Encoding relativistic potential dynamics into free evolution

We propose a method to simulate a Dirac or Majorana equation evolving under particular potentials with the use of the corresponding free evolution, while the potential dynamics is encoded in a static transformation upon the initial state. We extend our results to interacting two-body systems.The authors acknowledge funding from Basque Government grants BFI08.211, IT559-10, and IT472-10; Spanish MICINN FIS2008-05705, FIS2009- 10061, and FIS2009-12773-C02-01; QUITEMAD; EC Marie-Curie program; UPV/EHU UFI 11/55; CCQED, SOLID and PROMISCE European projects.Peer Reviewe

Helmintofauna de Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758 (Carnivora: Mustelidae) en la península Ibérica

Abstract not availabl

Helminth communities of wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) on the river Avena (Calabria, southern Italy)

Helminth parasites of woodmouse Apodemus sylvaticus were studied from May 1993 through to June 1994 on the River Avena (Calabria, southern Italy), which, as other Mediterranenan rivers, is dry for most of the year. Trapping sites were located in three different habitats of the river: slopes, shores and the riverbed. A total of 106 animals was captured and screened for the presence of helminths. Five endoparasitic species were detected: Corrigia vitta, Rictularia proni, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia stroma and S. frederici. Four helminth species were recorded from the riverbed and shore sections, whereas only H. polygyrus and S. frederici were found on the slopes. Syphacia frederici occurred at every trapping site. The total prevalence was 25.5% and total mean intensity was 27.2 parasites/mouse. No statistical significant difference was found for both the prevalence and mean intensity of infection between either habitats or sexes, suggesting that, from the point of view of the helminth community, the study area should be considered as a single habitat

Implementación de un sistema de gestión eficiente de flotas de transporte para la sostenibilidad económica en una empresa de transporte: Implementação de um sistema eficiente de gestão de frotas de transporte para a sustentabilidade económica numa empresa de transportes

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo implementar un Sistema de Gestión Eficiente de Flotas de Transporte en la empresa “Sociedad Cooperativa Trabajadores de Pascual" que contribuya a la minimización de costos operativos. La metodología utilizada consiste en la aplicación de una herramienta de gestión eficiente de flotas para medir el consumo de combustible y los costos de mantenimiento vehicular. Como base para nuestro estudio se recabó y analizó información sobre el consumo de combustible y lo costos de mantenimiento del primer trimestre del 2012, los cuales son comparados contra los mismos indicadores en el segundo trimestre; periodo durante el cual se aplicaron los principios de conducción eficiente. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el consumo de combustible tuvo una reducción del 4.47% representando la cantidad de $1,482.21 pesos correspondientes a siete unidades que se utilizan en el reparto diario. Por otra parte, como resultado de un plan de mantenimiento preventivo, los costos de mantenimiento tuvieron una mejora del 72.12%. A partir de los resultados obtenidos se concluye que la aplicación de un modelo de gestión eficiente de flotas y la aplicación de un programa de capacitación eficiente a los operadores de las unidades de transporte, permite minimizar los costos operativos y como consecuencia conduce a una sostenibilidad económica

Helminth communities of the exotic introduced turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans in southwestern Spain: Transmission from native turtles

We report the prevalence and diversity of helminth parasites found in native turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis from three localities in southwestern Spain and we describe the helminth communities of exotic turtles Trachemys scripta elegans coexisting in the wild with both native turtle species. Five nematodes species were identified, of which Serpinema microcephalus was the only species common between two localities, although infection parameters were different between them. This is the first report of cross transmission of S. microcephalus and Falcaustra donanaensis from native to exotic turtles and the first report of genus Physaloptera in turtles of the Palearctic Region. Continuous releasing of exotic pet turtles in wildlife ecosystems increases the risk of parasite introductions and, consequently, potential transmission to native species, and highlights the impending need for regulation of pet turtle trade in Europe

Plasticity of cell proliferation in the retina of Austrolebias charrua fish under light and darkness conditions

Austrolebias annual fishes exhibit cell proliferation and neurogenesis throughout life. They withstand extreme environmental changes as their habitat dries out, pressuring nervous system to adapt. Their visual system is challenged to adjust as the water becomes turbid. Therefore, this study focused on how change in photic envi- ronment can lead to an increased cell proliferation in the retina. We administered 5-chloro-2′- deoxyuridine (CldU) and 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IdU) at different temporal windows to detect cell proliferation in natural light and permanent darkness. Stem/progenitor cells were recognized as IdU+/CldU+ nuclei co-labeled with Sox2, Pax6 or BLBP found in the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ). The expression pattern of BLBP + glial cells and ultrastructural analysis indicates that CMZ has different cell progenitors. In darkness, the number of dividing cells significantly increased, compared to light conditions. Surprisingly, CMZ IdU+/CldU + cell number was similar under light and darkness, suggesting a stable pool of stem/progenitor cells possibly responsible for retinal growth. Therefore, darkness stimulated cell progenitors outside the CMZ, where Müller glia play a crucial role to generate rod precursors and other cell types that might integrate rod-dependent circuits to allow darkness adaptation. Thus, the Austrolebias fish retina shows great plasticity, with cell proliferation rates significantly higher than that of brain visual areas

Associations between serum mitokine levels and outcomes in stable COPD: an observational prospective study

Mitokines (Humanin (HN), GDF15 and FGF21) are produced as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction and may have major roles in chronic inflammation, malnutrition and exercise capacity in people with COPD. Except for GDF15, studies on this subject are lacking. A total of 165 patients with stable COPD and 49 smokers without COPD were enrolled. We assessed their serum mitokine levels and clinical characteristics at baseline. We recorded moderate and severe exacerbation for the next 12 months. Baseline serum HN (p = 0.037) and GDF-15 (p = 0.013) levels were higher in the COPD group. High HN levels were independently associated with a high risk of exacerbation (HRE) (OR 2.798, 95% CI 1.266-6.187, p = 0.011), malnutrition (OR 6.645, 95% CI 1.859-23.749, p = 0.004), and 6MWD (OR 0.995, 95% CI 0.991-0.999, p = 0.008), and future moderate (HR 1.826, 95% CI 1.181-2.822, p = 0.007) and severe exacerbations (HR 3.445, 95% CI 1.357-8.740, p = 0.009). High GDF15 levels were associated with HRE (OR 3.028, 95% CI 1.134-8.083, p = 0.027), 6MWD (OR 0.995, 95% CI 0.990-0.999, p = 0.017) and predicted desaturation in 6MWT (OR 3.999, 95% CI 1.487-10.757, p = 0.006). High FGF21 levels were associated with HRE (OR 2.144, 95% CI 1.000-4.600, p = 0.05), and predicted future severe exacerbation (HR 4.217, 95% CI 1.459-12.193, p = 0.008). The mitokine levels were higher in patients with COPD than smokers without COPD, and were associated with important clinical outcomes such as exercise capacity and COPD exacerbation. Among the mitokines, HN showed the strongest association with COPD and may serve as a future risk biomarker in this disease.Trial registation NCT04449419.Funding: This study was funded by Instituto de investigación sanitaria of Cantabria (IDIVAL): NextVAL grant: NVAL19/01 and GSK (NCT04449419)

La evaluación de la actividad de ciencia y tecnología en la Atención Primaria de Salud: una aproximación al tema

La Atención Primaria de Salud es la estrategia para organizar la gestión del sistema de salud, que garantiza el acceso universal a servicios sanitarios mínimos mediante una distribución equitativa de los recursos, la participación comunitaria y la implicación de las políticas de otros sectores; por tanto, el desarrollo del Sistema de Ciencia y Tecnología a este nivel reviste una vital importancia. La política y la gestión de la ciencia y la tecnología son decisivas en el desarrollo estratégico de cada país. Por eso, tener en cuenta la convergencia de la actividad de la ciencia y la tecnología con el desarrollo social se convierte en una necesidad particularmente importante para los países en desarrollo. El propósito de esta revisión bibliográfica es realizar una reseña del desarrollo de esta modalidad en Cuba y el mundo, de manera que sirva de ayuda las personas que necesiten información sobre el tema

A Proposed Approach to Chronic Airway Disease (CAD) Using Therapeutic Goals and Treatable Traits: A Look to the Future

© 2020 Pérez de Llano et al.Chronic airflow obstruction affects a wide range of airway diseases, the most frequent of which are asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis; they are clearly identifiable in their extremes, but quite frequently overlap in some of their pathophysiological and clinical characteristics. This has generated the description of new mixed or overlapping disease phenotypes with no clear biological grounds. In this special article, a group of experts provides their perspective and proposes approaching the treatment of chronic airway disease (CAD) through the identification of a series of therapeutic goals (TG) linked to treatable traits (TT) – understood as clinical, physiological, or biological characteristics that are quantifiable using biomarkers. This therapeutic approach needs validating in a clinical trial with the strategy of identification of TG and treatment according to TT for each patient independently of their prior diagnosis

Heteroatom-tagged proteomics of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease human serum reveal alterations in selenoproteins

Heteroatom-tagged proteomics allows the absolute quantification of selenoproteins using the heteroatom as a "tag" into a selective and sensitive atomic detector instead of a molecular one. Using this analytical method, about 90% of total selenium in human serum/plasma can be measured as selenoproteins and total selenometabolites and thus, the status of selenium can be determined. Herein, we determined the absolute concentration of selenoproteins in human serum patients with lung cancer (LC) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a competing cause of morbidity and mortality in smokers as well as an independent risk factor for LC. We conducted an observational study of 154 human serum samples obtained from LC and COPD patients with varying severity of disease, including COPD patients who developed LC during follow-up and healthy controls (HC). Using heteroatom-tagged proteomics, we determined extracellular glutathione peroxidase (eGPx), selenoprotein P (SELENOP), and selenoalbumin (SeAlb). Associations between selenoproteins were also studied as potential biomarkers of disease. The concentration of eGPx was significantly higher in the all-inclusive COPD cohort compared to HC, COPD patients with LC, or those with mild obstructive lung disease, while SELENOP concentration was significantly decreased in LC patients compared to HC and COPD. We found an inverse correlation between SELENOP and SeAlb in HC, but also in LC patients, and especially in patients with COPD and LC. Moreover, we found that eGPx and selenometabolite concentrations were positively associated with LC human serum. Selenoprotein concentrations were altered in COPD and LC when compared to healthy controls suggesting a potential role of the selenoproteome in the diagnosis and/or treatment of these tobacco-related diseases.Funding: This work has been supported by the project “Heteroatom-tagged proteomics and metabolomics to study lung cancer. Influence of gut microbiota” (Ref.: PY20_00366). Project of Excellence. Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University, Andalusia, Spain. The authors also thank the grants Ref. 651/2018 and 115/2020 from the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Surgery (SEPAR) and 08/2018 from the Association of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (Neumosur) that supported samples recruitment at the hospitals and biobank registration. The authors also thank Instituto de Salud Carlos III (AES16/01783) and unrestricted funding from Menarini Group and AstraZeneca“. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA. Acknowledgements: We thank all the patients who have volunteered and donated their biomaterials for the study