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A simulator and a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setup for the study of the electric system made by a short electrodynamic tether (EDT), an Electric Power Module (EPM) and a heaterless Hollow Cathode (HC) are presented. In the simulator, the EDT is modeled by the current–voltage (IV) characteristic of a bare EDT, the EPM involves a power supply and a variable resistor, and the IV curves of the emitter and the keeper of the HC are given by the linear fittings of the experimental curves obtained in the laboratory. The simulator was used to study an important problem for short EDT: the minimum power required by the power supply to reach an electric current at the cathode above the critical threshold to keep the plasma discharge as a function of ambient variables (the motional electric field and plasma density). Regarding the HIL, it emulates the EDT with a programmable power supply and a resistor, the EPM with a power supply and a set of resistors, and the HC by a set of Zener diodes. Additionally, the emulator has a computer and a microcontroller that allow to measure key electrical variables and command in real time and in closed-loop the programmable power supply to ensure that the EDT emulator satisfy the bare EDT IV curve. The three elements of the HIL were tested and compared with the theoretical model to validate its correct implementation and operation. Finally, the HIL was used to test and verify the electronic boards of the device of the E.T.PACK-F project. • A simulator and a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setup of the electric elements of an EDT system were developed. • Both of them consider the tether, the electric power module and a hollow cathode. • The simulator allowed to find the power requirements to keep the plasma discharge in the cathode. • The HIL setup was validated by comparing experimental result with the theoretical simulator. • The HIL was used to test the electronic boards of power module of the E.T.PACK's deorbit device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acetabular fractures continue to pose a major challenge in clinical practice, not least because of the growing geriatric population. While the influence of the force vectors on fracture formation is well established, the impact of anatomical factors on fracture morphology remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate patient-specific hip joint geometry, identify structural risk factors and correlate these with the resulting fracture patterns. Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis included 226 patients (Mdn age = 58 yrs.) with acetabular fracture categorized by Judet/Letournel and the AO/OTA classification. Computed tomography (CT) datasets of the injured and contralateral sides were analyzed using multiplanar reconstruction. Parameters included modified center-edge (CE) angle (Wiberg), rotation angles (Ullmann and Anda), acetabular sector angle (Anda), true caput-collum-diaphyseal (CCD) angle, femoral head diameter and volume, as well as femoral neck length, circumference, and diameter. In addition, intrarater reliability within a subcohort was assessed for the metric measurements and inter-rater analysis for the classification of the entire sample. Results: The primary analysis showed direct effects of femoral head diameter, femoral neck length and femoral head size on the fracture type according to AO/OTA (type A/B/C), whereby this effect was particularly seen between type A and type C fractures (p = 0.001). Ordinal regression identified femoral head diameter as the only significant predictor (p = 0.02), with a 25% increased likelihood of complex fractures per unit of change. Low-energy trauma doubled the risk of severe fractures. Specific findings include a higher acetabular anteversion in anterior column fractures. Age correlated positively with the cause of injury and fracture type. The inter-rater reliability for fracture classification was excellent, as was the intrarater reliability of the measurements. Conclusions: This study suggests that anatomical factors, particularly proximal femoral geometry, have an impact on acetabular fracture morphology—in addition to factors such as trauma type and patient demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide and is characterized by multi-tissue insulin resistance. The effects of a 10-month energy restriction and exercise intervention on liver histology, anthropometrics, plasma biochemistries, and insulin sensitivity were compared to standard of care (control) to understand mechanisms that support liver health improvements. Following medical diagnosis of MASH, individuals were randomized to treatment (n = 16) or control (n = 8). Liver fat (magnetic resonance spectroscopy), 18-hour plasma biochemical measurements, and isotopically labeled hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps were completed pre- and post-intervention. Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 peak) were also measured mid-intervention. Those in the treatment group were counseled to reduce energy intake and completed supervised, high-intensity interval training (3x/week) for 10 months. Controls continued physician-directed care. Treatment induced significant (p < 0.05) reductions in body weight, fat mass, and liver injury, while VO 2 peak (p < 0.05) and non-esterified fatty acid suppression (p = 0.06) were improved. Both groups exhibited reductions in total energy intake, hemoglobin A1c, hepatic insulin resistance, and liver fat (p < 0.05). Compared to control, treatment induced a two-fold increase in peripheral insulin sensitivity which was significantly related to higher VO 2 peak and resolution of liver disease. Exercise and energy restriction elicited significant and clinically meaningful treatment effects on liver health, potentially driven by a redistribution of excess nutrients to skeletal muscle, thereby reducing hepatic nutrient toxicity. Clinical guidelines should emphasize the addition of aerobic exercise in lifestyle treatments for the greatest histologic benefit in individuals with advanced MASH. The mechanisms that underpin histologic improvement in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are not well understood. This study evaluated the relationship between liver and metabolic health, testing how changes in one may affect the other. We investigated the effects of energy restriction and exercise on the association between multi-tissue insulin sensitivity and histologic improvements in participants with biopsy-proven MASH. For the first time, these results show that an improvement in peripheral (but not hepatic) insulin sensitivity and systemic markers of muscle function (i.e. cardiorespiratory fitness) were strongly related to resolution of liver disease. Extrahepatic disposal of substrates and improved fitness levels supported histologic improvement, confirming the addition of exercise as crucial to lifestyle interventions in MASH. NCT03151798. [Display omitted] • Diet and exercise improved liver histology in metabolic-dysfunction associated steatohepatitis. • Standard of care improved metabolic health with minimal effects on histology. • Peripheral, not hepatic, insulin sensitivity was related to histologic resolution. • Improved substrate use at the muscle may relieve the liver of excess nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major drawbacks of a Basic Income proposal is that it could induce people to reduce their labour supply. The main aim of this paper is to put forward a financially viable alternative to the current Spanish system of social protection, based on a Negative Income Tax proposal and introducing several changes in the social protection system. Using EUROMOD, the labour behavioural responses to these new conditions are studied in detail, using a structural model of labour supply. The main result is that a reform as the one described in this work will not make people to abandon the labour market, as usually argued for Basic Income proposals. Under this scheme, on the contrary, we can observe a slightly increase in labour supply. This finding has strong implications for policy. Modifying the tax-benefit system, bringing it closer to a Basic Income scheme, will produce significant improvements in inequality and poverty without a significant change in labour supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article arises from a research that aimed to analyze the forms of violence in social networks experienced by students from high schools in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. The methodology of the study was based on a phenomenological approach and the narrative biographical method. Among the results, the main forms of violence experienced by high school students were identified. Likewise, it was identified that the main victims of practices that involve sexual exposure in networks are women. This allowed us to reflect on how the perceptual matrices that assign socially established places for men and women shape the interactions and violence experienced by men and women in social networks. In this sense, this article intends to analyze the forms of violence in social networks experienced by students from high schools in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, emphasizing the ways in which social constructions linked to gender place women in the position of main victims of practices that involve sexual exposure in virtual environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astronaut training is complex due to its specific infrastructure and equipment requirements, which are often costly. Immersive technologies can simulate entire environments, allowing for interactive user experiences. Previous research has confirmed the effectiveness of immersive technologies in training and learning. However, simulations alone are insufficient; participants must also engage with vehicles, machinery, and spacecraft systems to understand their impact on the environment and adjacent objects. This study develops four scenarios within three modules, inspired by NASA and ESA astronaut training programs. The first module presents a theoretical scenario using mixed reality (MR), incorporating topics from ESA's training modules. The second module offers two practical scenarios: an ISS emergency simulation that includes Hohmann transfer and circular motion concepts, and a spacewalk for repair tasks. In these scenarios, digital twins of the ISS propulsion and navigation systems, as well as a spacesuit, were created. The third module simulates a spacecraft launch, utilizing 3D models from SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and digital twins of its propulsion and navigation systems. Participants interacted with the digital twins and scenarios, generating data that was stored and analyzed against the ISS dataset from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and telemetry from the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch. In this work's initial phase, the main objective was to assess whether digital twins could be integrated with immersive technologies for effective training. A mean squared error metric was employed to compare the digital twins with the physical object data, confirming the alignment of the developed digital twins with the actual systems, thereby validating their utility for astronaut training. • Mixed reality and digital twins can be used to improve astronaut's training. • Mixed reality scenarios are a safe way to learn and train about a specific topic. • Mixed reality foster training experiences: Promoting creative problem-solving skills. • Digital Twins enhances immersive technologies: Leveraging digital twins capacities for immersive training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridoxine (pyr) is a versatile molecule that forms part of the family of B vitamins. It is used to treat and prevent vitamin B6 deficiency and certain types of metabolic disorders. Moreover, the pyridoxine molecule has been investigated as a suitable ligand toward metal ions. Nevertheless, the study of the magnetic properties of metal complexes containing lanthanide(III) ions and this biomolecule is unexplored. We have synthesized and characterized a novel pyridoxine-based GdIII complex of formula [GdIII(pyr)2(H2O)4]Cl3 · 2 H2O (1) [pyr = pyridoxine]. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system and space group Pī. In its crystal packing, cationic [Gd(pyr)2(H2O)4]3+ entities are connected through H-bonding interactions involving non-coordinating water molecules and chloride anions. In addition, Hirshfeld surfaces of 1 were calculated to further investigate their intermolecular interactions in the crystal lattice. Our investigation of the magnetic properties of 1, through ac magnetic susceptibility measurements, reveals the occurrence of a slow relaxation in magnetization in this mononuclear GdIII complex, indicating an unusual single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior for this pseudo-isotropic metal ion at very low temperatures. We also studied the relaxometric properties of 1, as a potential contrast agent for high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), from solutions of 1 prepared in physiological serum (0.0–3.2 mM range) and measured at 3 T on a clinical MRI scanner. The values of relaxivity obtained for 1 are larger than those of some commercial MRI contrast agents based on mononuclear GdIII systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve spatial tasks, the human brain asks for support from the visual cortices. Nonetheless, representing spatial information is not fixed but depends on the reference frames in which the spatial inputs are involved. The present study investigates how the kind of spatial representations influences the recruitment of visual areas during multisensory spatial tasks. Our study tested participants in an electroencephalography experiment involving two audio–visual (AV) spatial tasks: a spatial bisection, in which participants estimated the relative position in space of an AV stimulus in relation to the position of two other stimuli, and a spatial localization, in which participants localized one AV stimulus in relation to themselves. Results revealed that spatial tasks specifically modulated the occipital event‐related potentials (ERPs) after the onset of the stimuli. We observed a greater contralateral early occipital component (50–90 ms) when participants solved the spatial bisection, and a more robust later occipital response (110–160 ms) when they processed the spatial localization. This observation suggests that different spatial representations elicited by multisensory stimuli are sustained by separate neurophysiological mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated existing and potential approaches for hot cracking analysis of cast alloys and showed a promising and very applicable new specimen for high alloyed steels. The reliability of this specimen has been demonstrated by adding niobium to alloy HH (ASTM A297), or alloy 1.4837 (ISO 11973). Niobium shows a very positive impact on hot cracking behavior and can thereby reduce scrap in steel foundries. Amounts above 0.6 wt% niobium can reduce the size and number of hot cracks significantly. The reduction of hot cracking tendency was quantified by the cracking factor CFNb2. The positive effect is associated with the reduction in solidification interval length that was measured by thermal analysis and the observed "healing" of cracks in the microsections. Both effects are promoted by niobium. The promotion of the ferritic solidification seems to have no positive impact on the hot cracking behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of its excellent analytical performance and high economic efficiency, the lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) has proved to be a robust bioanalytical method. To achieve the application of LFIA in health care, several issues still need to be addressed, including a dramatic increase in sensitivity and reliability which is vital to enable early disease diagnosis and to avoid false-negative results. Electrokinetics in paper-based biosensors allows an integrated solution that simultaneously enables separation, preconcentration, and detection of different target analytes. Miniaturized electrokinetic biosensing platforms that incorporate all necessary electronics and use portable batteries for power sources enable their practical use at the point of care (PoC). The potential of electrokinetic phenomena in biosensing is still in its infancy, and there is still work to be done to boost the analytical sensitivity. In order to decentralize health care, the development of point-of-care (PoC) assays has gained significant attention in recent decades. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) has emerged as a promising bioanalytical method due to its low cost and single-step detection process. However, its limited sensitivity and inability to detect disease biomarkers at clinically relevant levels have hindered its application for early diagnosis. This review explores the potential of merging different electrokinetic phenomena into paper-based assays to enhance their analytical performance, offering a versatile and affordable approach for PoC testing. The review exposes the challenges faced in integrating electrokinetic phenomena with paper-based biosensing and concludes by discussing the issues that need to be improved to maximize the potential of this technology for early diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LGBT Christian activism in Indonesia was initiated by progressive wings within ecumenical denominations, while backlashes were mostly voiced by evangelical groups. Disrupting such a binary, we interviewed affirming Pentecostal church leaders and members (both LGBT persons and allies) to explore theological, discursive, and congregational resources that were drawn upon to constitute an affirming evangelical position. While previous studies in the West have paid significant attention to theological reinterpretations of texts and traditions, our findings demonstrated that there are other contextual resources to explore, both at the personal, communal, and institutional levels which may support an affirming subjectivity for allies and LGBT persons themselves. Three resources were identified in this study, namely, a strong sense of personal moral agency, the tight-knit church community, and the self-governed, market-driven church institution. The implications of the study are discussed in relation to Pentecostal theologies and LGBT Christian activism in contemporary Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron‐containing imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium heptachlorodiferrate (BMI.Fe2Cl7) and 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate (BMI.FeCl4) are applied as catalysts in the homogeneous polymerization of n‐butyl vinyl ether. Both solventless conditions as well as using different organic solvents, catalyst concentrations, temperatures, and reaction times are tested to assess the polymerization conditions that lead to the highest molecular weights of poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether). The Lewis acidic IL BMI.Fe2Cl7 proves to be highly efficient, even at low catalyst concentrations. In bulk polymerization, polymers with 142 kg mol−1 are obtained using a 1:10000 molar ratio of catalyst to monomer. In solution polymerization, the monomer consumption is also rapid and the molecular weight of the polymer is related to the catalyst concentration used. These results indicate the potential of this catalyst for industrial applications. In contrast with the acidic IL, the neutral iron‐containing imidazolium‐based IL BMI.FeCl4 does not show any catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between theatre and the Anthropocene remains an understudied topic. First, there appears to be a tension between the Anthropocene as a concept that, by radically foregrounding a host of non-human agencies, shifts the focus away from human agency, on the one hand, and the theatre as an all-too-human medium on the other. Second, the theatre as a here-and-now space seems irreconcilable with the vast temporal and spatial scale of the Anthropocene, which entails an almost unmanageable complexity and unpredictability. Staging the Anthropocene, then, remains a theatrical challenge because of the renegotiated assemblage of human and non-human agency and the subsequent spatio-temporal epistemological challenges. This essay examines the extent to which theatre is equipped to stage the Anthropocene by analyzing and critically assessing Bruno Latour and Frédérique Aït-Touati's Inside (2016) as a work of Anthropocene theatre. Via the experimental format of the lecture performance, the authors look for a new way to represent humanity's place in the Anthropocene. This is most explicit in the way the performance breaks what I call the first wall, one of the affordances of the theatrical space, which is everything on stage that is thought to have no theatrical — and by extension moral and political — agency. As Inside renegotiates the relationship between human and non-human agency, the human loses its central position as protagonist and sole agent. The performance, however, never completely erases human agency from the stage but minimally salvages it, as such problematizing the modern scientific gaze of theoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 diagnosis lies on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal specimens by RT-PCR. The Xpert-Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay provides results in less than one hour from specimen reception, which makes it suitable for clinical/epidemiological circumstances that require faster responses. The analysis of a COVID-19 outbreak suspected in the neonatology ward from our institution showed that the Ct values obtained for the targeted genes in the Xpert assay were markedly different within each specimen (N Ct value > 20 cycles above the E Ct value). Results: We identified the mutation C29200T in the N gene as responsible for an impairment in the N gene amplification by performing whole genome sequencing of the specimens involved in the outbreak (Omicron variant). Subsequently, a retrospective analysis of all specimens sequenced in our institution allowed us to identify the same SNP as responsible for similar impairments in another 12 cases (42% of the total cases reported in the literature). Finally, we found that the same SNP emerged in five different lineages independently, throughout almost all the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: We demonstrated for the first time the impact of this SNP on the Xpert assay, when harbored by new Omicron variants. We extend our observation period throughout almost all the COVID-19 pandemic, offering the most updated observations of this phenomenon, including sequences from the seventh pandemic wave, until now absent in the reports related to this issue. Continuous monitoring of emerging SNPs that could affect the performance of the most commonly used diagnostic tests, is required to redesign the tests to restore their correct performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent years, there has been a notable increase of migratory movements into Europe with the arrival of not (reliably) documented young individuals within EU-Member States. Accordingly, the need for forensic age assessments likewise increased in order to administratively differentiate along the legally relevant cut-off age of 18 completed years. The objective of our study was to analyse the expert reports of forensic age estimation issued in Barcelona between 2011 and 2018. Method: In all cases, data on the medical history, physical examination, radiology of the left hand and orthopantomography were collected. In cases without third molars and a complete ossification of the hand, a CT scan of the clavicles was also performed. Results: A total of 2754 expert reports were evaluated; 96.7% were males, the majority were of North African origin, mainly from Morocco (63.6%), and 19.6% were sub-Saharan Africans; 65.4% had a level of bone maturation corresponding to the last three standards of Greulich and Pyle. Most cases had mineralization of the third molar corresponding to the F, G or H stages of Demirjian. In 85.9%, there was a correspondence between bone and dental age. A total of 28.8% of the subjects were evaluated as being aged over 18 years; 86.2% of North Africans were considered to be younger than 18, and 82% of sub-Saharan Africans were considered to be over 18 years old. Conclusions: In Barcelona, most of the subjects evaluated were male and North African, and 71.2% of the cases were considered to be minors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a prevalent enzyme involved in anaerobic glycolysis, is released into body fluids following cell damage and has long been a general marker of tissue injury. However, due to its lack of selectivity and the advent of more accurate biomarkers, the clinical utility of LDH has been largely limited to confirming hemolysis. LDH has been recognized as a valuable prognostic biomarker for various cancers, making its monitoring crucial during cancer management. Traditional LDH methods include spectrophotometric analysis of NADH at 340 nm, native electrophoresis, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study presents the first lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the smartphone-based quantification of serum LDH levels at the point of care. Highly-affinity and specific antibodies have been produced, with 5 nM equilibrium dissociation constant and no cross-reactivity with human serum albumin and human immunoglobulin G. Utilizing carbon nanoparticles as signal transducers significantly enhanced the quantification limit 55-fold, compared to the conventional gold nanoparticles-based LFIA, achieving a quantification limit of 1.5 ng mL−1. The developed assay demonstrated a mean recovery rate of 115 ± 21 % when evaluating LDH-spiked serum samples. This method can be an interesting home-testing tool for monitoring cancer progression or therapy effectiveness. [Display omitted] • Sensitive and quantitative detection of LDH in serum samples at the point of care. • The smartphone-based LFIA improved the quantification limit 55-fold using carbon nanoparticles (CNP) compared to gold (AuNP). • Visual detection limit for CNP-based LFIA was 7.8 times lower than AuNP (2.4 ng mL-1 vs. 18.8 ng mL-1). • The carbon nanoparticle LFIA showed high accuracy with an average recovery rate of 115 ± 21 % in serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 38-year-old woman who presented with painless vision loss in the left eye over the course of 1 week was investigated at a tertiary neuro-ophthalmology clinic. She was otherwise asymptomatic with no reported headaches, focal neurological deficits, anosmia, or behavioural changes. Bilateral optic disc oedema was identified on examination. Neuroimaging and then resection and histopathological evaluation demonstrated a meningothelial meningioma centred on the left sphenoid ridge. The left optic disc later became atrophic. We have therefore described a case of type 2 Foster Kennedy syndrome with unilateral vision loss as the only initial manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a severe autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease in which the musculoskeletal system contributes substantially to overall mortality and morbidity. DM1 stems from a noncoding CTG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. The human skeletal actin long repeat (HSALR) mouse model reproduces several aspects of the disease, but the muscle-wasting phenotype of this model has never been characterized in vivo. Herein, we used quantitative MRI to measure the fat and muscle volumes in the leg compartment (LC) of mice. These acquired data were processed to extract relevant parameters such as fat fraction and fat infiltration (fat LC/LC) in HSALR and control (FBV) muscles. These results showed increased fat volume (fat LC) and fat infiltration within the muscle tissue of the leg compartment (muscle LC), in agreement with necropsies, in which fatty clumps were observed, and consistent with previous findings in DM1 patients. Model mice did not reproduce the characteristic impaired fat fraction, widespread fat replacement through the muscles, or reduced muscle volume reported in patients. Taken together, the observed abnormal replacement of skeletal muscle by fat in the HSALR mice indicates that these mice partially reproduced the muscle phenotype observed in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carmelo Saldaña Cimorra, a retired official from the Meteorological Observers Corps, passed away at the age of 96. His life was closely linked to the Daroca Observatory in Zaragoza, belonging to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). Carmelo was recognized for his work when he was awarded the Cross of the Order of Civil Merit in 1986. In May 2017, the Daroca meteorological station received recognition from the World Meteorological Organization as a long-term observation station. Carmelo will always be remembered by those who knew him. [Extracted from the article]

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) injected intravenously are trapped in the capillaries of the lungs and die within the first 24 h. Studying the biodistribution and fate of labelled therapeutic cells in the 3D pulmonary context is important to understand their function in this organ and gain insights into their mechanisms of action. Optical tissue clearing enables volumetric cell tracking at single-cell resolution. Thus, we compared three optical tissue-clearing protocols (Clear, Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis (CUBIC), modified stabilised 3D imaging of solvent-cleared organs (s-DISCO) and ethyl cinnamate (ECi)) to evaluate their potential to track the biodistribution of human umbilical cord MSCs expressing the tdTomato fluorescence reporter and investigate how they interact with host cells in the mouse lung. The results showed that although CUBIC clearing is the only method that enables direct imaging of fluorescently labelled MSCs, combining s-DISCO or ECi with immunofluorescence or dye labelling allows the interaction of MSCs with endothelial and immune cells to be studied. Overall, this comparative study offers guidance on selecting an optical tissue-clearing method for cell tracking applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is evident that the brain is capable of large-scale reorganization following sensory deprivation, but the extent of such reorganization is to date, not clear. The auditory modality is the most accurate to represent temporal information, and deafness is an ideal clinical condition to study the reorganization of temporal representation when the audio signal is not available. Here we show that hearing, but not deaf individuals, show a strong ERP response to visual stimuli in temporal areas during a time-bisection task. This ERP response appears 50–90 ms after the flash and recalls some aspects of the N1 ERP component usually elicited by auditory stimuli. The same ERP is not evident for a visual space-bisection task, suggesting that the early recruitment of temporal cortex is specific for building a highly resolved temporal representation within the visual modality. These findings provide evidence that the lack of auditory input can interfere with typical development of complex visual temporal representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To expand the knowledge regarding the clinical presentation of Kocuria endophthalmitis. We included six cases of Kocuria endophthalmitis between January 2018 and December 2020. From all cases, we collected general demographic data, relevant medical, ophthalmological history, microbiological and antibiotic sensitivity results. All cases had a minimum follow-up of 9 months. All cases were treated with intravitreal moxifloxacin and dexamethasone and pars plana vitrectomy. Undiluted vitreous, corneal, conjunctival, and aqueous samples were cultured and analyzed with the Vitek 2 system. The prevalence of Kocuria endophthalmitis was 6%. (95%CI: 2.26%-12.73%). The mean age at diagnosis was 60.5 ± 15.5 years. All patients had poor visual acuity, severe pain, and severe conjunctival hyperemia at diagnosis. Only one case had a significant improvement in visual acuity at the end of the follow-up. Kocuria spp are an emerging cause of endophthalmitis and should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financialisation of land and housing marks a new empire colonising the urban landscape in which territories are increasingly captured and populations are dislocated and dispossessed. Under this model of urban development, the link between capital and built space has reached unprecedented scale and speed by mobilising new legal, political and economic instruments. In this article, we examine how law constitutes and operates this link by enabling a true domination of finance over built space. At the foundation of the connection between space and finance lies the liberal idea of private property, which has historically modulated the territorial organisation of cities and established borders between the city and its margins. Identified all over the world as outcast and subnormal, the urban margins are stigmatised, criminalised and racialised places which are under permanent threat and, simultaneously, functional to the real estate financial capital. Performing the role of preferred territories to be used as new frontiers of capital expansion, these places can be deeply marked by violence and destruction in the name of legality. But in addressing this scenario, it is important to recognise that the city is under dispute and, beyond the capture of territories by finance, there is also a permanent movement of emplacements, generating landscapes for life. Different resistance experiences in cities around the world, with their use of insurgent tactics such as occupations, communal forms of ownership and other collective and complex bonds with land, perform blockages against the referred submission of built space to finance. We argue that, in this 'urban warfare', space is not the scenery where battles take place, but rather the object of these battles itself. In this context, insurgent spatialities and legal forms emerge as key collective processes of building new forms of urban life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this introduction to the themed Special Feature 'Law at the margins of the city', we present a roadmap of concepts and practices across the various fields that are explored in this collection of articles. We invite readers to visit a disciplinary and creative encounter by untangling different routes and layers connecting law, finance, raciality, urban poverty and radical insurgencies. The aim is to delineate and reinaugurate an existing but still not entirely explored area of knowledge, in which the contributing articles provoke insightful critiques about legal articulations on and from the margins of the city. Through a multi-sited perspective, reflected in the contexts from which the invited authors are writing, we suggest that the 'problem of poverty' is not only globalised, but also embedded in and facilitated by globally effective legal processes. By bringing together variegated urban experiences in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Mozambique, Colombia, Turkey and India, that could be read as isolated and localised, a clear global pattern reveals itself in the transformation of cities and their margins. Likewise, a global web of insurgent practices emerges through the local ways in which law is appropriated by resistance groups from the margins. As will be seen in the contributions to this Special Feature, by disputing law and by disputing space, these ongoing practices can work to destabilise an entire world-making system of property, raciality and urban organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are currently the most used point-of-care sensors for both diagnostic (e.g., pregnancy test, COVID-19 monitoring) and environmental (e.g., pesticides and bacterial monitoring) applications. Although the core of LFA technology was developed several decades ago, in recent years the integration of novel nanomaterials as signal transducers or receptor immobilization platforms has brought improved analytical capabilities. In this Review, we present how nanomaterial-based LFAs can address the inherent challenges of point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics such as sensitivity enhancement, lowering of detection limits, multiplexing, and quantification of analytes in complex samples. Specifically, we highlight the strategies that can synergistically solve the limitations of current LFAs and that have proven commercial feasibility. Finally, we discuss the barriers toward commercialization and the next generation of LFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the seismic response of a steel moment-resisting frame with hysteretic energy dissipation devices, designed with the energy-balance-based method implemented in the forthcoming second generation of Eurocode 8. Its response is compared with that of a counterpart conventional frame without energy dissipation devices designed under the force-based approach, also following the second generation of Eurocode 8. The response of both systems is obtained through nonlinear time history analyses with a suite of scaled accelerograms. The results of these analyses serve as well to judge the goodness of the prediction —in terms of maximum interstory drifts and energy dissipation demands— of the energy-balance-based method. Both structures are assumed to be in a region of high seismicity. A quantitative comparison is also made in terms of residual displacements and amount of steel required, and cost. The results demonstrate that the energy-based formulation of the second generation of Eurocode 8 provides for structures with much better performance and lower cost than conventional steel frames designed according to the force-based approach. It is furthermore shown that the energy-balance-based method affords a safe-side estimation of the maximum interstory drifts and of the expected damage on the main structure of the system with energy dissipation devices. The latter consumes about one half of the steel required by the conventional structure, while reducing the maximum interstory drifts to nearly one half and the residual drifts to nearly one third. • Seismic design of structures with dampers according to second generation of Eurocode 8. • Energy-based formulation implemented in the second generation of Eurocode 8. • A steel frame with dampers requires less than 50 % of the steel required by a conventional structure. • The interstory and permanent drifts are about one half of those of a conventional frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bee pollen is a food supplement that is receiving increasing attention for its nutraceutical and therapeutic properties. However, several uncertainties on the safety of this beekeeping product still exist. The present work addressed this issue through the critical evaluation of 61 studies, published over the 2014–2024 period, and focused on the analysis of pesticides and mycotoxins in bee pollen. A comprehensive examination of the analytical procedures employed for the analysis of these contaminants was performed. Overall, 358 pesticides and 7 mycotoxins were found in bee pollen, with certain compounds being globally distributed and frequently encountered. An overview of the existing European regulations concerning pesticide and mycotoxin levels in food was presented, emphasizing the exclusion of bee pollen from the list of monitored commodities. The findings of the reviewed studies revealed the necessity of gathering more data on bee pollen's contamination and consumption, in order to finally perform reliable risk assessments. • Recent literature on pesticides and mycotoxins in bee pollen is critically reviewed. • Mass spectrometry and ELISA are the most common analytical techniques. • Banned compounds in EU are still found in bee pollen by monitoring programs. • 358 pesticides and 7 mycotoxins detected in the last ten years in bee pollen. • Existing gaps in the regulatory framework and risk assessment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of lateral flow assays (LFAs) use single‐color optical labels to provide a qualitative naked‐eye detection, however this detection method displays two important limitations. First, the use of a single‐color label makes the LFA prone to results misinterpretation. Second, it does not allow the precise modulation of the sensitivity and dynamic range of the test. To overcome these limitations, a ratiometric approach is developed. In particular, using anti‐HIgG functionalized red‐fluorescent quantum dots on the conjugate pad (as target dependent labels) and blue‐fluorescent nanoparticles fixed on the test line (as target independent reporters), it is possible to generate a wide color palette (blue, purple, pink, red) on the test line. It is believed that this strategy will facilitate the development of LFAs by easily adjusting their analytical properties to the needs required by the specific application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: KRAS is the most mutated proto-oncogene that has been identified in cancer, and treatment of patients with KRAS mutations remains an arduous challenge. Recently, KRAS G12C mutation has attracted special interest because it is now considered potentially druggable with recently developed covalent small-molecule KRAS G12C inhibitors. Nevertheless, to date, there have been no large-scale analyses of liquid biopsy that include testing for KRAS G12C . Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of KRAS G12C mutations in multiple cancer types, as detected by circulating tumor DNA. METHODS: We conducted a 5-year retrospective review of KRAS G12C mutations in patients with cancer who had undergone Guardant360 testing between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2019; our study included treatment-naive and previously treated patients with metastatic solid tumors. RESULTS: KRAS G12C mutations were identified in 2,985 of 80,911 patients (3.7%), across > 40 tumor types. KRAS G12C mutations were detected most frequently in patients with nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; 7.5%), NSCLC of all subtypes (6.9%), cancer of unknown primary (4.1%), colorectal cancer (3.5%), squamous NSCLC (2.0%), pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (1.9%), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (1.2%) and cholangiocarcinoma (1.2%). KRAS G12C mutations were predominantly clonal (clonality > 0.9%) in patients with lung adenocarcinoma, non-NSCLC, cancer of unknown primary, NSCLC, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and patients with colorectal cancer and breast cancer had bimodal distribution of clonal and subclonal KRAS G12C mutations. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using circulating tumor DNA to identify KRAS G12C mutations across solid tumors; the highest detection rate was in lung cancer, as previously reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led significant social repercussions and forced people to wear face masks. Recent research has demonstrated that the human ability to infer emotions from facial configurations is significantly reduced when face masks are worn. Since the mouth region is specifically crucial for deaf people who speak sign language, the current study assessed the impact of face masks on inferring emotional facial expressions in a population of adult deaf signers. A group of 34 congenitally deaf individuals and 34 normal-hearing individuals were asked to identify happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and neutral expression on static human pictures with and without facial masks presented through smartphones. For each emotion, the percentage of correct responses with and without face masks was calculated and compared between groups. Results indicated that face masks, such as those worn due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, limit the ability of people to infer emotions from facial expressions. The negative impact of face masks is significantly pronounced when deaf people have to recognize low-intensity expressions of happiness. These findings are of essential importance because difficulties in recognizing emotions from facial expressions due to mask wearing may contribute to the communication challenges experienced by the deaf community during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, generating feelings of frustration and exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Educational organizations in the Covid era: challenges and learnings" analyzes the challenges and learnings of educational organizations during the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the adoption of online and distance learning models due to the disruption of traditional forms of work in schools. It also mentions the impact of digitalization on society and organizations, as well as the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on education. The use of technology in communication and work is addressed, and cases of adaptation in universities in Colombia and Finland are mentioned. The importance of learning from experience to drive the future is emphasized, and the need to rethink society and the desired future is raised. The importance of coexistence, communication, and reflection, as well as social solidarity and efficient global coordination, is highlighted. The possibility of maintaining some activities developed during the pandemic in the new work and educational routine is mentioned. The need to structure daily life in a stable and meaningful way, to educate citizens capable of thinking for themselves and working collaboratively, is emphasized. The need for a new language and a philosophical revolution to face future changes and integrate reflection into educational organizations is proposed. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Sarcomas are rare, heterogeneous, ubiquitously localized malignancies with many histologic subtypes and genomic patterns. The survival of patients with sarcoma has rarely been described based on this heterogeneity; therefore, the authors' objective was to estimate survival outcomes in patients who had sarcomas using the 2020 version of the World Health Organization classification of soft tissue and bone tumors. METHODS: Patients older than 15 years who had incident sarcoma diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were extracted from 14 French population‐based cancer registries covering 18% of the French metropolitan population. Vital status for each patient was actively followed up to June 30, 2013. Net survival (NS) was estimated using the unbiased Pohar‐Perme method. RESULTS: Overall, 4202 patients were included. NS declined with increasing age at diagnosis. According to topographic groups, large 5‐year NS disparities were observed, ranging from 47% among women with gynecologic sarcomas to 89% among patients with skin sarcomas. Patients with soft tissue, bone, and gastrointestinal sarcomas had 5‐year NS rates of 53%, 61%, and 70%, respectively. Similar heterogeneity was observed according to histologic subtypes, with 5‐year NS ranging from 19% for patients with angiosarcomas to 96% for patients with dermatofibrosarcomas. Patients with sarcoma who displayed missense mutations had a better 5‐year NS (74%); those with MDM2‐amplified sarcomas had the worst NS (45%). CONCLUSIONS: NS rates in patients with sarcoma are presented here for the first time based on the 2020 World Health Organization classification applied to population‐based registry data. Large prognostic heterogeneity was observed based on age, topographic and histologic groups, and genomic alteration profiles, constituting a benchmark for future studies and clinical trials. In this study based on the 2020 version of the World Health Organization classification of soft tissue and bone tumors applied to the French population‐based cancer registries, large survival heterogeneity of sarcomas was observed on age, topographic and histologic groups, and genomic alteration profiles. This study emphasized the major determinants of survival in patients with sarcoma, providing a new benchmark for future studies or clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To present a case of neovascular glaucoma secondary to ocular ischemic syndrome following an uncomplicated phacoemulsification. Methods: This is a case description of a 74-year-old male who developed blurred vision and increased intraocular pressure (IOP) two months after an uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery with posterior chamber lens implantation of the left eye. There was iris neovascularization with absence of retinal dot/blot hemorrhages or neovascularization. The fluorescein angiogram (FA) showed delayed choroidal fluorescence and arteriovenous time. IOP-lowering medications and intravitreal injection of aflibercept were given. Carotid doppler test showed 70% stenosis of the ipsilateral artery but a subsequent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) did not show evidence of significant stenosis. Results: At his last consultation, visual acuity improved to counting fingers. IOP was maintained at 12 mmHg with one anti-glaucoma medication. Conclusion: Ocular ischemia can confound the outcome of an uncomplicated cataract surgery. Doppler scans are usually chosen as the first-line exam for those suspected of carotid stenosis but, at times, may have contradictory results with MRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By enabling name-based routing and ubiquitous in-network caching, Named Data Networking (NDN) is a promising network architecture for sixth generation (6G) edge network infrastructures. However, the performance of content retrieval largely depends on the selected caching strategy, which is implemented in a distributed fashion by each NDN node. Previous research showed the effectiveness of caching decisions based on content popularity and network topology information. This paper presents a new distributed caching strategy for NDN edge networks based on a metric called popularity-aware closeness (PaC), which measures the proximity of the potential cacher to the majority of requesters of a certain content. After identifying the most popular contents, the strategy caches them in the available edge nodes that guarantee the higher PaC. Achieved simulation results show that the proposed strategy outperforms other benchmark schemes, in terms of reduced content retrieval delay and exchanged data traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To be able through a machine learning model, to predict overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer treated with curative intent in our centre between July 2018 and December 2022. Patients were treated with radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy with curative intent or surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy. A machine learning model (Classification and Regression Trees (CRT)) and a deep learning model (Multilayer Perceptron (MLP)) were used to predict overall survival based on some clinical characteristics as well as dosimetric characteristics of our radiotherapy treatment. 404 patients with head and neck cancer (HANC) of different sublocations (extracted from a real-world database build with variables generated through the MOSAIQ (Elekta) corporate system of the Andalusian Health System) were used. Status alive or dead in October 2023 was known in all of them. Those who received a dose equal to or greater than 50 Gy to CTV_BED or CTV_T were finally selected to transformation (n= 342 patients). They were randomly into a training cohort (n=236) and a test cohort (n=106) according to a 7:3 ratio. The variables were selected after an exploratory Factor Analysis: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and were analyzed and transformed (standardization and obtaining z values) to improve sample quality. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), Kaplan Meier curve and C-index were used to display the capability to prediction of the constructed models. Twenty clinical and dosimetric characteristics were evaluated and transformed for exploratory PCA analysis. Those with multicollinearity problems were excluded. Finally, they were selected: status, tumor sublocation, morphology, total prescribed dose, mean dose at PTV, PTV volume, fractions, total treatment time and theoretical total treatment time. The MLP stratified survival model into high versus low risk with an area under the curve (AUC) for the training and test dataset of 0.72 and 0.74. C-index (Phi and V. de Cramer) was 0.65. In CRT model the AUC was 0.75 and 0.77and C-index was 0.70. With a median follow-up of 36 months, patients with high-risk because of the variables predicted by MLP have a poor overall survival than patients with low-risk (60% vs 80%; p = 0.075). Machine and deep learning approaches could provide reliable outcome predictions in patients with HANC after RT. These prediction results could asses to clinical decision with intensification treatments in some patients but more information in this field is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A novel, red-shifted bioluminescence imaging (BLI) system called AkaBLI has been recently developed for cell tracking in preclinical models and to date, limited data is available on how it performs in relation to existing systems. Purpose: To systematically compare the performance of AkaBLI and the standard Firefly luciferase (FLuc) systems to monitor the biodistribution and fate of cell therapies in rodents. Methods: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were transduced to produce two genetically engineered populations, expressing either AkaLuc or the engineered FLuc luc2. The bioluminescence of AkaLuc+ and FLuc+ cells was assessed both in vitro (emission spectra, saturation kinetics and light emission per cell) and in vivo (substrate kinetics following intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administration and biodistribution of the cells up to day 7). Results: Introduction of the reporter genes has no effect on MSC phenotype. For BLI, the FLuc system is superior to AkaBLI in terms of (i) light output, producing a stronger signal after subcutaneous substrate delivery and more consistent signal kinetics when delivered intraperitoneally; (ii) absence of hepatic background; and (iii) safety, where the AkaLuc substrate was associated with a reaction in the skin of the mice in vivo. Conclusion: We conclude that there is no advantage in using the AkaBLI system to track the biodistribution of systemically administered cell-based regenerative medicine therapies in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abrasive machining process, such as grinding, sometimes is the most suitable option when component surfaces demand specific requirements as tight tolerances of shape and dimension. Austempered ductile iron (ADI) is a material used in a wide variety of components. The expansion of existing knowledge about the methodology with which ADI is produced has allowed to develop parts with shapes and dimensions close to the final ones. Due to this, components with sections of different thicknesses, which could include thin walls, are becoming more common. Nevertheless, scarce information about ADI straight surface grinding can be found in works both recent and preceding. This research seeks to analyze the influence of the cutting parameters and the microstructure features on surface finish and surface integrity in thin wall ADI samples subjected to straight surface grinding. Specific cutting energy consumed during grinding was quantified, their surface roughness was measured, and microdeformations at different scales were determined to study the mechanical effect associated with the generation of residual stress (RS). In order to estimate the RS profile shape and magnitude from the distortion produced in the specimens, a previously established relationship between distortion and RS formation was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multisensory experience is crucial for developing a coherent perception of the world. In this context, vision and audition are essential tools to scaffold spatial and temporal representations, respectively. Since speed encompasses both space and time, investigating this dimension in blindness allows deepening the relationship between sensory modalities and the two representation domains. In the present study, we hypothesized that visual deprivation influences the use of spatial and temporal cues underlying acoustic speed perception. To this end, ten early blind and ten blindfolded sighted participants performed a speed discrimination task in which spatial, temporal, or both cues were available to infer moving sounds' velocity. The results indicated that both sighted and early blind participants preferentially relied on temporal cues to determine stimuli speed, by following an assumption that identified as faster those sounds with a shorter duration. However, in some cases, this temporal assumption produces a misperception of the stimulus speed that negatively affected participants' performance. Interestingly, early blind participants were more influenced by this misleading temporal assumption than sighted controls, resulting in a stronger impairment in the speed discrimination performance. These findings demonstrate that the absence of visual experience in early life increases the auditory system's preference for the time domain and, consequentially, affects the perception of speed through audition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: The ingestion of protein potentiates the stimulation of myofibrillar protein synthesis rates after an acute bout of resistance exercise.Protein supplementation (eating above the protein Recommended Dietary Allowance) during resistance training has been shown to maximize lean mass and strength gains in healthy young and older adults.Here, contractile, oxidative, and structural protein synthesis were assessed in skeletal muscle in response to a moderate or higher protein diet during the early adaptive phase of resistance training in middle‐aged adults.The stimulation of myofibrillar, mitochondrial or collagen protein synthesis rates during 0–3 weeks of resistance training is not further enhanced by a higher protein diet.These results show that moderate protein diets are sufficient to support the skeletal muscle adaptive response during the early phase of a resistance training programme. Protein ingestion augments muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rates acutely after resistance exercise and can offset age‐related loss in muscle mass. Skeletal muscle contains a variety of protein pools, such as myofibrillar (contractile), mitochondrial (substrate oxidation), and collagen (structural support) proteins, and the sensitivity to nutrition and exercise seems to be dependent on the major protein fraction studied. However, it is unknown how free‐living conditions with high dietary protein density and habitual resistance exercise mediates muscle protein subfraction synthesis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of moderate (MOD: 1.06 ± 0.22 g kg−1 day−1) or high (HIGH: 1.55 ± 0.25 g kg−1 day−1) protein intake on daily MPS rates within the myofibrillar (MyoPS), mitochondrial (MitoPS) and collagen (CPS) protein fractions in middle‐aged men and women (n = 20, 47 ± 1 years, BMI 28 ± 1 kg m–2) during the early phase (0–3 weeks) of a dietary counselling‐controlled resistance training programme. Participants were loaded with deuterated water, followed by daily maintenance doses throughout the intervention. Muscle biopsies were collected at baseline and after weeks 1, 2 and 3. MyoPS in the HIGH condition remained constant (P = 1.000), but MOD decreased over time (P = 0.023). MitoPS decreased after 0–3 weeks when compared to 0–1 week (P = 0.010) with no effects of protein intake (P = 0.827). A similar decline with no difference between groups (P = 0.323) was also observed for CPS (P = 0.007). Our results demonstrated that additional protein intake above moderate amounts does not potentiate the stimulation of longer‐term MPS responses during the early stage of resistance training adaptations in middle‐aged adults. Key points: The ingestion of protein potentiates the stimulation of myofibrillar protein synthesis rates after an acute bout of resistance exercise.Protein supplementation (eating above the protein Recommended Dietary Allowance) during resistance training has been shown to maximize lean mass and strength gains in healthy young and older adults.Here, contractile, oxidative, and structural protein synthesis were assessed in skeletal muscle in response to a moderate or higher protein diet during the early adaptive phase of resistance training in middle‐aged adults.The stimulation of myofibrillar, mitochondrial or collagen protein synthesis rates during 0–3 weeks of resistance training is not further enhanced by a higher protein diet.These results show that moderate protein diets are sufficient to support the skeletal muscle adaptive response during the early phase of a resistance training programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article revolves around the analysis of the experiences and meanings of two people inserted in the social violence that Guerrero has suffered since the mid-twentieth century in order to find its causes and the perceptions of this process. The state's violent climate is part of what is called the "accumulation due to dispossession," which seeks to alleviate the crisis of over-accumulation of capital. The entry of criminal organizations in the states territory has not been homogeneous given that it began in urban areas and later spread to the countryside. This situation is the result of the power struggle among the groups that are trying to put the government at their service to impose their own economic interests. Thus, the so-called war against drug trafficking disguises low-intensity counterinsurgency that attempts to generate an on-going state of exception that guarantees the disarticulation of social protest and favors the entry of big capital. One of the main concerns is the role played by young people in this context. Therefore, it is important to recognize that their vulnerability, the product of economic precariousness and forced recruiting, are the main causes that makes them easy prey of this violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La entidad suriana ha tenido procesos estructurales específicos que la han hecho diferente a otras de la República; es decir: por un lado, se suscitó el proceso represivo estatal llamado "Guerra Sucia" y, por el otro, el proceso de violencia social producto de la desarticulación de los cárteles de la droga a finales de la década de 2010. A esto se le debe sumar una elite política violenta e intransigente ante las demandas ciudadanas y una población sumida en condiciones de precariedad y violencia crónicas. Esto ha configurado de manera profunda las subjetividades de los sujetos juveniles rurales en cuanto a sus relaciones familiares y comunitarias que se expresan en prácticas hiperviolentas, consumo de drogas en mayor proporción sintéticas, descapitalización económica e inmersión a estructuras criminales y defensa del territorio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein intake above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and resistance training are known anabolic stimuli to support healthy aging. Specifically, protein supplementation after resistance exercise and nightly are strategies to maximize utilization of protein intake above the RDA in healthy adults. As such, the primary objective was to examine the efficacy of protein supplementation and nutritional counseling resulting in either moderate (MOD: ~1.0 g·kg-1·day-1) or higher (HIGH: ~1.6 g·kg-1·day-1) protein intake during resistance training on strength (one-repetition maximum, 1-RM; isokinetic and isometric peak torque) in healthy middle-aged adults. Exploratory analyses include diet-exercise effects on lean body mass (LBM), clinical biomarkers, gut microbiota, and diet composition. In all, 50 middle-aged adults (age: 50 ± 8 yr, BMI: 27.2 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were randomized to either MOD or HIGH protein intake during a 10-wk resistance training program (3 x wk). Participants received dietary counseling and consumed either 15 g (MOD) or 30 g (HIGH) of protein from lean beef in the immediate postexercise period and each evening. Maximal strength (1-RM) for all upper and lower body exercises significantly increased with no effect of protein intake (P < 0.050). There was a main effect of time for LBM (P < 0.005). Cardiovascular, renal, or glycemic biomarkers were not affected by the intervention. Gut microbiota were associated with several health outcomes (P < 0.050). In conclusion, higher protein intake above moderate amounts does not potentiate resistance training adaptations in previously untrained middle-aged adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03029975. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrations in rat sarcoma (RAS) viral oncogene are the most prevalent and best-known genetic alterations identified in human cancers. Indeed, RAS drives tumorigenesis as one of the downstream effectors of EGFR activation, regulating cellular switches and functions and triggering intracellular signaling cascades such as the MAPK and PI3K pathways. Of the three RAS isoforms expressed in human cells, all of which were linked to tumorigenesis more than three decades ago, KRAS is the most frequently mutated. In particular, point mutations in KRAS codon 12 are present in up to 80% of KRAS-mutant malignancies. Unfortunately, there are no approved KRAS-targeted agents, despite decades of research and development. Recently, a revolutionary strategy to use covalent allosteric inhibitors that target a shallow pocket on the KRAS surface has provided new impetus for renewed drug development efforts, specifically against KRASG12C. These inhibitors, such as AMG 510 and MRTX849, show promise in early-phase studies. Nevertheless, combination strategies that target resistance mechanisms have become vital in the war against KRAS-mutant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients hospitalized in the Intermediate Care Unit of the Hospital Uldarico Rocca Fernández and determine the factors associated with mortality. Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study carried out in the Intermediate Care Unit of the Hospital Uldarico Rocca Fernández in Lima, Peru, which included patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 from July 1 to September 30, 2020. Clinical records and hospital records were reviewed looking for epidemiological characteristics, clinical characteristics, results of additional tests on admission and the final outcome of hospitalization. Results: Seventy-one (71) clinical records were studied. The predominant epidemiological characteristics were males (80.28 %) and mean age (64.72 years ± 13.64). Most of the patients (61.97 %) had at least one comorbidity, out of which the most common ones were obesity (35.21 %) and hypertension (32.39 %). The mean hospital stay was 13 days (± 12 days) and the mortality rate was 71.83 %. Conclusions: Based on the results, this research supports the following: the male population has a greater risk of becoming ill. In addition, there are factors associated with a worse mortality prognosis, such as age over 60, admission at the emergency room with an oxygen saturation lower than 80 %, and prolonged hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high potential of memristors as multilevel resistance devices is undermined by their highly non-linear behaviour and a strong dependency on different sources of variability (process, voltage, temperature...). Temperature fluctuations are specially harmful because small thermal variations may significantly modify the operation point of the device. For these reasons the circuitry required to accurately read or write multilevel devices is complex and area demanding, especially if multi-level storage is considered. This work addresses the problem of accurately writing a given resistance value in a memristive cell by using a time-domain architecture found on variable pulses. Temperature resiliency is achieved after performing an in depth analysis of the definition of the resistance levels in the presence of thermal variations. Furthermore, a calibration procedure has been conceived to make the writing circuitry resilient to device to device variations. Experimental results show that the proposed approach is valid for a wide temperature range. • A multilevel write driver for memristive cells has been designed based on a time-domain operation. • In depth temperature analysis has been carried out to avoid the harmful effects on multilevel storage. • Additionally, the effect of process variation has been studied both for the 40 nm technology and the RRAM cells under study. • A reliable architecture has been proposed that is resilient to temperature and process variations. • A novel calibration procedure with its corresponding circuitry has been designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ductile iron (DI) is a widely used material and one of the most largely casts produced. Advances in the understanding of the characteristics and behavior of this material have led to the development of parts with dimensions and shapes close to the final ones, and components with different thickness sections, including thin wall. When certain tolerances of shape and dimension have to be met, an appropriate machining process such as grinding must be chosen. This type of process produces high local efforts and hence a great amount of heat in the contact zone. Nowadays, there is scarce information on the effects of grinding on the surface integrity of DI. A comparative study of the surface finish and surface integrity of DI with different microstructures and nodule counts (NC) under grinding conditions was performed. All ground surfaces exhibited a good finish, and their surface roughness was within the expected range for grinding operations. Microstructure alterations as well as strains were studied and related to hardness alterations. The role played by mechanical and thermal effects on residual stress profiles was analyzed. A clear relationship between distortion and residual stress formation during the grinding process was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the absence of vision, spatial representation may be altered. When asked to compare the relative distances between three sounds (i.e., auditory spatial bisection task), blind individuals demonstrate significant deficits and do not show an event‐related potential response mimicking the visual C1 reported in sighted people. However, we have recently demonstrated that the spatial deficit disappears if coherent time and space cues are presented to blind people, suggesting that they may use time information to infer spatial maps. In this study, we examined whether the modification of temporal cues during space evaluation altered the recruitment of the visual and auditory cortices in blind individuals. We demonstrated that the early (50–90 ms) occipital response, mimicking the visual C1, is not elicited by the physical position of the sound, but by its virtual position suggested by its temporal delay. Even more impressively, in the same time window, the auditory cortex also showed this pattern and responded to temporal instead of spatial coordinates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By natively supporting in-network caching and name-based forwarding, ICN brings in features that are relevant to better support data transmission in opportunistic wireless networks. Such environments are highly challenged because of the node mobility and intermittent contacts. Therefore, forwarding packets to the right node at the right moment is critical to data retrieval performance. This article proposes a novel ICN forwarding strategy that leverages notable metrics, such as centrality and reliability, and the optimal stopping theory to statistically select the best next-hop forwarders and the time to perform the forwarding decision. Simulations with realistic mobility traces show that the proposed forwarding strategy outperforms other state-of-the-art solutions by guaranteeing shorter retrieval time and less overhead in terms of packet replicas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]