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The European Union (EU) has been developing a model for urban intervention since the 1980s, which we refer to in this study as the Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Model (ISUDM). A defining element of this model is its integrated nature and understanding of a city as a complex, multidimensional social system. We analysed the EU's database of urban development initiatives (the Urban Data Platform) and studied the relationship between the procedural and substantive dimensions of the urban development strategies implemented within the framework of EU Cohesion Policy. Our findings indicate those strategies that were supported by multiple EU funds and delivered through decentralised instruments targeting several cities that were the more integrated ones. In contrast, strategies financed by a smaller number of EU funds or a single fund, using more centralised delivery instruments, and targeting only one city, were less integrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hoverflies, also known as flower flies, are a highly diverse group of two-winged flies with more than 6000 known species worldwide. This group of insects plays an important role in ecosystems, providing services such as plant pollination and pest control, among others. Regarding Eumerus, this hoverfly genus is one of the most speciose in the Palaearctic region, where new species are continually being discovered. Nevertheless, the great morphological variability of some species makes their identification and classification difficult. Therefore, the main aim of the present work was to assess the variability of the species of the Eumerus barbarus group in the western Mediterranean area under an integrative study (i.e., combining different techniques and data sources). We found high levels of morphological and genetic variability in two species of this group. Based on our findings, we described a new species from the island of Sardinia and provided the most comprehensive identification key for the males of this Eumerus species group from the western Mediterranean. Comprising nearly 300 described species, Eumerus Meigen, 1822, is one of the most speciose syrphid genera worldwide, and its taxonomic diversity is remarkable in the Mediterranean basin. The Eumerus barbarus (Coquebert, 1804) group consists of four species in the western Mediterranean. Although the phenotypic variability of this species group has been commented on in previous studies, it has never been contrasted with molecular data. In the present work, the morphological variation found in 300+ specimens of this species group from the western Mediterranean is explored and tested against the COI mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The highest phenotypic disparity was found in E. barbarus and Eumerus sulcitibius Rondani 1868. The integrative approach has not revealed cryptic diversity within the species E. barbarus but in E. sulcitibius. As a result, a new species close to E. sulcitibius was discovered, Eumerus sardus Aguado-Aranda, Ricarte & Hauser sp. n., from Sardinia, Italy. The new insular species is here described, illustrated, and discussed. A total of twenty-three haplotypes of COI mtDNA were identified amongst the analyzed Mediterranean specimens of E. barbarus, whereas two and five haplotypes were distinguished in the Iberian specimens of E. sulcitibius and Eumerus gibbosus van Steenis, Hauser & van Zuijen, 2017, respectively. Moreover, the first known barcodes of E. gibbosus and Eumerus schmideggeri van Steenis, Hauser & van Zuijen, 2017 were obtained, and the distribution ranges of all species are mapped. An updated dichotomous key to the males of the E. barbarus group from the western Mediterranean is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral analysis is a very relevant topic in environmental chemistry. This is due to the different properties of the stereoisomers of chiral compounds. In the case of agrochemicals, the desired activity, degradation rate, or toxicity, among other characteristics, may differ between stereoisomers, and the same is true for emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Therefore, the development of chiral analytical methodologies enabling their determination in samples of environmental interest is paramount. Although other techniques have been widely employed to carry out chiral separations, such as HPLC, GC, and SFC, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has attracted a lot of attention in the field of chiral analysis due to its simplicity, flexibility, and low cost. In fact, chromatographic columns are not needed, and the consumption of reagents and samples is very low due to the small dimensions of the separation capillaries. This article reviews the characteristics of the chiral methodologies developed by CE for the stereoselective analysis of pesticides and emerging contaminants in environmental samples (water and soil), as well as pesticides in food samples and commercial agrochemical formulations. Applications of the developed CE methodologies in stability and toxicity studies of these chiral contaminants are also reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration process for minors who migrate alone represents a complex reality, one entailing exciting life projects but which often clashes with a host society that at times responds in a way shaped by stereotypes and prejudices. In this regard, the role of public and private institutions responsible for the care and custody of these minors is of the utmost importance. This is the point of departure of this study: to explore the multicultural and inclusive practices that are implemented in the process of socio-educational support for minors who migrate alone. Taking as a reference the closest context, as a case study, and employing a qualitative methodological approach, 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals from Centers for the Protection of Minors, Institutes of Compulsory Secondary Education (secondary schools), and third-sector entities involved in socio-educational intervention with minors who migrate alone in the province of Cordoba (Spain). The results show, firstly, the complexity of the process behind the socio-educational inclusion of these minors, mainly due to their backgrounds; and, furthermore, the role of the different expectations of the professionals involved with regards to this group's educational and labor-oriented development, along with the importance of the diversity of socio-educational intervention strategies used, focused on individualized attention and with a comprehensive approach. In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the importance of tackling the task of socio-educational care in a coordinated manner, without forgetting the cultural backgrounds and previous experiences that these minors have when they join these protection and educational systems. It is, therefore, necessary to continue to implement these inclusive practices that promote the comprehensive development of minors and facilitate their transition to adult life, as should be done with any other minor facing situations of social vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance, obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities. We here challenged the hypothesis, using state-of-the-art proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H-NMRS) metabolomics profiling, that androgen excess in women induces a certain masculinization of postprandial metabolism that is modulated by obesity. Materials and methods: Participants were 53 Caucasian young adults, including 17 women with classic PCOS consisting of hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction, 17 non-hyperandrogenic women presenting with regular menses, and 19 healthy men, selected to be similar in terms of age and body mass index (BMI). Half of the subjects had obesity. Patients were submitted to isocaloric separate glucose, lipid and protein oral challenges in alternate days and fasting and postprandial serum samples were submitted to 1H-NMRS metabolomics profiling for quantification of 36 low-molecular-weight polar metabolites. Results: The largest postprandial changes were observed after glucose and protein intake, with lipid ingestion inducing smaller differences. Changes after glucose intake consisted of a marked increase in carbohydrates and byproducts of glycolysis, and an overall decrease in byproducts of proteolysis, lipolysis and ketogenesis. After the protein load, most amino acids and derivatives increased markedly, in parallel to an increase in pyruvate and a decrease in 3-hydroxybutyric acid and glycerol. Obesity increased β- and d-glucose and pyruvate levels, with this effect being observed mostly after glucose ingestion in women with PCOS. Regardless of the type of macronutrient, men presented increased lysine and decreased 3-hydroxybutyric acid. In addition, non-obese men showed increased postprandial β-glucose and decreased pyroglutamic acid, compared with non-obese control women. We observed a common pattern of postprandial changes in branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, where men showed greater amino acids increases after protein intake than control women and patients with PCOS but only within the non-obese participants. Conversely, this increase was blunted in obese men but not in obese women, who even presented a larger increase in some amino acids compared with their non-obese counterparts. Interestingly, regardless of the type of macronutrient, only obese women with PCOS showed increased leucine, lysine, phenylalanine and tryptophan levels compared with non-obese patients. Conclusions: Serum 1H-NMRS metabolomics profiling indicated sexual dimorphism in the responses to oral macronutrient challenges, which were apparently driven by the central role of postprandial insulin effects with obesity, and to a lesser extent PCOS, exerting modifying roles derived from insulin resistance. Hence, obesity impaired metabolic flexibility in young adults, yet sex and sex hormones also influenced the regulation of postprandial metabolism. Plain English Summary: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women. PCOS is associated with diabetes, obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Mild excess of androgens (male hormones) characterize PCOS, and facilitate that body fat accumulates in the visceral abdominal area. Visceral fat promotes insulin resistance increasing the risk for diabetes and cardiometabolic disease, and further androgen excess. We here explored intermediate metabolism after the separate administration of either carbohydrates, fats or proteins, in young adult women with or without PCOS and in men, using state-of-the-art proton nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics profiling. Results suggest that postprandial metabolomics profiles reflect mostly insulin actions, with changes derived from insulin resistance being more important with obesity but also being influenced by male sex and PCOS in women. Highlights: We studied postprandial metabolomics profiles after separate macronutrient challenges. Changes in these profiles derived from postprandial insulin effects and insulin resistance. These changes translate metabolic flexibility. Obesity impaired metabolic flexibility in young adults. Sex, sex hormones and PCOS also influenced postprandial metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for food to feed an exponentially growing population, the fast evolution of climate changes, how global warming affects soil productivity, and the erosion of arable lands, create enormous pressure on the food chain. This problem is particularly evident for fresh fruits and vegetables that have a short shelf life. For this reason, food safety precautions are not always a priority and they are often overused to increase the productivity and shelf life of these food commodities, causing concerns among consumers and public authorities. In this context, this review discusses the potential of microextraction in comparison to conventional extraction approaches as a strategy to improve the survey of food safety requirements. Accordingly, selected examples reported in the literature in the last five years will focus on the detection and quantification of pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, and preservatives in fresh fruits and vegetables using different extraction approaches. Overall, the use of microextraction techniques to survey the presence of contaminants in the food chain is very advantageous, involving simpler and faster protocols, reduced amounts of solvents and samples, and consequently, reduced waste produced during analysis while conserving a high potential for automation. Additionally, this higher greener profile of the microextraction techniques will boost a progressive substitution of conventional extraction approaches by microextraction processes in most analytical applications, including the survey of food chain safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hoverflies are a diverse group (6200+ species) of two-winged flies that provide important ecosystem services (e.g., plant pollination and regulation of populations of pest insects). The hoverfly genus Eumerus has caught the attention of scientists and entomology amateurs due to its high number of species worldwide (250+) and its wide range of body sizes and shapes. Nevertheless, some species show a similar overall appearance making both their separation from each other and the study of their classification/biology difficult. Thus, the aim of the present work is to update the knowledge of the Eumerus hoverflies in the Iberian Peninsula by assessing the diversity of the Eumerus tricolor group under an integrative approach (i.e., combining different techniques and data sources). We found and described two new species from Spain and provided the most comprehensive identification key for all known European species of this Eumerus group. Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is one of the largest Syrphidae genera in the Palaearctic Region, with the highest levels of taxonomic diversity found in the Eumerus tricolor species group. Despite its high diversity, the interspecific levels of morphological variability can be low. Additionally, some species may show certain levels of intraspecific variability. Hence, species delimitation may become challenging. In this work, we assessed the diversity of the E. tricolor group in the Iberian Peninsula through an integrative analysis of nomenclature, morphology and the 5′ (COI-5′) and 3′ (COI-3′) end regions of the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Two new species, Eumerus ancylostylus Aguado-Aranda & Ricarte sp. n. and Eumerus petrarum Aguado-Aranda, Nedeljković & Ricarte sp. n., were described, and their intra- and interspecific variations discussed. In addition, the first barcodes of Iberian members of the E. tricolor group were obtained, and the distribution ranges of all species were mapped within the study area. The systematic position of the new species is discussed based on the resulting COI-based trees. The male genitalia of Eumerus hispanicus van der Goot, 1966 and Eumerus bayardi Séguy, 1961 were studied and illustrated. A lectotype was designated for Eumerus lateralis (Zetterstedt, 1819). An updated dichotomous key for all known European species of the E. tricolor group is provided. The egg of E. petrarum sp. n. is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty is a physiological condition characterized by a decreased reserve to stressors. In patients with COVID-19, frailty is a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between clinical presentation, analytical and radiological parameters at admission, and clinical outcomes according to frailty, as defined by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), in old people hospitalized with COVID-19. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included people aged 65 years and older and admitted with community-acquired COVID-19 from 3 March 2020 to 31 April 2021. Patients were categorized using the CFS. Primary outcomes were symptoms of COVID-19 prior to admission, mortality, readmission, admission in intensive care unit (ICU), and need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Analysis of clinical symptoms, clinical outcomes, and CFS was performed using multivariable logistic regression, and results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of the 785 included patients, 326 (41.5%, 95% CI 38.1%–45.0%) were defined as frail (CFS ≥ 5 points): 208 (26.5%, 95% CI 23.5%–29.7%) presented mild-moderate frailty (CFS 5–6 points) and 118 (15.0%, 95% CI 12.7%–17.7%), severe frailty (7–9 points). After adjusting for epidemiological variables (age, gender, residence in a nursing home, and Charlson comorbidity index), frail patients were significantly less likely to present dry cough (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40–0.83), myalgia-arthralgia (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29–0.75), and anosmia-dysgeusia (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23-0.94). Confusion was more common in severely frail patients (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.64-5.97). After adjusting for epidemiological variables, the risk of in-hospital mortality was higher in frail patients (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.79-4.25), including both those with mild-moderate frailty (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.23-3.19) and severe frailty (OR 5.44, 95% CI 3.14-9.42). Readmission was higher in frail patients (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.07–4.16), but only in mild-moderate frailty (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.17–4.75).. Conclusion: Frail patients presented atypical symptoms (less dry cough, myalgia-arthralgia, and anosmia-dysgeusia, and more confusion). Frailty was an independent predictor for death, regardless of severity, and mild-moderate frailty was associated with readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty is a physiological condition characterized by a decreased reserve to stressors. In patients with COVID-19, frailty is a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between clinical presentation, analytical and radiological parameters at admission, and clinical outcomes according to frailty, as defined by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), in old people hospitalized with COVID-19. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included people aged 65 years and older and admitted with community-acquired COVID-19 from 3 March 2020 to 31 April 2021. Patients were categorized using the CFS. Primary outcomes were symptoms of COVID-19 prior to admission, mortality, readmission, admission in intensive care unit (ICU), and need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Analysis of clinical symptoms, clinical outcomes, and CFS was performed using multivariable logistic regression, and results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of the 785 included patients, 326 (41.5%, 95% CI 38.1%–45.0%) were defined as frail (CFS ≥ 5 points): 208 (26.5%, 95% CI 23.5%–29.7%) presented mild-moderate frailty (CFS 5–6 points) and 118 (15.0%, 95% CI 12.7%–17.7%), severe frailty (7–9 points). After adjusting for epidemiological variables (age, gender, residence in a nursing home, and Charlson comorbidity index), frail patients were significantly less likely to present dry cough (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40–0.83), myalgia-arthralgia (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29–0.75), and anosmia-dysgeusia (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23-0.94). Confusion was more common in severely frail patients (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.64-5.97). After adjusting for epidemiological variables, the risk of in-hospital mortality was higher in frail patients (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.79-4.25), including both those with mild-moderate frailty (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.23-3.19) and severe frailty (OR 5.44, 95% CI 3.14-9.42). Readmission was higher in frail patients (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.07–4.16), but only in mild-moderate frailty (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.17–4.75).. Conclusion: Frail patients presented atypical symptoms (less dry cough, myalgia-arthralgia, and anosmia-dysgeusia, and more confusion). Frailty was an independent predictor for death, regardless of severity, and mild-moderate frailty was associated with readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciencias de la Salud is the property of Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the adult population, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious disease that is responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates, being frequently associated with multidrug resistant pathogens. The aim of this review is to update a practical immunization prevention guideline for CAP in Spain caused by prevalent respiratory pathogens, based on the available scientific evidence through extensive bibliographic review and expert opinion. The emergence of COVID-19 as an additional etiological cause of CAP, together with the rapid changes in the availability of vaccines and recommendations against SARS-CoV-2, justifies the need for an update. In addition, new conjugate vaccines of broader spectrum against pneumococcus, existing vaccines targeting influenza and pertussis or upcoming vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be very useful prophylactic tools to diminish the burden of CAP and all of its derived complications. In this manuscript, we provide practical recommendations for adult vaccination against the pathogens mentioned above, including their contribution against antibiotic resistance. This guide is intended for the individual perspective of protection and not for vaccination policies, as we do not pretend to interfere with the official recommendations of any country. The use of vaccines is a realistic approach to fight these infections and ameliorate the impact of antimicrobial resistance. All of the recently available scientific evidence included in this review gives support to the indications established in this practical guide to reinforce the dissemination and implementation of these recommendations in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Medica del IMSS is the property of Direccion de Prestaciones Medicas - IMSS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous investigations have used global graph theory measures in order to disentangle the complexity of the neural reorganizations occurring in cocaine use disorder (CUD). However, how these global topological alterations map into individual brain network areas remains unknown. In this study, we used resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to investigate node-level topological dysfunctions in CUD. The sample was composed of 32 individuals with CUD and 32 healthy controls, matched in age, years of education and intellectual functioning. Graph theory measures of optimal connectivity distance, node strength, nodal efficiency and clustering coefficient were estimated in each participant using voxel-wise functional connectivity connectomes. CUD individuals as compared with healthy controls showed higher optimal connectivity distances in ventral striatum, insula, cerebellum, temporal cortex, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, middle frontal cortex and left hippocampus. Furthermore, clinical measures quantifying severity of dependence were positively related with optimal connectivity distances in the right rolandic operculum and the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex, whereas length of abstinence was negatively associated with optimal connectivity distances in the right temporal pole and the left insula. Our results reveal a topological distancing of cognitive and affective related areas in addiction, suggesting an overall reduction in the communication capacity of these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Women with functional hyperandrogenism show both increased markers of oxidative stress and a mild iron overload. Combined oral contraceptives (COC) may worsen redox status in the general population. Since iron depletion ameliorates oxidative stress in other iron overload states, we aimed to address the changes in the redox status of these women as a consequence of COC therapy and of bloodletting, conducting a randomized, controlled, parallel, open-label clinical trial in 33 adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hyperandrogenism. After three months of treatment with a COC, participants were randomized (1:1) to three scheduled bloodlettings or observation for another nine months. After taking a COC, participants showed a mild decrease in their plasma electrochemical antioxidant capacity, considering fast-acting antioxidants [MD: −1.51 (−2.43 to −0.60) μC, p = 0.002], and slow-acting antioxidants [MD: −1.90 (−2.66 to −1.14) μC, p < 0.001]. Women submitted to bloodletting showed a decrease in their non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity levels (NEAC) throughout the trial, whereas those individuals in the control arm showed a mild increase in these levels at the end of the study (Wilks' λ: 0.802, F: 3.572, p = 0.041). Decreasing ferritin and plasma hemoglobin during the trial were associated with worse NEAC levels. COC may impair redox status in women with functional hyperandrogenism. Decreasing iron stores by scheduled bloodletting does not override this impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new radiological diagnostic criteria for diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) seek to optimize the indications for surgical lung biopsy (SLB). We applied the new criteria to a retrospective series of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) who underwent SLB in order to analyse the correlation between the radiological findings suggestive of another diagnosis (especially mosaic attenuation and its location with respect to fibrotic areas) and the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pathologic diagnosis. Two thoracic radiologists reviewed the HRCT images of 83 patients with ILD and SLB, describing the radiological findings and patterns based on the new criteria. The association of each radiological finding with radiological patterns and histology was analysed. Mosaic attenuation is highly prevalent in both the UIP and non-UIP pathologic diagnosis and with similar frequency (80.0% vs. 78.6%). However, the presence of significant mosaic attenuation (≥ 3 lobes) only in non-fibrotic areas was observed in 60.7% of non-UIP pathologic diagnosis compared to 20.0% in UIP. This finding was associated with other diagnoses different from IPF, mostly connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). In our series of pathologically confirmed ILD, mosaic attenuation in non-fibrotic areas was a predictor of non-UIP pathologic diagnosis, and was associated with other diagnoses different from UIP, mostly CTD-ILD and HP. If confirmed in larger series, this finding could constitute a valuable tool for improving the interpretation of radiological. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the professional e-portfolio as a tool for preparing students in higher education to enter the labor market. It also examines students' level of planning to enter professional employment, and the help that they receive with this task from the university. The research is quantitative and observes the students' opinions before and after they create their own professional e-portfolio, as a case study. We used the analysis of means to determine the trend in the aspects analyzed over time, and the Student's t-test and Cohen's d to determine the effect size. We also performed correlation analysis between the different categories and subcategories proposed. The results show that the e-portfolio is a tool with strengths for labor market entry, while also revealing the weaknesses that students find in it. At the very least, the e-portfolio was useful to the students in planning their entry into the workforce. The correlations show high levels among the strengths but not among the weaknesses analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enfermería en Cardiologia is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Enfermeria en Cardiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles is the property of Asociacion de Geografos Espanoles and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aphids are one of the major agricultural pests in the world. Their pest management in pepper greenhouses is based on integrated control with release of natural enemies and pesticide treatments used in specific conditions. Essential oils may be used as an eco-friendly alternative for the control of this pest. In this work, we study the repellent effect of essential oils and pure compounds against aphids by two-choice bioassays. (E)-anethole, geraniol, farnesol, and (Z)-jasmone were the most repellent compounds for Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (RD50 = 0.011 − 0.086 µl/cm2). Farnesol at dose of 10 µL attracts natural enemies of aphids, Aphidius colemani adults and Sphaerophoria rueppellii larvae, in y-tube olfactometer bioassays. A residual toxicity bioassay, using a computer-controlled spraying apparatus, showed a slight toxicity (< 20% mortality) against larvae of S. rueppellii when exposed to treatments of (E)-anethole, farnesol, or (Z)-jasmone individually. The foliar application of farnesol+(E)–anethole (1:1) nanoemulsions on plants infested with aphids resulted in a reduction of the population growth ratio of M. persicae (ri = − 0.78) and M. euphorbiae (ri = − 3.85). Among the tested compounds, farnesol is a promising compound to be introduced in aphid management for its potential as a repellent and aphicide, as well as an attractant of some natural enemies of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radioactive isotope, 40K, of naturally occurring potassium (0.012%) is present in the Earth's crust in a low percentage of all potassium, leading to its presence in almost all foodstuffs. The impact of 40K activity concentrations was assessed in wild and cultivated edible mushrooms and in growing substrates. Samples were analysed by gamma spectroscopy. In the wild mushroom species, the average activity concentration of 40K was 1291 Bq kg−1 dry weight (dw), approximately 140 Bq kg−1 fresh weight (fw), with a range of average values per species from 748 in Lactarius deliciosus to 1848 Bq kg−1 dw in Tricholoma portentosum. The cultivated species presented an average value of 1086 Bq kg-1 dw; and the soils, compost of cultivation and wood of substrate are 876, 510 and 59.4 Bq kg−1 dw, respectively. The total K content reached a maximum of 59,935 mg kg−1 dw in T. portentosum. The transfer factors (TF > 1) suggested that mushrooms preferentially bioconcentrated 40K. Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus tubaeformis, Hydnum repandum and T. portentosum by most TF could be considered as bioindicators of 40K. Taking into account that the annual radiation dose of 40K due to the average consumption of mushrooms analysed (0.15 μSv/year) is very low, it can be concluded that the consumption of these mushrooms does not represent a toxicological risk for human health. Finally, according to the total K content, from the nutritional point of view, these mushrooms could be considered as a potential source of potassium for the human diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RIED: Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia is the property of Revista Iberoamericana de Educacion a Distancia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The adhesio interthalamica (AI) is a small midline brain structure that connects the left and right thalamus. According to in vivo data, between 2.3 and 22.3% of the general population lack the AI, and the question of whether this absence is more prevalent in males than in females is a matter of debate. Despite the existence of these demographic figures, it remains unclear how this distinctive feature affects healthy people, or what specific anatomic profile is related to the presence or absence of the AI. The aim of this study was to investigate whole-brain gray matter (GM) volumetric differences depending on the presence or absence of the AI. A total of 240 healthy adult volunteers completed one MRI scanning session. After the AI assessment, the data from 110 participants were included in the final sample, of which 12.9% of the participants (n = 31) presented complete AI absence vs. 32.9% of participants (n = 79) who presented complete AI presence. Then, whole-brain group comparison analysis revealed that the absent AI brain, compared to the present AI brain, was associated with lower GM volume in the premotor cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, and anterior temporal cortex. Interestingly, neuroscience research has linked emotional and cognitive control brain processing to the latter two regions. The importance of these findings lies in providing a neuroanatomical profile for the absent AI brain in healthy human adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 outbreak has affected almost all hospital departments, including transfusion services. However, the demand for transfusions in a general hospital designated to deal with COVID‐19 patients has not been analysed before. Study Design and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate blood transfusion practices from 15 March to 14 April 2020 at Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor (Madrid, Spain). During this month, with few exceptions, the hospital became a 'COVID‐19' centre. In addition, transfusion rates during this time frame and the same period over the last 4 years were compared. Results: From 15 March to 14 April 2020, only 254 blood components were transfused, resulting in a 49·3% reduction over the previous year. Interestingly, in critically ill patients, the red blood cell (RBC) transfusion/bed ratio significantly decreased during this period (0·92) compared to the same ratio over the past 4 years (2·70) (P = 0·02). Of note, 106 blood components (95 RBC; 11 platelet concentrates) were transfused to only 36 out of 1348 COVID‐19 patients (2·7%). The main reason for RBC transfusion in COVID‐19 patients was a previous underlying disease (44%) followed by bleeding (25%) and inflammatory anaemia (25%). Conclusion: This is the first study to report a decrease in blood transfusions during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a general hospital and especially in the intensive care unit. The results of this study suggest that COVID‐19 does not generally induce transfusion requiring anaemia, being the main causes for transfusion in these patients underlying conditions or bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more aggressive than other breast cancer subtypes. TNBC is characterized by increased expression of Programmed Death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a signal used by many tumors to escape the immune response. Expression of PD-L1 is a positive predictor of response to immunotherapy; therefore, it should be investigated in TNBC in order to select patients who may benefit from anti-PD-L1 therapies. While many PD-L1 assays are available, only the VENTANA platform with the anti-PD-L1 (SP142) antibody is licensed as a companion diagnostic device for selecting patients with metastatic/advanced TNBC who are candidates for treatment with atezolizumab. In this article, we provide a summary of an expert round-table discussion about PD-L1 testing, using the SP142 antibody in metastatic TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Functional hyperandrogenism may be associated with a mild increase in body iron stores. Iron depletion exerts a beneficial effect on metabolic endpoints in other iron overload states.Objectives: (i) To determine the effect of iron depletion on the insulin sensitivity and frequency of abnormal glucose tolerance in patients with functional hyperandrogenism submitted to standard therapy with combined oral contraceptives (COC). ii) To assess the overall safety of this intervention.Design: Randomized, parallel, open-label, clinical trial.Setting: Academic hospital.Patients: Adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hyperandrogenism.Intervention: After a 3-month run-in period of treatment with 35 μg ethinylestradiol plus 2 mg cyproterone acetate, participants were randomized (1:1) to 3 scheduled bloodlettings or observation for another 9 months.Main Outcome Measures: Changes in insulin sensitivity index and frequency of prediabetes/diabetes, and percentage of women in whom bloodletting resulted in plasma hemoglobin <120 g/L and/or hematocrit <0.36.Results: From 2015 to 2019, 33 women were included by intention-to-treat. During the follow-up, insulin sensitivity did not change in the whole group of women or between study arms [mean of the differences (MD): 0.0 (95%CI: -1.6 to 1.6)]. Women in the experimental arm showed a similar odds of having prediabetes/diabetes than women submitted to observation [odds ratio: 0.981 (95%CI: 0.712 to 1.351)]. After bloodletting, 4 (21.1%) and 2 women (10.5%) in the experimental arm had hemoglobin (Hb) levels <120 g/L and hematocrit (Hct) values <0.36, respectively, but none showed Hb <110 g/L or Hct <0.34.Conclusions: Scheduled bloodletting does not improve insulin sensitivity in women with functional hyperandrogenism on COC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and functional neuroimaging studies have shown that brain areas associated with fear and anxiety (defensive system areas) are modulated by individual differences in sensitivity to punishment (SP). However, little is known about how SP is related to brain functional connectivity and the factors that modulate this relationship. In this study, we investigated whether a simple methodological manipulation, such as performing a resting state with eyes open or eyes closed, can modulate the manifestation of individual differences in SP. To this end, we performed an exploratory fMRI resting state study in which a group of participants (n = 88) performed a resting state with eyes closed and another group (n = 56) performed a resting state with eyes open. All participants completed the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire. Seed-based functional connectivity analyses were performed in the amygdala, hippocampus, and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Our results showed that the relationship between SP and left amygdala-precuneus and left hippocampus-precuneus functional connectivity was modulated by eye state. Moreover, in the eyes open group, SP was negatively related to the functional connectivity between the PAG and amygdala and between the PAG and left hippocampus, and it was positively related to the functional connectivity between the amygdala and hippocampus. Together, our results may suggest underlying differences in the connectivity between anxiety-related areas based on eye state, which in turn would affect the manifestation of individual differences in SP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Orientación y Psicopedagogía (REOP) is the property of Revista Espanola de Orientacion y Psicopedagogia (REOP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Individual differences in pitch discrimination have been associated with the volume of both the bilateral Heschl's gyrus and the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). However, most of these studies used samples composed of individuals with different amounts of musical training. Here, we investigated the relationship between pitch discrimination and individual differences in the gray matter (GM) volume of these brain structures in 32 adult musicians, 28 adult non-musicians, and 32 children without musical training. The results showed that (i) the individuals without musical training (whether children or adults) who were better at pitch discrimination had greater volume of auditory regions, whereas (ii) musicians with better pitch discrimination had greater volume of the IFG. These results suggest that the relationship between pitch discrimination and the volume of auditory regions is innately established early in life, and that musical training modulates the volume of the IFG, probably improving audio-motor connectivity. This is the first study to detect a relationship between pitch discrimination ability and GM volume before beginning any musical training in children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chirality is a relevant issue in the pharmaceutical field due to the different biological activity that enantiomers of a chiral drug can show. In fact, the desired biological or pharmaceutical activity might be present in only one of the enantiomers, while the other enantiomer(s) may have different biological activity, be inactive or even toxic. This has motivated in recent years the development of drugs marketed as pure enantiomers to avoid exposing the organism to the action of enantiomers that may not be active or even harmful to health. Thus, it is of high interest to develop enantioselective analytical methodologies to control the presence of enantiomeric impurities and to understand the enantioselective metabolism of chiral drugs. This review gives an overview about the analytical strategies developed by electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) from 2010 to June 2019 for the enantiomeric determination of drugs in both pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples. The types of chiral selectors used, the migration order of enantiomers, their resolution, the detection technique employed and the sensitivity achieved are revised and compared. Also, applications to assess the enantiomeric purity control of pharmaceutical formulations and to determine chiral drugs in biological samples to study their metabolism are included. Advantages and limitations of the chiral methods developed by EKC are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the dynamics of urban policy transfer in the European Union (EU), critically examining the process of Europeanization in relation to urban issues. The paper takes a comparative approach, analysing the evolution of urban policy and Europeanization in four member states: France, Italy, Spain and the UK from the 1990s up to the current Cohesion Policy period (2014–2020). Using an analytical framework based on three dimensions of Europeanization (direction, object and impact), we examine the extent to which urban policies are moving towards an integrated approach to sustainable urban development, as supported by the EU. The paper highlights the contradictions between processes of convergence through Europeanization, and path-dependent systems and trajectories that forge alternative paths. In doing so, it advances wider debates on the impact of Europeanization in a neo-liberal context by arguing that member states more likely to be affected by Europeanization are those most impacted by national austerity measures. A process of 'variegated Europeanization' is proposed to capture the differential practices taking place within the EU with regard to the circulation of the EU's approach to urban policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s, the EU Urban policy has provided several opportunities to explore innovation at local level. This policy is based on the so-called Integrated Sustainable Urban Development (ISUD) approach. This paper explores to what extent the URBANA programme, launched by the Spanish government in the frame of the EU Cohesion Policy 2007–2013, has promoted a 'new way of doing things' in local administrations. The research addresses three main objectives. Firstly, to identify which abilities are linked to the ISUD approach. Secondly, to understand how urban managers' capacity has been developed within local administrations in the frame of the URBANA programme. Finally, to assess the effect of URBANA Institutional Capacity (IC) on the local administration. The information has been obtained from the analysis of EU and Spanish official documents, in-depth interviews and a questionnaire targeted to the local technicians. The general conclusion is that there is evidence of an urban Europeanisation in Spain. The mainstream of the ISUD approach is clear at formal level, but also in the level of acceptance of these requirements by the Spanish municipalities. The ISUD approach remains as a 'way of doing', even if proposals are not co-funded by EU funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music processing and right hemispheric language lateralization share a common network in the right auditory cortex and its frontal connections. Given that the development of hemispheric language dominance takes place over several years, this study tested whether musicianship could increase the probability of observing right language dominance in left‐handers. Using a classic fMRI language paradigm, results showed that atypical lateralization was more predominant in musicians (40%) than in nonmusicians (5%). Comparison of left‐handers with typical left and atypical right lateralization revealed that: (a) atypical cases presented a thicker right pars triangularis and more gyrified left Heschl's gyrus; and (b) the right pars triangularis of atypical cases showed a stronger intra‐hemispheric functional connectivity with the right angular gyrus, but a weaker interhemispheric functional connectivity with part of the left Broca's area. Thus, musicianship is the first known factor related to a higher prevalence of atypical language dominance in healthy left‐handed individuals. We suggest that differences in the frontal and temporal cortex might act as shared predisposing factors to both musicianship and atypical language lateralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Comunicación 'Vivat Academia' is the property of Facultad de Ciencias de las Informacion de la Universidad Complutense (Espana) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Complutense de Educación is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gestión y Análisis de Políticas Públicas, Nueva Época (GAPP) is the property of Instituto Nacional de Administracion Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tree hollows are complex microhabitats in which a variety of abiotic and biotic factors shape the community assembly of saproxylic insects. Detecting non-random species co-occurrence patterns is a fundamental goal in ecology in order to understand the assembly mechanisms of communities. We study association patterns of species of Coleoptera and Diptera (Syrphidae), belonging to different trophic guilds, on 72 tree hollows at a local and regional scale in three protected areas in Mediterranean forests using a fixed-fixed null model. Our matrixlevel analysis shows a tendency for segregation in species association (species exclusion) at the regional and site levels. However, the high complexity of tree-hollow habitats, offering different resources for a more or less specialized fauna, makes it difficult to prove competition interactions. Indeed, pairwise analysis shows a dominance of non-random aggregation patterns (species coexistence) at the local and regional levels. Both aggregation and segregation of non-random patterns were more common among species from different trophic guilds than within the same guilds, with predators being a common denominator for a high percentage of the inter-guild pairs. Our results suggest that predation and facilitation interactions, together with habitat segregation, are the main factors shaping tree-hollow assemblages, while competition seems to be less important. We conclude that species interactions take an important part of the process of assemblage structuration and special attention should be paid to 'ecosystem engineers' and threatened species in the conservation of tree hollow assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to design an integrated system of evaluation of the quality of the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) taking into account the features of this type of courses. The criteria included in the evaluation of the quality of e-learning training in a broad sense are considered, and specifically those developed for the MOOCs. Using a quantitative, descriptive and sectional design, a team of experts have valued those indicators proposed by the scientific literature. To do this, eight courses, focusing on the field of entrepreneurship and innovation, were selected. Most of the analysed courses meet designated quality criteria by having a clear and organized academic structure. In addition, each course states clearly the timing and hours of dedication by the learner. However, only a few courses do that on the open Internet and on their own academic institutions’ websites. None of the MOOCs establishes the admission requirements. The main contribution of the current research is that it gives MOOC developers some quality indicators, related to course design and platform, to better plan their applied design and implementation, which has a decisive positive impact on the educational quality of such e-learning platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Revista Espanola de Comunicacion en Salud is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Comunicacion Sanitaria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Hippo signaling pathway, a conserved regulator of organ size, has emerged as an important regulatory pathway in cancer. The final transducer effectors of this pathway in mammals are the oncoproteins TAZ and YAP1, transcriptional coactivators of target genes involved in cell proliferation and survival. TAZ has been previously reported to have a role in tumorigenesis in breast cancer, but detailed analyses in the different breast cancer phenotypes have not been conducted so far. We have analyzed TAZ expression by immunohistochemistry in a retrospective series of 640 invasive breast carcinomas, comprising estrogen/progesterone receptor positive, HER2 positive, and triple-negative tumors. We found a strong association of TAZ nuclear expression with the triple-negative phenotype (60.5% TAZ positive, p<0.001), which was even strengthened when stratifying into the basal-like subtype (70.8% TAZ positive, p<0.001). Moreover, 90% of metaplastic breast carcinomas with morphological epithelial to mesenchymal transition features were TAZ positive. We have also investigated whether amplification or differential DNA methylation of TAZ-encoding locus could account for the observed enhanced TAZ protein expression in triple-negative/basal phenotype. Amplification of TAZ locus was analyzed by FISH in 30 triple-negative tumors, and we found gene amplification in some cases (6.45%). DNA methylation analysis were performed in the Sequenom MassArray MALDI-TOF platform, and we observed similar low methylation levels both in triple-negative (n=25) and estrogen/progesterone receptor positive (n= 26) tumors. These data were further confirmed in a panel of breast cancer cell lines and in the TCGA dataset. Finally, patients with strong TAZ expression showed poorer clinical outcome regarding both recurrence and overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: A bicarbonate dialysate acidified with citrate (CD) has been reported to have local anticoagulant effect and improves biocompatibility. This study examines the effect of CD on dialysis efficiency, coagulation, acid-base status, electrolytes, and inflammation in patients in on-line hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF). Methods: 35 patients in OL-HDF were enrolled in a prospective, cross-over study for a 24-week period and two phases alternating CD and acetate dialysate fluid (AD). Parameters on study were predialysis levels of bicarbonate and ionic calcium, reactive C Protein (CRP), and beta-2 microglobulin (B2MG) and postdialysis levels of activated tromboplastine time, bicarbonate, and ionized calcium. Results: No significant differences in coagulation parameters, pH, and predialysis bicarbonate were found. The postdialysis bicarbonate and postdialysis calcium were lower with CD. Dialysis efficiency was greater with CD. Regarding inflammatory parameters, both CRP and B2MG were lower using CD. Conclusion: The use of CD is safe and effective in OL-HDF, and it improves dialysis efficacy, postdialysis alkalosis, and inflammation. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]