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Gold nanoclusters have attracted significant attention due to their unique physical-chemical properties, which can be tuned by alloying with elements such as Cu, Pd, Ag, and Pt to design materials for various applications. Although Au-nanoalloys have promising applications, our atomistic understanding of the descriptors that drive their stability is far from satisfactory. To address this problem, we considered 55-atom model nanoalloys that have been synthesized by experimental techniques. Here, we combined data mining techniques for creating a large sample of representative configurations, density functional theory for performing total energy optimizations, and Spearman correlation analyses to identify the most important descriptors. Among our results, we have identified trends in core–shell formation in the AuCu and AuPd systems and an onion-like design in the AuAg system, characterized by the aggregation of gold atoms on nanocluster surfaces. These features are explained by Au's surface energy, packing efficiency, and charge transfer mechanisms, which are enhanced by the alloys' preference for adopting the structure of the alloying metal rather than the low-symmetry one presented by Au55. These generalizations provide insights into the interplay between electronic and structural properties in gold nanoalloys, contributing to the understanding of their stabilization mechanisms and potential applications in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Inter-eye variability is a recognized characteristic of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and has been proposed as a diagnostic indicator in clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of the absolute difference between eyes in three key diagnostic tests recommended by the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II (TFOS DEWS II) Diagnostic Methodology report: tear film osmolarity, Fluorescein Break-Up Time (FBUT), and ocular surface staining. Methods: A total of 180 participants were included in a cross-sectional study. Before a dry eye examination, participants completed an online self-administered OSDI questionnaire. The TFOS DEWS II diagnostic criteria for DED assessment were used: along with OSDI, osmolarity, FBUT and ocular surface staining were measured in all participants in both eyes following standardized methodology. Based on signs and symptoms, participants were diagnosed as having No DED or DED. After diagnosis, the parameters were computed as the right and left eyes' absolute inter-eye difference (|OD-OS|). Results: Receiver Operating Characteristics analyses for computed parameters were used based on the previous diagnosis. ROC analyses showed that Osmolarity|OD-OS| have a diagnostic capability to differentiate between No DED and DED participants with a cut-off value of 9.5 mOsm/L (AUC = 0.745 ± 0.052, p < 0.003), whereas FBUT|OD-OS| and Corneal Stainning|OD-OS| have not (AUC, both p ≥ 0.160). Conclusion: The present study found that the Osmolarity|OD-OS| parameter could be used as a diagnostic indicator for DED assessment, while the FBUT|OD-OS| and the Corneal Staining|OD-OS| parameters do not have this capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass and glass ceramics are very functional materials, albeit their structural complexity. Their relevance ranges from fundamental science problems in the fields of physics, chemistry, and geoscience, to applications in health areas, engineering, or technological matters that require high performance. Enhancing our understanding of these materials' performance and refining sample preparation methods remains paramount in this field. Synchrotron facilities offer a suite of powerful techniques for the detailed characterization of glasses and glass ceramics. These methods provide valuable insights into their atomic and molecular structure, phase transformations, mechanical behavior, and thermal properties, ultimately contributing to the development of improved materials for a wide range of applications. In‐depth investigations conducted under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature have yielded pivotal insights into densification mechanisms, phase transitions, crystallization kinetics, and their consequential macroscopic properties. The emergence of fourth‐generation synchrotrons brings in a wave of novel experimental possibilities that may exert a profound influence on this field in the coming decade. In this study, we unveil a selection of the remarkable capabilities now accessible to researchers at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Source—Sirius, within the realm of extreme methods of analysis (EMA) beamline for investigating vitreous systems under extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial plants form primarily mutualistic symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi based on a compatible exchange of solutes between plant and fungal partners. A key attribute of this symbiosis is the acquisition of soil nutrients by the fungus for the benefit of the plant in exchange for a carbon supply to the fungus. The interaction can range from mutualistic to parasitic depending on environmental and physiological contexts. This review considers current knowledge of the functionality of ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbiosis in the mobilisation and acquisition of soil nitrogen (N) in northern hemisphere forest ecosystems, highlighting the functional diversity of the fungi and the variation of symbiotic benefits, including the dynamics of N transfer to the plant. It provides an overview of recent advances in understanding 'mycorrhizal decomposition' for N release from organic or mineral-organic forms. Additionally, it emphasises the taxon-specific traits of EM fungi in soil N uptake. While the effects of EM communities on tree N are likely consistent across different communities regardless of species composition, the sink activities of various fungal taxa for tree carbon and N resources drive the dynamic continuum of mutualistic interactions. We posit that ectomycorrhizas contribute in a species-specific but complementary manner to benefit tree N nutrition. Therefore, alterations in diversity may impact fungal-plant resource exchange and, ultimately, the role of ectomycorrhizas in tree N nutrition. Understanding the dynamics of EM functions along the mutualism-parasitism continuum in forest ecosystems is essential for the effective management of ecosystem restoration and resilience amidst climate change. Key points: • Mycorrhizal symbiosis spans a continuum from invested to appropriated benefits. • Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities exhibit a high functional diversity. • Tree nitrogen nutrition benefits from the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinct lesions are derived from notochordal cells (NCDL), ranging from benign to malignant ones. This study presents fifty NCDL cases diagnosed in a tertiary hospital of reference from the past 55 years: forty-two conventional chordomas, including one chondroid chordoma subtype, four benign notochordal cell tumors (BNCT), two conventional chordomas with BNCT foci, and two dedifferentiated chordomas. All patients were adults. Three BNCT were incidentally diagnosed, and one case presented local pain. Chordomas began with local pain and/or neurological symptoms. BNCT were well-defined intraosseous lesions, hypointense on T1-weighted images (WI) and hyperintense on T2-WI, without enhancement in the contrast. Conventional chordomas, including its chondroid subtype, were lobulated masses with cortical disruption and soft tissue extension, hypointense on T1-WI and hyperintense on T2-WI, with variable contrast enhancement. BNCT were histologically composed of solid sheets of vacuolated cells with clear cytoplasm and round and central nuclei. No atypia, lobular growth pattern, myxoid matrix, or bone infiltration were seen. Conventional chordomas were histologically composed of physaliphorous cells in a myxoid stroma with lobulated and infiltrating growth patterns. Observational follow-up using radiological controls was decided on for the BNCT cases. None of these cases presented local recurrence or metastasis. En-bloc resection and adjuvant radiotherapy were selected for sacral and vertebral chordoma cases. Sixteen patients died due to tumor-related factors; twenty-eight presented local recurrence, and four developed distant metastases. New therapeutic options are being studied for chordoma cases. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological data are necessary to properly diagnose and follow up of NCDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic examiners have come under scrutiny due to high‐profile exonerations, highlighting the consequences that contextual bias can have on investigations. Researchers have proposed solutions to reduce the effects of bias including blind testing and redacting task‐irrelevant information. Practitioners have concerns over the limitations of some of this research that uses untrained students to examine complex pieces of forensic evidence (e.g., fingerprints) (1; but see 2 for studies including trained experts and/or actual casework). This study sought to (a) examine the effect of contextual bias on examiners' evaluation of forensic evidence by varying the amount of pre‐comparison information available to participants, (b) compare student and expert examiners' performance and their vulnerability to contextual bias, and (c) examine the effects of contextual bias on examiners' evaluation of different types of forensic evidence. Expert fingerprint examiners and student participants were presented with varying amounts of pre‐comparison case information and compared matching and non‐matching fingerprint and footwear impression evidence. Results suggest no effects of blinding examiners from case information or redacting task‐irrelevant information. As expected, expert fingerprint examiners were more likely to correctly identify matching fingerprints and correctly exclude non‐matching fingerprints than students. However, expert fingerprint examiners were no better than student participants at comparing footwear impression evidence. These findings suggest that sample, stimulus selection, and discipline‐specific training matter when investigating bias in forensic decision making. These findings suggest caution when using forensic stimuli with student samples to investigate forensic decision‐making and highlight the need for more research on redaction procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction commonly accompany cardiovascular diseases such as peripheral arterial disease and may be partially attributable to systemic inflammation. We sought to determine whether acute systemic inflammation in a model of hindlimb ischaemia (HLI) could affect skeletal muscle macrophage infiltration, fibre size, or capillarization, independent of the ischaemia. Eight‐week‐old C57BL/6 male mice underwent either Sham or HLI surgery, and were killed 1, 3, or 7 days post‐surgery. Circulating inflammatory cytokine concentrations were measured, as well as immune cell infiltration and morphology of skeletal muscle from both limbs of HLI and Sham mice. In HLI compared with Sham mice at day 1, plasma interleukin‐1β levels were 216% higher (0.48 ± 0.10 vs. 0.15 ± 0.01 pg/μL, P = 0.005) and decreased by day 3. This was followed by increased macrophage presence in muscle from both ischaemic and non‐ischaemic limbs of HLI mice by day 7 (7.3‐ and 2.3‐fold greater than Sham, respectively, P < 0.0001). In HLI mice, muscle from the ischaemic limb had 21% lower fibre cross‐sectional area than the non‐ischaemic limb (724 ± 28 vs. 916 ± 46 μm2, P = 0.01), but the non‐ischaemic limb of HLI mice was no different from Sham. This shows that HLI induces acute systemic inflammation accompanied by immune infiltration in both ischaemic and remote skeletal muscle; however, this did not induce skeletal muscle atrophy in remote muscle within the 7‐day time course of this study. This effect of local skeletal muscle ischaemia on the inflammatory status of remote skeletal muscle may signal a priming of muscle for subsequent atrophy over a longer time course. Highlights: What is the central question of this study?Does hindlimb ischaemia‐induced inflammation cause acute immune, inflammatory and morphological alterations in remote non‐ischaemic skeletal muscle?What is the main finding and its importance?Hindlimb ischaemia induced systemic inflammation with subsequent neutrophil and macrophage infiltration in both ischaemic and non‐ischaemic skeletal muscle; however, morphological changes did not occur in non‐ischaemic muscle within 7 days. These immune alterations may have functional implications that take longer than 7 days to manifest, and subsequent or prolonged systemic inflammation and immune infiltration of muscle could lead to morphological changes and functional decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspherical kernel density estimators (KDE), which use a parametric distribution as a guide, are studied in this paper. The main benefit is that these estimators improve the bias of nonguided kernel density estimators when the parametric guiding distribution is not too far from the true density, while preserving the variance. When using a von Mises‐Fisher density as guide, the proposal performs as well as the classical KDE, even when the guiding model is incorrect, and far from the true distribution. This benefit is particular for the hyperspherical setting given its compact support, and is in contrast to similar methods for real valued data. Moreover, we deal with the important issue of data‐driven selection of the smoothing parameter. Simulations and real data examples illustrate the finite‐sample performance of the proposed method, also in comparison with other recently proposed estimation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last several decades, the application of aDNA and strontium isotope analyses on archaeologically recovered human remains has provided new avenues for the investigation of mobility in past societies. Data on human mobility can be valuable in the reconstruction of prehistoric residential patterns and kinship systems, which are at the center of human social organization and vary across time and space. In this paper, we aim to contribute to our understanding of mobility, residence, and kinship patterns in late Prehistoric Iberia (c. 3300–1400BC) by providing new strontium data on 44 individuals from the site of Humanejos (Parla, Madrid). The study presented here is multi-proxy and looks at these new data by interweaving biological, chronological, and archaeological information. This analysis found that 7/44 individuals buried at Humanejos could be identified as non-local to the necropolis. Although more men (n = 5) than women (n = 2) were found in the non-local category, and more non-local individuals were identified in the pre-Bell Beaker (n = 5) than in Bell Beaker (n = 1) or Bronze Age (n = 1), we find no statistically significant differences concerning sex or time period. This contrasts with other archaeological datasets for late prehistoric Europe which suggest higher female mobility, female exogamy, and male-centered residential patterns were common. At Humanejos, we have also identified one non-local female whose exceptional Beaker grave goods suggest she was an individual of special status, leading to additional questions about the relationships between gender, mobility, and social position in this region and time period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are essential organelles in the regulation of cellular energetic metabolism. Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA_CN) can be used as a proxy for mitochondria number, size, and activity. The aims of our study are to evaluate the effect of mtDNA_CN and mitochondrial haploblocks on production traits in pigs, and to identify the genetic background of this cellular phenotype. We collected performance data of 234 pigs and extracted DNA from skeletal muscle. Whole‐genome sequencing data was used to determine mtDNA_CN. We found positive correlations of muscle mtDNA_CN with backfat thickness at 207 d (+0.14; p‐value = 0.07) and negative correlations with carcase loin thickness (−0.14; p‐value = 0.03). Pigs with mtDNA_CN values below the lower quartile had greater loin thickness (+4.1 mm; p‐value = 0.01) and lower backfat thickness (−1.1 mm; p‐value = 0.08), which resulted in greater carcase lean percentage (+2.4%; p‐value = 0.04), than pigs with mtDNA_CN values above the upper quartile. These results support the hypothesis that a reduction of mitochondrial activity is associated with greater feed efficiency. Higher mtDNA_CN was also positively correlated with higher meat ultimate pH (+0.19; p‐value <0.01) but we did not observe significant difference for meat ultimate pH between the two groups with extreme mtDNA_CN. We found no association of the most frequent mitochondrial haploblocks with mtDNA_CN or the production traits, but several genomic regions that harbour potential candidate genes with functions related to mitochondrial biogenesis and homeostasis were associated with mtDNA_CN. These regions provide new insights into the genetic background of this cellular phenotype but it is still uncertain if such associations translate into noticeable effects on the production traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study the performance of numerical methods based on the computation of topological energies to process data from synthetic and real experiments where only noisy limited-view data corresponding to a few frequencies are available. We show numerical experiments in two problems of practical interest. The first one corresponds to experimental measurements of the electromagnetic scattering produced by different objects extracted from the Fresnel database. The second one is related to synthetic experiments in a simplified model where steel welding joints are acoustically tested to identify possible flaws (air bubbles and inclusions) produced during the welding process. This article is part of the theme issue 'Non-smooth variational problems with applications in mechanics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct air capture (DAC) systems that capture carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere are garnering considerable attention for their potential role as negative emission technologies in achieving net-zero CO2 emission goals. Common DAC technologies are based either on liquid–solvent (L-DAC) or solid–sorbent (S-DAC) to capture CO2. A comprehensive multi-factor comparative economic analysis of the deployment of L-DAC and S-DAC facilities across various United States (U.S.) cities is presented in this paper. The analysis considers the influence of various factors on the favorability of DAC deployment, including local climatic conditions such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentrations; the availability of energy sources to power the DAC system; and costs for the transport and storage of the captured CO2 along with the consideration of the regional market and policy drivers. The deployment analysis in over 70 continental U.S. cities shows that L-DAC and S-DAC complement each other spatially, as their performance and operational costs vary in different climates. L-DAC is more suited to the hot, humid Southeast, while S-DAC is preferrable in the colder, drier Rocky Mountain region. Strategic deployment based on regional conditions and economics is essential for promoting the commercial adoptability of DAC, which is a critical technology to meet the CO2 reduction targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital journalism is facing a growing number of challenges as the wave of digital transformation enters a new phase. The changes, both slow and sudden, are making it increasingly necessary for there to be a shift amid the transition. The surge of artificial intelligence (AI) in the journalistic world has ushered in what appears to be a new phase for digitalisation and journalism's role as a producer of factual information and knowledge in society. Current debates suggest that we are at a critical time to reinvent journalism for the new wave of digital transformation. In this stage, which recently began and which some are calling the Fourth Industrial Revolution, both professionals and academics point to the need to make journalism more resilient, so it can adapt to the changes without losing its basic essence, and more people-centred, helping to support individuals in the age of AI. This article analyses the challenges from the perspectives of both academics and professional journalists, based on their codes of ethics. The methodology used is a content analysis of 45 European ethical codes and the Delphi method, involving experts from the journalistic sector and academia. The results highlight that codes of ethics have not kept pace with these professionally and expert-led debates, as few mention new technologies such as artificial intelligence and they tend to focus more on disinformation and social engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional game theory tasks, social decision‐making is centered on the prediction of the intentions (i.e., mentalizing) of strangers or manipulated responses. In contrast, real‐life scenarios often involve familiar individuals in dynamic environments. Further research is needed to explore neural correlates of social decision‐making with changes in the available information and environmental settings. This study collected fMRI hyperscanning data (N = 100, 46 same‐sex pairs were analyzed) to investigate sibling pairs engaging in an iterated Chicken Game task within a competitive context, including two decision‐making phases. In the static phase, participants chose between turning (cooperate) and continuing (defect) in a fixed time window. Participants could estimate the probability of different events based on their priors (previous outcomes and representation of other's intentions) and report their decision plan. The dynamic phase mirrored real‐world interactions in which information is continuously changing (replicated within a virtual environment). Individuals had to simultaneously update their beliefs, monitor the actions of the other, and adjust their decisions. Our findings revealed substantial choice consistency between the two phases and evidence for shared neural correlates in mentalizing‐related brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction (TPJ), and precuneus. Specific neural correlates were associated with each phase; increased activation of areas associated with action planning and outcome evaluation were found in the static compared with the dynamic phase. Using the opposite contrast, dynamic decision‐making showed higher activation in regions related to predicting and monitoring other's actions, including the anterior cingulate cortex and insula. Cooperation (turning), compared with defection (continuing), showed increased activation in mentalizing‐related regions only in the static phase, while defection, relative to cooperation, exhibited higher activation in areas associated with conflict monitoring and risk processing in the dynamic phase. Men were less cooperative and had greater TPJ activation. Sibling competitive relationship did not predict competitive behavior but showed a tendency to predict brain activity during dynamic decision‐making. Only individual brain activation results are included here, and no interbrain analyses are reported. These neural correlates emphasize the significance of considering varying levels of information available and environmental settings when delving into the intricacies of mentalizing during social decision‐making among familiar individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐immune hydrops fetalis represents the end‐stage status of a variety of diseases, including metastatic tumors. We report a case of non‐immune hydrops fetalis associated with multiple disseminated echogenic nodular lesions detected by ultrasound and confirmed by magnetic resonance. Cordocentesis demonstrated anemia and thrombopenia. Differential diagnosis included histiocytosis X, acute leukemia or metastatic disease. A stillbirth was diagnosed at week 25 + 6. The autopsy revealed hydrops fetalis, a right adrenal gland mass, multiple disseminated nodules histologically composed of small round blue cells positive for synaptophysin, and placental involvement, concordant findings with congenital undifferentiated neuroblastoma Stage M. No chromosomal abnormalities were associated, nor amplification abnormalities in MYCN and ALK genes. Metastatic neuroblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of non‐immune hydrops fetalis associated with multiple nodular lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetic amphetamine derivative with notable psychoactive properties and emerging therapeutic potential, particularly for treating post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and substance use disorders. However, its use remains controversial due to inter-individual variability influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. In this context, pharmacogenomics could play a crucial role in guiding MDMA treatment by identifying individuals with genetic predispositions affecting their response to MDMA. Tailoring treatment plans based on individual's genetic makeup may enhance therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects, leading to safer and more effective use of MDMA in clinical settings. Literature analysis reveals that the influence of genetic variants within genes encoded for enzymes involved in MDMA metabolism and/or pharmacodynamics (PD) targets have been relatively under-investigated in humans. Some studies have pointed out associations between MDMA-induced effects and polymorphisms. For example, the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has been associated with cognitive and cardiovascular MDMA-induced effects. Similarly, polymorphisms in the serotonin-linked promoter region (5HTTLPR) have been associated with several MDMA-induced adverse effects including mood disorders. However, despite these findings, only a few associations have been highlighted. Furthermore, some genes encoded for MDMA targets have been only poorly investigated, representing a significant research gap. These observations underscore the need for large-scale, controlled pharmacogenomics studies focusing on a broad panel of genes involved into MDMA pharmacokinetics and PD. Such studies could provide critical insights for optimizing MDMA's therapeutic use and minimizing its risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceiba is a genus of tree species with a predominantly neotropical distribution which, in general, are readily recognized in the landscape in the vegetative stage by their large trunk with prickles, commonly ventricose (swollen). Some Ceiba species have overlapping geographical distributions, such as Ceiba speciosa and Ceiba pubiflora. These species have quite uniform vegetative features, making it difficult to differentiate them when they are not in flowering. Here, we examined the leaflet anatomical features of the two species to distinguish them while in the vegetative phase. Fully expanded leaves were collected, fixed, embedded in paraffin, and cross-sections were made from the leaflets' midvein, margin, and intercostal region. Ceiba speciosa has hypostomatic leaflets, with continuous biseriate epidermis along the adaxial face, rectilinear margin with a vascular bundle at the end of the margin, while C. pubiflora has amphistomatic leaflets, with interrupted biseriate epidermis along the adaxial face and curved margin on the abaxial face. These taxonomically important anatomical features of C. speciosa and C. pubiflora leaflets have provided additional characters good for distinguishing the species, especially when they are in the vegetative phase, and therefore updates the existing accounts of the characters useful for the taxonomy of Malvaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst is an extremely rare tumor. The objective of the article is to present the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features of a very unusual neoplasm of soft tissues. Case report: A 13-year-old male patient presented a painful, mobile, and rapidly growing mass on the posteromedial aspect of his left knee. Imaging studies revealed a mass that arose from the medial surface of the distal sartorius muscle, with extension to the subcutaneous fat tissue. It was a well-circumscribed solid tumor with a peripheral rim calcification on plain film, computerized tomography, and ultrasound (zonal phenomenon). On magnetic resonance imaging, a heterogenous mass on T1-weighted images (WI) and T2-WI was seen, with a peripheral hypointense rim in both sequences. An outstanding edema on T2-WI extending to the soft tissue and muscles of the medial compartment of the knee was detected. The mass was resected, and the "tumoral mimickers" histopathological and molecular (next-generation sequencing) diagnoses confirmed a soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst. A follow-up showed that the patient was free of disease 12 months after surgery. Conclusion: Soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare tumor. Appropriate clinical and radiological correlation should be performed to differentiate it from other tumor mimickers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The world is experiencing an enormous rise in the prevalence of diabetes, which is associated with massive healthcare costs that threaten to overwhelm many healthcare systems. Most of the diabetes expenditure is attributed to the management of chronic diabetes complications, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)/diabetic foot complications, chronic kidney disease, sight‐threatening retinopathy and cardiovascular diseases. Of these complications, the most overlooked is DPN. Most consultations around the world do not even involve taking off shoes and socks to carry out a foot examination, and even when carried out, the peripheral neurological examination using the 10‐g monofilament diagnoses DPN when it is already at an advanced stage. Thus, all too often diabetes complications are diagnosed late, resulting in devastating outcomes, particularly in low‐ to middle‐income countries. There is, therefore, an urgent need to instigate new strategies to improve microvascular screening uptake using a holistic protocol for annual diabetes health checks outside the busy diabetes clinic. One such approach, the Sheffield One‐Stop Microvascular Screening Service, which involves modern point of care devices to diagnose DPN, has been shown to be feasible and effective, resulting in high uptake and early management of diabetes complications. This article outlines the advantages of this One‐Stop Microvascular Screening Service and a plan to trial an adapted version of this service to a resource‐limited country, the Philippines. If successful, this model has the potential for implementation in other countries around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2/Nb5+ film was prepared and deposited on 304 steel and preventive its potential for corrosion was evaluated. The film was obtained by the sol–gel method, and its deposition by the dip-coating process has been followed by thermal treatment. XRD results with Rietveld refinement revealed the occurrence of isomorphic substitution and predominance of anatase phase. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the deposition of film on substrate. Corrosion properties of the TiO2/Nb5+ layer was determined by open-circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Polarization curves showed a corrosion current of 129.72 μA for 304 steel without coating, which was larger than that observed for the samples recovered with TiO2/Nb5+ films (9.00 μA). EIS revealed high charge transfer resistance in the molar ratio of 1 to 5% compared to the uncoated 304 steel, highlighting the protective effect of TiO2/Nb5+ films against corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal: The COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare market disruptors, and new digital healthcare technologies have made a substantial impact on the delivery of healthcare services, highlighting the critical roles of leaders in hospitals and health systems. This study sought to understand the evolving roles of CEOs, CIOs, and other executive leaders in the postpandemic era and highlight the adaptability and strategic vision of executives in shaping the future of healthcare delivery. Methods: Between October 2022 and May 2023, 51 interviews were conducted with CEOs, CIOs, and other executives responsible for delivering technology solutions for 33 nonprofit health systems in the United States. They were asked to describe their backgrounds; how information solutions and technologies were viewed within their organizations' strategy, operations, and governance; and the key characteristics of executive leaders. Principal Findings: The study has found that effective CEOs have an authentic belief in technology's role in achieving their organization's mission and that contemporary CIOs are strategic executive partners who align strategy with culture to improve care. This study examines how healthcare systems are creating digitally savvy executive leadership teams that operate in a new, integrated model that unites previously siloed functions. Practical Applications: Some healthcare CIOs are unprepared for current and future business challenges, and some CEOs are unsure how to leverage digital technologies and C-suite expertise to transform their organizations. This research provides insights into how the nation's health systems are building and sustaining leadership teams capable of adapting to the healthcare environment and accelerating organizational transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This randomised clinical trial assessed the impact on symptoms, tear film dynamics and ocular surface integrity of daily disposable silicone‐hydrogel contact lenses (CLs) over a month, paying special attention to lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) and its implications for CL discomfort. Methods: Neophyte CL wearers (n = 44, 21.09 ± 5.00 years old) were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n = 24) or control group (n = 20). Participants assigned to the experimental group were required to wear daily disposable CLs for 1 month for at least 8 h/day and 6 days/week. All participants were healthy subjects (no history of ocular surgery or active ocular disease) with spherical refractive errors between −8.00 and +5.00 D and cylindrical power <0.75 D. At the baseline and 1‐month sessions, the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ‐5) was completed, together with the measurement of tear film osmolarity with the TearLab osmometer, tear meniscus height (TMH) and lipid layer pattern (LLP) using a slit‐lamp with Tearscope Plus attached, fluorescein break‐up time (FBUT), maximum blink interval (MBI), corneal staining with fluorescein under cobalt blue light and LWE with lissamine green under slit lamp and halogen white light. Results: At the baseline session, LWE showed a negative correlation with DEQ‐5 (r = −0.37, p = 0.02). Significant differences in FBUT and LWE (p = 0.04) and a positive correlation between LWE and DEQ‐5 (r = 0.49, p = 0.007) were observed at 1 month. Intrasession analysis at 1 month showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in DEQ‐5, FBUT and LWE (all p ≤ 0.02). Intersession analysis in the experimental group showed variations in DEQ‐5, FBUT and LWE (all p ≤ 0.02) but no significant variation in the control group (all p ≥ 0.11). Conclusion: The presence of LWE was significantly correlated with higher symptom values in the DEQ‐5. Also, participants in the experimental group presented higher values of LWE after 1 month of CL wear, in comparison with the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is characterized by the loss of ocular surface homeostasis with specific signs and symptoms. Studying the progression of a multifactorial disease is exceedingly challenging for researchers because several factors can influence it. The present study aims to study changes in tear meniscus height (TMH), lipid layer pattern (LLP), and bulbar hyperemia over time in untreated DED participants. Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study included 73 participants (146 eyes) diagnosed with DED since at least 2013. Participants underwent new examinations between 2021 and 2023, grouped by 8-, 6-, or 4-year follow-up periods. TMH, LLP, and bulbar hyperemia were assessed in both examinations. No participant received pharmacological treatment for DED. Results: Differences in TMH, bulbar hyperemia, and LLP between sessions were obtained in the 8-year group (p ≤ 0.027). Differences in bulbar hyperemia and LLP between sessions were obtained in the 6-year group (p ≤ 0.022). The only differences in LLP between sessions were obtained in the 4-year group (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Changes in TMH were obtained after periods of eight years from the first eye examination. Also, changes in bulbar hyperemia were obtained at periods of 8 and 6 years; however, changes in LLP could be found from 4-year follow-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to assess the symptomatic status of Convergence Insufficiency (CI) in university students from 2018 to 2023 considering the educational environment pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic confinements. A Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) was conducted annually from 2018 to 2023, excluding 2020, in an initial group of 217 third-year Optics and Optometry degree university student participants. In the final group (178 participants), the statistical differences in CISS scores between years were analysed, both overall and by questionnaire subgroup, along with associations between CISS diagnostic categories before and after 2020. Significant differences were found between years in the subscale and total score analyses (Kruskal–Wallis, both p ≤ 0.049). Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences for the performance subgroup in 2021 vs. 2019 and 2018 (Mann–Whitney, both p ≤ 0.004), while in terms of the total score, there was a statistical difference in 2021 vs. 2018 (Mann–Whitney, p < 0.001). The distribution analysis indicated a significant difference between groups (Chi, p = 0.004), with participants from 2021 or later more likely to exhibit higher CISS scores (OR = 3.47, 95%CI 1.04–8.58). The present study shows significant temporal increments in symptomatic status related to CI among university students from 2018 to 2023, indicating a potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic educational landscape on these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the evolving landscape of immigration detention and its intersection with punishment and society scholarship. Topics include the dual role of immigration detention as a measure of both migration control and crime control, the transformation and variability of detention facilities and their purposes, and the involvement of diverse stakeholders in the management and supervision of detainees using advanced technologies and practices.

Studies on immigration enforcement and bordered penality frequently depict immigration detention as a system of confinement enforced in closed, relatively opaque facilities geared towards the expeditious deportation of non-citizens. This notion is actually a synecdoche of the diverse forms of containment and the varying, more or less dispensable roles played by detention practices within immigration enforcement systems. This paper challenges this perspective by considering prominent changes taking place in the detention field across Europe, which can be seen as signals of a gradual detention crisis. In this respect, it explores the versatility of detention practices, which have made the detention system particularly resilient. Despite this resilience, though, the paper unveils and maps the obsolescence of detention centric models of immigration enforcement, which manifests itself in the jurisdictions in which detention systems either are largely irrelevant or have been shrinking in the recent past. Additionally, the paper examines the consolidation of the hotspot archipelago in Mediterranean Europe, which has expanded the containment capacity of the border control apparatus and made it increasingly plastic. Yet the hotspot system is in itself an additional manifestation of the obsolescence of detention-centric models of enforcement. After having scrutinised these different dimensions, the paper concludes by exploring the promises and pitfalls of a changing detention landscape and suggesting directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The artificial intelligence (AI) tools in editorial departments have become common practice within news organisations, which poses challenges for digital journalism. It treads new terrain for both media professionals and their audiences, and it is safe to assume there is no going back to the way things were. These advances in the field require new frameworks and codes of ethics that include ethical principles to mitigate the use of AI in journalism. The fast incorporation of AI into media production processes is marked by a tendency towards the loss of citizens’ trust in the information that media offers, political polarization, and the increasing impact of misinformation. This article analyses the perception of communication professionals in this new scene through the analysis of 99 codes of ethics and 14 international press associations. In addition, audience perception is addressed through a survey taken by nearly 2,000 people. The results indicate that both the public and journalists are worried about misinformation that AI might cause and the potential erosion of trust between journalist and the public . Overwhelmingly, people are advocating for external regulation of its use to preserve the values, the ethical principles, and good practices of journalistic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predictors of the outcome of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain to be fully determined. We evaluated selected viral characteristics and immunological responses that might predict and/or correlate to the clinical outcome of COVID-19. Methods: For individuals developing divergent clinical outcomes, the magnitude and breadth of T cell-mediated responses were measured within 36 h of symptom onset. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were subjected to in vitro stimulation with SARS-CoV-2-based peptides. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 sequences were generated by metagenome, and HLA typing was performed using Luminex technology. Findings: CD4+ T cell activation was negatively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 basal viral load in patients with severe COVID-19 (p = 0·043). The overall cellular immune response, as inferred by the IFN-γ signal, was higher at baseline for patients who progressed to mild disease compared to patients who progressed to severe disease (p = 0·0044). Subjects with milder disease developed higher T cell responses for MHC class I and II-restricted peptides (p = 0·033). Interpretation: Mounting specific cellular immune responses in the first days after symptom onset, as inferred by IFN-γ magnitude in the ELISPOT assay, may efficiently favor a positive outcome. In contrast, progression to severe COVID-19 was accompanied by stronger cellular immune responses, higher CD4 + T cell activation, and a higher number of in silico predicted high-affinity class I HLA alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a First-Order Recurrent Neural Network activated by a wavelet function, in particular a Morlet wavelet, with a fixed set of parameters and capable of identifying multiple chaotic systems. By maintaining a fixed structure for the neural network and using the same activation function, the network can successfully identify the three state variables of several different chaotic systems, including the Chua, PWL-Rössler, Anishchenko–Astakhov, Álvarez-Curiel, Aizawa, and Rucklidge models. The performance of this approach was validated by numerical simulations in which the accuracy of the state estimation was evaluated using the Mean Square Error (MSE) and the coefficient of determination ( r 2 ), which indicates how well the neural network identifies the behavior of the individual oscillators. In contrast to the methods found in the literature, where a neural network is optimized to identify a single system and its application to another model requires recalibration of the neural algorithm parameters, the proposed model uses a fixed set of parameters to efficiently identify seven chaotic systems. These results build on previously published work by the authors and advance the development of robust and generic neural network structures for the identification of multiple chaotic oscillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is difficult, and the correct use of histopathological criteria can be useful in clinical practice. The present study evaluates the association between histopathological findings and the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in clinically suspected cases of CL. Methodology: Skin samples were received in a laboratory from an endemic region of Brazil for over nine years. Associations were analyzed by means of the Chi square test with a 5% level of significance. Results: Of the 222 examined samples, 190 (85.6%) tested positive by PCR. All 25 cases identified by microscopic examination also tested positive by PCR. Except for the more intense inflammatory infiltrate, all other evaluated histological variables (ulceration, epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, presence of granuloma, neutrophils, histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasmocytes, and necrosis) were not significantly associated with PCR positivity. Conclusions: The intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate is a good indicator of the occurrence of CL. Histopathological aspects are useful to increase the predictive values of CL diagnoses, but PCR is still necessary to confirm or exclude the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that is widely observed on a global scale and known for its substantial negative impact on health and mortality. The purpose of this research was to explore how SCD influences the outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data for the year 2020. Adult patients with concurrent ACS and SCD diagnoses were included in the study. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and PCI complications were examined and compared between ACS patients with and without SCD. Results: Among a total of 779,895 ACS patients, 1495 had coexisting SCD. SCD patiets exhibited distinct demographic features, such as younger age (mean age: 59 vs. 66 years), predominantly female (53% vs. 35%), and primarily African American (91% vs. 11%). Comorbid conditions such as hypertension and chronic lung disease were more prevalent in SCD patients. While inpatient mortality odds did not significantly differ, SCD patients demonstrated slightly shorter lengths of stay in cases of STEMI and NSTEMI/UA. Notably, SCD patients faced a statistically significant increased risk of coronary dissection, highlighting a unique complication in this population. Although an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation and acute heart failure was observed in SCD patients, statistical significance was not achieved. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insight into the intricate interplay between SCD and ACS outcomes. SCD patients presented with distinctive demographic and clinical profiles that influenced their experience with ACS. The elevated risk of coronary dissection emphasizes the necessity for tailored interventions and careful management in SCD patients. These findings underscore the need for further research to elucidate underlying mechanisms and optimize treatment strategies for individuals with both SCD and ACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of TiO2 and Nb2O5 in thin films has proven promising for preventing the corrosion of AISI 304. The thin films are developed using sol–gel and dip‐coating techniques, followed by heat treatment. Morphological and X‐ray diffraction analyses indicate a predominant anatase phase in TiO2, and isomorphic substitution of up to 20% Nb occurs in the thin‐film composition. Phase segregation above 30% is observed. Electrochemical tests are conducted in a 2 mol L−1 HCl solution. Scanning electron microscopy reveals satisfactory thin film deposition on AISI 304 but shows the presence of regions with discontinuities. Polarization curves show a corrosion current of 128.72 μA for pure AISI 304, an average corrosion current of 0.34 μA for thin films, and an average of 6.44 μA for films with discontinuities. This significant reduction in current demonstrates the efficiency of the corrosion protection of the film at the studied concentrations because of the high corrosion inhibition percentages. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results suggest a high charge transfer resistance, indicating a lower corrosion rate in xTiO2 the yNb2O5 films compared to uncoated AISI 304. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important processes that occur during the transformation of muscle to meat is the pH decline as a consequence of the post‐mortem metabolism of muscle tissue. Abnormal pH declines lead to pork defects such as pale, soft, and exudative meat. There is genetic variance for ultimate pH and the role of some genes on this phenotype is well established. After conducting a genome‐wide association study on ultimate pH using 526 purebred Duroc pigs, we identified associated regions on Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSC) 3, 8, and 15. Functional candidate genes in these regions included PRKAG3 and PHKG1. The SSC8 region, at 71.6 Mb, was novel and, although no candidate causative gene could be identified, it may have regulatory effects. Subsequent analysis on 828 pigs from the same population confirmed the impact of the three associated regions on pH and meat color. We detected no interaction between the three regions. Further investigations are necessary to unravel the functional significance of the novel genomic region at SSC8. These variants could be used as markers in marker‐assisted selection for improving meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Las infecciones en pacientes con vasculitis sistémica representan una de las principales causas de mortalidad. Son factores de riesgo conocidos la edad, el compromiso orgánico asociado, el uso de corticoides y de inmunosupresores, asi como el requerimiento de diálisis, entre otros. Determinar la prevalencia de infección grave y factores asociados en pacientes diagnosticados de vasculitis asociada a ANCA poliarteritis nudosa (PAN). Estudio retrospectivo realizado en un único centro de reumatología entre los años 2000 y 2018. Se incluyó a pacientes con granulomatosis con poliangitis, granulomatosis eosinofílica con poliangitis, poliangitis microscópica y PAN. Se registraron episodios infecciosos graves que requirieron hospitalización o tratamiento antibiótico/antiviral prolongado, infección recurrente por virus del herpes zóster o infecciones oportunistas. Se incluyó a 105 pacientes, la mediana del tiempo de seguimiento fue de 18 meses; el 58,7% eran mujeres, con una mediana de edad de 52 años; el 41,9% presentaban poliangitis microscópica, el 16,2% granulomatosis eosinofílica con poliangitis, el 40% granulomatosis con poliangitis y el 1,9% PAN. Los compromisos constitucional, pulmonar, renal y otorrinolaringológico fueron los más frecuentes. fue del 34,2% con una mediana de 3 meses desde el diagnóstico de vasculitis. Las infecciones de vías respiratorias bajas (42,8%), la sepsis (31,4%) y el tracto urinario (14,3%) fueron los sitios de infección más comunes. Predominó la etiología bacteriana (67,7%). La mortalidad en el primer episodio fue del 14,3%. Se encontraban en fase de inducción de tratamiento el 72,2%. Las infecciones se asociaron significativamente con edad > 65 años (p = 0,030), compromiso pulmonar (p = 0,016), renal (p = 0,001), BVAS3 >15 y mortalidad (p = 0,0002). La prevalencia de infecciones graves fue del 34,2%. Las infecciones pulmonares, septicemia y las urinarias fueron las más frecuentes y se asociaron a compromiso renal y pulmonar, así como a mortalidad, especialmente en pacientes de edad avanzada. Infections in patients with systemic vasculitis represent one of the main causes of mortality. Corticosteroid use, immunosuppressive therapy, age, associated organic involvement and dialysis dependence are risk factors of infection. To determine the prevalence of severe infection and associated factors in patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). Retrospective study was conduced in a single rheumatology center (2000-2018). We included patients diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis and PAN. Serious infectious events requiring hospitalization or prolonged antibiotic/antiviral treatment, recurrent infection of herpes zoster virus or opportunistic infections were evaluated. Sites of infection, isolated microorganisms and mortality related were analyzed. A total of 105 patients were analyzed, follow-up time median 18 months, 58.7% were women and median age was 52 years. Types of vasculitis: 41.9% microscopic polyangiitis, 16.2% eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 40% granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 1.9% PAN. Constitutional, pulmonary, renal and otorhinolaryngology manifestations were the most frequent. was 34,2%, with a median of 3 months from diagnosis of vasculitis to the infectious event. Low respiratory tract (42.8%), sepsis (31.4%), and urinary tract (14.3%) were the most common sites of infections. Bacterial etiology was the most prevalent (67.7%). Mortality at the first event was 14.3% and a 72.2% of patients were in the induction phase of treatment. Infectious events were significantly associated with age > 65 years (P = 0.030), presence of lung (P = 0.016) and renal involvement (P = 0.001), BVASv3 > 15 and mortality (P = 0.0002). The prevalence of infection was 34.2%. Lower airway infections, septicemia and urinary tract infections were the most prevalent. Infections were associated with renal and pulmonary involvement, age older than 65 years and score BVAS >15. Severe infections were associated with mortality, especially in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meibomian Glands (MG) are sebaceous glands responsible for the production of meibum, the main component of the Tear Film Lipid Layer (TFLL). The TFLL facilitates the spread of the tear film over the ocular surface, provides stability and reduces tear evaporation. Alterations in meibum composition lead to different ocular alterations like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and subsequent Evaporative Dry Eye (EDE). The aim of the present study was to investigate the composition and abundance of meibum lipids and their relationship with eyelid margin abnormalities, lipid layer patterns and MG status. The study utilizes a lipidomic approach to identify and quantify lipids in meibum samples using an Elute UHPLC system. This system considered all four dimensions (mass/charge, retention time, ion mobility and intensity) to provide the accurate identification of lipid species. Samples were categorized as healthy or low/no signs of alteration (group 1) or severe signs of alteration or EDE/MGD (group 2). The current investigation found differences in Variable Importance in Projection lipid abundance between both groups for the MGD signs studied. Changes in meibum composition occur and are related to higher scores in eyelid margin hyperaemia, eyelid margin irregularity, MG orifice plugging, MG loss and lipid layer pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article serves as a practical guide for general practitioners (GPs) on peripheral arterial disease (PAD). It highlights the increasing incidence of PAD globally and the role of GPs in early detection and management. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the symptoms and severity of PAD and provides information on diagnosis and management, including lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions. It also discusses treatment options for different stages of PAD and the increased risk in patients with diabetes. Overall, the article emphasizes the crucial role of GPs in addressing PAD and improving patient outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

In this work, we analyze the indicators of subjective well-being (SWB) in Spanish society. Our goal is to understand the differences between the three types of SWB (evaluative, eudaimonic, and hedonic) and their relationship with socioeconomic determinants, particularly income. After a critical review of the existing literature, we examine the socioeconomic variables associated with the different types of SWB and conduct an empirical analysis for the Spanish society. The results show that there are significant differences between the three evaluation systems. Evaluative and eudaimonic indicators are associated with status and income, while this relationship is not significant for hedonic indicators. The results support the claim that status and income have a significant influence on SW13 to the extent that the weight of cognitive evaluation is accentuated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right hemisphere has been underestimated by being considered as the non-dominant hemisphere. However, it is involved in many functions, including movement, language, cognition, and emotion. Therefore, because lesions on this side are usually not resected under awake mapping, there is a risk of unfavorable neurological outcomes. The goal of this study is to compare the functional and oncological outcomes of awake surgery (AwS) versus surgery under general anesthesia (GA) in supratentorial right-sided gliomas. A systematic review of the literature according to PRISMA guidelines was performed up to March 2023. Four databases were screened. Primary outcome to assess was return to work (RTW). Secondary outcomes included the rate of postoperative neurological deficit, postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score and the extent of resection (EOR). A total of 32 articles were included with 543 patients who underwent right hemisphere tumor resection under awake surgery and 294 under general anesthesia. There were no significant differences between groups regarding age, gender, handedness, perioperative KPS, tumor location or preoperative seizures. Preoperative and long-term postoperative neurological deficits were statistically lower after AwS (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively), even though no difference was found regarding early postoperative course (p = 0.32). A subsequent analysis regarding type of postoperative impairment was performed. Severe postoperative language deficits were not different (p = 0.74), but there were fewer long-term mild motor and high-order cognitive deficits (p < 0.05) in AwS group. A higher rate of RTW (p < 0.05) was documented after AwS. The EOR was similar in both groups. Glioma resection of the right hemisphere under awake mapping is a safer procedure with a better preservation of high-order cognitive functions and a higher rate of RTW than resection under general anesthesia, despite similar EOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and its incidence is increasing, driven in part by the advent of ultrasound, and subsequent increased detection of small, early thyroid cancers. Yet even for small tumors, thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection remains standard of care. Specific to well-differentiated thyroid cancer, surgery has come under scrutiny as a possible overtreatment, in light of stable and favorable survival rates even as guidelines have allowed fewer radical resections and lymph node dissections over time. Moreover, thyroid cancer unfortunately has a known recurrence rate regardless of therapy, and surgical re-intervention for local structural recurrence is eventually limited by scar. Radioactive iodine therapy, another accepted treatment, is minimally invasive but can only treat patients with iodine-avid tumors. For all of these reasons, image-guided thermal ablation has emerged as a valuable complementary tool as a thyroid-sparing, parathyroid-sparing, voice-sparing, repeatable, minimally invasive outpatient focal therapy for both primary and recurrent well-differentiated thyroid cancers. However, the data are still evolving, and this represents a new patient cohort for some interventional radiologists. Therefore, the goal of this review is to discuss the technique and evidence for ablation of patients with thyroid cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthostatic intolerance is a broad term that represents a spectrum of dysautonomic disorders, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and orthostatic hypotension (OH), as manifestations of severe autonomic failure. While the etiology of orthostatic intolerance has not yet fully been uncovered, it has been associated with multiple underlying pathological processes, including peripheral neuropathy, altered renin–aldosterone levels, hypovolemia, and autoimmune processes. Studies have implicated adrenergic, cholinergic, and angiotensin II type I autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of orthostatic intolerance. Several case series have demonstrated that immunomodulation therapy resulted in favorable outcomes, improving autonomic symptoms in POTS and OH. In this review, we highlight the contemporary literature detailing the association of autoimmunity with POTS and OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Xanthomonas has been primarily studied for pathogenic interactions with plants. However, besides host and tissue-specific pathogenic strains, this genus also comprises nonpathogenic strains isolated from a broad range of hosts, sometimes in association with pathogenic strains, and other environments, including rainwater. Based on their incapacity or limited capacity to cause symptoms on the host of isolation, nonpathogenic xanthomonads can be further characterized as commensal and weakly pathogenic. This study aimed to understand the diversity and evolution of nonpathogenic xanthomonads compared to their pathogenic counterparts based on their cooccurrence and phylogenetic relationship and to identify genomic traits that form the basis of a life history framework that groups xanthomonads by ecological strategies. We sequenced genomes of 83 strains spanning the genus phylogeny and identified eight novel species, indicating unexplored diversity. While some nonpathogenic species have experienced a recent loss of a type III secretion system, specifically the hrp2 cluster, we observed an apparent lack of association of the hrp2 cluster with lifestyles of diverse species. We performed association analysis on a large data set of 337 Xanthomonas strains to explain how xanthomonads may have established association with the plants across the continuum of lifestyles from commensals to weak pathogens to pathogens. Presence of distinct transcriptional regulators, distinct nutrient utilization and assimilation genes, transcriptional regulators, and chemotaxis genes may explain lifestyle-specific adaptations of xanthomonads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The cervical pessary is not useful in the prevention of preterm births (<34 weeks) in triplet pregnancies. • It is likely that being pregnant with triplets is a powerful independent factor associated with prematurity. • Triplet pregnancies and at risk of preterm labor and those taking tocolytics±glucocorticoids may benefit from pessary insertion. Premature births are a health problem arising in triplet pregnancies, resulting in high levels of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to evaluate the utility of cervical pessaries in reducing prematurity (<34 weeks) in triplet pregnancies. This is a single-center, retrospective case-control study regarding triplet pregnancies with follow-up at the La Paz University Hospital between 2000 and 2023. Maternal characteristics, obstetric and perinatal outcomes, and the use of cervical pessaries were examined. 165 triplet pregnancies were analyzed: 87 (52.7 %) in the case group (premature triplet pregnancies) and 78 in the control group (non-premature triplet pregnancies). A cervical pessary was inserted in 15 (17.2 %) triplet pregnancies in the case group and in 12 (16.7 %) triplet pregnancies in the control group (p = 0.92; OR = 1.04 (0.46–2.35)). A pessary was later inserted in the non-premature group (p = 0.01). The risk of preterm labor and the use of tocolytics ± glucocorticoids were found to be significantly more frequent in the premature group, with p = 0.01; OR = 2.30 (1.21–4.36) and p < 0.01; OR = 2.36 (1.23–4.44), respectively. Protocol-based cesarean sections were more frequent in the non-premature group (p < 0.01), while cesarean sections due to maternal complications (p < 0.01) and premature membrane rupture (p < 0.01) were more frequent in the premature group. The cervical pessary is not useful in preventing preterm births (< 34 weeks) in triplet pregnancies. It is likely that being pregnant with triplets is a powerful independent factor associated with prematurity, despite other pregnancy conditions. Women who are pregnant with triplets and at risk of preterm labor and those taking tocolytics ± glucocorticoids may benefit from pessary insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) is caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) including its biovar intermedius (Cfvi). This sexually transmitted disease induces early reproductive failure causing considerable economic losses in the cattle industry. Using a collection of well-characterized isolates (n = 13), C. fetus field isolates (n = 64) and saprophytic isolates resembling Campylobacter (n = 75) obtained from smegma samples of breeding bulls, this study evaluated the concordance of the most used phenotypic (H2S production in cysteine medium and 1% glycine tolerance) and molecular (PCR) methods for the diagnosis of BGC and assessed possible cross-reactions in the molecular diagnostic methods. Results: Characterization at the subspecies level (fetus vs. venerealis) of C. fetus isolated from bull preputial samples using phenotypic and molecular (PCR targeting nahE and ISCfe1) methods showed moderate concordance (κ = 0.462; CI: 0.256–0.669). No cross-reactions were observed with other saprophytic microaerophilic species or with other Campylobacter species that can be present in preputial samples. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of discrepant isolates showed 100% agreement with PCR identification. For the differentiation of Cfv biovars, comparison of the H2S test (at 72 h and 5 days of incubation) and a PCR targeting the L-cysteine transporter genes showed higher concordance when H2S production was assessed after 5 days (72 h; κ = 0.553, 0.329–0.778 CI vs. 5 days; κ = 0.881, 0.631–1 CI), evidencing the efficacy of a longer incubation time. Conclusions: This study confirmed the limitations of biochemical tests to correctly identify C. fetus subspecies and biovars. However, in the case of biovars, when extended incubation times for the H2S test (5 days) were used, phenotypic identification results were significantly improved, although PCR-based methods produced more accurate results. Perfect agreement of WGS with the PCR results and absence of cross-reactions with non-C. fetus saprophytic bacteria from the smegma demonstrated the usefulness of these methods. Nevertheless, the identification of new C. fetus subspecies-specific genes would help to improve BGC diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines associative participation in Spanish society from a gender perspective, focusing on participation levels, associative integration and forms of associationism. The following research questions were formulated: “Do levels of associative participation differ between men and women?” and “Do men and women participate in the same type of associations?”. To respond to these questions, data from the 2019 Survey on Social Capital in Spain was analyzed. This data is representative at a national level, and descriptive, correlational and ordered logistic regression analyses were performed. It was concluded that evidence supports a burden of gender roles in terms of associationism, especially for political associationism, creating a ceiling effect for participation and even social trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone H1 participates in chromatin condensation and regulates nuclear processes. Human somatic cells may contain up to seven histone H1 variants, although their functional heterogeneity is not fully understood. Here, we have profiled the differential nuclear distribution of the somatic H1 repertoire in human cells through imaging techniques including super-resolution microscopy. H1 variants exhibit characteristic distribution patterns in both interphase and mitosis. H1.2, H1.3, and H1.5 are universally enriched at the nuclear periphery in all cell lines analyzed and co-localize with compacted DNA. H1.0 shows a less pronounced peripheral localization, with apparent variability among different cell lines. On the other hand, H1.4 and H1X are distributed throughout the nucleus, being H1X universally enriched in high-GC regions and abundant in the nucleoli. Interestingly, H1.4 and H1.0 show a more peripheral distribution in cell lines lacking H1.3 and H1.5. The differential distribution patterns of H1 suggest specific functionalities in organizing lamina-associated domains or nucleolar activity, which is further supported by a distinct response of H1X or phosphorylated H1.4 to the inhibition of ribosomal DNA transcription. Moreover, H1 variants depletion affects chromatin structure in a variant-specific manner. Concretely, H1.2 knock-down, either alone or combined, triggers a global chromatin decompaction. Overall, imaging has allowed us to distinguish H1 variants distribution beyond the segregation in two groups denoted by previous ChIP-Seq determinations. Our results support H1 variants heterogeneity and suggest that variant-specific functionality can be shared between different cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of climate change and the rapid growth of societies often lead to water scarcity and inadequate water quality, resulting in a significant number of diseases. The digitalization of infrastructure and the use of Digital Twins are presented as alternatives for optimizing resources and the necessary infrastructure in the water cycle. This paper presents a framework for the development of a Digital Twin platform for a wastewater treatment plant, based on a microservices architecture which optimized its design for edge computing implementation. The platform aims to optimize the operation and maintenance processes of the plant's systems, by employing machine learning techniques, process modeling and simulation, as well as leveraging the information contained in BIM models to support decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma (FH) is considered a benign dermal tumor. The cellular variant is rare and poorly documented. Besides presenting a high risk of local recurrence, it has a low but serious metastatic potential. We present a case of metastatic cellular FH and also review the literature on this tumor, given its unusual metastatic development. A 47‐year‐old male patient presented with a lesion in the anterior surface of the right thigh, which has been present since adolescence but had grown during last year. Anatomopathological evaluation revealed a cellular FH, and the lesion was completely removed. Six months later, tumor recurrence with multiple compartment muscle involvement and pulmonary metastasis were detected. Both lesions were completely resected and after 3 years of follow‐up, the patient is asymptomatic and free of the disease. We conclude that FH should be carefully sampled to detect variants with high local recurrence rates or with some metastatic risk such as the cellular one. We recommend wide surgical resection and a close follow‐up including chest x‐rays or thorax computed tomography (CT) in all cellular FH cases with local recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza virus outbreaks are a major burden worldwide each year. Current vaccination strategies are inadequate due to antigenic drift/shift of the virus and the elicitation of low immune responses. The use of computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) hemagglutinin (HA) immunogens subvert the constantly mutating viruses; however, they are poorly immunogenic on their own. To increase the immunogenicity of subunit vaccines such as this, adjuvants can be delivered with the vaccine. For example, agonists of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) have proven efficacy as vaccine adjuvants. However, their use in high-risk populations most vulnerable to influenza virus infection has not been closely examined. Here, we utilize a vaccine platform consisting of acetalated dextran microparticles loaded with COBRA HA and the STING agonist cyclic GMP-AMP. We examine the immunogenicity of this platform in mouse models of obesity, aging, and chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression. Further, we examine vaccine efficacy in collaborative cross mice, a genetically diverse population that mimics human genetic heterogeneity. Overall, this vaccine platform had variable efficacy in these populations supporting work to better tailor adjuvants to specific populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) has been mainly described in species-rich clades within Orchidaceae. We report GSI for a genus within Maxillariinae, one of the most conspicuous and diverse subtribes of neotropical orchids. Here, we describe the reproductive system of Brasiliorchis picta, B. phoenicanthera, and B. porphyrostele. Anatomical studies of fruit development showed that pollen tubes of aborted, self-pollinated flowers degenerate half-way in the stylar channel and never reach the ovules. Spontaneous self-pollination and emasculation set no fruits for none of the sampled species, thus supporting the hypothesis that these three species studied rely on the agency of pollinators and pollinator-mediated cross-pollination to set fruit. Fruit set from cross-pollinations ranged from 33.4 to 77.5%. One self-pollinated fruit of B. porphyrostele developed to completion. All other fruits aborted between 10 and 21 days after pollination. These data support previous evidence of variable strength GSI being exhibited in orchid species. Additional studies of self-incompatibility systems are needed to evaluate their role in species diversification and evolution of reproductive strategies in Maxillariinae and to allow for effective conservation strategies of threatened orchid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic ocular surface condition that requires precise diagnostic tools. The present study aimed to investigate the diagnostic potential of the absolute inter-eye difference (|OD-OS|) in tear meniscus height (TMH) for the detection of the presence of aqueous deficient dry eye (ADDE). (2) Methods: A sample of 260 participants with dry eye complaints underwent ocular surface examinations thorough diagnostic assessments based on the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society guidelines (TFOS DEWS II). Participants were subsequently categorized as No ADDE and ADDE based on TMH. Statistical analyses to determine the optimal TMH|OD-OS| cut-off value in a randomly selected study group (200 participants) were performed, while a separate validation analysis of the cut-off value obtained in a random cross-validation group (60 participants) was also performed. (3) Results: The significant diagnostic capability of TMH|OD-OS| (area under the curve = 0.719 ± 0.036, p < 0.001) was found. The identified cut-off value of 0.033 mm demonstrated reliable specificity (77.6%) and moderate sensitivity (59.1%). Cross-validation confirmed the cut-off value's association with the TFOS DEWS II diagnostic criterion (Cramer's V = 0.354, p = 0.006). (4) Conclusions: The present study provides evidence for the diagnostic potential of TMH|OD-OS| in identifying ADDE. The identified cut-off value enhances the specificity and offers moderate sensitivity, providing an objective tool for clinical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]