”The basic human form is female. Maleness is a kind of birth defect”: la discriminación positiva en The Fall

Este artículo intenta hacer un análisis hermenéutico de algunos de los imaginarios sociales puestos en juego en las dos primeras temporadas de la teleserie británica The Fall a través de sus dos personajes protagonistas: la policía Stella Gibson y el asesino en serie Paul Spector. Mientras en el primero de los casos tenemos a una mujer emancipada de algunos roles femeninos anteriores, en el segundo nos encontramos con un sociópata que intenta conciliar su pulsional necesidad de asesinar para sublimar su deseo ante mujeres emancipadas con su vida familiar. En el juego entre ambos personajes se escenifica una lucha que tiene lugar en nuestra sociedad entre los roles femeninos tradicionales y los nuevos

Development and validation of a new methodological platform to measure behavioral, cognitive, and physiological responses to food interventions in real time

To fully understand the causes and mechanisms involved in overeating and obesity, measures of both cognitive and physiological determinants of eating behavior need to be integrated. Effectively synchronizing behavioral measures such as meal micro-structure (e.g., eating speed), cognitive processing of sensory stimuli, and metabolic parameters, can be complex. However, this step is central to understanding the impact of food interventions on body weight. In this paper, we provide an overview of the existing gaps in eating behavior research and describe the development and validation of a new methodological platform to address some of these issues. As part of a controlled trial, 76 men and women self-served and consumed food from a buffet, using a portion-control plate with visual stimuli for appropriate amounts of main food groups, or a conventional plate, on two different days, in a random order. In both sessions participants completed behavioral and cognitive tests using a novel methodological platform that measured gaze movement (as a proxy for visual attention), eating rate and bite size, memory for portion sizes, subjective appetite and portion-size perceptions. In a sub-sample of women, hormonal secretion in response to the meal was also measured. The novel platform showed a significant improvement in meal micro-structure measures from published data (13 vs. 33% failure rate) and high comparability between an automated gaze mapping protocol vs. manual coding for eye-tracking studies involving an eating test (ICC between methods 0.85; 90% CI 0.74, 0.92). This trial was registered at Clinical Trials.gov with Identifier NCT03610776

Development and validation of a new methodological platform to measure behavioral, cognitive, and physiological responses to food interventions in real time

To fully understand the causes and mechanisms involved in overeating and obesity, measures of both cognitive and physiological determinants of eating behavior need to be integrated. Effectively synchronizing behavioral measures such as meal micro-structure (e.g., eating speed), cognitive processing of sensory stimuli, and metabolic parameters, can be complex. However, this step is central to understanding the impact of food interventions on body weight. In this paper, we provide an overview of the existing gaps in eating behavior research and describe the development and validation of a new methodological platform to address some of these issues. As part of a controlled trial, 76 men and women self-served and consumed food from a buffet, using a portion-control plate with visual stimuli for appropriate amounts of main food groups, or a conventional plate, on two different days, in a random order. In both sessions participants completed behavioral and cognitive tests using a novel methodological platform that measured gaze movement (as a proxy for visual attention), eating rate and bite size, memory for portion sizes, subjective appetite and portion-size perceptions. In a sub-sample of women, hormonal secretion in response to the meal was also measured. The novel platform showed a significant improvement in meal micro-structure measures from published data (13 vs. 33% failure rate) and high comparability between an automated gaze mapping protocol vs. manual coding for eye-tracking studies involving an eating test (ICC between methods 0.85; 90% CI 0.74, 0.92). This trial was registered at Clinical Trials.gov with Identifier NCT03610776. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.3758/s13428-021-01745-9

Analysis of polarized 16 O ( → e , e ′ → p ) observables within the relativistic distorted wave impulse approximation

Recoil nucleon transferred polarization observables in coincidence quasielastic electron scattering are studied within the relativistic distorted wave impulse approximation. Results for response functions and polarization asymmetries are discussed for proton knockout from p 1 ∕ 2 , p 3 ∕ 2 , and s 1 ∕ 2 shells in 16 O . The impact of spinor distortion is examined by comparing the fully relativistic calculation with results obtained by projecting out the negative-energy components. In particular, a careful analysis of effects linked to the description of the bound and scattered relativistic nucleon wave functions is presented. The high sensitivity of some polarization observables to the dynamical enhancement of the lower components, already shown within the relativistic plane wave impulse approximation, is proven to be maintained in the relativistic distorted wave approach. Semi-relativistic approaches based on the effective momentum approximation are also studied. Finally, comparison with experimental data and a brief analysis of effects linked to medium modified form factors is presented.Dirección Genera de Investigación de España (DGI) y Fondos FEDER. BFM2002-03315, BFM2002-03562, FPA2002-04181-C04- 04, y BFM2000-0600Junta de Andalucía, España y Department of Energy de los EE.UU. DE-FC02-94ER4081

Unusual Vermamoeba Vermiformis Strain Isolated from Snow in Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are protozoa that are widely distributed in the environment mainly in water and soil related habitats. Thermophilic amoebae are among the most common FLA in water bodies, being Vermamoeba vermiformis one of the most common species reported worldwide from these sources. Interestingly, V. vermiformis has often been reported to survive at high temperatures and osmotic pressure worldwide.Materials and Methods: In this study, snow samples were collected from Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands during the winter season of 2014. The samples were culture on non nutrient agar plates and checked daily for the presence of FLA. After a week, V. vermiformis amoebae were observed in the plates incubated at room temperature and 37ºC.Results: Molecular characterization was carried out by amplifying the 18S rDNA gene and DNA sequencing, confirmed that the isolated strain belonged to Vermamoeba vermiformis species.Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Vermamoeba vermiformis isolation from such an inusual habitat (low temperatures and high altitude) and the first report of these species in the Canary islands

Evaluación de calidad de agua en un sistema ribereño utilizado para riego agrícola de subsistencia

En la evaluación del impacto de la contaminación en el ambiente, existen diversas herramientas y técnicas que se aplican para conocer la calidad ambiental de los recursos naturales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la calidad del agua en un sistema ribereño en San Luis Potosí, México asociado al impacto del uso agrícola, urbano e industrial. Fueron establecidos cinco puntos de muestreo asociado a diversos usos y descargas residuales en donde se evaluaron 28 muestras durante cuatro días de muestro. Estas fueron distribuidas a los 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 y 120 minutos del trayecto determinando con un medidor multiparámetro los sólidos disueltos totales (SDT), temperatura (T), conductividad eléctrica (CE), pH y oxígeno disuelto (OD). El resultado más destacado de las 28 muestras diarias y del total de 112 que los promedios oxígeno disuelto indican condición hipoxia que indica la desaparición de organismos y especies sensibles, concluyendo que el área ribereña requiere un constante monitoreo y diversificación de parámetros para evaluar su condición para actividades agrícolas.In the assessment of the impact of pollution on the environment, there are various tools and techniques that are applied to know the environmental quality of natural resources. The objective of this work was to evaluate water quality in a river system in San Luis Potosí, Mexico associated with the impact of agricultural, urban and industrial use. Five sampling points associated to various uses and residual discharges were established where 28 samples were evaluated during four days of sampling. The total dissolved solids (SDT), temperature (T), electrical conductivity (CE), pH and dissolved oxygen (OD) were distributed at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minutes of the path. The most outstanding result of the 28 daily samples and the total of 112 that dissolved oxygen averages indicate hypoxia condition indicating the disappearance of sensitive organisms and species, concluding that the riparian area requires constant monitoring and diversification of parameters to evaluate agricultural activities.Fil: Alcalá Jáuregui, J. A. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Acosta Doporto Geiler, A. Instituto Tecnológico Superior de los Ríos de Balancan (México)Fil: Rodríguez Ortiz, J.C. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Hernández Montoya, A. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Martínez Carretero, Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Filippini, Maria Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Díaz Flores, P. E. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Lara Mireles, J. L. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de Agronomí

First Report of Vermamoeba vermiformis in the Island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) are group of protozoa distributed worldwide in many habitats mainly water and soil related sources. Some members of FLA are able to act as opportunistic pathogens and are environmental carriers of other pathogenic agents such as bacteria and viruses. Vermamoeba vermiformis is a highly abundant FLA species in water bodies and has recently gained environmental importance as it acts as a vehicle of many pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella pneumophila.Cases Report: In this study, water samples were collected from the island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain during 2015. El Hierro island was designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve and it is currently the less populated of the Canary Islands. The water samples were culture on 2 % Non-Nutrient Agar (NNA) plates covered with a thin layer of heat killed E. coli and checked daily for the presence of FLA. After a week, V. vermiformis amoebae were observed in the plates incubated at room temperature and 37 ºC. Molecular characterization was carried out by amplifying the 18S rDNA gene and DNA sequencing, confirming that the isolated strain belonged to Vermamoeba vermiformis species.Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Vermamoeba vermiformis isolation in the island of El Hierro and the second report of this species in the Canary Islands

Chronic glaucoma using biodegradable microspheres to induce intraocular pressure elevation. Six-month follow-up

Background: To compare two prolonged animal models of glaucoma over 24 weeks of follow-up. A novel pre-trabecular model of chronic glaucoma was achieved by injection of biodegradable poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres (10–20 µm) (Ms20/10) into the ocular anterior chamber to progressively increase ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods: Rat right eyes were injected to induce OHT: 50% received a suspension of Ms20/10 in the anterior chamber at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks, and the other 50% received a sclerosing episcleral vein injection biweekly (EPIm). Ophthalmological clinical signs, intraocular pressure (IOP), neuroretinal functionality measured by electroretinography (ERG), and structural analysis of the retina, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) protocols using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and histological exams were performed. Results: Both models showed progressive neuroretinal degeneration (p < 0.05), and contralateral eye affectation. The Ms20/10 model showed a more progressive increase in IOP and better preservation of ocular surface. Although no statistical differences were found between models, the EPIm showed a tendency to produce thicker retinal and thinner GCL thicknesses, slower latency and smaller amplitude as measured using ERG, and more aggressive disturbances in retinal histology. In both models, while the GCL showed the greatest percentage loss of thickness, the RNFL showed the greatest and earliest rate of thickness loss. Conclusions: The intracameral model with biodegradable microspheres resulted more like the conditions observed in humans. It was obtained by a less-aggressive mechanism, which allows for adequate study of the pathology over longer periods. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Four millennia of Iberian biomolecular prehistory illustrate the impact of prehistoric migrations at the far end of Eurasia

Population genomic studies of ancient human remains have shown how modern-day European population structure has been shaped by a number of prehistoric migrations. The Neolithization of Europe has been associated with large-scale migrations from Anatolia, which was followed by migrations of herders from the Pontic steppe at the onset of the Bronze Age. Southwestern Europe was one of the last parts of the continent reached by these migrations, and modern-day populations from this region show intriguing similarities to the initial Neolithic migrants. Partly due to climatic conditions that are unfavorable for DNA preservation, regional studies on the Mediterranean remain challenging. Here, we present genome-wide sequence data from 13 individuals combined with stable isotope analysis from the north and south of Iberia covering a four-millennial temporal transect (7, 500–3, 500 BP). Early Iberian farmers and Early Central European farmers exhibit significant genetic differences, suggesting two independent fronts of the Neolithic expansion. The first Neolithic migrants that arrived in Iberia had low levels of genetic diversity, potentially reflecting a small number of individuals; this diversity gradually increased over time from mixing with local hunter-gatherers and potential population expansion. The impact of post-Neolithic migrations on Iberia was much smaller than for the rest of the continent, showing little external influence from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Paleodietary reconstruction shows that these populations have a remarkable degree of dietary homogeneity across space and time, suggesting a strong reliance on terrestrial food resources despite changing culture and genetic make-up

Impaired Mitophagy and Protein Acetylation Levels in Fibroblasts from Parkinson's Disease Patients

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. While most PD cases are idiopathic, the known genetic causes of PD are useful to understand common disease mechanisms. Recent data suggests that autophagy is regulated by protein acetylation mediated by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities. The changes in histone acetylation reported to be involved in PD pathogenesis have prompted this investigation of protein acetylation and HAT and HDAC activities in both idiopathic PD and G2019S leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cell cultures. Fibroblasts from PD patients (with or without the G2019S LRRK2 mutation) and control subjects were used to assess the different phenotypes between idiopathic and genetic PD. G2019S LRRK2 mutation displays increased mitophagy due to the activation of class III HDACs whereas idiopathic PD exhibits downregulation of clearance of defective mitochondria. This reduction of mitophagy is accompanied by more reactive oxygen species (ROS). In parallel, the acetylation protein levels of idiopathic and genetic individuals are different due to an upregulation in class I and II HDACs. Despite this upregulation, the total HDAC activity is decreased in idiopathic PD and the total HAT activity does not significantly vary. Mitophagy upregulation is beneficial for reducing the ROS-induced harm in genetic PD. The defective mitophagy in idiopathic PD is inherent to the decrease in class III HDACs. Thus, there is an imbalance between total HATs and HDACs activities in idiopathic PD, which increases cell death. The inhibition of HATs in idiopathic PD cells displays a cytoprotective effect