, cost reduction, use of human, material and financial resources to fulfill the missions assigned by society. Knowledge management in HEIs contributes to the continuous improvement of substantive processes, economic areas and those of support to the fulfillment of its objectives and functions. The results of this work contribute to strengthening decision making in HEIs, and guide managers on the sources of inefficiency that negatively impact their financial economic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic rabbits are frequently affected by Pasteurella multocida, a multispecies and zoonotic pathogen, widely distributed throughout the world and causing great economic losses. Vaccination is the fastest and economic way to control it. However, the complexity associated with P. multocida virulence factors and the uncertainty in the use of foreign commercial vaccines for its control in Cuba encouraged the research and development of national vaccine candidates. In this sense, since 1968, it was possible to develop the inactivated and adjuvanted autogenic vaccine, from Thelma vaccine strain (Villa Clara, Cuba). Since then, its massive, official and mandatory application, without interruptions or changes in the vaccination scheme, has demonstrated its safety, immunogenicity and protective capacity after 52 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropical genus Leptodactylus is currently represented by three species in the West Indies (Leptodactylus albilabris, Leptodactylus fallax and Leptodactylus validus). Based on morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence, we document the presence of a fourth species in the Caribbean region, Leptodactylus fragilis (Brocchi, 1877). The species was found at two localities in western Cuba, and molecular data suggest a northern South American origin, possibly Venezuela, for these populations. We discuss the potential invasive status of L. fragilis, based on its known distribution, relative abundance, behaviour and possible impacts on native species of Cuban amphibians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to make a contribution to environmental arrangement of the livestock potential in the municipality of Jimaguayú, Camagüey, Cuba. The indicators, restrictions, categories and conflicts of livestock potential in the region were identified and located on a map. Additionally, the policies, guidelines, regulations, and standards for proper environmental management in each livestock raising area were determined. The study concluded that the potential of livestock raising depends on the environmental use recommended as principal in eight of the seventeen secondary environmental areas that make up the region; one of them was considered for secondary use. In terms of categories, the municipality comprises 126.9 km2 with inexistent livestock potential, including several settlements and water reservoirs; 115.7 km2 showed a poor potential; 316.3 km2 had a mid-potential; and 225.4 km2 was high. The previous contributed to proper environmental arrangement of livestock potential in the municipality of Jimaguayú, Camagüey. In accordance with it, restrictions, indicators, categories and conflicts observed in the sector were determined to make recommendations for development in the secondary environmental areas with some potential. This study was also useful to set up policies, as well as general and specific guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]