Considerations on Field Methodology for Macrofungi Studies in Fragmented Forests of Mediterranean Agricultural Landscapes

The methodology used for the determination of macrofungal diversity in Mediterranean areas differs in the time of sampling and the number of years displayed, making it difficult to compare results. Furthermore, the results could be refuted because the studies are being conducted over an insufficient number of years or without considering the variation of the meteorological conditions from one year to the next and its effects on fruiting time, which might not fit the sampling. In order to optimize field work on fungal fruiting in Mediterranean environments dominated by holm oak (Quercus ilex L.), a weekly field analysis of macrofungal diversity from February 2009 to June 2013 was carried out in a Mediterranean holm oak forest in the middle-west of the Iberian Peninsula. The results revealed that fruiting bodies appeared throughout the year and that there was a delay in autumn fruiting, overlapping with spring. All this seems to indicate that weekly collection throughout the year and for a period of two years could be sufficient to estimate the macrofungal biodiversity of this ecosystem. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Phenomenology of a three-family model with gauge symmetry SU(3)_c X SU(4)_L X U(1)_X

We study an extension of the gauge group SU(3)_c X SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y of the standard model to the symmetry group SU(3)_c X SU(4)_L X U(1)_X (3-4-1 for short). This extension provides an interesting attempt to answer the question of family replication in the sense that models for the electroweak interaction can be constructed so that anomaly cancellation is achieved by an interplay between generations, all of them under the condition that the number of families must be divisible by the number of colours of SU(3)_c. This method of anomaly cancellation requires a family of quarks transforming differently from the other two, thus leading to tree-level flavour changing neutral currents (FCNC) transmitted by the two extra neutral gauge bosons $Z'$ and $Z''$ predicted by the model. In a version of the 3-4-1 extension, which does not contain particles with exotic electric charges, we study the fermion mass spectrum and some aspects of the phenomenology of the neutral gauge boson sector. In particular, we impose limits on the $Z-Z'$ mixing angle and on the mass scale of the corresponding physical new neutral gauge boson $Z_2$, and establish a lower bound on the mass of the additional new neutral gauge boson $Z'' \equiv Z_3$. For the analysis we use updated precision electroweak data at the Z-pole from the CERN LEP and SLAC Linear Collider, and atomic parity violation data. The mass scale of the additional new neutral gauge boson $Z_3$ is constrained by using updated experimental inputs from neutral meson mixing in the analysis of the sources of FCNC in the model. The data constrain the $Z-Z'$ mixing angle to a very small value of O(0.001), and the lower bounds on $M_{Z_2}$ and on $M_{Z_3}$ are found to be of O(1 TeV) and of O(7 TeV), repectively.Comment: 22 pages, 6 tables, 1 figure. To appear in J. Phys. G: Nuclear and Particle Physic

Enzymatic hydrolysis of esters from 2-carboxy-6- methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran acid

In this work we describe the results of the enzymatic hydrolysis of esters from 2-carboxy-6-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran acid using Candida antarctica lipase supported on acrylic resin, with enantiomeric excesses ranging between 80 to 99%

Yukawa txtures and charged Higgs boson phenomenology in the type-III two-Higgs-doublet model

We discuss the implications of assuming a four-zero Yukawa texture for the properties of the charged Higgs boson within the context of the general 2-Higgs Doublet Model of Type III. We begin by presenting a detailed analysis of the charged Higgs boson couplings with heavy quarks and the resulting pattern for its decays. The production of charged Higgs bosons is also sensitive to the modifications of its couplings, so that we also evaluate the resulting effects on the top decay $t \to b H^{+}$ as well as on `direct' $c\bar{b}\to H^++c. c.$ and `indirect' $q\bar q,gg\to \bar t b H^++c. c.$ production. Significant scope exists at the Large Hadron Collider for several $H^\pm$ production and decay channels combined to enable one to distinguish between such a model and alternative 2-Higgs doublet scenarios.Comment: 30 pages, 18 figure

Efficacy of an asynchronous telerehabilitation program in post-COVID-19 patients: A protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background: About 40% of patients who have had COVID-19 still have symptoms three months later whereas a 10% may experience physical and/or psychological consequences two years later. Therefore, it is necessary to perform preventive interventions when patients are discharged from the hospital to decrease the aforementioned sequelae. The purpose of this pilot-controlled trial will be to determine the efficacy of a rehabilitation program on functional status and psychosocial factors for post-COVID-19 patients when it is delivered through a tele-care platform versus a booklet-based rehabilitation. Methods: The estimated sample size will be of 50 participants who have been discharged after COVID-19 and have a level of fatigue equal or greater than 4 on the Fatigue Severity Scale. The primary outcome will be the severity of fatigue. Participants will be randomly allocated to an "asynchronous telerehabilitation group"or to a "booklet-based rehabilitation group". Treatment in both groups will be the same and will consist of a combination of therapeutic exercise and an educative program. Treatment outcomes will be evaluated the last day of the intervention and at three- and six-months follow-up. Discussion: The telerehabilitation intervention appears to be a viable and efficacy option in decreasing severe fatigue and other fitness variables such as strength and aerobic capacity, similar to other traditional rehabilitation formats such as through an explanatory booklet

Desarrollo de la Red Aerobiológica de Castilla y León (RACYL)

XV lnternational A.P.L.E. Symposium of Palynolog

Evolution of occupational asthma: Does cessation of exposure really improve prognosis?

SummaryAimTo assess the evolution of occupational asthma (OA) depending on whether the patient avoids or continues with exposure to the offending agent.MethodsStudy in patients diagnosed with OA using a specific inhalation challenge. Patients underwent the following examinations on the same day: clinical interview, physical examination, forced spirometry, methacholine test and determination of total IgE. Clinical improvement, deterioration or no change were defined according to the changes seen on the GINA severity scale at the time of diagnosis.ResultsOf the 73 patients finally included, 55 had totally ended exposure and 18 continued to be exposed at work. Clinical improvement was observed in 47% of those who had terminated exposure and in 22% of those who remained exposed; clinical deterioration was observed in 14% and 17% respectively (p = 0.805). Logistical regression analysis, including the type of agent and the persistence or avoidance of exposure among the variables, did not show any predictive factors of clinical evolution. Similarly, the changes in FEV1 and in bronchial hyperresponsiveness were not associated with the avoidance or continuation of exposure to the causative agent.ConclusionsAvoiding exposure to the causative agent in patients with OA does not seem to improve prognosis in this disease. Despite these findings, there is insufficient evidence to recommend a change in current management guidelines

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Victorian institute of sports assessment - Hamstrings (VISA-H) questionnaire for Spanish speaking athletes with proximal hamstring tendinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Hamstrings (VISA-H) scale into Spanish. DESIGN: Clinical measurement study (psychometric analysis). SETTING: Sports clubs and physiotherapy clinics. PARTICIPANTS: The Spanish version of the VISA-H (VISA-H-Sp) scale was administered to 101 subjects: 50 healthy runners and 51 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PHT. MAIN MEASURES: The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Hamstrings. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha for the VISA-H-Sp was >0.8. The ICC 2,1 was 0.993 (95%CI 0.991-0.995). In the exploratory factor analysis, a one-factor solution explained 72.1% of the total variance. Athletes with PHT scored significantly lower in the VISA-H-Sp than healthy subjects (P 0.6; P < 0.001), and low or non-significant association with psychological dimensions. The standard error of measurement was 1.45 whereas the minimal detectable change was 4.02 points. The responsiveness indicators included an effect size of 2.75, and a standardised response mean of 3.1 at discharge. CONCLUSION: The VISA-H-Sp shows adequate psychometric properties for assessing the severity of symptoms in Spanish-speaking athletes who suffer from PHT