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Background: Preoperative malnutrition is a significant factor in patients with pancreatic tumors undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. The aim of this study was to assess the association between preoperative malnutrition and delayed discharge within a ten-day timeframe and potential correlations between preoperative malnutrition and postoperative surgical complications. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, recruiting a final sample of 79 patients with benign or malignant cephalic pancreatic tumors from 2015 to 2022. The risk of malnutrition was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, while length of hospital stay and relevant clinical data were extracted from clinical documentation. Results: The preoperative malnutrition risk was high in 21.52% of the sample, moderate in 36.71%, and low in 41.77%. Body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.007) and postoperative surgical complications (p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with delayed discharge. No statistically significant differences were found between levels of malnutrition risk and delayed discharge (p = 0.122), or postoperative surgical complications (p = 0.874). Conclusions: Postoperative complications and BMI emerge as significant risk factors. The limited sample size may have compromised the collection of homogeneous and significant data. Future studies should evaluate the implementation of personalized nutritional screening tools, nutritional assessment plans, and the involvement of specialized health professionals.

Background/Aim: Nutrition is a key element of the prehabilitation process prior to surgery. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical pathways of nutritional prehabilitation before cystectomy. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus and the Web of Science databases. Quality and risk of bias assessment was conducted adhering to the JBI framework and evidence was evaluated according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine levels of evidence. Results: Out of 586 records identified, six studies were included. Among them, only two were randomized controlled trials. Immunonutrition has been shown to improve postoperative bowel function (3.12 vs. 3.74 days; RR 0.82; CI, 0.73–0.93; p = 0.0029) and decrease postoperative complications (−36.7%; p = 0.008) and readmission rates (−15.38%; p = 0.03). Furthermore, oral nutritional supplements combined with nutritional counseling demonstrated an accelerated recovery of bowel function (−1 day; p < 0.01), a reduction in the length of hospital stay (−1.75 days; p = 0.01), an improvement in handgrip strength (+6.8%, p < 0.001), an increase in bone mass (+0.3 kg, p = 0.04), and a better BMI value (+2.3%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Nutritional prehabilitation demonstrates potential in enhancing postoperative outcomes following radical cystectomy. Oral supplements, immunonutrition, and counseling exhibit efficacy in improving postoperative results.

Multi-criteria methods are highly attractive tools to address the inherent complexity of evaluating problems in various scientific areas. The combination of methods such as Delphi/AHP is emerging as a robust alternative to evaluate the sustainability of renewable energy sources. In this theoretical-descriptive research, the use of the Delphi method is proposed to select criteria and sub-criteria to obtain a high level of reliability, while the AHP method is used to establish an order of preference among the alternatives analyzed. This process requires the support of a committee of experts, whose role is to identify the various biomass alternatives that can be used in the sugar industry, considering aspects related to sustainability. The selected experts have identified energy, exergy, and emergetic indicators, in which economic, environmental, and social aspects are integrated. The multi-criteria analysis shows that the V1 variant was the most satisfactory in terms of biomass sustainability, representing 45% and 53% of the overall priorities in the evaluated case studies. In addition, the sensitivity analysis under an equal-weighted scenario for both study cases evidenced that variant V1 acquired the highest score (38.17%) among all alternatives. Variant V4 achieved the second highest score (31.79%), while alternative V2 achieved only 29.04%, respectively. The integration of Delphi/AHP methods emerges as a novel tool to assess sustainability in different industries of the energy sector.

Stress is widely known to have debilitating effects on physical health and mental wellbeing, particularly on one’s coping styles, personality traits, and outlook on life. Cumulative and chronic stress, which can serve as a triggering or aggravating factor for many pathological disorders if left unaddressed, has been linked to many life-threatening diseases. While many studies have looked at how optimism and pessimism are used as a form of coping mechanism, few have examined how different bio-psycho-social reactions to stress shape the level of optimism and pessimism. Using a sample of adult individuals aged 18 and older in the United States (n = 3361), this study addressed the following research questions: (1) What types of stress are predictive of optimism and pessimism? (2) Which responses to stress and coping mechanisms are most predictive of optimism and pessimism? (3) Do optimism and pessimism share the same stress-related risk and protective factors? Overall, this study found that while optimism and pessimism share conceptual similarities, they are not necessarily influenced by the same stress mechanisms. Stress, whether personal or financial, was associated with a negative outlook on life. This study showed that having good sleep quality and a lower number of psychological stress symptoms was linked to increasing optimism and reducing pessimism, while overeating or eating unhealthily was connected to both optimism and pessimism. Additionally, this study found that exercise/walking and emotional support mediated the effects of the responses to stress on the respondents’ level of optimism and pessimism.

Background: Postpartum depression is a public health problem that affects a considerable percentage of women. Despite the proliferation of related apps, there are limited data available on the best apps to prevent postpartum depression. We identified which apps available in Spanish could be recommended by midwives based on their content, quality, and behaviour change techniques, as a complementary tool for preventing postpartum depression in women. Methods: A systematic search was performed to identify apps available on iOS App Store and Google Play, which were used to replicate how patients’ access “postpartum depression prevention” apps. Apps’ quality, behaviour change potential, and contents were assessed. Results: A total of 1408 apps were identified, of which 7 were retrieved for assessment (0.5%). The mean objective and subject quality were 3.1 (SD = 1.01) and 2.7 (SD = 1.27), respectively. A total of 24 topics were identified. The mean ABACUS score was 6.6 (SD = 3.64), and the mean number of topics addressed by the apps was 9.9 (SD = 5.90). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that a specific free app is not available in Spanish for the prevention of postpartum depression, and only a small percentage of free apps should be recommended based on their quality, BCTs, and contents. The systematic review protocol was not registered.

Subjective well-being (SW) is understood as the personal judgment that an individual has about their value, perception, and level of satisfaction with respect to his or her life and existence. The present study had the purpose of understanding how pandemics have affected subjective well-being; therefore, the objective was to determine the subjective well-being of the staff at a teaching dental center in a COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance system between the years 2020 and 2022. A cross-sectional design was applied and was based on data from two records of the Centro Dental Docente of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru, between the years 2021 and 2022. The results show that the mean SW did not significantly vary (p = 0.114) between 2021 (69.32; SD = 19.92) and 2022 (63.16; SD = 29.87). At a bivariate level, significant associations were also observed between SW and multiple variables such as the diagnosis and type of COVID-19, vaccination, contact with COVID-19 patients, systemic conditions, body mass index, educational level, gender, and age. Meanwhile, according to the regression analysis, not having COVID-19 was positively associated with higher levels of subjective well-being. This study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental and emotional states of dental healthcare personnel, emphasizing the need for strategies to mitigate stress and anxiety in such critical work environments.

Autism rates have been reported to be increasing rapidly in industrialized societies. The pathology most often combines neurological symptoms associated with language and social impairments with gastrointestinal symptoms. This study aimed to measure differences in oral metatranscriptome and mitochondrial health between ASD children and neurotypical USA and Colombia (“Blue Zone”) children. In addition, this study aimed to determine whether using prebiotics and probiotics would change the oral microbiome and mitochondrial health of ASD children. Buccal swabs and saliva samples were obtained from 30 autistic individuals (USA) at three intervals: prior to intervention, post-prebiotic, and post-probiotic. In addition, a subject component who were neurotypical, which included individuals from the USA (30) and Colombia (30), had buccal swabbing and salivary sampling performed for metatranscriptomic and mitochondrial comparison. Significant differences were observed in the temporal data, demonstrating shifts that interventions with probiotics and polyols may have precipitated. Particular bacterial strains were significantly more prevalent in the autism group, including a strain that reduced neurotransmitter levels via enzymatic degradation. This supports the hypothesis that the microbiome may influence the occurrence and degree of autism. Verbal skills increased in six of the 30 ASD subjects following xylitol and three more after probiotic supplementation, according to both parental reports and the subjects’ healthcare providers.

Spinel-type InGaMgO4 with a = 8.56615(3) Å was prepared by treating layered YbFe2O4-type InGaMgO4 at 6 GPa and 1473 K. DFT calculation and Rietveld analysis of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data revealed the inverse spinel structure with In3+:Ga3+/Mg2+ = 0.726:0.274 in the tetrahedral site and 0.137:0.863 in the octahedral site. InGaMgO4 spinel is an insulator with an experimental band gap of 2.80 eV, and the attempt at hole doping by post-annealing in a reducing atmosphere to introduce an oxygen defect was unsuccessful. This is the first report of the bulk synthesis of AB2O4 compounds with both YbFe2O4 and spinel polymorphs.

Background: Rooms illuminated by “black light” (

The functional outcomes and restoration of form after vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) have exceeded the results that could be achieved with current autologous surgical techniques. However, the longevity of VCA grafts has been limited due to the development of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs), and chronic rejection and graft failure occur despite long-term immunotherapy. Furthermore, despite widespread consensus that these non-life-saving transplants are beneficial for select patients, the application of VCA is limited by the need for lifelong immunosuppression. Therefore, attempts to achieve drug-free tolerance through safe and effective therapies are critical. This review highlights recent publications regarding alloantibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in various VCAs with a focus on the critical need for novel tolerance-inducing strategies. The development and implementation of effective methods of inducing tolerance, such as the use of anti-CD3 immunotoxins, could drastically improve VCA graft outcomes and recipient quality of life.

An 80-year-old man presented to the cardiology outpatient clinic due to shortness of breath. His past medical history included alcohol intake, hypertension, inferior wall myocardial infarction (five years ago), an ischemic stroke, and permanent atrial fibrillation (diagnosed three years before the current examination). A physical exam revealed a decreased intensity of S1 and S2, irregular rate and rhythm, and no murmurs nor friction rub. X-rays, Computed Tomography, and echocardiography exhibited pericardial calcification, involving mostly the inferior wall and protruding into the left ventricle. A diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis due to pericardial calcification was established and considered idiopathic. Even when it may be related to ischemic heart disease, post-infarction pericarditis could explain how the calcification extended to adjacent territory perfused by the circumflex coronary artery. Combined imaging studies were crucial not only for identifying calcium deposits in the pericardium but also in assessing a patient inherently prone to co-existing and exacerbating conditions. Even though pericardiectomy allows for removal of the clinical manifestations of congestive pericarditis in the most symptomatic patients with pericardial calcification, among patients like ours, with tolerable symptoms, cardiologists should discuss the therapeutic options considering the patient’s choices, potentially including a rehabilitation plan as part of non-pharmacological management.

The aim of this study was to examine athlete engagement and its relationships with indicators of the quality of the athlete’s sport experience, exploring potential differences according to gender, age, and competitive level. Furthermore, this study validated the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ) in young athletes and confirmed its factor structure. A total of 1188 athletes (43.90% girls) from Argentina participated in the study, with a mean age of 15.92 (SD = 2.50). The participants completed the AEQ along with other measures of athletes’ quality of experience, such as motivation, enjoyment, and burnout. This study confirmed the multidimensional nature of engagement, showing positive associations with high-quality athlete experiences and revalidating the inverse relationship with burnout. Moreover, the study found differences in engagement dimensions (i.e., confidence, vigor, dedication, and enthusiasm) based on the interplay of gender, age, and competitive level. In general, male athletes, younger athletes, and those with a higher competitive level showed more engagement and interactions between these sociodemographic variables. The Argentinian version of AEQ exhibited optimal fit and reliability and good indexes of measurement invariance across gender, age, and competitive level. These findings validate the AEQ as a reliable tool for evaluating sport engagement among adolescents in Argentina. Engagement constitutes an indicator of an optimal experience linked to positive youth development through sports participation.

The biotransformation of poultry (PSW) and swine (SSW) slaughterhouse waste might provide protein feedstuffs, ensuring efficient ruminant systems while safeguarding the environment. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of PSW and SSW as alternative protein feed for ruminant animals. A total of 24 lambs [25.4 ± 3.13 kg of body weight (BW), mean ± SD] were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n = 8): a control diet formulated with typical protein ingredients (CTRL) and two diets formulated with PSW or SSW meal as a protein source. Dietary inclusion of PSW or SSW did not alter (p = 0.05) dry matter intake or final BW. However, animals fed SSW showed the highest average daily gain (ADG, p = 0.04). In addition, substituting PSW and SSW improved the feed conversation ratio (FCR, p = 0.05). There were no diet effects (p = 0.05) on N intake, while fecal N excretion increased (p = 0.03) with SSW feeding. Compared to CTRL and PSW, ingestion of SSW decreased (p = 0.001) and retained N. The digestibility of crude protein and organic matter remained unchanged (p = 0.05). Additionally, there were no differences (p = 0.05) in potential microbial protein synthesis based on either protein content (SPMp) or energy content (SPMe). Similarly, potential metabolizable protein by protein (PMp) and potential metabolizable energy by protein (PMe) were not affected (p = 0.05). Overall, both PSW and SSW positively influenced the growth performance of ewe lambs. However, further studies are warranted to explore the impact of PWS or SSW feeding on rumen function, nitrogen pollution, and protein escaping the rumen into the intestine in ruminants.

Since UNESCO unveiled its declaration for an integrated approach to safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage in 2003 [...]

Depressive and anxiety disorders constitute some of the most prevalent mental disorders around the world. For years, the development of new lead compounds for drug discovery in this field has been an area of great attention. Recently, a series of tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives have demonstrated important anxiolytic-like activity, associated with their structures and stereochemistry. Here, we present a study of the antidepressant effect and anxiolytic-like activity of a fused thiopyrano-piperidone-tetrahydrocarboline (compound 4). The antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects of 4 (1–50 mg/kg p.o.) were assessed with the tail suspension test and the hole-board test, respectively. This study determined the possible mechanisms involved in the anxiolytic-like actions of 4 using inhibitors or neurotransmission and evaluated its interaction with 5HT2A receptors using a molecular docking study. As an analog to the tetrahydrocarbazole core, the tetrahydrocarboline derivative showed anxiolytic-like activity (ED50 = 13 mg/kg p.o.) in the hole-board test, with a comparable effect to the reference drug, 1.5 mg/kg clonazepam, with the possible participation of the serotonergic system.

The mitochondrial genome of Pumpo (Bos taurus), a prominent breed contributing to livestock farming, was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Assembly and annotation of the mitochondrial genome were achieved through a multifaceted approach employing bioinformatics tools such as Trim Galore, SPAdes, and Geseq, followed by meticulous manual inspection. Additionally, analyses covering tRNA secondary structure and codon usage bias were conducted for comprehensive characterization. The 16,341 base pair mitochondrial genome comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis places Pumpo within a clade predominantly composed of European cattle, reflecting its prevalence in Europe. This comprehensive study underscores the importance of mitochondrial genome analysis in understanding cattle evolution and highlights the potential of genetic improvement programs in livestock farming, thus contributing to enhanced livestock practices.

Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS), a form of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), has gained importance in treating glioblastoma alongside conventional chemotherapy. This study aims to assess the efficacy of combining GKRS with surgery and chemotherapy to enhance treatment outcomes for glioblastoma patients. This prospective clinical study, adhering to STROBE guidelines, assessed 121 glioblastoma patients from June 2008 to December 2022. All patients who had not undergone prior radiotherapy underwent open surgical tumor resection, GKRS, and adjuvant chemotherapy. In the analyzed cohort, the median survival post-diagnosis was 21.2 months (95% CI: 11.4–26.7) and the median progression-free survival was 13.6 months (95% CI: 12.5–28.3). The median time to first recurrence post-treatment was 14.5 months (range: 4–33 months). The median prescribed dose for GKRS was 12 Gy (range: 10–17 Gy), with a median target volume of 6.0 cm3 (range: 1.6–68 cm3). Post GKRS, 92 patients experienced local recurrence, 21 experienced distant recurrence, and 87 received additional treatment, indicating diverse responses and treatment engagement. This study evaluates the use of GKRS for glioblastomas, emphasizing its efficacy and complications in a single-center trial. It suggests integrating GKRS into initial treatment and for recurrences, highlighting the comparable survival rates but underscoring the need for further research.

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to inadequate provision of mental health and addictions care, as services have been traditionally conceptualized to serve the needs of children or adults. Additionally, rural communities have been largely excluded from research investigating mental healthcare access and exhibit unique barriers that warrant targeted interventions. Finally, perspectives from the target population will be most important when understanding how to optimize adolescent mental health and addictions care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify what adolescents in a rural town perceive as barriers to accessing mental health services. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study with high school students to generate ranked lists of the top perceived individual-level, community-level, and overall barriers. A total of 243 high school students responded to the survey. Perceived barriers were predominantly at the community level. Overall, the top barriers reported were a lack of awareness and education regarding mental health, resources, and the nature of treatment. Students who had previously accessed mental health services identified primary barriers related to mental health professionals, whereas students who had not accessed care reported fear and uncertainty as primary barriers. Modifiable community-level factors related to (1) mental health literacy and (2) mental healthcare professionals were identified by adolescents as the main perceived barriers to accessing mental health and addiction services in a rural town. The findings of this preliminary study should inform intervention strategies and further rigorous research for this traditionally underserved target population.

In this study, the sizing problem of hybrid diesel–photovoltaic–battery systems was determined using a particle swarm optimization approach. The goal was to optimize the number of solar panels and batteries that could be installed to reduce the overall cost of an isolated grid system, originally powered by diesel generators, located on Isabela Island in the Galapagos, Ecuador. In this study, real solar radiation and temperature profiles were used, as well as the load demand and electrical distribution system relative to this island. The results reveal that the total cost for the proposed approach is lower as it reaches the global optimal solution. It also highlights the advantage of a hybrid diesel–photovoltaic–battery (DG-PV-BAT) system compared to conventional systems operated exclusively by diesel generators (DGs) and systems made up of DGs and PV panels; compared to them, a reduction in diesel consumption and total cost (71% and 56%, respectively) is achieved. The DG-PV-BAT system also considerably improves environmental factors and the quality of the power line. This study demonstrates the advantages of hybridizing systems isolated from the network through the proposed approach.

Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue and expressed in several organs, including the placenta. We investigated the influence of leptin in maternal blood on leptin expression and concentration in the placenta and umbilical cord and its influence on fetal weight and conditions at the time of birth. Twenty-five parturients were recruited, and after childbirth, placental tissue fragments, umbilical arteries, and vein blood were collected. According to leptin concentration in maternal peripheral blood, parturients were divided into low and high leptin groups. Mothers in the high-leptin group had higher age, pre-pregnancy weight, pre-pregnancy BMI, and weight in late pregnancy than mothers in the low-leptin group. Children of mothers in the high-leptin group presented an Apgar score modestly lower than those of the low-leptin group. No differences were observed in leptin concentrations in the umbilical artery and vein. However, the leptin retained in the fetus increased in the high-leptin group compared to the low-leptin group. We observed a negative correlation between fetal leptin retained and maternal age in the low-leptin group. In the high-leptin group, placental leptin concentration was positively correlated with maternal weight in late pregnancy. Nonetheless, the expression of the leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) was negatively correlated with newborn length. In conclusion, this study found a positive correlation between maternal leptin levels and maternal pre-pregnancy weight, BMI, and fetal birth weight. These findings suggest a potential role of leptin in maternal weight regulation during pregnancy and fetal growth.

Background: Our study aimed to assess the radiation sensitivity of BT20, a human breast tumor cell line, using the laser-trapping technique and compare it with N2a and 4T1 cells. Additionally, we investigated the impact of the antitumor compound 2-Dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (DMDD) on radiation sensitivity. Methods and Materials: We employed laser trapping to calculate both the threshold ionization energy (TIE) and threshold radiation dose (TRD) for BT20, N2a, and 4T1 cells. We assessed the effect of DMDD on BT20 cells’ radiosensitivity and conducted comparisons across these cell lines. Results: Our findings reveal that DMDD significantly enhances the radiosensitivity of BT20 breast carcinoma cells. Moreover, we observed distinct trends in TIE and TRD across the three cell lines, with differences attributed to variations in cell size and composition. When multiple cell ionizations were considered, a notable reduction in TRD was observed, implicating factors such as the chain effect of ionizing radiation and the influence of DMDD. The study found that TIE increased with the number of cells in the trap while TRD consistently decreased across all three cell lines, suggesting comparable radiation sensitivity, and oligostilbene treatment further reduced TRD, presenting the potential for enhancing therapeutic ratios in cancer treatment. Conclusion: The antitumor compound DMDD enhances the radiosensitivity of BT20 breast carcinoma cells, highlighting its potential in cancer treatment. Furthermore, our study underscores the impact of cell size and multiple-cell ionizations on TRD. Leveraging laser trapping techniques, biocompatible nanoparticles, and advanced optical tweezers opens promising avenues for personalized and effective cancer therapy approaches.

Crop plant varieties exhibit diverse reactions when subjected to wastewater irrigation in terms of seed germination, seedling development, and overall productivity. Magneto-priming, which involves treating seeds with an appropriate magnetic field, is gaining popularity as the preferred technique due to its effectiveness and environmentally friendly characteristics for improving seed vigour, growth, and plant yield. In this study, magneto-primed and non-primed broccoli seeds were irrigated with distilled or wastewater and kept under observation for a 10-day period to record seedling growth. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the impact of magneto-priming on broccoli seeds with a homogeneous stationary magnetic-field strength of 5.9 mT for 1 h. They were irrigated with two types of water: distilled and wastewater. Another test was performed to evaluate the effect of 1-h and 2-h magneto-priming on seed germination when seeds were irrigated with wastewater. From the results, the broccoli seedlings irrigated with distilled water grew higher and heavier than the ones irrigated with wastewater, probably due to the significant amounts of salts in organic wastewater. Nonetheless, the saline effect of wastewater was ameliorated when seeds were previously magneto-primed. All the germination parameters of broccoli seeds irrigated with wastewater were significantly reduced when seeds were magneto-primed for both periods.

Probiotics in aquaculture hold promise for enhancing fish health and growth. Due to their increased specificity and affinity for their host, indigenous probiotics may offer isolated and potentially amplified benefits. This study investigated the effects of Lactococcus lactis PH3-05, previously isolated from adults of tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus), on the growth, survival, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, expression of barrier and immune genes, and intestinal microbiota composition in the larvae of tropical gar. Larvae were fed with live L. lactis PH3-05 concentrations of 104, 106, and 108 CFU/g for 15 days alongside a control diet without probiotics. Higher concentrations of L. lactis PH3-05 (106 and 108 CFU/g) positively influenced larval growth, increasing hepatocyte area and enterocyte height. The 106 CFU/g dose significantly enhanced survival (46%) and digestive enzyme activity. Notably, the 108 CFU/g dose stimulated increased expression of muc-2 and il-10 genes, suggesting enhanced mucosal barrier function and anti-inflammatory response. Although L. lactis PH3-05 did not significantly change the diversity, structure, or Phylum level composition of intestinal microbiota, which was constituted by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes, an increase in Lactobacillus abundance was observed in fish fed with 106 CFU/g, suggesting enhanced probiotic colonization. These results demonstrate that administering L. lactis PH3-05 at 106 CFU/g promotes growth, survival, and digestive health in A. tropicus larvae, establishing it as a promising indigenous probiotic candidate for aquaculture applications.

The work presented in this paper includes the construction methods and lessons learned from the placement of a non-proprietary ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) overlay through the rehabilitation of a concrete bridge deck located in Socorro, New Mexico, USA. The selected bridge is a multi-cell, box girder bridge with four spans and a total length of 91.4 m and a width of 16.5 m with two traffic lanes. Rehabilitation of the bridge involved removing the top surface of the existing deck (deteriorated concrete), installing a high-performance deck (HPD) leveling course, and placing a 25 mm UHPC overlay. Sensors were installed in the bridge superstructure (multi-cell box girders, HPD, and overlay) for long-term monitoring. Overlay assessment included physical testing to evaluate the condition of the overlay–substrate bond by chain dragging and direct tension pull-off testing. Conclusions and lessons learned from this investigation serve as a fundamental list of best practices and recommendations for field construction of a non-proprietary UHPC overlay. Recommendations for preparatory tasks including material selection, substrate surface preparation, placement preparation, handling of materials, and UHPC mixing are provided. The recommendations also list best practices concerning the placement of the overlay, curing procedures, and quality assurance testing. Lastly, suggestions are presented for contracts pertaining to UHPC overlay projects.

The number of elderly people is projected to double in the next 50 years worldwide, resulting in an increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. Aging causes changes in brain tissue homeostasis, thus contributing to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Current treatments are not entirely effective, so alternative treatments or adjuvant agents are being actively sought. Antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds are of particular interest for neurodegenerative diseases whose psychopathological mechanisms strongly rely on oxidative stress at the brain level. Moreover, phenolic compounds display other advantages such as the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the interesting molecular mechanisms that we reviewed in this work. We began by briefly outlining the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases to understand the mechanisms that result in irreversible brain damage, then we provided an overall classification of the phenolic compounds that would be addressed later. We reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as some clinical trials in which neuroprotective mechanisms were demonstrated in models of different neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), ischemia, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Our purpose in this study was to identify the role played by oxidative stress in the changes to proteoglycans that occur under hyperglycemic conditions, using primary rat retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RRMEC) and cultured ophthalmic arteries. The cells and blood vessels obtained from rats were cultured in normal glucose (5.6 mM) and high glucose (25 mM) with or without N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant. Intracellular oxidative stress was determined by measuring dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence and malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified protein levels. mRNA and protein levels were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot, respectively. High glucose increased levels of glypican-1 mRNA and protein. The level of syndecan-1 mRNA also was increased, but its protein level was decreased, by high glucose. Evaluation of DHE and MDA showed that high glucose increased oxidative stress. These changes caused by high glucose were significantly reversed by NAC treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels, which increased under high glucose conditions, were suppressed by NAC treatment. Oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia may be responsible for significant changes to the ocular endothelial glycocalyx.

Introduction: Mental disorders, smoking, or alcoholism and benign prostate disease are highly prevalent in men. Aims: To identify the relationship between mental disorders, smoking, or alcoholism and benign prostate disease. Methodology: A prospective multicenter study that evaluated prostate health status in 558 men from the community. Groups: GP—men who request a prostate health examination and whose medical history includes a mental disorder, smoking, or alcoholism prior to a diagnosis of benign prostate disease; GU—men who request a prostate health examination and whose medical history includes a benign prostate disease prior to a diagnosis of mental disorder, smoking, or alcoholism. Variables: age, body mass index (BMI), prostate specific antigen (PSA), follow-up of the mental disorder, smoking or alcoholism, time elapsed between urological diagnosis and the mental disorder, smoking or alcoholism diagnosis, status of the urological disease (cured or not cured), concomitant diseases, surgical history, and concomitant treatments. Descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, Chi2, multivariate analysis. Results: There were no mental disorders, smoking, or alcoholism in 51.97% of men. Anxiety, smoking, major depressive disorder, pathological insomnia, psychosis, and alcoholism were identified in 19.71%, 13.26%, 5.73%, 4.30%, 2.87%, and 2.15% of individuals, respectively. Nonbacterial prostatitis (31.54%), urinary tract infection (other than prostatitis, 24.37%), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (13.98%), and prostatodynia (1.43%) were prostate diseases. Unresolved symptomatic benign prostate disease was associated with anxiety, depression, and psychosis (p = 0.002). Smoking was the disorder that men managed to eliminate most frequently. The dominant disorder in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic disease was alcoholism (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Unresolved symptomatic benign prostatic disease is associated with anxiety, depression, and psychosis. Alcoholism is associated with a worse prognosis in the follow-up of symptomatic benign prostatic disease.

This review provides a comprehensive summary of evidence to explore the role and value of differential diagnosis in the management of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) through point-of-care (POC) rapid testing in a post-pandemic scenario, paying particular attention to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The document builds on a review of literature and policies and a process of validation and feedback by a group of seven experts from Latin America (LATAM). Evidence was collected to understand scientific and policy perspectives on the differential diagnosis of ARIs and POC rapid testing, with a focus on seven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru. The evidence indicates that POC rapid testing can serve to improve ARI case management, epidemiological surveillance, research and innovation, and evidence-based decision-making. With multiple types of rapid tests available for POC, decisions regarding which tests to use require the consideration of the testing purpose, available resources, and test characteristics regarding accuracy, accessibility, affordability, and results turnaround time. Based on the understanding of the current situation, this document provides a set of recommendations for the implementation of POC rapid testing in LATAM, supporting decision-making and guiding efforts by a broad range of stakeholders.

Although research on the associations between COVID-19 and social relationships has garnered attention, there has been less of a focus on how COVID-19 was discussed within relationships themselves. The present study deepens the understanding of the wide reach of the pandemic by using quantitative surveys and open-ended responses to explore how individuals discussed and reacted to COVID-19 and related health guidelines in the context of their family and peer relationships. Data were collected from 132 young adults in the U.S. (age = 18.9 years, SD = 0.85; 50% female; 14% ethnically racially minoritized students) using standard procedures established by the university’s undergraduate research pool. Results suggest that young adults talked about COVID-19 more with their families than with their peers. They also reported sharing similar opinions about the pandemic with both their family and their peers. Young adults described COVID-19, overall, as having positive net effects within their family relationships but straining their peer relationships. Qualitative data provide additional, detailed insight on how the pandemic shifted interpersonal dynamics and family and peer relationships.

The embryonic development of neural crest cells and subsequent tissue differentiation are intricately regulated by specific transcription factors. Among these, SOX10, a member of the SOX gene family, stands out. Located on chromosome 22q13, the SOX10 gene encodes a transcription factor crucial for the differentiation, migration, and maintenance of tissues derived from neural crest cells. It plays a pivotal role in developing various tissues, including the central and peripheral nervous systems, melanocytes, chondrocytes, and odontoblasts. Mutations in SOX10 have been associated with congenital disorders such as Waardenburg–Shah Syndrome, PCWH syndrome, and Kallman syndrome, underscoring its clinical significance. Furthermore, SOX10 is implicated in neural and neuroectodermal tumors, such as melanoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), and schwannomas, influencing processes like proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In mesenchymal tumors, SOX10 expression serves as a valuable marker for distinguishing between different tumor types. Additionally, SOX10 has been identified in various epithelial neoplasms, including breast, ovarian, salivary gland, nasopharyngeal, and bladder cancers, presenting itself as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker. However, despite these associations, further research is imperative to elucidate its precise role in these malignancies.

Agriculture in the Andean region is mainly small-scale and rainfed, especially in Peru where almost 80% of its population depends on agriculture-related activities. Climate change in addition to social factors threatens the food security of this region. The forecast of more frequent dry spells would especially affect potato crops, domesticated centuries ago in the Andes, where there remains a great genetic diversity. This study aimed to characterize the response to drought stress of 79 potato landraces traditionally grown in the Central Andes of Peru (Pasco region) as a first selection for future breeding evaluations. The used indices were mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), stress tolerance (STI), stress susceptibility (SSI), and tolerance index (TOL), and a scoring methodology that integrates all of them into a single descriptor in a simple and fast way. The varied responses showed a wide genetic diversity within the assessed landraces, where at least nine of them own high resilience and productivity qualities, and many others are highly vulnerable to drought. It is recommended to complement these studies with physiological and molecular evaluations in stress situations, especially in those with tolerance qualities highlighted in this study, and thus promote the conservation of the biodiversity of this region.

Microplastics (MP) have been evidenced in marine and coastal areas worldwide, including the Gulf of California in Mexico, where the Vaquita Marina refuge area is located, which in turn borders the protected natural area Alto Golfo de California y Delta del Rio Colorado. This research aimed to determine the concentrations of microplastics in the Vaquita protection zone, analyzing samples of ten transects of surface water and samples in the sand of five beaches on the coast surrounding the Vaquita protection polygon. The total concentrations of MP in the surface water transects were from 0.000 to 0.020 MP/m3 and their most recurrent characteristics were fragments (69.0%), the chemical composition of polyethylene (60.0%), the blue color (39.0%) and a size of 2.1–3.0 mm (31.0%). While for the beaches, these corresponded to averages ranging from 28.2 ± 36.4; 17.6 to 200.7 ± 77.9; 193.7 MP/m2, the most common characteristics of MP from beaches were filaments (33.2%), PE (32.3%), white (28.0%), and a size of 4.1–5.0 mm (32.0%). The results suggest that part of the MP on the beaches and in the Vaquita Marina refuge area could come from urban areas such as the Gulf of California and activities such as fishing. It is recommended to study all the transects of the Vaquita Marina polygon and more beaches surrounding it in different seasons to better understand the status of MP pollution.

Soils play a crucial role in the protection, management, and ecological understanding of the La Moraña region, located in Ávila province, Central Spain, which has a moderate population, traditional agriculture, livestock farming, and low industrial activity, resulting in relatively low environmental degradation. The region’s soils often experience prolonged water stagnation, influencing its agronomy, ecology, and economy. This study aimed to estimate and understand the soil’s role in the C sequestration of an agrosilvopastoral system under conditions of temporary water stagnation and different land uses. The results showed that ryegrass-magaza and Pinus pinaster show more content in soil carbon sequestration storage (98.7 and 92.4 Mg per hectare) compared to the adjacent degraded rangeland (75.8 and 63.9 Mg ha−1). Arenosols exhibited a higher total amount of SOC stocks. The soil profile with ryegrass sequestered more nitrogen (9.7 Mg ha−1) than other land uses; moreover, Arenosols have a lower nitrogen sequestration capacity even in low-forest conditions. The study highlights significant differences in carbon accumulation due to the management practices, temporary water layers, and parent material.

On-time receipt of pneumococcal vaccines is essential in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as immunosuppressive medications increase their risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). However, data regarding the impact of timely administration of these vaccines on the risk of developing IPD are lacking for RA patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the impact of on-time vaccination for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 13 and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) 23 in patients treated for RA on the development of IPD using national Veterans Affairs data from 2010 to 2018. Patients > 18 years of age, diagnosed with RA, and newly initiated on RA treatment were included. Pneumococcal vaccine compliance was assessed by measuring on-time receipt of PCV13 and PPSV23 vaccinations. A total of 33,545 patients were included in the cohort. Non-compliance with PCV recommendations was associated with an increased risk of IPD in a multivariable logistic regression model. This finding was consistent whether IPD status was ascertained by International Classification of Diseases coding (OR 2.42, 95%CI 2.14–2.73) or microbiologic data (OR 1.64, 95%CI 1.26–2.14). Providers should actively seek opportunities to provide pneumococcal vaccinations to patients with RA, as their on-time administration is associated with a decreased risk of IPD.

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing societal burden worldwide, with ESKAPEE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species and Escherichia coli) pathogens overwhelming the healthcare sectors and more recently becoming predominantly a concern for their persistence in food and food industries, including agricultural settings and animal husbandry environments. The aim of this review is to explore the mechanisms by which the ESKAPEE group gained its multidrug resistance profiles, to analyse their occurrence in different foods and other related reservoirs, including water, and to address the current challenges due to their spread within the food production chain. Moreover, the repertoire of surveillance programmes available focused on monitoring their occurrence, common reservoirs and the spread of antimicrobial resistance are described in this review paper. Evidence from the literature suggests that restricting our scope in relation to multidrug resistance in ESKAPEE pathogens to healthcare and healthcare-associated facilities might actually impede unveiling the actual issues these pathogens can exhibit, for example, in food and food-related reservoirs. Furthermore, this review addresses the need for increasing public campaigns aimed at addressing this challenge, which must be considered in our fight against antimicrobial resistance shown by the ESKAPEE group in food and food-related sectors.

Sucralose stands as the most common non-nutritive sweetener; however, its metabolic effects have sparked significant controversy over the years. We aim to examine the effects of sucralose daily intake on glycemia, subjective appetite, and gut microbiota (GM) changes in subjects with overweight or obesity. In this randomized, crossover, and controlled trial, 23 participants with a body mass index between 25 kg/m2 and 39.9 kg/m2 will be assigned to one of two interventions to receive either sucralose (2 mg/kg/day equivalent to 40% of the acceptable daily intake) or glucose (control) for 4 weeks, each phase separated by a 4-week washout period. The glycemic response will be determined during a meal tolerance test, subjective appetite will be evaluated using a visual analog scale, and GM changes will be analyzed by next-generation sequencing of the bacterial rRNA 16S gene from fecal samples. All measures will be performed before and after intervention periods. We hypothesize that sucralose supplementation induces changes in glycemic response, subjective appetite, and gut microbiota in overweight and obese participants. This protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the UJAT (No. 0721) and was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621001531808).

The global poultry industry, as a leading producer of animal protein, faces significant challenges related to animal health and production due to high bird density and disease risks. A major concern is the Avian Respiratory Complex (ARC), a multifactorial health issue involving pathogens such as avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), an often-underdiagnosed component of the ARC. Wild birds are seen as reservoirs and spreaders of the virus. This study aimed to detect the presence and subtypes of aMPV in samples from breeders, broilers, laying hens, and wild birds in Colombia. A total of 273 samples, including swabs from the upper respiratory and reproductive tracts, were collected from commercial poultry and wild birds. Using nested RT-PCR targeting the G gene, aMPV subtype B was identified in 23 samples (8.42%). Sequencing revealed high genetic similarity to vaccine strains, classifying all viruses as vaccine-like. In the commercial birds, aMPV-B appeared in 21 samples, regardless of symptoms, often in tests for other ARC agents, indicating diagnostic bias. In the wild birds, two samples tested positive, suggesting potential transmission between wild and domestic birds. These findings highlight the need for broader diagnostics and further research into aMPV’s impact on avian health.

Recently, there has been a huge increase in the different ways to manufacture polymer-based sensors. Methods like additive manufacturing, microfluidic preparation, and brush painting are just a few examples of new approaches designed to improve sensor features like self-healing, higher sensitivity, reduced drift over time, and lower hysteresis. That being said, we believe there is still a lot of potential to boost the performance of current sensors by applying modeling, classification, and machine learning techniques. With this approach, final sensor users may benefit from inexpensive computational methods instead of dealing with the already mentioned manufacturing routes. In this study, a total of 96 specimens of two commercial brands of Force Sensing Resistors (FSRs) were characterized under the error metrics of drift and hysteresis; the characterization was performed at multiple input voltages in a tailored test bench. It was found that the output voltage at null force (Vo_null) of a given specimen is inversely correlated with its drift error, and, consequently, it is possible to predict the sensor’s performance by performing inexpensive electrical measurements on the sensor before deploying it to the final application. Hysteresis error was also studied in regard to Vo_null readings; nonetheless, a relationship between Vo_null and hysteresis was not found. However, a classification rule base on k-means clustering method was implemented; the clustering allowed us to distinguish in advance between sensors with high and low hysteresis by relying solely on Vo_null readings; the method was successfully implemented on Peratech SP200 sensors, but it could be applied to Interlink FSR402 sensors. With the aim of providing a comprehensive insight of the experimental data, the theoretical foundations of FSRs are also presented and correlated with the introduced modeling/classification techniques.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) relies on a non-polar stationary phase and a more polar hydro-organic mobile phase, where compound retention is primarily governed by hydrophobicity, with more hydrophobic compounds being retained longer. The introduction of secondary equilibria in the chromatographic system through additives, such as anionic surfactants and ionic liquids (ILs), was proposed to mitigate ionic interactions between positively charged analytes and the anionic free silanol groups in non-endcapped stationary phases, thereby preventing increased retention and peak tailing. Additionally, the combined hydrophobic and ionic interactions between cationic analytes and the ions in these additives was demonstrated to create mixed retention mechanisms that influence retention and selectivity. In this regard, this study investigates aqueous chromatographic systems incorporating both the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the IL 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as mobile phase reagents. This combination of reagents modulates the retention, eliminating the need for organic solvents and resulting in highly sustainable HPLC procedures. The chromatographic behavior was assessed using two different C18 columns (Zorbax Eclipse and XTerra-MS). The strength of solute interactions was estimated by calculating equilibrium parameters and the contributions of hydrophobic and ionic interactions through simple mathematical models. Focusing on the retention of six basic drugs (β-adrenoceptor antagonists), the study highlighted the significant role of ionic interactions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using aqueous systems combining SDS and an IL for the efficient separation of moderately polar basic compounds without the use of organic solvents.

This study examines the experiences of lesbian-parent families in Chile regarding the civil registry and the registration of their children, highlighting how heteronormative structures persist despite significant legislative advancements. Through semi-structured interviews with lesbian mothers, it explored how the policies and practices occurring at the civil registry affect their rights and legal recognition. The qualitative data analysis revealed significant barriers in the filiation processes due to outdated forms and lack of training among officials, reflecting a disconnect between progressive legislation and its practical implementation. The findings indicate that while there is growing social recognition of family diversity, lesbian-parent families face institutional discrimination, limiting their full participation in society. These barriers not only perpetuate occupational injustices but also negatively affect the emotional and social well-being of these families. This study underscores the need for legislative and administrative reforms to ensure effective inclusion and recognition of lesbian-parent families, recommending policies that update administrative processes to reflect the realities of all families adequately. The research highlights the importance of continuous education and awareness for civil registry workers, ensuring that existing laws are applied fairly and equitably.

Background: Pertussis has re-emerged in many countries despite the wide use of vaccines for over 60 years. During 2023, we observed an increase in the incidence of pertussis in Gipuzkoa, north of Spain (with a population of 657,140 inhabitants), mainly affecting children between 11 and 15 years of age. Methods: This study included all confirmed cases diagnosed by PCR in nasopharyngeal swab samples. The genome of seven isolates collected in 2023 was sequenced. Results: Between 2018 and 2023, 884 cases of whooping cough were diagnosed. Pertussis incidence (in cases per 100,000 inhabitants) decreased from 36.7 in 2018 to no cases in 2021, increasing again to 56.8 in 2023. In 2023, the age group of 11–15 years old had the highest incidence rate of 409.3. Only 2 of the 56 children < 6 years old required hospitalization, and there were no deaths. The seven isolates collected in 2023 showed the same BPagST-4 (ptxA1/ptxP3/prn2/fim2-1/fim3-1 allelic combination), with all of them expressing the pertactin antigen. Conclusions: Immunity waning after the last dose of vaccination at 6 years old, together with the lack of circulation of Bordetella pertussis during the COVID-19 pandemic, were probably the main reasons for the high increase in the incidence of pertussis in Gipuzkoa in 2023.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, a high prevalence of disruption in lifestyle habits was reported, especially concerning sleep habits. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between lifestyles and the COVID-19 lockdown on subjects living in Mexico. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. An online questionnaire was administered to survey participants. A clustering procedure was performed to identify groups of survey respondents with similar characteristics. There were 155 survey respondents. Most of them were women (83%) of young age. The clustering identified two distinct groups of subjects, i.e., Cluster 1 and 2. The subjects in Cluster 2 were younger, more likely to use social media, and spent much more time watching TV/surfing the internet than subjects in Cluster 1. Furthermore, the prevalence of problems with falling and staying asleep during the lockdown was higher in Cluster 2 than in Cluster 1 (14% in Cluster 2 vs. 4% in Cluster 1) even though nobody from Cluster 2 had sleep problems before the lockdown. The study showed that younger respondents were those more affected by lockdown measures.

Ocean beaches are a major recreational attraction in many coastal cities, requiring accurate visitor counts for infrastructure planning and value estimation. We developed a novel method to assess beach usage on the Gold Coast, Australia, using 507 drone surveys across 24 beaches. The surveys covered 30 km of coastline, accounting for different seasons, times of day, and environmental conditions. Two AI models were employed: one for counting people on land and in water (91–95% accuracy), and another for identifying usage types (85–92% accuracy). Using drone data, we estimated annual beach usage at 34 million people in 2022/23, with 55% on land and 45% in water—approximately double the most recent estimate from lifeguard counts, which are spatially limited and prone to human error. When applying similar restrictions as lifeguard surveys, drone data estimated 15 million visits, aligning closely with lifeguard counts (within 9%). Temporal (time of day, day of the week, season) and spatial (beach location) factors were the strongest predictors of beach usage, with additional patterns explained by weather variables. Our method, combining drones with AI, enhances the coverage, accuracy, and granularity of beach monitoring, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution for long-term usage assessment.

Background: The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the causative agent for COVID-19, first registered in Wuhan, China and responsible for more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Currently, RT-PCR is the gold-standard method for diagnosing COVID-19. However, serological tests are needed for screening acute disease diagnosis and screening large populations during the COVID-19 outbreak. Objectives: Herein, we described the development and validation of an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting the levels of anti-spike-1-RBD IgM antibody (CovIgM-ELISA) in well-defined serum/plasma panel for screening and identifying subjects infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a Latin population. Method: In-house CovIgM-ELISA has the format of an indirect ELISA. It was optimized by checkerboard titration using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike-S1-RBD protein as an antigen. Results: We found that, compared to the RT-PCR as the standard method, the in-house CovIgM-ELISA displayed sensitivities of 96.15% and 93.22% for samples collected up to 30 or 60 days after infection, respectively, as well as 95.59% specificity with 97.3% accuracy. The agreement kappa value (κ) of our CovIgM-ELISA was substantial when compared to RT-PCR (κ = 0.873) and the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM ELISA (InBios Int) (κ = 0.684). The IgM levels detected in the population positively correlated with the neutralizing activity against the wild-type, Alpha and Delta variants of concern, but failed to neutralize Omicron. Conclusions: These data indicate that our in-house CovIgM-ELISA is a compatible performing assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background/Objectives: The use of eHealth as a monitoring system in people with heart failure (HF) has been shown to be effective in promoting self-care and reducing re-admissions and mortality. The present study develops and evaluates the accessibility and usability of the web app iCardioMonitor HF monitoring system. Methods: This study consisted of two stages. The first stage (co-design) comprised two phases: (1) analysis of the scientific literature and expert opinions and (2) co-design of the iCardioMonitor (web app plus a knowledge-base algorithm) and definition of alert criteria. The second stage (cross-sectional descriptive study) analyzed system accessibility (% of people using the iCardioMonitor and % of parameters recorded) and usability, employing the Spanish version of the System Usability Scale for the Assessment of Electronic Tools. Results: The iCardioMonitor was configured by a web app and an algorithm with the capacity to detect decompensated HF automatically. A total of 45 patients with an average age of 55.8 years (standard deviation [SD] = 10.582) and an average time since diagnosis of 7.1 years (SD = 7.471) participated in the second stage. The percentage of iCardioMonitor use was 83.2%. The average usability score was 77.2 points (SD = 21.828), higher in women than men (89.2; SD = 1.443–76.0; SD = 1.443) (p = 0.004). The usability score was higher the shorter the time since diagnosis (r = 0.402; p = 0.025) and the higher the number of responses (r = 0.377; p = 0.031). Conclusions: The results obtained show that iCardioMonitor is a tool accepted by patients and has obtained a remarkable score on the usability scale. iCardioMonitor was configured by a web app and an algorithm with the capacity to detect decompensated HF automatically.

The goal of this study was to assess health of male Common Carp (carp, Cyprinus carpio) at four sites with a wide range in environmental organic contaminant (EOC) concentrations and water temperatures in Lake Mead National Recreation Area NV/AZ, US, and the potential influence of regional drought. Histological and reproductive biomarkers were measured in 17–30 carp at four sites and 130 EOCs in water per site were analyzed using passive samplers in 2010. Wide ranges among sites were noted in total EOC concentrations (>10Xs) and water temperature/degree days (10Xs). In 2007/08, total polychlorinated biphenyls (tPCBs) in fish whole bodies from Willow Beach (WB) in the free-flowing Colorado River below Hoover Dam were clearly higher than at the other sites. This was most likely due to longer exposures in colder water (12–14 °C) and fish there having the longest lifespan (up to 54 years) for carp reported in the Colorado River Basin. Calculated estrogenicity in water exceeded long-term, environmentally safe criteria of 0.1–0.4 ng/L by one to three orders of magnitude at all sites except the reference site. Low ecological screening values for four contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in water were exceeded for one CEC in the reference site, two in WB and Las Vegas Bay and three in the most contaminated site LVW. Fish health biomarkers in WB carp had 25% lower liver glycogen, 10Xs higher testicular pigmented cell aggregates and higher sperm abnormalities than the reference site. Sperm from LVW fish also had significantly higher fragmentation of DNA, lower motility and testis had lower percent of spermatozoa, all of which can impair reproduction. Projections from a 3D water quality model performed for WB showed that EOC concentrations due to prolonged regional drought and reduced water levels could increase as high as 135%. Water temperatures by late 21st century are predicted to rise between 0.7 and 2.1 °C that could increase eutrophication, algal blooms, spread disease and decrease dissolved oxygen over 5%.

The main objective of this article is to present the formulation of a Capital Asset Pricing Model ordered weighted average CAPMOWAand its extensions, called CAPM-induced OWA (CAPMIOWA), CAPM Bonferroni OWA (CAPMBon-OWA), and CAPM Bonferroni-induced OWA CAPMBon-IOWA. A step-by-step process for applying this new proposal in a real case of formulating investment portfolios is generated. These methods show several scenarios, considering the attitude, preferences, and relationship of each argument, when underestimation or overestimation of the information by the decision maker may influence the decision-making process regarding portfolio investments. Finally, the complexity of the method and the incorporation of soft information into the modeling process lead to generating a greater number of scenarios and reflect the attitudes and preferences of decision makers.

Heart disease is a leading cause of mortality, with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) being the most prevalent subset. Being able to predict this disease in its early stages is important for monitoring patients before they need aortic valve replacement surgery. Thus, this study explored hydrodynamic, mechanical, and hemodynamic differences in healthy and very mildly calcified porcine small intestinal submucosa (PSIS) bioscaffold valves to determine any notable parameters between groups that could, possibly, be used for disease tracking purposes. Three valve groups were tested: raw PSIS as a control and two calcified groups that were seeded with human valvular interstitial and endothelial cells (VICs/VECs) and cultivated in calcifying media. These two calcified groups were cultured in either static or bioreactor-induced oscillatory flow conditions. Hydrodynamic assessments showed metrics were below thresholds associated for even mild calcification. Young’s modulus, however, was significantly higher in calcified valves when compared to raw PSIS, indicating the morphological changes to the tissue structure. Fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulations agreed well with hydrodynamic results and, most notably, showed a significant increase in time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) between raw and calcified groups. We conclude that tracking hemodynamics may be a viable biomarker for early-stage CAVD tracking.

Background/Objectives: In recent years, a possible connection between HLA-Cw6 and a distinctive cardiometabolic (CM) profile in patients with psoriatic disease (PsD) has been proposed, although there is still little support for this. Our aim was to further investigate this possible association by studying a large population of PsD patients. Methods: For this study, three different cohorts of patients with PsD were analyzed: two with a majority of cutaneous psoriasis, pooled n: 600, and a third with only psoriatic arthritis—PsA—cases, n: 340. Potential relationships between HLA-Cw6 and the different CM risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression models, while the final net effect was assessed using fixed- or random-effects meta-analyses, as appropriate. Results: In the PsA cohort, no association was detected between HLA-Cw6 carriership and any of the CM comorbidity factors. In psoriasis cohorts, after correcting for age, sex, disease duration, and arthritis, HLA-Cw6 carriers had a reduced diabetes risk (OR 0.49, 95%CI: 0.26–0.91, p = 0.026). This latter effect was confirmed by a fixed-effects meta-analysis of the included cohorts (pooled OR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.27–0.90). Conclusions: This work demonstrates a potential protective effect of the HLA-Cw6 allele on the risk of diabetes in PsD. Our findings together with those of others seem to confirm the existence of a novel HLA-Cw6-linked cardiometabolic endotype in this disease.

The franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) is a small cetacean endemic to the coastal waters of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Due to its restricted distribution, it is subject to high bycatch mortality in the gillnets used for commercial and artisanal fishing. The rehabilitation of the franciscana is still a major challenge, as most attempts to rehabilitate stranded animals have failed. This study aims to present the case of the rehabilitation of a franciscana dolphin calf, stranded in San Clemente del Tuyú, Argentina, at the beginning of the predation period. The feeding strategy and nutritional profile at different stages during the 88 days of rehabilitation are meticulously detailed. Its diet was prepared by hand based on studies of milk composition, the feeding ecology of franciscana in Argentinean waters, and previous records of the Fundación Mundo Marino Rehabilitation Center. The diets were designed to meet the nutritional needs of franciscana dolphins. In addition, the hematological, cytological, and fecal analyses recorded during the rehabilitation are presented. Although the animal could not be released, due to its death, this report provides baseline information that can improve the ability of veterinarians to care for debilitated, live-stranded dolphins. This information may also be useful in the implementation and development of healthcare protocols for this species.