A Geometrical Characterization of the Twin Paradox and its Variants

The aim of this paper is to provide a logic-based conceptual analysis of the twin paradox (TwP) theorem within a first-order logic framework. A geometrical characterization of TwP and its variants is given. It is shown that TwP is not logically equivalent to the assumption of the slowing down of moving clocks, and the lack of TwP is not logically equivalent to the Newtonian assumption of absolute time. The logical connection between TwP and a symmetry axiom of special relativity is also studied.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

International standards for brucellosis prevention and management

Summary International standards are a crucial element in brucellosis prevention and management. They allow policy-makers, scientists, epidemiologists, laboratories and trade entities to have a common vocabulary for communication and understanding of the disease. These standards cover the entire spectrum of activities from surveillance, testing, prophylaxis, transport and trade to policy development, research and reporting. Developing, adhering to and monitoring standards increases both the effectiveness and effi ciency of prevention and management programmes. Creating standards with the input of all stakeholders ensures that the standards do not adversely affect the requirements of any of the multiple parties involved. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in conjunction with its Member Countries, and through its standing and ad hoc committees plus expert input, has taken a key leadership role in developing and reviewing brucellosis standards. These standards are used to harmonise testing, prevention processes, vaccines and reporting, to support trade and to protect human and animal health

Anti-oxidized LDL antibodies and coronary artery disease: a systematic review

Antibodies to oxidized LDL (oxLDL) may be associated with improved outcomes in cardiovascular disease. However, analysis is restricted by heterogenous study design and endpoints. Our objective was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review assessing anti-oxLDL antibodies in relation to coronary artery disease (CAD). Through a systematic literature search, we identified all studies assessing the relationship of either, IgG or IgM ox-LDL/ copper-oxLDL/ malondialdehyde-LDL, with coronary atherosclerosis or cardiovascular events in populations with, and without, established CAD. Systematic review best practices were adhered to and study quality was assessed. An initial electronic database search identified 2059 records, which was subsequently followed by abstract and full-text review. Finally, we included 18 studies with over 1811 patients with CAD. The studies varied according to populations studied, conventional cardiovascular risk factors and interventional modalities used to assess CAD. IgM anti-oxLDL antibodies were found to indicate protection from more severe CAD and possibly cardiovascular events, whilst the relationship with IgG is more complex and difficult to elucidate, with studies reporting divergent results. In this systematic review, there is evidence that suggests a relationship between anti-oxLDL antibodies and CAD, especially for the IgM subclass. However, further studies, with well-characterized prospective cohorts, will be important to clarify these associations

Persistently elevated levels of sST2 after acute coronary syndrome are associated with recurrent cardiac events

Purpose Higher soluble ST2 (sST2) levels at admission are associated with adverse outcome in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We studied the dynamics of sST2 over time in post-ACS patients prior to a recurrent ACS or cardiac death. Methods We used the BIOMArCS case cohort, consisting of 187 patients who underwent serial blood sampling during one-year follow-up post-ACS. sST2 was batch-wise quantified after completion of follow-up in a median of 8 (IQR: 5-11) samples per patient. Joint modelling was used to investigate the association between longitudinally measured sST2 and the endpoint, adjusted for gender, GRACE risk score and history of cardiovascular diseases. Results Median age was 64 years and 79% were men. The 36 endpoint patients had systematically higher sST2 levels than those that remained endpoint free (mean value 29.6 ng/ml versus 33.7 ng/ml, p-value 0.052). The adjusted hazard ratio for the endpoint per standard deviation increase of sST2 was 1.64 (95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.34; p = 0.019) at any time point. We could not identify a steady or sudden increase of sST2 in the run-up to the combined endpoint. Conclusion Asymptomatic post-ACS patients with persistently higher sST2 levels are at higher risk of recurrent ACS or cardiac death during one-year follow-up

High-frequency metabolite profiling and the incidence of recurrent cardiac events in patients with post-acute coronary syndrome

Purpose: The aim of this study was to study temporal changes in metabolite profiles in patients with post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS), in particular prior to the development of recurrent ACS (reACS). Methods: BIOMArCS (BIOMarker study to identify the Acute risk of a Coronary Syndrome) is a prospective study including patients admitted for ACS, who underwent high-frequency blood sampling during 1-year follow-up. Within BIOMArCS, we performed a nested case-cohort analysis of 158 patients (28 cases of reACS). We determined 151 metabolites by nuclear magnetic resonance in seven (median) blood samples per patient. Temporal evolution of the metabolites and their relation with reACS was assessed by joint modelling. Results are reported as adjusted (for clinical factors) hazard ratios (aHRs). Results: Median age was 64 (25th–75th percentiles; 56–72) years and 78% were men. After multiple testing correction (p < 0.001), high concentrations of extremely large very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles (aHR 1.60/SD increase; 95%CI 1.25–2.08), very large VLDL particles (aHR 1.60/SD increase; 95%CI 1.25–2.08) and large VLDL particles (aHR 1.56/SD increase; 95%CI 1.22–2.05) were significantly associated with reACS. Moreover, these longitudinal particle concentrations showed a steady increase over time prior to reACS. Among the other metabolites, no significant associations were observed. Conclusion: Post-ACS patients with persistent high concentrations of extremely large, very large and large VLDL particles have increased risk of reACS within 1 year

SYNTAX score II predicts long-term mortality in patients with one- or two-vessel disease

Objective SYNTAX score II (SSII) is a long-term mortality prediction model to guide the decision making of the heart-team between coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with left main or three-vessel coronary artery disease. This study aims to investigate the long-term predictive value of SSII for all-cause mortality in patients with one- or two-vessel disease undergoing PCI. Methods A total of 628 patients (76% men, mean age: 61±10 years) undergoing PCI due to stable angina pectoris (43%) or acute coronary syndrome (57%), included between January 2008 and June 2013, were eligible for the current study. SSII was calculated using the original SYNTAX score website (www.syntaxscore.com). Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between continuous SSII and long-term all-cause mortality. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to assess the performance of SSII. Results SSII ranged from 6.6 to 58.2 (median: 20.4, interquartile range: 16.1–26.8). In multivariable analysis, SSII proved to be an independent significant predictor for 4.5-year mortality (hazard ratio per point increase: 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.13; p<0.001). In terms of discrimination, SSII had a concordance index of 0.77. Conclusion In addition to its established value in patients with left main and three-vessel disease, SSII may also predict long-term mortality in PCI-treated patients with one- or two-vessel disease

Details on high frequency blood collection, data analysis, available material and patient characteristics in BIOMArCS

The Biomarker Study to Identify the Acute Risk of a Coronary Syndrome (BIOMArCS) is a prospective, observational study that has been designed to study the evolution of blood biomarkers in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. In our recently published study “Temporal evolution of Myeloperoxidase and Galec

Resilient Strategies and Sustainability in Agri-Food Supply Chains in the Face of High-Risk Events

[EN] Agri-food supply chains (AFSCs) are very vulnerable to high risks such as pandemics, causing economic and social impacts mainly on the most vulnerable population. Thus, it is a priority to implement resilient strategies that enable AFSCs to resist, respond and adapt to new market challenges. At the same time, implementing resilient strategies impact on the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The objective of this paper is twofold: analyze resilient strategies on AFSCs in the literature and identify how these resilient strategies applied in the face of high risks affect the achievement of sustainability dimensions. The analysis of the articles is carried out in three points: consequences faced by agri-food supply chains due to high risks, strategies applicable in AFSCs, and relationship between resilient strategies and the achievement of sustainability dimensions.Authors of this publication acknowledge the contribution of the Project 691249, RUC-APS "Enhancing and implementing Knowledge based ICT solutions within high Risk and Uncertain Conditions for Agriculture Production Systems" (www.ruc-aps.eu), funded by the European Union under their funding scheme H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015.Zavala-Alcívar, A.; Verdecho Sáez, MJ.; Alfaro Saiz, JJ. (2020). Resilient Strategies and Sustainability in Agri-Food Supply Chains in the Face of High-Risk Events. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. 598:560-570. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62412-5_46S560570598Gray, R.: Agriculture, transportation, and the COVID-19 crisis. Can. J. Agric. 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The temporal pattern of immune and inflammatory proteins prior to a recurrent coronary event in post-acute coronary syndrome patients

Purpose: We assessed the temporal pattern of 29 immune and inflammatory proteins in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, prior to the development of recurrent ACS. Methods: High-frequency blood sampling was performed in 844 patients admitted for ACS during one-year follow-up. We conducted a case-control study on the 45 patients who experienced reACS (cases) and two matched event-free patients (controls) per case. Olink Proteomics' immunoassay was used to obtain serum levels of the 29 proteins, expressed in an arbitrary unit on the log2-scale (Normalized Protein eXpression, NPX). Linear mixed-effects models were applied to examine the temporal pattern of the proteins, and to illustrate differences between cases and controls. Results: Mean age was 66 +/- 12 years and 80% were men. Cases and controls had similar baseline clinical characteristics. During the first 30 days, and after multiple testing correction, cases had significantly higher serum levels of CXCL1 (difference of 1.00 NPX, p = 0.002), CD84 (difference of 0.64 NPX, p = 0.002) and TNFRSF10A (difference of 0.41 NPX, p <0.001) than controls. After 30 days, serum levels of all 29 proteins were similar in cases and controls. In particular, no increase was observed prior to reACS. Conclusions: Among 29 immune and inflammatory proteins, CXCL1, CD84 and TNFRSF10A were associated with early reACS after initial ACS-admission

The temporal pattern of immune and inflammatory proteins prior to a recurrent coronary event in post-acute coronary syndrome patients

PURPOSE: We assessed the temporal pattern of 29 immune and inflammatory proteins in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, prior to the development of recurrent ACS. METHODS: High-frequency blood sampling was performed in 844 patients admitted for ACS during one-year follow-up. We conducted a case-control study on the 45 patients who experienced reACS (cases) and two matched event-free patients (controls) per case. Olink Proteomics' immunoassay was used to obtain serum levels of the 29 proteins, expressed in an arbitrary unit on the log2-scale (Normalized Protein eXpression, NPX). Linear mixed-effects models were applied to examine the temporal pattern of the proteins, and to illustrate differences between cases and controls. RESULTS: Mean age was 66 ± 12 years and 80% were men. Cases and controls had similar baseline clinical characteristics. During the first 30 days, and after multiple testing correction, cases had significantly higher serum levels of CXCL1 (difference of 1.00 NPX, p = 0.002), CD84 (difference of 0.64 NPX, p = 0.002) and TNFRSF10A (difference of 0.41 NPX, p < 0.001) than controls. After 30 days, serum levels of all 29 proteins were similar in cases and controls. In particular, no increase was observed prior to reACS. CONCLUSIONS: Among 29 immune and inflammatory proteins, CXCL1, CD84 and TNFRSF10A were associated with early reACS after initial ACS-admission