Radio-frequency dressed lattices for ultracold alkali atoms

Ultracold atomic gases in periodic potentials are powerful platforms for exploring quantum physics in regimes dominated by many-body effects as well as for developing applications that benefit from quantum mechanical effects. Further advances face a range of challenges including the realization of potentials with lattice constants smaller than optical wavelengths as well as creating schemes for effective addressing and manipulation of single sites. In this paper we propose a dressed-based scheme for creating periodic potential landscapes for ultracold alkali atoms with the capability of overcoming such difficulties. The dressed approach has the advantage of operating in a low-frequency regime where decoherence and heating effects due to spontaneous emission do not take place. These results highlight the possibilities of atom-chip technology in the future development of quantum simulations and quantum technologies, and provide a realistic scheme for starting such an exploration

Screening and quantification of micro(nano)plastics and plastic additives in the seawater of Mar Menor lagoon

In this work a suspect-screening approach was employed to assess the polymers and plastic additives of micro(nano)plastics (NPL/MPLs) of size ranges from the nm range to 20 μm present in seawater from the top 5 cm of the Mar Menor lagoon during two sampling campaigns (summer and winter), as well of other potentially adsorbed compounds onto the plastic particles surfaces and suspended material. The identification of NPL/MPLs has been based on characteristic Kendrick Mass Defect analysis for each polymer type in mass spectra. The applied methodology allowed to identify NPLs/MPLs of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polyisoprene (PI), polybutadiene (PBD), polypropylene (PP), polyamides (PA), polyvinylchloride (PVC), n-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAm), and polydimethylsiloxanes. In addition, PS, PE, PI, PBD, PP, PA, and PVC were confirmed with standards, and the equivalent concentrations were quantified. The results of this study showed that most frequently found compounds were PP, PE, PA and PNIPAm, while the compound found at higher concentrations was by far PP reaching the 9,303 ± 366 ng/mL in one of the samples. A total number of 135 chemical compounds were tentatively identified, 74 of them plastic additives and compounds used in the polymers manufacture or coming from the polymer’s decomposition. In relation to plastic additives, the more frequently tentatively identified compounds were plasticizers such as phthalates group; stabilizers such as antioxidants (e.g., distearyl 3,3′-thiodipropionate, 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone), and UV filters as benzotriazoles. Several flame retardants of the group of phosphates were as well detected. The other compounds tentatively identified in the samples were pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives, flavors and natural products that were attached onto the plastic particles and particulate matter from surrounding waters. In regards to the seasonal variation, during the summer a major number of compounds were tentatively detected, while de concentrations of polymers were slightly higher in winter. The spatial distribution showed higher contamination in the southern part of the coastal lagoon.Postprin

Variabilidad de la Respuesta de las Células Dendríticas Estimuladas in vitro con Porphyromonas gingivalis y Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

ResumenLas células dendríticas son células presentadoras de antígeno capaces de inducir la activación y maduración de linfocitos T CD4+ vírgenes hacia un fenotipo efector especifico Th1 o Th2, dependiendo del tipo de antigeno presentado, las senales co-estimuladoras que expresan y el ambiente de citoquinas en el cual se produce la interaccion celula-celula. El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar la respuesta de las celulas dendriticas estimuladas in vitro con distintas concentraciones de las bacterias periodontopatógenas Pg y Aa. En celulas dendriticas derivadas de monocitos de sangre periferica estimuladas con 101 a 109 bacterias/mL de Pg y Aa se evaluo la expresion del marcador de maduracion CD80 mediante citometria de flujo y de las citoquinas IL1β, IL2, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, IL13, IFNγ, TNFα y TNFβ mediante RT-PCR cuantitativa. Aa y Pg indujeron maduracion de las celulas dendriticas, detectandose significativamente mayor expresion de CD80 con la estimulacion de Aa, e indujeron predominantemente la expresion de citoquinas propias de una respuesta Th1. Dependiendo de la carga bacteriana, fueron detectados distintos umbrales de induccion de expresion de citoquinas. Aa indujo la sintesis de IL1β, IL12, IFNγ, TNFα y TNFβ a menor carga bacteriana que Pg. Tomados en conjunto, estos datos nos permiten especular un mayor potencial antigenico y proyectar una mayor capacidad patogenica durante la infeccion periodontal de Aa en comparación a Pg.AbstractDendritic cells are potent antigen-presenting cells able to prime naive T cells and polarize them towards a Th1 or Th2 response, depending on the type of the antigen presented to the TCR, the type of costimulatory signals, and the cytokine pattern in the environment. The aim of this work was to analyze the response of dendritic cells to in vitro stimulation with Pg and Aa. In monocyte-derived dendritic cells stimulated with 101 to 109 bacteria/mL of Pg or Aa were evaluated both the expression of the maturation marker CD80 by flow cytometry and the expression of the cytokines IL1β, IL2, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, IL13, IFNγ, TNFα and TNFβ by quantitative RT-PCR. Both Pg and Aa led to dendritic cell maturation, detecting higher CD80 expression upon Aa-stimulation, and induced a Th1 pattern of cytokine expression. Aa-stimulated dendritic cells expressed IL1β, IL12, IFNγ, TNFα and TNFβ mRNAs with lower bacterial charge than with Pg. Furthermore, our data indicated the existence of distinct thresholds for the induction of the different cytokines analyzed. Taken together, these data allow us to speculate a higher antigenic potential and higher pathogenic capacity of Aa than Pg during periodontal infections

A highly-safe live auxotrophic vaccine protecting against disease caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella Typhimurium in mice

Background: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) has become an important intestinal pathogen worldwide and is responsible for lethal invasive infections in populations at risk. There is at present an unmet need for preventive vaccines. Methods: IRTA GN-3728 genome was sequenced by Illumina and D-glutamate and D-glutamate/D-alanine knockout-auxotrophs were constructed. They were characterized using electron microscopy, growth/viability curves, reversion analysis, and motility/agglutination assays. Their potential as vaccine candidates were explored using two BALB/c mouse models for Salmonella infections: a systemic and an intestinal inflammation. Clinical signs/body weight and survival were monitored, mucosal lactoferrin and specific/cross-reactive IgA/IgG were quantified by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays and bacterial shedding/burden in fecal/tissues were evaluated. Results: The D-glutamate auxotroph, IRTA DmurI, is highly attenuated, immunogenic and fully protective against systemic infection. The IRTA DmurI Dalr DdadX double auxotroph, constructed to reinforce vaccine safety, showed a higher level of attenuation and was 100% effective against systemic disease. In the intestinal model, it proved to be safe, yielding a lowdegree of mucosal inflammation, short-term shedding and undetectable invasiveness in the long-term, while eliciting cross-reactive fecal IgA/serum IgG against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. Typhimurium strains. It also conferred protection against homologous oral challenge, and protected mice from local and extra-intestinal dissemination caused by one MDR strain responsible for an international outbreak of highly severe human infections. Additionally, oral vaccination promoted extended survival after lethal heterologous infection. Conclusion: This study yielded a very safe S. Typhimurium vaccine candidate that could be further refined for mucosal application against disease in humans.This study was supported by a grant from SERGAS (The Galician Healthcare Service) (Programs “InnovaSaude” and “InnovaMicrolab”), the Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (RD16/0016/0006), CIBERINFEC, project PI18/00501, funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and cofunded by European Union (ERDF, “A way to make Europe”), and PI21/00704, funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and co-funded by the European Union, awarded to GB, and by CZ Vaccines. VFV is funded by a predoctoral fellowship from Xunta de Galicia (IN606A-2019/012).S

Effectiveness of a telerehabilitation intervention using ReCOVery APP of long COVID patients: a randomized, 3-month follow-up clinical trial

The main objective of this study is to analyze the clinical efficacy of telerehabilitation in the recovery of Long COVID patients through ReCOVery APP for 3 months, administered in the Primary Health Care context. The second objective is to identify significant models associated with an improvement in the study variables. An open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted using two parallel groups of a total of 100 Long COVID patients. The first group follows the treatment as usual methods established by their general practitioner (control group) and the second follows the same methods and also uses ReCOVery APP (intervention group). After the intervention, no significant differences were found in favour of the group intervention. Regarding adherence, 25% of the participants made significant use of the APP. Linear regression model establishes that the time of use of ReCOVery APP predicts an improvement in physical function (b = 0.001; p = 0.005) and community social support (b = 0.004; p = 0.021). In addition, an increase in self-efficacy and health literacy also contribute to improving cognitive function (b = 0.346; p = 0.001) and reducing the number of symptoms (b = 0.226; p = 0.002), respectively. In conclusion, the significant use of ReCOVery APP can contribute to the recovery of Long COVID patients. Trial Registration No.: ISRCTN91104012

Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovars Tyhimurium and 4,5,[12]:i:- isolated from pigs and pig environmental-related sources in the NE of Spain

A total of 117 Salmonella Typhimurium and 59 monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium (S. 4,[5],12:i:-) strains isolated from pig, wild bird, rodent, and farm environmental samples were characterized by phage typing, antibiotic susceptibility testing and Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) in order to evaluate their phenotypic and genetic relatedness. In S. 4,[5],12:i:- the most prevalent phage types were U311 (40.7%) and DT195 (22%) which did not correspond with the so-called Spanish clone, and generally showed a different resistant pattern (ASSuT). Antibiotic resistance was found in 85.8% of the isolates, with 94.1% of them displaying multidrug resistance (MDR). MLVA identified 92 different profiles, six of them shared by both serovars. The Minimum Spanning Tree showed one major cluster that included 95% of the S. 4,[5],12:i:- isolates, which came from different animal sources, geographic locations and time periods, suggesting high clonality among those Salmonella strains and the ability to spread among pig farms. Phenotypically, isolates of S. 4,[5],12:i:- were closer to European strains than to the well-characterized Spanish clone. The spread of these new strains of S. 4,[5],12:i:- would have been likely favoured by the important pig trade between this Spanish region and other European countries

The emotional well-being of Long COVID patients in relation to their symptoms, social support and stigmatization in social and health services: a qualitative study

Background Long COVID patients have experienced a decline in their quality of life due to, in part but not wholly, its negative emotional impact. Some of the most prevalent mental health symptoms presented by long COVID patients are anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. As such, the need has arisen to analyze the personal experiences of these patients to understand how they are managing their daily lives while dealing with the condition. The objective of this study is to increase understanding about the emotional well-being of people diagnosed with long COVID. Methods A qualitative design was created and carried out using 35 patients, with 17 participants being interviewed individually and 18 of them taking part in two focus groups. The participating patients were recruited in November and December 2021 from Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in the city of Zaragoza (Northern Spain) and from the Association of Long COVID Patients in Aragon. The study topics were emotional well-being, social support networks, and experience of discrimination. All an inductive thematic content analyses were performed iteratively using NVivo software. Results The Long COVID patients identified low levels of self-perceived well-being due to their persistent symptoms, as well as limitations in their daily lives that had been persistent for many months. Suicidal thoughts were also mentioned by several patients. They referred to anguish and anxiety about the future as well as a fear of reinfection or relapse and returning to work. Many of the participants reported that they have sought the help of a mental health professional. Most participants identified discriminatory situations in health care. Conclusions It is necessary to continue researching the impact that Long COVID has had on mental health, as well as to provide Primary Health Care professionals with evidence that can guide the emotional treatment of these patients

Role of metformin and other metabolic drugs in the prevention and therapy of endocrine-related cancers

Metabolic syndrome is associated with chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This review summarizes the current evidence on the antitumor effects of some relevant drugs currently used to manage metabolic-related pathologies (i.e. insulin and its analogs, metformin, statins, etc.) in endocrine-related cancers including breast cancer, prostate cancer, pituitary cancer, ovarian cancer, and neuroendocrine neoplasms. Although current evidence does not provide a clear antitumor role of several of these drugs, metformin seems to be a promising chemopreventive and adjuvant agent in cancer management, modulating tumor cell metabolism and microenvironment, through both AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Moreover, its combination with statins might represent a promising therapeutic strategy to tackle the progression of endocrine-related tumors. However, further studies are needed to endorse the clinical relevance of these drugs as adjuvants for cancer chemotherapy.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España. PID2019- 105564RB-I00/FPU16-05059Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) y Fondo Social Europeo (FSE). PI20/01301Instituto de Salud Carlos III de España. SCIII-AES-2019/002525Junta de Andalucía. PI-0152-2019, PI-0094-2020, PI-0038/2019, RH-0084-2020 y BIO-013

La importancia de la redacción en la formación académica del profesional de las relaciones públicas, en la Universidad de Panamá

Objetivo general < Conocer el déficit en la redacción de los estudiantes de las Relaciones Públicas del Centro Regional Universitario de Panamá Oeste. Objetivos específicos < Determinar los hábitos de lectura utilizados por los estudiantes. <Considerar las horas de redacción que tiene actualmente el plan de estudio para Relaciones Públicas. Identificar los signos de puntuación, ortografía y sintaxis en la redacción de los estudiantes de Relaciones Públicas

Measurement Invariance of the Short UCLA Loneliness Scale in Spanish and Peruvian Old People: Latent Mean Differences and Evidence for Differential Effects on Perceived Health

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the measurement invariance of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS) three-item version (UCLA-LS-3) in older adults in Peru and Spain, to compare the latent means of loneliness, and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale with Item Response Theory (IRT) models, and evaluate the possible moderating effects of the country on loneliness-health relationships. Peruvian sample was composed of 235 old adults from the city of Lima. The Spanish sample was composed of 443 old adults. The three-factor structure of RUCLA-3 anchored to the health measure fitted the data reasonably well in Spain and Peru. The R-UCLA-3 may be considered invariant for these two samples. The latent means of loneliness are different, the Peruvian average of loneliness being greater than that of Spain. The R-UCLA-3 is an invariant measure in older adults in Peru and Spain, with adequate psychometric properties through IRT models