Human reason versus arrogance technoscience and the replacement shadow. Ethical evaluation and social control to regain power on the means and ends from the work of José Sanmartín

Este trabajo analiza desde una bioética personalista el modelo de avance tecnocientífico amparado en una autonomía sin controles y un imperativo que se rige por la máxima: si puede hacerse, ¡hagámoslo!, como condición necesaria y suficiente de progreso. Ello nos sitúa en la pendiente resbaladiza entre lo técnicamente factible y lo moralmente lícito. La obra pionera del filósofo, José Sanmartín Esplugues1 , urge a la reflexión ante una profusión tecnológica que mira al ser humano como objeto encarnado útil y ofrece poderes de intervención sobre la vida humana hasta hace poco inimaginables. La reducción de la persona a mero dato biológico-material abre la puerta a una deshumanización creciente por la subordinación a los cálculos de un racionalismo instrumental. Subyace el deseo de vernos en la cima del mundo y las técnicas genéticas son la máxima expresión de un anhelo de emancipación de lo humano que aspira a tomar las riendas de la evolución mediante un abstracto imaginario postbiológico. Sanmartín propone un modelo de evaluación ética e inserción social de la actividad tecnocientífica que supera las categorías convencionales de impacto, uso y eficacia para distinguir correlatos sociales, culturales, económicos, políticos y valores en juego, a fin de embridar un patrón que decide sobre los medios y los fines de la vida humana mediante tecnologías que no son inocuas ni neutrales. Una sociedad sin antídotos contra la manipulación que, además, enseña a cultivar sueños utópicos sobre la naturaleza humana es fácilmente maleable por élites que prometen mundos felices y redimirnos de nuestra vulnerabilidad.This essay analyzes from a personalistic bioethics the model of technological progress supported by an autonomy without controls and an imperative that is governed by the maxim: if it can be done, ¡let’s do it!, as a necessary and sufficient condition of progress. This puts us on the slippery slope between the technically feasible and the morally lawful. The pioneering work of the philosopher, José Sanmartin Esplugues2 , urges reflection in the face of a technological profusion that sees the human being as a useful embodied object and offers powers of intervention on human life that were previously unimaginable. The reduction of the person to mere biological-material data opens the door to increasing deshumanization by subordination to the calculations of an instrumental rationalism. Underlying the desire to see ourselves at the top of the world and genetic techniques are the ultimate expression of a longing for human emancipation that aspires to take the reins of evolution through an abstract postbiological imaginary. Sanmartin proposes a model of ethical evaluation and social insertion of technoscientific activity that goes beyond the conventional categories of impact, use and effectiveness to distinguish social, cultural, economic, political and values correlates, in order to embroider a pattern that decides on the means and ends of human life through technologies that are neither innocuous nor neutral. A society without antidotes to manipulation that also teaches us to cultivate utopian dreams about human nature is easily malleable by elites who promise happy worlds and redeem us from our vulnerabilityMedicinaInstituto de Ciencias de la Vid

Next generation meshes for hernia repair: Polypropylene meshes coated with antimicrobial benzalkonium chloride induced proliferative activity of fibroblasts

Hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed world-wide surgical procedures in which hernia meshes are becoming increasingly used. Polypropylene (PP) mesh implants reduce the risk of recurrence and post-operative pain, although many other risks are associated with it, such as bacterial infection. In this study we developed PP meshes coated with the well-known antimicrobial compound, benzalkonium chloride (BAK) by dip-coating. Several dilutions (40, 20, 30, 10, 7.5, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5, 0.1 and 0.05 % v/v) of commercial BAK solution (BAK diluted in 70 % ethyl alcohol at 0.1 % w/v) were used to produce antimicrobial meshes with different amounts of BAK. The dip-coating treatment with low concentrations of BAK (1, 0.5, 0.1 and 0.05 % v/v dilutions) was found to have biocompatible results in fibroblast. The use of 0.1 and 0.05 % v/v dilutions (PP meshes with up to ~2 % w/w of BAK) showed proliferative activity on fibroblast cells, indicating that these novel antimicrobial meshes show great promise for hernia repair due to their ability to prevent infections while inducing fibroblast proliferation.Ciencias Experimentale

Internal transcribed spacer as effective molecular marker for the detection of natural hybridization between the bivalves Pinna nobilis and Pinna rudis

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS Gaetano Catanese: Conceptualization (lead); formal analysis (lead); funding acquisition (supporting); investigation (equal); methodology (lead); writing – original draft (lead); writing – review and editing (equal). Maite Vázquez-Luis: Funding acquisition (supporting); investigation (equal); project administration (lead); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Salvatore Giacobbe: Investigation (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). José Rafael García-March: Investigation (equal); project administration (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Maria Zotou: Investigation (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Prado Patricia: Investigation (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Orestis Papadakis: Investigation (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). José Tena-Medialdea: Investigation (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Stelios Katsanevakis: Investigation (equal); resources (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Amalia Grau: Funding acquisition (lead); investigation (equal); writing – review and editing (equal).DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT All experimental and unique haplotype data are available in the manuscript and deposited to NCBI Nucleotide Database (GenBank accession codes LC794141, LC794142 and from LC814844 to LC814852).The Pinna nobilis, a Mediterranean mollusc, has suffered population declines due to a massive mortality event associated with various factors including the parasite Haplosporidium pinnae. Some populations show resilience, possibly due to local environmental conditions. In this study, a molecular multiplex PCR method was developed using species-specific primers targeting Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions of P. nobilis and P. rudis, allowing accurate species identification and hybrid detection. Samples from Mediterranean areas were analysed, including putative hybrids and individuals from five other bivalve species. DNA was isolated, ITS regions were amplified and sequenced, and phylogenetic analyses confirmed species differentiation and primer specificity. The multiplex-PCR successfully identified P. nobilis, P. rudis, and their hybrids based on distinct amplicon patterns. This study highlights the value of molecular tools in species conservation, especially for monitoring and managing hybridization, supporting effective biodiversity conservation strategies.This research has been performed in the scope of the European Union's LIFE program through the project LIFE PINNARCA (NAT/ES/001265); BIODIV project: “Scientific and technical advice for the monitoring of marine biodiversity: protected marine areas and species of state competence (2022-2025).” Project funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and promoted by the Directorate General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and CSIC, through the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC); and the EsMarEs project (order IEO by Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica, Spanish Government). We thank the Regional Governments of local authorities (Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca i Medi Natural – Govern de les Illes Balears) and national authorities (MITECO) for permits and support. We also thank the “Provincia Regionale di Messina” which strongly supported this research, both by granting permissions and providing facilities and services. We thank several colleagues for their help and fieldwork assistanceCiencias del Ma

The influence of contact with nature on physical activity practice and health status together with the effect of virtual nature on cognitive performance and mental health in university students

Background: The present work investigates the intricate relationships between individuals' interaction with the natural environment, physical activity levels, and overall well-being, particularly focusing on university students. Drawing on a diverse range of literature, the investigation recognizes the multifaceted nature of such interactions, spanning socio-cultural engagement, lifestyle choices, and the impact on mental and physical health. The literature review establishes the foundation by highlighting the positive effects of exposure to natural spaces on mental and physical health, emphasizing the importance of early exposure in young life for long-term well-being. The concept of green exercise is introduced, demonstrating the potential benefits of combining physical activity with nature. Alarming sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates prompt an exploration into the negative consequences, indicating the necessity for promoting healthy habits and human-nature interaction. Purpose: The main research question centers on examining the strength of the relationship between health, physical activity, and interaction with the natural environment in university students. The investigation seeks to fill a gap in existing literature by analyzing and quantifying the impact of exposure to natural settings on physical activity levels and overall health alongside the effect of virtual nature on cognitive performance and mental health in university students. Methods: This research is divided into several experiments. First, there are a couple of observational studies, one of which was conducted on a national level and the second one on an international level, carried out through a questionnaire. Secondly, an experimental study focusing on virtual reality was also conducted. The observational study justifies its existence by acknowledging the proven positive correlation between health, physical activity and nature exposure while aiming to quantify the impact and the relationship between these elements. Specific tests are used to analyze different aspects, including sustainability measures, establishing unique correlations among variables not previously explored in the same context. The focus on university students adds a novel dimension, considering a demographic prone to stress and depression. The experimental study extends the exploration into the realm of Virtual Reality and Virtual Nature, recognizing the lack of information on the impact of interactive and non-interactive VR environments on cognitive performance and well-being. This segment aims to bridge the gap by investigating the effects of interactive VR as a virtual counterpart to physical activity, showcasing the international collaboration with the University of Zadar. Results: The investigation provides insights into the multifaceted connections between individuals, nature, physical activity, and well-being, offering implications for health promotion and sustainability, particularly among university students. In the statistical examination, the data reveal a robust correlation among all primary variables (CN, health, PA, PA in nature, and characteristics of GSs). The sole variable that lacks correlation with all of them is the number of sitting hours, showing no association with distance, the quantity of GSs, and PA in nature. Additionally, in the context of path analysis, the fit indices for the examined model were as follows: χ2= 35.51; df = 9; p=.000; CFI = 0.970; ILI = 0.941; RMSEA = 0.065 (0.043, 0.088 90% CI); SRMR = 0.037. These results suggest a satisfactory fit of the model to the data across all parameters, with the exception of the chi-square value. Likewise, it gives the importance of new technologies such as virtual nature as a complement to the mental well-being of university students. The primary findings indicate superior data for participants in the VN groups as opposed to the control group concerning well-being (stress control=3.36 / happiness=55.80 compared to NVRNI stress=2.29 / happiness=70.33 and NRVI stress=2.14 / happiness=71.91). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the VN groups. When examining stress, happiness, and tenseness, notable main effects were observed at the time of assessment, along with a significant interaction effect with the VN groups. Within the cognitive domain, the VR groups accounted for 3.6% of the variance in "tmta" and 4.4% in "tmtb" while contributing 1.7% for "dst" although no discernible group effects were evident in cognitive tests for VN. Conclusions: This comprehensive dissertation contributes new knowledge by exploring the nuanced connections between nature exposure, physical activity, health status and academic performance in university students. This research highlights the complex interplay between environmental, physical activity, health, and academic factors, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary approaches. The findings suggest that contact with nature positively influences the well-being and physical activity of university students, highlighting the role of green spaces. The study has practical implications for public health interventions, urban planning and wellness strategies emphasizing the importance of conducting further research to quantify the impact of nature-based interventions on this population. The work aligns with the growing body of literature in nature-based citizen science, emphasizing the need for meaningful connections between the natural environment, health, and urbanization to improve social well-being. Furthermore, the inclusion of sustainability measures and the exploration of Virtual Nature add unique dimensions to the research, providing a holistic understanding of the subject matter. This study supports the idea that nature's stress reduction may involve conditioning. A stronger nature connection is linked to enhanced well-being, aligning with the biophilia hypothesis. Virtual nature is found to reduce stress and boost mood for university students. While cognitive performance showed no significant differences, tailoring virtual nature interventions based on individual nature connections could enhance their impact, providing practical implications for well-being among students.Antecedentes: El presente trabajo investiga las intrincadas relaciones entre la interacción de los individuos con el entorno natural, los niveles de actividad física y el bienestar general, centrándose particularmente en los estudiantes universitarios. Basándose en una amplia gama de literatura, la investigación reconoce la naturaleza multifacética de tales interacciones, que abarcan el compromiso sociocultural, las elecciones de estilo de vida y el impacto en la salud física y mental. La revisión de la literatura establece las bases al resaltar los efectos positivos de la exposición a espacios naturales en la salud física y mental, enfatizando la importancia de la exposición temprana en la vida joven para el bienestar a largo plazo. Se introduce el concepto de ejercicio verde, demostrando los beneficios potenciales de combinar la actividad física con la naturaleza. Los alarmantes estilos de vida sedentarios y las tasas de obesidad impulsan una exploración de las consecuencias negativas, lo que indica la necesidad de promover hábitos saludables y la interacción entre el ser humano y la naturaleza. Propósito: La principal pregunta de investigación se centra en examinar la fuerza de la relación entre la salud, la actividad física y la interacción con el entorno natural en estudiantes universitarios. La investigación busca llenar un vacío en la literatura existente analizando y cuantificando el impacto de la exposición a entornos naturales en los niveles de actividad física y la salud general junto con el efecto de la naturaleza virtual en el rendimiento cognitivo y la salud mental en estudiantes universitarios. Métodos: Esta investigación se divide en varios experimentos. En primer lugar, hay un par de estudios observacionales, uno de los cuales se realizó a nivel nacional y el segundo a nivel internacional, realizados a través de un cuestionario. En segundo lugar, también se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental centrado en la realidad virtual. El estudio observacional justifica su existencia reconociendo la correlación positiva probada entre la salud, la actividad física y la exposición a la naturaleza, al tiempo que pretende cuantificar el impacto y la relación entre estos elementos. Se utilizan pruebas específicas para analizar diferentes aspectos, incluidas las medidas de sostenibilidad, estableciendo correlaciones únicas entre variables no exploradas previamente en el mismo contexto. El enfoque en los estudiantes universitarios añade una dimensión novedosa, considerando un grupo demográfico propenso al estrés y la depresión. El estudio experimental amplía la exploración al ámbito de la Realidad Virtual y la Naturaleza Virtual, reconociendo la falta de información sobre el impacto de los entornos de realidad virtual interactivos y no interactivos en el rendimiento cognitivo y el bienestar. Este segmento tiene como objetivo cerrar la brecha investigando los efectos de la realidad virtual interactiva como contraparte virtual de la actividad física, mostrando la colaboración internacional con la Universidad de Zadar. Resultados: La investigación proporciona información sobre las conexiones multifacéticas entre los individuos, la naturaleza, la actividad física y el bienestar, ofreciendo implicaciones para la promoción de la salud y la sostenibilidad, particularmente entre los estudiantes universitarios. En el examen estadístico, los datos revelan una correlación sólida entre todas las variables primarias (CN, salud, AF, naturaleza de la AF y características de los EVs). La única variable que carece de correlación con todas ellas es el número de horas sentado, no mostrando asociación con la distancia, la cantidad de EVs y la naturaleza de la AF. Además, en el contexto del análisis de trayectoria, los índices de ajuste para el modelo examinado fueron los siguientes: χ2= 35,51; gl = 9; p=.000; CFI = 0,970; ILI = 0,941; RMSEA = 0,065 (0,043; 0,088 IC del 90 %); SRMR = 0,037. Estos resultados sugieren un ajuste satisfactorio del modelo a los datos en todos los parámetros, con excepción del valor de chi-cuadrado. Asimismo, da la importancia de las nuevas tecnologías como la virtualidad como complemento al bienestar mental de los estudiantes universitarios. Los hallazgos principales indican datos superiores para los participantes en los grupos NV en comparación con el grupo de control en cuanto a bienestar (control del estrés = 3,36 / felicidad = 55,80 en comparación con estrés NVRNI = 2,29 / felicidad = 70,33 y estrés NRVI = 2,14 / felicidad = 71,91). ). Sin embargo, no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos de NV. Al examinar el estrés, la felicidad y la tensión, se observaron efectos principales notables en el momento de la evaluación, junto con un efecto de interacción significativo con los grupos NV. Dentro del dominio cognitivo, los grupos de RV representaron el 3,6% de la varianza en "tmta" y el 4,4% en "tmtb", mientras que contribuyeron con el 1,7% para "dst", aunque no se evidenciaron efectos grupales discernibles en las pruebas cognitivas para NV. Conclusiones: Esta disertación integral aporta nuevos conocimientos al explorar las conexiones matizadas entre la exposición a la naturaleza, la actividad física, el estado de salud y el rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios. Esta investigación destaca la compleja interacción entre factores ambientales, de actividad física, de salud y académicos, enfatizando la necesidad de enfoques multidisciplinarios. Los hallazgos sugieren que el contacto con la naturaleza influye positivamente en el bienestar y la actividad física de los estudiantes universitarios, destacando el papel de los espacios verdes. El estudio tiene implicaciones prácticas para las intervenciones de salud pública, la planificación urbana y las estrategias de bienestar, enfatizando la importancia de realizar más investigaciones para cuantificar el impacto de las intervenciones basadas en la naturaleza en esta población. El trabajo se alinea con el creciente cuerpo de literatura sobre ciencia ciudadana basada en la naturaleza, enfatizando la necesidad de conexiones significativas entre el medio ambiente natural, la salud y la urbanización para mejorar el bienestar social. Además, la inclusión de medidas de sostenibilidad y la exploración de la Naturaleza Virtual añaden dimensiones únicas a la investigación, proporcionando una comprensión holística del tema. Este estudio respalda la idea de que la reducción del estrés de la naturaleza puede implicar condicionamiento. Una conexión más fuerte con la naturaleza está vinculada a un mayor bienestar, lo que se alinea con la hipótesis de la biofilia. Se ha descubierto que la naturaleza virtual reduce el estrés y mejora el estado de ánimo de los estudiantes universitarios. Si bien el rendimiento cognitivo no mostró diferencias significativas, adaptar las intervenciones virtuales en la naturaleza en función de las conexiones individuales con la naturaleza podría mejorar su impacto, proporcionando implicaciones prácticas para el bienestar de los estudiantesMedicinaCiencias de la Salu

Intermittent Fasting: Socio-Economic Profile of Spanish Citizens Who Practice It and the Influence of This Dietary Pattern on the Health and Lifestyle Habits of the Population

Author Contributions: E.S.: Conceptualization, data curation, investigation, methodology, validation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. D.B.: Data curation, formal analysis, writing— review and editing. E.C.L.: Data curation, formal analysis, visualization, writing—review and editing. G.C.O.: Conceptualization, investigation, methodology, writing—review and editing. M.J.V.-B.: Writing—review and editing. V.B.M.: Writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. All authors approved the final manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary approach that has gained popularity in recent years. More and more Spanish people are following this eating pattern, which consists of alternating periods of fasting with periods of food intake. Its benefits include improved metabolic and vascular health and weight loss. Objectives: 1. To study the prevalence of IF among the Spanish population. 2. To explore how demographic factors influence the choice to adopt this dietary approach. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the Spanish population using the NutSo-HH questionnaire, which was constructed, validated, and disseminated by the research team through a non-probabilistic snowball sampling approach, collecting socio-demographic data and nutritional, social and lifestyle habits of the population. Results and conclusions: A valid sample of 22,181 people participated, of whom 4.59% (n = 1018) said they practiced IF. The data show that more middle-aged men than women practice IF. In addition, individuals who follow IF methods are less likely to have no control over their food intake, are less scared to gain weight and have a higher body image, but no differences were found related to unhealthy food and nights out. There were also no significant differences in terms of the level of education, income, size of municipality, or region of residence. In conclusion, a person who practices IF seems to have adopted a healthier lifestyle and social habits.Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente MartirNutrición humana y dietétic

Historic public paths in rural areas: engine of development and origin of new conflicts

In this article, the authors analyse a complex social process affecting historic public paths in rural areas in southern Spain. Despite the fact that urban populations are demanding the enhancement of this type of natural heritage for tourism, sports and recreational use, some parts of the network have been abandoned or usurped.Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deport

Incidence of Invasive and Noninvasive Pneumococcal Pneumonia Hospitalizations in People Aged ≥50 Years: Assessing Variability Across Denmark and Spain

A. O.-S. is the guarantor of the paper, taking responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, from inception to published article. M. L.-L. contributed to data acquisition, cleaning, analysis, and interpretation; drafting the article and revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. M. A. contributed to data interpretation; drafting the article and revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. J. D.-D. contributed to study conception and design; data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation; drafting the article; and final approval of the version to be published. H.-D. E., J. N., and P. V.-B. contributed to data acquisition, cleaning, analysis, and interpretation; revising the article critically for important intel- lectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. S.A.D. contributed to study conception and design, and interpreta- tion; and final approval. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.Determining pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) burden in the elderly population is challenging due to limited data on invasive PP (IPP) and, in particular, noninvasive PP (NIPP) incidence. Using retrospective cohorts of adults aged ≥50 years in Denmark (2 782 303) and the Valencia region, Spain (2 283 344), we found higher IPP hospitalization rates in Denmark than Valencia (18.3 vs 9/100 000 person-years [PY], respectively). Conversely, NIPP hospitalization rates were higher in Valencia (48.2 vs 7.2/100 000 PY). IPP and NIPP rates increased with age and comorbidities in both regions, with variations by sex and case characteristics (eg, complications, mortality). The burden of PP in adults is substantial, yet its true magnitude remains elusive. Discrepancies in clinical practices impede international comparisons; for instance, Valencia employed a higher frequency of urinary antigen tests compared to Denmark. Additionally, coding practices and prehospital antibiotic utilization may further influence these variations. These findings could guide policymakers and enhance the understanding of international disparities in disease burden assessments.The VITAL project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiatives 2 Joint Undertaking (grant agreement number 806776) and the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The Joint Undertaking receives sup- port from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research inno- vation program and EFPIA members.Medicin

The beautiful fortresses of Monstrelet’s chronicles and their continuation in Georges d’Amboise’s manuscripts (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ms. 2678-2679)

Les Chroniques de Monstrelet font mention de forteresses de manière laconique, avec quelques adjectifs peu explicites. Les descriptions sont rares et lacunaires. Pour Jean Pichore et le Maître de Philippe de Gueldre chargés d’illustrer ces récits, la difficulté n’est pas mince. Les images qu’ils donnent de ces lieux fortifiés sont pourtant parmi les plus réussies, quelle que soit la part des stéréotypes ou des éléments empruntés au réel. L’inventaire de ce qui définit la beauté de ces forts et de ces citadelles – hautes silhouettes emblématiques, masses imposantes au décor sobre ou surchargé, intérieurs luxueux - éclaire l’évolution du goût et des sensibilités des contemporains entre tradition française et influence italienne. Le cardinal Georges d’Amboise, bibliophile commanditaire de ces manuscrits et propriétaire de points forts qu’il construit ou réaménage, retrouvait ainsi, malgré invraisemblances et maladresses, le discours architectural, les concepts et le lexique de son tempsMonstrelet’s Chronicles laconically mention fortresses, with adjectives that are not very explicit. The descriptions are few and incomplete. For Jean Pichore and the Master of Philippe de Gueldre, charged with illustrating these accounts, this was no mean feat. However, the images they give are among the most successful, whatever the extent of stereotypes or elements borrowed from reality. An inventory of what define the beauties of these forts and citadels - tall and emblematic silhouettes, imposing masses with sober or overloaded decorations, luxurious interiors - sheds light on the evolution of contemporary tastes and sensibilities between French tradition and Italian influence. Cardinal Georges d’Amboise, the bibliophile who commissioned these manuscripts and owned fortifications he built or refurbished, was thus able to recognize and appreciate the architectural discourse, concepts and lexicon of his time, despite a few improbabilities and clumsinessHumanidade

Relación entre el estrés oxidativo, las alteraciones epigenéticas y la actividad clínica en pacientes con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico

Objetivos: Se cree que la hidroximetilación del ADN podría estar inducida por el estrés oxidativo en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES). En el presente estudio se pretende investigar la asociación entre la hidroximetilación global del ADN y la desmetilación con la respuesta antioxidante y la fisiopatología del LES. Métodos: Se analizó la concentración sérica de glutatión (GSH) y glutatión disulfuro (GSSG) mediante cromatografía líquida de ultra precisión acoplada a espectrometría de masas (UPLC-MS/MS). La superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y la capacidad antioxidante total (CAT) se determinaron mediante métodos colorimétricos en 142 pacientes con LES y 34 controles sanos. Los niveles de 5-mC y 5-hmC se midieron mediante métodos colorimétricos. Resultados: La hidroximetilación de citosina fue menor en los pacientes con LES que en los controles. Los valores de GSH y GSSG fueron más bajos en los pacientes, mientras que los niveles de SOD fueron más altos en los pacientes. La CAT no mostró diferencias significativas, pero una mayor desmetilación y una menor hidroximetilación se asociaron con valores elevados de CAT. Una menor desmetilación se relacionó con citopenia y una menor hidroximetilación con una duración más larga de la enfermedad. Los niveles más bajos de GSH y GSSG y los valores más altos de SOD se asociaron con daño acumulado evaluado mediante SLICC-ACR. Conclusiones: Observamos una menor hidroximetilación en los pacientes con LES que en los controles. Además, una mayor desmetilación y una menor hidroximetilación conducen a niveles elevados de CAT. La hidroximetilación del ADN parece estar relacionada con una duración más larga de la enfermedad.Objectives: It is believed that DNA hydroxymethylation can be induced by oxidative stress in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), wherein 5-methylcytosines (5-mC) are oxidized to 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5-hmC). This study aims to investigate the association between global DNA hydroxymethylation and demethylation with antioxidant response and the pathophysiology of SLE. Methods: Serum concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) were analyzed using ultra-precision liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by colorimetric methods in 142 SLE patients and 34 healthy controls. Levels of 5-mC and 5-hmC were measured by colorimetric methods. Results: The cytosine hydroxymethylation rate was lower in SLE patients than in controls. GSH and GSSG levels were lower in patients, whereas SOD levels were higher in patients. TAC showed no significant differences, but increased demethylation and decreased hydroxymethylation were associated with elevated TAC levels. Reduced demethylation was linked to cytopenia and decreased hydroxymethylation with a longer disease duration. Lower levels of GSH and GSSG and higher SOD values were associated with accumulated damage evaluated by SLICC-ACR. Conclusions: We observed reduced hydroxymethylation in SLE patients compared to controls. Additionally, increased demethylation and decreased hydroxymethylation lead to elevated TAC levels. DNA hydroxymethylation appears to be related to a longer duration of the diseaseMedicinaCiencias de la Salu

Services purchase from the informal economy using digital platforms

This paper evaluates the extent to which digital platforms are used to purchase services from the informal economy and how this can be tackled. Reporting data from a 2021 survey involving 1209 consumers in Romania, 33% had purchased services from the informal economy and 36% of these purchases had been bought via digital platforms. To explain and tackle this, a logistic regression analysis reveals that informal purchases decrease significantly when both the level of horizontal trust as well as the level of sanctions and risk of detection increase. These results support the use of the holistic approach for tackling informal economy, advocated by the European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work of the European Commission, to achieve progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 8.3.1 (Proportion of informal employment in non- agriculture employment, by sex).本文评估了数字平台在非正规经济中购买服务程度，以及解决措 施。根据2021年罗马尼亚1209名消费者调查报告数据显示，33% 的消费者从非正规经济中购买了服务业务，其中36%是通过数字 平台完成购买。基于此，逻辑回归分析显示，当信任以及制裁水 平和被发现风险增加时，非正式购买会显著减少。这印证了可采 用欧洲委员会倡导的“处理未申报工作欧洲平台”整体方法解决非 正规经济问题，以实现联合国可持续发展目标指标8.3.1(非正规 就业在非农就业中的比例，按性别分列)。Economí