Condensation in an Economic Model with Brand Competition

We present a linear agent based model on brand competition. Each agent belongs to one of the two brands and interacts with its nearest neighbors. In the process the agent can decide to change to the other brand if the move is beneficial. The numerical simulations show that the systems always condenses into a state when all agents belong to a single brand. We study the condensation times for different parameters of the model and the influence of different mechanisms to avoid condensation, like anti monopoly rules and brand fidelity.Comment: Accepted in: International Journal of Modern Physics

Análisis de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes de medicina posterior al confinamiento por covid-19

Introduction. Evidence points to alarming levels of depression, anxiety and stress in this student population, which justifies the implementation of studies to observe their post-pandemic situation. Method. Observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. A Google Form digital survey was used for the application of the scales DASS-21, GHQ-28, ISEL, IES-COVID19 to observe the presence of depression, anxiety and stress and their relationship with perceived social support and general health status. Result. The sample was of 60 medical undergraduate students of INUMEDH, A 60% prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was found, as well as a high correlation with perceived social support on the part of the students, moderate correlations (p <.001) with the presence of somatic symptoms, insomnia and social dysfunction. The correlation was high for the presence of the variables in relation to the situation by COVID19 (p <.001). Conclusion. The presence of depression, anxiety and stress was high in this student population. A significantly high relationship of depression and stress was found due to the COVID19 situation.Introducción. La evidencia señala alarmantes niveles de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en esta población estudiantil, lo que justifica la implementación de estudios para observar la situación de estos posterior a la pandemia. Método. Estudio Observacional, transversal y analítico. Se utilizó encuestas digitales de Google Form para la aplicación de las escalas DASS-21, GHQ-28, ISEL, IES-COVID19 para observar la presencia de depresión, ansiedad y estrés y su relación con el apoyo social percibido y el estado de salud general. Resultado. La muestra fue de 60 alumnos de la licenciatura en medicina de INUMEDH, Se encontró una prevalencia del 60% de depresión, ansiedad y estrés, así como una correlación alta con el apoyo social percibido de parte de los estudiantes, correlaciones moderadas (p <.001) con la presencia de síntomas somáticos, insomnio y disfunción social. La correlación fue alta para la presencia de las variables en relación con la situación por COVID19 (p <.001) Conclusión. La presencia de depresión, ansiedad y estrés fue elevada en esta población estudiantil. Se encontro una relación significativamente alta de depresión y estrés debido a la situación por COVID19

Perspectivas de la Infotecnología para la Editorial Universitaria en Cuba

The word "Infotecnología" defines the key discipline for reaching the training and the development of the technical-social relationships and the communications infrastructure of the Cuban Higher Education. The use of Information Technology for producing and publishing the graduation theses is highly important for the best use of TICs in Higher Education in Cuba, so, since the 2008-2009 course the decision was make that all the Cuban students should produce their graduation theses in digital format. The results of the application of a procedure to produce the graduation theses by using Free software and their publication in digital format are discussed in this paper. The paper proposes the use of the Editorial University's Websites to become the main tools for training professors and students in the intensive use of the Information Technology and for producing and publishing the academic documents. The creation of the Register of the Cuban Academic Publications is proposed to make possible the use of bibliographical references managers

Afectación renal en las enfermedades causadas por mutaciones en el ADN mitocondrial

Las enfermedades mitocondriales se deben a un defecto en la fosforilación oxidativa como consecuencia de mutaciones que afectan tanto al ADN nuclear como al genoma mitocondrial. La repercusión suele ser multisistémica y cualquier órgano puede verse implicado. El riñón se ve frecuentemente afectado debido a la importante demanda energética que requiere para llevar a cabo sus funciones, sobre todo a nivel del túbulo proximal. Se han identificado distintas mutaciones puntuales y deleciones causales en el ADN mitocondrial asociadas a varios fenotipos renales: tubulopatías proximales y distales, glomerulopatías, nefritis tubulointersticial y enfermedad quística. Ahora bien, la forma de presentación en los pacientes es muy variable, desde la afectación subclínica hasta la enfermedad renal crónica avanzada. De los defectos genéticos conocidos, la mutación A3243G en el gen que codifica el ARNt de la leucina es la que se ha descrito con mayor frecuencia y se asocia a daño glomerular. Sin embargo, los mecanismos patogénicos subyacentes siguen siendo poco conocidos, lo que dificulta el desarrollo de terapias específicas para estos pacientes. <br /

Catalase as a Molecular Target for Male Infertility Diagnosis and Monitoring: An Overview

Catalase (CAT) stands out as one of the most efficient natural enzymes when catalysing the split of H2O2 into H2O and O2; H2O2 is one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in oxidative stress, a process closely related to aging and several health disorders or diseases like male infertility. Some studies have correlated H2O2 with male infertility and catalase with fertility restoration. However, the number of studies conducted with human beings remains scarce. Considering the use of CAT as a molecular target for biochemical analysis, this review summarises the current knowledge on how CAT influences human beings’ male fertility. Thus, three different databases were consulted—Scopus, PubMed and WOS—using single keywords and combinations thereof. A total of 40,823 articles were identified. Adopting inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final database of 197 articles served to conduct this work. It follows from this analysis that CAT could play an important role in male fertility and could become a good target for male infertility diagnosis and monitoring. However, that potential role of CAT as a tool in diagnosis must be confirmed by clinical trials. Finally, guidelines are suggested to reinforce the use of CAT in daily clinical tests for male fertility diagnosis and monitoring.This research was funded by the Human Fertility Chair, the Department of Biotechnology (VIGROB-186) and the Applied Biochemistry research group of the University of Alicante (VIGROB-309)

Discurso fisico-anatómico sobre las plantas dirigido a los agricultores y presentado a la Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del Pais de Segovia

Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 2009-2010Sign.: []2, *3, A-L4, M5Antep

IZUMO1 Receptor Localization during Hyaluronic Acid Selection in Human Spermatozoa

IZUMO1 is an acrosome transmembrane protein implicated in the adhesion and fusion of gametes. This study aims to describe the distribution of IZUMO1 in human sperm under different physiological conditions: before capacitation (NCS), at one-hour capacitation (CS1), after a hyaluronic acid (HA) selection test (mature, MS1 and immature, IS1), and induced acrosome reaction from one-hour-capacitated sperm (ARS1). The data obtained in NCS, CS1, and MS1 significantly highlight dotted fluorescence in the acrosomal region (P1) as the major staining pattern (~70%). Moreover, we describe a new distribution pattern (P2) with a dotted acrosomal region and a labelled equatorial region that significantly increases in HA-bound spermatozoa, suggesting the onset of the migration of IZUMO1. In contrast, unbound spermatozoa presented an increase in P3 (equatorial region labelled) and P4 (not labelled). Finally, costaining to observe IZUMO1 distribution and acrosome status was performed in ARS1. Interestingly, we reported a variety of combinations between the IZUMO1 staining patterns and the acrosomal stages. In conclusion, these data show as a novelty the diffusion of the IZUMO1 protein during different physiological conditions that could contribute to the improvement in sperm selection techniques.This research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2021-123091NB-C22) and by Universidad de Alicante (VIGROB-186)

Sperm Adhesion Molecule 1 (SPAM1) Distribution in Selected Human Sperm by Hyaluronic Acid Test

The failures of binding to the oocyte zona pellucida are commonly attributed to defects in the sperm recognition, adhesion, and fusion molecules. SPAM1 (sperm adhesion molecule 1) is a hyaluronidase implicated in the dispersion of the cumulus-oocyte matrix. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the SPAM1 distribution in the different physiological conditions of human sperm. Specifically, we evaluated the location of the SPAM1 protein in human sperm before capacitation, at one and four hours of capacitation and after hyaluronic acid (HA) selection test by fluorescence microscopy. Sperm bound to HA were considered mature and those that crossed it immature. Our results detected three SPAM1 fluorescent patterns: label throughout the head (P1), equatorial segment with acrosomal faith label (P2), and postacrosomal label (P3). The data obtained after recovering the mature sperm by the HA selection significantly (p < 0.05) highlighted the P1 in both capacitation times, being 79.74 and 81.48% after one hour and four hours, respectively. Thus, the HA test identified that human sperm require the presence of SPAM1 throughout the sperm head (P1) to properly contact the cumulus-oocyte matrix. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the physiological basis of sperm capacitation and could contribute to the improvement of selection techniques.This research was funded by the Cátedra Human Fertility, Departamento de Biotecnología of the Universidad de Alicante (VIGROB-186) and «Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento» within the framework of the State Program to Promote Scientific-Technical Research and its Transfer, of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2017–2020 (PGC2018-094781-B-I00)