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Abstract Senecio carbonellii, an endemic plant of Colombia, is classified as critically endangered in the wetlands of Bogotá D. C. This study aims to determine the desiccation tolerance and longevity of S. carbonellii seeds and evaluate the effect of flooding on seed germination and plant growth to provide information for the development of conservation strategies for the species. For this purpose, we assessed the germination, viability (using tetrazolium testing), and longevity of desiccated seeds compared to seeds with initial moisture. We also evaluated the effect of flooding on the emergence and growth of seedlings and plants under nursery conditions. Our findings indicated that the seed viability and germination percentages were significantly higher in the seeds with initial moisture compared to desiccated seeds. However, we observed that viability is maintained even after storing the seeds for more than two years, indicating that the seeds partially tolerate desiccation and that they are likely to have an intermediate storage behavior. Furthermore, flooding depth reduced the stem number, diameter, and length of plants. The results revealed that flooding negatively affects emergence and growth in the nursery.

Background/Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can infect both humans and animals and cause noninvasive gastrointestinal listeriosis or invasive listeriosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes; the genes associated with its resistance to antibiotics, benzalkonium chloride (BC), and cadmium chloride (CdCl2); and its biofilm formation. Methods: A total of 132 fresh fruits (44 samples) and vegetables (88 samples) were selected for this study. The genetic diversity of the isolates and the genes associated with their antibiotic resistance were determined using PCR amplification; meanwhile, their levels of susceptibility to antibiotics were determined using the agar diffusion method. Their levels of resistance to BC and CdCl2 were determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration method, and their capacity for biofilm formation was evaluated using the crystal violet staining method. Results: A total of 17 L. monocytogenes strains were collected: 12.8% (17/132) from fresh fruits and vegetables in this study. The isolates of L. monocytogenes belonged to phylogenetic groups I.1 (29.4% (5/17); serotype 1/2a) and II.2 (70.5% (12/17); serotype 1/2b); strains containing Listeria pathogenicity islands (LIPIs) were also identified at prevalence rates of 100% for LIPI-1 and LIPI-2 (17/17), 29.4% for LIPI-3 (5/17), and 11.7% for LIPI-4 (2/17). The antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that the L. monocytogenes isolates exhibited six different multiresistant patterns, with multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of ≥0.46 (70.5%; 12/17); additionally, the genes Ide, tetM, and msrA, associated with efflux pump Lde, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin resistance, were detected at 52.9% (9/17), 29.4% (5/17), and 17.6% (3/17), respectively. The phenotypic tests showed that 58.8% (10/17) of cadmium-resistant L. monocytogenes isolates had a co-resistance of 23.5% (4/17) to BC. Finally, all strains of L. monocytogenes exhibited moderate biofilm production. Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the persistence and genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from fresh fruits and vegetables; in addition, their resistance to CdCl2, which is correlated with co-resistance to BC disinfectant, is helpful for the food industry.

Abstract Halophilic fungi thrive in hypersaline habitats and face a range of extreme conditions. These fungal species have gained considerable attention due to their potential applications in harsh industrial processes, such as bioremediation and fermentation under unfavorable conditions of hypersalinity, low water activity, and extreme pH. However, the role of the cell wall in surviving these environmental conditions remains unclear. Here we employ solid-state NMR spectroscopy to compare the cell wall architecture of Aspergillus sydowii across salinity gradients. Analyses of intact cells reveal that A. sydowii cell walls contain a rigid core comprising chitin, β-glucan, and chitosan, shielded by a surface shell composed of galactomannan and galactosaminogalactan. When exposed to hypersaline conditions, A. sydowii enhances chitin biosynthesis and incorporates α-glucan to create thick, stiff, and hydrophobic cell walls. Such structural rearrangements enable the fungus to adapt to both hypersaline and salt-deprived conditions, providing a robust mechanism for withstanding external stress. These molecular principles can aid in the optimization of halophilic strains for biotechnology applications.

In addition to winemaking techniques, wine’s quality and typicity are linked to the place where the grapes are grown. Climate, soil and the cultivar are major drivers of the terroir’s expression. Moreover, climate change is affecting the distribution of grapevine varieties in different wine-growing regions because changes in climatic conditions over the past years is affecting grape production. This study investigated the influence of some terroir parameters on the volatile composition of Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Eight wines from vineyards sited in Argentina, Spain and Portugal with altitudes between 2400 and 77 m above sea level (a.s.l.) with different soils and climatic conditions were selected. The results suggested that the vineyard’s place significantly modified the volatile composition of Cabernet Sauvignon wines because all chemical groups of volatiles quantified were affected. Volatile acids, C6 compounds, aldehydes, esters and terpenes showed the highest concentrations at 2400 m a.s.l., where the highest thermal amplitude was observed. In Portugal, where the vineyard studies were sited at lower altitudes (77 m a.s.l.) and under warm climatic conditions, high concentrations of alcohols and lactones were observed. Alcohols also showed high concentrations in wines from vineyards sited at 413 and 155 m a.s.l. (Spain). Principal component analysis showed the positive correlation of Cabernet Sauvignon wines located at higher altitudes with terpenes. On the contrary, wines from grapes grown at lower altitude conditions exhibited a correlation with alcohols and lactones.

Sustainable methods such as convective drying have regained interest in reducing the loss and waste of food produce. Combined with techniques like blanching and edible coatings, they could serve as useful tools in food processing development. Composite coatings comprising pectin, soy protein isolate, and xanthan gum were optimized using response surface methodology with the Box–Behnken design. This optimization aimed to investigate their effects on the moisture content, water activity, total color, and rehydration ratio of fresh and blanched chayote slices. Additionally, the study explored the modeling of the drying kinetics and sorption isotherms of chayote (Sechium edule) slices. Soy protein and xanthan gum were found to primarily influence the moisture content (ranging from 5.44% to 9.93%), and pectin influenced water activity (033 to 0.53) of the fresh-coated chayote, while pectin affected the aw (2.13–8.28) and rehydration of the blanch-coated chayote. The optimized formulations for both fresh and blanched chayote were utilized to assess the drying kinetics behavior and sorption isotherms. The best fit (R2: 0.996 to 0.999) was achieved with the parabolic model for thin-layer materials. Furthermore, the sorption isotherms of chayote displayed a Type IV behavior, with the BET model being the most suitable for describing the sorption behavior of materials with low water activity. The predicted values offer valuable data for optimizing processing conditions to enhance the quality and stability of dried chayote.

TeamUp es una rúbrica para evaluar las habilidades de trabajo en equipo en un contexto de aprendizaje colaborativo tanto en ambientes presenciales como virtuales. Este trabajo presenta el proceso de adaptación y validación de TeamUp para estudiantes mexicanos de bachillerato. Para lo anterior, se tradujo la rúbrica TeamUp al español, después se efectuó una validación con cinco jueces expertos, quienes evaluaron la rúbrica traducida con diversos criterios. El cálculo del coeficiente de validez de contenido ubicó a 23 ítems con un buen nivel de validez y concordancia (³ 0.8), mientras que los 10 restantes tuvieron un nivel excelente en los mismos rubros (³ 0.9). El coeficiente de Alfa de Cronbach calculado con respuestas de 309 estudiantes de bachillerato mostró que TeamUp cuenta con una fiabilidad alta (> 0.9). Los resultados reflejados por TeamUp en este trabajo le presentan como una propuesta robusta de instrumento para la enseñanza y el desarrollo de habilidades de trabajo en equipo para adolescentes en aprendizaje colaborativo. El español empleado en esta rúbrica es adecuado para adolescentes mexicanos, en futuras adaptaciones se sugiere la modificación del idioma para el público de otras regiones hispanohablantes.

Este trabajo aborda algunas dimensiones de la relación humanos∞robots en la exploración del espacio exterior a partir de la experiencia científico-tecnológica de la misión a Marte por los robots Martian Explorer Rovers (MER) de la NASA (2004-2018). La reflexión, basada en las investigaciones socioantropológicas sobre esta misión en terreno marciano, traza la evolución del interés científico por la observación de Marte, los desafíos científicos y tecnológicos en el diseño de los MER, los dilemas y problemas operativos (movilidad, imágenes, telecomunicación) en la superficie del planeta rojo y los retos de la sincronización temporal para la investigación espacial desde la Tierra. Por último, se esbozan algunos caminos y aprendizajes que emergen de esta experiencia para la futura exploración espacial latinoamericana.

IntroductionStaphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that can form biofilms on food contact surfaces (FCS) in the dairy industry, posing a serious food safety, and quality concern. Biofilm is a complex system, influenced by nutritional-related factors that regulate the synthesis of the components of the biofilm matrix. This study determines the prevalence of biofilm-associated genes and evaluates the development under different growth conditions and compositions of biofilms produced by S. aureus.MethodsBiofilms were developed in TSB, TSBG, TSBNaCl, and TSBGNaCl on stainless-steel (SS), with enumeration at 24 and 192 h visualized by epifluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of biofilms was determined using enzymatic and chemical treatments and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).Results and discussionA total of 84 S. aureus (SA1–SA84) strains were collected from 293 dairy industry FCS (FCS-stainless steel [n = 183] and FCS-polypropylene [n = 110]) for this study. The isolates harbored the genes sigB (66%), sar (53%), agrD (52%), clfB/clfA (38%), fnbA/fnbB (20%), and bap (9.5%). 99. In particular, the biofilm formed by bap-positive S. aureus onto SS showed a high cell density in all culture media at 192 h in comparison with the biofilms formed at 24 h (p < 0.05). Epifluorescence microscopy and SEM revealed the metabolically active cells and the different stages of biofilm formation. CLSM analysis detected extracellular polymeric of S. aureus biofilms on SS, such as eDNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. Finally, the level of detachment on being treated with DNase I (44.7%) and NaIO 4(42.4%) was greater in the biofilms developed in TSB compared to culture medium supplemented with NaCl at 24 h; however, there was no significant difference when the culture medium was supplemented with glucose. In addition, after treatment with proteinase K, there was a lower level of biomass detachment (17.7%) of the biofilm developed in TSBNaCl (p < 0.05 at 24 h) compared to that in TSB, TSBG, and TSBGNaCl (33.6, 36.9, and 37.8%, respectively). These results represent a deep insight into the composition of S. aureus biofilms present in the dairy industry, which promotes the development of more efficient composition-specific disinfection strategies.

El presente artículo muestra los resultados de una revisión sistemática de literatura en torno a las refexiones teóricas e investigativas sobre las categorías de estudio formación permanente del docente en contextos rurales y el desarrollo del pensamiento crítico, desde una perspectiva conceptual y hermenéutica, para continuar en la comprensión del estudio a profundidad. En ese sentido, se defnen cada una de las categorías y se describen las tendencias o enfoques, desde el ámbito teórico, epistémico y metodológico, concluyendo que son pocos los estudios en formación permanente docente con énfasis en la ruralidad y su aporte al desarrollo del pensamiento crítico. Además se advierte que la formación docente se confgura como uno de los factores decisivos para que los estudiantes desarrollen un pensamiento crítico que les posibilite contar con las herramientas cognitivas, habilidades y competencias blandas, necesarias para enfrentar la complejidad de la vida actual, aún más en tiempos de pandemia COVID-19, teniendo en cuenta que desde esta perspectiva se transciende el carácter instrumental del conocimiento, dando paso a procesos de construcción crítica y colectiva.

This article seeks to identify the social representations held by public school teachers in Bogotá and Cali (Colombia) regarding the inclusion of disabled children in the classroom. The research followed an inductive approach based on grounded theory; to this effect, the content and internal structure of social representations were identified (a descriptive and relational analysis). The study involved 25 teachers from two public schools in Bogotá and Cali. The results show that, as far as inclusion is concerned, teachers believe they play a coordinating role between public policy and pedagogical implementation in the classroom, despite not always having appropriate training. For teachers, the emotional dimension of inclusion is demanding, and – for the most part – this is viewed negatively.

Introduction: ending 2019, the first reported cases of Covid-19 broke out in Wuhan, China. This disease may affect directly the cardiovascular system or predispose it to be infected by the SARS-CoV-2. Objective: to identify the cardiometabolic predictive factors for mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 from Santiago de Cuba city in the period May 2020 throughout May 2021. Method: an analytical cohort study was carried out. It was a co-operative research that involved professionals from the Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Services at the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico “Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo”, as well as professionals from the Dirección Municipal de Salud in Santiago de Cuba city. A sample of 120 patients was selected for the identification of cardiometabolic predictive factors for mortality. Data analysis was based on the performance of a multivariate model (multivariate logistic regression). Results: throughout the hospitalization period 15 diseases were reported. Female sex was predominant but statistically we can´t associate to the deaths these two gender variables. However, age over 60 years, the arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and, in a high rank, the vascular involvement, were observed in a strongly association with mortality (p=0.0001). Conclusions: this research allowed the identification of cardiometabolic predictive factors for mortality in COVID-19, where age over 60 years, vascular involvement (cardiogenic shock), hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the main causal factors in the pathophysiological and statistical explanation of mortality.

Fostering spoken communication in a foreign language classroom is not an easy task. With that in mind, this paper explores a proposal to motivate students’ L2 oral communication through the practice of narrative games called tabletop roleplaying games adapted as task-based activities. It implied an action research process in which the teacher-researcher with his students reflected and intervened on the identified problematic situation: Lack of oral communication in L2. In that sense, it started with a diagnostic test that showed the current state of verbal communication in L2 in a Colombian rural public school. Next, the teacher-researcher chose to appeal to the gamification of the classroom along with the adoption of a task-based framework to activity design aiming to improve students’ motivation to take the risk of communicating in L2. The teacher-researcher applied sets of activities that progressed from traditional role-play to a tabletop roleplaying game. In accordance, video recordings, narratives, artifacts collections, and semi-structured interviews were essential to collect data. Afterward, the teacher-researcher analyzed the data with an emic approach to identify patterns in the information that uncovered the categories and subcategories of information. Consequently, the teacher-researcher concluded that the students feel better motivated using L2 if the learning environment offers opportunities for social interaction, collaborative work, and scaffolding in task-based exercises embedded in a fictional world game.

Introduction: One of the most significant progresses in fighting the epidemic of HIV/aids has been the development of the antirretroviral therapy of great activity. Objective: To calculate variations in the effectiveness of the used therapeutic process (zidovudine, lamivudine y nevirapine), regarding selected clinical and hematological parameters. Method: An observational and descriptive series of cases study was carried out in 45 patients with HIV/aids who were discharged from the Internal Medicine Service in Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Teaching General Hospital inSantiago de Cuba, from 2015 to 2017, for which clinical and therapeutic variables were used. Results: The implemented therapy modified in a beneficial way the study parameters CD4 and viral load. Also, there was a connoted magnitude percentage in those affected patients with good clinical course (39 representing 86.7 %) and the effectiveness of the proposed pattern was visible, when showing more than 80.0 % the patients with favorable response to this therapy. Conclusions: The therapeutic pattern was effective, because a marked increment of the CD4-lymphocytes count and the marked decrease of the viral replication, what caused an important decrease of the opportunist diseases.

Objectives: Trypanosoma cruzi reactivation in HIV patients is considered an opportunistic infection, usually with a fatal outcome. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of T. cruzi infection in HIV patients and to compare these findings between patients with and without Chagas disease reactivation. Methods: The medical records of T. cruzi–HIV co-infected patients treated at the Muñiz Infectious Diseases Hospital from January 2005 to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Epidemiological and clinical features were assessed and compared between patients with and without Chagas disease reactivation. Results: The medical records of 80 T. cruzi–HIV co-infected patients were reviewed. The most likely route of T. cruzi infection was vector-borne (32/80 patients), followed by intravenous drug use (12/80). Nine of 80 patients had reactivation. Patients without reactivation had a significantly higher CD4 T-cell count at diagnosis of T. cruzi infection (144 cells/μl vs. 30 cells/μl, p = 0.026). Chagas disease serology was negative in two of nine patients with reactivation. Conclusions: Serological assays for T. cruzi infection may be negative in severely immunocompromised patients. Direct parasitological techniques should be performed in the diagnosis of patients for whom there is a suspicion of T. cruzi reactivation. HIV patients with a lower CD4 count are at higher risk of reactivation.

Las islas flotantes son un tipo de humedal artificial en donde se instalan macrófitos emergentes sobre estructuras flotantes y son utilizadas en fitodepuración, paisajismo y proyectos de conservación. Con el objetivo de aumentar las especies de la colección viva, embellecer los cuerpos de agua y contribuir a los procesos de conservación, en el Jardín Botánico de Bogotá (Colombia) se evaluó el establecimiento de 12 especies de plantas acuáticas presentes en Cundinamarca sobre un nuevo diseño de estructura flotante. Se construyeron tres estructuras flotantes octagonales con materiales reciclables y de bajo costo, con un área de 1.51 m2 en donde se plantaron 141 individuos de: Cuphea racemosa (L.f.) Spreng., Eleocharis dombeyana Kunth, Equisetum bogotense Kunth, Hydrocotyle leucocephala Cham. & Schltdl., Hydrocotyle mexicana Cham. & Schltdl., Hydrocotyle sp., Juncus microcephalus Kunth, Ludwigia peruviana (L.) H.Hara, Osmunda regalis L., Plantago australis Lam., Polytrichadelphus longisetus (Brid.) Mitt. y Sagittaria latifolia Willd. Para evaluar el establecimiento de las plantas se tomaron fotografías desde el plano cenital y se usó una clasificación supervisada de tipo likelihood para cuantificar la cobertura vegetal a las 6, 23 y 44 semanas. También se evaluó el porcentaje de supervivencia y la presencia de brotes. Luego de 44 semanas se encontró una respuesta diferencial en las especies, siendo O. regalis y L. peruviana las que presentaron los mejores resultados.

Listeria monocytogenes is an important pathogen that has been implicated in foodborne illnesses and the recall of products such as fruit and vegetables. This study determines the prevalence of virulence-associated genes and serogroups and evaluates the effects of different growth media and environmental conditions on biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes. Eighteen L. monocytogenes isolates from Hass avocados sold at markets in Guadalajara, Mexico, were characterized by virulence-associated genes and serogroup detection with PCR. All isolates harbored 88.8% actA, 88.8% plcA, 83.3% mpl, 77.7% inlB, 77.7% hly, 66.6% prfA, 55.5% plcB, and 33.3% inlA. The results showed that 38.8% of isolates harbored virulence genes belonging to Listeria pathogenicity island 1 (LIPI-1). PCR revealed that the most prevalent serogroup was serogroup III (1/2b, 3b, and 7 (n = 18, 66.65%)), followed by serogroup IV (4b, 4d–4e (n = 5, 27.7%)) and serogroup I (1/2a–3a (n = 1, 5.5%)). The assessment of the ability to develop biofilms using a crystal violet staining method revealed that L. monocytogenes responded to supplement medium TSBA, 1/10 diluted TSBA, and TSB in comparison with 1/10 diluted TSB (p < 0.05) on polystyrene at 240 h (p < 0.05). In particular, the biofilm formation by L. monocytogenes (7.78 ± 0.03–8.82 ± 0.03 log10 CFU/cm2) was significantly different in terms of TSBA on polypropylene type B (PP) (p < 0.05). In addition, visualization by epifluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and treatment (DNase I and proteinase K) revealed the metabolically active cells and extracellular polymeric substances of biofilms on PP. L. monocytogenes has the ability to develop biofilms that harbor virulence-associated genes, which represent a serious threat to human health and food safety.

It is believed that phylloxera grows better in clay soils and/or under drip irrigation than in sandy soils and/or flooding. To test these hypotheses, phylloxera damage and population growth were evaluated in potted V. vinifera cv. Malbec under two irrigation methods and soil textures in growth chambers at 16 h of photoperiod and 28ºC + 3ºC. In a first experiment, phylloxera damage and population were analyzed in infested (P) and uninfested (C) plants, drip (D) or flood (F) irrigated. A second experiment consisted in infested (P) and uninfested (C) plants in clay (CL) or sandy (S) soil. D x P reduced leaf number, while P x C increased photosynthesis rate. In the irrigation experiment, P reduced leaf area, shoot length and root dry weight and increased stomatal conductance. Irrigation methods did not influence variables related to root damage or phylloxera population. In the texture experiment CL x C showed a greater leaf area. P also reduced shoot length and root dry weight while CL had a higher number of leaves and less root dry weight. Despite CL developed more phylloxera root symptoms, texture did not affect the number of insects found on roots. Possibly, neither irrigation methods nor soil texture per se are limiting factors for phylloxera performance, but their influence on the vigor of the plants could affect the plant-insect interactions. This is one of the first reports about the influence of soil conditions on phylloxera in a controlled environment and provides a foundation for further studies. Highlights The effects of two irrigation methods and soil textures were studied on phylloxerated V. vinifera cv. Malbec, in pots, under controlled conditions. Soil texture had no influence on the infestation success of the plants. Irrigation methods did not affect variables related to root damage or phylloxera population. More phylloxera root symptoms were found in plants in clay soil; however, texture did not affect the number of insects.

Berry skins from red grape cultivars contain significant amounts of polyphenols that contribute to wine quality and provide health benefits. These compounds can be elicited by plant hormones. The aim of this work was to increase the content of anthocyanins (ANT) and trans-resveratrol (T-RES) by application of abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in five red V. vinifera cvs. (Bonarda, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir), in two Argentinean contrasting growing regions (Santa Rosa and Valle de Uco). Results showed positive and differential effects of ABA and MeJA on the total ANT content for the diverse cultivars with changes in the proportions of blue and red ANT. ABA increased total ANT in both viticultural region, while MeJA had a positive effect only in Santa Rosa. Also, ABA and MeJA induced an accumulation of T-RES in different cultivars, regardless of the region; T-RES accumulation elicited by ABA was not previously described. This work brings out the possibility to use these hormones as practical tools to produce high-quality red wines in two contrasting viticultural regions. Highlights The effect of application of abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate on trans-resveratrol and anthocyanin accumulation were analyzed on five Vitis vinifera red cultivars in two different viticultural areas in Mendoza province, Argentina. Abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate had a positive and differential effect on anthocyanin on the different cultivars with changes in the proportions of blue and red anthocyanins. Abscisic acid increased total anthocyanins in both viticultural region, while methyl jasmonate effect was region dependent. Abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate induced accumulation of trans-resveratrol in different cultivars, regardless of the region. The accumulation of trans-resveratrol elicited by ABA was not previously described.

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere, and have the ability to infect Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes. The virome is estimated to be at least ten times more abundant than the microbiome with 107 viruses per milliliter and 109 viral particles per gram in marine waters and sediments or soils, respectively. Viruses represent a largely unexplored genetic diversity, having an important role in the genomic plasticity of their hosts. Moreover, they also play a significant role in the dynamics of microbial populations. In recent years, metagenomic approaches have gained increasing popularity in the study of environmental viromes, offering the possibility of extending our knowledge related to both virus diversity and their functional characterization. Extreme environments represent an interesting source of both microbiota and their virome due to their particular physicochemical conditions, such as very high or very low temperatures and >1 atm hydrostatic pressures, among others. Despite the fact that some progress has been made in our understanding of the ecology of the microbiota in these habitats, few metagenomic studies have described the viromes present in extreme ecosystems. Thus, limited advances have been made in our understanding of the virus community structure in extremophilic ecosystems, as well as in their biotechnological potential. In this review, we critically analyze recent progress in metagenomic based approaches to explore the viromes in extreme environments and we discuss the potential for new discoveries, as well as methodological challenges and perspectives.

Cellulases have a broad range of different industrial applications, ranging from food and beverages to pulp and paper and the biofuels area. Here a metagenomics based strategy was used to identify the cellulolytic enzyme CelRH5 from the rhizosphere. CelRH5 is a novel monospecific endo-β-1,4-glucanase belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 5 (GH5). Structural based modeling analysis indicated that CelRH5 is related to endo-β-1,4-glucanases derived from thermophilic microorganisms such as Thermotoga maritima, Fervidobacterium nodosum, and Ruminiclostridium thermocellum sharing 30-40% amino acid sequence identity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined as 40.5 kDa. Biochemical analyses revealed that the enzyme displayed good activity with soluble forms of cellulose as a substrate such as ostazin brilliant red hydroxyethyl cellulose (OBR-HEC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), and insoluble azurine cross-linked hydroxyethylcellulose (AZCL-HEC). The enzyme shows highest enzymatic activity at pH 6.5 with high pH tolerance, remaining stable in the pH range 4.5–8.5. Highest activity was observed at 40°C, but CelRH5 is psychrotolerant being active and stable at temperatures below 30°C. The presence of the final products of cellulose hydrolysis (glucose and cellobiose) or metal ions such as Na+, K+, Li+, and Mg2+, as well as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), urea, dithiothreitol (DTT), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) or glycerol, did not have a marked effect on CelRH5 activity. However, the enzyme is quite sensitive to the presence of 10 mM ions Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Fe3+ and reagents such as 1 M guanidine HCl, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 20% ethanol. Given that it is psychrotolerant and retains activity in the presence of final cellulose degradation products, metal ions and various reagents, which are common in many technological processes; CelRH5 may be potential suitability for a variety of different biotechnological applications.

En nuestro país, a pesar de los grandes beneficios de la lactancia materna para la salud de las futuras generaciones, ésta se redujo de 22,3% en 2006 a 14,5% en 20121 y aunque recientemente, con las acciones de la Estrategia Nacional de Lactancia Materna se ha conseguido mejorar la lactancia materna a 30.8% en 2015,2 este indicador aún dista mucho de la meta global.

Se efectuó un estudio descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo de 285 pacientes con diagnóstico de hipertensión arterial por más de 5 años, pertenecientes al Consultorio Médico dela Familia No.42 en el área de salud del Policlínico Docente “José Martí Pérez” de Santiago de Cuba, durante el trienio 2015-2017, con vistas a caracterizarles según aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos y terapéuticos de interés. Los resultados de la serie revelaron un predominio del sexo femenino (56,8 %) y del grupo etario de45 a54 años (31,6 %). El sedentarismo y el tabaquismo primaron como factores de riesgo, con cifras porcentuales respectivas de 45,3 y 44,6, y la cardiopatía isquémica resultó la enfermedad crónica no transmisible principalmente asociada a la hipertensión arterial, con 97,5 %. La mayoría de los pacientes presentaban una evolución superior a los 10 años y cumplían el tratamiento antihipertensivo.

A descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study of 60 adult patients with diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, admitted in the Internal Medicine Service (clinical Immunology room) of "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba was carried out in the period 2014-2016, in order to characterize them according to some clinical and epidemiological variables selected for it. Among the main results there were the prevalence of the male sex (63,3 %), age group 35-44 years (36,7 %) and a clinical course of the disease from 1 to 4 years (41,7 %). Likewise, it could be concluded that the opportunistic diseases, as the oropharyngeal candidiasis and neurotoxoplasmosis (with 25 and 4 patients, respectively) presented a significant clinical importance in the clinical course of the patients affected.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia represents 80% of all the cases of infantile leukaemias and it is one of the first malignant disease in those that therapeutic clinical studies have been made to great scale. With the improvement of the therapeutic outlines the prognosis of the children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has improved considerably in the last four decades, with rates of survival to the five years higher than 80%. The achievements in the “José Luis Miranda” Pediatric Hospital in Villa Clara is located at the level of national and internationally informed, with 84% of survival at five years and 16.5% of relapses; they are also informed late adverse effects.

Introduction: advances in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia give a greater life expectancy for these patients. As the number of survivors increase, more long-term adverse effects are detected. Among the most frequent adverse effects stands late anthracycline cardiotoxicity (doxorubicin and daunorubicin), drugs widely used in almost all chemotherapy regimens, but which are related to cardiovascular damage. Objective: To describe the major late cardiovascular changes which are secondary to the use of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed in childhood. Material and methods: A descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study was conducted with 82 patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, aged between zero and 15 years of age in the Oncohematology Department of the José Luis Miranda Pediatric University Hospital of Villa Clara from 1969 and 2009, who completed the planned treatment and were followed up in consultation from the moment of stopping treatment until May 2012. The patients who died before the study, those who received no treatment with anthracyclines and those who did not cooperate with the investigation were excluded. The cumulative dose of anthracyclines received and the time elapsed between the administration of the last dose and the beginning of the study was estimated in all patients. All patients were assessed by physical examination, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. To assess systolic function, the left ventricular ejection fraction and the shortening fraction were measured; and for diastolic function, the E and A waves and the E/A relationship were measured. Results: Subclinical late cardiotoxicity predominated in patients treated with anthracyclines, which affected both sexes equally, with no significant differences concerning the age at diagnosis, or cumulative doses received. More cases affected appeared with increasing follow-up time.

Introducción: la leucemia mieloide aguda representa alrededor del 20 % de las leucemias agudas de la niñez con una respuesta al tratamiento y supervivencia menores que la leucemia linfoide aguda. Objetivo: describir los resultados obtenidos con el tratamiento de la leucemia mieloide aguda del niño en algunos centros de Cuba en el período 2000-2008. Métodos: se trataron 46 pacientes con leucemia mieloide aguda, se excluyeron los casos con leucemia promielocítica, diagnosticados a partir del año 2000 en las provincias occidentales, Sancti Spíritus y Villa Clara. Se aplicaron dos esquemas de tratamiento tipo BFM en dos períodos: en el primero (2000 -2003) se incluyeron 27 enfermos y en el segundo (2004-2008), 19. La diferencia fundamental entre los dos períodos consistió en la consolidación que en la segunda etapa fue de ciclos más intensos y cortos. Resultados: predominó el sexo masculino (n = 32) y la mediana de edad fue de 9 años. La remisión inicial fue del 71 % en la primera etapa y 89 % en la segunda. La supervivencia libre de eventos (SLE) en todos los pacientes fue del 40 % a los 5 años y la supervivencia global (SV) fue del 44 % en igual período. En la SLE en las dos etapas se encontraron diferencias significativas siendo mayor en la segunda. En los años comprendidos entre el 2000 y el 2003 la SV a los 5 años fue del 31 %, mientras que entre 2004 y 2008 fue del 63 %. No se empleó el trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas de forma sistemática. Conclusiones: estos resultados muestran un nivel comparable a los alcanzados a internacionalmente, lo que representa un importante logro del Sistema Nacional de Salud de Cuba.Introduction. acute myeloid leukemia represents about 20 % of all leukemias in childhood with results and survival smaller than in acute lymphoid leukemia. Objectives: to describe the results obtained with the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in children in some Cuban centers in from 2000 to 2008. Methods: forty-six patients from Western provinces of Cuba including Sancti Spiritus and Villa Clara were treated. The majority of the patients were males. The median age was 9 years old. Two periods of treatment were applied, the first from 2000 to 2003 with 27 patients; and the second from 2004 to 2008 with 19 cases. The difference between the two periods was that in the second one the consolidation had short and intensive cycles. Results: the initial remission was 71 % in the first period and 89 % in the second. Free survival was 40 % in 5 years and the overall survival (OS) was 44 %, but in the first period the OS was 30,8 % and in the second it was 63,2 %. Immunophenotype and cytogenetic and molecular alterations were studied only in 10 children. Hematopoietic transplantation was not performed sytematically. Conclusions: these results show a level comparable to those achieved internationally, representing a major achievement of the Cuban National Health System.

La ideología en torno a la no heterosexualidad en las sociedades occidentales, a simple vista, parece estar permeada de inclusión y aceptación, no obstante, un análisis más profundo del devenir cotidiano, proyecta que los prejuicios y estereotipos en torno al género, juegan un papel de suma importancia en el campo de la convivencia. La discriminación sucede en todos los ámbitos, sobre todo, en los pedagógicos, situación que obliga a que la mayoría de los estudiantes y docentes no heterosexuales, se conserven en el anonimato, con el fin de cuidar no sólo su integridad física y/o emocional, sino también su permanencia dentro de las instituciones educativas. Gracias a los estereotipos de género preestablecidos, no sólo para quien está fuera de éstos es preferible mantenerse ocultos, sino que, los compañeros y las autoridades respectivas, comparten esta idea, para ellos, es mejor que su orientación sexual permanezca en las sombras, e incluso, los incitan a que la oculten, así, ambas partes evitan la incomodidad y conviven en armonía. El presente escrito, se basa en los primeros hallazgos obtenidos mediante una investigación cualitativa, en la que se usó como método la entrevista a profundidad, aplicada a tres docentes no heterosexuales que laboran en primarias y secundarias de la Ciudad de Chihuahua.

The association of bone marrow aplasia and Turner syndrome is hardly mentioned in scientific literature. The case of a 12-year female patient that begins with fever and wet cough with yellowish expectoration and hemoptysis is reported. The patient showed a deterioration of the general condition and cutaneous-mucosal pallor. She underwent a chest radiograph that showed lesions of pneumonic aspect. Physical examination showed phenotypic abnormalities that are typical of Turner syndrome, which were confirmed by cytogenetic examination. In addition, hematological examination and bone marrow biopsy results were consistent with bone marrow aplasia. Based on the analysis of the clinical symptoms and other examinations conducted, it was concluded that the diagnosis of the patient's disease was bone marrow aplasia associated with Turner syndrome. This is the first report in Cuba of the association of these two illnesses.

Recombinant human erythropoietin is widely used in the treatment of anemia due to cancer. A retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study was conducted at the Jose Luis Miranda Provincial Pediatric University Hospital in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the use of the Cuban product iorEPOCIM® in patients who suffer from anemia due to chemotherapy and / or radiotherapyin in the Hematology-Oncology service. An unintentional probabilistic sample was taken by criteria of 38 hospitalized patients who suffered from anemia, in the period from January 2005 to July 2006. The following variables were taken into account: age, sex, race, nutritional status, hemoglobin, transfusions before and after treatment and dose of erythropoietin. It was found that the drug significantly increased hemoglobin levels after four (55.3%, p=0.001) and eight (81.5%, p=0.035) weeks of treatment, with a significant decrease of transfusion requirements (p=0.027 and p=0.032) for both evaluations. The expected impact was not achieved but there was a therapeutic success, which helped to reduce the number of transfusions in patients. Therefore, the use of the medication for the treatment of anemia in these patients is a valuable alternative to improve their quality of life in general and reduces their risk of getting other conditions.

This article presents how Russian and Spanish, with so differ ent origins, have been and still is under the influence, specifically in sport terminology, of a third language, English. We offer details about how English arrived at each one of them and how having changed the circumstances that originated its presence i n th ese languages, today it is evident the existence of English terms in both languages. Also, we present examples of how it happens in practice, as well as the m edia influence in their expansion.

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y retrospectivo de 68 pacientes con cáncer de colon recurrente, que acudieron a consulta de seguimiento por esta causa en el Hospital Provincial Docente Clinicoquirúrgico "Saturnino Lora" de Santiago de Cuba, desde enero de 1990 hasta diciembre de 2005. Se obtuvo que esa neoplasia fue generalmente diagnosticada en etapas avanzadas de la enfermedad y que los 2 primeros años de seguimiento resultaron decisivos para el diagnóstico de la recurrencia, el cual suele establecerse de forma tardía, de manera que el tratamiento debe ser paliativo en la mayoría de los afectados.A descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study of 68 patients with recurrent colon cancer who attended their follow-up visits due to this cause was carried out in the "Saturnino Lora" Teaching Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, from January, 1990 to December, 2005. It was obtained that this neoplasia was generally diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease and that the first 2 years of follow up were decisive for the diagnosis of the recurrence, which may usually be reached in a late stage, so that the treatment should be palliative in most of those affected.

La intervención comunitaria como estrategia para potenciar el desarrollo de habilidades investigativas y comunicativas en las clases deportivas de la SUM de Ciencias Médicas, es un trabajo que presta atención a un problema recurrente en la carrera de Medicina: el desarrollo de las habilidades investigativas y comunicativas de los alumnos de primer año que estudian esta profesión en la SUM pinareña. Lo novedoso de este trabajo radica en la elaboración y aplicación de una estrategia metodológica que permite potenciar las habilidades investigativas y comunicativas de los alumnos a través de una intervención comunitaria en el terreno deportivo, mientras se trabaja la resistencia aerobia, en el horario de clases. Nos encontramos con la metodología cualitativa, que según Rodríguez, (1996) estudia “la realidad en un contexto natural, tal y como sucede, intentando sacar sentido, o interpretar, los fenómenos de acuerdo con los significados que tienen para las personas implicadas.” Los resultados esperados superaron las expectativas iniciales, pues pudimos constatar como mientras un grupo de personas que padecen enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles realizan actividades físicas en la comunidad, nuestros alumnos desarrollaban las habilidades deseadas.

El presente trabajo forma parte de un proyecto de investigación de la Facultad de Cultura Física "Nancy Uranga Romagoza" y fue presentado en el evento provincial de pedagogía 2009. Los autores se sienten motivados por extender el mismo a toda la provincia con el objetivo de contribuir a la promoción de una conciencia ambiental desde las edades más tempranas mediante la clase de Educación Física, aprovechando las potencialidades que ofrece esta asignatura, teniendo en cuenta fundamentalmente que se realiza en contacto directo con la naturaleza. En observaciones a clases deportivas en varias escuelas primaras, pudimos constatar la poca aplicación de juegos que tributaran a La Educación Ambiental como proceso educativo. Este trabajo propone un grupo de juegos para contribuir a la educación ambiental de forma tal que se satisfagan en alguna medida las aún insuficientes acciones que se realizan en la clase deportiva en esta dirección.

The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV, core antibody), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections and analyze associated risk factors among 504 non-injecting cocaine users (NICU) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participants were interviewed in face-to-face sessions through a short structured questionnaire. Using venipuncture, 10mL of blood was collected. Seroprevalence rates were: HIV (6.3%), HBV (9%), HCV (7.5%), and VDRL (4.2%). The risk of being infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV was significantly associated with having had a sex partner who was either a drug injector or who was known to be HIV positive. HIV and HCV infections were associated with former imprisonment, and HCV was associated with having been tattooed. Because of the rising number of NICU and the multiple infections detected, it is essential to implement prevention strategies focused on this population.El propósito de este estudio era estimar los índices de seroprevalencia del virus de inmunodeficiencia humano (VIH), virus de la hepatitis B (VHB, anticuerpo core), virus de la hepatitis C (VHC) e infecciones de sífilis y analizar factores de riesgo asociados entre 504 usuarios de cocaína no inyectable (UCNI) en la ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Se entrevistó a los participantes en sesiones cara a cara a través de un cuestionario estructurado corto. Usando el método de la venipunción se recogieron 10mL de sangre. Las tasas de seroprevalencia fueron: VIH (6,3%), VHB (9%), VHC (7,5%), y VDRL (4,2%). El riesgo de infección por VIH, VHB, y VHC se asoció significativamente a mantener relaciones sexuales con un compañero/a que era consumidor de la droga inyectada o que era conocido por ser VIH positivo. Las infecciones de VIH y de VHC se asociaron a haber estado encarcelado anteriormente, y la de VHC se asoció también a haber sido tatuado. Debido al número creciente de UCNI y a las infecciones múltiples detectadas, es esencial implementar estrategias de prevención centradas en esta población.

El trabajo refiere cómo a través de un Círculo de Interés se pueden desarrollar habilidades de comprensión de lectura utilizando textos sobre medio ambiente. Este Círculo de Interés se crea por la necesidad de iniciar a los alumnos del I año de la carrera de Cultura Física en el desarrollo de las habilidades de comprensión de lectura para salvar, en alguna medida, la inexistencia de vínculos entre las asignaturas Inglés II e Inglés III en cuanto a la habilidad mencionada. Además, con el objetivo de fomentar una conciencia ambientalista en los estudiantes motivados en este tema. El círculo está formado por 12 estudiantes del CRA que fueron seleccionados atendiendo a su interés por la asignatura y por la temática medioambiental desde una posición constructiva. Las primeras tareas de este trabajo están centradas en el diagnóstico aplicado a los estudiantes para conocer la situación real del objeto de investigación, atendiendo a las potencialidades de los alumnos transformar positivamente las deficiencias existentes e irradiar este sistema de conocimientos, habilidades y actitudes hacia el grupo y el centro escolar en general. Aunque el experimento se encuentra en desarrollo ya muestra resultados satisfactorios, pues los alumnos se encuentran motivados y sensibilizados por la actividad, manifestándose el logro del primer nivel de comprensión, lo que contribuye al desarrollo de una cultura general integral y de competencias profesionales en el egresado de Cultura Física.

Es natural que los idiomas se sirvan de otros para usar términos que no tienen, así son muy comunes los préstamos lingüísticos que no necesariamente son imposiciones de esta índole. Sin embargo, somos testigos de otro fenómeno que se da en todas las esferas de la actividad humana y del cual la lengua no escapa. Nos referimos a la injerencia, casi siempre innecesaria, de una lengua sobre otra y que es una de las formas de transculturación. Nuestro artículo aborda como el ruso y el español, con orígenes tan distintos, han sido y son influidas, específicamente en la terminología deportiva, por una tercera, el inglés. Brindamos detalles sobre cómo llegó el inglés a cada una de ellas y cómo habiendo cambiado las circunstancias que originaron su presencia en las mismas, hoy es evidente la existencia de términos ingleses en ambos idiomas. Además, exponemos ejemplos de cómo ocurre esto en la práctica y la influencia que los medios masivos de información tienen en su expansión. No es la intención del presente trabajo criticar el uso de términos foráneos cuando estos son útiles, sino llamar a la reflexión acerca de que, al emplearlos innecesariamente, estamos de alguna manera perdiendo parte de nuestra identidad.

Introducción: la leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) es la enfermedad maligna más frecuente en la infancia y la primera que se trató con un protocolo común en Cuba. Se han aplicado diferentes protocolos a lo largo del tiempo y actualmente existen en el país 10 centros que tratan niños con LLA. Objetivo: presentar los resultados alcanzados en el tratamiento de la LLA desde 2002 hasta 2008 con el protocolo del grupo ALLIC (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Intercontinental). Métodos: se trataron 166 niños menores de 18 años al inicio de la enfermedad. Para conformar los grupos pronóstico se utilizaron diferentes criterios que incluyeron la edad y el número de leucocitos en el momento del diagnóstico, las alteraciones moleculares y la respuesta al tratamiento. Resultados: la supervivencia libre de eventos (SLE) a los 4 años fue del 69 % y la supervivencia global del 78 %. La SLE en los diferentes grupos pronósticos fue del 85 % para los pacientes de riesgo estándar, 77 % para los de riesgo intermedio y 59 % para los de riesgo alto. El porcentaje de remisión inicial fue inferior al obtenido por el grupo total. La mayoría de las muertes ocurrieron al inicio de la aplicación del protocolo. La recaída hematológica fue la causa más frecuente de terminación de la remisión completa. Las recaídas del sistema nervioso central, las testiculares y las combinadas fueron inferiores al 5 %. La presencia de reordenamientos genéticos del tipo bcr/abl o MLL/AF4 se confirmaron como elementos de muy mal pronóstico. Conclusiones: estos resultados, aunque son susceptibles de ser mejorados, muestran un nivel adecuado, sobre todo si se tiene en cuenta que se han logrado en un país en vías de desarrollo.