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Abstract With the rapid increase of users over social media, cyberbullying, and hate speech problems have arisen over the past years. Automatic hate speech detection (HSD) from text is an emerging research problem in natural language processing (NLP). Researchers developed various approaches to solve the automatic hate speech detection problem using different corpora in various languages, however, research on the Urdu language is rather scarce. This study aims to address the HSD task on Twitter using Roman Urdu text. The contribution of this research is the development of a hybrid model for Roman Urdu HSD, which has not been previously explored. The novel hybrid model integrates deep learning (DL) and transformer models for automatic feature extraction, combined with machine learning algorithms (MLAs) for classification. To further enhance model performance, we employ several hyperparameter optimization (HPO) techniques, including Grid Search (GS), Randomized Search (RS), and Bayesian Optimization with Gaussian Processes (BOGP). Evaluation is carried out on two publicly available benchmarks Roman Urdu corpora comprising HS-RU-20 corpus and RUHSOLD hate speech corpus. Results demonstrate that the Multilingual BERT (MBERT) feature learner, paired with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier and optimized using RS, achieves state-of-the-art performance. On the HS-RU-20 corpus, this model attained an accuracy of 0.93 and an F1 score of 0.95 for the Neutral-Hostile classification task, and an accuracy of 0.89 with an F1 score of 0.88 for the Hate Speech-Offensive task. On the RUHSOLD corpus, the same model achieved an accuracy of 0.95 and an F1 score of 0.94 for the Coarse-grained task, alongside an accuracy of 0.87 and an F1 score of 0.84 for the Fine-grained task. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our hybrid approach for Roman Urdu hate speech detection.

Abstract Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a prevalent hepatic condition linked to metabolic alterations. It gradually causes liver damage and potentially progresses to cirrhosis. Despite its significance, research, especially in the pediatric population, is limited, leading to contradictory findings in diagnosis and treatment. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize existing literature on therapeutic interventions for MASLD in children and adolescents. Methods A comprehensive search of randomized controlled clinical trials yielded 634 entries from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 2023. Interventions included medications, behavioral modifications, dietary changes, probiotics, supplements, surgical procedures, or combinations. The analysis focused on studies with treatment duration of at least 3 months, employing a random-effects REML meta-analysis model. Treatment effects on anthropometric measurements and biochemical components were examined and adjusted for heterogeneity factors analysis. A bibliometric analysis for insights into research contributors was performed. Results The systematic review incorporated 31 clinical trials, with 24 meeting criteria for meta-analysis. These comprised 3 medication studies, 20 with supplements, 4 focusing on lifestyle, and 4 centered on diets. Significant overall treatment effects were observed for ALT, AST, BMI, and HOMA-IR mainly by supplements and lifestyle. Meta-regression identified age, BMI changes, and treatment duration as factors modifying ALT concentrations. Bibliometric analysis involving 31 linked studies highlighted contributions from 13 countries, with the USA, Spain, and Chile being the most influential. Conclusions We conclude that supplementation and lifestyle changes can effectively impact ALT and AST levels, which can help address liver issues in obese children. However, the evaluation of risk bias, the high heterogeneity, and the bibliometric analysis emphasize the need for more high-quality studies and broader inclusion of diverse child populations to provide better therapeutic recommendations. Trial registration PROSPERO, CRD42023393952. Registered on January 25, 2023.

Abstract Metabolic syndrome has a multifactorial origin; however, epidemiological data correspond to populations located at sea level. It has been reported that the altitude can affected the prevalence due to physiological changes. The aim of this study is to show the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome at altitude and its components. We use four databases, all studies published up to November 2023. The prevalences from studies were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. To assess sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were performed. We included 28 studies. The number of participants was 29 195. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 30.3% (95% CI 22.8–38.4%). According to the altitude level, at 1500–2500 was 36.5%, 2500–3500 (21.8%), and > 3500 (30.9%), also it was higher in women (35.5%) that men (26.8%). It was observed that there is an inverse relationship between higher altitude and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Among its components, abdominal obesity and low HDL were present in more than 40.0%, while high blood pressure, high triglycerides and impaired glucose were present in less than 30.0%. We recommend that our results be considered for future research in populations living at altitude since they have different characteristics from populations at sea level.

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori is a prevalent infection that may complicate pregnancy, but evidence remains limited, controversial and may not apply to all pregnant women. Objective This study aims to evaluate whether Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes and to identify vulnerable subpopulations. Study design Multiplex serology was utilized to measure blood levels of immunoglobulin G against eight Helicobacter pylori antigens in 1372 pregnant women from three European birth cohorts: BiB (United Kingdom), Rhea (Greece) and INMA (Spain). Outcomes of interest included gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth and small for gestational age neonates, as well as prenatal anxiety and depression. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity (overall and by antigen) and antigen specific antibody levels with the outcomes. We examined effect modification of the associations by ethnicity. Results Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was detected in 18.8% (258/1372) of pregnant women. Preeclampsia was the least common outcome (26/830). Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was associated with the development of two or more adverse pregnancy outcomes (gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, small gestational age and preeclampsia) [OR:1.32 (95% CI: 1.06–1.65), p-value: 0.01], especially in women with high antibody levels to OMP antigen [OR: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.62–2.76), p-value: 0.001]. Women with high antibody levels to Helicobacter pylori antigens GroEL and NapA were more likely to develop preeclampsia [OR: 2.34 (95% CI: 1.10–8.82), p-value: 0.03; OR: 4.09 (95% CI: 1.4-11.93), p-value 0.01)]. Helicobacter pylori seropositivity increased the odds of developing any hypertensive disorder during pregnancy among women of western ethnicity (948/1372) [OR:3.35 (95% CI: 1.29–8.74), p-value 0.03]. Conclusion Our study suggests that Helicobacter pylori seropositivity is a risk factor for multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes and particularly in women of western origin for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Moreover, pathogen specific characteristics reflected in the antibody responses against OMP, GroEL and NapA seem to determine disease associations.

Atenas Bustamante,1 Barbara Beatriz Salazar Lopez,1,* Emily Marie Jones,1,* Marvee Turk,2 Maria Fernanda Tapia Arellano,1 Sonia Treminio,1 Mikyla Jade Rata,1 Chifundo Msokera,1,3,4 Hebah Daradkeh,1 Ainaz Dory Barkhordarzadeh,5 Alice Umutoni,1 Alyssa Bautista,1 Priyanka Naidu,2 Naikhoba C O Munabi,2 William P Magee III,1,2 Elizabeth A Cote,1 Kathy Magee,1 Allyn Auslander1 1Operation Smile Inc., Virginia Beach, VA, USA; 2Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 3Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, England; 4Clinical Services, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi; 5David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Allyn Auslander, Research and Innovation, Operation Smile Inc., Virginia Beach, VA, USA, Email allyn.auslander@operationsmile.orgBackground: Globally, billions of people lack access to safe surgical care. Women represent a valuable resource to tackle the healthcare workforce shortage which impedes the delivery of surgery. With women entering the global health workforce at an increasing rate, Operation Smile (OS) launched the Women in Medicine program to create women-led leadership and mentorship opportunities for women healthcare workers to empower them to become leaders in healthcare.Purpose: This multi-regional study aims to evaluate the experiences of healthcare providers on OS all-women surgical programs and the impact of participation on leadership and mentorship opportunities.Methods: In 2022, OS conducted four cleft surgical programs with all-women providers in Morocco, Peru, Malawi, and the Philippines. Providers from various specialties participating in the programs were surveyed. Participants were invited to complete the surveys anonymously in the final two days of each program. Analysis involved descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.Results: Across all programs, 215 providers from 36 countries were surveyed. Ninety-seven percent of participants reported improvement in their technical and non-technical skills. Eighty-two percent reported that the program motivated them to seek leadership positions, despite only 37% having prior leadership experience on an OS program. Participating in an all-women team motivated 96% to seek mentorship from another woman and 99% to mentor others. Overall, 98% of providers across all regions and specialties supported the importance of women leadership, and 95% endorsed women mentorship.Conclusion: Promoting gender equity is crucial to address the ongoing healthcare workforce shortage and improve access to safe surgical care. This study demonstrates the importance of mentorship between women to advance into leadership positions. Programs that provide women in healthcare with educational, mentorship, and leadership opportunities can effectively equip them with the skills needed to advance their careers and strengthen the global workforce.Keywords: gender equity, healthcare workforce, surgery, global health

Opioids are considered one of the mainstays of pain treatment. However, they are not exempted from potential risks, such as withdrawal caused by their rapid decline or abrupt cessation. It is usual to observe a high number of withdrawal cases in clinical practice, especially in special populations such as children and in critically ill patients. Considering the clinical importance of opioids and the permanent search to minimize secondary events related to their use, this update was carried out to review the existing proposals in the literature and suggest a didactic way to perform opioid tapering in pediatric and neonatal population in intensive care units. As a result, the “DESSMONTE” strategy arises, which is an acrostic in Spanish that allows guidance on the eight essential steps for an organized and predictable weaning protocol in critically ill pediatric patients. The strategy is flexible, which would allow it to be adapted to different clinical scenarios.

Un desafío significativo para el Comité Universidad Empresa Estado del Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid era la carencia de documentación adecuada y una metodología estructurada para identificar riesgos, poniendo en peligro su eficiencia y continuidad. Por tanto, se propone el objetivo de analizar sus procesos para identificar los riesgos durante el segundo semestre del 2023. La metodología utiliza herramientas como el método deductivo, la investigación documental y la descripción. La identificación de riesgos reveló el incumplimiento normativo y legal, pérdida de información, desconocimiento del comité, deserción estudiantil, insatisfacción de partes interesadas y carencia de asignación presupuestal. Se resalta la necesidad de medidas para su mitigación. El éxito del programa propuesto por el comité se debe a que ofrece una experiencia completa a los participantes. La propuesta de autonomía financiera plantea desafíos y oportunidades, y podría aumentar la agilidad y eficacia. Se destaca la importancia de una comunicación transparente para su gestión.

Abstract The placenta plays a crucial role in protecting the fetus from environmental harm and supports the development of its brain. In fact, compromised placental function could predispose an individual to neurodevelopmental disorders. Placental epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, could be considered a proxy of placental function and thus plausible mediators of the association between intrauterine environmental exposures and genetics, and childhood and adult mental health. Although neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder have been investigated in relation to placenta DNA methylation, no studies have addressed the association between placenta DNA methylation and child’s cognitive functions. Thus, our goal here was to investigate whether the placental DNA methylation profile measured using the Illumina EPIC array is associated with three different cognitive domains (namely verbal score, perceptive performance score, and general cognitive score) assessed by the McCarthy Scales of Children’s functions in childhood at age 4. To this end, we conducted epigenome-wide association analyses, including data from 255 mother-child pairs within the INMA project, and performed a follow-up functional analysis to help the interpretation of the findings. After multiple-testing correction, we found that methylation at 4 CpGs (cg1548200, cg02986379, cg00866476, and cg14113931) was significantly associated with the general cognitive score, and 2 distinct differentially methylated regions (DMRs) (including 27 CpGs) were significantly associated with each cognitive dimension. Interestingly, the genes annotated to these CpGs, such as DAB2, CEP76, PSMG2, or MECOM, are involved in placenta, fetal, and brain development. Moreover, functional enrichment analyses of suggestive CpGs (p

Abstract Background Botulinum toxin type A is currently strongly recommended for the treatment of anal fissures (AFs). However, there is still no consensus on dosage or injection technique. This study provides further efficacy and safety evidence in a 2-year follow-up. Method Prospective, open-label, single-arm, single-center study carried out in adult patients with AFs non-responsive to previous treatments. Patients were treated with incobotulinumtoxinA (incoBoNT/A) injected in both laterals and posterior intersphincteric groove. Healing rate at 2 years was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included internal anal sphincter pressures, incontinence, and safety. Results A total of 49 patients were treated with a mean incoBoNT/A dose of 40.5 U (spread across three locations). Healing rate at 2 years was 83.9% with a 24.5% of recurrence throughout the study. Only 7 patients (14.3%) reported adverse events (AEs) that were mild and temporary. Mean reduction in anal resting pressure was -9.1 mmHg at 3 months (p = 0.001). Mean reduction in voluntary squeeze pressure was -27.5 mmHg at 3 months (p

La presente investigación se sumerge la exploración de la soledad masculina a través de dos aclamados largometrajes de animación stop motion: Anomalisa (2015) dirigida por Charlie Kaufman y Duke Johnson, así como Mary and Max (2003) dirigida por Adam Elliot. La misma se llevará a cabo a través de un análisis multimodal, que permitirá examinar cómo se utilizan distintos recursos semióticos para construir historias que reflejan la soledad masculina y problemas de salud mental, considerando las normas de género desde una perspectiva interseccional. Desde este enfoque interdisciplinario, se busca correlacionar técnicas de análisis semiótico-sociales con estudios de género, para detectar las particularidades con las que ambas animaciones presentan a sus personajes masculinos lidiando con la soledad y el aislamiento, así como sus respectivos problemas de salud mental.

We present the case of a 23-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency department due to thoracic trauma with a gunshot wound in the right fifth intercostal space with the anterior axillary line, with an outflow tract in the third intercostal space on the left parasternal line. The patient exhibited signs of cardiac tamponade and grade IV hemorrhagic shock. Bilateral tube thoracostomy was performed, yielding a substantial left hemothorax (1500 mL). As the patient presented deterioration of hemodynamic instability despite adequate resuscitation maneuvers, prompted immediate transportation to the operating room to perform a sternotomy. A posterior brachiocephalic trunk injury was identified, consisting of a laceration of 60% of total circumference, with an extension of over 2 cm. The distal portion of the injury was resected and reconstructed using a 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft, with a proximal graft anastomosis employing a lateral anchor technique and a distal graft anastomosis using a parachute technique, secured with 4-0 polypropylene vascular sutures. The patient's postoperative recovery progressed favorably, he remained in the intensive care unit for 5 days and in general hospitalization for an additional 4 days. Further interventions were not required. A control CT angiography was performed 3 months postoperatively, demonstrating complete graft patency. Resumen: Presentamos el caso de un varón de 23 años que ingresó al servicio de urgencias por traumatismo torácico con herida de bala en el quinto espacio intercostal derecho con la línea axilar anterior, y un tracto de salida en el tercer espacio intercostal en la línea paraesternal izquierda. El paciente presentaba signos de taponamiento cardiaco y shock hemorrágico grado IV. Se realizó toracostomía con inserción de tubo de tórax bilateral, identificado un hemotórax izquierdo sustancial (1.500 mL). Como el paciente presentó deterioro de la inestabilidad hemodinámica a pesar de las adecuadas maniobras de reanimación, se motivó su traslado inmediato al quirófano para realizarle una esternotomía. Se identificó una lesión del tronco braquiocefálico posterior, consistente en una laceración del 60% de la circunferencia total, con una extensión superior a 2 cm. La porción distal de la lesión se resecó y reconstruyó mediante un injerto de politetrafluoroetileno de 6 mm, con una anastomosis del injerto proximal mediante técnica de anclaje lateral y una anastomosis del injerto distal mediante técnica de paracaídas, asegurada con suturas vasculares de polipropileno 4-0. La recuperación postoperatoria del paciente evolucionó favorablemente, permaneció cinco días en unidad de cuidado intensivo y en hospitalización general por cuatro días adicionales. No fueron necesarias más intervenciones. Se realizó una angiografía por TC de control a los tres meses del postoperatorio, demostrando permeabilidad completa del injerto.

Abstract Upcoming neutrino experiments will soon search for new neutrino interactions more thoroughly than ever before, boosting the prospects of extending the Standard Model. In anticipation of this, we forecast the capability of two of the leading long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, DUNE and T2HK, to look for new flavor-dependent neutrino interactions with electrons, protons, and neutrons that could affect the transitions between different flavors. We interpret their sensitivity in the context of long-range neutrino interactions, mediated by a new neutral boson lighter than 10−10 eV, and sourced by the vast amount of nearby and distant matter in the Earth, Moon, Sun, Milky Way, and beyond. For the first time, we explore the sensitivity of DUNE and T2HK to a wide variety of U(1) ′ symmetries, built from combinations of lepton and baryon numbers, each of which induces new interactions that affect oscillations differently. We find ample sensitivity: in all cases, DUNE and T2HK may constrain the existence of the new interaction even if it is supremely feeble, may discover it, and, in some cases, may identify the symmetry responsible for it.

Abstract Background Tajikistan has embarked on health reforms to orient the health system towards primary health care (PHC). The health labour market analysis (HLMA) was initiated by the Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization (WHO) on policy questions related to the PHC workforce team. This article presents the results with focus on family doctors as a critical part of the PHC team, providing lessons for strengthening family medicine and PHC in the European Region and central Asia. Methods The HLMA framework was used to guide the analysis. The data for analysis were provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan. Descriptive means were used to analyse the data. A Technical Working Group guided the process. Results There has been an increase in the number of health workers in the country over the last 7 years. However, there is a huge shortage of family doctors when compared with norms, with decreasing family doctor densities over the last 7 years. Family doctors have the highest vacancy rates among specialists and also constitute the highest proportion of specialists who migrate. There is inequitable distribution of doctors across the regions. Overall number of enrolments and graduates in family medicine are declining. Although salaries in PHC are higher than in hospitals, the overall health workforce salaries are lower than the national average. While there have been efforts to retain and attract doctors to PHC in rural and remote regions, challenges exist. The attraction of doctors to narrow specialties may be leading to undermining PHC and family medicine. While the optimal skill-mix and availability of nurses provide an opportunity to strengthen multi-disciplinary teams at the PHC level, shortages and unequal distribution of doctors are affecting health services coverage and health indicators. Conclusions Application of the HLMA framework has helped identify the bottlenecks in the health labour market flows and the possible explanations for them. The policy considerations emerging out of the HLMA have contributed to improving evidence-based planning for retention and recruitment of the PHC workforce, improvements in medical and nursing education, and higher investments in the PHC workforce and particularly in family doctors. Implementation of the Action Plan will require political commitment, financial resources, strong inter-sectoral collaboration, stakeholder management, and cross-country learning of best practices. Through this process, Tajikistan has shown the way forward in implementing the Central Roadmap for health and well-being in Central Asia and the Framework for Action on the Health and Care Workforce in the WHO European Region.

In recent decades, the prevalence of inborn errors of immunity has increased, necessitating the development of more effective treatment and care options for these highly morbid conditions. Due to these “experiments of nature,” the complicated nature of the immune system is being revealed. Based on the functional and molecular tests, targeted therapies are now being developed which offer a more effective approach and reduce damage. This study aimed to investigate a key cytokine of the cellular immune response, interferon‐gamma (IFN-γ), which is linked to Mendelian susceptibility to Mycobacterial disease, and its potential as a therapeutic option for IFN-γ deficiency.

Abstract Financial fraud negatively impacts organizational administrative processes, particularly affecting owners and/or investors seeking to maximize their profits. Addressing this issue, this study presents a literature review on financial fraud detection through machine learning techniques. The PRISMA and Kitchenham methods were applied, and 104 articles published between 2012 and 2023 were examined. These articles were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were obtained from databases such as Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Taylor & Francis, SAGE, and ScienceDirect. These selected articles, along with the contributions of authors, sources, countries, trends, and datasets used in the experiments, were used to detect financial fraud and its existing types. Machine learning models and metrics were used to assess performance. The analysis indicated a trend toward using real datasets. Notably, credit card fraud detection models are the most widely used for detecting credit card loan fraud. The information obtained by different authors was acquired from the stock exchanges of China, Canada, the United States, Taiwan, and Tehran, among other countries. Furthermore, the usage of synthetic data has been low (less than 7% of the employed datasets). Among the leading contributors to the studies, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Canada remain prominent, whereas Latin American countries have few related publications.

Abstract Background Polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from European individuals have reduced portability across global populations, limiting their clinical implementation at worldwide scale. Here, we investigate the performance of a wide range of PRS models across four ancestry groups (Africans, Europeans, East Asians, and South Asians) for 14 conditions of high-medical interest. Methods To select the best-performing model per trait, we first compared PRS performances for publicly available scores, and constructed new models using different methods (LDpred2, PRS-CSx and SNPnet). We used 285 K European individuals from the UK Biobank (UKBB) for training and 18 K, including diverse ancestries, for testing. We then evaluated PRS portability for the best models in Europeans and compared their accuracies with respect to the best PRS per ancestry. Finally, we validated the selected PRS models using an independent set of 8,417 individuals from Biobank of the Americas-Genomelink (BbofA-GL); and performed a PRS-Phewas. Results We confirmed a decay in PRS performances relative to Europeans when the evaluation was conducted using the best-PRS model for Europeans (51.3% for South Asians, 46.6% for East Asians and 39.4% for Africans). We observed an improvement in the PRS performances when specifically selecting ancestry specific PRS models (phenotype variance increase: 1.62 for Africans, 1.40 for South Asians and 0.96 for East Asians). Additionally, when we selected the optimal model conditional on ancestry for CAD, HDL-C and LDL-C, hypertension, hypothyroidism and T2D, PRS performance for studied populations was more comparable to what was observed in Europeans. Finally, we were able to independently validate tested models for Europeans, and conducted a PRS-Phewas, identifying cross-trait interplay between cardiometabolic conditions, and between immune-mediated components. Conclusion Our work comprehensively evaluated PRS accuracy across a wide range of phenotypes, reducing the uncertainty with respect to which PRS model to choose and in which ancestry group. This evaluation has let us identify specific conditions where implementing risk-prioritization strategies could have practical utility across diverse ancestral groups, contributing to democratizing the implementation of PRS.

Phragmipedium kovachii is a species of orchid endemic to the Amazonas and San Martín regions. Unfortunately, its excessive extraction has made it a critically endangered species. In this study, we performed next-generation sequencing of P. kovachii (GenBank accession number OR348669) and assembled its complete chloroplast genome. The complete chloroplast genome of P. kovachii is A + T-rich (64.3%), measuring 152,918 bp in length. This plastid genome contains a total of 124 genes (77 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs) and five pseudogenes, including a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) 25,116 bp in size and separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,216 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 13,470 bp. This genome has a typical quadripartite organization following the structure of other Orchidaceae plastomes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the close relationship between P. kovachii and P. besseae. This study contributes to the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of the monophyletic group Cypripedioideae.

LncRNA is a group of transcripts with a length exceeding 200 nucleotides that contribute to tumour development. Our research group found that LINC00052 expression was repressed during the formation of breast cancer (BC) multicellular spheroids. Intriguingly, LINC00052 precise role in BC remains uncertain. We explored LINC00052 expression in BC patients` RNA samples (TCGA) in silico, as well as in an in-house patient cohort, and inferred its cellular and molecular mechanisms. In vitro studies evaluated LINC00052 relevance in BC cells viability, cell cycle and DNA damage. Results. Bioinformatic RNAseq analysis of BC patients showed that LINC00052 is overexpressed in samples from all BC molecular subtypes. A similar LINC00052 expression pattern was observed in an in-house patient cohort. In addition, higher LINC00052 levels are related to better BC patient´s overall survival. Remarkably, MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells treated with estradiol showed increased LINC00052 expression compared to control, while these changes were not observed in MDA-MB-231 cells. In parallel, bioinformatic analyses indicated that LINC00052 influences DNA damage and cell cycle. MCF-7 cells with low LINC00052 levels exhibited increased cellular protection against DNA damage and diminished growth capacity. Furthermore, in cisplatin-resistant MCF-7 cells, LINC00052 expression was downregulated. Conclusion. This work shows that LINC00052 expression is associated with better BC patient survival. Remarkably, LINC00052 expression can be regulated by Estradiol. Additionally, assays suggest that LINC00052 could modulate MCF-7 cells growth and DNA damage repair. Overall, this study highlights the need for further research to unravel LINC00052 molecular mechanisms and potential clinical applications in BC.

Abstract Chemotherapy induced ovarian failure and infertility is an important concern in female cancer patients of reproductive age or younger, and non-invasive, pharmacological approaches to maintain ovarian function are urgently needed. Given the role of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as an essential cofactor for drug detoxification, we sought to test whether boosting the NAD(P)+ metabolome could protect ovarian function. We show that pharmacological or transgenic strategies to replenish the NAD+ metabolome ameliorates chemotherapy induced female infertility in mice, as measured by oocyte yield, follicle health, and functional breeding trials. Importantly, treatment of a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) reduced tumour growth and did not impair the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs in vivo or in diverse cancer cell lines. Overall, these findings raise the possibility that NAD+ precursors could be a non-invasive strategy for maintaining ovarian function in cancer patients, with potential benefits in cancer therapy.

Cacalol (C), a sesquiterpene isolated from Psacalium decompositum, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Its cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and pro-apoptotic effects have been previously shown in an in vitro breast cancer model. A derivative, cacalol acetate (CA), shows potential in regulating these processes, which has not been previously reported. This study focused on an in vitro cervical cancer model, assessing CA’s antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, cytostatic, and anti-migratory activities using the HeLa cell line. The natural anticancer agent indole-3-carbinol (I3C) was used as a control for comparison. CA demonstrated significant antitumor activities, including inhibiting cell growth, inducing apoptosis, arresting cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, and inhibiting cell migration. These effects were notably greater compared to I3C. I3C, while following a similar trend, did not induce Cas-3 expression, suggesting a different apoptotic pathway. Neither CA nor I3C increased p62 and LC3B levels, indicating they do not stimulate autophagy marker expression. Both compounds inhibited HeLa cell migration and induced cell cycle arrest. Despite both holding promise as anticancer agents for cervical cancer, CA’s lower cytotoxicity and stronger regulation of tumor phenotypes make it a more promising agent compared to I3C.

Abstract Background Critical care management heavily relies on accurate cardiac output (CO) measurement. Echocardiography has been a mainstay in non-invasive cardiac monitoring; however, its comparability to invasive methods warrants further exploration. Recent studies have suggested the potential of carotid Doppler measurements as a promising approach to estimate CO. Despite this potential, the literature presents mixed outcomes regarding its reliability and accuracy. This study aims to evaluate the correlation and concordance between carotid Doppler ultrasonography and invasive hemodynamic monitoring in estimating CO in critically ill patients. Furthermore, it assesses the concordance and correlation between echocardiography CO and the standard invasive CO measurements. Methods This concordance study involved critically ill adults requiring invasive CO measurement. Patients with arrhythmias, severe valvulopathy, pregnancy, and poor acoustic window were excluded. Statistical analyses comprised univariate analysis, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Spearman correlation, and intraclass correlation coefficient. Ethical approval was granted by the institution’s ethics committee. Results A total of 49 critically ill patients were included, predominantly male (63.27%), with a median age of 57 years. Diagnoses included subarachnoid hemorrhage (53.06%) and heart failure (8.16%). Mean cardiac index was 3.36 ± 0.81 L/min/m2 and mean cardiac output was 5.98 ± 1.47 L/min. Spearman correlation coefficient between echocardiography and invasive CO measurements was 0.58 (p-value = p

Abstract Apparent resistant hypertension (aTRH) is a significant public health issue. Once low adherence to antihypertensive treatment has been ruled out and true resistant hypertension is diagnosed, aldosterone-direct-renin-ratio (ADRR) aids in the screening of an aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and primary aldosteronism (PA). Once PA and other secondary causes have been ruled out, the values of aldosterone and renin allow patients to be classified into phenotypes such as low renin hypertension (LRH), Liddle’s-like (LLph), and primary hyperaldosteronism (PAph). These classifications could aid in the treatment decision-making process. However, optimal cut-off points for these classifications remain uncertain. This study aims to assess the prevalence of these phenotypes and the behavior of different cut-offs of the ADRR in an Afro-Colombian population with apparent resistant hypertension, as well to describe their sodium consumption. Afro-descendant individuals 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with resistant hypertension and attending to a primary care center in Colombia were recruited as volunteers. As part of the study, their plasma renin concentration (PRC) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were measured. The phenotypes were categorized into three groups based on multiple cut-off points from different authors: low renin and low aldosterone phenotype (LLph), low renin and high aldosterone phenotype (PAph), and high renin and high aldosterone phenotype, referred to as the renal phenotype (Rph). The prevalence of ADRR values exceeding the cut-off and phenotypes were calculated. A linear regression model was derived to assess the effect of sodium consumption with PAC, PRC and ADRR. A total of 88 patients with aTRH were included. Adherence to at least 3 antihypertensive medications was 62.5%. The median age was 56 years (IQR 48–60), 44% were female, and 20% had diabetes. The study found that the prevalence of ADRR values exceeding the cut-off ranged from 4.5 to 23%, while low-renin hypertension (LRH) varied from 15 to 74%, Rph was found in approximately 30 to 34% of patients, PAph in 30 to 51%, and the LLph in 15 to 41%, respectively, depending on the specific cut-off value by different authors. Notably, sodium consumption was associated with lower aldosterone (β − 0.15, 95% CI [− 0.27, − 0.03]) and renin concentrations (β − 0.75, 95% CI [− 1.5, − 0.02]), but ADRR showed no significant association with sodium consumption. There were no significant differences in prevalences between the groups taking

Abstract Macroalgae are vital reservoirs for essential epibiotic microorganisms. Among these are growth-promoting bacteria that support the growth and healthy development of their host macroalgae, and these macroalgae can be utilized in agriculture as biostimulants, offering an alternative to traditional agrochemicals. However, to date, no comparative studies have been conducted on the functional profile and bacterial diversity associated with coastal macroalgae of Peru. In this study, we employed amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene in twelve host macroalgae collected from two rocky shores in central Peru to compare their bacterial communities. The results revealed high bacterial diversity across both sites, but differences in microbial composition were noted. The phyla Bacteroidota and Pseudomonadota were predominant. The functional prediction highlighted 44 significant metabolic pathways associated with the bacterial microbiota when comparing host macroalgae. These active pathways are related to metabolism and genetic and cellular information processing. No direct association was detected between the macroalgal genera and the associated microbiota, suggesting that the bacterial community is largely influenced by their genetic functions than the taxonomic composition of their hosts. Furthermore, some species of Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta were observed to host growth-promoting bacteria, such as Maribacter sp. and Sulfitobacter sp.

A lesser tuberosity osteotomy (LTO) is commonly performed during total shoulder arthroplasty to access the glenohumeral joint. Healing of the LTO is critical to optimizing the outcome of the procedure and is enhanced by a repair that provides stability and compression across the osteotomy site. The purpose of this article is to describe a technique that uses a tensionable suture construct to repair the LTO during anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty using a stemless humeral component. The technique involves passing a row of high-tensile sutures through bone tunnels lateral to the osteotomy site (transosseous sutures) and another row of sutures through the humeral implant (implant sutures). One limb of each bone tunnel suture is then tied to its corresponding limb of implant suture and the remaining free strands of the tied sutures are manually tensioned and tied to each other. This technique is an efficient and reproducible method for creating compression and stability across the osteotomy site that facilitates bony healing.

En este trabajo se presentan dos ruecas elaboradas en ámbar que han sido localizadas durante la excavación en dos áreas funerarias de la antigua Augusta Emerita, capital de Lusitania. Se presenta, al comienzo, un análisis de los contextos en los que se produjeron estos hallazgos, ya que permiten ofrecer una datación concreta en ambos casos, además de proponer una posible hipótesis respecto a la procedencia de estas piezas y sobre sus propietarias. A continuación, se plantea una descripción exhaustiva de las piezas que se acompaña de macrofotografías que ayudan a su determinación técnica. El estudio se ha completado con el rastreo minucioso de los paralelos localizados en otros hallazgos del territorio europeo. También se presenta una serie de reflexiones relativas a su función, su dispersión, el uso y la gestualidad de estas piezas. Todo ello ha permitido extraer datos significativos que, sin lugar a duda, abren una nueva línea de trabajo asociada a la importación de los instrumentos textiles.

Bacteriotherapy is a promising option in addressing dental caries, a persistent global public health challenge with multifactorial origin, including dysbiosis. Despite the exploration of various probiotics, outcomes remain inconclusive. Objective: This study aimed to assess the inhibitory potential of L. reuteri and other potential probiotics like S. salivarius and S. oralis on the growth, adhesion, colonization, and viability of major cariogenic pathogens, comparing their probiotic efficacy. Methods: An in vitro experimental study was conducted, encompassing direct competition assays in solid and liquid co-culture tests and the characterization of adhesion to dental enamel and cell viability by life or death assay. Results: L. reuteri exhibited the significant inhibition of S. sobrinus and S. mutans growth in both solid and liquid cultures, with statistically notable differences. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy demonstrated reduced cariogenic biofilm formation when combined with L. reuteri, corroborated by diminished bacterial viability and decreased dental enamel coverage. These findings underscore L. reuteri’s potential as an effective agent in caries prevention. Conclusion: The study suggests L. reuteri could serve as an effective probiotic in bacteriotherapy against dental caries. It displayed substantial inhibitory activity in vitro against cariogenic bacteria, impeding biofilm formation and adhesion, thereby impacting cell viability.

The Cerrado, the second largest biome in Brazil and home to nearly 5% of global biodiversity, has experienced a resurgence of devegetation due to the expansion of agribusiness activities. For the last two years, the devegetated area was more than one million hectares per year, surpassing the suppressed vegetation in the Amazon for the same period. Thus, the biome that is already the most impacted in Brazil is rapidly going to a critical tipping point of conservation, when conservation actions, like habitat restoration and species management, will be inviable due to the high cost. Such a situation results from political decisions taken years ago to expand the agricultural frontier to its northern portion, where environmental and social impacts are of high concern. We argue that a new development model is urgently needed to be implemented in the region with most of the remaining natural area.

Introduction: Esophageal pH-impedance monitoring is a tool for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in children. The position of the pH catheter is essential for a reliable reading and the current formulas for calculating catheter insertion length are not completely accurate. The aim of the present study was to develop a new formula for adequate insertion of the pH catheter. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children that underwent pH-impedance monitoring and later radiographic control, to calculate the correct catheter insertion length. The documented variables were age, sex, weight, height, naris to tragus distance, tragus to sternal notch distance, sternal notch to xiphoid process distance, and initial insertion length determined by the Strobel and height interval formulas. A multivariate regression analysis was carried out to predict the final insertion length. Regression ANOVA and Pearson’s adjusted R-squared tests were performed. Results: Forty-five pH-impedance studies were carried out, 53% of which were in males. The age and weight variables were not normally distributed. In the initial regression model, the variables that did not significantly correlate with the final insertion length were: sex (P 0.124), length determined by the Strobel or height interval formulas (P 0.078), naris to tragus distance (P 0.905), and tragus to sternal notch distance (P 0.404). The final equation: 5.6 + (height in cm * 0.12) + (sternal notch to xiphoid process distance * 0.57) produced an R2 of 0.93 (P 0.000). Conclusions: This formula can be considered a valid option for placement of the pH-impedance monitoring catheter in pediatrics. Resumen: Introducción: La pH-impedanciometría esofágica es una herramienta para el diagnóstico de reflujo gastroesofágico en niños, la posición del sensor de pH es crucial para una lectura confiable, las fórmulas existentes para el cálculo de la inserción del catéter no son tan precisas; el objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar una nueva fórmula para la adecuada inserción de dicho catéter. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal, de niños a los que se realizó pH-impedanciometría y control radiográfico posterior para estimar la longitud de distancia de inserción correcta del catéter; se registraron las variables de: edad, sexo, peso, talla, distancia narina-tragus, tragus-horquilla esternal y horquilla-xifoides así como la longitud inicial de inserción determinada por fórmulas de Strobel e Intervalos de talla. Se realizó un análisis de regresión multivariada para predecir la longitud de inserción final y se obtuvieron ANOVA de la regresión y R cuadrado ajustado de Pearson. Resultados: Se realizaron 45 pH-impedanciometrías, 53% fueron masculinos. Las variables edad y peso no mostraron distribución normal. En el modelo de regresión inicial las variables sin correlación significativa con la longitud de inserción final fueron: sexo (p 0,124), longitud determinada por Strobel o intervalos de talla (p 0,078), distancia narina-tragus (p 0,905) y distancia tragus-horquilla (p 0,404). La ecuación final: 5,6 + (talla en cm * 0,12) + (distancia horquilla-xifoides * 0,57) alcanza un R2 de 0,93 (p 0,000). Conclusiones: Esta fórmula puede ser considerada como una opción válida para la colocación del catéter de pH-impedanciometría en pediatría.

Introduction and aim: SARS-CoV-2 emerged in 2019 and had a huge impact on the world. The area of endoscopy suffered great changes, causing a reduction in the number of procedures and its indications. The aim of our study was to compare the quantity, indication, and type of procedures in 2019 with those in 2020. Method: A retrospective, observational, analytic, and cross-sectional study was conducted, obtaining information from the endoscopy registry. The STROBE checklist was employed. Statistical analysis: The quantitative variables were analyzed with descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency and dispersion) and the categorical variables with frequencies and percentages. The quantitative variables were compared, using the Student’s t test/Mann–Whitney U test, and the categorical variables with contingency tables, using the Fisher’s exact test. Results: In 2019, a total of 277 procedures were performed, compared with 139 in 2020. Mean patient age was 98.53 months (61.46 SD) in 2019 and 77.02 months (59.81 SD) in 2020; 352 diagnostic procedures and 136 therapeutic procedures were carried out in 2019, compared with 51 diagnostic procedures and 88 therapeutic procedures in 2020. The number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were inverted (72.1%–36.7% and 27.9%–63.3%, respectively) (p

Determination of actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) is a crucial challenge for sustainable irrigation water management. In this sense, robust and accurate estimation models of crop water consumption along with spatial tools and processing platforms in the cloud are necessary to determine the timing and amount of irrigation needed as a first step toward proposing solutions and water use efficiency. The objective of this study was to determine maize crop evapotranspiration using the algorithms of the Mapping Evapotranspiration at High Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC) model in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The crop was monitored with 14 Landsat images during its growth period. ETc values with METRIC were compared with ETc obtained with the FAO-56 methodology, and the cumulative ETc was compared with ETc derived from a soil moisture sensor. The evaluation between the METRIC model and FAO-56 displayed a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.87, mean squared error (MSE) of 0.8 mm/day, and bias percentage (PBIAS) of -14.5. According to the cumulative ETc, the difference was 16 mm for METRIC and 63 mm for FAO-56, compared with moisture sensor values. METRIC overestimated by 3.0% (PBIAS=-3.0), and FAO-56 underestimated by 11.9% (PBIAS=11.9). The results and the programmed algorithms in this work can be the basis for future calibrations and validations of the evapotranspiration of different crops.

Resumen: Introducción: La pH-impedanciometría esofágica es una herramienta para el diagnóstico de reflujo gastroesofágico en en nĩnos, la posición del sensor de pH es crucial para una lectura confiable, las fórmulas existentes para el cálculo de la inserción del catéter no son tan precisas; el objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar una nueva fórmula para la adecuada inserción de dicho catéter. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal, de niños pacientes pediátricos a los que se realizó pH-impedanciometría y control radiográfico posterior para estimar la longitud de distancia de inserción correcta del catéter; se registraron las variables de: edad, sexo, peso, talla, distancia narina-tragus, tragus-horquilla esternal y horquilla-xifoides, así como la longitud inicial de inserción determinada por fórmulas de Strobel e intervalos de talla. Se realizó un análisis de regresión multivariada para predecir la longitud de inserción final y se obtuvieron ANOVA de la regresión y R cuadrado ajustado de Pearson. Resultados: Se realizaron 45 pH-impedanciometrías, el 53% fueron masculinos. Las variables edad y peso no mostraron distribución normal. En el modelo de regresión inicial las variables sin correlación significativa con la longitud de inserción final fueron: sexo (p 0.124), longitud determinada por Strobel o intervalos de talla (p 0.078), distancia narina-tragus (p 0.905) y distancia tragus-horquilla (p 0.404). La ecuación final: 5.6 + (talla en cm * 0.12) + (distancia horquilla-xifoides * 0.57) alcanza un R2 de 0.93 (p 0.000). Conclusiones: Esta fórmula puede ser considerada como una opción válida para la colocación del catéter de pH-impedanciometría en pediatría. Abstract: Introduction: Esophageal pH-impedance monitoring is a tool for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux in children. The position of the pH catheter is essential for a reliable reading and the current formulas for calculating catheter insertion length are not completely accurate. The aim of the present study was to develop a new formula for adequate insertion of the pH catheter. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children that underwent pH-impedance monitoring and later radiographic control, to calculate the correct catheter insertion length. The documented variables were age, sex, weight, height, naris to tragus distance, tragus to sternal notch distance, sternal notch to xiphoid process distance, and initial insertion length determined by the Strobel and height interval formulas. A multivariate regression analysis was carried out to predict the final insertion length. Regression ANOVA and Pearson's adjusted R-squared tests were performed. Results: Forty-five pH-impedance studies were carried out, 53% of which were in males. The age and weight variables were not normally distributed. In the initial regression model, the variables that did not significantly correlate with the final insertion length were: sex (P 0.124), length determined by the Strobel or height interval formulas (P 0.078), naris to tragus distance (P 0.905), and tragus to sternal notch distance (P 0.404). The final equation: 5.6 + (height in cm * 0.12) + (sternal notch to xiphoid process distance * 0.57) produced an R2 of 0.93 (P 0.000). Conclusions: This formula can be considered a valid option for placement of the pH-impedance monitoring catheter in pediatrics.

Resumen: Introducción: En 2019 surgió el SARS-CoV-2, que tuvo un gran impacto a nivel mundial, y el área de endoscopia sufrió grandes cambios, provocando una reducción del número de procedimientos y sus indicaciones. Objetivo: Comparar la cantidad, la indicación y el tipo de procedimientos del 2019 contra 2020. Método: Estudio observacional, analítico, transversal y retrospectivo obteniendo la información del registro de endoscopia. Se utilizó la lista de cotejo STROBE. Análisis estadístico: Variables cuantitativas analizadas con estadística descriptiva (medidas de tendencia central y dispersión) y para las categóricas, frecuencias y porcentajes. Para comparar se utilizó la t de Student/U de Mann-Whitney para las variables cuantitativas; tablas de contingencia con prueba Ji cuadrado o exacta de Fisher para categóricas. Resultados: En el 2019 se realizaron 277 procedimientos en comparación de 139 en 2020. La media de edad en el 2019 fue de 98.53 meses (DE: 61.46) y para el 2020 la media fue de 77.02 meses (DE: 59.81). Tipo de procedimiento en 2019: 352 fueron procedimientos diagnósticos y 136 terapéuticos, mientras que, en 2020, 51 fueron diagnósticos y 88 terapéuticos. Se invirtió la proporción de procedimientos diagnósticos (72.1% al 36.7%) y terapéuticos (27.9% al 63.3%) (p

Abstract Monometallic and bimetallic Cu:Ni catalysts with different Cu:Ni molar ratios (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3) were synthesized by wetness impregnation on activated carbon and characterized by TPR (temperature programmed reduction), XRD (X-ray diffraction) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The synthesized catalysts were evaluated in the gas phase production of diethyl carbonate from ethanol and carbon dioxide. The largest catalytic activity was obtained over the bimetallic catalyst with a Cu:Ni molar ratio of 3:1. Its improved activity was attributed to the formation of a Cu–Ni alloy on the surface of the catalyst, evidenced by XPS and in agreement with a previous assignment based on Vegard law and TPR analysis. During the reaction rate experiments, it observed the presence of a maximum of the reaction rate as a function of temperature, a tendency also reported for other carbon dioxide–alcohol reactions. It showed that the reaction rate-temperature data can be adjusted with a reversible rate equation. The initial rate as a function of reactant partial pressure data was satisfactorily adjusted using the forward power law rate equation and it was found that the reaction rate is first order in CO2 and second order in ethanol.

Abstract Background In Ecuador, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Although HPV represents a serious public health problem worldwide, the information about its prevalence and genotypes in remote communities of Ecuador is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HPV genotypes among ethnic minority women from two remote communities of the northwestern region of Ecuador: Afro-Ecuadorians and Chachis (Amerindian group). Methods We included 291 women who responded to a short survey and were screened for HPV by the amplification of the L1 gene and a nested multiplex PCR to detect 14 high risk (HR) genotypes. A survey collected information on ethnicity, age, community access, and sexual and gynecological history. We identified risk factors associated with HPV infection and co-infection using multivariate logistic regression to calculate odds ratio (OR) and Wald 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Overall, HPV prevalence in the study cohort was 56%, and the five most common HR-HPV genotypes were HPV-58, -16, -68, -39, and -43; however, the distribution of HPV genotypes varied according to ethnicity. We identified lineage A (European variant) for HPV-16 and sublineage A2 for HPV-58 in both ethnic groups. Adjusting for ethnicity, age, community access, and number of sexual partners, we found that Afro-Ecuadorian women were less likely to have an HPV infection than Chachi women (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.96), and that participants in communities only accessible by river had 64% less chances of an HPV infection when compared to women in communities accessible by road (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.71), and women with 2 to 3 sexual partners had 2.47 times the odds of HPV infection than participants with 0–1 partners (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.6). Similar associations were observed with prevalence of co-infection. Conclusions This study provides baseline knowledge regarding the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in ethnic groups of the northwestern coastal Ecuador and essential information for the implementation of appropriate HPV testing and vaccination program to prevent cervical cancer.

La temática se ocupa del aprendizaje significativo vinculado al blended learning como un enfoque educativo con el potencial de promover el aprendizaje significativo al brindar a los estudiantes una diversidad de experiencias de aprendizaje que pueden adaptarse a sus necesidades e intereses individuales. El objetivo fue conocer cómo se construye el aprendizaje significativo en la modalidad blended en universidades. Metodológicamente de tipología básica; debido a que, permitió profundizar el conocimiento y comprender sobre el tema, se utilizó un diseño de investigación hermenéutico, realizando entrevistas semiestructuradas a 5 docentes expertos a nivel nacional e internacional. Los resultados mostraron que el constructivismo, la motivación, la reflexión y el uso de recursos digitales promueven la participación activa, la comprensión profunda y la construcción de aprendizajes significativos y conectados con experiencias previas. En conclusión, es clave profundizar en estrategias basadas en el constructivismo, la motivación, reflexión y uso de recursos digitales para generar aprendizajes significativos en educación blended.

Abstract Background Assessing the historical dynamics of key food web components is crucial to understand how climate change impacts the structure of Arctic marine ecosystems. Most retrospective stable isotopic studies to date assessed potential ecosystem shifts in the Arctic using vertebrate top predators and filter-feeding invertebrates as proxies. However, due to long life histories and specific ecologies, ecosystem shifts are not always detectable when using these taxa. Moreover, there are currently no retrospective stable isotopic studies on various other ecological and taxonomic groups of Arctic biota. To test whether climate-driven shifts in marine ecosystems are reflected in the ecology of short-living mesopredators, ontogenetic changes in stable isotope signatures in chitinous hard body structures were analysed in two abundant squids (Gonatus fabricii and Todarodes sagittatus) from the low latitude Arctic and adjacent waters, collected between 1844 and 2023. Results We detected a temporal increase in diet and habitat-use generalism (= opportunistic choice rather than specialization), trophic position and niche width in G. fabricii from the low latitude Arctic waters. These shifts in trophic ecology matched with the Atlantification of the Arctic ecosystems, which includes increased generalization of food webs and higher primary production, and the influx of boreal species from the North Atlantic as a result of climate change. The Atlantification is especially marked since the late 1990s/early 2000s. The temporal patterns we found in G. fabricii’s trophic ecology were largely unreported in previous Arctic retrospective isotopic ecology studies. Accordingly, T. sagittatus that occur nowadays in the high latitude North Atlantic have a more generalist diet than in the XIXth century. Conclusions Our results suggest that abundant opportunistic mesopredators with short life cycles (such as squids) are good candidates for retrospective ecology studies in the marine ecosystems, and to identify ecosystem shifts driven by climate change. Enhanced generalization of Arctic food webs is reflected in increased diet generalism and niche width in squids, while increased abundance of boreal piscivorous fishes is reflected in squids’ increased trophic position. These findings support opportunism and adaptability in squids, which renders them as potential winners of short-term shifts in Arctic ecosystems.

El artículo analiza, desde una perspectiva histórica y antropológica, el fenómeno de desmonumentalización en España y Chile en el período 2019-2021, centrándose en los monumentos de Cristóbal Colón, Pedro de Valdivia y Manuel Baquedano. En base a la revisión de fuentes documentales, bibliográficas y de prensa, y la realización de entrevistas, el estudio da cuenta que las dinámicas de intervención y destrucción patrimonial entre Chile y España guardan diferencias, contradicciones y asimetrías. Se evidencia que mientras los procesos de desmonumentalización en España han estado más apegados a la intervención pacífica y al diálogo con la institucionalidad política a través de la solicitud del retiro de ciertos monumentos coloniales y esclavistas, en Chile la batalla contra los monumentos colonialistas se ha generado en contextos de fuerte conflictividad social, actuando al margen de las decisiones institucionales y desbordando permanentemente la legalidad.

Food security is relevant due to the uncertain availability of healthy food. Accordingly, it is necessary to know the biological potential of new crops as a food source to meet the basic nutritional needs of a growing population. This study aimed to analyze chemical extractions of the cultivated species Suaeda edulis and its wild relative S. esteroa to determine their biological and nutritional value. For analysis, we collected 25 plants of S. edulis in the chinampas-producing area of Xochimilco, Mexico City, and 25 plants of S. esteroa in Balandra beach, Baja California Sur, Mexico. We quantified total phenols, total flavonoids, and the total antioxidant capacity of free and conjugated fractions by Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminum trichloride, DPPH, and TEAC spectrophotometric methods. S. esteroa reflected a higher content of total phenols, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity (free and conjugated) than the values of S. edulis. We determined 39.94 and 49.64% higher values of total phenol content in S. esteroa than S. edulis, 36 and 40.33% in total flavonoid content, 32.92 and 40.50% in total antioxidant capacity by DPPH, and 34.45 and 48.91% by TEAC for free and conjugated fractions, respectively. We identified 11 phenolic compounds in both halophytes; among them, the free form ferulic acid, gallic acid, and rutin showed high concentrations in S. edulis, whereas quercetin and ferulic acid were more abundant in S. esteroa. The conjugated fraction showed lower concentrations than the free fraction. In conclusion, we found a high biologically active potential of the halophytes studied; this could boost their consumption, which in turn would offer S. edulis and S. esteroa as new sustainable crops to help address food shortages in regions with water scarcity or soil salinity, as well as to counteract chronic degenerative diseases associated with obesity.

Los microorganismos antagónicos representan una alternativa para el manejo de la roya del café (Hemileia vastatrix Berk & Broome), enfermedad de importancia económica en los cafetales nicaragüenses. Con el objetivo de evaluar diferentes alternativas de manejo biológico para esta enfermedad, en el municipio de San Lucas, Madriz, Nicaragua, se estableció un experimento con medidas repetidas en el tiempo con submuestreos, en una plantación de café de ocho años, variedad caturra con presencia de roya; los tratamientos evaluados fueron: 1) Lecanicillium spp, 2) Trichoderma spp, 3) Bacillus subtilis (Serenade® ASO), 4) Azoxistrobina + Cyproconazole (Amistar Xtra®), y 5) Testigo absoluto (sin aplicación); las variables evaluadas fueron número de hojas totales, número de hojas sanas, incidencia (%) y severidad (%). Se realizó un análisis de varianza y separación de medias por Tukey con 95 % de confiabilidad. Las aplicaciones y muestreos se realizaron aproximadamente cada 15 días. El tratamiento Amistar Xtra® presentó los valores más bajos de incidencia y severidad de la roya del café; sin embargo, el mejor producto biológico fue Lecanicillium spp, registrando los niveles más bajos de incidencia (15.76 %) y severidad (11.33 %) en la última fecha de muestreo, en relación con el resto de los productos biológicos a partir de la quinta aplicación, la incidencia disminuyó en 74 % y la severidad en 66 % respecto a la última fecha de muestreo, representando una alternativa biológica para el manejo de la roya del café.

Abstract Background Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has serious physical consequences for children such as behavioral disabilities, growth disorders, neuromuscular problems, impaired motor coordination, and decreased muscle tone. However, it is not known whether loss of muscle strength occurs, and which interventions will effectively mitigate physical PAE impairments. We aimed to investigate whether physical alteration persists during adolescence and whether exercise is an effective intervention. Results Using paradigms to evaluate different physical qualities, we described that early adolescent PAE animals have significant alterations in agility and strength, without alterations in balance and coordination compared to CTRL animals. We evaluated the effectiveness of 3 different exercise protocols for 4 weeks: Enrichment environment (EE), Endurance exercise (EEX), and Resistance exercise (REX). The enriched environment significantly improved the strength in the PAE group but not in the CTRL group whose strength parameters were maintained even during exercise. Resistance exercise showed the greatest benefits in gaining strength, and endurance exercise did not. Conclusion PAE induced a significant decrease in strength compared to CTRL in PND21. Resistance exercise is the most effective to reverse the effects of PAE on muscular strength. Our data suggests that individualized, scheduled, and supervised training of resistance is more beneficial than endurance or enriched environment exercise for adolescents FASD.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the formative and evaluative activities involving statistical graphs in the new textbooks for Chilean rural multigrade education. The methodology is qualitative, at a descriptive level and uses the content analysis technique. The sample is made up of the six primary education textbooks distributed by the Ministry of Education for rural multigrade schools. The results show the predominance of the bar chart, semiotic level 3, the task of calculating and the personal context in both types of activities, although with respect to the reading level, it is evident that level 4 predominates in the formative activities and level 2 in the evaluative ones. According to the results, it is recommended to incorporate graphs proposed by the curricular guidelines of the Ministry of Education, which are absent in textbooks as well as to include evaluative activities that require reflection on the nature of the data, context, representation and conclusions obtained from them.

Presentamos dos fragmentos cerámicos de lucernas procedentes del antiguo solar de Augusta Emerita. El interés de los mismos radica en poseer dos decoraciones que, claramente, evocan al uso de monedas bien como improntas o bien como inspiración iconográfica. Además, aparecen contextualizados, por lo que podemos aportar datos cronológicos de uso final. Este trabajo nos permite abordar, sin la pretensión de ser una exégesis, el fenómeno de las impressiones de monedas sobre diversos soportes y ahondar en otras prácticas artesanales.

Se realizó el estudio retrospectivo de 116 pacientes hospitalizados con tuberculosis meníngea en el Hospital General Cayetano Heredia en el curso de los años 1977-1981. Las historias clínicas fueron seleccionadas con criterios descritos por variosautores. Se recogió información concerniente a la admisión y al ingreso, con la intención de evaluarlos aspectos clínicos de la enfermedad actual, antecedentes, examen físico y auxiliares, tratamiento y aspectos pronósticos. Se describe mayor frecuencia de varones, menores de 5 años y adultos jóvenes. El antecedente de contacto se obtuvo en 58 o/o del total y de enfermedad tuberculosa en 25 o/o. Consultas previas a la admisión se observaron en 75 o/o del total, encontrando elevada proporción de estadíos clínicos neurológicos avanzados al ingreso. Convulsiones se refirió en 83 o/o de los lactantes y 52 o/o de los preescolares. Se encontró anormales, 93 o/o de las radiografías del tórax de lactantes y preescolares, 71 o/o de las de escolares y 73 o/o de las adultas. La edad, el estado nutricional, las alteraciones del comportamiento y sensorio se asociaron al pronóstico. Cefalea, vómitos, convulsiones, enfermedad miliar, tiempo de enfermedad que motivó el ingreso, vacuna BCG, esquemas antibióticos y corticoterapiano se asociaron al pronóstico. El estadio clínico neurológico al ingreso fue el factor pronóstico más importante. Se sugiere una variante nueva para la clasificación clínica neurológica de los pacientes a la admisión que puede resultar de enorme interés práctico. Se discute los resultados en relación a los distintos aspectos epidemiológicos y patogénicos de la enfermedad, comparando los hallazgos con otros estudios nacionales y extranjeros. Agradecimiento: A la Sra. Teresa Orrego de Cancino, Secretaria del Instituto de Investigaciones dela Altura, por su trabajo mecanográfico.

Introduction: The impact of legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on fetal growth has been well studied, but assessments of next-generation PFAS and PFAS mixtures are sparse and the potential role of fetoplacental hemodynamics has not been studied. We aimed to evaluate associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and fetal growth and fetoplacental hemodynamics. Methods: We included 747 pregnant women from the BiSC birth cohort (Barcelona, Spain (2018–2021)). Twenty-three PFAS were measured at 32 weeks of pregnancy in maternal plasma, of which 13 were present above detectable levels. Fetal growth was measured by ultrasound, as estimated fetal weight at 32 and 37 weeks of gestation, and weight at birth. Doppler ultrasound measurements for uterine (UtA), umbilical (UmA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility indices (PI), as well as the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR – ratio MCA to UmA), were obtained at 32 weeks to assess fetoplacental hemodynamics. We applied linear mixed effects models to assess the association between singular PFAS and longitudinal fetal growth and PI, and Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum models to evaluate associations between the PFAS mixture and the aforementioned outcomes, controlled for the relevant covariates. Results: Single PFAS and the mixture tended to be associated with reduced fetal growth and CPR PI, but few associations reached statistical significance. Legacy PFAS PFOS, PFHpA, and PFDoDa were associated with statistically significant decreases in fetal weight z-score of 0.13 (95%CI (−0.22, −0.04), 0.06 (−0.10, 0.01), and 0.05 (−0.10, 0.00), respectively, per doubling of concentration. The PFAS mixture was associated with a non-statistically significant 0.09 decrease in birth weight z-score (95%CI −0.22, 0.04) per quartile increase. Conclusion: This study suggests that legacy PFAS may be associated with reduced fetal growth, but associations for next generation PFAS and for the PFAS mixture were less conclusive. Associations between PFAS and fetoplacental hemodynamics warrant further investigation.

PURPOSETissue inadequacy and operational challenges may limit lung cancer comprehensive biomarker testing. Here, we describe the initial implementation of a tailored tissue molecular journey at Oncoclínicas Precision Medicine Laboratory in Brazil, which includes fast-track (FT) non–next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays combined with a broad NGS panel.METHODSFrom 2021 to 2023, all nonsquamous lung cancer samples eligible for the patient support program “Lung Mapping Consortium” at Oncoclínicas & Co were evaluated using the FT panel (immunohistochemistry for PD-L1 and anaplastic lymphoma kinase [ALK], polymerase chain reaction for EGFR and BRAF, and fluorescence in situ hybridization for ROS1) plus a broad DNA and RNA sequencing panel of 180 genes (custom ARCHER panel).RESULTSFrom 1,272 samples received by the laboratory, 3% had no tissue for any molecular testing, 20% was not eligible for broad NGS panel as per pathologist assessment (tumor purity and quantity), additional 12% did not reach presequencing analytical thresholds (nucleic acid quantity and/or quality), and 3% had postsequencing failure. Most frequent alterations were KRAS mutations (28.4%, KRASG12C 9.7%), EGFR mutations (23.6%, exon20 insertions 2.9%), ALK fusions (6.4%), MET exon 14 skipping (4.4%), ERBB2 mutations (3.4%), ROS1 fusions (3.1%), and BRAFV600E (1.9%). In 35% of the samples, FT non-NGS tests were the only molecular diagnostics: EGFR mutations (14%), ALK fusions (4.4%), ROS1 fusions (1.8%), and BRAFV600E (0.7%). Overall, high PD-L1 expression (≥50%) was found in 12.3%.CONCLUSIONThis study provides data on the molecular epidemiology of lung adenocarcinoma in Brazil, confirming high prevalence of EGFR mutations, ALK fusions, and MET exon 14 skipping alteration. Biomarker detection is largely affected by biospecimen collection and processing, with one third of the patients eligible for non-NGS testing only, which presents reduced coverage and sensitivity for actionable drivers.

Climate variability analysis is crucial for understanding current patterns and predicting future climate behavior. This knowledge is essential for decision-making about mitigation and reduction activities to combat climate change from those activities that may cause abrupt changes in climate dynamics. The present study analyzed climate variability in the Magdalena department, Colombia, over a 22-year period. Temperature, solar radiation, and precipitation data from NASA's Giovanni reanalysis and simulation are used with data from local meteorological stations. Statistical homogeneity and trend tests were applied to find climate patterns using RStudio software. The results showed that the years 2010 and 2011 were the wettest in the time series. Conversely, 2015 was the warmest year on record in the time series. This analysis provides a more comprehensive understanding of the climate variability in the region, laying the foundation for future studies on this subject.

Cuando un país importa un bien o servicio se sujeta a los precios determinados por el mercado mundial, por lo tanto, los precios del mercado interno cambian cuando los precios internacionales lo hacen. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar el grado de transmisión de precios entre el precio al productor de leche en México a nivel nacional y regional y el de Estados Unidos (transmisión espacial), así como entre el precio de la leche al menudeo y el precio al productor en México (transmisión vertical). Se realizó un análisis econométrico de series de tiempo mensuales de los precios de leche de enero de 1990 a diciembre de 2021, aplicando pruebas de raíz unitaria, de cointegración y un modelo de vectores de corrección de error. Los resultados indican que existe una relación a largo plazo de los precios de Estados Unidos con los precios al productor a nivel nacional y regional, así como entre el precio al menudeo y el precio al productor. Se encontró que la transmisión espacial de los precios internacionales al precio al productor a nivel nacional y regional en Jalisco y Veracruz es de forma simétrica, y asimétrica con el precio al productor en el estado de Coahuila. Existen diferencias entre regiones en la velocidad de ajuste cuando los precios internacionales aumentan que cuando disminuyen. La transmisión vertical también fue de forma simétrica, unidireccional del productor al mercado minorista e incompleta.

IntroductionCystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary autosomal recessive disease driven by deleterious variants of the CFTR gene, leading, among other symptoms, to increased lung infection susceptibility. Mucus accumulation in the CF lung is, as of yet, considered as one important factor contributing to its colonization by opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, in recent years evidence was provided that alveolar macrophages, which form the first line of defense against airborne pathogens, seem to be intrinsically defective with regard to bactericidal functionality in the CF lung. To assess the impact of CFTR deficiency in human macrophages only insufficient systems are available.MethodsTo address this problem and to evaluate the role of CFTR in human macrophages, we successfully differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from a CF p.Phe508del homozygous individual and a healthy donor into primitive macrophages (iMacΔF508 and iMacWT), respectively, and compared the bactericidal functionality in the relevant cell type.ResultsiMacΔF508 showed impaired P. aeruginosa clearance and intracellular killing capacity in comparison to iMacWT. Furthermore, iMacΔF508 exhibited a less acidic lysosomal pH, and upon P. aeruginosa infection, there were signs of mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagosome formation together with a hyperinflammatory phenotype and deficient type I interferon response.ConclusionIn summary, we present a defective phenotype in iMacΔF508 upon P. aeruginosa infection, which will constitute an ideal platform to further study the role of macrophages in the context of CF.