On the stability of homogeneous steady states of a chemotaxis system with logistic growth term

We consider a nonlinear PDEs system of Parabolic-Elliptic type with chemotactic terms. The system models the movement of a population “n” towards a higher concentration of a chemical “c” in a bounded domain Ω. We consider constant chemotactic sensitivity χ and an elliptic equation to describe the distribution of the chemicalnt − dnΔn = −χdiv(n∇c) + μn(1−n), −dcΔc + c = h(n) for a monotone increasing and lipschitz function h. We study the asymptotic behavior of solutions under the assumption of 2χ∣h′∣ < μ. As a result of the asymptotic stability we obtain the uniqueness of the strictly positive steady states.PostprintPeer reviewe

Lactobacillus and Its Probiotic Role in the Digestive and Nutritional Processes of Pigs: A Review

The activity of a probiotic is dependent on the strain’s ability to confer health benefits to the host through oral consumption of viable cells. The main objective of this study was to carry out a review about the importance of Lactobacillus and its probiotic role in the digestive and nutritional processes of pigs. The study focused on seven strains of Lactobacillus and their varied uses in feeding different categories of pigs. We obtained a clear conceptualization of Lactobacillus’ effect on the immune system, its genome and how it is used in probiotic drinks. Based on the results, we can conclude that the use of Lactobacillus improves swine health and nutrition, making it a viable alternative to replace the indiscriminate use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Keywords: probiotics, antibiotics, digestive process, endogenous species, pig categories. RESUMEN La habilidad de un probiótico está en dependencia de la capacidad de la cepa de conferir beneficios de salud al hospedador mediante el consuno oral de células viables. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal realizar una aproximación conceptual de varios autores acerca de la importancia de los Lactobacillus y su papel probiótico en el proceso digestivo y nutricional en cerdos. Para ello, se hizo necesario realizar una profusa búsqueda, selección y procesamiento de las más prominentes fuentes bibliográficas, que tratan sobre este tema. El estudio se llevó a cabo sobre 7 cepas de Lactobacillus y sus diferentes formas de uso en la alimentación de las diferentes categorías porcinas; obteniéndose entre los principales resultados una clara conceptualización de la acción de los Lactobacillus en el sistema inmunológico, genoma y el modo de utilización en bebidas probióticas. A modo de conclusión, se puede mencionar que la totalidad de los autores citados concuerdan que la utilización de Lactobacillus mejora fundamentalmente la sanidad y nutrición porcina, convirtiéndose en la alternativa más viable para remplazar el uso indiscriminado de los antibióticos como promotores de crecimiento. Palabras claves: probióticos, antibióticos, proceso digestivo, especies endógenas, categorías porcinas

Knowledge and degree of training of Primary Education teachers in relation to ICT taught to disabled students

The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the inclusive classroom requires competent teaching staff from both the technological and pedagogical points of view. Within this context, and with the aim of looking at one of these theoretical premises, this study aimed to identify the degree of training and technological knowledge of primary school teachers in Spain with respect to the use of ICT with individuals with disabilities (functional diversity). A descriptive ex post-facto research method was used, where the sample comprised 777 teachers. An ad-hoc questionnaire was used as the data-collection instrument. The results revealed the low skill levels of the teachers with respect to the use of ICT with students with disabilities, where the level of training of the teaching staff was determined by personal (gender, age), professional (teaching experience) or educational (qualifications) variables. The findings of this study point to the need for teacher training that instructs teachers on the use of ICT in order to favour the learning and educational innovation of students with disabilities

Making Nutritional Blocks Based on Scirpus rigidus (Totorilla) Flour for the Feeding and Fattening of Guinea Pigs

The present study was carried out in the Guano Canton, San José de Chocón community. The objective was to evaluate the productive behavior of guinea pigs when totorilla flour (Scirpus rigidus) is used in their daily feeding. A randomized design was used in a two-factor combinatorial arrangement, for Factor A (flour levels) and Factor B (sex), with four treatments and four repetitions of each versus a control treatment. The treatments were: T0 (0%), T1 (5%), T2 (10%), T3 (15%), and T4 (20%). The evaluation period was 75 days, with an initial weight of 0.41 kg (21 days old). No significant difference was found (p &lt; 0.05) for the final weights (PF), weight gain (GP), total food consumption (CTA), or feed conversion (CA). However, significant differences were found in the weight of the carcass (PC) (p ≤ 0.01); the highest weight was observed in T2 (10% of totorilla flour) with 0.80 kg ± 0.02, and in T0; T3 presented lower results. Significant differences were also found for performance of the carcass (RC) (p ≤ 0.01); the higher values were observed in the T4 and T1 treatments with 77.63% and 74.63%, respectively; a lower value was observed in T3 with 63.82%. In terms of the sex factor variable, male animals presented better results than female ones. 20% totorilla flour corresponded to USD 1.32 profitability. Based on the results, we can conclude that adding totorilla flour to guinea pig feed does not affect their productive behavior and increases the quality of the livestock. For cuyicultural production, the implementation of totorilla flour in guinea pig feed provides a new food alternative and lowers costs. Keywords: technology and agricultural sciences, animal science, totorilla, Scirpus rigidus, totorilla flour, feeding in guinea pigs, nutritional block. RESUMEN El presente estudio se realizó en la comunidad de San José de Chocón, cantón Guano. El objetivo fue evaluar el comportamiento productivo de los cuyes cuando en su alimentación diaria se utiliza harina de totorilla (Scirpus rigidus) en la elaboración de bloques nutricionales. Se utilizó un Diseño Completamente al Azar en arreglo combinatorio de dos factores, para el Factor A (niveles de harina), Factor B (sexo), con 4 tratamientos y 4 repeticiones cada uno frente un tratamiento control. Los tratamientos fueron T0 (0%), T1 (5%), T2 (10%), T3 (15%), T4 (20%), en un periodo de evaluación de 75 días, con un peso inicial de 0,41 kg (21 días de edad). Los resultados no mostraron diferencias significativas (p &lt; 0,05) en las variables, en pesos finales (PF), ganancia de peso (GP), consumo total de alimento (CTA), conversión alimenticia (CA). Sin embargo, se encontró diferencias altamente significativas en peso a la canal (PC), (p ≤ 0,01), siendo el mayor peso para el T2 (10% de harina de totorilla) con 0,80 kg ± 0,02, y T0; T3 presentaron resultados más bajos. Rendimiento a la canal (RC) se reportan diferencias altamente significativas (p ≤ 0,01), obteniendo los valores más altos para los tratamientos T4; T1; con 77,63; 74,63 (%) y se observó un menor valor en el T3 con 63,82%. Para el factor sexo los animales machos presentan mejor resultado a diferencia de las hembras. Se consiguió con el empleo de 20% de harina de totorilla con 1,32 USD rentabilidad. Concluyendo que al adicionar harina de totorilla en la alimentación de cuyes no afecta el comportamiento productivo y aumenta la calidad del semoviente. Para la producción cuyícolas la implementación de harina de totorilla en la alimentación de cobayos permitirá tener nueva alternativa alimenticia y abaratar costos.&nbsp; Palabras clave: tecnología y ciencias agropecuarias, zootecnia, Totorilla (Scirpus rigidus), harina de totorilla, alimentación en cuyes, bloque nutricional. &nbsp

SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SPANISH INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY

EMODNet High Resolution Seabed MappingEMODNET-HRS

Design and experimental validation of a magnetic device for stem cell culture

Cell culture of bone and tendon tissues requires mechanical stimulation of the cells in order to mimic their physiological state. In the present work, a device has been conceived and developed to generate a controlled magnetic field with a homogeneous gradient in the working space. The design requirement was to maximize the magnetic flux gradient, assuring a minimum magnetizing value in a 15 mm × 15 mm working area, which highly increases the normal operating range of this sort of devices. The objective is to use the machine for two types of biological tests: magnetic irradiation of biological samples and force generation on paramagnetic particles embedded in scaffolds for cell culture. The device has been manufactured and experimentally validated by evaluating the force exerted on magnetic particles in a viscous fluid. Apart from the magnetic validation, the device has been tested for irradiating biological samples. In this case, viability of human dental pulp stem cells has been studied in vitro after electromagnetic field exposition using the designed device. After three days of irradiation treatment, cellular microtissues showed a 59% increase in the viable cell number. Irradiated cells did not show morphological differences when compared with control cells

The afterglow and kilonova of the short GRB 160821B

GRB 160821B is a short duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected and localized by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in the outskirts of a spiral galaxy at z=0.1613, at a projected physical offset of 16 kpc from the galaxy's center. We present X-ray, optical/nIR and radio observations of its counterpart and model them with two distinct components of emission: a standard afterglow, arising from the interaction of the relativistic jet with the surrounding medium, and a kilonova, powered by the radioactive decay of the sub-relativistic ejecta. Broadband modeling of the afterglow data reveals a weak reverse shock propagating backward into the jet, and a likely jet-break at 3.5 d. This is consistent with a structured jet seen slightly off-axis while expanding into a low-density medium. Analysis of the kilonova properties suggests a rapid evolution toward red colors, similar to AT2017gfo, and a low nIR luminosity, possibly due to the presence of a long-lived neutron star. The global properties of the environment, the inferred low mass (M_ej < 0.006 Msun) and velocities (v > 0.05 c) of lanthanide-rich ejecta are consistent with a binary neutron star merger progenitor.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS, in press. Moderate revision, added Figure 5 and X-ray data to Table

Clinical relevance of monitoring serum levels of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in daily practice

[Objectives]: We aimed to assess the usefulness of measuring serum levels of adalimumab (ADL) and anti-ADL antibodies in 57 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with ADL for at least 3 months in daily practice. [Methods]: All patients received concomitant disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). Receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to obtain the cut-off value of ADL for low disease activity (DAS28-ESR ≤3.2). [Results]: Anti-ADL antibodies were detected in 4 (7%) patients with a mean (SD) DAS28 score of 4.6 (0.9). Patients with positive anti-ADL antibodies had significantly lower levels of ADL and higher DAS28 scores than those with negative antibodies. Patients with DAS28 ≤3.2 as compared with patients with DAS28 >3.2 showed significantly better SDAI score, higher serum concentrations of ADL and none of them showed anti-ADL antibodies. The cut-off of serum level of ADL for DAS28 11.3 mg/L. Patients in the medium group were closed to clinical remission (median DAS28 2.7) and patients in the high group were on clinical remission (DAS28 2.1). [Conclusion]: Serum levels of ADL should be maintained >4.3 mg/L. In patients with ADL levels >11.3 mg/L, a decrease of the dose of ADL or an increase in the interval between doses may be planned. The presence of anti-ADL antibodies was associated with a loss of clinical efficacy of ADL.Peer Reviewe