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Abstract The reproductive process in Octopus maya was analyzed to establish the amount of reactive oxygen species that the embryos inherit from females, during yolk synthesis. At the same time, respiratory metabolism, ROS production, and the expression of some genes of the antioxidant system were monitored to understand the ability of embryos to neutralize maternal ROS and those produced during development. The results indicate that carbonylated proteins and peroxidized lipids (LPO) were transferred from females to the embryos, presumably derived from the metabolic processes carried out during yolk synthesis in the ovary. Along with ROS, females also transferred to embryos glutathione (GSH), a key element of the antioxidant defense system, thus facilitating the neutralization of inherited ROS and those produced during development. Embryos are capable of neutralizing ROS thanks to the early expression of genes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which give rise to the synthesis of enzymes when the circulatory system is activated. Also, it was observed that the levels of the routine metabolic rate of embryos are almost as high as those of the maximum activity metabolism, which leads, on the one hand, to the elevated production of ROS and suggests that, at this stage of the life cycle in octopuses, energy production is maximum and is physically limited by the biological properties inherent to the structure of embryonic life (oxygen transfer through the chorion, gill surface, pumping capacity, etc.). Due to its role in regulating vascularization, a high expression of HIf-1A during organogenesis suggests that circulatory system development has begun in this phase of embryo development. The results indicate that the routine metabolic rate and the ability of O. maya embryos to neutralize the ROS are probably the maximum possible. Under such circumstances, embryos cannot generate more energy to combat the free radicals produced by their metabolism, even when environmental factors such as high temperatures or contaminants could demand excess energy.

A concern in Mathematics Education is the professional development of the teacher and to promote effective training programs. The literature provides principles guiding the design of such programs, which were considered for an instruction intended to strengthen the teacher's practice in relation to the development of mathematical skills. The objective of this work was to study if the designed program was effective, in relation to the impact on the teacher's teaching. A case study on a group of in-service teachers focused on the ability of mathematical modeling (MM) and their perspectives of this skill was carried out. This was divided into three moments: before, during, and after the program. The findings show that, before the program, teachers conceived modeling from epistemological, pragmatic and conceptual perspectives; during the program, they focused on the pragmatic and educational perspectives; and at the end of the program, the group was stripped of the pragmatic, epistemological and conceptual perspectives to move towards the educational and socio-critical. They were also able to justify the choice or disassociation of one or more of them. The study advances towards the concretion of more specific and robust professional development programs for mathematics teachers.

Abstract Acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) is a disorder of transepidermal elimination of keratin, collagen or elastic fibers. APD is mainly associated with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. We present the case of a 66‐year‐old male, poorly controlled diabetic with peripheral arterial disease, obesity, arterial hypertension, Cushing's syndrome and chronic kidney disease requiring hemodialysis who develops an acquired perforating dermatosis. Due to the patient's comorbidities, treatment with corticosteroids, cyclosporine and phototherapy is not possible. He does not respond to gabapentinoids or allopurinol. The outbreaks of skin lesions and pruritus were accentuated in situations of renal function deterioration; however, hemodialysis did not improve her dermatosis, causing a great deterioration of her quality of life. It was decided to start treatment with dupilumab with the dosage used in atopic dermatitis, achieving a complete response of both pruritus and skin lesions. With this case, we want to show how dupilumab can be an effective tool to treat acquired perforating dermatosis.

Las quemas controladas son comúnmente utilizadas por los agricultores en tierras de vocación forestal para la limpieza del terreno previo al establecimiento de cultivos agrícolas. El presente trabajo experimental tuvo como objetivo evaluar el comportamiento del fuego en quemas controladas en tierras de vocación forestal en la comuna Sancán, provincia de Manabí, Ecuador. Se delimitaron 10 parcelas de 1,18 x 5 m en hileras de combustible y tres parcelas de 20 x 50 m en combustibles dispersos. Durante la quema se midieron las variables temperatura del aire, humedad relativa y velocidad del viento a 0,50 metros de altura del suelo y a más de 3,00 m de distancia del extremo de la parcela por donde se inició el fuego. El material combustible se caracterizó considerando peso, espesura y contenido de humedad antes de la quema. Los parámetros del comportamiento del fuego evaluados fueron velocidad de propagación, intensidad lineal del fuego, alturas de las llamas, altura de secado letal y calor liberado por unidad de área. El comportamiento del fuego mostró valores medios superiores para todos los parámetros en las parcelas ubicadas en las hileras de combustible, excepto para el caso de la velocidad de propagación. Además, en esas parcelas los valores de la desviación estándar obtenidos para cada variable indican mayor dispersión de los datos con respecto a la media lo cual supone un comportamiento del fuego menos homogéneo en sentido general. Los resultados obtenidos pueden ser utilizados para fundamentar el uso responsable del fuego en tierras de vocación forestal.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a metabolic disease reaching pandemic levels worldwide. In parallel, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) are the two leading causes of dementia in an increasingly long-living Western society. Numerous epidemiological studies support the role of T2D as a risk factor for the development of dementia. However, few basic science studies have focused on the possible mechanisms involved in this relationship. On the other hand, this review of the literature also aims to explore the relationship between T2D, AD and VaD. The data found show that there are several alterations in the central nervous system that may be promoting the development of T2D. In addition, there are some mechanisms by which T2D may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD or VaD.

Resumen Este trabajo analiza la modernización militar de Antonio Guzmán Blanco a través de las operaciones de la Campaña de Coro, norte de Venezuela, entre 1874 y 1875. La consulta de fuentes de archivo evidencia que hubo una introducción de innovaciones en el Estado Mayor, en la logística y en la sanidad militar. En suma, las fuerzas constitucionales pasaron de la conducción de divisiones pequeña a Cuerpos de Ejército permanentes, de mayor número y mejor dotación en organización y armamento, lo que permitió a Guzmán Blanco consolidarse en el poder por dieciocho años (1870-1888).

Introducción. Desde la introducción de la vacuna contra la varicela a Colombia no se ha logrado una cobertura mayor al 90%. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar las barreras de vacunación contra varicela en niños. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo realizado en la Fundación Salud Bosque; se estudiaron 27 pacientes, 18 hombres (67%) y 9 mujeres (33%), incluyendo menores de 18 años con varicela, y excluyendo pacientes con enfermedades ampollosas distintas a varicela y quemaduras. Se hizo una caracterización demográfica. Para las variables cuantitativas se emplearon promedios y desviación estándar, y para las cualitativas la razón de proporción con Stata V12®. Resultados. La incidencia de varicela fue del 0.2%, solo 9 pacientes (33%) habían recibido la primera dosis de la vacuna, ninguno la segunda dosis. El 92.5% requirió incapacidad; el 89% analgésicos; el 63% antihistamínicos y el 26% antibióticos. Discusión. El estudio realizado demuestra una incidencia significativamente menor en contraste con otras cohortes internacionales. En Colombia no se ha alcanzado la cobertura de la vacunación contra la varicela lograda en Uruguay, Costa Rica, Estados Unidos, Australia, Europa y Taiwán, dadas las mismas barreras en su aplicación, mientras que en África no se ha introducido la vacuna contra la varicela porque existen otras prioridades como la desnutrición, la malaria y la infección por Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana. Conclusiones. La cobertura de la vacunación no se ha logrado por barreras modificables que incrementan la incidencia y carga de la enfermedad por costos debido a incapacidad, manejo farmacológico y ausentismo escolar. Introduction. Ever since the introduction of the varicella vaccine in Colombia, coverage has not surpassed 90%. The objective of this work is to identify the barriers to varicella vaccination in children. Methodology. A descriptive study conducted at Fundación Salud Bosque. 27 patients were studied - 18 males (67%) and 9 females (33%) - including children under 18 years of age with varicella, and excluding patients with blistering diseases other than varicella and burns. A demographic characterization was conducted. Averages and standard deviations were used for quantitative variables, and the proportion ratio was used for qualitative variables with Stata V12®. Results. The incidence of varicella was 0.2%. Only 9 patients (33%) had received the first dose of the vaccine, and none had received the second dose. 92.5% required sick leave, 89% required painkillers, 63% required antihistamines, and 26% required antibiotics. Discussion. The conducted study shows a significantly lower incidence compared to other international cohorts. Colombia has not achieved the varicella vaccination coverage of Uruguay, Costa Rica, the United States, Australia, Europe and Taiwan due to the barriers to applying it. Meanwhile, the varicella vaccine has not been introduced in Africa because there are other priorities, such as malnutrition, malaria and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Conclusions. Vaccination coverage has not been achieved because of modifiable barriers that increase the incidence and burden of the disease due to costs of sick leave, pharmacological treatment and school absenteeism. Introdução. Desde a introdução da vacina contra varicela na Colômbia, não foi alcançada uma cobertura superior a 90%. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar as barreiras à vacinação contra varicela em crianças. Metodologia. Estudo descritivo realizado na Fundação Salud Bosque. Foram estudados 27 pacientes, 18 homens (67%) e 9 mulheres (33%), incluindo crianças menores de 18 anos com varicela e excluindo pacientes com outras doenças bolhosas que não varicela e queimaduras. Foi feita uma caracterização demográfica. Média e desvio padrão foram utilizados para as variáveis quantitativas e, para variáveis qualitativas, a razão de proporção com Stata V12®. Resultados. A incidência de varicela foi de 0.2%, apenas 9 pacientes (33%) receberam a primeira dose da vacina, nenhum a segunda dose. 92.5% requeriam atestado; 89% analgésicos; 63% anti-histamínicos e 26% antibióticos. Discussão. O estudo realizado mostra uma incidência significativamente menor em comparação com outras coortes internacionais. A Colômbia não tem atingido a cobertura vacinal contra a varicela alcançada no Uruguai, Costa Rica, Estados Unidos, Austrália, Europa e Taiwan, dadas as mesmas barreiras em sua aplicação, enquanto na África a vacina contra a varicela não foi introduzida porque existem outras prioridades como a desnutrição, a malária e a infecção pelo Vírus da imunodeficiência Humana. Conclusões. A cobertura vacinal não foi alcançada dadas as barreiras modificáveis que aumentam a incidência e carga da doença devido aos custos por atestados, manejo farmacológico e absenteísmo escolar.

Background and Aim: Brucellosis, paratuberculosis (PTb), and infections caused by small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), formerly known as caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), adversely affect goat production systems. Nonetheless, commonly used diagnostic tests can only determine one analyte at a time, increasing disease surveillance costs, and limiting their routine use. This study aimed to design and validate a multiplex assay for antibody detection against these three diseases simultaneously. Materials and Methods: Two recombinant proteins from the SRLV (p16 and gp38), the native hapten of Brucella melitensis, and the paratuberculosis-protoplasmic antigen 3 from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) were used to devise and assess a multiplex assay. Conditions for the Luminex® multiplex test were established and validated by sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and reproducibility parameters. Cut-off points for each antigen were also established. Results: The 3-plex assay had high sensitivity (84%) and specificity (95%). The maximum coefficients of variation were 23.8% and 20.5% for negative and positive control samples, respectively. The p16 and gp38 SRLV antigens are 97% and 95%, similar to the CAEV sequence found in GenBank, respectively. Conclusion: The multiplex test can be effectively used for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against SRLV, MAP and B. melitensis in goats.

Human foreskin fibroblasts are directly reprogrammed into insulin-producing cells using 5 pancreatic transcription factors, without pluripotency induction.

Knowledge of the soil water balance is fundamental for improving crop water use in agricultural fields. Estimates are normally for representative and homogeneous areas where the variability of soil properties is neglected. However, this variability significantly impacts soil water dynamics at the field scale. In this study, the MOHID-Land distributed process-based model was used to compute the spatially explicit soil water dynamics in a 22.6-ha almond field located in southern Portugal. An electromagnetic induction survey was first performed to obtain electromagnetic images of the real soil conductivity in depth, which were related to soil texture. Then, pedotransfer functions were used to convert soil texture into soil hydraulic data. MOHID-Land results included maps of the spatial distribution of soil water contents, actual crop transpiration, actual soil evaporation, percolation below the rootzone, and surface runoff. These allowed identifying preferential flow pathways as well as the main control factors influencing soil water dynamics at the field scale. Some development needs were identified, and overcoming them would enhance the significance of contributions such as this study to the field of precision agriculture.

Las alternativas asociadas a la generación de ingresos económicos en comunidades rurales nacen de la utilización de los Productos Forestales No Maderables. El objetivo de esta investigación es evaluar el aprovechamiento y las potencialidades de usos de Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pav. como producto forestal no maderable en la comunidad Pile, Cantón Montecristi. Se realizaron entrevistas para indagar sobre los usos de la especie, ubicación, época y objeto de cosecha; para analizar aspectos ecológicos, incluyendo la diversidad de especies, la densidad poblacional y otros atributos relevantes que caracterizan a las comunidades de palmas se establecieron transectos de 5 m de ancho por 100 m de longitud (500 m²). La categoría de artesanías resultó la más importante con 167 citaciones (97,66 %). La parte de la planta que más utilizan es la hoja; los sombreros son los productos más fabricados con paja toquilla (166 citaciones); los tejidos gruesos y finos son los más usados (79 y 83 citaciones), respectivamente. Entre los aspectos que influyen en la calidad de los productos resaltan el estado de maduración de la paja toquilla y la época del año, 110 y 55 citaciones, respectivamente; el 90,29 % de los entrevistados afirmaron que el aprovechamiento de Carludovica palmata es bajo y que solo utilizan la yema terminal del tallo para confeccionar artesanías. La perspectiva sobre la abundancia de la especie es muy baja, sin embargo, la información obtenida en los transectos reveló 2 503 individuos/ha, lo que refleja la carencia de prácticas de manejo silvicultural donde habita Carludovica palmata en la comunidad Pile. La especie Carludovica palmata no es aprovechada y manejada adecuadamente, sus potencialidades de usos son limitadas.

The use of fire by agricultural producers is a common practice that has been used since immemorial times in most countries of the world. The objective of this study was to diagnose the traditional uses of fire in the agricultural activities of the Convento parish, Chone canton, Manabí, Ecuador. The information that forms the diagnosis was obtained by applying a semi-structured survey with open and closed questions to 70 rural producers from the Gaspar site in the Convento parish during the months of October and November 2020. The statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS program (Version 22.0). The results show that the use of fire in the locality is common and that the majority always burn in the same places. Although they proposed not to burn on specific dates, December was the month most frequently mentioned, with the average burned area being 1.82 ha. The most important purposes of the use of fire in the locality were the burning of agricultural crop residues and the clearing of land for sowing or planting. Building gaps around the area to be burned and to observing the speed and direction of the wind were the main prevention measures taken into account in the locality where fire is used. The perception of the producers about the negative effects caused by the fire could be described as very high, since all the respondents said that the fire damages the soil and the environment. The results can be used by decision makers in the field of fire management.

Objective. Develop a map of publications showing spatialized scientific research through geographic coordinate points in the Loreto region, preliminary with publications from the journal Amazon Folia. Method. Cartographic and bibliometric techniques were applied to analyze 255 scientific articles published between 1988 and 2016 in the journal Amazon Folia. Results. The publications were centralized in the area of influence of the Iquitos – Nauta, Jenaro Herrera, low and middle basin of the Nanay river and left sector of the Marañón river basin. The scientific network generated through the journal Amazonian Folia showed a "non-related" figure. Institutional affiliations corresponded to 71 entities, 12 countries and 386 authors, where Peru and France had the highest scientific output, inso day as the United States had more institutions affiliated with the journal Amazonian Folia after Peru. Conclusion. The publication map represents a great research tool with projection of development and scientific management. Integration with other journals will allow to guide projects that contribute to the development of the Loreto region and in the future in the Amazonian field.

La presente investigación consiste en desarrollar un despliegue DevSecOps que resuelve la necesidad de automatizar de una manera óptima y segura, mediante la utilización de las buenas prácticas DevSecOps. El proceso consiste en que el código implementado de un proyecto con un Framework Laravel se versiona en un repositorio Git y se genere a partir de la rama principal una imagen de contenedor, la misma que se desplegará de manera automática en un clúster de Kubernetes con el uso de flujo de acciones. Así pues, para generar procesos de despliegue de aplicaciones web de una manera segura y rápida, reduciendo procesos de errores o conflictos de versiones, permitiendo procesos de reverso de cambios. Para el uso de las funcionalidades de las diferentes plataformas se utilizan repositorios privados, de esta manera el proyecto publicado se implementará de manera segura. Para el trabajo automatizado se usa tecnología Git, Kubernetes, Actions, Manifiestos, PHP, Composer y Laravel.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a nonarticular rheumatic syndrome which presents as chronic musculoskeletal pain, stiffness and body aches. FMS affects approximately 2.5% of the population, mostly women. FMS causes physical and psychological problems and reduces quality of life. The objective of this study is to identify qualitative evidence about experiences of women diagnosed with FMS about their sexuality. Methods: Metasynthesis of qualitative studies. The search included articles published between 2000 and June 2023 on the PubMed, WOS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and SCIELO databases. Results: 450 articles were found through the initial search, of which, only nine fulfilled the criteria and were included in the thematic synthesis. From this analysis, three main themes emerged: (1) “I want to, but I can’t”: FMS causes a shift in feminine sexuality. (2) Resetting sex life and intimacy. (3) Taking charge of a “new sexuality.” Conclusions: Women with FMS suffer from limitations of their sexuality that affect their partner. Pain, stiffness and a loss of desire make sexual encounters difficult. Becoming aware of this and striving not to lose their sexuality is key to coping with this problem. Women and their sexual partners can change roles and encourage communication, games, foreplay or touching. The use of lubricants, physical exercise and complementary therapies, along with social, professional and partner support, are key to coping with FMS.

Las productoras audiovisuales en Andalucía atraviesan un difícil momento para su supervivencia condicionadas por la profunda crisis económica que atraviesa España. El descenso generalizado de los ingresos publicitarios en las televisiones, la reducción de los fondos públicos destinados a la Radio Televisión de Andalucía, RTVA, la atomización del sector o la falta de un tejido empresarial autóctono que demande el servicio de estas productoras, algunas de las claves que definen la situación actual de marcha de este sector.

Contexto: La productividad de los sistemas de producción bovina han tenido una tendencia a disminuir, como consecuencia del cambio climático, los pronósticos indican que las lluvias deben reducirse un 60%, por lo que el empleo de árboles leguminosos constituye una vía para mejorar el suministro y calidad de la alimentación. Objetivo: Evaluar el comportamiento de un sistema silvo-pastoril en pastoreo rotacional de asociación de gramíneas más leguminosa (L. leucocephala) y forrajes (Pennisetum purpureun cv. CT 169 y Sacharum Oficinarum) en una unidad de pre-ceba bovina. Métodos: Se realizó en una Cooperativa de Crédito y Servicios sustentada en un suelo Pardo grisáceo, se aplicó un diseño de bloque al azar, con un peso promedio de 232 kg para el tratamiento A (25 animales) y 236 kg para el tratamiento B (25 animales), la raza utilizada fue mestiza Holstein- Cebú, se pesaron los animales a los 90 días y a los 212, las evaluaciones se hicieron durante la época poco lluviosa se utilizó el paquete estadístico SSPS versión 15.1. Se realizó una valoración económica al final del experimento con los siguientes criterios de evaluación: Gasto por compra de animales, Gasto de salario, Precio de venta, Valor de la producción, Ganancia, Rentabilidad. Resultados: Se obtuvieron aceptables conversiones, buenas ganancias de peso vivo, sobre todo en el tratamiento B que fue de 516 g/día como promedio durante todo el experimento. Los resultados económicos productivos en el sistema silvo-pastoril, fueron superiores a los obtenidos en el sistema tradicional, con una rentabilidad del 23.32% mayor al obtenido en el sistema tradicional. Conclusiones: Los sistemas silvopastoriles, son una alternativa para el pre ceba, de bajos insumos lo que permite obtener ganancias de más de 500g/d al compararlo con el sistema tradicional.

Context: The productivity of cattle production systems has tended to decrease as a consequence of climate change. The forecasts indicate that rainfall must drop by 60%, so the utilization of leguminous trees constitutes a way of improving feed supply and quality. Aim: To evaluate the behavior of a rotational forest-grazing system made of gramineous and leguminous plants (Pennisetum purpureun cv. CT 169 and Sacharum Oficinarum) on a pre-fattening cattle farm. Methods: The study took place at a Cooperative of Credits and Services, on brown-grayish soil. A randomized block design was used. The average weight for treatment A (25 animals) was 232 kg, whereas the animals in treatment B (25 animals) averaged 236 kg (Holstein-Zebu). The animals were weighed on days 90 and 212, and the evaluations were made in the dry season, using SPSS, version 15.1. At the end of the experiment, the following economic criteria were evaluated: Cost of animal purchasing, cost of salary, sales price, the value of production, and cost-effectiveness. Results: The conversions were acceptable, with favorable live-weight gains, especially in treatment B (516 g/day average) throughout the experiment. The economic-productive results of the forest-grazing system were higher than the results observed using the traditional system. Cost-effectiveness was 23.32% higher than the ones produced by the traditional system. Conclusions: Forest-grazing systems are a low-input pre-fattening alternative that permits obtaining gains of over 500g/d when compared to the traditional system.

Analyses of the historical behavior of forest fires provide the basis for effective fire management programs. This descriptive research aimed to analyze when, where and why forest fires occurred in Santa Ana canton, Manabí province, Ecuador, during the period 2012-2018. The data were provided by the Fire Department of that locality. The analysis was carried out considering a spatiotemporal context (years, months, days of the week, localities and vegetation cover). Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 22.0). A significance level of 0.05 was used. In the analyzed period, 91 losses were reported, corresponding to the year 2016 the highest percentage (38.46 %). From July to January 94.50 % of the total number of fires were recorded, associated with low rainfall and increased use of fire by farmers to clear the land. During the day, the highest number of events was recorded from 14:00 to 16:00 hours (27.47 %). In cases where the parish and vegetation cover were specified, the highest percentages corresponded to Ayacucho and weeds with 54.05 and 26.37 %, respectively. The work allowed to establish temporal and spatial patterns of fire occurrence and its causality, constituting an important and relevant contribution on when, where and why fires occur in the canton of Santa Ana, information that can be used by decision makers of integrated fire management activities.

Several noninvasive solutions are available for the assessment of patients at risk of deterioration. Capnography, in the form of end-tidal exhaled CO2 (ETCO2) and perfusion index (PI), could provide relevant information about patient prognosis. The aim of the present project was to determine the association of ETCO2 and PI with mortality of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). Multicenter, prospective, cohort study of adult patients with acute disease who needed continuous monitoring in the ED. The study included two tertiary hospitals in Spain between October 2022 and June 2023. The primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality (all-cause). Demographics, vital signs, ETCO2 and PI were collected. A total of 687 patients were included in the study. The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.8%. The median age was 79 years (IQR: 69–86), and 63.3% were males. The median ETCO2 value was 30 mmHg (26–35) in survivors and 23 mmHg (16–30) in nonsurvivors (p = 0.001). For the PI, the medians were 4.7% (2.8–8.1) for survivors and 2.5% (0.98–4-4) for nonsurvivors (p < 0.001). The model that presented the best AUC was age (odds ratio (OR): 1.02 (1.00–1.05)), the respiratory rate (OR: 1.06 (1.02–1.11)), and the PI (OR: 0.83 (0.75–0.91)), with a result of 0.840 (95% CI: 0.795–0.886); the model with the respiratory rate (OR: 1.05 (1.01–1.10)), the PI (OR: 0.84 (0.76–0.93)), and the ETCO2 (no statistically significant OR), with an AUC of 0.838 (95% CI: 0.787–0.889). The present study showed that the PI and respiratory rate are independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Both the PI and ETCO2 are predictive parameters with improved prognostic performance compared with that of standard vital signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical antibacterial drugs were designed to target specific bacterial properties distinct from host human cells to maximize potency and selectivity. These designs were quite effective as they could be easily derivatized to bear next-generation drugs. However, the rapid mutation of bacteria and their associated acquired drug resistance have led to the rise of highly pathogenic superbug bacterial strains for which treatment with first line drugs is no match. More than ever, there is a dire need for antibacterial drug design that goes beyond conventional standards. Taking inspiration by the body’s innate immune response to employ its own supply of labile copper ions in a toxic attack against pathogenic bacteria, which have a very low Cu tolerance, this review article examines the feasibility of Cu-centric strategies for antibacterial preventative and therapeutic applications. Promising results are shown for the use of Cu-containing materials in the hospital setting to minimize patient bacterial infections. Studies directed at disrupting bacterial Cu regulatory pathways elucidate new drug targets that can enable toxic increase of Cu levels and perturb bacterial dependence on iron. Likewise, Cu intracellular chelation/prochelation strategies effectively induce bacterial Cu toxicity. Cu-based small molecules and nanoparticles demonstrate the importance of the Cu ions in their mechanism and display potential synergism with classical drugs.

Comprender la evolución de las causas de los incendios permite realizar un trabajo objetivo de prevención. Esta investigación analiza la causalidad de los incendios forestales en Pinar del Río, Cuba (1975-2018). Los análisis se realizaron considerando sub-periodos, meses del año y vegetación afectada. En el periodo ocurrieron 2896 incendios y se quemaron 51 217.75 hectáreas. Los incendios originados por causas antropogénicas, principalmente las negligencias, mostraron una tendencia al aumento en el tiempo, contrario a lo ocurrido para el caso de los rayos. Esta evolución determinó que la época de incendios cambiara de marzo a junio en el sub-periodo 1975-1985, y pasara a presentarse de marzo a mayo en el sub-periodo 2008-2018. No obstante, la época donde más incendios ocurren por cada causa de forma individual no cambió durante los 44 años analizados. Estos resultados permitirán perfeccionar el trabajo de prevención de incendios forestales.

Los desafíos que enfrenta el contexto demandan un nuevo enfoque de la investigación que sea más integrador y orientado a las soluciones. Se necesita vincular la investigación científica enfocada de alta calidad a esfuerzos renovados interdisciplinarios y transdisciplinarios relevantes a las políticas para el logro de la sostenibilidad local. Esta investigación debe integrarse a través de programas de investigación y disciplinas existentes, a través de todos los ámbitos de investigación y los sistemas de conocimiento local. Todo modelo de desarrollo orientado éticamente debe caracterizarse por ser: incluyente, humano, sostenible, participativo, innovativo, ético, equitativo, social, autogestionable e integral, principios esenciales a tener presente en la construcción del contexto que se quiere, en este caso, al que se le llama Contexto Inteligente por un Desarrollo Local Sostenible. En este propósito, su diseño no es solo desde la academia con sus funciones de ciencia e innovación, formación y extensión, sino además se integra con su entorno conformado por la triple hélice social para el desarrollo, con el objetivo de sistematizar con la participación de los actores los fundamentos teóricos metodológicos que sustenten el modelo desarrollo sostenible de contextos inteligentes. El estudio se inscribe desde el enfoque de la teoría crítica. La metodología utilizada es la investigación acción participativa y como instrumentos, el taller investigativo, la construcción social desde el diálogo de actores.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative pathology, the origin of which is associated with the death of neuronal cells involved in the production of dopamine. The prevalence of PD has increased exponentially. The aim of this review was to describe the novel treatments for PD that are currently under investigation and study and the possible therapeutic targets. The pathophysiology of this disease is based on the formation of alpha-synuclein folds that generate Lewy bodies, which are cytotoxic and reduce dopamine levels. Most pharmacological treatments for PD target alpha-synuclein to reduce the symptoms. These include treatments aimed at reducing the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (epigallocatechin), reducing its clearance via immunotherapy, inhibiting LRRK2, and upregulating cerebrosidase (ambroxol). Parkinson’s disease continues to be a pathology of unknown origin that generates a significant social cost for the patients who suffer from it. Although there is still no definitive cure for this disease at present, there are numerous treatments available aimed at reducing the symptomatology of PD in addition to other therapeutic alternatives that are still under investigation. However, the therapeutic approach to this pathology should include a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to maximise outcomes and improve symptomatological control in these patients. It is therefore necessary to delve deeper into the pathophysiology of the disease in order to improve these treatments and therefore the quality of life of the patients.

In response to liver injury, hepatic stellate cells activate and acquire proliferative and contractile features. The regression of liver fibrosis appears to involve the clearance of activated hepatic stellate cells, either by apoptosis or by reversion toward a quiescent-like state, a process called deactivation. Thus, deactivation of active hepatic stellate cells has emerged as a novel and promising therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis. However, our knowledge of the master regulators involved in the deactivation and/or activation of fibrotic hepatic stellate cells is still limited. The transcription factor GATA4 has been previously shown to play an important role in embryonic hepatic stellate cell quiescence. In this work, we show that lack of GATA4 in adult mice caused hepatic stellate cell activation and, consequently, liver fibrosis. During regression of liver fibrosis, Gata4 was reexpressed in deactivated hepatic stellate cells. Overexpression of Gata4 in hepatic stellate cells promoted liver fibrosis regression in CCl4-treated mice. GATA4 induced changes in the expression of fibrogenic and antifibrogenic genes, promoting hepatic stellate cell deactivation. Finally, we show that GATA4 directly repressed EPAS1 transcription in hepatic stellate cells and that stabilization of the HIF2α protein in hepatic stellate cells leads to liver fibrosis.

Este artículo presenta los resultados de una propuesta de aula que considera la modelación estadística para la enseñanza de las medidas de tendencia central y dispersión, a partir del contexto que provee un deporte típico chileno. Desde un enfoque de investigación basado en el diseño, se elabora una propuesta de aula implementada en estudiantes de 15 y 16 años. Su diseño promueve la modelación estadística, considerando el contexto de un deporte nacional chileno, la rayuela, que permite abordar un problema cultural de interés para los estudiantes. Para el análisis de su implementación se articuló y adaptó las fases de un ciclo de investigación estadística con las fases de un modelo asociado al proceso de modelación matemática. Los hallazgos de la implementación evidencian que los estudiantes lograron transitar exitosamente en las dos primeras fases del proceso de modelación, teniendo algunos de ellos más dificultad en las dos últimas fases. Este estudio permite evidenciar que aún es necesario continuar investigando en cómo la modelación de naturaleza estadística se inserta en el currículum matemático, y cómo estas pueden conjugarse, de modo de contar con criterios e indicadores claros para evaluar el desempeño de estudiantes en actividades que involucren análisis estadísticos en contexto.

Calcium (Ca) is an important driver of community structure in freshwaters. We examined the combined effects of increased temperatures and variations in food quantity on the tolerance to low Ca of Daphnia pulex. The aim was to predict the impact of climate warming on this keystone zooplanktonic species in cold-climate lakes. We conducted a factorial life-history experiment in a clone of North American Daphnia cf. pulex to analyse the interaction effects of a temperature increase (17.5 °C–21 °C) within their physiological preferred range and expected by climate warming over the next few decades and a narrow Ca gradient (0.25–1.74 mg Ca L−1) under stressful vs. abundant food conditions. We found a striking positive synergistic effect of Ca and temperature on D. pulex reproduction at high food conditions. Although the increase in temperature to 21 °C greatly reduced survival, high energy allocation to reproduction at high food levels allowed the population to succeed in poor Ca (−1). Results suggest that climate warming and higher food availability will make the populations of many cold and Ca-limited lakes more tolerant to low Ca levels with higher growth population rates, thereby altering zooplanktonic community structures and inducing potential cascading effects on the food web.

Agricultural management decision-making in salinization-prone environments requires efficient soil salinity monitoring methods. This is the case in the B-XII irrigation district in SW Spain, a heavy clay reclaimed marsh area where a shallow saline water table and intensively irrigated agriculture create a fragile balance between salt accumulation and leaching in the root zone, which might be disrupted by the introduction of new crops and increasing climate variability. We evaluated the potential of electromagnetic induction (EMI) tomography for field-scale soil salinity assessment in this hyper-conductive environment, using EMI and limited analytical soil data measured in 2017 and 2020 under a processing tomato–cotton–sugar beet crop rotation. Salinity effects on crop development were assessed by comparing Sentinel 2 NDVI imagery with inverted depth-specific electrical conductivity (EC). Average apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) for the 1-m depth signal was 20% smaller in 2020 than in 2017, although the spatial ECa pattern was similar for both years. Inverted depth-specific EC showed a strong correlation (R ≈ 0.90) with saturated paste extract EC (ECe), [Na+] and sodium absorption ratio (SAR), resulting in linear calibration equations with R2 ≈ 0.8 for both years and leave-one-out cross validation Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency Coefficient, ranging from 0.57 to 0.74. Overall, the chemical parameter estimation improved with depth and soil wetness (2017), yielding 0.83 < R

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. The pathophysiology of this disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β, leading to the formation of senile plaques, and by the intracellular presence of neurofibrillary tangles based on hyperphosphorylated tau protein. In the therapeutic approach to AD, we can identify three important fronts: the approved drugs currently available for the treatment of the disease, which include aducanumab, donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine, and a combination of memantine and donepezil; therapies under investigation that work mainly on Aβ pathology and tau pathology, and which include γ-secretase inhibitors, β-secretase inhibitors, α-secretase modulators, aggregation inhibitors, metal interfering drugs, drugs that enhance Aβ clearance, inhibitors of tau protein hyperphosphorylation, tau protein aggregation inhibitors, and drugs that promote the clearance of tau, and finally, other alternative therapies designed to improve lifestyle, thus contributing to the prevention of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this review was to analyze and describe current treatments and possible future alternatives in the therapeutic approach to AD.