A Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte e a ampliação ao Leste: até a Ucrânia?

This study analyzes NATO’s enlargement policy during the post-Cold War and the reasons for the current stagnation of the so-called “open door policy”. While it is likely that all Balkan states end up incorporated into NATO, other states have been regarded by Russia as the insurmountable wall of this enlargement process. In this sense, Georgia and, clearly Ukraine, have marked a turning point in the NATO-Russia relationship. The “Russian factor” has always determined the advance of the North Atlantic Alliance towards Eastern Europe, but currently NATO members, especially the most relevant European partners, could experience serious political, economic and geostrategic effects (energy, coordination to combat jihadist terrorism) if its relationship with Russia worsens. Thus, it is suggested that the expansion strategy at this stage covers all the variables, reviews its objectives and is not pursued hastily because reconstructing the relationship with Russia is fundamental to the existence of a Euro-Asian balance.En este estudio se analiza la política de ampliación de la OTAN durante la Posguerra Fría, y las razones del actual estancamiento de la denominada política de puertas abiertas. Si bien es probable que todos los Estados balcánicos acaben integrados en la OTAN, otros Estados han sido configurados por parte de Rusia como el muro infranqueable de este proceso ampliador. En este sentido, Georgia y, de forma clara, Ucrania han marcado un punto de inflexión en la relación entre la OTAN y Rusia. El “factor Rusia” siempre ha determinado el avance de la Alianza Atlántica hacia el Este de Europa, pero actualmente los miembros de la OTAN, principalmente los socios europeos más relevantes, podrían verse afectados por graves implicaciones de orden político, económico y geoestratégico (energía, coordinación para combatir el terrorismo yihadista, etc.) si su relación con Rusia empeora. Por ello, se considera adecuado que la estrategia de la ampliación en esta etapa atienda a todas las variables, revise sus objetivos y no se realice de forma precipitada, dado que la reconstrucción de la relación con Rusia es fundamental para que exista un equilibrio euroasiático.Neste estudo analisa-se a política de ampliação da OTAN durante a Pós-guerra Fria, e as razões do atual estancamento da denominada política de portas abertas. Se bem que é provável que todos os Estados balcânicos acabem integrados na OTAN, outros Estados têm sido configurados por parte de Rússia como o muro infranqueável deste processo ampliador. Neste sentido, Geórgia e, de forma clara, a Ucrânia têm marcado um ponto de inflexão na relação entre a OTAN e a Rússia. O “fator Rússia” sempre tem determinado o avanço da Aliança Atlântica ao Leste da Europa, mas atualmente os membros da OTAN, principalmente os sócios europeus mais relevantes, poderiam ver-se afetados por graves implicações de ordem política, econômica e geoestratégica (energia, coordenação para combater o terrorismo jihadista, etc.) se sua relação com a Rússia piora. Por isso, se considera adequado que a estratégia da ampliação nesta etapa atenda a todas as variáveis, revise seus objetivos e não se realize de forma precipitada, já que a reconstrução da relação com a Rússia é fundamental para que exista um equilíbrio euroasiático

La participación de los trabajadores en la empresa en el marco del modelo social europeo

Se analizan en este trabajo tres Directivas comunitarias que tienen por objeto regular el fenómeno de la participación de los trabajadores en la empresa, entendiendo por ésta, según definición de la Comisión Europea de 1975: “el conjunto de medios a disposición de los trabajadores para influir en las decisiones que les afectan”. Así, versa este trabajo sobre la participación o influencia que los trabajadores pueden ejercer en la gestión diaria de las empresas para las que trabajan; influencia que se materializa en el reconocimiento de determinados derechos de información, de consulta y de participación interna en los órganos societarios a los representantes legales de los trabajadores. Interesa el análisis de estos derechos participativos, derechos de titularidad y de ejercicio colectivo, como parte integrante de la política social y societaria europea, como contenido del denominado Modelo social europeo; concepto que da cabida, no sólo a determinada normativa comunitaria de diversos ámbitos y no únicamente de la rama social del derecho, sino también a un conjunto de valores o creencias en su concepción como proyecto político o ideológico. Las normas analizadas, las denominadas Directivas participativas, son las siguientes: 1.- la Directiva marco 2002/14/CE por la que se establece un marco general relativo a la información y consulta de los trabajadores en la Comunidad Europea; 2.- la Directiva 38/2009/CE sobre la constitución de un Comité de empresa europeo o de un procedimiento de información y consulta a los trabajadores en empresas y grupos de empresas de dimensión comunitaria; y 3.- la Directiva 2001/86/CE por la que se completa el Estatuto de la Sociedad anónima europea en lo que respecta a la implicación de los trabajadores. El objeto de este trabajo es presentar algunas propuestas de mejora de cara a una futura revisión de las Directivas participativas estudiadas, anunciada desde hace años por la Comisión Europea. Así, se profundiza en este trabajo sobre las perspectivas de futuro de la actuación comunitaria en materia participativa, valorando las probabilidades de que dichas actuaciones se produzcan, e indagando sobre las dificultades, impedimentos y límites jurídicos y políticos, a los que se seguramente se enfrentarían estas actuaciones futuras. Estas actuaciones se estudian desde las modificaciones que se han introducido en el Derecho originario a partir del último gran Tratado de reforma, el Tratado de Lisboa en vigor desde 2009. Como metodología de trabajo, se han abordado todas las variables posibles que afectan o condicionan las actuaciones legislativas en el ámbito comunitario, a saber, la propia historia de la construcción europea, el funcionamiento y competencias de las Instituciones de la Unión, las diversas posiciones y posturas de los Estados miembros ante la realidad europea, las sucesivas ampliaciones de la Unión y sus consecuencias, la problemática distribución de competencias entre la Unión y los Estados miembros, la difícil actuación comunitaria en materia social, la interrelación entre los planos del derecho social y del derecho societario europeo, y entre éstos y los ordenamientos internos, los diversos debates y posturas que se han ido sucediendo en el ámbito de la Unión y de los propios Estados miembros en materia participativa, el papel que se asigna a los interlocutores sociales tanto en la creación como en la aplicación de derechos, las palpables alergias a lo social colectivo en el ámbito comunitario y la reticencia a la regulación del fenómeno de los grupos de empresas. Este trabajo se articula en cinco capítulos. El primer capítulo analiza la configuración del Modelo social europeo, desde la creación de la Comunidad Económica Europea en 1957 hasta la actualidad, haciéndose especial hincapié en las reformas que ha introducido en el Derecho originario el Tratado de Lisboa. El segundo capítulo aborda la génesis de los derechos participativos en el ámbito europeo, analizándose todas las propuestas normativas que se han ido sucediendo en el ámbito comunitario desde 1970 y que forman parte de los antecedentes de la regulación actual de los derechos participativos. Los capítulos tercero y cuarto analizan el marco jurídico actual de los derechos participativos en el ámbito europeo. Por un lado, el capítulo tercero versa principalmente sobre los fundamentos jurídicos y los ámbitos de aplicación de las Directivas participativas y, por otro lado, el capítulo cuarto se centra en la titularidad, los contenidos, el alcance, los límites, los procedimientos y la protección y tutela de los derechos participativos. El capítulo quinto presenta, a modo de conclusiones, determinadas consideraciones en torno a las perspectivas de futuro de la actuación comunitaria en materia participativa, un debate aparentemente cerrado. Se proponen modificaciones legales concretas de mejora y se plantea la posible revalorización de la participación interna, la que pretende la presencia laboral en los órganos internos societarios

Dual roles of Incenp crucial to the assembly of the acentrosomal metaphase spindle in female meiosis

Spindle formation in female meiosis differs from mitosis in many animals, as it takes place independently from centrosomes, and the molecular requirements of this pathway remain to be understood. Here we report two crucial roles of Incenp, an essential subunit of the chromosomal passenger complex (the Aurora B complex), in centrosome-independent spindle formation in Drosophila female meiosis. Firstly, the initial assembly of spindle microtubules is drastically delayed in an incenp mutant. This clearly demonstrates, for the first time, a crucial role for Incenp in chromosome-driven spindle microtubule assembly in living oocytes. Additionally, Incenp is necessary to stabilise the equatorial region of the metaphase I spindle, in contrast to mitosis, where the equivalent function becomes prominent after anaphase onset. Our analysis suggests that Subito, a kinesin-6 protein, cooperates with Incenp for this latter function, but not microtubule assembly. We propose that the two functions of Incenp are part of the mechanisms that compensate for the lack of centrosomes during meiotic spindle formation

Drosophila Polo Kinase Is Required for Cytokinesis

A number of lines of evidence point to a predominance of cytokinesis defects in spermatogenesis in hypomorphic alleles of the Drosophila polo gene. In the pre-meiotic mitoses, cytokinesis defects result in cysts of primary spermatocytes with reduced numbers of cells that can contain multiple centrosomes. These are connected by a correspondingly reduced number of ring canals, structures formed by the stabilization of the cleavage furrow. The earliest defects during the meiotic divisions are a failure to form the correct mid-zone and mid-body structures at telophase. This is accompanied by a failure to correctly localize the Pavarotti kinesin- like protein that functions in cytokinesis, and of the septin Peanut and of actin to be incorporated into a contractile ring. In spite of these defects, cyclin B is degraded and the cells exit M phase. The resulting spermatids are frequently binuclear or tetranuclear, in which case they develop either two or four axonemes, respectively. A significant proportion of spermatids in which cytokinesis has failed may also show the segregation defects previously ascribed to polo1 mutants. We discuss these findings in respect to conserved functions for the Polo-like kinases in regulating progression through M phase, including the earliest events of cytokinesis

Prevalence and public health relevance of enteric parasites in domestic dogs and cats in the region of Madrid (Spain) with an emphasis on Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp

Background: Pet dogs and cats exert an unquestionable beneficial effect in the well-being of their owners, but can also act as a source of zoonotic infections if improperly cared. Objectives: We investigated the occurrence, risk factors, genetic variability and zoonotic potential of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats attended in a clinical veterinary setting in Spain. Methods: Canine (n = 252) and feline (n = 35) faecal samples were collected during 2017-2019 and analysed by coproparasitological methods. A rapid lateral immunochromatographic test (ICT) was used for detecting Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. Samples positive at microscopy examination and/or ICT were reassessed by molecular methods. Results: Overall, 48.8% (123/252) of dogs and 48.6% (17/35) of cats were infected by enteric parasites. In dogs, G. duodenalis was the most prevalent species (40.9%), followed by Cystoisospora sp. (7.1%), and Toxocara canis (5.2%). In cats, Joyeuxiella sp. and Toxocara cati were the dominant species (20.0% each), followed by G. duodenalis (14.3%), D. caninum (5.7%) and Cystoisospora felis and Toxascaris leonina (2.9% each). Pups and kittens were more likely to harbour intestinal parasites and develop clinical signs. Sequence analyses of dog isolates revealed the presence of assemblages A (n = 1), C (n = 4), D (n = 4) and C+D (n = 1) within G. duodenalis; C. parvum (n = 1) and C. canis (n = 4) within Cryptosporidium and PtEb IX (n = 1) in Enterocytozoon bieneusi. A novel C. canis subtype family, named XXi, is reported. Conclusions: Our results highlight that (i) well-cared dogs carry zoonotic enteric protozoan parasites of public health relevance, (ii) proper hygiene practices and routine veterinary treatment are essential to prevent zoonotic infections, (iii) vulnerable populations should avoid contact with pups/kittens with diarrhoea and (iv) infected dogs might be major contributors to the environmental contamination with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) eggs.This study was partially funded by the Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under project PI19CIII/00029, and by Alfonso X el Sabio Foundation under proyect 1.011.019 (Grant / Award Number).S

Different Impacts of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Oxidative Stress

The objective of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress (OS) status in subjects with different cardiovascular risk factors. With this in mind, we have studied three models of high cardiovascular risk: hypertension (HT) with and without metabolic syndrome, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) with and without insulin resistance. Oxidative stress markers (oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehide) together with the activity of antioxidant enzyme triad (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and activation of both pro-oxidant enzyme (NAPDH oxidase components) and AGTR1 genes, as well as antioxidant enzyme genes (CuZn-SOD, CAT, GPX1, GSR, GSS and TXN) were measured in mononuclear cells of controls (n = 20) and patients (n = 90) by assessing mRNA levels. Activity of some of these antioxidant enzymes was also tested. An increase in OS and pro-oxidant gene mRNA values was observed in patients compared to controls. The hypertensive group showed not only the highest OS values, but also the highest pro-oxidant activation compared to those observed in the other groups. In addition, in HT a significantly reduced antioxidant activity and mRNA induction of antioxidant genes were found when compared to controls and the other groups. In FH and FCH, the activation of pro-oxidant enzymes was also higher and antioxidant ones lower than in the control group, although it did not reach the values obtained in hypertensives. The thioredoxin system was more activated in patients as compared to controls, and the highest levels were in hypertensives. The increased oxidative status in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors is a consequence of both the activation of pro-oxidant mechanisms and the reduction of the antioxidant ones. The altered response of the main cytoplasmic antioxidant systems largely contributes to OS despite the apparent attempt of the thioredoxin system to control it

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Domestic Mammalian Hosts in Southeastern Iran

Gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) are a major cause of disease and production loss in livestock. Some have zoonotic potential, so production animals can be a source of human infections. We describe the prevalence of GIP in domestic mammals in Southeastern Iran. Fresh fecal samples (n = 200) collected from cattle (n = 88), sheep (n = 50), goats (n = 23), camels (n = 30), donkeys (n = 5), horse (n = 1), and dogs (n = 3) were subjected to conventional coprological examination for the detection of protozoan (oo)cysts and helminth ova. Overall, 83% (166/200) of the samples were positive for one or more GIP. Helminths were found in dogs, donkeys, sheep (42%), camels (37%), goats (30%), and cattle (19%), but not in the horse. Protozoa were found in cattle (82%), goats (78%), sheep (60%), and camels (13%), but not in donkeys, dogs, or the horse. Lambs were 3.5 times more likely to be infected by protozoa than sheep (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.05-11.66), whereas sheep were at higher odds of being infected by helminths than lambs (OR = 4.09, 95% CI: 1.06-16.59). This is the first study assessing the prevalence of GIP in domestic mammals in Southeastern Iran.This research was funded by the Office of Vice-chancellor for Research of Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 9900039) and within the scope of the project CICECOAveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020 & LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC (PIDDAC).S

LDL particle size and composition and incident cardiovascular disease in a South-European population: The Hortega-Liposcale Follow-up Study.

The association of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle composition with cardiovascular risk has not been explored before. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between baseline LDL particle size and composition (proportions of large, medium and small LDL particles over their sum expressed as small-LDL %, medium-LDL % and large-LDL %) and incident cardiovascular disease in a population-based study. Methods: Direct measurement of LDL particles was performed using a two-dimensional NMR-technique (Liposcale®). LDL cholesterol was assessed using both standard photometrical methods and the Liposcale® technique in a representative sample of 1162 adult men and women from Spain. Results: The geometric mean of total LDL particle concentration in the study sample was 827.2 mg/dL (95% CI 814.7, 839.8). During a mean follow-up of 12.4 ± 3.3 years, a total of 159 events occurred. Medium LDL particles were positively associated with all cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke after adjustment for traditional risk factors and treatment. Regarding LDL particle composition, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for CHD for a 5% increase in medium and small LDL % by a corresponding decrease of large LDL % were 1.93 (1.55, 2.39) and 1.41 (1.14, 1.74), respectively. Conclusions: Medium LDL particles were associated with incident cardiovascular disease. LDL particles showed the strongest association with cardiovascular events when the particle composition, rather than the total concentration, was investigated. A change in baseline composition of LDL particles from large to medium and small LDL particles was associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, especially for CHD

Non-Invasive Assessment of Pulmonary Vasculopathy

Right heart catheterization remains necessary for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and, therefore, for the prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure. The non-invaSive Assessment of Pulmonary vasculoPathy in Heart failure (SAPPHIRE) study was designed to assess the feasibility and prognostic relevance of a non-invasive evaluation of the pulmonary artery vasculature in patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Patients will undergo a right heart catheterization, cardiac resonance imaging, and a pulmonary function test in order to identify structural and functional parameters allowing the identification of combined pre- and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension, and correlate these findings with the hemodynamic dataThis research was funded by European Regional Development Fund and the Carlos III Research Institute through a grant of the Health Strategy Action (PI17/01569).S

Prospects of brain–machine interfaces for space system control

The dream of controlling and guiding computer-based systems using human brain signals has slowly but steadily become a reality. The available technology allows real-time implementation of systems that measure neuronal activity, convert their signals, and translate their output for the purpose of controlling mechanical and electronic systems. This paper describes the state of the art of non-invasive brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) and critically investigates both the current technological limits and the future potential that BMIs have for space applications. We present an assessment of the advantages that BMIs can provide and justify the preferred candidate concepts for space applications together with a vision of future directions for their implementation. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved