Atazanavir-Based Therapy Is Associated with Higher Hepatitis C Viral Load in HIV Type 1-Infected Subjects with Untreated Hepatitis C

Comunicación cortaWe assessed the relationship between atazanavir (ATV)-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) and plasma hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load in a population of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who received ART based on a protease inhibitor (PI) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) were included. Patients were stratified by ART drug [ATV/rtv, lopinavir (LPV/rtv), efavirenz (EFV), nevirapine (NVP), and other PIs], HCV genotype (1/4 and 2/3), and IL28B genotype (CC and non-CC). The Kruskal-Wallis test and chi-squared test were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariate analysis consisted of a stepwise linear regression analysis. Six hundred and forty-nine HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were included. HCV genotype 1/4 patients who received ATV had higher HCV RNA levels [6.57 (5.9-6.8) log IU/ml] than those who received LPV [6.1 (5.5-6.5) log IU/ml], EFV [6.1 (5.6-6.4) log IU/ml], NVP [5.8 (5.5-5.9) log IU/ml], or other PIs [6.1 (5.7-6.4) log IU/ml] (p=0.014). This association held for the IL28B genotype (CC versus non-CC). The association was not found in patients carrying HCV genotypes 2/3. The linear regression model identified the IL28B genotype and ATV use as independent factors associated with HCV RNA levels. ATV-based therapy may be associated with a higher HCV RNA viral load in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

Operating with Quantum Integers: an Efficient 'Multiples of' Oracle

Quantum algorithms are a very promising field. However, creating and manipulating these kind of algorithms is a very complex task, specially for software engineers used to work at higher abstraction levels. The work presented here is part of a broader research focused on providing operations of a higher abstraction level to manipulate integers codified as a superposition. These operations are designed to be composable and efficient, so quantum software developers can reuse them to create more complex solutions. Specifically, in this paper we present a 'multiples of' operation. To validate this operation we show several examples of quantum circuits and their simulations, including its composition possibilities. A theoretical analysis proves that both the complexity of the required classical calculations and the depth of the circuit scale linearly with the number of qubits. Hence, the 'multiples of' oracle is efficient in terms of complexity and depth. Finally, an empirical study of the circuit depth is conducted to further reinforce the theoretical analysis.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figures, preprint submitted to SummerSOC 202

Some Initial Guidelines for Building Reusable Quantum Oracles

The evolution of quantum hardware is highlighting the need for advances in quantum software engineering that help developers create quantum software with good quality attributes. Specifically, reusability has been traditionally considered an important quality attribute in terms of efficiency of cost and effort. Increasing the reusability of quantum software will help developers create more complex solutions, by reusing simpler components, with better quality attributes, as long as the reused components have also these attributes. This work focuses on the reusability of oracles, a well-known pattern of quantum algorithms that can be used to perform functions used as input by other algorithms. In particular, in this work, we present several guidelines for making reusable quantum oracles. These guidelines include three different levels for oracle reuse: the ideas inspiring the oracle, the function which creates the oracle, and the oracle itself. To demonstrate these guidelines, two different implementations of a range of integers oracle have been built by reusing simpler oracles. The quality of these implementations is evaluated in terms of functionality and quantum circuit depth. Then, we provide an example of documentation following the proposed guidelines for both implementations to foster reuse of the provided oracles. This work aims to be a first point of discussion towards quantum software reusability. Additional work is needed to establish more specific criteria for quantum software reusability.Comment: 10 page

Autoconcepto, actividad física y familia : análisis de un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales

El presente estudio fue realizar un análisis psicosocial del autoconcepto en adolescentes españoles, considerando de manera simultánea variables personales, familiares, académicas y físico-deportivas. Los participantes fueron 2.134 adolescentes de ambos sexos, procedentes de veinte centros educativos de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, con edades comprendidas entre los 15 y 18 años. Se llevó a cabo un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales que explica la varianza en un 63.12% y se explora el efecto que tenía la práctica de actividad física, sobre las dimensiones del Test de Autoconcepto Forma-5 (AF-5) de García y Musitu (1999). Los resultados, señalan que el modelo se ajusta correctamente, y que de todas las dimensiones la familiar es la que mayor peso presenta, y la práctica de actividad física no es causa del resto de variables de este modelo.This study was made to carry out a psychosocial analysis of self-concept in Spanish adolescents, simultaneously considering personal, physical, sports, family and academic variables. The participants were 2,134 adolescents of both genders, from twenty Secondary Schools, aged between 15 and 18 years old. A structural equation model was made that explained the variance at 63.12% and explored the effect that physical activity had using the dimensions of the Autoconcepto Forma-5 (AF-5) Test by García and Musitu (1999). The results show that the model was correctly adjusted and that, out of all the dimensions, family has the greatest weight and that the practice of physical activity is not a cause of other variables in the model.O presente estudo visou realizar uma análise psicossocial do autoconceito em adolescentes espanhóis, considerando simultaneamente variáveis pessoais, familiares académicas e físico-desportivas. Os participantes foram 2.134 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, precedentes de vinte centros educativas de Educação Secundária Obrigatória, com idades compreendidas entre os 15e os 18 anos. Foi realizado um modelo de equações estruturas que explica 63.12% da variância, explorando-se de igual modo o efeito que teria a prática de actividade física, sobre as dimensões do Teste de Autoconceito Forma- 5 (AF-5) de García e Musitu (1999). Os resultados, demonstram que o modelo se ajusta correctamente, e que de todas as dimensões, a familiar é a que maior peso apresenta, e a prática de actividade física não é causa das restantes variáveis deste modelo

Surrogate endpoints for early-stage breast cancer: a review of the state of the art, controversies, and future prospects

Breast cancer subtypes; Neoadjuvant therapy; Surrogate markersSubtipos de cáncer de mama; Terapia neoadyuvante; Marcadores sustitutosSubtipus de càncer de mama; Teràpia neoadjuvant; Marcadors substitutsDrug approval for early-stage breast cancer (EBC) has been historically granted in the context of registration trials based on adequate outcomes such as disease-free survival and overall survival. Improvements in long-term outcomes have made it more difficult to demonstrate the clinical benefit of a new cancer drug in large, randomized, comparative clinical trials. Therefore, the use of surrogate endpoints rather than traditional measures allows for cancer drug trials to proceed with smaller sample sizes and shorter follow-up periods, which reduces drug development time. Among surrogate endpoints for breast cancer, the increase in pathological complete response (pCR) rates was considered appropriate for accelerated drug approval. The association between pCR and long-term outcomes was strongest in patients with aggressive tumor subtypes, such as triple-negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive/hormone receptor-negative breast cancers. Whereas in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative EBC, the most accepted surrogate markers for endocrine therapy–based trials include changes in Ki67 and the preoperative endocrine prognostic index. Beyond the classic endpoints, further prognostic tools are required to provide EBC patients with individualized and effective therapies, and the neoadjuvant setting provides an excellent platform for drug development and biomarker discovery. Nowadays, the availability of multigene signatures is offering a standardized quantitative and reproducible tool to potentiate the efficacy of standard treatment for high-risk patients and develop de-escalated treatments for patients at lower risk of relapse. In this article, we first evaluate the surrogacies used for long-term outcomes and the underlying evidence supporting the use of each surrogate endpoint for the accelerated or regular drug approval process in EBC. Next, we provide an overview of the most recent studies and innovative strategies in a (neo)adjuvant setting as a platform to accelerate new drug approval. Finally, we highlight some clinical trials aimed at tailoring systemic treatment of EBC using prognosis-related factors or early biomarkers of drug sensitivity or resistance

The development of the radicular and vegetative systems of almond trees with different rootstocks following the application of biostimulants

[EN] Aim of study: Recently, the development of almond crops on a global scale has increased their area under cultivation. The demand for both plants and products that stimulate the growth of almond trees has therefore become increasingly necessary. Accordingly, in this project we have studied the response in the vegetative and root systems of almond trees with different rootstocks to varying inputs of several root stimulants. Area of study: Valencia (Spain) Material and methods: Several different organic biostimulants were studied in isolation, i.e. not combined with synthetic chemical fertilizers, in order to ascertain if chemical fertilizers could be at least partially replaced. Main results: Good results were obtained by applying a biostimulant composed of organic matter rich in saccharides and carboxylates. Using an approach that enabled a distinguishing between them, plant radicular systems were shown to respond differently according to the biostimulant applied and the rootstock tested. The best results were obtained with a biostimulant composed of organic matter from corn hydrolysis and containing free amino acids and extracts from algae, as well as 0.07% zeaxanthins. Research highlights: Although biostimulants are promoters of young almond tree growth, they should be applied to only partially replace chemical fertilizers. The present paper shows the importance of using an organic-origin biostimulant, as a complement to chemical nutritionMondragón-Valero, A.; Malheiro, R.; Salazar Hernández, DM.; Martinez-Tome, J.; Pereira, JA.; López- Cortés, I. (2020). The development of the radicular and vegetative systems of almond trees with different rootstocks following the application of biostimulants. 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J Hortic Sci Biotech 78: 853-858.Burns AM, Zitt MA, Rowe CC, Langkamp-Henken B, Mai V, Nieves C, et al., 2016. Diet quality improves for parents and children when almonds are incorporated into their daily diet: a randomized, crossover study. Nutr Res 36: 80-89.Bussi C, Huguet J, Besset J, Girard T, 1995. Rootstock effects on the growth and fruit yield of peach. Eur J Agron 4: 387-393.Chen SK, Edwards CA, Subler S, 2003. The influence of two agricultural biostimulants on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity, and plant growth in soil microcosms. Soil Biol Biochem 35: 9-19.Chouliaras V, Tasioula M, Chatzissavvidis C, Therios I, Tsabolatidou E, 2009. The effects of a seaweed extract in addition to nitrogen and boron fertilization on productivity, fruit maturation, leaf nutritional status and oil quality of the olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivar Koroneiki. J Sci Food Agric 89: 984-988.Deliopoulos T, Kettlewell P, Hare M, 2010. Fungal disease suppression by inorganic salts. A review. Crop Prot 29: 1059-1075.Enz M, Dachler CH, 1997. Compendium of growth stage identification keys for mono- and dicotyledonous plants. Extended BBCH scale. A joint publication of BBA, BSA, IGZ, IVA, AgrEvo, BASF, Bayer, Novartis. 94 pp.Ertani A, Cavani L, Pizzeghello D, Brandellero E, Altissimo A, Ciavatta C, Nardi S, 2009. Biostimulant activity of two protein hydrolyzates in the growth and nitrogen metabolism of maize seedlings. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 172: 237-244.Espada J, Romero J, Cmuñas F, Alonso J, 2013. Nuevos patrones para el melocotonero: mejora de la eficiencia y calidad del fruto. Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain.European Biostimulants Industry Council, 2018. Economic overview of biostimulants sector in Europe. http://www.biostimulants.eu/.Felipe A, 2009. Felinem, Garnem and Monegro almond x peach hybrid rootstocks. HortScience 44: 196-197.Forcada C, Gogorcena Y, Moreno M, 2012. Agronomical and fruit quality traits of two peach cultivars on peach-almond hybrid rootstocks growing on Mediterranean conditions. Sci Hortic 140: 157-163.Gómez-Aparisi J, Carrera M, Felipe A, Socias I Company R, 2001. Garnem, Monegro y Felinem: Nuevos patrones híbridos almendro x melocotonero, resistentes a nematodos y de hoja roja para frutales de hueso. Inf Téc Econ Agrar 97: 282-288.Goss M, Miller M, Bailey L, Grant C, 1993. Root growth and distribution in relation to nutrient availability and uptake. Eur J Agron 2: 57-67.INC, 2019. Global statistical review 2017-2018. International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, Reus, Spain.Khan W, Rayirath UP, Subramanian S, Jithesh MN, Rayorath P, Hodges DM, et al., 2009. Seaweed extracts as biostimulants of plant growth and development. J Plant Growth Reg 28: 386-399.Lopus SE, Santibañez MP, Beede RH, Duncan RA, Edstrom J, Niederholzer FJA, et al., 2010. Survey examines the adoption of perceived best management practices for almond nutrition. Calif Agric 64: 149-154.Mondragón-Valero A, Lopéz-Cortés I, Salazar DM, Córdova PF, 2017. Physical mechanisms produced in the development of nursery almond trees (Prunus dulcis Miller) as a response to the plant adaptation to different substrates. Rhizosphere 3: 44-49.Moreno M, Gogorcena Y, Pinochet J, 2008. Mejora y selección de patrones de prunus tolerantes a estreses abióticos. In: La adaptación al ambiente y los estreses abióticos en la mejora vegetal, pp. 451-475. Junta de Andalucía, Dirección General de Planificación y Análisis de Mercados, Servicio de Publicaciones y Divulgación, Sevilla.Muhammad S, Luedeling E, Brown P, 2009. A nutrient budget approach to nutrient management in almond. XVI Proc Int Plant Nutr Col, California (USA), pp: 1-9.Nardi S, Pizzeghello D, Schiavon M, Ertani A, 2016. Plant biostimulants: physiological responses induced by protein hydrolyzed-based products and humic substances in plant metabolism. Sci Agric 73: 18-23.Olivares FL, Busato JG, Paula AM, Lima LS, Aguiar NO, Canellas LP, 2017. Plant growth promoting bacteria and humic substances: crop promotion and mechanisms of action. Chem Biol Tech Agric 4: 30.Pinochet J, 2010. 'Replantpac' (Rootpac R), a plum-almond hybrid rootstock for replant situations. HortScience 45: 299-301.Pinochet J, Bordas M, Torrents J, 2011. ROOTPAC R: un nuevo portainjerto de Prunus para situaciones de replante. Revista de Fruticultura 15: 4-10.Pizzeghello D, Francioso O, Ertani A, Muscolo A, Nardi S, 2013. Isopentenyladenosine and cytokinin-like activity of different humic substances. J Geochem Expl 129: 70-75.Rayorath P, Jithesh M. Farid A, Khan W, Palanisamy R, 2008. Rapid bioassays to evaluate the plant growth promoting activity of Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. using a model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. J Appl Phycol 20: 423-429.Rouphael Y, Cardarelli M, Bonini P, Colla G, 2017. Synergistic action of a microbial-based biostimulant and a plant derived-protein hydrolysate enhances lettuce tolerance to alkalinity and salinity. Front Plant Sci 8: 131.Salazar D, Melgarejo P, 2002. El cultivo del almendro. Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, Spain. 307 pp.Scaglia B, Pognani M, Adani F, 2017. The anaerobic digestion process capability to produce biostimulant: the case study of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) vs. auxin-like property. Sci Total Environ 589: 36-45.Sotomayor C, Castro J, Bustos E, 2008. Nuevos portainjertos para Chile. Rev Agron For UC 35: 22-26.Vargas F, Romero M, Altea N, 1985. Porte-greffe d'amandier: Aspects importants des programmes de Centre Agropecuari Mas Bové. GREMPA, colloque 1985. CIHEAM, Paris. Opt Mediterr Sér Etudes 1985-I: 61-68. http://om.ciheam.org/om/pdf/s09/CI010822.pdfVernieri P, Borghesi E, Ferrante A, Magnani G, 2005. Application of biostimulants in floating system for improving rocket quality. J Food Agric Environ 3: 86-88.Wells C, Labranche A, Mccarty L, Skipper H, 2003. Biostimulants encourage strong root growth. Turfgrass Trend 59: 56-59.Williams L, Smith R, 1991. The effect of rootstocck on the partitioning of dry weight, nitrogen and potassium and root distribution of cabernet sauvignon grapevines. Am J Enol Vitic 42: 118-112.Zhang X, Ervin E, 2004. Cytokinin-containing seaweed and humic acid extracts associated with creeping bentgrass leaf cytokinins and drought resistance. J Appl Phycol 44: 1737-1745

Ni-Ga no soportado como catalizador para la hidrogenación de CO2 a presión atmosférica

Debido al continuo aumento de las emisiones de CO2 y su efecto negativo desde el punto de vista mediambiental y de salud, se debe proponer acciones encaminadas a su control. Es de interés la captura y conversión química obteniendo productos de valor añadido. Destaca la hidrogenación de CO2, a partir de H2 renovable con catalizadores que permitan la hidrogenación en condiciones suaves de operación; concretamente en esta contribución se muestran los resultados obtenidos con un catalizador Ni/Ga sintetizado y caracterizado en el grupo de investigación PROCAT del Departamento de Ingeniería Química de la UMA, analizando la capacidad hidrogenante en función de la velocidad espacial, relaciones de alimentación H2/CO2 y la Temperatura, obteniéndose conversiones en torno al 40% y selectividades a CO del 95%.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Emerging pedagogical contexts and disruptive practices in secondary education.

In this contribution we present both the framework and the first advances of one of the four cases studied that make up the research project 'Nomads of knowledge in emerging pedagogical contexts: mapping disruptive practices in Secondary Education ", funded by the" COTECT Foundation for innovation”. The project is based on the needs and demands arising in the current context of the "knowmadic society" (Cobo, 2013), in which formal education is developed within the framework of the augmented society and multiple literacies. We intend to examine the life inside and outside the schools and their classrooms, where interactions are proliferated around technological creations, communication platforms, videogames or mobile apps. All these are environments where learning experiences can be used by secondary schools and by the professionals who work in them (Gorodetsky & Barak, 2014). In this paper, in addition to presenting some general issues of the project, we focus on one of the case studies, related to ‘José Manuel Torrijos Secondary School’ (onwards Torrijos) located in a socio-culturally disadvantaged neighbourhood of the city of Malaga. The profile of students mainly comes from broken families, from very diverse ethnic groups and with large socio-educational deficits. Also, until recently, the role of teachers has been unstable and little interest in a deep educative school project.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. La investigación que da lugar a esta investigación ha sido financiada por la fundación COTEC para la innovación

Modeling the Spanish Bachillerato academic underachievement using a random network

Creative Commons: Atribución 3.0 España (CC BY 3.0 ES)[EN] In this paper, we propose a random network to model the evolution of the academic performance focused on the educational level of Bachillerato in Spain. For that, we will build a random network. Once the random network is stated, it will evolve according to a set of evolution rules and this allows us to simulate the academic behavior of Bachillerato students in order to determine whether they promote or not to the next academic level. Finally, this simulation process will allow us to provide predictions given by 95% of confidence intervals of the Bachillerato academic results over the next few years. Our predictions provide good results since, for each academic subpopulation, the new real data appeared during the development of this study corresponding to the academic year 2009 − 2010 lie inside the confidence intervals.Cortés López, JC.; Colmenar, JM.; Hidalgo, I.; Sánchez Sanchez, A.; Santonja, F.; Villanueva Micó, RJ. (2014). Modeling the Spanish Bachillerato academic underachievement using a random network. International Journal of Complex Systems in Science. 4(1):7-11. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/60001S7114

Towards understanding RAV1 transcriptional network during the growth-dormancy cycle in poplar

As plants are sessile organisms, the decision to grow or to stop growing is fundamental for their survival. To survive to the harsh condition of the winter, temperate and boreal trees undergo a self-protective developmental reprograming known as winter dormancy. Its mechanism involves an intricate interplay between endogenous growth regulators and the winter external signal, such as shortening of photoperiod and cold temperatures. Currently, only few factors including circadian and developmental transcription factors and hormonal signaling molecules have been shown to modulate the extension of the dormancy period in woody plants. In our laboratory, the circadian controlled transcription factor RAV promotes sylleptic branching and reduces dormancy length when RAV is ectopic overexpressed in poplar (1). Comparative mRNA profiling of RAV overexpressing versus wild type revealed a transcriptional rearrangement happens as effect of constitutive high level of RAV, giving rise to phenology. However, to define RAV mode of action as a transcriptional regulator and how RAV activity trigger a modification of dormancy-growth cycle, its primary targets genes should be investigated. At this particular, the translational fusion of a given transcription factor to the rat glucorticoid receptor domain (GR) have been widely used in Arabidopsis and recently in poplar (2). In this work we show the standardization of a methodology required to identify primary target genes for a transcription factor in poplar. This will be useful to future exploration of RAV1 gene network and its mode of action in spatio-temporal studies at tissue level during growth-dormancy cycle in poplar