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Objective: To advance the development of an ideal and sustainable framework agreement for the public procurement of vaccines in Spain, and to agree on the desirable award criteria and their relative weight. Methods: A multidisciplinary committee of seven health-care professionals and managers developed a partial multi-criteria decision analysis to determine the award criteria that should be considered and their specific weights for the public procurement of routine vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccines, considering their legal viability. A re-test of the results was carried out. The current situation was analyzed through 118 tender specifications and compared to the ideal framework. Results: Price is the prevailing award criterion for the public procurement of both routine (weighting of 60% versus 40% for all other criteria) and influenza (36% versus 64%) vaccines. Ideally, 22 criteria should be considered for routine vaccines, grouped and weighted into five domains: efficacy (weighting of 29%), economic aspects (27%), vaccine characteristics (22%), presentation form and packaging (13%), and others (9%). Per criteria set, price was the most important criterion (22%), followed by effectiveness (9%), and composition/formulation (7%). Regarding influenza vaccines, 20 criteria were selected, grouped, and weighted: efficacy (29%), economic aspects (25%), vaccine characteristics (20%), presentation form and packaging (16%), and others (11%). Per criteria set, price was also the most relevant criterion (19%), followed by composition/formulation (8%), and effectiveness (8%). Conclusions: Contrary to the current approach, technical award criteria should prevail over economic criteria in an ideal and sustainable framework agreement for the public procurement of vaccines.

Changing attitudes and perceptions allied to the values of diversity and inclusive education is a recognised challenge in ITE (Initial Teacher Education). Using meta-ethnographic methods, this article aims to describe how preservice teachers' attitudes or perceptions towards inclusive education can be developed during ITE. The results show the importance of recognising the value of practical experiences, reflecting with others, and researching and transforming situations of inclusive education as essential activities for generating positive attitudes or perceptions towards inclusive education. As researchers, we have confidence in the studies conducted by other ethnographers and their value for clarifying and extending analytical generalisations across time and space. As teachers/researchers, we highlight the relevance of working as organic intellectuals acting in the interest of education and social justice.

Background: Vascular malformations (VaMs) are caused by errors in vascular morphogenesis. Diagnosis and treatment can be complex. Few specialized centers care for these patients, and limited literature exists regarding their characteristics and clinical course. The vascular anomalies clinic (VAC) at the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (National Institute for Pediatrics) is a multidisciplinary team and has been a reference center for patients with VaMs since 2012. We sought to describe the characteristics of patients cared for at the VAC, types of VaMs, treatments used, and clinical course. Methods: This was a descriptive, observational, retrospective, and cross-sectional study conducted from 2012 to 2022. Results: We included 435 patients with VaMs; the median age of presentation was 1 month. The most frequent signs and symptoms were increased volume (97.2%), superficial color change (65.5%), and pain (43.3%). The most common VaMs were lymphatic (36.7%) and venolymphatic (18.3%). Sclerotherapy was the most frequent treatment (73.4%), followed by medical treatment with sirolimus (18.5%); response to both was excellent/good in > 85% of cases. Conclusion: In this retrospective study of children with VaMs, we found that low-flow malformations were the most common, and sclerotherapy and sirolimus were the most frequently used treatments. The therapeutic response was excellent/good in most cases.

In the present study, in vitro neuronal cell cultures were exposed to the two most common varieties of EDCs reported in food, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Specifically, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Mono-butyl-phthalate (MBP), Di-n-octylphthalate (OP), and Bisphenol A (BPA) were exposed in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cell line. The enzymatic activity of methionine synthase (MS) was reduced by up to 3-fold in comparison to cultures that were not exposed to EDCs. MS is the key enzyme in the metabolic pathway that has been proposed elsewhere to be related to redox/methylation related disorders.

In this paper we propose the classification of radiological patterns with the presence of tuberculosis in X-ray images, it was observed that two to six patterns (consolidation, fibrosis, opacity, opacity, pleural, nodules and cavitations) are present in the radiographs of the patients. It is important to mention that species specialists consider the type of TB pattern in order to provide appropriate treatment. It should be noted that not all medical centres have specialists who can immediately interpret radiological patterns. Considering the above, the aim is to classify patterns by means of a convolutional neural network to help make a more accurate diagnosis on X-rays, so that doctors can recommend immediate treatment and thus avoid infecting more people. For the classification of tuberculosis patterns, a proprietary convolutional neural network (CNN) was proposed and compared against the VGG16, InceptionV3 and ResNet-50 architectures, which were selected based on the results of other radiograph classification research [1]–[3] . The results obtained for the Macro-averange AUC-SVM metric for the proposed architecture and InceptionV3 were 0.80, and for VGG16 it was 0.75, and for the ResNet-50 network it was 0.79. The proposed architecture has better classification results, as does InceptionV3.

Objective To explore and characterise the discrimination and racism experienced in healthcare from the perspective of Dutch patients with a migration background.Design This was a qualitative phenomenological study incorporating an inductive thematic analysis of the answers provided to a free form online survey. Descriptive and differential analyses were conducted for the closed-ended questions.Setting This study used an online survey distributed in Dutch about experiences of discrimination and racism in healthcare to the general population in the Netherlands.Participants The survey was completed by 188 participants (Mage=39.89, SDage=10.2). Of whom 80 (Mage=37.92, SDage=10.87) met the eligibility criteria for thematic analysis (ie, has a migration background or a relative with a migration background and experienced discrimination in healthcare based on their background) and were thus included in the analysis.Results From the total sample, women, relative to men, were 2.31 times more likely to report experiencing healthcare discrimination (OR=2.31; 95% CI 1.23 to 4.37). The majority of the participants (60.1%) had a Moroccan or Turkish background. Six themes were identified relating to experienced discrimination in healthcare based on one’s migration background: (1) explicit discrimination, (2) prejudice, (3) not being taken seriously, (4) discriminatory behaviour, (5) language barriers and (6) pain attribution to cultural background. Some participants reported that their attire or religion was linked to their migration background, thus contributing to their experiences of discrimination.Conclusion Dutch patients with a migration background may experience discrimination based on their ethnic identity or other factors related to their backgrounds, such as their faith, culture and skin colour. Discrimination manifests as intersectional and may take different forms (eg, discrimination based on the intersection between race and gender). Therefore, healthcare discrimination may increase health inequities and lead to unequal access to healthcare services. Implicitly or explicitly discriminating against patients is immoral, unethical, illegal and hazardous for individual and public health. Further research on the magnitude of discrimination in healthcare and its relation to health is needed.

En un contexto nacional e internacional que apuesta por la inclusión, la digitalización y la creatividad, pocos estudios han combinado el análisis de estos tres aspectos, y menos en el contexto de las escuelas rurales. El objetivo de la investigación es identificar cuáles son las percepciones del profesorado de escuelas rurales de especial dificultad respecto al uso de los medios digitales desde una perspectiva creativa e inclusiva. En este artículo se aborda un estudio realizado en la Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón como parte de un proyecto de investigación estatal I+D+i sobre Discursos y prácticas de enseñanza creativas e inclusivas con medios digitales en escuelas de especial dificultad (PID2020-112880RB-I00). Se utiliza un diseño mixto cuantitativo y cualitativo, a partir de un cuestionario elaborado ad hoc y cumplimentado por 52 docentes pertenecientes a una muestra de 29 escuelas rurales de especial dificultad (N = 69), 30 entrevistas semiestructuradas y 5 grupos de discusión con 18 docentes. El estudio muestra que solo una parte del profesorado de las escuelas rurales analizadas considera una perspectiva creativa e inclusiva en torno al uso de los medios digitales en el aula. El artículo concluye destacando las tensiones en torno a estos medios en escuelas rurales de especial dificultad. Asimismo, muestra las oportunidades que ofrecen los medios digitales en estos centros educativos desde una perspectiva creativa e inclusiva.

Abstract Background GOIZ ZAINDU (“caring early” in Basque) is a pilot study to adapt the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) methodology to the Basque population and evaluate the feasibility and adherence to a FINGER-like multidomain intervention program. Additional aims included the assessment of efficacy on cognition and data collection to design a large efficacy trial. Method GOIZ ZAINDU is a 1-year, randomized, controlled trial of a multidomain intervention in persons aged 60+ years, with Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) risk score ≥ 6, no diagnosis of dementia, and below-than-expected performance in at least one of three cognitive screening tests. Randomization to a multidomain intervention (MD-Int) or regular health advice (RHA) was stratified by sex, age (>/≤ 75), and cognitive status (mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/normal cognition). MD-Int included cardiovascular risk factor control, nutritional counseling, physical activity, and cognitive training. The primary outcomes were retention rate and adherence to the intervention program. Exploratory cognitive outcomes included changes in the Neuropsychological Test Battery z-scores. Analyses were performed according to the intention to treat. Results One hundred twenty-five participants were recruited (mean age: 75.64 (± 6.46); 58% women). The MD-Int (n = 61) and RHA (n = 64) groups were balanced in terms of their demographics and cognition. Fifty-two (85%) participants from the RHA group and 56 (88%) from the MD-Int group completed the study. More than 70% of the participants had high overall adherence to the intervention activities. The risk of cognitive decline was higher in the RHA group than in the MD-Int group in terms of executive function (p =.019) and processing speed scores (p =.026). Conclusions The GOIZ-ZAINDU study proved that the FINGER methodology is adaptable and feasible in a different socio-cultural environment. The exploratory efficacy results showed a lower risk of decline in executive function and processing speed in the intervention group. These results support the design of a large-scale efficacy trial. Trial registration GOIZ ZAINDU feasibility trial was approved and registered by the Euskadi Drug Research Ethics Committee (ID: PI2017134) on 23 January 2018. Retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06163716) on 8 December 2023.

Abstract Dung removal by macrofauna such as dung beetles is an important process for nutrient cycling in pasturelands. Intensification of farming practices generally reduces species and functional diversity of terrestrial invertebrates, which may negatively affect ecosystem services. Here, we investigate the effects of cattle-grazing intensification on dung removal by dung beetles in field experiments replicated in 38 pastures around the world. Within each study site, we measured dung removal in pastures managed with low- and high-intensity regimes to assess between-regime differences in dung beetle diversity and dung removal, whilst also considering climate and regional variations. The impacts of intensification were heterogeneous, either diminishing or increasing dung beetle species richness, functional diversity, and dung removal rates. The effects of beetle diversity on dung removal were more variable across sites than within sites. Dung removal increased with species richness across sites, while functional diversity consistently enhanced dung removal within sites, independently of cattle grazing intensity or climate. Our findings indicate that, despite intensified cattle stocking rates, ecosystem services related to decomposition and nutrient cycling can be maintained when a functionally diverse dung beetle community inhabits the human-modified landscape.

For over three decades now, the use of digital devices and media has had a growing impact on educational and teaching practices in schools. Though ethnographic research has documented some of these effects, it has often done so from the neutral perspective of a non-partisan participant-observer and recorder-reporter of the events that unfold. The more specific objective of this paper relates to ethnographers' involvement in research to transform how digital media and devices are used in disadvantaged schools and how interaction between researchers and teachers can influence the practices studied and the perspectives held by the teachers at these schools. By using examples of ethnographic research in disadvantaged schools in rural and urban localities on the use of digital media in teaching practices in Spain, between 2008 and 2021, this article shows how the researcher' role in educational ethnographic research could provide insights into the transformative value of ethnographic research.

In the present study, three extrusion-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies were considered: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Pellet Extrusion Process (PEP) and Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM). In order to compare these technologies, the same initial material was employed: a copper filament commercialized by Markforged® (Waltham, MA, USA). The copper filament was employed as received for ADAM and FFF technologies and shredded for PEP technology. Different printing parameters were studied for each technology (except for ADAM, which does not allow it) and the manufactured disc-shaped and tensile test parts were debindered and sintered under the same conditions. Part density, micrography and mechanical properties were analyzed. The density was observed to change with geometry, showing a relative density of around 95% for the tensile test parts through all the technologies but lower relative densities for the disc-shaped parts: around 90% for ADAM, between 85–88% for PEP and between 90–94% for optimized FFF printing parameters. The micrographies present big cavities between infill and contour for ADAM, whereas such cavities were not observed in either PEP or FFF parts. On the other hand, the parts made with PEP showed less and smaller porosity, but they had poor surface finishing, indicating that some printing parameters should be readjusted. Finally, the FFF parts had a better finishing but exhibited a non-uniform pore distribution. Concerning the mechanical properties, all the printed parts show similar properties.

The conventional manufacturing chain for technical ceramics is too expensive for the production of small series or unique parts with complex designs. Hybrid machines that combine additive and subtractive processes can be an interesting solution to overcome this technology lock-in. However, despite the great interest in hybrid machines for metallic parts, there is a lack of data in the literature when it comes to ceramics. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to closing this gap. It is the first to evaluate the achievable geometrical tolerances according to ISO 2768-2 as well as the surface textures of composite zirconia parts shaped sequentially by pellet additive manufacturing (PAM, from ceramic injection molding feedstock) and finish milling. The green parts were then debinded and sintered to analyze the influence of these steps. Compared to the initial green parts, the sintered parts exhibited shiny and smooth surfaces with sharp edges. Flatness, parallelism and perpendicularity all achieved an H (fine) class, while the surface textures were significantly improved, resulting in arithmetic roughness (Ra) below 1.6 µm.

The transfer of global education policies occurs unevenly across contexts and fails to consider local identity and characteristics. These policy practices are wrapped up in political interests, power relations and ideological implications. Transferring global policies of inclusion in education to national education systems is a relevant example of this. Drawing on empirical data from 39 semi-structured interviews conducted with policymakers and bureaucrats from 17 regions in Spain, this article examines the transfer of UNESCO guidelines for inclusive education in favour of cultural diversity to national contexts. The analysis reveals that policymakers and bureaucrats recognise international guidelines and highlight education policies aimed at promoting access and participation for all in schools, in line with the UNESCO Framework for Action. However, they also consider local traditions based on compensation through policy structures that favour segregation. The analysis suggests that the transfer of international discourses to national contexts wrapped up in political interests, power relations and ideological implications and reinforce structures of inequality.

We use an electric-dipole laser-driven transition to precisely measure the cyclotron-frequency ratios of the pairs ^{42}Ca^{+}−^{40}Ca^{+}, ^{44}Ca^{+}−^{40}Ca^{+}, and ^{48}Ca^{+}−^{40}Ca^{+} in a 7-tesla Penning trap. A single laser-cooled (T≈1 mK) ion serves, together with photon-counting and photon-imaging units, as a radiofrequency detector covering a broadband frequency spectrum, in the present case from kHz to a few MHz. Such detectors (^{40,42,44,48}Ca^{+}) allow measuring extremely small forces increasing the sensitivity in Penning-trap mass spectrometry. The direct determination of the ions' amplitudes makes a cyclotron-frequency measurement process more robust against inhomogeneities of the magnetic field and/or deviations of the electric quadrupole field due to mechanical imperfections of the trap.

Lan honen helburua Garaziko euskararen bariazio diatopikoa aztertzea da. Ibar honetako euskararen kokapen geolinguistikoaren berri ematen duen ahalik eta ezaugarririk gehien zerrendatzen saiatu gara, beraz. Hizkera jakin baten izaeraren berri jakiteko edota hizkera hori dialekto jakin batean sailkatzeko ezaugarri guztiek pisu bera ez dutela jabeturik, bakoitzaren eremua zedarritu dugu, ibarreko mintzoan eraginik handiena zein eremuk duen jakin ahal izateko. Horrez gain, berrikuntzak edota arkaismoak diren zehazten saiatu gara, eta berrikuntzak izatekotan, positiboak eta sistematikoak diren. Zeregin horretarako, Garaziko oinarri dialektala lortu nahi izan dugu. Hortaz, adinekoen mintzoan oinarritu gara, batez ere. Hori lortzeko, duela hiruzpalau urte egindako grabaketak hartu ditugu aintzat, batez ere. Garaziko mintzoak aski izaera orokorra duela ondorioztatu ahal izan dugu: berrikuntza positibo eta sistematikorik gehienak Euskal Herriko ekialde zabalarekin partekatzen dituela ikusi dugu; hots, Nafarroa Garaiko ekialdearekin eta Iparraldearekin. Iparralde osoa —Lapurdiko hego-mendebaldea eta Pirinioetako ibar nafarrak gorabehera— hartzen dutenen kopurua ere hazia da. Azkenik, badira eremu murritzagoko beste berrikuntza batzuk, baita Garazi eta ondoko ibarren batera baino iristen ez direnak ere.

Knowing the tolerance interval capabilities (TICs) of a manufacturing process is of prime interest, especially if specifications link the manufacturer to a customer. These TICs can be determined using the machine performance concept of ISO 22514. However, few works have applied this to Additive Manufacturing printers, while testing most of the printing area as recommended takes a very long time (nearly 1 month is common). This paper, by proposing a novel part design called COMPAQT (Component for Machine Performances Assessment in Quick Time), aims at giving the same level of printing area coverage, while keeping the manufacturing time below 24 h. The method was successfully tested on a material extrusion printer. It allowed the determination of potential and real machine tolerance interval capabilities. Independently of the feature size, those aligned with the X axis achieved lower TICs than those aligned with the Y axis, while the Z axis exhibited the best performance. The measurements specific to one part exhibited a systematic error centered around 0 mm ± 0.050 mm, while those involving two parts reached up to 0.314 mm of deviation. COMPAQT can be used in two applications: evaluating printer tolerance interval capabilities and tracking its long-term performance by incorporating it into batches of other parts.

The performance assessment of additive manufacturing (AM) printers is still a challenge since no dedicated standard exists. This paper proposes a systematic method for evaluating the dimensional and geometrical performance of such machines using the concept of machine performance. The method was applied to an Ultimaker 2+ printer producing parts with polylactic acid (PLA). The X and Y axes of the printer were the most performant and led to narrower potential and real tolerance intervals than the Z axis. The proposed systematic framework can be used to assess the performance of any material extrusion printer and its achievable tolerance intervals.

Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are associated with high morbidity and mortality, and the therapy options available for their treatment are frequently scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients with BSI caused by OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae. The clinical and treatment features of the patients, who attended a single hospital over a five-year period, were retrospectively reviewed. The microbiological features, including the sequence types (ST) and the somatic (O) and capsular (K) antigens, as well as their resistance properties, comprising phenotypes and genetic background, were also considered. To identify the risk factors for 30-day mortality, uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. The univariate analysis revealed statistically significant correlations for age, male gender, lower respiratory system infection, infection by ST147 isolates, and infection by isolates expressing the K64 antigen. The multivariate analysis, applied to variables yielding p-values close to or lower than 0.05 in the univariate analysis, confirmed gender, lower respiratory system infection, and infection with ST147 isolates, but not age or infection with K64 isolates, as risk factors for 30-day mortality. Moreover, the multivariate analysis showed that patients suffering from hematological malignancies or having been treated with inappropriate therapy, both having p-values slightly higher than 0.05 in the univariate analysis, exhibited significantly poorer outcomes in the multivariant analysis. The association of the ST147 clone with an increased risk of mortality is a novel finding that deserves further attention. Studies like the one presented here can certainly benefit the management of patients with nosocomial BSI caused by carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae.

We have used the concept of ethnography as explanatory critique in earlier research in three projects in Spain relating to teacher professional development and leadership for socially just schools. This research involved participant observations, interviews, informal conversations, document analysis and virtual ethnography. However, we have also conducted a meta- ethnographic analysis on research products from the projects. Our intention was to try to identify any potentially common themes and ideas concerning how interaction between researchers and participants may have influenced the research and the contexts they were part of as a means to generate useful knowledge for leadership and professional development for educational change and social justice. We describe and analyse these themes in the present article and conclude by highlighting key aspects and possible implications.

Cutting tool materials are the backbone of machining and play a vital role in the manufacturing industry. Innovation in cutting tools is important for customized and demanding applications. This state-of-the-art review is focused on innovations and future research directions for cutting tools covering i) tool materials/microstructure/property relationships, ii) coatings and their effect on tool performance, iii) cutting edge and functional surface preparation and effect on tool performance, iv) tool geometry for high performance and stable machining considering rapid machining, sustainability, and circularity aspects. The vision is to identify tool material/coating/geometry/functional surface relationships for significant improvement in machining performance. This paper includes perspectives from several research groups with a detailed discussion on current advances, capabilities, and challenges in engineered design of cutting tools, materials, coatings, structures and sets a new agenda for future tooling and research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today more than ever, educational institutions need educational leaders who are able to promote profound, substantive and sustainable change. This paper is based on the efforts and results of the first stage of a European project implemented in universities and primary and secondary schools in Spain, Finland and the Czech Republic. The project seeks to explore the changes (and its educational effects) that have occurred in the last decade regarding digital competencies, especially in relation to the emergence of a culture of collaboration that connects youth learning, technology and a Do-it-Yourself (DIY) ethos. To achieve the project's objective, we followed a methodology based on the principles of collaborative action research (CAR). We have analysed the curricula and study plans of the participating institutions in order to explore how and where the project could be applied. We conducted a series of focus groups with teachers, students and parents to discuss notions of DIY learning among the educational communities. Based on these discussions, we began to analyse how each context envisions DIY learning and how it relates to the notion of virtual space. We finished the first stage with the professional development of the teachers, which was aimed at shaping the DIYLabs implementation plan.

This article focuses on the relevance that aesthetic practices play extending parental involvement and influence in school contexts in Spain. One rural, one urban and one peri-urban school have been included in the research. Participant observation and interviews were the main means of data production. In the results all the different schools promoted parents' participation. However, differences in aesthetic practices and experiences were found. Parental involvement was developed in schools in different ways in relation to local contextual conditions and the salient characteristics of the geographic spaces the schools belonged to. Practical aesthetic knowledge produced multiple strategies of action.

Abstract Transketolase (TK) has been previously engineered, using semi-rational directed evolution and substrate walking, to accept increasingly aliphatic, cyclic, and then aromatic substrates. This has ultimately led to the poor water solubility of new substrates, as a potential bottleneck to further exploitation of this enzyme in biocatalysis. Here we used a range of biophysical studies to characterise the response of both E. coli apo- and holo-TK activity and structure to a range of polar organic co-solvents: acetonitrile (AcCN), n-butanol (nBuOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), isopropanol (iPrOH), and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The mechanism of enzyme deactivation was found to be predominantly via solvent-induced local unfolding. Holo-TK is thermodynamically more stable than apo-TK and yet for four of the five co-solvents it retained less activity than apo-TK after exposure to organic solvents, indicating that solvent tolerance was not simply correlated to global conformational stability. The co-solvent concentrations required for complete enzyme inactivation was inversely proportional to co-solvent log(P), while the unfolding rate was directly proportional, indicating that the solvents interact with and partially unfold the enzyme through hydrophobic contacts. Small amounts of aggregate formed in some cases, but this was not sufficient to explain the enzyme inactivation. TK was found to be tolerant to 15% (v/v) iPrOH, 10% (v/v) AcCN, or 6% (v/v) nBuOH over 3 h. This work indicates that future attempts to engineer the enzyme to better tolerate co-solvents should focus on increasing the stability of the protein to local unfolding, particularly in and around the cofactor-binding loops.

Inconel 718 is a widely used alloy in the aeronautic sector due to its excellent mechanical and corrosion wear resistance under high temperature conditions. However, its good mechanical properties can be a double edge sword in terms of manufacturing, especially in those processes based in mechanical principles, such as machining or forming. Considering that most aeronautic components are exposed to cyclic load and temperature, fatigue resistance becomes critical, and therefore, the finishing processes. The surface integrity of a component plays an important role on its fatigue behaviour, as the most common crack initiation area is usually the surface. The present work compares three different mechanical finishing processes that confer better surface properties to the component: polishing, burnishing, and hammer-peening. Each one achieves different degrees of roughness, and residual stress on the surface. The study is not only focused on the resultant mechanical properties, but also in productivity and process robustness. It is concluded that each technology excels in a different property.

Abstract Replacement of pollutant fluids with eco-friendly strategies in machining operations significantly contributes to protecting the environment, diminishing global warming, and ensuring a healthier workplace for employees. This study compares cryogenic coolants with conventional coolants in cylindrical plunge grinding using a Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) wheel. Samples of 27MnCr5 steel used in the manufacture of automotive transmission components were ground using (i) Liquid Nitrogen (LN2), (ii) a combination of LN2 + Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL), and (iii) a conventional coolant. The effects of the different cooling methods on the surface integrity of the ground surfaces were examined in terms of surface roughness, microstructural defects, microhardness profiles, and residual stresses. In general, surface roughness was similar for the tested cooling systems, even after grinding three subsequent surfaces in which the process stability was analyzed. Interestingly, the use of eco-friendly cryogenic systems induced fewer microstructural defects than conventional systems, and particularly, LN2+MQL lead to more compressive surface residual stresses that would improve the in-service performance of components. These results show opportunities for replacing conventional pollutant systems with eco-friendly cryogenic strategies for refrigerating/lubricating grinding processes to reduce harmful effects on the environment and pose health risks to operators.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer diagnosed in men worldwide. The detection methods for PCa are either unreliable, like prostate-specific antigen (PSA), or extremely invasive, such as in the case of biopsies. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity for reliable and less invasive detection procedures that can differentiate between patients with benign diseases and those with cancer. In this matter, microRNAs (miRNAs) are suggested as potential biomarkers for cancer. MiRNAs have been found to be dysregulated in several different cancers, and these genetic alterations may present specific signatures for a given malignancy. Here, we examined the expression of miR141-3p, miR145-5p, miR146a-5p, and miR148b-3p in human tissue samples of PCa ( n = 41) and benign prostatic diseases (BPD) ( n = 30) using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We combined the expression results with patient clinicopathological characteristics in logistic regression models to create accurate PCa predictive models. A model including information of miR148b-3p and patient age showed relevant prediction results (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.818, precision = 0.763, specificity = 0.762, and accuracy = 0.762). A model including all four miRNAs and patient age presented outstanding prediction results (AUC = 0.918, precision = 0.861, specificity = 0.861, and accuracy = 0.857). Our results represent a potential novel procedure based on logistic regression models that utilize miRNA expressions and patient age to assist with PCa diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: Current commercial strains of broiler breeders display reproductive dysregulation when fed to satiety, but they can achieve optimal hatching egg production under feed restriction. However, chronic feed restriction in broiler breeders is a welfare concern due to physiological and behavioral signs of hunger, lack of satiety, and frustrated feeding motivation. The purpose of this study was to assess the welfare and productivity of slower-growing broiler breeders during lay. A total of 336 broiler breeders from 5 strains of slower-growing broiler breeders (3 female strains: 100 hens per strain, and 2 male strains: 12 and 24 roosters per strain) were kept in 12 identical pens throughout lay, 4 pens per combination of roosters and hens: A hens with Y roosters, B hens with Y roosters, and C hens with X roosters. According to guidelines, strain B and C hens and X roosters were slower growing strains and strain A hens and Y roosters were intermediate growing strains. Egg production was recorded daily, and settable eggs laid at 30, 40, and 50 wk of age were incubated to hatch. Growth rate, feed and water intake, and welfare indicators (feeding motivation, behavior, and physical assessment: feather coverage, foot and leg health, and keel bone status) were recorded during lay. Additionally, a subsample of 5 hens per pen was dissected for anatomical analyses. Laying rate started and peaked earlier in B hens than in A hens and remained above 70% in both strains, yielding high cumulative egg production (>165 eggs/hen) until 53 wk of age. Until 50 wk of age, fertility and hatched of fertile was high in slower growing broiler breeders, on average, above 95 and 80%, respectively. Compared to A hens, B and C hens had better feather coverage, lower feeding motivation, and lower daily water and feed intake. Results of this study suggest that slower growing broiler breeders show reduced signs of poor welfare and improved productivity during lay although susceptibility to obesity-related problems on laying rate may be strain-specific.

The purpose of this article is twofold: firstly, to highlight how school strategies and priorities relate to family participation practices through social media and, secondly, to further our knowledge of the basic aspects involved. The concept of cultural capital is used to discuss how parental resources affect virtual family participation and how these virtual family participation practices can unfold and enable families to participate in each school we researched. We observed how the schools seemed to prioritise virtual family participation practices based on information practices. The study also raises questions concerning a digital divide, in terms of the possibilities that virtual space offers to extend parental participation in schools and to extend the study of this participation.

Six-axis robots are increasingly employed in manufacturing due to their excellent volume on cost ratio and extensive reach, facilitating the machining of large components, including those made of composites. However, this enhanced volume on cost ratio often compromises rigidity. This study investigates the effect of cutting conditions on surface integrity and robotic drilling forces when machining Aluminum 6082-GFRP stacks using 6 mm solid carbide drills and a 6-axis Sta¨ubli TX200 robot. Two distinct drill geometries are assessed in various drilling sequences. Feed rate emerges as a pivotal parameter affecting drilling forces and hole quality. Comprehensive testing encompasses a range of feed rates and drilling strategies in both individual materials and stack sequences. The analysis includes cutting forces and hole quality, considering surface integrity and standard quality indicators such as delamination, arithmetic roughness, and burr height. The research seeks to propose optimal cutting conditions, specifically feed rate and cutting speed, essential for advanced industrial applications. These conditions ensure hole quality and surface integrity, which is particularly important for riveting processes and ensuring effective sealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-walled aluminium components used in the structure of aircrafts are subjected to fatigue loads. Fatigue performance of those components is affected by the surface integrity generated in the last machining step. This paper proposes an analytical model to identify the fatigue crack initiation site considering the surface topography, residual stresses (RS) and mechanical properties induced by machining. To validate the model fatigue samples of aluminium 7050-T7451 were prepared by face milling. Machining-induced RS were measured by hole-drilling and the surface topography of the gauge region of the fatigue samples was characterised using a confocal microscope. Then, uniaxial fatigue tests were done at R = 0.1 and subsequently the fracture was analysed. The model predicted nucleation of cracks at the surface when the stress amplitude was above 290 MPa. Fatigue tests done at an amplitude of 350 MPa confirmed crack initiation at the points with the highest stress concentration predicted by the model. By contrast, the cracks were nucleated at the side of the samples when the stress amplitude was below 290 MPa. In fact, compressive RS induced by face milling protected the surface from crack nucleation at lower applied stresses as predicted by the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]