Spatio-temporal patterns driven by autocatalytic internal reaction noise

The influence that intrinsic local density fluctuations can have on solutions of mean-field reaction-diffusion models is investigated numerically by means of the spatial patterns arising from two species that react and diffuse in the presence of strong internal reaction noise. The dynamics of the Gray-Scott (GS) model with constant external source is first cast in terms of a continuum field theory representing the corresponding master equation. We then derive a Langevin description of the field theory and use these stochastic differential equations in our simulations. The nature of the multiplicative noise is specified exactly without recourse to assumptions and turns out to be of the same order as the reaction itself, and thus cannot be treated as a small perturbation. Many of the complex patterns obtained in the absence of noise for the GS model are completely obliterated by these strong internal fluctuations, but we find novel spatial patterns induced by this reaction noise in regions of parameter space that otherwise correspond to homogeneous solutions when fluctuations are not included.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figure

La Unión Europea y la creación de un Espacio de Seguridad y Justicia. Visión histórica de la lucha contra el terrorismo internacional en Europa

En este artículo se analiza la progresiva creación de un espacio de seguridad y justicia en el ámbito europeo, así como de las principales herramientas de las que dispone la Unión Europea para hacer frente al terrorismo internacional. Un terrorismo internacional que ha tenido dos vertientes fundamentales en Europa. La vertiente anarquista que llevó a cabo numerosos atentados terroristas a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX, y que esta en la base de las primeras iniciativas europeas en la lucha contra la violencia política. Y dos, la vertiente islamista, que adquiere un gran protagonismo desde principios del siglo XXI y que significó un revulsivo extraordinario para ta creación de un espacio de seguridad y justicia en el ámbito de la Unión Europea

Food and nutrient intake in Spanish vegetarians and vegans

Objective: Vegetarian and vegan diets have gained popularity in Spain. ere is no available information about specic food, supplementary intake and macro and micronutrient prole in Spanish vegetarian population. is study aimed to determine and evaluate their dietary intake. Methods: One hundred two Spanish vegetarian and vegans completed a food frequency questionnaire from which their specic food consumption as well daily intake of macro and micronutrients was assessed and subsequently compared to Spanish Dietary Reference intakes. Results: In both groups the diet appeared well balanced with a healthy distribution of macronutrients and fatty acids and a high content of ber. Vegan subjects showed higher intakes of vegetables, nuts and seeds as compared to vegetarians. At micronutrient level, almost all the vitamins and minerals intake covered Spanish Dietary Reference intakes. Intakes of vitamin B12 and D were below recommendations in both groups. In those micronutrients with a lower intake, higher proportions of vegetarians did meet recommendations as compared to vegans. Conclusions: Diet appeared well balanced regarding macronu- trients and ber. Almost all of the vitamins and mineral intake covered the Spanish DRIs, except B12 and D. Further studies with a large sample are needed to establish conclusions to the Spanish vegetarian population

Una cuestión de derechos humanos: las prácticas nocivas descritas en la meta 5.3. de la Agenda 2030: el matrimonio infantil, precoz y forzado, y la mutilación genital femenina

This work analyzes, first of all, the concepts of child, early and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation, scourges present in many countries of international society and that affect millions of children and women. Second, the main factors that favor these practices, the social, economic and human consequences that the generate are studied; and the fundamental rights violated. The third part analyzes the legal, political and social measures that, since the end of the 20th, have been applied bu the different actors of the international Society: States, International Organizations and NGOs, fundamentally, for the eradication of Child, Precocious and Forced Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation.Este trabajo analiza, en primer lugar, los conceptos de Matrimonio infantil, precoz y forzado, y de la Mutilación Genital femenina, lacras presentes en muchos países de la sociedad internacional y que afectan a millones de niñas/os y mujeres. En segundo lugar, se estudian los principales factores que favorecen estas prácticas, las consecuencias sociales, económicas y humanas que generan; y los derechos fundamentales vulnerados. La tercera parte analiza las medidas de carácter jurídico, político, y social que, desde finales del siglo XX, aplican los diferentes actores de la Sociedad internacional: Estados, Organizaciones Internacionales y ONGs, fundamentalmente, para la erradicación del Matrimonio Infantil, precoz y forzado, y la Mutilación Genital Femenina.

Brasil: protagonismo e incertidumbres en la escena internacional

Brasil, una potencia emergente y dentro del grupo de los BRIC, no puede ser considerada una potencia a nivel global ni tan siquiera una potencia regional. En el país carioca habitan elementos de inestabilidad en el orden interno que se plasman, muy en particular, en los índices de violencia o en la desigualdad. No obstante, la política exterior brasileña ha optado por afirmar el liderazgo y participación de Brasil a través de mecanismos y fórmulas «blandas» de ejercer poder en las relaciones internacionales. Los resultados de una política así no han sido despreciables y Brasil, con muchas incertidumbres, se abre paso en la escena internacional asumiendo un cierto protagonismo. La voluntad de Brasil es afirmar su liderazgo en el área suramericana y extender su influencia en el conjunto de América. Asimismo, se pretende asegurar su presencia en organismos y foros internacionales en los que se adoptan las decisiones de gobernanza mundial.Brazil, an emerging power and within the BRIC group, can not be considered a global power or even a regional power. In the carioca country living elements of instability in the internal order which are reflected, most notably in the rates o violence or inequality. However, the Brazilian foreign policy has chosen to sustain the leadership and participation of Brazil through mechanism and «soft forms of exercise power in international relations. The results of such a policy have not been negligible and Brazil, with many uncertainties, it makes its way on the international stage assuming a certain role. Will Brazil is asserting its leadership in the South Ameri- can area and extend its influence in the whole of America. It also aims to ensure its presence in international organizations and forums in which decisions are taken global governance

A case–control study to assess the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy on newborns, Valencian community, Spain, 1 March 2015 to 29 February 2016

In the Valencian Community (Spain), the programme of maternal pertussis vaccination during pregnancy started in January 2015. The objective of this study was to estimate in this region the vaccine effectiveness (VE) in protecting newborns against laboratory-confirmed pertussis infection. A matched case–control study was undertaken in the period between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016. Twenty-two cases and 66 controls (+/− 15 days of age difference) were included in the study. Cases were non-vaccinated infants < 3 months of age at disease onset testing positive for pertussis by real-time PCR. For every case three unvaccinated controls were selected. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by multiple conditional logistic regression for association between maternal vaccination and infant pertussis. Other children in the household, as well as mother- and environmental covariates were taken into account. The VE was calculated as 1 − OR. Mothers of five cases (23%) and of 41 controls (62%) were vaccinated during pregnancy. The adjusted VE was 90.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 56.6 to 98.1). The only covariate in the final model was breastfeeding (protective effect). Our study provides evidence in favour of pertussis vaccination programmes for pregnant women in order to prevent whooping cough in infants aged less than 3 months

The response of Iberian rivers to the North Atlantic Oscillation

In this study we analyzed the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the streamflow in 187 sub-basins of the Iberian Peninsula. Monthly and one-month lagged correlations were conducted to assess the spatio-temporal extent of the NAO influence on Iberian river discharges. Analysis of the persistence of the winter NAO throughout the year was also undertaken, together with analysis of streamflow anomalies during positive and negative NAO phases. Moving-window correlation analyses were conducted to assess potential changes in the temporal evolution of the NAO influence on Iberian streamflows. The results show that the NAO has a large impact on surface water resources throughout the Iberian Peninsula during winter, and in the Atlantic watershed during autumn. We showed that water resources management and snowmelt are causing the persistent dependence of streamflows on the previous winter NAO. We found that strongly positive streamflow anomalies occurred during winter, especially in the Atlantic watershed, and provide evidence of non-stationarity and spatial variability in the NAO influence on Iberian water resources

Prenatal adverse environment is associated with epigenetic age deceleration at birth and hypomethylation at the hypoxia-responsive EP300 gene

Abstract Background: Obstetric complications have long been retrospectively associated with a wide range of short- and long-term health consequences, including neurodevelopmental alterations such as those observed in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. However, prospective studies assessing fetal well-being during pregnancy tend to focus on perinatal complications as the final outcome of interest, while there is a scarcity of postnatal follow-up studies. In this study, the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), a hemodynamic parameter reflecting fetal adaptation to hypoxic conditions, was analyzed in a sample of monozygotic monochorionic twins (60 subjects), part of them with prenatal complications, with regard to (i) epigenetic age acceleration, and (ii) DNA methylation at genes included in the polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia, and highly expressed in placental tissue. Results: Decreased CPR measured during the third trimester was associated with epigenetic age deceleration (β = 0.21, t = 3.362, p = 0.002). Exploration of DNA methylation at placentally expressed genes of the PRS for schizophrenia revealed methylation at cg06793497 (EP300 gene) to be associated with CPR (β = 0.021, t = 4.385; p = 0.00008, FDR-adjusted p = 0.11). This association was reinforced by means of an intrapair analysis in monozygotic twins discordant for prenatal suffering (β = 0.027, t = 3.924, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Prenatal adverse environment during the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with both (i) developmental immaturity in terms of epigenetic age, and (ii) decreased CpG-specific methylation in a gene involved in hypoxia response and schizophrenia genetic liability. Keywords: DNA methylation, Obstetric complications, Prenatal stress, Hypoxia, EP300 gene, Epigenetic clock, Monozygotic twins, Schizophreni