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This paper considers the vehicle control process in emergency lane change (ELC). The control method is divided into two parts: before crossing the obstacle and after crossing it. The first part is done by a feed-forward controller inspired by the driver's behavior pattern in the ELC maneuver. This controller is compensated by a neural network system and two proportional-integral (PI) and proportional-derivative (PD) controllers, which correct the output of the feed-forward controller to follow the path more accurately. The second part consists of two PD controllers responsible for controlling and steering the vehicle in the main path after crossing the obstacle. The main novelty of the proposed method is that the computational burden is low because of using a feed-forward controller, which is the main source of the calculation's burden. So as a result, the controller system can cover the ELC maneuver in under 2 seconds in various lateral displacements to bypass the obstacle and prevent collisions. The co-simulations are performed in CarSim software and MATLAB/Simulink, which shows that the control system can appropriately steer the vehicle and follow the desired at different speeds, in the presence of road friction and parameter uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to make an inventory of phytophagous insects of the bean crop on two planting dates and to determine their population density in the Bat-304 bean variety, an investigation was carried out at "San Miguel" farm on two planting dates, the first on September 5th, 2015 and the second on February 18th, 2016. Sampling was carried out 15 days after sowing the crop, performing 6 double diagonal samplings. Samples were taken from 15 plants at random in each sampling, taking one leaf from each level. The samples taken were taken to the Entomology Laboratory for quantification and identification of the different species. The phytophagous insects detected in the bean crop on the two planting dates were: Empoasca kraemeri Ross and Moore; Bemisia tabaci Gennadius; Liriomyza trifolii Burgess; Thrips palmi Karny; Diabrotica balteata Leconte and Cerotoma ruficornis Olivier. The mean population density of B. tabaci was higher at the lower level of the plant, while the remaining species (E. kraemeri; L. trifolii and T. palmi) did not show a preference for a particular level. The intensity of chrysomelid damage was higher at the early planting date and at the middle and lower levels for both planting dates. E. kraemeri showed a higher mean population density at the late sowing date; while T. palmi showed a tendency towards a higher mean population density at the early sowing date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the disease by non-alcoholic fatty liver is considered the hepatic expression of the metabolic syndrome and is accompanied by histological and functional alterations of the liver. The Morphometry is a valuable tool in the assessment of liver morphology. Objective: to describe the histomorphometric differences in the liver of a group of healthy rats and one of them subjected to a state of metabolic syndrome. Methods: a developmental, correlational, cross-sectional, experimental research study with quantitative approach was conducted in the period from October 2015 to September 2019, using a system of morphometric methods. Histological liver slices were analyzed to 16 male Sprague-Dawley rats randomly distributed in two experimental groups of eight animals for each group. Parametric test (one-factor ANOVA) was applied for group comparisons. The existing relationships between the variables were determined. Results: the area of the nucleus was greater in the hepatocytes of the perivenous zone in the induced group. The area of the cytoplasm was greater in the hepatocytes of the perivenous zone, but its behavior was homogeneous in the two study groups. Conclusions: the differences found between the control and induced groups with respect to nuclear and cytoplasmic area could constitute the morphological expression of the biochemical alterations caused by the metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance (IR) and infertility are two major complications of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which are the results of changes in certain parts of the reproductive and metabolic systems. We aimed to observe the effect of quercetin on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS and insulin resistance in rats. All animals were divided into five groups and DHEA was used to induce PCOS. Bodyweight and ovarian morphology of all groups were observed. Fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were analysed. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) method was used for IR level determination. The expression of oestrogen receptor α (ERα) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) genes in the uterus was examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Liver hexokinase (HK) and glucokinase (GK) activity was determined using spectrophotometry. Quercetin significantly improved the IR state in PCOS rats. PCOS resulted in a decrease in liver GK and an increase in liver HK specific activity, whereas quercetin increased both liver HK and GK activity. Our data also showed a significant reduction in uterine ERα and GLUT4 expression in the PCOS group, which was increased by quercetin. A remarkable effect of quercetin was the intensive reduction of PCOS-IR and significant induction of uterine GLUT4 and ERα gene expression; it could thus be a possible effective treatment for PCOS and its complications, IR and infertility. Insulin resistance (IR) and infertility are two major complications of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We found that quercetin as a natural flavonoid improved the IR state and increased expression of two important fertility related genes in the uterus of PCOS rats; it could thus be a possible treatment for PCOS and infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Oxidative stress is associated with the pathology of various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The aim of the study was to examine the impacts of the lavender aqueous extract (LAE) on the levels of oxidative stress markers in an animal model with chronic mild stress induced depression. Materials & Methods: 36 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were haphazardly split into 6 groups (n=6). Rats in the test groups were put through five weeks of chronic mild stress. The sucrose preference test (SPT) confirmed depressive-like behaviors in the rats. Rats in both unstressed and stressed control groups received LAE (200 or 400 mg/kg) and distilled water respectively. The specific activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), malondialdehyde (MDA) and as well as the total content of glutathione (GSH) were examined in the serum, liver and prefrontal cortex (PFC) using colorimetric assays. Results: The stress group experienced a significantly decreased level of GSH, SOD, GR, Gpx and CAT, and a statistically considerable augment in MDA level in in the serum, PFC and liver p<0.05. LAE at both doses significantly reversed the depression-caused oxidative stress markers in all the studied tissues. No significant difference was observed between the two used dosages of LAE. Conclusion: LAE is able to ameliorate depression-induced pathology possibly through anti-oxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of the Balanced Scorecard has been extended from the business world to the public administration and has reached the sports arena. Objective: To design a procedure for the elaboration of a Balanced Scorecard for the teams of the National Cuban Baseball League and its implementation in the Sancti Spíritus team. Methods: Interviews and surveys were conducted. Statistics of the Cuban Baseball Federation were consulted; studies of upgrading needs of technicians; satisfaction surveys; movie recordings of games; motivation and leadership studies; medical reports; other documents describing the organizational climate. The stages of the procedure were formed from the creation of the organizational framework and redefining the strategic bases of the team, until developing the Scorecard and managing its implementation. Results: The Integral Scorecard of the Baseball Team of Sancti Spiritus was designed, with perspectives of learning and growth, processes, social and financial responsibility, which are described and organized by objectives, strategic actions and indicators aligned with the structure and defined and described processes for Cuban baseball teams. Conclusions: The use of this tool facilitates the management control in them and allows to prioritize decisions based on strategic maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University is a public good that benefits society as a whole, and largely concerns encourage changes and react before new developments. As part of this improvement, are detectable a group of problems that require solutions related to university management, in accordance with the requirements of the "Sucre's Mission" to address current and future challenges of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. One of the internal factors that influence is the need to strengthen management control, which should be directed towards achieving the objectives of the organization, and ensure efficient and effective management of its administration. The management of university villages in Venezuela demands of these management approaches and attached to the transformations that have been presented in Cuban higher education requires improving management control. This research aims to contextualize a process for management control and contribute to the strategic alignment in University Village "José Martí" from Cumaná at Sucre State.of Venezuela that afforded to it indicators, showing the measure in which the associated targets to each of the process are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period between April and August of 2009, 29 species of plants, located in 21 botanical families were sampled in an ecosystem protected in Mayabeque province. Nine species were determined inside the genus Frankliniella, the one that impacted in 23 of the botanical species, with 79.31%. Of the trips species, the one that bigger incidence had was Frankliniella williamsi Hood with 62.06% and Frankliniella tritici Fitc with 24.13%. Frankliniella insularis Franklin and Frankliniella jamaicensis Sakimura associated to six and five species of plants, reaching 20.68 and 17.24% of incidence respectively. The botanical species with more trips incidence was Pisonia aculeata L, Cupania macrophylla A. Rich, and Dentropanax arboreum Dene and Planch. The most abundant species were Frankliniella williamsi Hood, Frankliniella insularis Franklin, Frankliniella tritici Fitch and Frankliniella jamaicensis Sakimura. The botanical families with more trips incidence were Sapindaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Araliaceae, Esterculiaceae, Meliaceae and Rubiaceae. In the families' Bombacaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Papilionaceae and Ulmaceae were not found any species of trips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article shows the theoretical elements related with the conception of the curricular strategies and its instrumentation in the process of the student's of the Mathematical career formation - Physics. Examples are presented that demonstrate how to deal with the computer science's curricular strategy from the teaching process - learning of the subject Algebra I in the third year of the career. They give the possibility that the formation process be more effective, they facilitate the systematizing knowledge and abilities as well as the development of the integral general culture in the future professors of Mathematics - Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The betterment of inventory management in products of low movement permitted to evaluate its effectives, based on the lowing of prices. This investigation permitted to create the bibliography that support the subsystem of inventory in which a set of instruments was applied taking into account theoretical and empirical methods, that permitted to justify the problem already stated, its feasibility was demonstrated quantitatively from the analyzes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The local development should complete a group of basic principles, such as: the design for training and the tools information adapted to the particularity of each territory. This training facilitates, also, the articulation of the stocks deployed by the local leaders, and it increases the administration of the knowledge and the transfer of technologies, processes in those that the nexuses are enlarged between the structures and the population, and where the participation of different present actors is potentialized in the territory. During the year 2010 the Ministry of Economy and Planning begins to offer the possibility to finance projects for the local development, nevertheless these initiatives should be accompanied by a rigorous study of feasibility of the investments. The University of Sancti Spíritus, committed in this zeal, designs the Diplomate of Administration of Projects for Local Initiatives, which offers theoretical tools and it develops practical abilities in the different actors of the local development that facilitate the realization of these studies. The exercise of this graduate's culmination consists on the defence of the study of feasibility of those projects that each municipality identifies as priority for its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black-Scholes model, as a base model for pricing in derivatives markets has some deficiencies, such as ignoring market jumps, and considering market volatility as a constant factor. In this article, we introduce a pricing model for European-Options under jump-diffusion underlying asset. Then, using some appropriate numerical methods we try to solve this model with integral term, and terms including derivative. Finally, considering volatility as an unknown parameter, we try to estimate it by using our proposed model. For the purpose of estimating volatility, in this article, we utilize inverse problem, in which inverse problem model is first defined, and then volatility is estimated using minimization function with Tikhonov regularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The populational behaviour of the main phytophagous insects on the varieties of black bean (Bat-304) and Cuba Cueto 25-9 (black bean) in monoculture and intercropping with maize was evaluated. The experiment was carried out from January to March 2001 in the agricultural areas of the National Center for Animal and Plant Health belonging to San José de las Lajas. The treatment comprised two varieties of beans in monoculture and intercropping with maize. Evaluations of insects occurred weekly and began 15 days post-germinating of bean. Phytophagous insects were counted and identified at the Entomology Laboratory belonging to the Agricultural Pest Group. Empoasca kraemeri Ross and More; Bemisia spp. and a complex of thysanopteran were found and their populations were higher in monoculture than in intercropping with maize. Thysanopteran complex showed preference for the variety Cuba Cueto 25-9 (black bean) and its populations were significantly higher with regard to the variety Bat-304. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of yellow, blue and white traps at different heights in the capturing of cicadellids in the intercropping bean and maize, an experiment was carried out in the farm "El Encanto" in the locality of San Antonio de las Vegas, Havana Province . The treatments comprised the combination of each color with the height of the traps at 0.30, 0.70 and 1.00m. The evaluations were carried out weekly and captured cicadellids were quantified and identified at the Entomology Laboratory belonging to the Agronomy Faculty at the Agricultural University of Havana "Fructuoso Rodríguez Pérez".The species of cicadellids captured were Empoasca kraemeri, Dalbulus maidis, Deltocephalus flavicosta and Chlorotettix sp. The most effective capture of insects was obtained in yellow traps at 0.30 and 0.70 m on the soil surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: epidemiological risk factors for coronary artery disease are closely related to the existence, evolution and complications of the disease. Objective: to design mathematical models predictive of coronary artery disease diagnosed by calcium score from epidemiological variables. Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study was carried out. The population consisted of 820 patients with chest pain and calcium score, the sample (246) was selected by simple random probability sampling. Logistic regression was employed from a logistic regression model (using the forward stepwise option) for each of the four coronary vessels, each model was fitted to the variables and those with coefficients significantly different from zero (p<0.05) were identified using the Wald statistic. We estimated the point Odd Ration and confidence intervals, performed internal validation and explored the performance through model discrimination with the analysis of the area under the curve and calibration through the Hosmer-Lemeshow Chi-square statistic. Results: the predominant age group was older than 60 years (61.4%), male sex (65.9%) and arterial hypertension (68.7%). The mathematical models for each coronary vessel exclude the variable age. The following are important predictors: diabetes and smoking. The internal validation technique supports the good performance of the mathematical models obtained. Conclusion: the result reinforces the need for predictive studies to ensure cardiovascular risk stratification by calcium score and epidemiological variables on which effective action should be taken to improve patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Letermovir was approved in 2017 for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in seropositive (R+) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) patients. Post‐marketing data with this new agent are scarce. Methods: We compared the incidence of both CMV reactivation (any viremia) and clinically significant CMV infection (CS‐CMVi; CMV DNAemia leading to preemptive treatment or presence of CMV tissue invasive disease) at days +100 and +200 post‐HCT in 25 adult allogeneic HCT patients who received letermovir prophylaxis (until day 100) and a historical control group of 106 CMV R+ allogeneic HCT recipients who underwent CMV preemptive therapy. Results: CMV reactivation within 100 days post‐HCT was lower in the letermovir group vs control group (20% vs 72% respectively, P <.001). The 100‐day cumulative incidence of CS‐CMVi was significantly lower in the letermovir group vs control group (4% vs 59% respectively, P <.001). Significantly reduced incidence of CMV reactivation and CS‐CMVi was also observed at 200 days in the letermovir group. No difference in mortality was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: This study confirms the efficacy of letermovir in preventing CMV reactivation in CMV R+ allogeneic HCT recipients in first 100 days post‐HCT and suggests sustained efficacy after discontinuation of prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exact mechanisms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are unknown and there is no effective cure for the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in serum oestradiol and adiponectin levels and in the expression of some important genes in the uterine and ovarian tissues of PCOS rats. The therapeutic effect of quercetin on PCOS was also assessed. Rats were divided into five groups: control, ethanol, quercetin (Q), PCOS and PCOS+Q. After 30 days of oral treatments, the rats' ovaries and uteri were removed and nesfatin-1, aromatase and adipoR1 expressions were quantified with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum adiponectin and oestradiol levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The results of this study showed that expression of nesfatin-1 and adipoR1 genes and adiponectin serum levels decreased in the PCOS rats, but aromatase expression and oestradiol level increased. Treatment with quercetin increased the adiponectin level and expression of adipoR1 and nesfatin-1 and decreased both the expression of aromatase and the oestradiol level. Quercetin improved PCOS by phytoestrogenic effects and mimicking oestrogen's function. Quercetin also affects important factors in both the uterus and ovary and could improve the obesity and the diabetic and infertility symptoms of PCOS. Quercetin could improve polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by its phytoestrogenic effects, mimicking oestrogen's function. Also, quercetin affects obesity and diabetes factors such as adiponectin, nesfatin-1 and adiponectin receptor, thus improving the symptoms of PCOS. Quercetin significantly decreased oestrogen levels and might help fertility problems in PCOS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. A valuable tool for its diagnosis is calcium score by cardiac tomography. Objective: to describe the results of the use of calcium scoring in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at the Cardiocentro "Ernesto Che Guevara" of Santa Clara in 2019. The population consisted of 820 patients with chest pain attended at the tomography service and the sample consisted of 246 patients selected by simple random sampling. A request for informed consent was made and anamnesis, physical examination and coronary calcium score were performed. In the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the variables describing the calcium score in the four coronary vessels and the Mann-Whitney U test (penalized by the Bonferroni method). Results: 61.4% of those investigated were over 60 years of age, 65.9% were male, 78.1% had some risk factor and arterial hypertension was the most frequent (68.7%). The most common diagnosis was multivessel disease (42.28%) and the anterior descending artery was the most affected (41.46%). There were significant differences between the mean ranges for the number of lesions in the vessels with a median of three for the anterior descending and right coronary arteries. Conclusion: the calcium score was able to diagnose coronary vessel disease in the majority of patients with chest pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Con el propósito de evaluar el comportamiento poblacional de insectos y ácaros fitófagos en tres variedades de tomate (Amalia, Mariela y Mara) se realizó un experimento en la Finca «Las Papas», perteneciente al Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA), ubicada en el Municipio San José de las Lajas, Provincia Mayabeque, durante los meses de octubre a diciembre de 2008. Las evaluaciones se realizaron semanalmente y comenzaron a los quince días después del trasplante. Los insectos y los ácaros fitófagos se cuantificaron e identificaron en el Laboratorio de Entomología perteneciente a la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad Agraria de la Habana ¨Fructuoso Rodríguez Pérez¨. Los organismos nocivos detectados fueron Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess, Myzus persicae Sulzer, Spodoptera spp., Frankliniella schultzei Trybom y Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks. La mayor cantidad de especies de fitófagos se asociaron a la variedad Amalia, mientras que en Mariela y Mara se detectó igual número de especies. La variedad Mara mostró la mayor susceptibilidad a B. tabaci durante los diferentes momentos de evaluación y Mariela fue la más susceptible para el minador. M. persicae manifestó un comportamiento similar sobre las variedades Amalia y Mariela. La mayor densidad poblacional total de B. tabaci se alcanzó para las variedades Amalia y Mariela; en el caso de L. trifolii y M. persicae, la densidad poblacional total no difirió para las diferentes variedades. La mayor riqueza de especies y de diversidad biológica se manifestó en la variedad de tomate Amalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the causal agent of one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. Causes cervicitis, endometritis and salpingitis; after effects include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility due to tubal obstruction. Objective: to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. Methods: case series study developed at the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima Hospital General Universitario, Cienfuegos, during 2016-2018. It included patients subjected to assisted reproduction techniques who were infested with Chlamydia trachomatis. The variables age, personal and gynecological pathological history, number of sexual partners, years of infertility, history of intrauterine device use, history of pelvic inflammatory disease, Chlamydia test result, as well as criteria or not for in vitro fertilization were analyzed as an indicator that damage occurred at the level of the tubes. Results: the age was between 19 and 40 years old, with an average of 35.7 years. The germ was detected in 42% of the couples, with a predominance of those from Cienfuegos. 47.6% of the patients who had chlamydiasis reported having had from one to three partners. 54%, due to their involvement, required in vitro fertilization. There was a high incidence over time being infertile, with 72.6% over four years. Conclusions: Chlamydia trachomatis infections can influence fertility in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se evaluó la incidencia de los principales insectos fitófagos y benéficos presentes en las variedades de frijol Bat -- 304 y Cuba Cueto 25 -- 9 (negro) en unicultivo y asociadas con maíz variedad Criollo, en áreas agrícolas del Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, ubicado en el municipio San José de Las Lajas, durante los meses de enero a marzo de 2001. Los tratamientos se conformaron por las variedades de frijol, sembradas en unicultivo y asociadas con maíz. Las evaluaciones se realizaron semanalmente, las cuales comenzaron a partir de los 15 días posteriores a la germinación del frijol. Los insectos fitófagos y benéficos fueron cuantificados e identificados en el laboratorio de Entomología del Grupo de Plagas Agrícolas del CENSA. Dentro de los primeros se halló a Empoasca kraemeri Ross y Moore, Bemisia spp. y un complejo de tisanópteros. Las poblaciones de los mismos fueron superiores en el unicultivo, con relación a la asociación con maíz, donde los insectos benéficos encontrados: Chrysoperla spp., Orius insidiosus Say, Cycloneda limbifer Casey, Coleomegilla cubensis Casey y Franklinothrips vespiformis Crawford) tuvieron una mayor incidencia, mientras que las poblaciones de Zelus longipes (L.) fueron extremadamente escasas, no mostrando diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos. Las poblaciones del complejo de tisanópteros mostraron preferencia por la variedad Cuba Cueto 25 -- 9 (negro) y sus poblaciones fueron significativamente superiores, con relación a la variedad Bat -- 304. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The man like social being has developed new instruments and technologies next to which risks and dangers that can unchain not wanted events arise that they affect the man, the society, the economy and the environment. The work was carried out with the objective of contributing to the identification, evaluation and control of the risks and dangers for the prevention of incidents, work accidents, professional illnesses and affectations to the environment, by means of the contribution of theoretical aspects related with the same ones. Methods of scientific investigation of the theoretical and empiric levels were used, obtaining as theoretical elements about definitions related with the topic; technical as the observation, the interviews and the checkup lists that contribute to the identification of risks and dangers; quantitative and qualitative methods for the evaluation of risks; the risks and dangers associated to the physical, chemical and biological pollutants of the labor atmosphere; and the control of the preventive measures according to the magnitude of the risks to minimize the probability of occurring not wanted events, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The training and the development of the Human Capital as regards Health and Safety Policy are important challenges that at the present time have the organizations, fundamentally because they are directed to the prevention of work accidents and professional illnesses. This work is a contribution to the methodological proposals to elevate the quality of the training process in the field of Health and Safety Policy for persons attending the activity and that don't have pedagogic formation. For its development theoretical and empiric investigation methods were used, obtaining the elaboration of methodological proposals which is about the main theoretical aspects that facilitate the elaboration of the objectives from the methodological and didactic point of view, the selection of the methods, teaching means and types of evaluations that can be applied during the training process according to the focuses of the formation, professional development and organizational forms to impart the educational actions in the field of Health and Safety Policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: metabolic syndrome is characterized by histological and functional alterations of the heart and the use of morphometric methods is an essential tool in the evaluation of cardiac cellular morphology. Objective: to describe the histomorphometric differences in the cardiac muscle of a model of healthy rats and another group subjected to a state of metabolic syndrome. Methods: a developmental, correlational, cross-sectional research study using a system of morphometric methods was conducted in the period from October 2015 to September 2019. Histological heart slices corresponding to 16 male Sprague-Dawley rats, randomly distributed in two experimental groups, were analyzed, with three images taken from each processed heart sample. Descriptive statistical techniques were used to characterize the sample by the different variables studied, and the one-factor ANOVA parametric test for analysis of variance was applied for group comparisons. Results: there was variability in the morphometric parameters studied and the diseased group offered the highest values of cellular area and nuclear area. These findings are consistent with the natural evolution of left ventricular hypertrophy in the course of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: muscle fiber area and nuclear area were higher in the induced treated group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a method to estimate nationally representative pretreatment HIV drug resistance (PDR) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of first -line treatments. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of PDR in Cuban adults infected with HIV-1. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study in Cuban adults infected with HIV-1 over 18 years was conducted. The probability proportional to size method for the selection of municipalities and patients without a prior history of antiretroviral treatment during the period from January 2017 to June 2017 was used. The plasma from 141 patients from 15 municipalities for the determination of viral subtype and HIV drug resistance was collected. Some clinical and epidemiological variables were evaluated. Results: 80. 9% of the patients corresponded to the male sex and 76.3% were men who have sex with other men (MSM). The median CD4 count was 371 cells / mm3 and the median viral load was 68000 copies / mL. The predominant genetic variants were subtype B (26.9%), CRF19_cpx (24.1%), CRF 20, 23, 24_BG (23.4%) and CRF18_cpx (12%). Overall, the prevalence of PDR was 29.8% (95%, CI 22.3–38.1). The prevalence was 12.8% (95%, CI 6.07–16.9) for any nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), 23.4% (95%, CI 16.7–31.3) for any non-reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and 1.4% (95%, CI 0.17–5.03) for any protease inhibitor (PI). The most frequent mutations detected were K103N (12.9%), G190A (6.4%) and Y181C (4.8%). Conclusions: The NNRTI prevalence above 10% in our study indicates that the first-line antiretroviral therapy in Cuba may be less effective and supports the need to look for new treatment options that contribute to therapeutic success and help the country achieve the global goals 90-90-90 set forth by UNAIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Para identificar las causas de los bajos rendimientos del cultivo del frijol en la CCS «Nelson Fernández» del municipio San José de las Lajas, provincia Mayabeque, nos propusimos realizar un análisis del manejo agroecológico de organismos nocivos que llevan a cabo los agricultores. Para cumplir con nuestro objetivo se desarrolló una encuesta que nos diera elementos para definir cuáles eran sus principales deficiencias. Se encuestaron 54 agricultores. Los datos se procesaron por un análisis descriptivo de frecuencia utilizando el paquete estadístico SPSS v 22 para Windows. El cuestionario permitió definir la percepción de los campesinos con relación a la afectación por insectos, ácaros y enfermedades. Además, se evidenció que los controles natural y biológico no se cumplen a cabalidad, debido al poco conocimiento acerca de los enemigos naturales y la no disponibilidad de medios biológicos. Ante esta situación el control químico se mantiene con gran aprobación entre los productores, pues el 100% de los encuestados señaló su preferencia por este método. Con respecto a las medidas de manejo cultural, los encuestados prefirieron las fechas de siembra tempranas, no así para la asociación de cultivos, ya que se prefirió el monocultivo de frijol, mientras que para las barreras vivas no se alcanzó un consenso por parte de los productores: 48,1% de ellos tienen más de 21 años de experiencia en la agricultura, en contraste con tan solo el 13% que no superan los 10 años. El hecho de no concretarse el MAP para el cultivo del frijol, en ausencia de una adecuada estructura varietal, implica la necesidad de diseñar una estrategia de capacitación para los agricultores en este tema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human retroviruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), are associated with uveitis that is the most common form of inflammatory eye disease and is considered a major causes of blindness in the world. In Cuba is unknown the real magnitude that involvement the retroviruses in this ocular disorder. In order to determine the frequency of retroviral infection in Cuban patients with uveitis was conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study on 95 patients with intraocular inflammation examined in the service of uveítis at "Ramón Pando Ferrer" Cuban Ophthalmology Institute between May 2013 and May 2014. By detection of antibodies against human retroviruses an algorithm of sequential diagnostic was applied using screening and confirmation tests. It found seven patients with uveitis was seropositive for HIV- 1(7.4%); and any patient was seropositive for HIV-2 and HTLV-1, although by the latter, in four patients a reactivity pattern was observed that did not allowed elucidating its serologic status. Uveitis in HIV-1 patients was characterized its posterior localization and panuveitis form. For the first time in Cuba a retrovirus screening study was conducted in patients with uveitis and showed the important role of HIV-1 in intraocular inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the species Neohydatothrips basilaris Hood that were found on leaves of the species plant Eupartorium odoratum L. in Cuba, which belong to the family Compositaceae, and is considered the first record of a host plant for insects.

El Guefast 08 es un sistema de electroforesis de campos pulsantes, diseñado para tipificar microorganismos con gran rapidez, óptimo poder de discriminación y adecuada capacidad de tipificación. Este sistema es el resultado del trabajo de un grupo multidisciplinario del departamento de Biología Molecular del CNC. El trabajo muestra el diseño de las cámaras CHEF y TAFE, así como de un conjunto de accesorios propios, diseñados para preparar y manipular las muestras. En el trabajo se analizan las soluciones anteriores a esta versión y se muestran los aspectos tomados en consideración para este diseño, cuyos objetivos han sido facilitar la construcción mecánica de las partes, adaptadas ahora a procesos de fabricación más productivos que los utilizados en versiones anteriores, disminuir la cantidad de piezas, facilitar la fabricación y disminuir los costos de elaboración sin alterar la geometría básica de las cámaras y los accesorios. Además se trata el tema de la selección de los materiales utilizados para la construcción de las partes, resaltando las bondades del polymetil metacrilato para este tipo de fabricación y se hace una comparación entre los procesos productivos disponibles para acometer este tipo de producción. El sistema Guefast 08 y su versión 06M se fabrica actualmente en Cuba y es un producto que comercializa la empresa cubana Neuronic SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of host-guest and guest-guest interactions on the structure and electric inductivity of the products of the intercalation of electron pair donors as poly(ethylene oxyde), short chain (n=2-5) secondary amines, and long chain (n=12-18) amines into molybdenum disulfide are discussed. Although in most of the intercalates MoS 2 presents an octahedral conformation, induced principally by a host-guest charge transfer, in those with long chain amines predominate the hydrophobic intermolecular interactions bearing to products with different structural and transport properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Con el objetivo de seleccionar cepas de actinomicetos eficientes como agentes biocontroladores de los hongos fitopatógenos del suelo Rhizoctonia solani Kühn., Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. y Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., se evaluaron 69 cepas de actinomicetos, a las cuales se le determinó la actividad antagonista in vitro contra los hongos fitopatógenos del suelo. Posteriormente, se realizó una selección de las cepas con mejor capacidad antagónica para la evaluación de la actividad enzimática extracelular, la capacidad solubilizadora de fosfatos, la producción de ácido indol-acético (AIA) y la caracterización molecular. De las 69 cepas evaluadas, se obtuvo que 2 cepas presentaron antagonismo contra S. rolfsii, 39 contra M. phaseolina y 11 contra R. solani. Las cepas que presentaron los mayores halos de inhibición contra R. solani fueron J11, J4 y EA2, y contra M. phaseolina la cepa EBa21. Todas las cepas seleccionadas presentaron actividad enzimática extracelular; se destacan la cepa EBa21 en la producción de quitinasas, las cepas EA2, J4 y L2 en la de celulasas y las cepas EA2 y B8 en las de proteasas. En la solubilización de fosfato sobresalieron las cepas B8 y EBa21, mientras que en la producción de AIA prevalecieron las cepas EBe3, EA2 y EBa21. La identificación de las cepas, mediante la secuenciación de la región 16S del ARNr, arrojó que todas tienen una homología del 99% con diferentes especies de Streptomyces. spa [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]