Multiple, solid evidence support that Austropotamobius italicus is not native to Spain

Peer Reviewe

Dark matter signatures of black holes with Yukawa potential

This study uses a nonsingular Yukawa--modified potential to obtain a static and spherically symmetric black hole solution with a cosmological constant. Such Yukawa--like corrections are encoded in two parameters, $\alpha$ and $\lambda$, that modify Newton's law of gravity in large distances, and a deformation parameter $\ell_0$, which plays an essential role in short distances. The most significant effect is encoded in $\alpha$, which modifies the total black hole mass with an extra mass proportional to $\alpha M$, mimicking the dark matter effects at large distances from the black hole. On the other hand, the effect due to $\lambda$ is small for astrophysical values. We scrutinize the \textit{quasinormal} frequencies and shadows associated with a spherically symmetric black hole and the thermodynamical behavior influenced by the Yukawa potential. In particular, the thermodynamics of this black hole displays a rich behavior, including possible phase transitions. We use the WKB method to probe the \textit{quasinormal} modes of massless scalar, electromagnetic, and gravitational field perturbations. In order to check the influence of the parameters on the shadow radius, we consider astrophysical data to determine their values, incorporating information on an optically thin radiating and infalling gas surrounding a black hole to model the black hole shadow image. In particular, we consider Sgr A* black hole as an example and we find that its shadow radius changes by order of $10^{-9}$, meaning that the shadow radius of a black hole with Yukawa potential practically gives rise to the same result encountered in the Schwarzschild black hole. Also, in the eikonal regime, using astrophysical data for Yukawa parameters, we show that the value of the real part of the QNMs frequencies changes by $10^{-18}$.Comment: 24 pages in double column, 13 figures and 5 table

Syndemics of intimate partner violence among women in HIV endemic South Africa: geospatial analysis of nationally representative data

This is the final version. Available from Nature Research via the DOI in this record. Despite some improvement in lowering HIV incidence, HIV-related challenges, such as intimate partner violence (IPV), remain unacceptably high among women in South Africa. For decades, researchers and activists have pointed to the complex and intertwined reality of the substance abuse, violence and AIDS (SAVA) syndemic that endangers women. However, more recent systematic review/meta-analysis evidence points to inconclusive association between IPV and alcohol use. Furthermore, much of the evidence is often non-population-based that focuses on the co-occurrence rather than synergistic SAVA interaction. In this study, using the latest data from the South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SA-DHS), we identified geographic synergistic clustering of IPV associated with HIV and substance abuse in South Africa as a measure of population-level interactions among these factors. The SA-DHS is a nationally representative sample that includes wide-ranging data on health, social challenges and household geo-locations of 5,874 women who participated in the domestic violence module. First, geographical IPV, harmful alcohol use (as the substance abuse measure available in SA-DHS) and HIV clusters were identified using the Kulldorff spatial scan statistic in SaTScan. Second, synergistic interactions related to recent IPV (i.e. recent physical, sexual, emotional violence during the last 12 months) with harmful alcohol use and HIV challenge were measured using RERI [Relative excess risk due to interaction], AP [attributable proportion] and S [Synergy index]. In our results, we spatially identified geographical physical IPV syndemic interactions in parts of the Eastern Cape/Free State Provinces (RERI = 4.42 [95% CI: 2.34–6.51], AP = 0.56 [95% CI: 0.44–0.68], S = 2.77 [95% CI: 2.01–3.84], but not in other forms of IPV. Although IPV, based on decade old concept of SAVA syndemic, was less common/widespread than expected from the national scale population-based data, we identified population-level physical violence syndemic occurring in South Africa. Our study highlights the need to prioritize public health response targeting vulnerable populations residing in these high-risk areas of syndemic mechanisms linking these synergistic epidemics that women face in South Africa.UK Global Challenge Research Fun

Perturbations of Gauss-Bonnet Black Strings in Codimension-2 Braneworlds

We derive the Lichnerowicz equation in the presence of the Gauss-Bonnet term. Using the modified Lichnerowicz equation we study the metric perturbations of Gauss-Bonnet black strings in Codimension-2 Braneworlds.Comment: 26 pages, no figures, clarifying comments and one reference added, to be published in JHE

Tratamiento quirúrgico de los síndromes dolorosos regionales complejos tipo II y utilidad de la monitorización neurofisiológica intraoperatoria

ResumenEl propósito de esta revisión era presentar las bases bilógicas y fisiopatológicas de la formación de neuromas como causa de los síndromes dolorosos regional (SDRC) tipo II y el uso de la monitorización neurofisiológica intraoperatoria en el tratamiento de los SDRC tipo II secundarios a neuromas en continuidad y en nervios adheridos en cicatrices tras cirugías previas.AbstractThe purpose of this review article was to present the biological and physiological bases of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type II and the use of iIntraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in the treatment of CRPS type II secondary to neuroma-in-continuity and scar-tethered nerves

Trichoderma-Plant Root Colonization: Escaping Early Plant Defense Responses and Activation of the Antioxidant Machinery for Saline Stress Tolerance

Trichoderma spp. are versatile opportunistic plant symbionts which can colonize the apoplast of plant roots. Microarrays analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana roots inoculated with Trichoderma asperelloides T203, coupled with qPCR analysis of 137 stress responsive genes and transcription factors, revealed wide gene transcript reprogramming, proceeded by a transient repression of the plant immune responses supposedly to allow root colonization. Enhancement in the expression of WRKY18 and WRKY40, which stimulate JA-signaling via suppression of JAZ repressors and negatively regulate the expression of the defense genes FMO1, PAD3 and CYP71A13, was detected in Arabidopsis roots upon Trichoderma colonization. Reduced root colonization was observed in the wrky18/wrky40 double mutant line, while partial phenotypic complementation was achieved by over-expressing WRKY40 in the wrky18 wrky40 background. On the other hand increased colonization rate was found in roots of the FMO1 knockout mutant. Trichoderma spp. stimulate plant growth and resistance to a wide range of adverse environmental conditions. Arabidopsis and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants treated with Trichoderma prior to salt stress imposition show significantly improved seed germination. In addition, Trichoderma treatment affects the expression of several genes related to osmo-protection and general oxidative stress in roots of both plants. The MDAR gene coding for monodehydroascorbate reductase is significantly up-regulated and, accordingly, the pool of reduced ascorbic acid was found to be increased in Trichoderma treated plants. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)-deaminase silenced Trichoderma mutants were less effective in providing tolerance to salt stress, suggesting that Trichoderma, similarly to ACC deaminase producing bacteria, can ameliorate plant growth under conditions of abiotic stress, by lowering ameliorating increases in ethylene levels as well as promoting an elevated antioxidative capacity

Moving ideas across borders: foreign inventors, patents and FDI

This paper explores the link between innovation, migration and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) empirically within a theoretically consistent framework. It analyses how migrant inventors enhance multinational firms' adaptive innovation performance and ultimately foster FDI towards the migrant's country of origin. Foreign migrant inventors (migrants who filed a patent in their host country) possess a unique mix of technical knowledge and cultural background that contribute to adapting Research and Development (R&D) activities for foreign markets. Therefore, FDI increases in country-pair-sectors with specific endogenous investment in quality, which depends on the migrants in the R&D sector. We constructed a novel panel country-sector data set including FDI, patents and migrant inventors and applied a two-stage structural gravity estimation procedure using migrant inventors as a valid instrument for patents. The results show sizable effects on the extensive and intensive margins of greenfield FDI

HIV seroconcordance among heterosexual couples in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a population-based analysis

Introduction High levels of HIV seroconcordance at the population level reduce the potential for effective HIV transmission. However, the level of HIV seroconcordance is largely unknown among heterosexual couples in sub‐Saharan Africa. We aimed to quantify the population level HIV seroconcordance in stable heterosexual couples in rural South Africa. Methods We followed adults (≥15 years old) using a population‐based, longitudinal and open surveillance system in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, from 2003 to 2016. Sexual partnerships and HIV status were confirmed via household surveys and annual HIV surveillance. We calculated the proportions of HIV seroconcordance and serodiscordance in stable sexual partnerships and compared them to the expected proportions under the assumption of random mixing using individual‐based microsimulation models. Among unpartnered individuals, we estimated the incidence rates and hazard of sexual partnership formation with HIV‐positive or HIV‐negative partners by participants' own time‐varying HIV status. Competing risks survival regressions were fitted adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. We also calculated Newman's assortativity coefficients. Results A total of 18,341 HIV‐negative and 11,361 HIV‐positive individuals contributed 154,469 person‐years (PY) of follow‐up. Overall, 28% of the participants were in stable sexual partnerships. Of the 677 newly formed stable sexual partnerships, 7.7% (95% CI: 5.8 to 10.0) were HIV‐positive seroconcordant (i.e. both individuals in the partnership were HIV‐positive), which was three times higher than the expected proportion (2.3%) in microsimulation models based on random mixing. The incidence rates of sexual partnership formation were 0.54/1000PY with HIV‐positive, 1.12/1000PY with HIV‐negative and 2.65/1000PY with unknown serostatus partners. HIV‐positive individuals had 2.39 (95% CI: 1.43 to 3.99) times higher hazard of forming a sexual partnership with an HIV‐positive partner than did HIV‐negative individuals after adjusting for age, opposite‐sex HIV prevalence (by 5‐years age groups), HIV prevalence in the surrounding community, ART coverage and other sociodemographic factors. Similarly, forming a sexual partnership with an HIV‐negative partner was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.01 to 2.14) times higher in HIV‐negative individuals in the adjusted model. Newman's coefficient also showed that assortativity by participant and partner HIV status was moderate (r = 0.35). Conclusions A high degree of population level HIV seroconcordance (both positive and negative) was observed at the time of forming new sexual partnerships. Understanding factors driving these patterns may help the development of strategies to bring the HIV epidemic under control

Shortcuts in a Nonlinear Dynamical Braneworld in Six Dimensions

We consider a dynamical brane world in a six-dimensional spacetime containing a singularity. Using the Israel conditions we study the motion of a 4-brane embedded in this setup. We analyse the brane behaviour when its position is perturbed about a fixed point and solve the full nonlinear dynamics in the several possible scenarios. We also investigate the possible gravitational shortcuts and calculate the delay between graviton and photon signals and the ratio of the corresponding subtended horizons.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures. References and discussion added. Title changed to match the version accepted in Class. and Quant. Gra