Reproductive aspects of the rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) in the Golf of Cadiz (southwestern Iberian Peninsula)

Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) is an abundant penaeid species which inhabits the Eastern Atlantic, from Portugal to Angola, and the Mediterranean Sea. This species is of great interest to fishermen in the Spanish waters of the Gulf of Cadiz. The present study on the reproductive cycle of P. longirostris was based on the analysis of monthly commercial samples and fisheries research surveys carried out in this region. This species shows two spawning peaks throughout the year, the first peak occurring in late spring and the second one in the autumn. The larger mature females mainly spawn in the spring, whereas smaller adult females spawn in autumn. Females’ cephalothorax length (CL) at first maturity was between 21.5 and 22 mm CL. In males the joining of the two sections of the petasma takes place at between 12 and 15 mm CL, being always separated at sizes lower than 11 mm CL. The size at which 50 % of males have a joint petasma was estimated at 12.9 mm CL, the size at first maturity being estimated at 14.8 mm CL. The conditioning factor is related more to growth events than to ovarian maturation, and a relationship was found between them. Relative fecundity was estimated at 7486 eggs/g of female, with fecundity ranging from 21410 to 186856 eggs. Females at the stage of both advanced ovarian development and readiness to spawn occurred at depths greater than 100 m.La gamba blanca Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) es un peneido abundantemente distribuido en el Atlántico oriental-desde Portugal hasta Angola-y en el Mediterráneo, y constituye un recurso primordial para un importante sector pesquero en aguas del Golfo de Cádiz. Para ampliar el conocimiento sobre su ciclo reproductivo se muestrearon mensualmente las capturas comerciales y se consideraron de nuevo muestras obtenidas en otras campañas de investigación desarrolladas en la zona. En el ciclo se distinguen dos máximos de puesta al año: el primero al final de primavera y el segundo en otoño. Las hembras más grandes realizan la puesta fundamentalmente en primavera, mientras quelas de tamaños menores lo hacen en otoño. La talla de primera madurez en las hembras se sitúa entre 21.5 y 22 mm de longitud del cefalotórax (LC). En los machos, la unión de las dos piezas del petasma tiene lugar cuando los ejemplares alcanzan entre 12 y 15 mm LC, permaneciendo aún separadas en todos los individuos de menos de 11 mm LC; la talla a la que el 50 % de los machos tiene el petasma totalmente formado fue estimada en 12.9 mm LC. La masa espermática en las coxas del quinto par de pereiópodos está presente a partir de 13 mm LC, calculándose la talla de primera madurez en 14.8 mm LC. El factor de condición está más relacionado con el crecimiento en sí que con la maduración. La fecundidad relativa fue estimada en 7486 huevos por gramo de ejemplar hembra, encontrándose valores entre 21410 y 186856 huevos. La puesta tiene lugar a partir de 100 m de profundidad

Igualdad de género percibida en el reparto de cuidados y salud mental: impacto de la crisis sanitaria por COVID-19 en una muestra de mujeres andaluzas

The restrictions during COVID-19 seem to have had an unequal impact on the mental health and habits of the population in terms of gender. The literature states that crises such as this have a more negative impact on women. We explored perceived overload due to household chores and informal caregiving in a sample of Andalusian women, their perception of an increase in this overload after the pandemic, and its possible effect on mental health. To do this, we administered an online retrospective questionnaire to explore the perception of 166 women on care economy variables by estimating hours, effort, overload, and sharing of chores at three different times: before the onset of the pandemic, during lockdown, and at the time of data collection (one year after lockdown). We also measured depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction at the time of data collection through validated scales. Results showed that women estimated significantly more time and effort on household chores and caregiving for the lockdown period. The retrospective estimation of the sharing of tasks was similar over the three moments but women perceived that they did more than their heterosexual partners. One in four women perceived an increase in caregiving overload after the pandemic. Women who felt mental overload due to caregiving scored higher in depression than those who felt physical overload. Considering these findings, and despite the limitations of this study, the pandemic may have led to an increase in informal caregiving overload for many women. Furthermore, the relation between depression and overload one year after lockdown was demonstrated. Measures are required to reduce the impact of gender in crises by designing prevention policies and programs that promote co-responsibility.Las restricciones vividas durante la COVID-19 parecen haber causado un impacto diferencial de género en la salud mental y en los hábitos de gran parte de la población. Asimismo, la literatura indica que las situaciones de crisis como la vivida tienen peor impacto en las mujeres. El objetivo de este trabajo es explorar la sobrecarga percibida por las tareas del hogar y cuidados informales en una muestra de mujeres andaluzas, su percepción de un incremento en la misma tras la pandemia, y su posible relación con variables de salud mental. Para ello se administró un cuestionario online para explorar la percepción de 166 mujeres en variables de economía de cuidados estimando retrospectivamente las horas, esfuerzo, sobrecarga y reparto de tareas del hogar para el momento de recogida de datos (un año tras el confinamiento), para el momento previo al inicio de la pandemia y durante el confinamiento. También se administraron instrumentos validados para medir depresión, ansiedad, estrés y satisfacción vital en el momento de recogida de datos. Los resultados mostraron una percepción de mayor dedicación y esfuerzo debido a los cuidados y tareas del hogar estimado para el momento de confinamiento. El reparto de tareas se estimó similar para los tres momentos sobre los que se preguntó, y percibieron que ellas hacían más estas tareas que sus parejas heterosexuales. Una de cada cuatro mujeres percibió un aumento de la sobrecarga debida a cuidados tras la pandemia y los niveles de depresión fueron mayores en mujeres que sentían una sobrecarga mental debida a los cuidados, por encima de quien identificó sobrecarga física. Aun considerando las limitaciones de este trabajo, la pandemia ha podido suponer un incremento en la sobrecarga por los cuidados informales para muchas mujeres y, evidenciada la relación entre depresión y sobrecarga, podría entenderse que esta relación también se diera durante el confinamiento. Se requieren medidas que reduzcan el impacto de género en situaciones de crisis y políticas y programas de prevención que fomenten la corresponsabilidad.This work has been funded by Fundación María Fulmen (Sevilla) within their Third Call for Grants for Projects Aimed at Women Promotion (2021) [III Convocatoria de ayudas 2021 a proyectos dirigidos a la promoción de mujeres]

Role of LrpC from Bacillus subtilis in DNA transactions during DNA repair and recombination

Bacillus subtilis LrpC is a sequence-independent DNA-binding and DNA-bending protein, which binds both single-stranded (ss) and double-stranded (ds) DNA and facilitates the formation of higher order protein–DNA complexes in vitro. LrpC binds at different sites within the same DNA molecule promoting intramolecular ligation. When bound to separate molecules, it promotes intermolecular ligation, and joint molecule formation between a circular ssDNA and a homologous ssDNA-tailed linear dsDNA. LrpC binding showed a higher affinity for 4-way (Holliday) junctions in their open conformation, when compared with curved dsDNA. Consistent with these biochemical activities, an lrpC null mutant strain rendered cells sensitive to DNA damaging agents such as methyl methanesulfonate and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, and showed a segregation defect. These findings collectively suggest that LrpC may be involved in DNA transactions during DNA repair and recombination

Glucose Biosensor Based on Disposable Activated Carbon Electrodes Modified with Platinum Nanoparticles Electrodeposited on Poly(Azure A)

Herein, a novel electrochemical glucose biosensor based on glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized on a surface containing platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) electrodeposited on poly(Azure A) (PAA) previously electropolymerized on activated screen-printed carbon electrodes (GOx-PtNPs-PAA-aSPCEs) is reported. The resulting electrochemical biosensor was validated towards glucose oxidation in real samples and further electrochemical measurement associated with the generated H2O2. The electrochemical biosensor showed an excellent sensitivity (42.7 μA mM−1 cm−2), limit of detection (7.6 μM), linear range (20 μM–2.3 mM), and good selectivity towards glucose determination. Furthermore, and most importantly, the detection of glucose was performed at a low potential (0.2 V vs. Ag). The high performance of the electrochemical biosensor was explained through surface exploration using field emission SEM, XPS, and impedance measurements. The electrochemical biosensor was successfully applied to glucose quantification in several real samples (commercial juices and a plant cell culture medium), exhibiting a high accuracy when compared with a classical spectrophotometric method. This electrochemical biosensor can be easily prepared and opens up a good alternative in the development of new sensitive glucose sensors.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, http://www.mineco.gob.es/portal/site/mineco/idi), projects Nos. BFU2016-75609-P (AEI/FEDER, UE) and CTQ2016-76231-C2-2-R; the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, project No. PID2019-106468RB-I00; and by the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), project No. SBPLY/17/180501/000276/2 (cofunded with FEDER funds, EU)

Interacción de los antineoplásicos orales con los alimentos: revisión sistemática

[email protected]ón: Los estudios de biodisponibilidad son parte integrante del desarrollo clínico de medicamentos para administración oral con el fin de identificar potenciales interacciones fármaco-alimento (iFA). Actualmente, para los antineoplásicos orales se empieza a reconocer su importancia clínica, aun cuando lamentablemente, la información disponible presenta variabilidad en su evidencia científica. Objetivos: Revisar la evidencia científica disponible sobre las interacciones de los alimentos con medicamentos antineoplásicos orales y establecer recomendaciones para su administración. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en Medline y The Cochrane Library para el periodo comprendido entre enero de 1966 a marzo de 2008, enfocada a identificar las publicaciones sobre interacciones fármaco alimento con antineoplásicos orales. El análisis bibliográfico consta de dos fases. En la primera fase se excluyeron los artículos que por título y contenido del resumen no se correspondían con el objetivo planteado; en la segunda fase se eliminaron las referencias duplicadas en ambas bases de datos. Los criterios de inclusión para seleccionar los artículos fueron: diseño (revisiones sistemáticas, metaanálisis, ensayos clínicos randomizados Fase I y II), población (pacientes adultos; >19 años de edad), intervención evaluada (administración de antineoplásicos orales bajo condiciones de ayuno o con alimentos) y medida del resultado de la iFA (cálculo del IC90% de la razón entre la media geométrica de valores del área bajo la curva de concentraciones plasmáticas (ABC) o la concentración plasmática máxima (Cmax) con y sin alimentos). Se excluyeron las publicaciones que como medida de resultado no hacían referencia al dictamen de bioequivalencia establecido por la Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). La valoración crítica de los artículos seleccionados se realizó según las recomendaciones que de acuerdo con la FDA deben cumplir estos estudios. Resultados: En la búsqueda inicial se obtuvieron 850 referencias (98,5% Medline + y 1,4% Cochrane). En la primera fase se excluyeron el 87,7% (746) de los artículos, correspondiendo el 100% a la búsqueda en Medline. En la segunda fase, quedaron 40 artículos (5,2% de los iniciales) para su lectura crítica a texto completo, a los que se añadieron cuatro más no indexados en Medline. De la lectura crítica de los 44 artículos finales, se excluyeron 25 artículos (20 artículos originales, 4 comunicaciones cortas y 1 metanálisis) por no incluir como medida de resultado el dictamen de bioequivalencia. Los 19 (2,2%) artículos restantes proporcionaron información sobre 19 fármacos antineoplásicos orales, en 210 pacientes y 146 voluntarios sanos. De estos 19 fármacos, el 63% no presentan iFA o interacciones fármaco-alimento, pudiéndose administrar indistintamente con/sin alimentos; el 21% se deben administrar con alimentos y sólo el 16% presentan interacción fármaco alimento, por lo que se deben administrar sin alimentos. Discusión: Actualmente, la importancia clínica de las interacciones fármaco alimento con antineoplásicos orales se identifica más directamente con la seguridad del paciente que con la efectividad del tratamiento. Ante el desarrollo de estos agentes orales, su irrupción en la terapia oncológica desplazando a la terapia parenteral, con costes mensuales de miles de euros, hay necesidad de realizar estudios farmacocinéticos y farmacodinámicos bien diseñados. Su objetivo debe de ser comparar su biodisponibilidad en presencia o ausencia de alimentos con la respuesta clínica. Mientras tanto, establecer recomendaciones para su administración en relación con los alimentos, es inconsistente para algunos de estos fármacos y su resultado incierto por la falta de estudios fundamentados en el dictamen de bioequivalencia establecido por la FDA.Introduction: studies on bioavailability are part of the clinical development of drugs for oral use in order to identify potential drug-food interactions. For oral antitumor drugs, their clinical importance is currently recognized although regrettably the information available presents variability concerning the scientific evidence. Objectives: To review the available scientific evidence about oral anti-tumor medications and establish the recommendations for their administration with foods. Methods: We carried out a bibliographic search in Medline and The Cochrane Library for the period January of 1966 to March of 2008, focused on identifying those publications about drug-food interactions with oral antitumor medications. The bibliographical analysis was made in two steps. During the first phase, we excluded those articles in which the title or their content did not correspond with the objective settled; during the second phase, we deleted all the references duplicated in both databases. The inclusion criteria to select the articles were: design (systematic reviews, meta-analysis, Phase I and Phase II randomized clinical trials), population (adult patients; >19 years of age), intervention evaluated (administration of oral anti-tumor drugs under fasting conditions or with food) and measurement of the iFA results (calculation of the 90% CI of the odds ratio between the geometric mean of the values under the curve of the plasma concentrations (ABC) or the maximal plasma concentration (Cmax) with and without foods). We excluded those publications that did not make reference to the bioequivalence dictamen established by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in their outcomes measurement. A critical appraisal of the selected articles was done according to the recommendations that the FDA established to be met by these studies. Results: At the initial search we obtained 850 references (98.5% Medline + and 1.4% Cochrane). During the first phase, we excluded 87.7% (746) of the articles, 100% of them corresponding to the search in Medline. During the second phase, 40 studies remained (5.2% of the initial ones) for full-text critical appraisal, to which four studies were added not indexed in Medline. From the critical appraisal of the 44 final articles, 25 were excluded (20 original articles, 4 short communications, and 1 meta-analysis) because they did not include as an outcome measure the bioequivalence dictamen. The 19 (2.2%) remaining articles provided information on 19 oral anti-tumor drugs in 210 patients and 146 healthy volunteers. Of these 19 drugs, 63% did not present drugfood interactions, with the possibility of administering them either with or without food; 21% have to be administered with foods and only 16% present drug-food interactions, so they have to be administered without foods. Discussion: Currently, the clinical importance of drugfood interactions with oral anti-tumor drugs is identified more directly with the patient's safety than with the efficacy of the therapy. Given the development of these oral agents, their incorporation into the oncologic strategy displacing parenteral therapy, with monthly costs of thousands of Euros, it is necessary to perform well-designed studies on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Their goal has to be comparing their bioavailability in the presence or absence of foods with the clinical response. In the meanwhile, to establish recommendations for their administration in relation to foods is inconsistent for some of these drugs and their results is uncertain given the lack of studies based on the FDAbioequivalence dictamen

A Configurable Sensor Network Applied to Ambient Assisted Living

The rising older people population has increased the interest in Ambient Assisted Living systems. This article presents a system for monitoring the disabled or older persons developed from an existing surveillance system. The modularity and adaptability characteristics of the system allow an easy adaptation for a different purpose. The proposed system uses a network of sensors capable of motion detection that includes fall warning, identification of persons and a configurable control system which allows its use in different scenarios

Non-enzymatic glucose sensor using mesoporous carbon screen-printed electrodes modified with cobalt phthalocyanine by phase inversion

The development of non-enzymatic glucose electrochemical sensors is still required to be used for the determination of glucose in complex biological media. This study presents a straightforward and remarkably efficient tool for the preparation of highly stable and sensitive glucose electrochemical sensors based on the deposition of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) onto mesoporous carbon screen-printed electrodes (MCs). Results show that the MC electrochemical activation (aMC) followed by phase inversion (PI), which consisted of drop casting of CoPc in dimethylformamide onto a wetting electrolyte leading to the electrode aMC-CoPc/PI, enhanced sensitivity towards glucose determination in complex media. The beneficial need for MC surface activation and PI has been explored by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The aMC-CoPc/PI electrode exhibited the highest electrocatalytic activity of the series (namely, MC-CoPc, MC-CoPc/PI and aMC-CoPc) towards glucose oxidation. By using square wave voltammetry technique, the aMC-CoPc/PI glucose electrochemical sensor demonstrated a sensitivity of 22.3 µA mM−1 and a low detection limit of 27.4 µM (S/N = 3) in a linear dynamic range of 0.1 to 3.5 mM. Additionally, it also displayed high selectivity, robust stability, repeatability and reproducibility toward the quantification of glucose concentration in complex samples such as horse serum, intravenous glucose saline solution and culture medium for sperm cells.This work was partially supported by the research project TED2021-129921B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR, and grant No. 2022-GRIN-34199 funded by the own research plan of the UCLM for applied research projects, co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER). The authors also want to acknowledge Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain) for the support through ELECTROBIONET (RED2022-134120-T) from MCIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033. MIGS is a postdoctoral researcher of the own research plan of the UCLM funded from the EU through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (Ref. PI001523). RJP is the beneficiary of a postdoctoral contract associated with the indicated project from the MCIN/AEI. HK received a grant from Laboratoire of Physics of Materials: structure and properties (LR01ES15), University of Carthage (Tunisia), to perform a scientific internship at the UCLM

Metaphors used by the teachers in the processes of educational change from a gender mainstraiming

En este trabajo pretendemos conocer y comprender los sentimientos que despierta la puesta en marcha del plan de igualdad entre hombres y mujeres en educación a través de las metáforas que utilizan las profesoras para dar sentido a sus experiencias en la aplicación del mismo en sus centros. Para ello, utilizamos una metodología cualitativa basada en la realización de cinco grupos de discusión en los que participan 35 profesoras coordinadoras de coeducación en centros de Educación Secundaria de Andalucía durante el curso 2006/07. Los resultados muestran que estas profesoras despliegan una gran variedad y riqueza de metáforas para contar sus experiencias en relación con la aplicación de planes de igualdad, usando metáforas estratégicas y emocionales, las cuales aparecen relacionadas con el papel de la coeducación en los centros (yo soy un adornito, la coeducación es como una actividad cultural), con el lenguaje como estrategia del Plan de Igualdad (en pie de guerra, quemar las naves, por ahí van los tiros), con el clima de acogida del plan de igualdad (un tema que levanta ampollas, tocar las fibras sensibles), con la autopercepción social de las coordinadoras de coeducación (bicho de laboratorio, tener el estigma), con el rol del Plan de Igualdad en los centros (carta libre, arma legal) y con las formas de trabajo para conseguir un curriculum igualitario (hacer agujeritos, meterle mano). La elección de estas metáforas en el debate revela aquéllas que las profesoras consideran más valiosas para construir conocimientos compartidos sobre la igualdad en la escuela así como las que consideran más expresivas de las acciones y medios para promoverla en estos contextos.In this study, we try to know and understand the emotions that teachers experience in the process of application of the First Plan for Equality between Men and Women. We study the metaphors that teachers use to make sense of their experiences in the application of this plan in their schools. For that, we use a qualitative methodology based on the performance of five focus groups, involving 35 teachers from Secondary Education, who were in charge of the plan for equality during the course 2006/07 in their schools. The results show that teachers in their discourse on equality issues display a great variety of emotional and strategic metaphors, which are related to different dimensions such as the role of the coeducation at school (I am an adornment, the coeducation is a cultural activity), the language as a strategy of the Plan of Equality (up in arms, to burn your bridges, thereabouts the shots go) with the climate of reception of the Plan of Equality (a topic that raises people’s hackles, to hit a raw nerve), the social selfperception of the coordinators of coeducation (lab bug, to have the stigma), the role of the Plan of Equality in the centers (free letter, legal weapon) and the forms of work to obtain an egalitarian curriculum (to make little holes, to put hand). The choice of these metaphors in the debate reveals those that teachers consider are the most valuable in two senses: to build shared knowledge on equality at school and to promote this equality in formal educational settings.Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa P06-HUM- 0140

Point of care medical device communication standars (ISO11073/IEEE1073) in patient telemonitoring

Proceeding of: European Medical and Biological Engineering and IFMBE Conference (EMBEC 2005). November 20-25, 2005. Prague, Czech Republic.This paper reviews the use of ISO11073/ IEEE1073 international standard in patient telemonitoring. The purpose of this family of standards is to allow interoperability between medical instrumentation devices and medical information systems. Its application in the field of telemonitoring can encourage telemedicine services and e-care, preventing failures and problems that are making difficult its spread (use problems, high costs of reconfigurations and actualizations). An application guide for the system engineer that want to apply them is proposed, showing the steps to follow, the benefits and handicaps in the standard implementation for different telemonitoring scenarios. The study also includes the conformity levels that have to be fulfilled, the main application points of the standard.This work was supported by projects G03/117 from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Spanish Government) and 41/2003 from Departamento de Salud (Navarra Regional Government), and a personal grant to Miguel Galarraga from Departamento de Salud (Navarra Regional Government).No publicad