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ABSTRACT: Missing pedigrees may produce bias in genomic evaluations. Thus, strategies to deal with this problem have been proposed as using unknown parent groups (UPG) or truncated pedigrees. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of modeling missing pedigrees under single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) evaluations for productive and reproductive traits in dairy buffalo using different approaches: (1) traditional BLUP without UPG (BLUP), (2) traditional BLUP including UPG (BLUP/UPG), (3) ssGBLUP without UPG (ssGBLUP), (4) ssGBLUP including UPG in the A and A22 matrices (ssGBLUP/A_UPG), (5) ssGBLUP including UPG in all elements of the H matrix (ssGBLUP/H_UPG), (6) BLUP with pedigree truncation for the last 3 generations (BLUP/truncated), and (7) ssGBLUP with pedigree truncation for the last 3 generations (ssGBLUP/truncated). Unknown parent groups were not used in the scenarios with truncated pedigree. A total of 3,717, 4,126, and 3,823 records of the first lactation for accumulated 305-d milk yield (MY), age at first calving (AFC), and lactation length (LL), respectively, were used. Accuracies ranged from 0.27 for LL (BLUP) to 0.46 for MY (BLUP), bias ranged from −0.62 for MY (ssGBLUP) to 0.0002 for AFC (BLUP/truncated), and dispersion ranged from 0.88 for MY (BLUP/A_UPG) to 1.13 for LL (BLUP). Genetic trend showed genetic gains for all traits across 20 years of selection, and the impact of including genomic information, UPG, or pedigree truncation under GEBV accuracies ranged among the evaluated traits. Overall, methods using UPG, truncation pedigree, and genomic information exhibited potential to improve GEBV accuracies, bias, and dispersion for all traits compared with other methods. Truncated scenarios promoted high genetic gains. In small populations with few genotyped animals, combining truncated pedigree or UPG with genomic information is a feasible approach to deal with missing pedigrees.

A recent assessment states that 60–70% of soils in Europe are considered degraded. Protecting such valuable resource require knowledge on soil status through monitoring systems. In Europe, different types of monitoring networks currently exist in parallel. Many EU Member states (MS) developed their own national soil information monitoring system (N-SIMS), some being in place for decades. In parallel in 2009, the European Commission extended the periodic Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) led by EUROSTAT to sample and analyse the main properties of topsoil in EU in order to develop a homogeneous dataset for EU.Both sources of information are needed to support European policies on soil health evaluation. However, a question remains whether the assessment obtained by using soil properties from both monitoring programs (N-SIMS and LUCAS Soil) are comparable, and what could be the limitations of using either one dataset or the other.Conducted in the context of European Joint Programme (EJP) SOIL, this study shows the results of a comparison between N-SIMS and LUCAS Soil programs among 12 different EU member states including BE, DE, DK, EE, ES, FR, DE, HU, IT, NL, PL, SE and SK. The comparison was done on: (i) the sampling strategies including site densities, land cover and soil type distribution; (ii) the statistical distribution of three soil properties (organic carbon, pH and clay content); (iii) two potential indicators of soil quality (i.e. OC/Clay ratio and pH classes). The results underlined substantial differences in soil properties statistical distributions between N-SIMS and LUCAS Soil in many member states, particularly for woodland and grassland soils, affecting the evaluation of soil health using indicators. Such differences might be explained by both the monitoring strategy and sampling or analytical protocols exposing the potential effect of data source on European and national policies. The results demonstrate the need to work towards data harmonization and in the light of the Soil Monitoring Law, to carefully design the future of soil monitoring in Europe taking into account both LUCAS Soil and N-SIMS considering the significant impact of the monitoring strategies and protocols on soil health indicators.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) is a useful technique for detecting infectious microorganisms in human fluids since it performs similarly to conventional PCR, the results are obtained faster and no thermocyclers or complex devices are required. Since only two isothermal blocks (95 °C to lyse cells and 65 °C for DNA amplification) are needed, LAMP is particularly suited for applications in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). To validate such assumption, we first designed and tested Arduino-controlled LAMP thermoblocks to process a considerable number of samples simultaneously with a low-energy consumption to enable routine use under worst-case conditions (no main power source and low ambient temperatures). The thermoblocks were tested when battery-powered at temperature down to 5 °C, showing high stability in well temperatures (

Summary: Tardigrades are microscopic organisms with exceptional resilience to environmental extremes. Most protocols to visualize the internal anatomy of tardigrades rely on fixation, hampering our understanding of dynamic changes to organelles and other subcellular components. Here, we provide protocols for staining live tardigrade adults and other postembryonic stages, facilitating real-time visualization of structures including lipid droplets, mitochondria, lysosomes, and DNA. : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Background and aims: Biological invasions are causing massive environmental, social, and economic impacts worldwide. Understanding the ecological factors that affect the regeneration of invasive plants is critical to develop action plans based on empirical biological evidence. In this study, we investigate ecological limits in the regeneration of Cortaderia selloana, an invasive species with a strong impact in temperate regions. Methods: We sampled 22 sites invaded by C. selloana along an environmental gradient in northern Spain to evaluate the influence of flower predation, environmental stress, and transgenerational effects on the performance of C. selloana offspring. Key results: We found that over half of the sampled flowers per individual contained larvae of Spanolepis selloanae, a recently discovered predator of C. selloana. This finding suggests that the presence of this natural enemy extends over a larger area than previously thought, which might drastically reduce seed production. A common-garden experiment conducted with over 5,200 seeds revealed that seed germination is significantly enhanced with increasing temperatures (with an optimum temperature of 22/12 °C day/night temperatures), and that seedling survival and growth are highest under waterlogged soil conditions. Our experiments also suggest that the minimum temperature for germination of C. selloana is 10 °C, and that seedlings can survive up to one month without water. These findings can improve management programs by delineating which areas are at high risk of invasion and which ones are unsuitable for the regeneration of C. selloana. We also found that seed mass and maternal plant size are positively correlated with seed germination and early seedling growth. Progeny from dry maternal environments performed better under continuous drought conditions and the opposite was found under wet conditions. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that flower predators, environmental stress, and transgenerational effects have complex and profound effects on early demographic stages of C. selloana, influencing seed production, seed germination, seedling growth, and seedling survival.

Tentative identification of secondary metabolites in Lantana camara L. leaves was done. This plant belongs to the verbenaceae family and is used for several treatments in folk medicine. The data was acquired by collecting leaves and their stems of L. camara manually, in Nampula city, during the flowering period around 4pm. Then, the plant material collected was washed with water to remove impurities, and it was covered by paper and dried in the sun for a week. After the drying process, it was crushed and sieved, and 200 g of homogeneous powder was obtained. The method of preparation of the leaf extract of L. camara was cold maceration, mixing 200 g of powder leaves with 2 L of 90 % ethanol, in the proportion of 1 g/10 mL, and it was stored in favourable conditions and stirred occasionally during a week. Then it was filtrated and divided into two parts so as to be dried in an oven at 80 °C for 8 h and another part was dried in a rotary evaporator at 42 °C for 6 h. Before drying the ethanolic extract, the yield of the dry extract was determined. The class of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds and quinone were identified using general and specific chemical reagents. In addition, antibacterial action against Escherichia coli and Staphylococus aureus was evaluated using a disc diffusion method, according to Kirby-Bauer. These data provide helpful leads for pharmacological intervention from the extraction of the raw form of the metabolites, which is responsible for the antibacterial action specifically for the eradication of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Biofilm formation by the pathobiont Haemophilus influenzae is associated with human nasopharynx colonization, otitis media in children, and chronic respiratory infections in adults suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). β-lactam and quinolone antibiotics are commonly used to treat these infections. However, considering the resistance of biofilm-resident bacteria to antibiotic-mediated killing, the use of antibiotics may be insufficient and require being replaced or complemented with novel strategies. Moreover, unlike the standard minimal inhibitory concentration assay used to assess antibacterial activity against planktonic cells, standardization of methods to evaluate anti-biofilm drug activity is limited. In this work, we detail a panel of protocols for systematic analysis of drug antimicrobial effect on bacterial biofilms, customized to evaluate drug effects against H. influenzae biofilms. Testing of two cinnamaldehyde analogs, (E)-trans-2-nonenal and (E)-3-decen-2-one, demonstrated their effectiveness in both H. influenzae inhibition of biofilm formation and eradication or preformed biofilms. Assay complementarity allowed quantifying the dynamics and extent of the inhibitory effects, also observed for ampicillin resistant clinical strains forming biofilms refractory to this antibiotic. Moreover, cinnamaldehyde analog encapsulation into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymeric nanoparticles allowed drug vehiculization while maintaining efficacy. Overall, we demonstrate the usefulness of cinnamaldehyde analogs against H. influenzae biofilms, present a test panel that can be easily adapted to a wide range of pathogens and drugs, and highlight the benefits of drug nanoencapsulation towards safe controlled release.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P

The application of Artificial Intelligence is progressively spreading in the field of health. Considering this scenario, Natural Language Processing (NLP) is having more acceptance within various disciplines, as mental health, that use large amounts of text-like information, to improve data parsing efficiency.The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize the scientific evidence on the application of NLP techniques as a quality of life analysis tool in patients with chronic pathologies. The articles that were taken into consideration and address the main objective of this study were published between 2011 and 2021.Within the scientific studies obtained from the research question, nine met all the defined inclusion criteria. These studies demonstrated the effectiveness of NLP as an instrument to analize and evaluate the quality of life in cancer patients, among other patients with chronic diseases.An acceptable precision (>70%) can be observed using NLP technologies for the labelling of symptoms, detection of emotions and recognition of their intensity, as well as the quantification of pain in medical records and in self-reports. Therefore, a superior performance of NLP to process and analize texts is observed compared to traditional methodologies.In conclusion, the interest of including methodologies based on NLP to assess the quality of life of chronic patients is growing, motivated by their effectiveness and efficiency.

Exposure to low levels of Pb(II) and Cd(II) is a public health concern, particularly in developing countries where regulations are more permissive. The consequences of such exposure are very serious, especially for infants, children and pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate rapid, economical and feasible methods for its elimination, being this goal the purpose of this work. A novel procedure for the simultaneous removal of both species in water at different concentrations by in situ formation of magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) is discussed here. Optimization of the experimental conditions led to approximately 100 % removal efficiency in only 5 min. The sorbent material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. In addition, the removal process of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was characterized by adsorption Langmuir isotherms. The thermodynamics of the removal of both species, Pb(II) and Cd(II), from water has been studied by fitting the adsorption isotherms and calculating the Gibbs free energy and enthalpy of the process. The results indicate that the adsorption process can be explained as a combination of physical and chemical adsorption. Moreover, the findings of this work show a faster and more economical process than those previously described, which also allows a simultaneous removal of both metals.

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility- DEMO Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) is a scientific infrastructure aimed to provide an intense neutron source for the qualification of materials to be used in future fusion power reactors. Its implementation is critical for the construction of the fusion DEMOnstration Power Plant (DEMO).IFMIF-DONES is a unique facility requiring a broad set of technologies. Although most of the necessary technologies have already been validated, there are still some aspects that introduce risks in the evolution of the project.In order to mitigate these risks, a consortium of companies, with the support of research centres and the funding of the CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology and Innovation), has launched the DONES EVO Programme, which comprises six lines of research: • Improvement of signal transmission and integrity (planning and integration risks) • Optimisation of RF conditioning processes (planning and reliability risks) • Development of a reliable beam extraction device (reliability risks) • Development of technologies for the production of medical isotopes (reliability risks) • Improvement of critical parts of the lithium purification system (safety and reliability risks) • Validation of the manufacture of critical components with special materials (reliability risk).DONES EVO will focus on developing the appropriate response to the risks identified in the IFMIF-DONES project through research and prototyping around the associated technologies.This contribution will present a discussion of the risks, the proposed response to them and the evolution of the technologies involved, following selected experiments carried out throughout the project.

Background: Little is known about the incidence of influenza among admissions to the cardiac intensive care unit (C-ICU), accuracy of clinical suspicion, and influenza vaccination uptake. We evaluated the incidence of influenza at C-ICU admission during the influenza season, potential underdiagnosis, and vaccination uptake. Methods: Prospective study at five C-ICUs during the 2017-2020 influenza seasons. A nasopharyngeal swab was collected at admission from patients who consented (n = 788). Testing was with Xpert®XpressFlu/RSV. Results: Influenza was detected in 43 patients (5.5%) (40 FluA; 3 FluB) and clinically suspected in 27 (62.8%). Compared to patients without influenza, patients with influenza more frequently had heart failure (37.2% vs 22.8%, P = 0.031), previous contact with relatives with influenza-like illnesses (23.3% vs 12.5%, P = 0.042), antimicrobial use (67.4% vs 23.2%, P

Background: The treatment of congestion in heart failure (HF) is a challenge despite the therapeutic arsenal available. The aim of this study was to analyze different combinations of diuretics used to resolve congestion in patients admitted for decompensated HF and to define clinical profiles according to these treatments. Methods: Single-center study of 1,559 patients admitted for decompensated HF was done between 2016 and 2020. Patients were grouped according to the diuretic combination that led to clinical stabilization and discharge from the hospital: (1) Loop diuretic. (2) Loop diuretic + distal tubule (antialdosterone ± thiazides). (3) Loop diuretic + distal + proximal tubule (acetazolamide ± SGLT2 inhibitor). (4) Loop diuretic + distal tubule + collecting duct (tolvaptan). (5) Loop diuretic + distal + proximal + collecting duct. Based on these diuretic combinations, profiles with clinical, analytical, and echocardiographic differences were established. Results: There were more previous hospitalizations in groups 4 and 5 (p = 0.001) with a predominance of pulmonary congestion in profiles 1 and 2 and systemic congestion in 3, 4, and 5. Creatinine and CA125 were higher in profiles 4 and 5 (p = 0.01 and p = 0.0001), with no differences in NT-proBNP. Profiles 4 and 5 had a higher proportion of dilatation and depression of right ventricular (p = 0.0001) and left ventricular (p = 0.003) function. Diuretic therapy-defined groups showed difference in clinical characteristics. Conclusions: The diuretic treatment used identifies five clinical profiles according to the degree of congestion, renal function, CA125, and right ventricular functionality. These profiles would guide the best diuretic treatment on admission.

Background: There has been substantial controversy in the neuroethics literature regarding the extent to which deep brain stimulation (DBS) impacts dimensions of personality, mood, and behavior.Objective/Hypothesis: Despite extensive debate in the theoretical literature, there remains a paucity of empirical data available to support or refute claims related to the psychosocial changes following DBS. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used to examine the perspectives of patients who underwent DBS regarding changes to their personality, authenticity, autonomy, risk-taking, and overall quality of life. Results: Patients (n = 21) who were enrolled in adaptive DBS trials for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome, or dystonia participated. Qualitative data revealed that participants, in general, reported positive experiences with alterations in what was described as ‘personality, mood, and behavior changes.’ The majority of participants reported increases in quality of life. No participants reported ‘regretting the decision to undergo DBS.’ Conclusion(s): The findings from this patient sample do not support the narrative that DBS results in substantial adverse changes to dimensions of personality, mood, and behavior. Changes reported as “negative” or “undesired” were few in number, and transient in nature.

Background: The use of central venous catheters (CVC) is associated with higher morbidity and mortality, related to infectious complications, contributing to poorer clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. According to the literature, the incidence of local infections related to CVC for hemodialysis is highly variable. This variability is related to differences in definitions of catheter-related infections. Objective: To identify signs and symptoms for determining local infections (exit site and tunnel tract infections) used in the literature in tunnelled and nontunnelled CVC for hemodialysis. Design: Systematic review Methods: Structured electronic searches were conducted in five electronic databases, from 1 January 2000–31 August 2022, using key words and specific vocabulary, as well as manual searches in several journals. Additionally, vascular access clinical guidelines and infection control clinical guidelines were reviewed. Results: After validity analysis, we selected 40 studies and seven clinical guidelines. The definitions of exit site infection and tunnel infection used in the different studies were heterogeneous. Among the studies, seven (17,5 %) used the definitions of exit site and tunnel infection based on a clinical practice guideline. Three of the studies (7.5 %) used the Twardowski scale definition of exit site infection or a modification. The remaining 30 studies (75 %) used different combinations of signs and symptoms. Conclusions: Definitions of local CVC infections are highly heterogeneous in the revised literature. It is necessary to establish a consensus regarding the definitions of hemodialysis CVC exit site and tunnel infections. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42022351097).

Resumen: Se describe la experiencia del Proyecto Alifara, un proceso participativo cuyo objetivo es impulsar acciones de promoción de la salud comunitaria. En 2020 se creó un grupo motor en la comarca rural de Els Ports, en la Comunidad Valenciana, España, donde participaron 39 personas, entre profesionales y miembros de la ciudadanía. Este grupo diseñó la primera encuesta de análisis de salud, según los determinantes de la salud que consideraron relevantes en su entorno, y se recopilaron 1180 respuestas. Los resultados se presentaron en cada pueblo mediante grupos focales o World Café, para recopilar sugerencias de mejoras y posibles acciones a implementar. Finalmente, el proceso sentó las bases para crear un consejo de salud comarcal e implementar la Estrategia de Atención Comunitaria de la Comunidad Valenciana. La participación y el trabajo en red fueron clave en el proceso, y la escasez de recursos y de formación en análisis de datos fueron las principales dificultades. Abstract: A description of the Alifara Project is provided a participatory process to promote community health. In 2020, a core working group was created in the rural region of Els Ports, in the north of the Valencian Community, Spain, with the participation of 39 people, including professionals and community members. The core group itself designed the first health needs assessment survey, based on the health determinants they considered relevant in their context, and 1180 responses were collected. The results were presented in each town through focus groups or world café to gather suggestions for health promoting activities to implement locally. Finally, the process set the basis for the creation of a local health council, to implement the new Community Health Care Plan of the Valencian Community. Community engagement and partnerships were the key to the success of the process, while the limited resources and lack of training in data analysis were the main challenges.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause a broad range of diseases, with severity depending on immune status, comorbidities, and age. Initial CMV infection usually occurs in childhood and is typically asymptomatic, leading to lifelong latency. In immunocompromised patients, CMV can affect multiple organs, but salivary gland infections are rare. This study presents a case of a 66-year-old woman with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed swelling and pain in the right preauricular region during pre-transplant consolidation therapy. Despite a recent bone marrow biopsy indicating morphological remission and a flow cytometry analysis detecting only 0.04 % B lymphoblasts, she exhibited these symptoms. A CT scan revealed enlargement, hyperdensity, and enhancement of the right parotid glands, with accompanying subcutaneous edema. A biopsy of the right parotid gland showed a dense interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with numerous Cowdry bodies and smaller granular cytoplasmic inclusions, all testing positive for CMV immunohistochemistry. The findings confirm the diagnosis of CMV sialadenitis in an immunocompromised patient. This case underscores the importance of considering CMV infections in similar clinical scenarios, particularly in patients with compromised immune systems.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an autosomal recessive Mendelian trait characterized by symptoms that include acute and chronic pain, chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, kidney disease, and vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), all of which worsen with age; VOCs are the leading cause of hospitalization and premature death in SCA patients. Currently, despite the existence of treatments for SCA, the negative consequences of VOCs’ chronic inflammatory state demand the exploration of alternative methods of control. For this reason, the goal of this research was to find novel pathways and promising bioactive polyphenols for the treatment of SCA using a combination of network pharmacology and in silico approaches; due to polyphenols, they have shown widely reported anti-inflammatory properties. Initially, hub genes associated with inflammatory processes in SCA were identified by extracting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from a publicly available GEO dataset (GSE53441), followed by their validation through system biology analysis, Polyphenols with anti-inflammatory activity were selected from natural product databases; finally, molecular docking and dynamics were performed with the polyphenols and the key protein derived from the selected hub genes. As a result, 10 genes associated with the Type I interferon (IFN–I) pathway in SCA were identified (MX1, FIT1, IFIT3, STAT1, ISG15, GBP1, OAS1, OAS2, OAS3, and RSAD); among them, STAT1 was selected as a central hub gene by regulating the expression of the rest. Docking and dynamics studies showed good binding energies among STAT1 and the fifteen polyphenolic extracted compounds, with quercetin, diosmetin, and fisetin showing the lowest binding energies. Identified flavonoids have been described in the past as compounds having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant features, as well as possible alternatives for SCA treatment.

In this work, a two-level control system is used to minimize the total active power losses of an active distribution system connected to the external grid and composed of a wind turbine, two photovoltaic power sources, and two batteries. At the first control level, a model-based predictive control (MPC) is run, using non-homogeneous Markov reward models for wind power prediction and homogeneous Markov reward models for photovoltaic power. At the second level, an algorithm is run for optimal management of voltage control assets, such as voltage regulating transformers, to minimize losses. Different scenarios have been considered, highlighting the advantages of using an MPC framework. This results in an optimization process that can be influenced by different time horizons depending on whether or not the MPC is applied. The predictions allow considering a long-horizon stepwise optimization process that leads to an increasing number of variables along with the decrease of total active power losses. When the MPC is not applied, a short-horizon analysis is performed with a decrease in both the number of variables and the quality of the results. Different cases are considered in which the nominal power of a photovoltaic unit and the battery capacity are modified.

Introduction: COVID-19 pneumonia results in an impairment of the diaphragmatic musculature that influences the development of respiratory failure during the patient's hospitalization. Diaphragmatic ultrasound is a useful, non-invasive, and accessible tool for measuring the function of this muscle. Objective: Assessing the morphological and functional ultrasound status of the diaphragm in patients admitted within the first 24 h for COVID-related pneumonia and its association with hospital morbidity and mortality (NCT05805579). Material and methods: Observational, prospective cohort study that included 68 patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia with respiratory failure. Diaphragmatic ultrasound was performed within the first 24 h of admission to the pulmonology ward. Clinical, analytical, and ultrasound variables were collected: excursion, thickness, and diaphragmatic shortening fraction (DSF). DSF

Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy to eradicate cancer cells. Particularly, the development of cancer vaccines to induce a potent and sustained antigen-specific T cell response has become a center of attention. Herein, we describe a novel immunotherapy based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) covalently modified with the OVA254-267 antigen and a CpG oligonucleotide via disulfide bonds. The MNP-CpG-COVA significantly enhances dendritic cell activation and CD8+ T cell antitumoral response against B16-OVA melanoma cells in vitro. Notably, the immune response induced by the covalently modified MNP is more potent and sustained over time than that triggered by the free components, highlighting the advantage of nanoformulations in immunotherapies. What is more, the nanoparticles are stable in the blood after in vivo administration and induce potent levels of systemic tumor-specific effector CD8 + T cells. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of covalently functionalized MNP to induce robust immune responses against mouse melanoma.

Objective: To analyse the trends in hospital admissions related to urinary tract infection among children aged 0–14 years in Spain in the 2000–2015 period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using the minimum basic hospital discharge dataset system of Spain, which applies the International Classification of Diseases, version 9 (ICD-9) coding system. We included every hospitalisation due to cystitis, pyelonephritis and unspecified UTI among children aged less than 15 years. We collected data on patient sex and age, type of discharge, main diagnosis, comorbidities, length of stay and overall cost. We calculated crude hospitalization rates per 1000 inhabitants aged less than 15 years and performed a joinpoint regression analysis to identify temporal trends. Results: In the 2000–2015 period, there were 124 696 hospitalizations in children under 15 years. Of these patients, 72.97% were aged 0–1 year and 60.12% had a diagnosis of unspecified UTI, 39.27% of pyelonephritis, and 0.52% of cystitis. The crude rate of hospitalization due to UTI ranged from 1.24 in year 2000 to 0.98 in 2015. The rate of hospitalization was higher in female versus male patients. The joinpoint analysis found a decreasing trend in the rate of hospitalization due to UTI, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of −1.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.4 a −0.6). The largest decreases occurred in female patients (AAPC, −1.8; 95% CI, −2.5 a −1.0) and children aged 7–10 years (AAPC − 5.9; 95% CI, −6.7 a −5.2). Conclusions: The rate of hospitalization related to UTI in Spain in patients aged up to 14 years decreased during the 2000–2015 period. The highest hospitalization rates occurred in female patients and in the 0-to-1 year age group. Resumen: Objetivo: Analizar las tendencias en la hospitalización por infección del tracto urinario (ITU) en menores de 0−14 años en España en el período 2000–2015. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo observacional realizado por medio del conjunto mínimo básico de datos (CMBD) hospitalario con códigos de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-9). Se incluyeron todos los ingresos por cistitis, pielonefritis e ITU de localización no especificada en niños menores de 15 años. Se recogieron datos sobre el sexo, edad, tipo de alta, diagnóstico principal, comorbilidades, estancia hospitalaria y coste total. Se calcularon tasas crudas de hospitalización por 1000 habitantes menores de 15 años y se llevó a cabo un análisis de regresión segmentada para identificar tendencias temporales. Resultados: En el período 2000–2015, hubo 124 696 ingresos en niños menores de 15 años. De este total, el 72,97% tenían de 0 a 1 año y el 60,12% recibió un diagnóstico de ITU no especificada, el 39,27% de pielonefritis, y el 0,52% de cistitis. La tasa cruda de hospitalización por ITU osciló entre 1,24 en 2000 y 0,98 en 2015. La tasa de hospitalización por ITU fue mayor en niñas que en niños. El análisis de regresión segmentada mostró una tendencia decreciente en la tasa de hospitalización por ITU, con un porcentaje de cambio anual medio (PCAM) en la −1,5% (IC 95%: −2,4 a −0,6). Los cambios observados fueron mayores en niñas (PCAM − 1,8; IC 95%: −2,5 a −1,0) y en el grupo de 7 a 10 años (PCAM − 5,9; IC 95%: −6,7 a −5,2). Conclusiones: La tasa de hospitalización asociada a infección urinaria en pacientes menores de 15 años en España descendió durante el período 2000–2015. Las mayores tasas se dieron en niñas y en menores de 2 años.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a massive network connecting various devices and computer systems. This technology makes prototyping and distributing cutting-edge software and services easier. Through specifically created healthcare networks, the IoT makes it simple to link digital and tangible devices. Disputes continue to arise in the industry due to the absence of uniformity and the rapid growth of products, services, and methods. This study seeks to provide a birds-eye perspective of the technologies and protocols that support the IoT’s foundation. We start by introducing an elaborate process to examine the function of healthcare networks in creating and disseminating IoT-based software and some solutions to the current problems. We then discuss and formulate future challenges and the unanswered concerns surrounding the IoT’s support for healthcare networks. The primary focus of this research is to dissect the IoT, or horizontal network, into its constituent parts. These elements are essential for creating secure and robust mobile applications.

It is well-known that the use of Vector Tracking Loops (VTL) in GNSS receivers can result in improved tracking performance and sensitivity, faster acquisition, and improved interference robustness. However, despite the availability of software-defined radio (SDR) GNSS receivers in practical applications, there is currently no open-source implementation of Vector Tracking techniques able to operate in real-time. This work introduces a VTL algorithm applied to track the Doppler shift and its rate, using the open-source GNSS-SDR framework. This leads to a novel real-time SDR GNSS VTL receiver capable to work with different COTS front-ends. The proposed implementation was tested in a challenging non-conventional, high dynamics positioning scenario to obtain the position and velocity vectors of a rotation-stabilized guided rocket. The scenario was simulated with a GNSS RF signal generator, captured with a COTS front-end and processed by GNSS-SDR. Results show that the algorithm and its proposed implementation are able to provide full tracking, even under demanding accelerations. The positioning performance is measured using standard metrics, and we provide a fully automated reproducibility path. The source code is released under the General Public License v3.0, and will contribute to GNSS-SDR's open-source code base.

An unacceptably large number of newborn infants die in developing countries. For a considerable number of cases (particularly in preterm infants), morbidity and mortality can be reduced by simply maintaining newborn thermal homeostasis during the first weeks of life. Unfortunately, deaths caused by prematurity remain inordinately common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to reduced access to incubators in light of the high cost of commercially available devices. We herein describe and test a low-cost and easy-to-assemble neonatal incubator created with inexpensive materials readily available in LMICs. The incubator is based on an Arduino microcontroller. It maintains controlled temperature and relative humidity inside the main chamber while continuously measuring newborn weight progress. Moreover, the incubator has a tilting bed system and an additional independent safety temperature alarm. The performance of the novel low-cost neonatal incubator was evaluated and successfully passed the IEC 60601-2-19 standards. In the present work, we provide all the necessary technical information, which is distributed as open source. This will enable assembly of very low-cost (

The adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a vital role in the function of the central nervous system (CNS), including memory consolidation, cognitive flexibility, emotional function, and social behavior. The deficiency of adult neural stem cells (aNSCs) in maintaining the quiescence and entering cell cycle, self-renewal and differentiation capacity is detrimental to the functional integrity of neurons and cognition of the adult brain. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) have been shown to modulate brain functionality and are important for embryonic neurogenesis via regulation of gene transcription. We showed previously that Trrap, an adapter for several HAT complexes, is required for Sp1 transcriptional control of the microtubule dynamics in neuronal cells. Here, we find that Trrap deletion compromises self-renewal and differentiation of aNSCs in mice and in cultures. We find that the acetylation status of lysine residues K16, K19, K703 and K639 all fail to overcome Trrap-deficiency-incurred instability of Sp1, indicating a scaffold role of Trrap. Interestingly, the deacetylation of Sp1 at K639 and K703 greatly increases Sp1 binding to the promoter of target genes, which antagonizes Trrap binding, and thereby elevates Sp1 activity. However, only deacetylated K639 is refractory to Trrap deficiency and corrects the differentiation defects of Trrap-deleted aNSCs. We demonstrate that the acetylation pattern at K639 by HATs dictates the role of Sp1 in the regulation of adult neurogenesis.

Background: Compounds derived from hydrocarbons are essential for industry and our daily life; however, accidents such as spills or leaks occur regularly, causing severe environmental impact. Therefore, bacteria isolated from an oil well were characterized to assess their potential in the degradation of hydrocarbons under individual and consortium treatments. Soil samples, from a well contaminated with hydrocarbons in Tabasco, Mexico, were collected. The biosurfactant, emulsifying capacity, hemolytic activity, ionic charge, and biofilm formation were analyzed. Results: Most of the isolated strains belong to the genus Pseudomonas according to 16S rDNA sequencing. In general, emulsification percentages greater than 60% in the different substrates evaluated were observed. In addition, these strains can form biofilms, and those selected to integrate the microbial consortia present anionic surfactants. Three strains were selected to evaluate the degradation potential of soil contaminated with hydrocarbons from the same site where the bacteria were isolated in a microcosm. The microbial consortia degraded the contaminated soil more efficiently than the strains were evaluated alone, mainly the three bacteria consortia, with percentages greater than 80%. Conclusions: This study shows that, despite belonging to the same species, bacterial strains’ metabolic capacity for the expression of surfactant compounds, emulsifiers, and the formation of biofilms are different. Furthermore, the more structured a community is, the greater the biodegradation process that occurs when bacteria act individually on the substrate. Therefore, this study demonstrates that strains of the same species integrated microbial consortia improve the bioremediation processes of hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.How to cite: Lázaro-Mass S, Gómez-Cornelio S, Castillo-Vidal M, et al. Biodegradation of hydrocarbons from contaminated soils by microbial consortia: A laboratory microcosm study. Electron J Biotechnol 2022;61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2022.10.002.

The social networks and the rapid development of new technologies have led to considerable changes in the tourism industry. Artificial intelligence, in particular natural language processing (NLP), presupposes a significant advantage in obtaining information on the mass content generated by online users concerning tourism services and products. This work presents a systematic review of the use of NLP in the tourism industry and research. We used the well-known PRISMA methodology, and 227 relevant studies over the last decade have been reviewed. Our analysis identified the main methodologies, tools, data sources, and other relevant features in the field. One of the principal contributions of this study is a taxonomy for using NLP in tourism. In addition, metadata were examined using a threefold approach: (i) general statistics, (ii) abstract text analysis, and (iii) keyword networks. Automatic analyses have identified six major topics in applying NLP to tourism issues and have shown that China, the United States, Thailand, and Spain share similar tourism issues or approaches.

The integration of new renewable power capacity into the grid constitutes an important challenge. Control issues become more complex, and the behavior of the new installations must be carefully assessed. In this sense, countries are establishing strict technical requirements when integrating new generation facilities into networks. Within this framework, given the great importance of photovoltaic solar energy as a clean electricity generation technology that is experiencing an unstoppable increase, the present paper evaluates the compliance of a real solar photovoltaic power plant with a number of technical requirements established in the new Spanish grid code. The analyses are performed by means of a photovoltaic power plant simulation model representing the actual facility. Thus, the main contribution of the present work consists of mitigating the lack of information about the performance of real experiences on the commissioning process of new renewable power plants, as well as demonstrating the usefulness of simulation models towards the modernization of grid codes. The results reveal the compliance of the renewable facility with the requirements analyzed, showing a maximum deviation of 0.47% in the case of the power–frequency requirements, and very accurate responses of the power plant under the reactive power control requisites. The results also reveal the facility fully covers the reactive power capability requirements. This paper has served not only to deepen the process of compliance with grid codes, but also to obtain approval from the Spanish transmission system operator, Red Eléctrica de España, to commission the power plant under consideration, this being a contribution of special interest to industry.

A 54-year-old woman with symptomatic premature ventricular contractions (PVC) was referred for electrophysiological study. The earliest activation was located at the parahisian area, so it was decided to ablate using cryoenergy. No AV conduction impairment was observed during cryomapping. PVCs were abolished after the first 15 seconds of cryoablation, without recurrence. However, after 354 seconds of cryoablation, a mild PR prolongation was followed by first degree and 2-to-1 AV block. Termination of cryoablation led to complete recovery without definitive damage and with elimination of the PVC. This case illustrates how lesion formation using cryoenergy can continue to evolve even after several minutes, highlighting the need of monitoring throughout the whole target duration.

Nowadays, governments and electricity companies are making efforts to increase the integration of renewable energy sources into grids and microgrids, thus reducing the carbon footprint and increasing social welfare. Therefore, one of the purposes of the microgrid is to distribute and exploit more zero emission sources. In this work, a Stochastic Unit Commitment of a hybrid and isolated microgrid is developed. The microgrid supplies power to satisfy the demand response by managing a photovoltaic plant, a wind turbine, a microturbine, a diesel generator and a battery storage system. The optimization problem aims to reduce the operating cost of the microgrid and is divided into three stages. In the first stage, the uncertainties of the wind and photovoltaic powers are modeled through Markov processes, and the demand power is predicted using an ARMA model. In the second stage, the stochastic unit commitment is solved by considering the system constraints, the renewable power production, and the predicted demand. In the last stage, the real-time operation of the microgrid is modeled, and the error in the demand forecast is calculated. At this point, the second optimization problem is solved to decide which generators must supply the demand variation to minimize the total cost. The results indicate that the stochastic models accurately simulate the production of renewable energy, which strongly influences the total cost paid by the microgrid. Wind production has a daily impact on total cost, whereas photovoltaic production has a smoother impact, shown in terms of general trend. A comparison study is also considered to emphasize the importance of correctly modeling the uncertainties of renewable power production in this context.

Background: Clinical trial participants who benefit from experimental neural devices for the treatment of debilitating and otherwise treatment-resistant conditions are generally not ensured continued access to effective therapy or maintenance of devices at the conclusion of trials.Objective/Hypothesis: Post-trial obligations have been extensively examined in the context of drug trials, but there has been little empirical examination of stakeholder perspectives regarding these obligations in the rapidly growing field of neural device research. Methods: This study examined the perspectives of 44 stakeholders (i.e., 23 researchers and 21 patient-participants) involved in implantable neural device trials. Results: Researchers were concerned about current post-trial management, identified barriers like cost, and suggested ways to improve the system. Many patient-participants were unaware of whether they would have post-trial access, but most thought they should keep devices if beneficial, and agreed with researchers that more should be done to help them keep and maintain these neural devices. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first in-depth examination of researcher perspectives regarding continued access to experimental neural devices and only the second such examination of patient-participant perspectives. These data can help inform future ethical and policy decisions about post-trial access to implantable neurotechnology.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis found mainly in South America and is the most prevalent endemic and systemic mycosis in Brazil. The purpose of this paper was to report the case of a male patient who developed peritonitis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. Forty-eight-year-old, male patient, with type I Diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease who was undergoing a Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) program. After eighteen months of peritoneal dialysis, the patient developed turbidity of the peritoneal fluid and was diagnosed with peritonitis. Direct mycological examination of the peritoneal fluid revealed yeasts with morphology suggestive of Paracoccidioides spp. The patient was treated with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (1,600 mg/320 mg dose/day) for 61 days, but he died because a bacterial septic shock. The diagnosis of opportunistic PCM peritonitis was later confirmed by autopsy and Paracoccidioides spp. isolation. This is the first reported case of a patient on CAPD who experienced complications due peritonitis caused by opportunistic PCM.

Most worldwide policy frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlight soil as a key non-renewable natural resource which should be rigorously preserved to achieve long-term global sustainability. Although some soil is naturally enriched with heavy metals (HMs), a series of anthropogenic activities are known to contribute to their redistribution, which may entail potentially harmful environmental and/or human health effects if certain concentrations are exceeded. If this occurs, the implementation of rehabilitation strategies is highly recommended. Although there are many publications dealing with the elimination of HMs using different methodologies, most of those works have been done in laboratories and there are not many comprehensive reviews about the results obtained under field conditions. Throughout this review, we examine the different methodologies that have been used in real scenarios and, based on representative case studies, we present the evolution and outcomes of the remediation strategies applied in real soil-contamination events where legacies of past metal mining activities or mine spills have posed a serious threat for soil conservation. So far, the best efficiencies at field-scale have been reported when using combined strategies such as physical containment and assisted-phytoremediation. We have also introduced the emerging problem of the heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils and the different strategies implemented to tackle this problem. Although remediation techniques used in real scenarios have not changed much in the last decades, there are also encouraging facts for the advances in this field. Thus, a growing number of mining companies publicise in their webpages their soil remediation strategies and efforts; moreover, the number of scientific publications about innovative highly-efficient and environmental-friendly methods is also increasing. In any case, better cooperation between scientists and other soil-related stakeholders is still required to improve remediation performance.

Summary: Neurofibromas are benign peripheral nervous system tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, which originate from NF1(−/−) Schwann cell precursors. We describe a protocol to generate neurofibromaspheres by differentiating NF1(−/−) Schwann cells from induced pluripotent stem cells and combining them with neurofibroma primary fibroblasts. We also describe the development of neurofibroma-like tumors when neurofibromaspheres are engrafted in the sciatic nerve of nude mice. This model constitutes a versatile platform for drug screening and the study of neurofibroma biology.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Mazuelas et al. (2022).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Summary: Background: Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for neuropsychological functioning. Adolescence is increasingly believed to entail brain vulnerability to dietary intake. The potential benefit on adolescent neurodevelopment of consuming walnuts, a source of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a 6-month multi-school-based randomised controlled nutrition intervention trial to assess whether walnut consumption has beneficial effects on the neuropsychological and behavioural development of adolescents. The study took place between 04/01/2016 and 06/30/2017 in twelve different high schools in Barcelona, Spain (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02590848). A total of 771 healthy teenagers aged 11–16 years were randomised into two equal groups (intervention or control). The intervention group received 30 g/day of raw walnut kernels to be incorporated into their diet for 6 months. Multiple primary endpoints concerning neuropsychological (working memory, attention, fluid intelligence, and executive function) and behavioural (socio-emotional and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] symptoms) development were assessed at baseline and after intervention. Red blood cell (RBC) ALA status was determined at baseline and 6 months as a measure of compliance. Main analyses were based on intention-to-treat using a linear mixed-effects model. A per-protocol effect of the intervention was analysed using inverse-probability weighting to account for post-randomisation prognostic factors (including adherence) using generalised estimating equations. Findings: In intention-to-treat analyses, at 6 months there were no statistically significant changes between the intervention and control groups for all primary endpoints. RBC ALA (%) significantly increased only in the intervention group, coefficient = 0.04 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.06; p

Resumen: Desde Lalonde sabemos que los determinantes que más influyen en la Salud de la población son el estilo de vida, la genética y el entorno. La sanidad representa solo el 10% y es el determinante que más recursos consume. Está demostrado que un enfoque salutogénico centrado en los determinantes sociales de la salud y el apoyo de políticas públicas para mejorar el entorno, son más eficientes a largo plazo que la medicina centrada en los hospitales, la tecnología y la superespecialización. La Atención Primaria (AP) que tiene un enfoque centrado en la persona y las familias con una visión comunitaria, es el nivel idóneo para proveer atención sanitaria, y para influir en los estilos de vida. Sin embargo no se invierte en AP. En este artículo revisamos los condicionantes socioeconómicos y políticos que influyen de manera global en la falta de interés en el desarrollo de la AP. Abstract: At Lalonde we know that the determinants that most influence the health of the population are lifestyle, genetics and the environment. Health represents only 10% and is the determinant that consumes the most resources. It has been shown that a salutogenic approach focused on the social determinants of health and the support of public policies to improve the environment are more efficient in the long term than medicine focused on hospitals, technology and super-specialization. Primary Care (PC) that has an approach centered on the person and families with a community vision, is the ideal level to provide health care, and to influence lifestyles. However it is not invested in PC. In this article we review the socioeconomic and political factors that globally influence the lack of interest in the development of PC.

Introduction and Objectives: The new recommendations suggesting changing the current nomenclature from Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) to Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are primarily aimed at improving the understanding of the disease. MAFLD is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is usually associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, excluding other causes not associated with positive energy balance. This study aimed to characterize the pathophysiological mechanism involved in MAFLD development in susceptible-strain Black Tan and brachyuric (BTBR) insulin-resistant mice in combination with leptin deficiency (ob/ob). Materials and Methods: We studied liver morphology and biochemistry on our diabetic and obese mice model (BTBR ob/ob) as well as a diabetic non-obese control (BTBR + streptozotocin) and non-diabetic control mice (BTBR wild type) from 4-22 weeks. The lipid composition was assessed and lipid-related pathways were studied at transcriptional and protein levels. Results: Microvesicular steatosis was evident in BTBR ob/ob from week 6, progressing to macrovesicular in the following weeks. At the 12th week, inflammatory clusters, activation of STAT3 and Nrf2 signaling pathways, and hepatocellular ballooning. At 22 weeks, the histopathological features previously observed were maintained and no signs of fibrosis were detected. Liver gene-expression analysis demonstrated modifications in fatty acid transporters associated with uptake (Cd36, Cd204, Fatp4)/efflux (Abca1, Abcg1), de novo fatty acid synthesis enzymes (ACC, FASN, SCD-1) and transcription factors related to lipogenic pathways (Pparα/γ, Srebp-1, Chrebp-1). Additionally, the lipidomic analysis showed profiles associated with de novo lipogenesis (DNL), showing a significant increase in palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1n7) and oleic acid (C18:1n9). Conclusions: BTBR ob/ob mice develop MAFLD profiles that resemble pathological features observed in humans, with overactivation of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and DNL signaling pathways. Therefore, BTBR ob/ob mouse is an excellent model for the study of the steatosis to steatohepatitis transition.