Quasi-Exact Solvability and the direct approach to invariant subspaces

We propose a more direct approach to constructing differential operators that preserve polynomial subspaces than the one based on considering elements of the enveloping algebra of sl(2). This approach is used here to construct new exactly solvable and quasi-exactly solvable quantum Hamiltonians on the line which are not Lie-algebraic. It is also applied to generate potentials with multiple algebraic sectors. We discuss two illustrative examples of these two applications: an interesting generalization of the Lam\'e potential which posses four algebraic sectors, and a quasi-exactly solvable deformation of the Morse potential which is not Lie-algebraic.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Information Feedback and Mass Media Effects in Cultural Dynamics

We study the effects of different forms of information feedback associated with mass media on an agent-agent based model of the dynamics of cultural dissemination. In addition to some processes previously considered, we also examine a model of local mass media influence in cultural dynamics. Two mechanisms of information feedback are investigated: (i) direct mass media influence, where local or global mass media act as an additional element in the network of interactions of each agent, and (ii) indirect mass media influence, where global media acts as a filter of the influence of the existing network of interactions of each agent. Our results generalize substantiate previous findings showing that cultural diversity builds-up by increasing the strength of the mass media influence. We find that this occurs independently of the mechanisms of action (direct or indirect) of the mass media message. However, through an analysis of the full range of parameters measuring cultural diversity, we establish that the enhancement of cultural diversity produced by interaction with mass media only occurs for strong enough mass media messages. In comparison with previous studies a main different result is that weak mass media messages, in combination with agent-agent interaction, are efficient in producing cultural homogeneity. Moreover, the homogenizing effect of weak mass media messages are more efficient for direct local mass media messages than for global mass media messages or indirect global mass media influences.Agent Based Model, Culture, Dissemination, Mass Media

Social media in cardiology: Reasons to learn how to use it

Social media has changed the way we learn, educate, and interact with our peers. The dynamic nature of social media and their immediate availability through our portable devices (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.) is quickly transforming the way we participate in society. The scope of these digital tools is broad as they deal with many different aspects: Teaching and learning, case discussion, congresses coverage, peer to peer interaction, research are examples worth mentioning. The scientific societies considered more innovative, are promoting these tools between their members. These new concepts need to be known by the cardiologists to stay updated, as countless information is moving rapidly through these channels. We summarize the main reasons why learning how to use these tools to be part of the conversation is essential for the cardiologist in training or fully stablished

Use of barley straw residues to avoid high erosion and runoff rates on persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain under low frequency-high magnitude simulated rainfall events

[EN] Soil and water losses due to agricultural mismanagement are high and non-sustainable in many orchards. An experiment was set up with rainfall simulation at 78 mm h(-1) over 1 hour on 20 paired plots of 2 m(2) (bare and straw covered) in new persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain. Effects of straw cover on the control of soil and water losses were assessed. An addition of 60% straw cover (75 gm(-2)) resulted in delayed ponding and runoff generation and consequently reduced water losses from 60% to 13% of total rainfall. The straw cover reduced raindrop impact and thus sediment detachment from 1014 to 47 g plot(-1) h(-1). The erosion rate was reduced from 5.1 to 0.2 Mg ha-(1) h(-1). The straw mulch was found to be extremely efficient in reducing soil erosion rates.The research projects GL2008-02879/BTE, LEDDRA 243857 and RECARE-FP7 (no. 603498, http://recare-project.eu/) supported this research.Cerdà, A.; González-Pelayo, Ó.; Giménez Morera, A.; Jordán, A.; Pereira, P.; Novara, A.; Brevik, EC.... (2016). Use of barley straw residues to avoid high erosion and runoff rates on persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain under low frequency-high magnitude simulated rainfall events. Soil Research. 54(2):154-165. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR15092S15416554

Association of anti-citrullinated vimentin and anti-citrullinated ?-enolase antibodies with subsets of rheumatoid arthritis.

[EN] Objective. To determine whether the anti? citrullinated vimentin peptide 60?75 (anti?Cit-vimentin) and the immunodominant anti?citrullinated -enolase peptide 1 (anti?CEP-1) antibodies are associated with subsets of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) independently of the associations between anti?cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and clinical features of RA. Methods. The 3 antibody types were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 521 patients with RA and 173 healthy controls of Spanish ancestry. Genotypes for HLA?DRB1 alleles and rs2476601 in PTPN22 were available for these patients and controls plus an addi- tional 106 healthy controls. A combined analysis of the 3 antibodies was conducted using stratified contingency tables and logistic regression models. Results. A differential, particularly strong, and independent association was observed between the pres- ence of anti?Cit-vimentin antibodies and the presence of shared epitope (SE) alleles, specifically in patients carrying 2 SE alleles, and between the presence of anti? Cit-vimentin antibodies and the prevalence of joint erosion. Associations were observed between anti? CEP-1 positivity and the presence of HLA?DRB1 and PTPN22 risk alleles and their additive interaction. These associations were not accounted for by the anti- CCP status. Conclusion. Our results indicate that the 2 anti- bodies against citrullinated peptides analyzed in this study add specific information beyond that obtained with the anti-CCP status. They define subgroups of patients with RA in which genetic factors have different weight and there is an observed difference in the prev- alence of erosions.Fondo de Investigaci?n Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)European Regional Development Fund of the European UnionXunta de GaliciaFundaci?n Espa?ola de Reumatolog?

Follow-up observations at 16 and 33 GHz of extragalactic sources from WMAP 3-year data: I - Spectral properties

We present follow-up observations of 97 point sources from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) 3-year data, contained within the New Extragalactic WMAP Point Source (NEWPS) catalogue between declinations of -4 and +60 degrees; the sources form a flux-density-limited sample complete to 1.1 Jy (approximately 5 sigma) at 33 GHz. Our observations were made at 16 GHz using the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI) and at 33 GHz with the Very Small Array (VSA). 94 of the sources have reliable, simultaneous -- typically a few minutes apart -- observations with both telescopes. The spectra between 13.9 and 33.75 GHz are very different from those of bright sources at low frequency: 44 per cent have rising spectra (alpha < 0.0), where flux density is proportional to frequency^-alpha, and 93 per cent have spectra with alpha < 0.5; the median spectral index is 0.04. For the brighter sources, the agreement between VSA and WMAP 33-GHz flux densities averaged over sources is very good. However, for the fainter sources, the VSA tends to measure lower values for the flux densities than WMAP. We suggest that the main cause of this effect is Eddington bias arising from variability.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, submitted to MNRA

Pathogenesis and Clinical Relevance of Candida Biofilms in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

The ability of Candida spp. to form biofilms is crucial for its pathogenicity, and thus, it should be considered an important virulence factor in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent VVC (RVVC). Its ability to generate biofilms is multifactorial and is generally believed to depend on the site of infection, species and strain involved, and the microenvironment in which the infection develops. Therefore, both cell surface proteins, such as Hwp1, Als1, and Als2, and the cell wall-related protein, Sun41, play a critical role in the adhesion and virulence of the biofilm. Immunological and pharmacological approaches have identified the NLRP3 inflammasome as a crucial molecular factor contributing to host immunopathology. In this context, we have earlier shown that Candida albicans associated with hyphae-secreted aspartyl proteinases (specifically SAP4-6) contribute to the immunopathology of the disease. Transcriptome profiling has revealed that non-coding transcripts regulate protein synthesis post-transcriptionally, which is important for the growth of Candida spp. Other studies have employed RNA sequencing to identify differences in the 1,245 Candida genes involved in surface and invasive cellular metabolism regulation. In vitro systems allow the simultaneous processing of a large number of samples, making them an ideal screening technique for estimating various physicochemical parameters, testing the activity of antimicrobial agents, and analyzing genes involved in biofilm formation and regulation (in situ) in specific strains. Murine VVC models are used to study C. albicans infection, especially in trials of novel treatments and to understand the cause(s) for resistance to conventional therapeutics. This review on the clinical relevance of Candida biofilms in VVC focuses on important advances in its genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Moreover, recent experiments on the influence of biofilm formation on VVC or RVVC pathogenesis in laboratory animals have been discussed. A clear elucidation of one of the pathogenesis mechanisms employed by Candida biofilms in vulvovaginal candidiasis and its applications in clinical practice represents the most significant contribution of this manuscript

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

AIMS: The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (>/=1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61-0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. CONCLUSION: After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types

An?lisis documental sobre los trabajos de grado de los estudiantes de Licenciatura en Educaci?n B?sica con ?nfasis en Lengua Castellana, de la Universidad del Tolima en los CREAD a distancia enfatizados en el leguaje

65 p. Recurso Electr?nicoEn el presente art?culo se muestra el estado del arte de las investigaciones sobre ?Lenguaje? basadas en los trabajos de grado de los estudiantes de Lengua Castellana con ?nfasis en B?sica Primaria de la Universidad del Tolima. Desde un marco metodol?gico de corte cualitativo-cuantitativo atendiendo a los objetivos propuestos con un estudio de tipo sistematizaci?n y an?lisis, llevando a cabo un rastreo de dicho an?lisis de los trabajos de grado, que comprende los grados entre 3? a 11?. En la educaci?n. Durante el per?odo de tiempo 2009-2015, de trabajos de grado de los CREAD a distancia. Como resultado del an?lisis indican que la l?nea del lenguaje contiene lectura, escritura, lecto-escritura, oralidad, pensamiento cr?tico. Para lo cual la mayor?a de los trabajos de grado los estudiantes seg?n recolecci?n de datos, emplearon la observaci?n, y fueron orientadas desde el enfoque constructivismo (Vygotsky). Adem?s, en los trabajos de grado priman la competencia comunicativa. Se encontraron datos en los cuales los trabajos de grado no poseen dimensi?n alguna.The present article shows the state of the art of the research on "Language" based on the degree works of the students of Spanish Language with emphasis in Primary Basic of the University of Tolima. From a methodological framework of qualitative-quantitative cut taking into account the objectives proposed with a study of type systematization and analysis, carrying out a tracing of said analysis of the works of degree, that includes the grades between 3? to 11?. In education. During the 2009-2015 time period, of distance CREAD degree works. As a result of the analysis indicate that the language line contains reading, writing, reading-writing, orality, critical thinking. For which most of the grade-level students the students based on data collection, used observation, and were oriented from the constructivism approach (Vygotsky). In addition, in the works of degree prevail the communicative competence. Data were found in which grade work does not have any dimension. Keywords: Analysis, Qualitative, quantitative, data, language, systematization