Hybrid classical-quantum formulations ask for hybrid notions

We reappraise some of the hybrid classical-quantum models proposed in the literature with the goal of retrieving some of their common characteristics. In particular, first, we analyze in detail the Peres-Terno argument regarding the inconsistency of hybrid quantizations of the Sudarshan type. We show that to accept such hybrid formalism entails the necessity of dealing with additional degrees of freedom beyond those in the straight complete quantization of the system. Second, we recover a similar enlargement of degrees of freedom in the so-called statistical hybrid models. Finally, we use Wigner's quantization of a simple model to illustrate how in hybrid systems the subsystems are never purely classical or quantum. A certain degree of quantumness (classicality) is being exchanged between the different sectors of the theory, which in this particular unphysical toy model makes them undistinguishable.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures (minor changes to match the published version

Expression of rabies VLPs in adherence and suspension conditions: a flexible platform for rabies vaccine production

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease with a mortality by close to 100%. As there is not an efficacious treatment available, post-exposure vaccination is recommended for individuals in contact with the virus. On the other hand, the most common source of virus transmission is saliva of infected animals, mostly dogs, whereby mass vaccination of pets is the most cost‑effective way to reduce human infections. In this context, availability of both human and veterinary vaccines is critical. In previous works1-2, our group developed immunogenic rabies VLPs, expressing the virus glycoprotein in HEK293 cells. We obtained a producer clone capable of growing in adherence (adhP2E5) and then adapted to suspension conditions (sP2E5). In this work, we analyzed the production of VLPs in both conditions, using two different platforms. On the one hand, adhP2E5 was cultured in 850 cm2 roller bottles (GBO) using medium with 5% FCS, that was exchanged every 48 h during the first 10 days and every 24 h during the last 5 days. RV-VLPs were continuously produced and the harvest obtained (2.5 L per bottle) was analyzed by sandwich ELISA, using the 6th International Standard for rabies vaccine that quantify the glycoprotein content (NIBSC), presenting a value of 19 IU.ml‑1 in average. On the other hand, we cultured sP2E5 in a 5 L bioreactor during 15 days, using EX‑CELL293 SFM (SAFC). The culture reached densities of 2x107 cel.ml-1 and VLPs were continuously secreted to the supernatant. The obtained harvest (28.5 L) presented a glycoprotein content of 28 IU.ml-1, a results that is comparable with the previous one taking into account the number of cells presents in both conditions. These results showed that our clone could be cultured in both platforms depending on the objectives and characteristics of the desired product. For the production of the rabies veterinary vaccine, RV-VLPs can be produced in adherent conditions using medium supplemented with FCS and, for human vaccine production, RV-VLPs can be produced in bioreactors using SFM. 1 Fontana et al. Rabies virus-like particles expressed in HEK293 cells. Vaccine 32 (2014) 2799-2804. 2 Fontana et al. Immunogenic virus-like particles continuously expressed in mammalian cells as a veterinary rabies vaccine candidate. Vaccine 33 (2015) 4238-4246

Utilización de la radio para promover el desarrollo rural sostenible

El propósito de la investigación fue el de verificar la relación entre cuan frecuentemente una audiencia rural escuchó una serie de radioteatros que promocionaban prácticas recomendadas para un desarrollo rural sustentable, y sus actitudes y conocimiento sobre tales prácticas. La serie de radioteatros fue transmitida durante cuatro meses por la radio local ZP28 "La voz de la Cordillera". Cada programa contenía mensajes educativos que promocionaban diez prácticas seleccionadas de salud y nutrición. Los radioteatros fueron diseñados como parte de la estrategia educativa del Proyecto de Desarrollo Rural de Ecología Humana en el Distrito de Piribebuy, Paraguay. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de una encuesta aplicada durante la primera semana de transmisión del radioteatro (pre–test) y una semana luego de finalizado el mismo (post–test). Estos datos se utilizaron para comparar, por medio del uso de modelos de regresión múltiple, las actitudes y los conocimientos, con la frecuencia con que escucharon la serie de radioteatros; además de otras variables que pudieron haber intervenido de alguna manera. La frecuencia con que se escucharon los radioteatros fue la única variable significativa con relación a las actitudes y conocimientos sobre los temas de nutrición y salud promocionados en dichos programas radiales. Esta investigación llegó a la conclusión de que el medio radiofónico en el formato de radioteatros, constituye una excelente herramienta educativa no formal para promocionar el desarrollo rural sustentable del Paraguay. Los programas radioteatrales tuvieron una importante influencia en las actitudes y conocimientos de su audiencia, lo cual evidencia el potencial que tiene la radio como componente educativo estratégico de Programas y Proyectos de Desarrollo Rural Sustentable

Relación entre funcionamiento familiar y control metabólico del paciente diabético tipo 2, en la consulta externa del Hospital Nacional Saldaña

Se da a conocer la relación entre funcionalidad familiar y control metabólico del paciente diabético tipo 2, visto en la consulta externa, de Medicina Interna del Hospital Nacional General de Neumología y Medicina Familiar “Dr. Antonio Saldaña”. El estudio es de tipo descriptivo de correlación de corte transversal, se toma una muestra de 219 pacientes, de forma secuencial, de un universo de 850 usuarios, con diabetes tipo 2, la recolección de datos consistió en obtener información del expediente clínico, concernientes al control metabólico y al mismo tiempo se pasó un Test de APGAR familiar, para evaluar la funcionalidad. El marco teórico se encuentra sustentado en guías latinoamericanas y norteamericanas de control del paciente diabético y al mismo tiempo en literatura sobre funcionalidad familiar y enfermedades crónicas.Los resultados obtenidos dan a conocer, que una funcionalidad adecuada de la familia tiene relación significativa estadística, con el control de la presión arterial y la tasa de filtración glomerular, siendo más susceptibles a estar mal controlados aquellos pacientes que provengan de familias disfuncionales. Sin embargo los otros parámetros como lo son, el perímetro abdominal, la glucosa, el colesterol, HDL, LDL, los triglicéridos, la hemoglobina glucosilada y el índice de masa corporal, no tienen ninguna significancia estadística de relación con respecto al grado de funcionalidad familiar. Concluyendo, que el hecho de tener una familia funcional no garantiza el buen control metabólico del paciente diabético tipo 2

Rational design, expression and characterization of chimeric rabies VLPs displaying the major antigenic site of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus

Virus-like Particles (VLPs) are supramolecular arrangements of one or more viral proteins that resemble the structure of the native virus but are not infective, due the fact that they lack the viral genome. They have become very important in the field of novel recombinant vaccines, because of their biosafety and improved immunogenicity over subunit vaccines due to their particulate nature and highly repetitive epitope display. Moreover, they can elicit immune responses against heterologous antigens by the incorporation of epitopes by genic fusion to the viral proteins, constituting chimeric VLPs (cVLPs). In a previous work, by recombinant expression of the rabies G glycoprotein (RVG) in HEK293 cells, we stablished a platform to produce rabies VLPs as a new generation vaccine candidate 1–3. The main goal of this work was to generate a platform for heterologous antigen presentation based on RVG cVLPs. The heterologous epitope chosen for this study was the immunodominant site of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), named G-H loop (that is part of the capsid protein VP1), which is responsible of virus entry into the cell 4. Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full abstract

Study of rabies VLPs expression in BHK-21 cell line for vaccine applications

In the last decades, virus-like particles (VLPs) have played an essential role in the development of novel vaccines due the fact that they trigger robust and balanced immune responses and, as they lack viral genome, are biosafe. Nowadays, several VLPs are commercially available for human use and one veterinary product was licensed. Besides, other VLP‑based vaccine candidates are in the stages of clinical trials or preclinical evaluation. Our group had previously developed a rabies glycoprotein based-VLP (RV-VLPs) expressed in HEK293 cells. These RV-VLPs were fully characterized and their capacity to induce a protective response and neutralizing antibodies production was confirmed. As inactivated veterinary vaccines for rabies are usually produced using BHK‑21, the goal of the present work was to develop a RV-VLPs expressing BHK‑21 cell line to analyze the characteristics of the VLPs produced using this cell substrate. Therefore, by lentivirus vector-mediated transduction, we generated a rabies virus glycoprotein expressing a stable cell line. The cellular expression of the recombinant protein was analyzed by flow cytometry and the membrane localization was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. Later, RV-VLPs budding to the supernatant was analyzed by sandwich ELISA. After that, VLPs were purified by density gradient ultracentrifugation and the hydrodynamic diameter of the particles was analyzed by DLS. In a western blot assay, the particles were recognized by specific antibodies present in a rabies polyclonal serum. Finally, the recombinant cell line was cultured in 850 cm2 roller bottles producing RV-VLPs continuously during 25 days of culture. Thus, these results encourage further studies to confirm if BHK-21 is a good cell substrate for the production of RV-VLPs as a veterinary rabies vaccine candidate