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In this paper, the aim is to optimise the hydrodynamic performance of the novel fin-ring horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine (HAHK). The original unique fin-ring turbine is an unconventional marine current turbine that comprises seven concentric rings with 88 connecting cambered fins and a solid centre hub. To begin with, the hydrodynamic performance of the benchmark turbine is evaluated using CFD simulations and is validated against sea-test data available in the literature. Subsequently, three of the turbine design parameters, namely, the fins' pitch angle, the fins' camber length, and the fins' aspect ratio, are optimised for maximum power generation. Further test simulations illustrated the existence of a laminar region of flow in the turbine flow field. The K-kL-ω transition-sensitive turbulence model is adopted to capture the influence of transition on the flow field with results compared against those of the fully turbulent K-ε turbulence model. A final fine-tuning in the turbine design is carried out by increasing the number of fins per ring in the outermost rings to further maximise the generated power. The turbine hydrodynamic performance is assessed by comparison against other conventional hydrokinetic turbines available in the literature. Very satisfactory results are obtained with an increase of about 35% in the turbine-generated CP as compared to that of the benchmark turbine. The turbine performance compares very well with other conventional turbines, especially in terms of higher peak CP values, wider operating TSR range, and less sensitivity to variations in the inflow current speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: donor-derived circulating free DNA (dd-cfDNA), an innovative biomarker with great potential for the early identification and prevention of graft damage. (2) Methods: Samples were collected prospectively and the study was performed retrospectively to analyze dd-cfDNA plasma levels in 30 kidney transplant patients during their post-transplant follow-up (15 days, 3, 6, and 9 months), to determine if the result could be of interest in the identification of possible adverse events, especially rejection. The aim was to verify whether the data on sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV compare with reference values and creatinine values. (3) Results: We observed levels of dd cfDNA > 1% in six of nine patients with active rejection (ABMR or TCMR) and elevated values (>0.5%) in two other patients in this rejection group. Our results show low values of sensitivity = 50%, specificity = 61.11%, rejection NPV = 64.71%, and rejection PPV = 46.13% of the technique compared to reference values previously published. With respect to creatinine, only for TCRM, we observed better results for dd-cfDNA in these parameters than in creatinine. Also, our data suggest that dd-cfDNA could help to differentiate those patients with dnDSAs that are going to through rejection better than creatinine, specially at 15 d post transplant. In this study, this appears to have no positive predictive value for borderline rejection (BR) or TCMR IA. (4) Conclusions: plasma levels of dd-cfDNA could be considered an additional or alternative biomarker for graft rejection monitoring in early post-kidney transplant up to several months before its clinical presentation, especially for patients with suspected TCMR or ABMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the emotional dysregulation in teachers of the Chilean school system, focusing on gender and age similarities and differences. The sample included 1059 teachers from various regions of Chile, of whom 80.3% were female and 19.7% were male. Participants completed the Spanish version of the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS-E). A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to evaluate the structure of the theoretical model, along with the convergent, discriminant, and internal consistency of the instrument. Additionally, a measurement invariance analysis was performed to identify possible differences between demographic groups, which is crucial to ensure that comparisons between these groups are valid and unbiased. The results indicated that the theoretical model presents a good fit to the data and confirms the validity and reliability of the DERS-E. Scalar invariance was achieved among the analyzed groups. We found significant differences in emotional dysregulation between men and women, which also varied by teacher age. The importance of understanding the specific needs of teachers in terms of their emotional regulation is discussed and the urgency of implementing training programs that improve their emotional skills, fostering a positive and effective learning environment, is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The harmful effect of alcohol on the immune system may be due to both a direct action of the alcohol or its metabolites on immune cells as an indirect action modifying the different mechanisms of intercellular interaction. The interplay between stimulatory (aKIR) and inhibitory (iKIR) natural killer (NK) cell receptors and their corresponding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands influences the outcome of virus infection. The aim was to analyze the influence of the KIR/HLA pair genetic profile in male alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) patients with and without viral infections to find susceptibility biomarkers that can help establish the risks and prevent viral infections. Methods: A total of 281 male AC patients were analyzed. The sociodemographic characteristics, viral hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections were analyzed. Genomic DNA was extracted, and genetic the KIR/HLA profiles were investigated. A total of 6 KIR genes and their corresponding ligands (HLA-C) were analyzed. Patients were grouped into two groups: with and without associated viral infection. Results: A statistically significant increase in the combination of KIR2DL2+/C1C1 was observed in male AC patients with viral infection compared to those without viral infection (45.9% vs. 24.5%, p = 0.021). The analysis of KIR2DL3+/C1+ showed a high frequency comparing healthy controls and male AC patients without virus infection (85% vs. 76.4%; p = 0.026). The analysis of KIR2DL3+/C2C2 frequency showed a statistically significant increase comparing male AC patients without viral infection and healthy controls (23.6% vs. 15%; p = 0.026). Conclusions: The genetic KIR2DL2+/C2C2 profiles may play a significant role in determining the vulnerability of male AC patients to viral infections, providing valuable insights for future research and potential therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are a large group of natural compounds, together with proteins and carbohydrates, and are essential for various processes in the body. After death, the organism's tissues undergo a series of reactions that generate changes in some molecules, including lipids. This means that determining the lipid change profile can be beneficial in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). These changes can also help determine burial sites and advance the localization of graves. The aim was to explore and analyze the decomposition process of corpses, focusing on the transformation of lipids, especially triglycerides (TGs) and fatty acids (FAs), and the possible application of these compounds as markers to estimate PMI and detect burial sites. A systematic review of 24 scientific articles from the last 23 years (2000–2023) was conducted. The results show that membrane glycerophospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, among others) are the most studied, and the most promising results are obtained, with decreasing patterns as PMI varies. Fatty acids (FAs) are also identified as potential biomarkers owing to the variations in their postmortem concentration. An increase in saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as stearic acid and palmitic acid, and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, were observed. The importance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in decomposition is also observed. Finally, as for the burial sites, the presence of fatty acids and some sterols in burial areas of animal and human remains can be verified. In conclusion, glycerophospholipids and fatty acids are good markers for estimating PMI. It has been observed that there are still no equations for estimating the PMI that can be applied to forensic practice, as intrinsic and extrinsic factors are seen to play a vital role in the decomposition process. As for determining burial sites, the importance of soil and textile samples has been demonstrated, showing a direct relationship between saturated fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids, and some sterols with decomposing remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a diverse group of leukemias characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of clonal neoplastic hematopoietic precursor cells with chromosomal rearrangements and multiple gene mutations and the impairment of normal hematopoiesis. Current efforts to improve AML outcomes have focused on developing targeted therapies that may allow for improved antileukemic effects while reducing toxicity significantly. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is one of the most thoroughly studied molecularly targeted therapies in adults. GO is a monoclonal antibody against CD33 IgG4 linked to the cytotoxic drug calicheamicin DMH. The use of GO as a chemotherapeutic agent is not generalized for all patients who suffer from AML, particularly for those whose health prevents them from using intensive conventional chemotherapy, in which case it can be used on its own, and those who have suffered a first relapse, where its combination with other chemotherapeutic agents is possible. This systematic review aimed to comprehensively evaluate GO, focusing on its molecular structure, mode of action, pharmacokinetics, recommended dosage, resistance mechanisms, and associated toxicities to provide valuable information on the potential benefits and risks associated with its clinical use. A systematic review of eight scientific articles from 2018 to 2023 was conducted using PRISMA analysis. The results showed that GO treatment activates proapoptotic pathways and induces double-strand breaks, initiating DNA repair mechanisms. Cells defective in DNA repair pathways are susceptible to GO cytotoxicity. GO has recommended doses for newly diagnosed CD33+ AML in combination or as a single agent. Depending on the treatment regimen and patient status, GO doses vary for induction, consolidation, and continuation cycles. Multidrug resistance (MDR) involving P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is associated with GO resistance. The overexpression of P-gp reduces GO cytotoxicity; inhibitors of P-gp can restore sensitivity. Mitochondrial pathway activation and survival signaling pathways are linked to GO resistance. Other resistance mechanisms include altered pharmacokinetics, reduced binding ability, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. GO has limited extramedullary toxicity compared to other AML treatments and may cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD). The incidence of hepatic HVOD after GO therapy is higher in patients with high tumor burden. Hematological side effects and hepatotoxicity are prominent, with thrombocytopenia and neutropenia observed. In conclusion, GO's reintroduction in 2017 followed a thorough FDA review considering its altered dose, dosing schedule, and target population. The drug's mechanism involves CD33 targeting and calicheamicin-induced DNA damage, leading to apoptosis and resistance mechanisms, including MDR and survival signaling, which impact treatment outcomes. Despite limited extramedullary toxicity, GO is associated with hematological side effects and hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allograft rejection is a widespread complication in allograft recipients with chronic kidney disease. Undertreatment of subclinical and clinical rejection and later post-transplant problems are caused by an imperfect understanding of the mechanisms at play and a lack of adequate diagnostic tools. Many different biomarkers have been analyzed and proposed to detect and monitor these crucial events in transplant outcomes. In this sense, microRNAs may help diagnose rejection or tolerance and indicate appropriate treatment, especially in patients with chronic allograft rejection. As key epigenetic regulators of physiological homeostasis, microRNAs have therapeutic potential and may indicate allograft tolerance or rejection. However, more evidence and clinical validation are indispensable before microRNAs are ready for clinical prime time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium (Ca) plays a vital role as a macronutrient in the growth and development of plants. In order of decreasing solubility, Ca can be found in vegetal tissues as soluble Ca (Fraction I), bound Ca (mainly pectates, Fraction II), inorganic insoluble Ca (mainly phosphates and carbonates, Fraction III) and organic insoluble Ca or oxalate (Fraction IV). To explore the impact of Ca fertilizer application on plant growth and its allocation among different fractions, young citrus trees were fed over a complete vegetative cycle with a 44Ca labeled fertilizer (T1-Ca), while control plants (T2) received no Ca fertilizer. The results showed that plants receiving Ca exhibited significantly greater biomass. 44Ca derived from the fertilizer was localized mainly in sink organs (new flush leaves–twigs and fibrous roots). The primary fraction responsible for total Ca partitioning was Fraction II, followed by Fraction III or IV. Citrus plants, commonly found in calcareous soils, demonstrated improved growth with calcium treatments, indicating a positive link between calcium supplementation and enhanced development. The calcium supplied through the fertilizer (44Ca) was predominantly concentrated in sink organs (mainly in Ca-pectate fraction), including new flush leaves and twigs above ground, as well as fibrous roots below ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operators of offshore production units (OPUs) employ risk-based assessment (RBA) techniques in order to minimise inspection expenses while maintaining risks at an acceptable level. However, when human divers and workers are involved in inspections conducted at high heights, the operational risks can be significant. Recently, there has been a growing trend towards the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for inspections of offshore structures as a means to reduce exposure to human risk. This article provides an analysis of these vehicle inspection capabilities and their potential to enhance robustness and safety within the oil and gas industry. The review assesses both the advantages and the drawbacks associated with these innovative systems, providing valuable comparisons and assessments on their potential use as viable alternatives to conventional inspection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT1) deficiency (AAT1D) is an inherited disease with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver disease, and skin and blood vessel problems. AAT1D is caused by mutations in the SERPINE1 gene (Serine Protease Inhibitor, group A, member 1). Numerous variants of this gene, the Pi system, have been identified. The most frequent allelic variants are Pi*M, Pi*S, and Pi*Z. The development of COPD requires both a genetic predisposition and the contribution of an environmental factor, smoking being the most important. Studies on this deficiency worldwide are very scarce, and it is currently considered a rare disease because it is underdiagnosed. The aim of this study was to analyze the genotypic frequencies of mutations associated with AAT1 deficiency in unrelated bone marrow donors from the donor registry of the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain due to the high risk of presenting with different pathologies and underdiagnosis in the population. A total of 112 DNA-healthy voluntary unrelated bone marrow donors from different parts of the Region of Murcia were analyzed retrospectively. AAT1 deficiency patient testing involved an automated biochemical screening routine. The three main variants, Pi*M, Pi*Z, and Pi*S, were analyzed in the SERPINE1 gene. Our results showed a frequency of 3.12% of the Pi*Z (K342) mutation in over 224 alleles tested in the healthy population. The frequency of Pi*S (V264) was 11.1%. The frequency of the haplotype with the most dangerous mutation, EK342 EE264, was 4.46%, and the frequency of EK342 EV264 was 1.78% in the healthy population. Frequencies of other EE342 EV264-mutated haplotypes accounted for 18.7%. As for the EE342 VV264 haplotype, 0.89% of the total healthy population presented heterozygous for the EV264 mutation and one individual presented homozygous for the VV264 mutation. In conclusion, the frequencies of Pi mutations in the healthy population of the Region of Murcia were not remarkably different from the few studies reported in Spain. The genotype and haplotype frequencies followed the usual pattern. Health authorities should be aware of this high prevalence of the Pi*S allelic variant and pathological genotypes such as Pi*MZ and Pi*SZ in the healthy population if they consider screening the smoking population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decompensated cirrhosis is the most common cause of ascites due to hemodynamic and renal alteration by continuous fluid leakage from the hepatic sinusoids and splanchnic capillaries into the interstitial space. Then, fluid leakage exceeds lymphatic return, leading to progressive fluid accumulation directly into the peritoneal cavity. Alcohol consumption is one of the main risks of developing alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), but not all AC patients develop ascites. Avoiding the development of ascites is crucial, given that it deteriorates prognosis and increases the patient mortality patient. The innate immune system plays a crucial role in cirrhosis through natural killer cells, which are abundant in the liver. The aim of this study was to analyze the KIR/HLA-C genetic profile in AC patients with and without ascites to understand this pathology and find predictive clinical susceptibility biomarkers that can help to establish risks and prevent the development of ascites in AC patients. A total of 281 AC patients with and without ascites were analyzed and compared with 319 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood in all groups. A PCR-SSO assay was performed for KIR/HLA genotyping analysis. A total of 16 activating and inhibitor KIR genes and their corresponding known ligands, epitopes of HLA-C, and their genotypes were analyzed. According to our analysis, C1 epitopes were statistically significantly decreased in AC patients with and without ascites. When comparing AC patients with ascites and healthy controls, a significant decrease in C1 epitope frequency was also observed. A statistically significant decrease was also found when comparing the C1C2 genotype in AC patients without ascites with controls. In conclusion, the absence of KIR2DL2 and KIR3DL1 genes may be a predisposing factor for the development of ascites in AC patients. The KIR2DS2/KIR2DL2 may could be involved in grade I ascites development, and the presence of the C1+ epitope and the homozygous C2C2 genotype may be protective genetic factors against ascites development in AC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac troponin (cTn) is a recognized marker used to assess damage to the heart muscle. Actual research has indicated that the levels of cTn increase after doing exercise in individuals who are in good health, and this is believed to be a result of a normal cellular process rather than a pathological one. The main goal of this study was to investigate the evidence of a postexercise release of cTn in child and adolescent athletes (6–17.9 years old) of different ages, sex, and sports disciplines. The Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases were used to conduct the research up to March 2023. Three hundred and twenty-eight records were identified from the databases, however, only twenty-three studies were included in the review after being screened and quality-assessed by two independent authors. The gender, age of the participants, maturational status, and training level of the participants, the timing of sample collection, the exercise modality, and the number of participants with values above the cut-off reference were the data analyzed. Males, older young people, and individual sports seemed to have higher levels of serum cTn after practice exercise. Different methodologies, analyzers, and cut-off reference values make it difficult to compare the data among studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to specify an abbreviated model of the school coexistence questionnaire for non-violence (CENVI) for students from 5th to 8th grade (9 to 14 years old), in order to determine the perception of violence and management of school coexistence, and the differences between Mapuche and non-Mapuche students. A total of 1870 students from schools in the city of Temuco (Chile) responded to the CENVI questionnaire. There were two samples: (1) Pandemic, with online, face-to-face and hybrid classes; and (2) Post-pandemic, with face-to-face classes. Sample 1 consisted of 848 students aged 9 to 15 years (M = 11.90; SD = 1.27). Sample 2 consisted of 1022 students aged 9 to 14 years (M = 11.46; SD = 1.14). The questionnaire was validated using expert inter-judgment and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. A good fit of the proposed model to the data and good internal consistency measured according to the composite reliability were found, and convergent validity was demonstrated. Mapuche students perceived more physical violence and social exclusion. Cut-off points were proposed for the interpretation of the results. In the data, the effect of Coexistence Management on School Violence was null. The discussion approaches the findings from the literature on education in spaces of socio-cultural diversity in a Mapuche context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most frequent infection episode in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Reactivation usually occurs in the first three months after transplantation and is associated with higher cellular and/or antibody-mediated rejection rates and poorer graft performance. CMV induces the expression of BAFF (B-cell-activating factor, a cytokine involved in the homeostasis of B cells), which communicates signals for survival and growth to B cells and virus-specific plasma cells via the R-BAFF (BAFF receptor), TACI (the calcium modulator, the cyclophilin ligand interactor), and BCMA (B cell maturation antigen) receptors. These molecules of the BAFF system have also been suggested as biomarkers for the development of alloantibodies and graft dysfunction. This prospective study included 30 CMV-IgG seropositive KT recipients. The expression levels of the genes BAFF-R, transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) pre-KT were determined using qPCR. qPCR was also used to monitor CMV reactivation in the first three months following KT. The remainder of the KT recipients were classified as CMV− reactivation, and those with more than 500 copies/mL in at least one sample were classified as CMV+ reactivation. There were no discernible variations in the BAFF-R and TACI transcript expression levels. In the CMV+ group, we examined the relationship between the transcript levels and peak viremia. Peak viremia levels and BCMA transcript levels showed a strong correlation. BAFF-R and TACI expressions showed no measurable differences. In patients with early CMV reactivation, high BCMA receptor expression was associated with increased plasmablast, lymphocyte B cell class-switched levels (LBCS), and viral load. Our findings demonstrate that pre-KT BCMA transcript levels increased in KT recipients with early CMV reactivation. These transcript levels positively correlate with peak viremia and weakly with plasmablast and LBCS levels in PBLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In kidney transplantation, a biopsy is currently the gold standard for monitoring the transplanted organ. However, this is far from an ideal screening method given its invasive nature and the discomfort it can cause the patient. Large-scale studies in renal transplantation show that approximately 1% of biopsies generate major complications, with a risk of macroscopic hematuria greater than 3.5%. It would not be until 2011 that a method to detect donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) employing digital PCR was devised based on analyzing the differences in SNPs between the donor and recipient. In addition, since the initial validation studies were carried out at the specific moments in which rejection was suspected, there is still not a good understanding of how dd-cfDNA levels naturally evolve post-transplant. In addition, various factors, both in the recipient and the donor, can influence dd-cfDNA levels and cause increases in the levels of dd-cfDNA themselves without suspicion of rejection. All that glitters in this technology is not gold; therefore, in this article, we discuss the current state of clinical studies, the benefits, and disadvantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is great concern about obtaining clean energy. Governments around the world are boosting renewable energy resources. Oceans provide abundant renewable energy resources, including tidal, wave, and current energy. It seems that ocean currents are one of the most promising ways to obtain energy from the oceans. The goal of this paper is to assess the hydrokinetic power potential in three different areas of the Spanish coast using a novel turbine design, named the fin-ring turbine. The patented turbine was previously power tested in 2014 in the Gulf of Mexico and numerically validated in the literature. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the novel current turbine is presented, including mesh sensitivity and turbulence studies. The turbine's performance represented in TSR-Cp is discussed. The turbine was simulated in different regions with several current speeds, focusing on the Spanish coast. The results are very promising, with upper limit power coefficients of 37.5%, and 36.5% as a lower limit. Also, the comparisons with power test data available in the literature show very satisfactory agreement. The results highlight the superiority of the turbine in lower currents and present the suitability of the turbine's applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: sleep is a physiological process that is critical for physical and mental health in children. Childhood encompasses diverse developmental stages that may affect the impact of physical activity on sleep quality, which may also be influenced by sex. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation effect of sex and, as well as maturational stage on the association between physical activity and sleep quality, among primary school children. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study of 954 Spanish primary school students (437 early childhood and 517 middle childhood) with a mean age of 10.5 ± 1.2 years. Participants reported their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and their physical activity levels using the Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: our study found that physical activity is associated with improved sleep quality in children, particularly during middle childhood. Higher physical activity was linked to better sleep quality and reduced sleep latency (p = 0.044). Sleep quality was generally better in males than in females (p = 0.002) and was also better in early than middle childhood (p = 0.000). Conclusions: especially in middle childhood, physical activity promotes children's sleep quality. Thus, educational institutions should promote or improve the implementation of physical activity in the school context in order to benefit children's sleep quality and, hence, improve their quality of life and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The second-most frequent diagnosis among patients receiving liver transplants (LTs) is alcoholic liver disease. The multifactorial pathophysiology of alcoholic liver disease depends on the innate immune system and the inflammatory cascade. According to recent studies on these receptors, killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) may be involved in sepsis, liver rejection, and virus relapse. We aimed to investigate the impact of preclinical issues like ascites and encephalopathy and KIR genetic traits on death from sepsis, multiorgan failure (MF), and graft failure (GF) in AC patients undergoing LTs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 164 consecutive and deceased Caucasian AC patients who underwent LTs. Pre-transplant complications, cause of death, and patient survival were analyzed. Genomic DNA was taken from peripheral blood, and PCR-SSO was used for genotyping KIR. Results: Compared to GF patients, there was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of KIR2DL2+ (75.8% vs. 51.2%; p = 0.047). Another increase in frequency was also observed in KIR2DS2+ in sepsis compared to the GF group (51.2% vs. 43.7%; p = 0.018). In patients who passed away from MF, a decrease in KIR2DL5+ was observed in AC patients with and without encephalopathy (p = 0.018). The frequency of KIR3DL1+ in the AC patients significantly increased the mortality from sepsis (p = 0.045), which was confirmed by multivariate logistic regression. The frequency of KIR3DL1+ in the AC patients significantly increased the mortality from sepsis (p = 0.012) and was confirmed by multivariate logistic regression. KIR2DS1+ and KIR2DS4+ showed increased mortality due to GF compared to patients without these genes (p = 0.011 and 0.012, respectively). However, this fact was confirmed only for KIR2DS1+ by multivariate logistic Cox regression. Conclusions: The presence of the KIR2DL2/S2+, KIR2DL5+, and KIR3DL1+ genes increases the frequency of death from multiple organ failure or graft failure. Our findings highlight the AC patient's vulnerability to a LT during hospitalization. Following the transplant and outside of it, we adopt essential preventive measures to create a routine healthcare screening to enhance and modify treatments to increase survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process and evolution of an organ transplant procedure has evolved in terms of the prevention of immunological rejection with the improvement in the determination of immune response genes. These techniques include considering more important genes, more polymorphism detection, more refinement of the response motifs, as well as the analysis of epitopes and eplets, its capacity to fix complement, the PIRCHE algorithm and post-transplant monitoring with promising new biomarkers that surpass the classic serum markers such as creatine and other similar parameters of renal function. Among these new biomarkers, we analyze new serological, urine, cellular, genomic and transcriptomic biomarkers and computational prediction, with particular attention to the analysis of donor free circulating DNA as an optimal marker of kidney damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is enveloped RNA virus, encoding for a polyprotein that is processed by cellular proteases. The virus is responsible for liver cirrhosis, allograft rejection, and human hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on studies including compositional analysis, odds ratio analysis, parity analysis, skew analysis, relative synonymous codon usage, codon bias, and protein properties, it was evident that codon usage bias in HCV is dependent upon the nucleotide composition. Codon context analysis revealed CTC-CTG as a preferred codon pair. While CGA and CGT codons were rare, none of the codons were rare in HCV-like viruses envisaged in the present study. Many of the preferred codon pairs were valine amino acid-initiated, which possibly infers viral infectivity; hence the role of selection forces appears to act on the HCV genome, which was further validated by neutrality analysis where selection accounted for 87.28%, while mutation accounted for 12.72% force shaping codon usage. Furthermore, codon usage was correlated with the length of the genome. HCV viruses prefer valine-initiated codon pairs, while HCV-like viruses prefer alanine-initiated codon pairs. The HCV host range is very narrow and is confined to only humans and chimpanzees. Based on indices including codon usage correlation analysis, similarity index, and relative codon deoptimization index, it is evident in the study that the chimpanzee is the primary host of the virus. The present study helped elucidate the preferred host for HCV. The information presented in the study paved the way for generating an attenuated vaccine candidate through viral recoding, with finely tuned nucleotide composition and a perfect balance of preferred and rare codons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives. The diagnosis of seawater drowning (SWD) remains one of the most complex and contentious. It is one of the leading causes of unintentional death around the world. In most cases, the forensic pathologist must reach an accurate diagnosis from the autopsy findings and a series of complementary tests such as histopathological, biological, and chemical studies. Despite the lung being the most affected organ in death by submersion, there are few studies on this type of death's impact on this organ. The aim was to investigate human lung cadavers of forensic cases due to different causes of death, the concentration of the oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and γ-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl glycine (GSH), and the relationship with the expression of surfactant protein A (SP-A) to try to discriminate SWD from other types of causes of death. Materials and Methods. A total of 93 forensic autopsy cases were analyzed. Deaths were classified into three major groups based on the scene, cause of death, and autopsy findings (external foam, frothy fluid in airways, overlapping medial edges of the lungs): (a) drowning in seawater (n = 35), (b) other asphyxia (n = 33), such as hangings (n = 23), suffocations (n = 6), and strangulation (n = 4), and (c) other causes (n = 25), such as multiple suffocations. Oxidative stress markers (MDA and GSH) and the immunohistochemical expression of SP-A were determined in both lungs. Results. MDA levels were statistically higher in both lungs in cases of SWD than in other causes of death (p = 0.023). Similarly, significantly higher levels of GSH were observed in SWD compared to the rest of the deaths (p = 0.002), which was more significant in the right lung. Higher immunohistochemical expression of SP-A was obtained in the cases of SWD than in the other causes of death, with higher levels in both lungs. The correlation analysis between the levels of oxidative stress (MDA and GSH) in the lung tissue and the expression level of SP-A showed positive and significant results in SWD, both in the alveolar membrane and the alveolar space. Conclusions. Determining the levels of MDA and GSH in lung tissue and the expression level of SP-A can be of great importance in diagnosing SWD and the circumstances of death. A better understanding of the physiology of submersion is essential for its possible repercussions in adopting measures in the approach to patients who have survived a submersion process. It is also necessary for forensic pathology to correctly interpret the events that lead to submersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide association studies showed the relationship of NIN, ABHD12B, WHAMM, AP3B2, and SIGLEC5 with chronic periodontitis. The study's objective was to investigate different molecular patterns and evolutionary forces acting on the mentioned genes. The investigation of molecular patterns encompasses the study of compositional parameters, expression profile, physical properties of genes, codon preferences, degree of codon bias, determination of the most influential codons, and assessment of actions of evolutionary forces, such as mutations and natural selection. The overall compositional analysis revealed the dominance of A and G nucleotides compared to T and C. A relatively low codon usage bias is observed. The CTG codon is the most overused codon, followed by TCC. The genes, AP3B2 and SIGLEC5, preferred GC-ending codons, while NIN, ABHD12B, and WHAMM preferred AT-ending codons. The presence of directional mutational force and natural selection was found to operate codon usage in genes envisaged, and selective forces were dominant over mutational forces. Apart from mutation and selection forces, compositional constraints also played imperative roles. The study enriched our knowledge of specific molecular patterns associated with the set of genes significantly associated with chronic periodontitis. Further studies are warranted to identify more genetic signatures associated with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic liver rejection (CR) represents a complex clinical situation because many patients do not respond to increased immunosuppression. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors/Class I Human Leukocyte Antigens (KIR/HLA-I) interactions allow for predicting Natural Killer (NK) cell alloreactivity and influence the acute rejection of liver allograft. However, its meaning in CR liver graft remains controversial. KIR and HLA genotypes were studied in 513 liver transplants using sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO) methods. KIRs, human leucocyte antigen C (HLA-C) genotypes, KIR gene mismatches, and the KIR/HLA-ligand were analyzed and compared in overall transplants with CR (n = 35) and no-chronic rejection (NCR = 478). Activating KIR (aKIR) genes in recipients (rKIR2DS2+ and rKIR2DS3+) increased CR compared with NCR groups (p = 0.013 and p = 0.038). The inhibitory KIR (iKIR) genes in recipients rKIR2DL2+ significantly increased the CR rate compared with their absence (9.1% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.020). KIR2DL3 significantly increases CR (13.1% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.008). There was no influence on NCR. CR was observed in HLA-I mismatches (MM). The absence of donor (d) HLA-C2 ligand (dC2−) ligand increases CR concerning their presence (13.1% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.018). A significant increase of CR was observed in rKIR2DL3+/dC1− (p = 0.015), rKIR2DS4/dC1− (p = 0.014) and rKIR2DL3+/rKIR2DS4+/dC1− (p = 0.006). Long-term patient survival was significantly lower in rKIR2DS1+rKIR2DS4+/dC1− at 5–10 years post-transplant. This study shows the influence of rKIR/dHLA-C combinations and aKIR gene-gene mismatches in increasing CR and KIR2DS1+/C1-ligands and the influence of KIR2DS4+/C1-ligands in long-term graft survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the construction and analysis of some new families of n-point ternary subdivision schemes. Some members of the families were adapted to the presence of discontinuities converging to limit functions without Gibbs oscillations. We present a numerical comparison where we check the theoretical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) system signaling is critical for B-cell homeostasis, effector functions, and tolerance maintenance in transplants, but it has not been studied in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The aim was to analyze the changes in BAFF system expression in KTRs with/without acute rejection (AR/NAR). The BAFF system expression was analyzed by qPCR in 40 KTRs. A meta-analysis of BAFF system expression and histological renal damage was identified by the Chronic Allograft Damage Index (CADI) and performed from the GEO database. Proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) expression increased at three- and six-months post-KT (p = 0.014 and p < 0.001). B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) expression increased at six-months post-KT (p = 0.038). BAFF expression remained stable in NAR-KTRs, but was increased in CADI concerning the No-CADI group at one year (p = 0.008). BCMA expression increased in the CADI group at one- (p = 0.001) and six-years post-KT (p = 0.024). At three months, the transmembrane activator and calcium modulator interactor (TACI) gene significantly elevated KTRs with DSAs (donor-specific antibody; p = 0.034). KTRs with DSAs significantly increase the B-cell activating factor receptor (R-BAFF; p = 0.021) and TACI (p = 0.018) between pre- and three-month post-KT. Changes in the expression of the BAFF system increase during post-KTR in the development of AR and chronic allograft damage, and could be an important pathological tool to detect and prevent kidney graft outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide affects all sociodemographic levels, age groups, and populations worldwide. The factors that can increase the risk of suicidal tendencies are widely studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the types and combinations of toxics found in fatal suicide victims with different suicide mechanisms. A total of 355 autopsies were retrospectively studied, and 26 toxics were determined and related to mechanisms of suicide. Hanging (55%), drug overdose (22.7%), and jumping from a height (17.8%) were most represented suicide mechanisms with positive toxicology. Hanging was the most represented in men (50.3%; p = 0.019), while jumping from a height was more represented in women (29.7%, p = 0.028). Drugs of abuse were the most frequent toxics found in men (55.5%; p < 0.001), while medicines were the most frequent type found in women (70.3%, p < 0.001). Alcohol, nordiazepam, cocaine, and venlafaxine were the most consumed toxics. Benzodiazepines and venlafaxine were found in suicides involving drug overdose, hanging, and jumping from a height. In conclusion, most suicides were associated with drug abuse in men. Hanging was more represented in men and jumping from a height in women. Alcohol was present in combination with other toxics and medicines. The toxicological analysis is fundamental to understanding consumption patterns and establishing strategies and protocols for detecting and preventing suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar cane smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) interactions have been traditionally considered from the plant’s point of view: How can resistant sugar cane plants defend themselves against smut disease? Resistant plants induce several defensive mechanisms that oppose fungal attacks. Herein, an overall view of Sporisorium scitamineum’s mechanisms of infection and the defense mechanisms of plants are presented. Quorum sensing effects and a continuous reorganization of cytoskeletal components, where actin, myosin, and microtubules are required to work together, seem to be some of the keys to a successful attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have found a negative impact of media use on the language of children under 5 years. This impact seems to be related to the linguistic input of their parents. However, less is known about the influence of media on language in preteens. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the use of media, the quantity of parental language input, and the linguistic level of preteens. We assessed the language level of 60 bilingual Spanish–Catalan preteens aged 11–12 years with four subtests of the Spanish version of the standardized clinical evaluation of language fundaments (CELF-5-Spanish) as well as media use at home through a multiple-choice questionnaire. Results showed lower language scores in preteens who had access to more media devices, who used them more frequently, and who talked less with their parents. Language scores were also significantly lower in preteens who used media devices to communicate compared to those who used it as a school aid or to learn new things. These results are not influenced by socioeconomic level, sex, chronological age, or family language. The present results highlight the negative impact of media use on the language level of older children, which is also related to the amount of linguistic input received from their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sudden unexpected death (SUD) is one of the most important and worthy investigation case profiles in emergency medicine and forensic pathology. Sudden unexpected deaths in adults (SUDA) are frequently caused by cardiac events, while infections usually cause those in infants younger than one year (SUDI), and to a lesser extent, in children older than one year (SUDC). However, in some instances of children under the age of one dying (SIDS), a cause is not discovered despite a thorough investigation that includes a review of clinical history, examination of the death scene, and a complete autopsy. Several studies demonstrate that the microbiome influences host immunity, alters susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, and has a vital role in various health, disease, and death outcomes. The main objective of this systematic review was to compile and offer a complete vision of the main lines of research on microbiome and sudden death that have emerged in recent years and their relationship with forensic sciences, as well as the possible contributions or limitations in the field of forensic sciences. Methods. Following PRISMA principles, a systematic evaluation of the microbiome and sudden death in forensic science was conducted. In this review, our study classified the sudden deaths as SUDA, SUDI, and SIDS. Results. The role of microbiome research in sudden death is discussed in this review. Various studies have linked the detection of different bacteria or viruses as a probable cause of sudden death. Bacteria analysed differ between studies that used autopsy specimens from deaths classified as SUDA, SUDI, and SIDS, or, except in the case of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which have been analysed in both SUDI and SIDS autopsies. In the case of viruses, only Cytomegalovirus has been analysed in both SIDS and SUDI cases. However, all the viruses studied are respiratory viruses found in samples of nasopharyngeal or lung fluid. Conclusions. Although the application of the microbiome in sudden death and other fields of forensic science is still in its early stages, a role of the microbiome in sudden deaths cannot be ruled out, but we cannot conclude that it is a significant factor either. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The kidney allograft biopsy is considered the gold standard for rejection diagnosis but is invasive and could be indeterminate. Several publications point to the role of miRNA expression in suggesting its involvement in the acceptance or rejection of organ transplantation. This study aimed to analyze microRNAs involved in the differentiation and activation of B and T lymphocytes from kidney transplant (KT) patients' peripheral blood leukocytes to be used as biomarkers of acute renal rejection (AR). Methods: A total of 15 KT patients with and without acute rejection (AR/NAR) were analyzed and quantified by miRNA PCR array. A total of 84 miRNAs related to lymphocyte differentiation and activation B and T were studied. The functions and biological pathways were analyzed to predict the potential targets of differential expressed miRNAs. Results: Six miRNA were increased in the AR group (miR-191-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-346, miR-423-5p, miR-574-3p, and miR-181d) and miR-150-5p was increased in the NAR group. In silico studies showed a total of 2603 target genes for the increased miRNAs in AR, while for the decrease miRNA, a total of 1107 target-potential genes were found. Conclusions: Our results show that KT with AR shows a decrease in miR-150-5p expression compared to NAR, suggesting that the decrease in miR-150-5p could be related to an increased MBD6 whose deregulation could have clinical consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of foreseen global climatic changes, we can expect crops to be subjected to several stresses that may occur at the same time, but information concerning the effect of long-term exposure to a combination of stresses on fruit yield and quality is scarce. This work looks at the effect of a long-term combination of salinity and high temperature stresses on tomato yield and fruit quality. Salinity decreased yield but had positive effects on fruit quality, increasing TSS, acidity, glucose, fructose and flavonols. High temperatures increased the vitamin C content but significantly decreased the concentration of some phenolic compounds (hydroxycinnamic acids and flavanones) and some carotenoids (phytoene, phytofluene and violaxanthin). An idiosyncrasy was observed in the effect of a combination of stresses on the content of homovanillic acid O-hexoside, lycopene and lutein, being different than the effect of salinity or high temperature when applied separately. The effect of a combination of stresses may differ from the effects of a single stress, underlining the importance of studying how stress interactions may affect the yield and quality of crops. The results show the viability of exploiting abiotic stresses and their combination to obtain tomatoes with increased levels of health-promoting compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Clinical and molecular mechanisms involved in the cause and time of death of alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) are not entirely understood. In sudden death cases, judicial autopsy practice is mandatory for determining the cause and circumstances of death. The medico-legal autopsy data are essential for helping health authorities to guide future public health activities, assess the effectiveness of health systems, and adopt the necessary preventive measures to improve and adapt the treatments in order to increase these patients' survival. Objective. Our study aimed to determine the different clinical and sociodemographic causes that influence the different causes of death and the short- and long-term survival of AC patients undergoing liver transplantation. Methods. A total of 122 deceased AC patients undergoing LT were analyzed at different times post-transplantation. The main pre- and post-transplant complications were analyzed in relation to the cause of death and the patient's survival, as well as the causes and time at which the patient's death occurred. Results. A total of 53.3% of non-sudden death was observed. A large number of the deaths of AC patients undergoing transplantation were due to non-sudden death, sepsis, and graft failure (GF), the main causes of death in the sample being similar in both sexes. In non-sudden deaths, there were no significant differences between the death rates either related or not related to the liver transplant. Sepsis was the main cause, with the highest percentage (21.3%) of mortality, followed by GF (18.9%) and multiorgan failure (15.6%) at ten years. Furthermore, our results showed how pre-transplant clinical complications, such as viral infections and encephalopathy, influence the age at which multiorgan failure occurs in the transplanted patient. Conclusion. Multiorgan failure is the leading cause of sudden death, with higher mortality during the first year after transplantation, followed by sepsis and GF. Our results show the vulnerability of AC patients, both in the hospital period after the transplant and outside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: B lymphocytes (BL) seem to play an important role in transplantation, although the and role of different subpopulations in monitoring and outcome is not clear. Our aim was to monitoring immunological profiles based on BL subpopulations in kidney recipients (KR) with the risk of acute rejection (AR). Methods: Monitoring of BL subpopulations was performed by flow cytometry in PBLs before transplantation and three and six months after transplantation (PTX). We used two methodological approaches, a traditional analysis, and a novel cluster analysis, to determine the association between BL subpopulations, AR incidence, and graft function. Results: After three months of PTX, KRs with a B phenotype enriched in transitional BL and plasmablasts had better kidney function and lower AR incidence. KRs with decreased transitional BL and plasmablasts were associated with lower kidney function and higher AR PTX. KRs that had an increase in transitional BL PTX had a better clinical outcome. The increase in transitory BL during PTX was also associated with an increase in Tregs. Indeed, KRs receiving thymoglobulin as induction therapy showed a slight decrease in the relative frequency of naive BLs after three months of PTX. Conclusion: The monitoring of BL subpopulations may serve as a non-invasive tool to improve immunological follow-up of patients after kidney transplantation. However, further studies are needed to confirm the obtained results, define cut-off values, and standardize more optimal and even custom/customized protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment option in patients diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. The low availability of organs demands an accurate selection procedure based on histological analysis, in order to evaluate the allograft. This assessment, traditionally carried out by a pathologist, is not exempt from subjectivity. In this sense, new tools based on machine learning and artificial vision are continuously being developed for the analysis of medical images of different typologies. Accordingly, in this work, we develop a computer vision-based application for the fast and automatic objective quantification of macrovesicular steatosis in histopathological liver section slides stained with Sudan stain. For this purpose, digital microscopy images were used to obtain thousands of feature vectors based on the RGB and CIE L*a*b* pixel values. These vectors, under a supervised process, were labelled as fat vacuole or non-fat vacuole, and a set of classifiers based on different algorithms were trained, accordingly. The results obtained showed an overall high accuracy for all classifiers (>0.99) with a sensitivity between 0.844 and 1, together with a specificity >0.99. In relation to their speed when classifying images, KNN and Naïve Bayes were substantially faster than other classification algorithms. Sudan stain is a convenient technique for evaluating ME in pre-transplant liver biopsies, providing reliable contrast and facilitating fast and accurate quantification through the machine learning algorithms tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work quantifies Fe uptake in young citrus trees, its partitioning among plant compartments, and the contribution of the Fe absorbed from fertilizer to the development of new tissues. A soil pot experiment was conducted using 4-year-old clementine trees (Citrus clementina Hort ex Tan), and a dose of 240 mg Fe was applied by labeled fertilizer (92% atom 57Fe excess). Plants were uprooted at five different phenologic states: end of flowering (May 15), end of fruit setting and fruit drop (July 1), two fruit growing moments (August 1 and October 15), and at complete fruit maturity (December 10). The Fe accumulated in the root system exceeded 90% of the total Fe content in the plant. All organs progressively enriched with 57Fe (8.5–15.5% and 7.4–9.9% for young and old organs, respectively). Reproductive ones reached the highest increase (111% between May and October). 57Fe enrichment from woody organs reflects an increasing gradient to sink organs. The root system accumulated 80% of the Fe absorbed from the fertilizer, but the young organs accumulated relatively more Fe uptake during flowering and fruit setting (15.6% and 13.8%, respectively) than old organs (around 9.8%). Although iron derived from fertilizer (Fedff) preferably supplied young organs (16.7–31.0%) against old ones (2.5–14.9%), it only represented between 13.8% and 21.4% of its content. The use efficiency of the applied Fe (FeUE) barely exceeded 15%. The lowest FeUE were found in young and old organs of the aerial part (1.1–1.8% and 0.7–1.2%, respectively). Since the pattern of the seasonal absorption of Fe is similar to the monthly distribution curve of the supplied Fe, it is recommended that the application of Fe chelates in calcareous soils should be performed in a similar way to that proposed in this curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching and preformed donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in liver transplantation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of DSAs in a large cohort of 810 liver recipients undergoing liver transplant to determine the influence on acute (AR) or chronic liver rejection (CR), graft loss and allograft survival. DSAs were identified using complement dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch (CDC-CM) and multiplexed solid-phase-based flow cytometry assay (Luminex). CDC-CM showed that a 3.2% of liver transplants were positive (+CDC-CM) with an AR frequency of 19.2% which was not different from that observed in negative patients (−CDC-CM, 22.3%). Only two patients transplanted with +CDC-CM (7.6%) developed CR and suffered re-transplant. +CDC-CM patients showed a significantly lower survival rate compared to −CDC-CM patients (23.1% vs. 59.1%, p = 0.0003), developing allograft failure within the first three months (p < 0.00001). In conclusion, we have demonstrated a relationship between the presence of preformed DSAs and the low graft liver survival, indicating the important role and the potential interest of performing this analysis before liver transplantation. Our results could help to detect patients with an increased risk of graft loss, a better choice of liver receptors as well as the establishment of individualized immunosuppressive regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the approximation of stiff systems of ODEs arising from chemistry kinetics, implicit integrators emerge as good candidates. This paper proposes a variational approach for this type of systems. In addition to introducing the technique, we present its most basic properties and test its numerical performance through some experiments. The main advantage with respect to other implicit methods is that our approach has a global convergence. The other approaches need to ensure convergence of the iterative scheme used to approximate the associated nonlinear equations that appear for the implicitness. Notice that these iterative methods, for these nonlinear equations, have bounded basins of attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]