Search

To investigate the influence of the gender, ranking and playing position on the musculoskeletal injuries in professional padel players. An epidemiological, observational, descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study. 44 injuries were reported by 36 players (20 men/16 women) who participated in the World Padel Tour 2021. Online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and injury prevalence were calculated. Spearman/Pearson correlations between sample characteristics and injury variables were calculated. The chi-square test was used to analyse the association between injury and descriptive variables. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the group differences with regard to days of absence. The results showed different injury prevalence (x1000 matches) in male (10.50) and female players (15.10). A higher injury incidence in top-ranked players, both in male (44.40%) and female (58.33%) was identified, but the low-ranked players reported more severe injuries (>28 days) (p < 0.05). Top-ranked players suffered more muscle injuries (p < 0.01) and low-ranked players suffered more tendon injuries (p < 0.01). Gender, ranking and playing position did not influence the days of absence (p > 0.05). This study confirms that gender and ranking position had an impact on the injury prevalence in professional padel players. • Male players presented a higher injury prevalence compared to female players. • Top-ranked players presented a higher injury incidence and more muscle injuries. • Low-ranked players reported more severe injuries and more tendon injuries. • Muscle was the most affected body tissue, followed by ligament and tendon. • Injuries were mainly focused on the lower limb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-line treatment in postmenopausal women with estrogen- and/or progesterone-positive breast cancer consists of aromatase inhibitors (AROi). The ability of AROi to promote or worsen cognitive function, depressive symptoms, sleep quality and performance in basic activities of daily life as primary and concomitant outcomes in long longitudinal studies in post-menopausal women has been seldom investigated. This study is a cohort trial which aimed to determine if there were differences in cognitive function assessment, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality after 1 year under AROi treatment and to determine the interrelations between these symptoms. Methods: A prospective 1-year longitudinal study was performed in a representative sample of tertiary hospital. Women with localized breast cancer newly treated with AROi therapy were evaluated for cognitive functions, depressive symptoms, sleep problems and ability to perform basic activities of the daily life at baseline and after 6 months and 12 months under adjuvant AROi treatment. Results: Analysis of cognitive functions by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores did not show significantly worsening under AROi treatment after 6 months and 12 months of treatment compared to the baseline. Analysis of depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale and sleep quality with the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores showed significant (p < 0.05) changes after 6 and 12 months of treatment with AROi, with women describing more depressive symptoms and more sleep disturbances. Conclusions: Our study found impairments in sleep quality and an increase in depressive symptoms, which has important implications for clinicians as they impair quality of life and adherence to treatment. • AROi treatment did not worsen cognitive function. • AROi treatment worsens depressive and insomnia symptoms in those women who had them previously. • Previous chemotherapy administration and younger age play a role in these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing urban scenarios for computational fluid dynamics simulations typically requires significant manual effort, especially when higher geometrical details are required. To address this issue, we present a workflow to automatically reconstruct buildings in three levels of detail (LoDs): LoD1.2, LoD1.3, and LoD2.2, tailored to urban microscale simulations. The workflow uses a combination of building footprints and a point cloud to segment roof planes, create partitions, optimise planes, and finally assemble roof planes into 3D building models. Reconstructed buildings are seamlessly integrated into the terrain together with different surface layers such as water, low vegetation, and paved surfaces. Apart from three general LoDs, building footprints can be simplified as a part of the 2D generalisation; additionally, smaller surfaces such as chimneys and ventilation shafts can be removed using a graph-cut optimisation. The integrated geometry validator can report on validity of building models, such as watertightness, manifoldness, or occurrences of self-intersections. In the case of invalid geometries, we can generate an approximation: geometry repair the with alpha wrapping algorithm, or reconstruction in lower LoD. We tested our implementation on two different real-world datasets — one in The Netherlands, and another one in the USA. The results showed that 95% (Dutch dataset) and 90% (US dataset) buildings were valid according to the ISO 19107 standard. Generated grids showed satisfactory quality as we observed monotonous convergence in simulations with grid convergence indices up to 3.8% for pressure and velocity variables. These results indicate that the workflow is suitable for typical urban microscale simulations. • The workflow reconstructs buildings using airborne lidar and footprints up to LoD2.2. • Buildings are integrated with terrain along with different roughness layers. • Geometry validity is ensured with automatic checks. • Workflow was tested on two urban scenarios by conducting grid sensitivity analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A ready-to-industrialize bleeding detector for use in IOERT is presented. • The detector is embedded in the applicator avoiding any contact with the patient. • For monitoring purposes, an easy-to-use mobile application has been developed. • No interference detector-beam has been observed. • Clinical requirements have been achieved. The aim of this work is to present a ready to industrialize low-cost and easy-to-install bleeding detector for use in intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT). The detector works in stand-alone mode and is embedded into a translucent polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) applicator avoiding any contact with the patient, which represent a novelty compared to previous designs. The use of this detector will prevent dose misadministration during irradiation in the event of accumulation of fluids in the applicator. The detector is based on capacitive sensor and wireless power-supply electronics. Both sensor and electronics have been embedded in the applicator, so that any contact with the patient would be avoided. Since access to the tumor can be done through different trajectories, the detector has been calibrated for different tilting angles. Results: The result of the calibration provides us with a fit curve that allows the interpolation of the results at any angle. Comparison of estimated fluid height vs real height gives an error of 1 mm for tilting angles less than 10° and 2 mm for tilting angles greater than 15°. This accuracy is better than the one required by clinic. The performance of the bleeding detector was evaluated in situ. No interference was observed between the detector and the beam. In addition, a user-friendly mobile application has been developed to help the surgical team making decisions before and during irradiation. The measurement provided by the mobile application was stable during the irradiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption of cobalt ions was evaluated using sediment samples from water bodies to investigate the adsorption properties of sediment and the behavior of these natural materials in the presence of nuclear and industrial waste. The two sediments (S1 and S2) were treated to eliminate humic and fulvic acids and then they were characterized by several techniques. The minerals found in both the sediments (X-ray diffraction) were quartz and albite; plus, goethite and muscovite in S1, and kaolinite and montmorillonite in S2. Point of zero charge (PZC) of S1 and S2 was 6.00 and 5.22, respectively. The specific area of S1 (63.3 m2/g) is higher than S2 (1.5 m2/g). Adsorption kinetics data for S1 and S2 were best fitted to the pseudo second-order model. The removal efficiency of S1 for cobalt was 96% with an adsorption capacity (q e) of 0.93 mg/g, and for S2 was 45% with a q e of 0.40 mg/g. The experimental data of the adsorption isotherms were adjusted to Langmuir and Freundlich models for S1 and S2, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters (enthalpy, entropy, and Gibb's free energy) indicated that the adsorption processes were endothermic, spontaneous, and chemisorption mechanism. The results show that the adsorption capacities of the sediments depend on their composition. These water sediments have important adsorption properties for cobalt, and they can be used in the treatment of nuclear and industrial aqueous wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trichuriasis is a neglected tropical disease which affects millions of people worldwide, mostly living in low socio-economic conditions. Numerous studies have been conducted over the past 10 years to compare the different techniques for T. trichiura eggs detection. Our study provides the first geometric morphometric analysis for the specific detection of eggs of Trichuris sp. isolated from stools of macaque (M. sylvanus) , colobus (C. g. kikuyensis) , grivets (C. aethiops) and the Brazza's monkey (C. neglectus) from zoos in Spain. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) arises as an efficient method to determine Trichuris spp. eggs. The selected measurements to be included in the PCA were proposed for the first time in the present work, as far as we know, as we could not find previous studies reporting standardized parameters. Image 1 • Morphometrics represents a new methodology to differentiate Trichuris species eggs. • Trichuris spp. eggs from macaque, colobus, grivet and Brazza's monkey were analysed. • The measurements included in the PCA were proposed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of a phantom and application for daily test in a mobile intraoperative linac. • Efficient setup and a complete dosimetric information. • Use of ionization chambers with minimum saturation effect. IORT with mobile linear accelerators is a well-established modality where the dose rate and, therefore, the dose per pulse are very high. The constancy of the dosimetric parameters of the accelerator has to be checked daily. The aim of this work is to develop a phantom with embedded detectors to improve both accuracy and efficiency in the daily test of an IORT linac at the surgery room. The developed phantom is manufactured with transparent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), allocating 6 parallel-plate chambers: a central one to evaluate the on-axis beam output, another on-axis one placed at a fixed depth under the previous one to evaluate the energy constancy and four off-axis chambers to evaluate the flatness and symmetry. To analyse the readings a specific application has been developed. For all chambers and energies, the mean saturation and polarization corrections were smaller than 0.7%. The beam is monitored at different levels of the clinical beam. Output, energy constancy and flatness correlate very well with the correspondent values with the complete applicator. During the first six months of clinical use the beam dosimetric parameters showed excellent stability. A phantom has been developed with embedded parallel plate chambers attached to the upper applicator part of an IORT linac. The phantom allows a very efficient setup reducing the time to check the parameters. It provides complete dosimetric information (output, energy and flatness) with just one shot and using ionization chambers with minimum saturation effect, as this highly pulsed beam requires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to lack of information and long geometry generation times, tree geometries are usually oversimplified or even ignored in Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations that predict wind and pollutant dispersion in urban areas. Nevertheless, trees are known to impact local wind patterns and air quality levels. Thus, in this paper we explore the effects that tree models automatically reconstructed at diverse Level of Detail (LoD) (1, 2 and 3) have in numerical wind predictions. We address this by comparing the non-dimensional velocity magnitude differences between simulations with multiple tree LoDs. To further understand these differences in changing environmental contexts we use three morphologies: an isolated tree, an idealized street, canyon, and a real urban geometry from Rotterdam, The Netherlands The numerical results show that the velocity magnitude differences between the cases with LoD1 tree models and those with LoD2 tree models can be over 1.0 m/s while the differences between LoD2 and LoD3 cases are rather limited, usually lower than 0.2 m/s. Consequently, through this study we highlight the importance of using tree models in LoD2 or LoD3 at least for CFD simulations of wind flows in urban areas. To further support this conclusion we also analyze the impact of changing wind directions and tree Leaf Area Density (LAD) values in the impact of tree LoDs on wind. The differences found in this work linked to the level of realism in your tree models can support future studies where researchers want to make an informed choice. • The velocity magnitude differences between LoD1 and LoD2 trees can be over 1.0 m/s. • The velocity magnitude differences between LoD2 and LoD3 trees are usually lower than 0.2 m/s. • Tree LAD values and wind directions have a major role in the impact of tree LoDs. • Generally the larger the LAD value, the greater the velocity differences due to tree LoD variation. • A wind direction parallel to buildings can lead to greater velocity differences than perpendicular flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Videogames are a very interesting area of research for fields as diverse as computer science, health, psychology or even social sciences. Every year a growing number of articles are published in different topics inside this field, so it is very convenient to study the different bibliometric data in order to consolidate the research efforts. Thus, the aim of this work is to conduct a study on the distribution of articles related to videogames in the different fields of research, as well as to measure their interest over time, to identify the sources, countries and authors with the highest scientific production. In order to carry out this analysis, the information system Dimensions.ai has been considered, since it covers a large number of documents and allows for easy downloading and analysis of datasets. According to the study, three countries are the most prolific in this area: USA, Canada and UK. The obtained results also indicate that the fields with the highest number of publications are Information and Computer Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, and Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, in this order. With regard to the impact of the publications, differences between the number of citations, and the number of Altmetric Attention Score, have been found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichuris trichiura is a nematode considered as the whipworm present in humans and primates. The systematics of the genus Trichuris is complex. Morphological studies of Trichuris isolated from primates and humans conclude that the species infecting these hosts is the same. Furthermore, numerous molecular studies have been carried out so far to discriminate parasite species from humans and Non-Human Primates using molecular techniques, but these studies were not performed in combination with a parallel morphological study. The hypothesised existence of more species of Trichuris in primates opens the possibility to revise the zoonotic potential and host specificity of T. trichiura and other putative new species of whipworms. In the present work, a study of Trichuris Roederer, 1761 (Nematoda:Trichuridae) parasitizing C. g. kikuyensis , P. ursinus , Macaca sylvanus , Pan troglodytes , and Sus scrofa domestica has been carried out using modern morphometric techniques in order to differentiate populations of Trichuris isolated from four species of captive NHP from different geographical regions, and swine, respectively. The results obtained revealed strong support for geometrical morphometrics as a useful tool to differentiate male Trichuris populations. Therefore, morphometrics in combination with other techniques, such as molecular biology analyses, ought to be applied to further the differentiation of male populations. On the other hand, morphometrics applied to female Trichuris species does not seem to contribute new information as all the measurements combinations of obtained from females always showed similar results. Image 1 - Geometrical morphometrics is an useful tool to differentiate male Trichuris populations. - Geometrical morphometrics results are in agreement with the molecular biology analysis applied to the adult male samples that allow the identification of different species of Trichuris. - The hypothesised existence of different species of Trichuris in primates opens the possibility to revise the zoonotic potential and host specificity of T. trichiura and other putative new species of whipworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We explore the effect of heavy metals on CO 2 assimilation and stomatal conductance in a common urban tree in Mexico City. • PAR had the greatest effect on A ; whereas T A and VPD had the greatest effect on g S • There were not differences in the foliar internal concentrations of heavy metals between the studied sites. • We found a lower stomatal density at the site with the highest concentration of pollutants. • This finding represents a possible mechanism to avoid internal damage by these. Urban trees reduce CO 2 and pollutants that represent a risk for human health in cities. In this work, we assessed the potential effect of heavy metals and environmental variables on the CO 2 assimilation (A) and the stomatal conductace (g S) of Ligustrum lucidum , a common urban tree in Mexico City. We compared two sites with contrasting pollution levels: 1) city centre (PPI-C, high pollution level); and 2) south of the city (CU-SW; low pollution level). At each site, we measured 1) phsysiological traits (A and g S); 2) environmental variables (photosynthetically active radiation, PAR; air temperature, T A ; vapor pressure deficit, VPD ; concentration of atmospheric CO 2); and 3) morphological leaf characteristics (stomatal size and density). Concentration of the heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn was determined in washed (internal metals) and unwashed (external plus internal metal) leaves at both sites. CO 2 assimilation at CU-SW was higher than at PPI-C. PAR had the greatest effect on A ; whereas T A and VPD had the greatest effect on g S. Regarding heavy metals, although we found no significant differences in internal concentrations between sites, we found a lower stomatal density at PPI-C, which may indicate a response of the species to the local pollution conditions. This characteristic might be benefitial for the species, allowing it to maintain optimal physiological conditions by reducing the assimilation of pollutants. Our results suggest that L. lucidum is a well adapted species for the urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Highlights • National and regional legislations do not specify adaptation actions for cities. • Municipal autonomy favors regulations for incorporating climate change adaptation. • Cities are the most active entities in the implementation of adaptation strategies. • For adapting Bilbao & New York, Urban Green Spaces become one of the main resources. • Indicators of UGS are defined in order to increase resilience at neighborhood scale. Abstract Climate change adaptation policies in the United States and Europe have common aims but a different initial focus. While in the United States the principal factor when establishing adaptation plans and programs is based on risk control, the criterion in most European countries is directly linked to strategies of urban regeneration and sustainability. In both cases, cities are taking up the initiative to define adaptation strategies without waiting for state legislative acts. This article focuses on analysis of the ability of Urban Green Spaces to promote adaptation to climate change for both risk control and as an urban regeneration resource. With the analysis of two urban regeneration cases studied in zones affected by climate change, Red Hook in New York and Zorrotzaurre in Bilbao, the adaptation policies in the United States and Europe are studied. These cases allow a focus on how cities' capacities to establish initiatives for specific adaptation measures include Urban Green Spaces. Final conclusions reveal that, according to the extreme events expected, location and composition of Urban Green Spaces is key in the adaptive strategy of cities facing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational fluid dynamics predictions of urban flow are subject to several sources of uncertainty, such as the definition of the inflow boundary conditions or the turbulence model. Compared to Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations, large eddy simulations (LES) can reduce turbulence model uncertainty by resolving the turbulence down to scales in the inertial subrange, but the presence of other uncertainties will not be reduced. The objective of this study is to present an initial investigation of the relative importance of these different types of uncertainties by comparing urban flow predictions obtained using RANS and LES to field measurements. The simulations are designed to reproduce measurements performed during the Joint Urban 2003 field experiments. The time-averaged velocity measured at an upstream wind sensor is used to define the inflow boundary condition, and the results are compared to time-averaged measurements at 34 locations in the downtown area. For the turbulence kinetic energy, the LES is found to be more accurate than the RANS in 80% of the available high-frequency measurement locations. For the mean velocity field, this number reduces to 50% of all stations. Comparison of the LES results with a previous inflow uncertainty quantification study for RANS shows that locations where the LES is less accurate than the RANS correspond to locations where the RANS solution is highly sensitive to the inflow boundary conditions. This suggests that inflow uncertainties can be a dominant factor, and that their effect on LES results should be quantified to guarantee predictive capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While determining the uranium concentration in the rock (background level) and soils on the Iberian Massif of western Spain, several geochemical anomalies were observed. The uranium concentration was much higher than the geochemical levels at these locations, and several uranium minerals were detected. The proposed uranium background levels for natural soils in the west of Salamanca Province (Spain) are 29.8 mg kg −1 in granitic rock and 71.2 mg kg −1 in slate. However, the soil near the tailings of abandoned mines exhibited much higher concentrations, between 207.2 and 542.4 mg kg −1 . The calculation of different pollution indexes (Pollution Factor and Geo-accumulation Index), which reveal the conditions in the superficial horizons of the natural soils, indicated that a good percentage of the studied samples (16.7–56.5%) are moderately contaminated. The spatial distribution of the uranium content in natural soils was analysed by applying the inverse distance weighted method. The distribution of uranium through the horizons of the soils shows a tendency to accumulate in the horizons with the highest clay content. The leaching of uranium from the upper horizons and accumulation in the lower horizons of the soil could be considered a process for natural attenuation of the surface impacts of this radiogenic element in the environment. Environmental restoration is proposed in the areas close to the abandoned mining facilities of this region, given the high concentration of uranium. First, all the tailings and other mining waste would be covered with a layer of impermeable material to prevent leaching by runoff. Then, a layer of topsoil with organic amendments would be added, followed by revegetation with herbaceous plants to prevent surface erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed aerodynamic information of local wind flow patterns in urban canopies is essential for the design of sustainable and resilient urban areas. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be used to analyze these complex flows, but uncertainties in the models can negatively impact the accuracy of the results. Data assimilation, using measurements from wind sensors located within the urban canopy, provides exciting opportunities to improve the quality of the predictions. The present study explores the deployment of several wind sensors on Stanford's campus to support future validation of CFD predictions with uncertainty quantification and data assimilation. We focus on uncertainty in the incoming wind direction and magnitude, and identify optimal sensor placement to enable accurate inference of these parameters. First, a set of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations is performed to build a surrogate model for the local velocity as a function of the inflow conditions. Subsequently, artificial wind observations are generated from realizations of the surrogate model, and an inverse ensemble Kalman filter is used to infer the inflow conditions from these observations. We investigate the influence of (1) the sensor location, (2) the number of sensors, and (3) the presence of noise or a bias in the measurement data. The analysis shows that multiple roof level sensors should enable robust assimilation of the inflow boundary conditions. In the future field experiment, sensors will be placed in these locations to validate the methodology using actual field measurement data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the impact of investment in climate change mitigation innovations and technologies on companies, both from a financial and reputational viewpoint, as well as in terms of their environmental performance. We also investigate the moderating effect of institutional investors on the relationship between climate change mitigation investments and firm performance, considering their presence in shareholdings and their typology. We argue that the time horizon and objectives of their investments determine the approach to the integration of environmental criteria in the companies in which they invest. The results obtained for an international sample of 38,666 observations for the period 2010–2020, indicate that investment in climate-change mitigation technologies shows an increasing evolution, focusing especially on clean technologies and, to a lesser extent, on green building. The presence of shareholding by institutional investors with a long-term time horizon and strategic objectives enhances the impact of these projects on the company's image, market value, and profitability. At the environmental level, their effects are particularly associated with the responsible management of resources, and has a limited effect on emissions. The results are robust to different methodological specifications, validating the theoretical and practical implications of this research. • Investment in climate tech shows an increasing evolution. • These projects positively affect firms' image, market value and profitability. • Climate tech investments have a positive impact on environmental performance. • Institutional ownership moderates the impact of climate tech on firm performance. • Long-term and strategic investors enhance the impact of climate tech on performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study sought to determine whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) polymorphism, obesity and oxidative damage are risk factors for the development of preeclampsia in Mexican women.Study Design: A total of 66 women with preeclampsia (PE) and 37 women with normal pregnancies (NP) were included in the study. DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the ACE I/D polymorphism was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. ACE activity and oxidative damage were assessed in plasma. The intergroup comparisons were analyzed by an analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested by x2 analysis, odds ratios (OR) were calculated as a measure of the degree of relative risk of preeclampsia, and for correlations, we used Spearman's correlation coefficient.Results: The frequency of the DD genotype was higher in PE (34.84%) than NP (10.82%). The OR of the DD genotype and D allele were associated with a 4.4-fold (CI=95% 2.24-14) and 3-fold (CI=95% 1.69-5.62) increased risk of developing PE, respectively. Major ACE activity in the DD genotype and obesity were features of the PE group; oxidative damage to proteins and a reduction in the activity of the antioxidant system showed a correlation with BMI (p<0.01).Conclusion: Our results suggest that ACE I/D polymorphism, high ACE activity, body mass index and oxidative damage may play key roles in the pathogenesis of PE in the Mexican population. Furthermore, these findings could be used as predictive factors of PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptional activation of the EVI1 oncogene (3q26) leads to aggressive forms of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the mechanism of EVI1-mediated leukemogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Previously, by characterizing the EVI1 promoter, we have shown that RUNX1 and ELK1 directly regulate EVI1 transcription. Intriguingly, bioinformatic analysis of the EVI1 promoter region identified the presence of several EVI1 potential binding sites. Thus, we hypothesized that EVI1 could bind to these sites regulating its own transcription. In this study, we show that there is a functional interaction between EVI1 and its promoter, and that the different EVI1 isoforms (EVI1-145 kDa, EVI1-Δ324 and MDS1-EVI1) regulate the transcription of EVI1 transcripts through distinct promoter regions. Moreover, we determine that the EVI1-145 kDa isoform activates EVI1 transcription, whereas EVI1-Δ324 and MDS1-EVI1 act as repressors. Finally, we demonstrate that these EVI1 isoforms are involved in cell transformation; functional experiments show that EVI1-145 kDa prolongs the maintenance of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells; conversely, MDS1-EVI1 repressed hematopoietic stem and progenitor colony replating capacity. We demonstrate for the first time that EVI1 acts as a regulator of its own expression, highlighting the complex regulation of EVI1 , and open new directions to better understand the mechanisms of EVI1 overexpressing leukemias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an overview of Madrid from Sentinel-1A SAR sensor. For this purpose, a preliminary analysis was carried out involving 35 Interferometric Wide Swath SLC images from 29/10/2014 until 15/05/2016. SARPROZ software based on PSInSAR methodology was used. Results include geographic location of each PS, absolute and relative height (m), line-of-sight (LOS) velocity (mm/year), cumulative displacement (mm), standard deviation (mm), temporal coherence and displacement time series (mm) with respect to the acquisition date and linear model assumption. A spatial analysis was performed in order to evaluate PS density and quality over different Corine land use classes. Validation analyses were conducted using available permanent GNSS stations in the studied area. Visual insights into the deformation map allowed for the identification of clusters of PSs with similar subsiding or uplifting tendency. These cases were analyzed and connected to urban changes in the studied period. Results show that SARPROZ-processed Sentinel-1A images can provide a high number of reliable PS points in large cities as Madrid, allowing an almost continuous monitoring of ground and structures in this complex urban landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of ventilation was widely stressed and new protocols of ventilation were implemented in school buildings worldwide. In the Netherlands, schools were recommended to keep the windows and doors open, and after a national lockdown more stringent measures such as reduction of occupancy were introduced. In this study, the actual effects of such measures on ventilation and thermal conditions were investigated in 31 classrooms of 11 Dutch secondary schools, by monitoring the indoor and outdoor CO 2 concentration and air temperature, both before and after the lockdown. Ventilation rates were calculated using the steady-state method. Pre-lockdown, with an average occupancy of 17 students, in 42% of the classrooms the CO 2 concentration exceeded the upper limit of the Dutch national guidelines (800 ppm above outdoors), while 13% had a ventilation rate per person (VR p) lower than the minimum requirement (6 l/s/p). Post-lockdown, the indoor CO 2 concentration decreased significantly while for ventilation rates significant increase was only found in VR p , mainly caused by the decrease in occupancy (average 10 students). The total ventilation rate per classrooms, mainly induced by opening windows and doors, did not change significantly. Meanwhile, according to the Dutch national guidelines, thermal conditions in the classrooms were not satisfying, both pre- and post-lockdown. While opening windows and doors cannot achieve the required indoor environmental quality at all times, reducing occupancy might not be feasible for immediate implementation. Hence, more controllable and flexible ways for improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort in classrooms are needed. • Before lockdown 45% classrooms had a ventilation rate less than 10 l/s per person. • Opening windows and doors did not always achieve the required ventilation rate. • After lockdown ventilation rate per person increased mainly by reducing occupancy. • Thermal conditions did not always fulfill the requirements pre- and post-lockdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions, such as reviving blue-green infrastructure (BGI), for climate adaptation in cities have been gaining global attention. In the case of India, the rapid urbanization since the end of the twentieth century has exacerbated the impact of climate change at significant environmental, social, and economic costs. Coastal cities in India commonly face climate change related hazards of flooding, rise in sea level, and urban heat islands. This article has assessed the usefulness of scientific information and community knowledge in planning, reviving, and maintaining BGI to make it a successful climate adaptation practice in coastal cities. The existing waterways and water bodies in India's coastal cities are a network linked to the green infrastructure that has been altered by sprawling urbanization. In response to Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13, the cities of Kochi and Chennai have begun a process of recovering their BGI for greater resilience. This research has detected a shift in the social and administrative perception of BGI as a valuable resource for climate adaptation in recent times. Actions in backwaters and canals, promoted by Chennai and Kochi municipal corporations, present new steps toward mainstreaming adaptation of BGI into the local regulatory framework. • Rapid urbanization in India has exacerbated the impacts derived from climate change. • Coastal cities face flooding due to changes in rainfall conditions and sea level rise. • Blue-green infrastructure (BGI) recovery in India's coastal cities performs as an adaptation strategy. • First steps towards climate urban transition are observed in Chennai and Kochi. • Residents and policy-makers are changing their perception of BGI as a valuable resource for climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy in vitro and in vivo of a new antibacterial suture (PGAB) compared with a traditional braided suture (PG). Our primary goals were to study microbiological effectiveness and impact on wound healing of PGAB vs PG. Secondary goal was to analyze influence on inflammatory response. Methods: In vitro study: clinical samples of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. hominis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus auricularis, Enterococcus faecalis, Corynebacterium spp. and Escherichia coli were studied. We also implanted a flat mesh in 10 minipigs, four incisions each (two PG and two PGAB) two contaminated with S. epidermidis and two not contaminated. Finally, we performed four colic anastomosis in each of 10 minipigs, two contaminated with E. coli and two not contaminated (two PG and two PGAB). We studied the inflammatory and wound healing processes in both models. Results: We observed a bactericidal efficacy of PGAB against grampositive, and bacteriostatic effect against E. coli. Mesh study: recovered CFU were lower in the group PGAB vs PG. In the group PGAB, inflammatory mediators'' concentrations were lower. In the group PGAB, concentrations of wound healing mediators were normal. Colic anastomosis: recovered CFU were lower in the group PGAB vs the group PG. In the group PGAB we observed a reduction of inflammatory mediators. In the group PGAB we observed normalized concentrations of wound healing mediators. Conclusions: This study demonstrates microbiological efficacy of PGAB, that normalizes wound healing process, and an anti-inflammatory effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Several experimental studies have shown the beneficial effects of nitric oxide (NO) in the modulation of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Nitric oxide is involved in and affects almost all stages in the development of inflammation. We have attempted to ascertain whether the nitric oxide donor molsidomine prevents aortic graft contamination through control of the SIRS and a decrease in bacterial translocation (BT). Methods: Twenty-four mini-pigs were divided into 4 groups. The animals were subjected to suprarenal aortic/iliac cross-clamping (for 30 minutes) and by-pass with a Dacron-collagen prosthetic graft impregnated in rifampicin. Groups: 1) sham (aortic dissection alone); 2) cross-clamping and bypass; 3) hemorrhage of 40% of total blood volume before cross-clamping and by-pass; and 4) the same as in group 3 but also including the administration of the NO donor molsidomine (4 mg/kg) 5 minutes before cross-clamping. Variables: 1) bacteriology of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), kidney, blood, and prosthesis; 2) serum TNF-α (ELISA); and 3) iNOS expression in kidney and liver (Western blot). Results: Aortic cross-clamping with or without hemorrhage was associated with BT in 80% and 100% of the animals, respectively. About 86% of the bacteria isolated in the graft were also present in MLN. This contamination coincided with an increase in TNF-α and with a greater expression of iNOS. Molsidomine administration decreased TNF-α and iNOS, decreased BT (from 100% to 20% of the animals), and decreased graft contamination (from 83% to 20%). Conclusions: The present model induces high levels of BT and SIRS, both acted as sources of contamination for the implanted Dacron graft. Molsidomine administration decreased the presence of bacteria in the graft by controlling BT and modulating SIRS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The measurement of environmental impact through composite indexes provides information about the effects of human activities on the ecosystem. Over recent years proposals regarding the environmental composite indexes (ECI) have emerged, suggesting that they can be used to help in decisions about public policies. Due the number of these indicators, issues arise about the asymmetry of information provided, although all ECI seek to measure ecosystem quality or damage. The present paper compares the Composite Index of Environmental Performance (CIEP) ( García-Sánchez et al., 2015 ) and the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ( Hsu et al., 2014 ) in order to find convergent and divergent characteristics, studying methodological aspects and empirical evidence through statistical analysis, in order to favour the decision-making by stakeholders and to improve the existing ECI in order to determine adequately the environmental impact. The results show that the indexes were developed using different methods and variables, however, they share around 20% identical variables. Despite these differences, the rate of variation in ranking countries between the indexes is 21%, on average. The EPI policy category ‘water & sanitation (effects on humans)’ has two common variables and explains part of the CIEP performance. The effect dimension of the CIEP has one more identical variable and it reduces the individual variation between rank positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Anti-TNF treatment is effective for Crohn's disease (CD); however, some patients did not achieve remission with these drugs. Aims To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a second anti-TNF in CD patients who did not achieve remission with the first one and to assess its durability. Methods Patients who did not achieve remission with their first anti-TNF were included. The short-term response of the second anti-TNF was assessed, the long-term response was evaluated in patients who achieved remission (Kaplan–Meier). Cox-regression was performed to identify predictors of loss of efficacy. Results In all, 118 CD patients received a second anti-TNF after primary failure of the first. The first anti-TNF was discontinued because of non-response in 54% of patients and partial response in 46%. Fifty-one percent of patients achieved remission in the short-term. The probability of remission was lower in patients for whom the drug indication was perianal disease (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1–0.7, P = 0.005). The dose was increased in 33% of patients, and 37% achieved/regained remission. The probability of maintaining remission was 76%, 68% and 64% at 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively. Conclusions Approximately half of the patients achieved remission with a second anti-TNF after primary failure of the first, this strategy was less effective in patients with perianal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Distributed Evolutionary Algorithms are traditionally executed on homogeneous dedicated clusters, despite most scientists have access mainly to networks of heterogeneous nodes (e.g., desktop PCs in a lab). Fitting this kind of algorithms to these environments, so that they can take advantage of their heterogeneity to save running time, is still an open problem. The different computational power of the nodes affects the performance of the algorithm, and tuning or fitting it to each node properly could reduce execution time. Since the distributed Evolutionary Algorithms include a whole range of parameters that influence the performance, this paper proposes a study on the population size. This parameter is one of the most important, since it has a direct relationship with the number of iterations needed to find the solution, as it affects the exploration factor of the algorithm. The aim of this paper consists in validating the following hypothesis: fitting the sub-population size to the computational power of the heterogeneous cluster node can lead to an improvement in running time with respect to the use of the same population size in every node. Two parameter size schemes have been tested, an offline and an online parameter setting, and three problems with different characteristics and computational demands have been used. Results show that setting the population size according to the computational power of each node in the heterogeneous cluster improves the time required to obtain the optimal solution. Meanwhile, the same set of different size values could not improve the running time to reach the optimum in a homogeneous cluster with respect to the same size in all nodes, indicating that the improvement is due to the interaction of the different hardware resources with the algorithm. In addition, a study on the influence of the different population sizes on each stage of the algorithm is presented. This opens a new research line on the fitting (offline or online) of parameters of the distributed Evolutionary Algorithms to the computational power of the devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke therapy has been transformed in recent years due to the availability of thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Whether transferring the patient directly to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC, mothership model) is better than taking them to a primary stroke center (PSC) and then to a CSC for MT (drip and ship) is unclear but has important implications. We compared the performance of both models in a district of the Basque country, Spain.Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all acute ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted to the Neurology Department of two institutions and eligible for MT over a 36-month period with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO). One center applied the mothership model and the other the drip-and-ship. The two models were compared in terms of mortality and functional status assessed by modified Rankin (mRS) scale at 90 days. As a surrogate of the effectiveness of the two models, all times pertinent to stroke therapy were recorded.Results: A total of 187 patients were evaluated subjected to MT with the drip-and-ship model and 188 with mothership, with a median NIHSS of 15. Prior to MT, 17% of the drip-and-ship patients received thrombolysis and 26% in the mothership. Neither mortality rate nor mRS showed statistically significant differences 90 days after stroke. The time lapse from stroke to MT was optimal in both models; albeit being 10 minutes longer in the drip-and-ship model, it had no impact on patients' outcomes.Conclusions: Drip-and-ship and mothership models can provide optimal and similar results in acute stroke patients in terms of mortality and functional status at 90 days. Their coexistence may alleviate the burden of CSC thus facilitating the access of more stroke patients to advanced therapies in an equitable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Crohn’s disease is a highly heterogeneous inflammatory bowel disease comprising multiple clinical phenotypes. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have associated a large number of loci with disease risk but have not associated any specific genetic variants with clinical phenotypes. We performed a GWAS of clinical phenotypes in Crohn’s disease. Methods We genotyped 576,818 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in a well-characterized cohort of 1090 Crohn’s disease patients of European ancestry. We assessed their association with 17 phenotypes of Crohn’s disease (based on disease location, disease behavior, disease course, age at onset, and extraintestinal manifestations). A total of 57 markers with strong associations to Crohn’s disease phenotypes ( P < 2 × 10 -4 ) were subsequently analyzed in an independent replication cohort of 1296 patients of European ancestry. Results We replicated the association of 4 loci with different Crohn’s disease phenotypes. Variants in MAGI1 , CLCA2 , 2q24.1 , and LY75 loci were associated with a complicated stricturing disease course ( P combined = 2.01 × 10 -8 ), disease location ( P combined = 1.3 × 10 -6 ), mild disease course ( P combined = 5.94 × 10 -7 ), and erythema nodosum ( P combined = 2.27 × 10 -6 ), respectively. Conclusions In a GWAS, we associated 4 loci with clinical phenotypes of Crohn’s disease. These findings indicate a genetic basis for the clinical heterogeneity observed for this inflammatory bowel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Massive data (540k decks) from Hearthstone, a Digital Collectible Card Game have been gathered. • An exploratory data analysis has been conducted on the dataset applying different clustering methods and visualization techniques. • An expert player has deeply analysed the obtained clusters and figures and extracted clear archetypes definitions. • The methodology (and findings) could be utilised as a game balancing tool, useful to identify unbalanced cards. • The proposed methodology can be used as part of the decision engine of an autonomous agent for the game. Digital Collectible Cards Games such as Hearthstone have become a very prolific test-bed for Artificial Intelligence algorithms. The main researches have focused on the implementation of autonomous agents (bots) able to effectively play the game. However, this environment is also very attractive for the use of Data Mining (DM) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques, for analysing and extracting useful knowledge from game data. The objective of this work is to apply existing Game Mining techniques in order to study more than 600,000 real decks (groups of cards) created by players with many different skill levels. Data visualisation and analysis tools have been applied, namely, Graph representations and Clustering techniques. Then, an expert player has conducted a deep analysis of the results yielded by these methods, aiming to identify the use of standard - and well-known - archetypes defined by the play methods will also make it possible for the expert to discover hidden relationships between cards that could lead to finding better combinations of them, enhancing players' decks or, otherwise, identify unbalanced cards that could lead to a disappointing game experience. Moreover, although this work is mostly focused on data analysis and visualization, the obtained results can be applied to improve Hearthstone Bots' behaviour, e.g. predicting opponent's actions after identifying a specific archetype in his/her deck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give an algorithm to compute the set of primitive elements for an embedding dimension three numerical semigroups. We show how we use this procedure in the study of the construction of L-shapes and the tame degree of the semigroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denumerants of numerical semigroups are known to be difficult to obtain, even with small embedding dimension of the semigroups. In this work we give some results on denumerants of 3-semigroups S = 〈 a , b , c 〉 . Closed expressions are obtained under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods are widely used to investigate wind flow and dispersion in urban environments. Validation with field experiments that represent the full complexity of the problem should be performed to assess the predictive capabilities of the computations. In this context it will be necessary to quantify the effect of uncertainties in simulations of the full-scale problem. The present study aims at quantifying the uncertainty related to the variability in the inflow boundary conditions for Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations of the flow in downtown Oklahoma City to address validation with the Joint Urban 2003 field measurements. Three uncertain inflow parameters were defined: the wind speed and wind direction at a reference height, and the aerodynamic roughness in the logarithmic velocity inlet profile. An ensemble of 729 RANS simulations were performed to determine the polynomial chaos expansion coefficients that define the response surfaces for the velocity magnitude and direction at 13 field measurement stations, and the results are compared to the experimental data. For the velocity magnitude the mean experimental velocity magnitude is encompassed within the 95% confidence interval for the magnitudes predicted by the Uncertainty Quantification study in all stations. For the velocity direction this holds in 11 out of 13 locations. The study demonstrates the significant potential of applying advanced uncertainty quantification methods to address validation with field measurements and to develop a more realistic approach to the definition of inflow boundary conditions in atmospheric CFD simulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A mining area affected by the abandoned exploitation of an arsenical tungsten deposit was studied in order to assess its arsenic pollution level and the feasibility of native plants for being used in phytoremediation approaches. Soil and plant samples were collected at different distances from the polluting sources and analysed for their As content and distribution. Critical soil total concentrations of As were found, with values in the range 70–5330mgkg−1 in the uppermost layer. The plant community develops As tolerance by exclusion strategies. Of the plant species growing in the most polluted site, the shrubs Salix atrocinerea Brot. and Genista scorpius (L.) DC. exhibit the lowest bioaccumulation factor (BF) values for their aerial parts, suggesting their suitability to be used with revegetation purposes. The species Scirpus holoschoenus L. highlights for its important potential to stabilise As at root level, accumulating As contents up to 3164mgkg−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Given a numerical semigroup , generated by with and , we give a parameterization of the set for any . We also give the catenary degree of , . Boths results need the computation of an L-shaped tile, related to the set A, that has time-complexity in the worst case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: A cohort study was performed to investigate the risk factors for colonization with high-level aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci (HLARE) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Colonization was investigated by performing surveillance samples during ICU stay. Clonal relatedness of the isolates was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eighty-six patients with an ICU stay of >48h were included; two were colonized with HLARE at admission, and 24 (28.5%) acquired HLARE during their stay in the ICU. HLARE were initially isolated from rectal swabs alone. Thirty-five percent of Enterococcus faecalis and 57% of E. faecium showed high-level resistance to gentamicin or streptomycin. Most isolates were clonally unrelated. Using multi-variate analysis, the only variable associated with HLARE colonization was previous antimicrobial use. Five patients had HLARE isolated from clinical samples, three of them with infection; in all of these, colonization with the same clone had been detected previously by surveillance samples. We conclude that most infections due to HLARE in the ICU are preceded by previous colonization, and that antimicrobial use is the main risk factor for colonization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]