El desafío de la entropía a la teología

The theory of the “Big Bang” today does not pose major difficulties in reconciling science and Christian faith, since there is no essential correlation between scientific cosmogony -which relate to the beginning of the universe- and the act of divine creation -which postulates instead (such as St. Thomas has reflected) its ontological origin-. Now when we look at the other temporal end, considering the problem of the ending of the universe, we find that there is a major consensus among cosmologists regarding a future cosmic thermal death, under the action of the gradual but inexorable force of entropy, that is: a slow and irreversible process of degradation of energy, culminating in a final dissolution of the universal physical harmony and subsequent permanence of a matter devoid of structures capable of generating life. The entropy therefore raises a genuine challenge to theology: while the action of the first refers to a cosmic panorama of death, the second argues, rather, the future fulfillment of the entire material universe. Here is an actual overlap between the fields of science and faith, which poses a stimulating debate.La teoría del “Big Bang” no plantea hoy mayores dificultades para conciliar la ciencia y la fe cristiana, pues no existe una correlación esencial entre las cosmogonías científicas -que se refieren al inicio del universo- y el acto de la creación divina -que postula, en cambio, su origen ontológico, tal como ha reflexionado Santo Tomás-. Ahora bien, cuando contemplamos el otro extremo temporal, considerando la problemática del final del universo, comprobamos que existe un mayoritario consenso entre los cosmólogos respecto de aguardar una futura muerte térmica de escala cósmica, en virtud de la acción gradual pero inexorable de la fuerza de la entropía; es decir: un lento e irreversible proceso de degradación creciente de la energía, que culminará en una disolución final de la armonía física universal y la ulterior permanencia de una materia carente de estructuras capaces de generar vida. La entropía plantea, pues, un genuino desafío a la teología: mientras que el accionar de la primera remite a un panorama de muerte cósmica, la segunda sostiene, antes bien, la futura plenitud de la totalidad del universo material. He aquí una verdadera superposición de los ámbitos de la ciencia y de la fe, que plantea un estimulante debate

La Teología ante la Física moderna: cuestiones fundamentales para un diálogo posible

The new physics born in the early twentieth century, freed from old mythical worldviews, has posed stimulating challenges and questions to theology. This paper examines milestones such as the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory (which brought true paradigm shifts in the macro and microcosm, respectively), and the Unification Theories (which pursue a unique and ultimate explanation of the entire physical reality), as well as some significant formulations from the believer thought, which have sought to take on these new perspectives.La nueva física nacida a comienzos del siglo XX, independizada de las antiguas cosmovisiones míticas, ha venido planteando estimulantes desafíos e interrogantes a la teología. En el presente artículo se examinan hitos fundamentales como la Teoría de la Relatividad y la Teoría Cuántica (que trajeron aparejados sendos cambios de paradigmas en el macro y el microcosmos, respectivamente), y las Teorías de Unificación (que persiguen una explicación única y última a la entera realidad física), como así también algunas formulaciones significativas desde la reflexión creyente, las cuales han procurado asumir estas perspectivas novedosas

La Teología ante la física moderna: cuestiones fundamentales para un diálogo posible. 2ª Parte: La teología de la creación ante la cosmología científica.

The finding of the evolving and mutable nature of this universe where we live has led to the emergence of the modern scientific cosmology. Its models of the birth and evolution of the cosmos raises challenging theological questions such as the relationship between the creation and the beginning of the universe, the divine action in the world or the teleology and ultimate purpose of the Creation.El descubrimiento de la verdadera naturaleza evolutiva y mutable de este universo en que vivimos ha dado origen a la moderna cosmología científica, que con sus modelos del nacimiento y evolución del cosmos plantea estimulantes cuestiones teológicas como la relación entre creación e inicio del universo, la acción divina en el mundo o la teleología y finalidad última de la Creación

A defective ABC transporter of the MRP family, responsible for the bean lpa1 mutation, affects the regulation of the phytic acid pathway, reduces seed myo-inositol and alters ABA sensitivity

We previously identified the lpa1 (low phytic acid) 280-10 line that carries a mutation conferring a 90% reduction in phytic acid (InsP6) content. In contrast to other lpa mutants, lpa1(280-10) does not display negative pleiotropic effects. In the present paper, we have identified the mutated gene and analysed its impact on the phytic acid pathway. Here, we mapped the lpa1(280-10) mutation by bulk analysis on a segregating F2 population, an then, by comparison with the soybean genome, we identified and sequenced a candidate gene. The InsP6 pathway was analysed by gene expression and quantification of metabolites. The mutated Pvmrp1(280-10) cosegregates with the lpa1(280-10) mutation, and the expression level of several genes of the InsP6 pathway are reduced in the lpa1(280-10) mutant as well as the inositol and raffinosaccharide content. PvMrp2, a very similar paralogue of PvMrp1 was also mapped and sequenced. The lpa1 mutation in beans is likely the result of a defective Mrp1 gene (orthologous to the lpa genes AtMRP5 and ZmMRP4), while its Mrp2 paralog is not able to complement the mutant phenotype in the seed. This mutation appears to down-regulate the InsP6 pathway at the transcriptional level, as well as altering inositol-related metabolism and affecting ABA sensitivity

On dimensional regularization of sums

We discuss a systematic way to dimensionally regularize divergent sums arising in field theories with an arbitrary number of physical compact dimensions or finite temperature. The method preserves the same symmetries of the action as the conventional dimensional regularization and allows an easy separation of the regulated divergence from the finite term that depends on the compactification radius (temperature).Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur

Antioxidant effect of a fermented powder of Lady Joy bean in primary rat hepatocytes

AbstractThe role and beneficial effects of plant and food extracts against various diseases induced by oxidative stress have received much attention in recent years. Legumes are rich in bioactive compounds, and some studies suggest a correlation between their consumption and a reduced incidence of diseases. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were used to investigate whether and how an extract obtained from a fermented powder of bean named Lady Joy (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is able to regulate antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes through the NRF2 pathway, inhibit NF-kB activation, and reduce

General consensus on multimodal functions and validation analysis of perinatal derivatives for regenerative medicine applications.

Perinatal tissues, such as placenta and umbilical cord contain a variety of somatic stem cell types, spanning from the largely used hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to the most recently described broadly multipotent epithelial and stromal cells. As perinatal derivatives (PnD), several of these cell types and related products provide an interesting regenerative potential for a variety of diseases. Within COST SPRINT Action, we continue our review series, revising and summarizing the modalities of action and proposed medical approaches using PnD products: cells, secretome, extracellular vesicles, and decellularized tissues. Focusing on the brain, bone, skeletal muscle, heart, intestinal, liver, and lung pathologies, we discuss the importance of potency testing in validating PnD therapeutics, and critically evaluate the concept of PnD application in the field of tissue regeneration. Hereby we aim to shed light on the actual therapeutic properties of PnD, with an open eye for future clinical application. This review is part of a quadrinomial series on functional/potency assays for validation of PnD, spanning biological functions, such as immunomodulation, anti-microbial/anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, wound healing, angiogenesis, and regeneration

Theology before modern physics : key issues for a possible dialogue : part 1: The structure of physical reality and the divine action in creation

Resumen: La nueva física nacida a comienzos del siglo XX, independizada de las antiguas cosmovisiones míticas, ha venido planteando estimulantes desafíos e interrogantes a la teología. En el presente artículo se examinan hitos fundamentales como la Teoría de la Relatividad y la Teoría Cuántica (que trajeron aparejados sendos cambios de paradigmas en el macro y el microcosmos, respectivamente), y las Teorías de Unificación (que persiguen una explicación única y última a la entera realidad física), como así también algunas formulaciones significativas desde la reflexión creyente, las cuales han procurado asumir estas perspectivas novedosasAbstract: The new physics born in the early twentieth century, freed from old mythical worldviews, has posed stimulating challenges and questions to theology. This paper examines milestones such as the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory (which brought true paradigm shifts in the macro and microcosm, respectively), and the Unification Theories (which pursue a unique and ultimate explanation of the entire physical reality), as well as some significant formulations from the believer thought, which have sought to take on these new perspective