Wistful

Combined media on photographic paper. 78" x 36" Private Collection

RR Voor RF (Triptych)

Combined media on photographic paper. 104" x 170"

Creu Casas

Biografia de la doctora Creu Casas, gran impulsora dels estudis sobre briòfits (molses, hepàtiques i anterocerotes) als països catalans i a tot l’Estat espanyol.

Analysis of the interacting components between larval Schistosoma mansoni and schistosome-susceptible and resistant Biomphalaria glabrata

Cell-free hemolymph (serum) and hemocytes from Schistosoma mansoni-susceptible (PR albino M-line) and resistant (10-R2) strains of Biomphalaria glabrata were compared by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting and radioiodination. Whole serum of both snail strains is dominated by hemoglobin (Hb) (MW = 160 Kd). SDS-PAGE. of Hb-depleted serum indicated that the 10-R2 strain has dominant polypeptides in the 50 to 30 Kd range whereas PR albino snails have few low MW proteins. Antibodies raised to whole PR albino and 10-R2 serum, and the 160 Kd (Hb) band reacted similarly in immunoblot assays. Analysis of hemocytes revealed that 10-R2 snails have a surface-exposed protein at about 80 Kd which is not present on PR albino hemocytes. An examination of primary cultured sporocysts indicated the presence of four major surface proteins (40, 50, 55, 70 Kd) and two minor surface-exposed polypeptides (92, 170 Kd). Antibodies raised against live, intact sporocysts reacted almost exclusively with sporocyst-surface proteins when tested by immunoblotting.

Dimensões do granuloma hepático produzido por ovos de duas linhagens geográficas do Schistosoma mansoni, no camundongo

Os autores determinaram o diâmetro médio dos granulomas de fígado de camundongos infectados com cercárias de duas cepas geográficas bem definidas do, Schistosoma mansoni (LE, Belo Horizonte e SJ, São Paulo). No total foram medidos 1.170 granulomas. Os granulomas com 60 dias eram de dimensões maiores do que os de 90 dias. A modulação da resposta imunopatológica foi significativamente mais eficiente na cepa LE e os granulomas, tanto aos 60 como aos 90 dias, da cepa SJ eram significativamente maiores. Os dados obtidos indicam uma maior patogenicidade da cepa SJ. Especula-se se o significado destes achados poderiam, em parte, explicar a ocorrência das variações regionais das formas anatomo-clínicas da esquistossomose.

Indicators for the total number of melanocytic naevi : an adjunct for screening campaigns. Observational study on 292 patients.

BACKGROUND: The presence of multiple melanocytic naevi is a strong risk factor for melanoma. Use of the whole body naevus count to identify at-risk patients is impractical. OBJECTIVES: To (i) identify a valid anatomical predictor of total naevus count; (ii) determine the number of naevi that most accurately predict total naevus count above 25, 50 and 100; and (iii) evaluate determinants of multiple melanocytic naevi and atypical naevi. METHODS: Clinical data from 292 consecutive Spanish patients consulting for skin lesions requiring debriding were collected throughout 2009 and 2010. Correlations between site-specific and whole body naevus counts were analysed. Cut-offs to predict total naevus counts were determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: The studied population was young (median age 31 years, interquartile range 28-43). The naevus count on the right arm correlated best with the total nevus count (R(2) 0·80 for men, 0·86 for women). Presence of at least five naevi on the right arm was the strongest determinant of a total naevus count above 50 [odds ratio (OR) 34·4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13·9-85·0] and of having at least one atypical naevus (OR 5·7, 95% CI 2·4-13·5). Cut-off values of 6, 8 and 11 naevi on the right arm best predicted total naevus count above 25, 50 and 100, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the arm as a practical and reliable site to estimate the total naevus count when screening or phenotyping large populations. Threshold values for the number of naevi on the arm are proposed to help identify patients for melanoma screening.

Equilibrium Exchange Rate Determination and Multiple Structural Changes

The large appreciation and depreciation of the US dollar in the 1980s stimulated an important debate on the usefulness of unit root tests in the presence of structural breaks. In this paper, we propose a simple model to describe the evolution of the real exchange rate. We then propose a more general smooth transition (STR) function than has hitherto been employed, which is able to capture structural changes along the (long-run) equilibrium path, and show that this is consistent with our economic model. Our framework allows for a gradual adjustment between regimes and allows for under- and/or over-valued exchange rate adjustments. Using monthly and quarterly data for up to twenty OECD countries, we apply our methodology to investigate the univariate time series properties of CPI-based real exchange rates with both the U.S. dollar and German mark as the numeraire currencies. The empirical results show that, for more than half of the quarterly series, the evidence in favour of the stationarity of the real exchange rate was clearer in the sub-sample period post-1980.

Mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Europe and other areas of the world: an update.

OBJECTIVE: To update trends in mortality from coronary heart diseases (CHD) and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) over the period 1981-2004 in Europe, the USA, Latin America, Japan and other selected areas of the world. METHODS: Age-standardized mortality rates were derived from the World Health Organization database. Joinpoint analysis was used to identify significant changes in trends. RESULTS: In the European Union (27 countries), CHD mortality in men declined from 139/100,000 in 1985-1989 to 93/100,000 in 2000-2004 (-33%). In women, the fall was from 61/100,000 to 44/100,000 (-27%). In this area, a decline by over 30% was also registered in CVD mortality for both sexes. In the Russian Federation and other countries of the former Soviet Union, CHD rates in 2000-2004 were exceedingly high, around 380/100,000 men and 170/100,000 women in Russia, 430 for men and 240 for women in Ukraine, 420 and 200 in Belarus. For CVD, a similar situation was registered, with mortality rates of 226/100,000 for men and 159/100,000 for women in 2004 in the Russian Federation, and more than 24% increase since the late 1980s for men and 15% for women. CHD and CVD mortality continued to decline in most Latin American countries, Australia and other areas considered, including Asia (even if with marked differences). CONCLUSION: Although mortality from CHD and CVD continues to decline in several areas of the world including most countries of Europe and of the America providing data and Australia, unfavourable trends were still observed in the Russian Federation and other countries of the former Soviet Union, whose recent rates remain exceedingly high.

La revolución energética cubana en la UCLV: ¿un paso en el camino hacia la sostenibilidad?. Parte II: Análisis de los impactos sociales

La Revolución Energética Cubana (REC) surge de las necesidades de resolver la situación social y económica de Cuba, sumergida en una crisis energética con constantes apagones que limitaban por completo el desarrollo del país. La REC (2006) es un conjunto de medidas basadas en los principios de la autosuficiencia energética, el ahorro y uso racional de la energía, y el incremento de la eficiencia en todos los aspectos. En el presente trabajo se realiza el análisis de la sostenibilidad socio-ambiental de la REC en la Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas (UCLV), ubicada en Santa Clara (Cuba). La valoración se ha efectuado mediante el análisis de los impactos ambientales y sociales en dos estudios paralelos que se complementan aplicando la técnica de conmensurabilidad débil. El conjunto de los programas de la REC han propiciado mejoras en el suministro eléctrico y en el ahorro energético, disminuyendo en un 30% las emisiones de CO2, a pesar del incremento en la actividad docente y en la flota de equipos, en la universidad. Las medidas adoptadas han incidido en la calidad de la docencia, las condiciones de vida, la concienciación y la participación de la población, dando lugar a un impacto social positivo. De esta manera, el balance global de la REC se califica de positivo ya que ha permitido el desarrollo de la UCLV sin incrementar los impactos ambientales, por lo que se puede considerar un paso en el camino hacia la sostenibilidad socio-ambiental.

Marges i biodiversitat a Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant

Els marges de pedra seca són un dels ambients socioecològics més singulars del país i, al mateix temps, un dels hàbitats menys estudiats. La nostra recerca ha analitzat la biodiversitat de les margenades de Vandellòs i l’Hospitalet de l’Infant; mitjançant mostrejos de flora i de la fauna hem constatat l’elevada complexitat de la xarxa tròfica que s’estableix en aquest nínxol ecològic. En la vessant socioambiental, hem realitzat entrevistes a diferents entesos en la cultura de la pedra seca, les quals han permès determinar la importància dels marges per entendre una part de la història ambiental del país. Amb la recerca s’ha observat un clar retrocés del patrimoni de pedra seca a causa de la recessió del sector agrícola. L’aprofitament turístic de la cultura de la pedra seca i la implicació de les Administracions Públiques en la difusió d’aquest patrimoni, són claus per garantir-ne la pervivència en el futur.

Emotional intelligence: On definitions, neuroscience, and marshmallows

In his timely article, Cherniss offers his vision for the future of "Emotional Intelligence" (EI). However, his goal of clarifying the concept by distinguishing definitions from models and his support for "Emotional and Social Competence" (ESC) models will, in our opinion, not make the field advance. To be upfront, we agree that emotions are important for effective decision-making, leadership, performance and the like; however, at this time, EI and ESC have not yet demonstrated incremental validity over and above IQ and personality tests in meta-analyses (Harms & Credé, 2009; Van Rooy & Viswesvaran, 2004). If there is a future for EI, we see it in the ability model of Mayer, Salovey and associates (e.g, Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 2000), which detractors and supporters agree holds the most promise (Antonakis, Ashkanasy, & Dasborough, 2009; Zeidner, Roberts, & Matthews, 2008). With their use of quasi-objective scoring measures, the ability model grounds EI in existing frameworks of intelligence, thus differentiating itself from ESC models and their self-rated trait inventories. In fact, we do not see the value of ESC models: They overlap too much with current personality models to offer anything new for science and practice (Zeidner, et al., 2008). In this commentary we raise three concerns we have with Cherniss's suggestions for ESC models: (1) there are important conceptual problems in both the definition of ESC and the distinction of ESC from EI; (2) Cherniss's interpretation of neuroscience findings as supporting the constructs of EI and ESC is outdated, and (3) his interpretation of the famous marshmallow experiment as indicating the existence of ESCs is flawed. Building on the promise of ability models, we conclude by providing suggestions to improve research in EI.

The worldwide expansion of the Argentine ant

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the number of successful establishments of the invasive Argentine ant outside native range and to see whether introduced supercolonies have resulted from single or multiple introductions. We also compared the genetic diversity of native versus introduced supercolonies to assess the size of the propagules (i.e. the number of founding individuals) at the origin of the introduced supercolonies. Location Global. Methods We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers and microsatellite loci to study 39 supercolonies of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile covering both the native (n = 25) and introduced range (n = 14). Results Data from three mitochondrial genes and 13 nuclear microsatellites suggest that the introduced supercolonies studied originated from at least seven founding events out of the native area in Argentina (primary introductions). The distribution of mtDNA haplotypes also suggests that supercolonies in the introduced range each derive from a single source supercolony and that one of these source supercolonies has been particularly successful, being the basis of many introduced populations spread across the world. Comparison of the genetic diversity of supercolonies based on the five most diverse loci also revealed that native and introduced supercolonies have greatly overlapping ranges of diversity, although the genetic diversity is on average less in introduced than in native supercolonies. Main conclusions Both primary introductions (from the native range) and secondary introductions (from sites with established invasive supercolonies) were important in the global expansion of the Argentine ant. In combination with the similar social organization of colonies in the native and introduced range, this indicates that invasiveness did not evolve recently as a unique and historically contingent event (e.g. reduction of genetic diversity) in this species. Rather, native L. humile supercolonies have characteristics that make them pre-adapted to invade new - and in particular disturbed - habitats when given the opportunity. These results have important implications with regard to possible strategies to be used to control invasive ants.