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(1) Background: Prosocial behavior aligns with the current societal model, where human values hold greater importance considering cultural, social, and personal variables that may influence the opportunity to benefit others. Hence, the objective of this research was established: to understand how diverse factors influence the values of young people, aiming to promote education and enhance prosocial behavior. (2) Methods: This study is quantitative research employing an empirical–analytical, cross-sectional social research method. A validated instrument was used with a sample of 1702 individuals from the city of Melilla, noteworthy for its multicultural context due to its location in North Africa. (3) Results: Inferential analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression to predict future behaviors, focusing on the factors influencing values. Various models were employed, incorporating twelve variables and four scales: sociability, transcendence, culture, and effects. (4) Conclusions: The results and conclusions suggest the need to enhance affect and sociability, primarily among the most prominent factors.

Solution blow spinning (SBS) is a versatile and cost-effective technique for producing nanofibrous materials. It is based on the principles of other spinning methods as electrospinning (ES), which creates very thin and fine fibers with controlled morphologies. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer derived from renewable resources, is widely used in biomedical fields, environmental protection, and packaging. This review provides a theoretical background for PLA, focusing on its properties that are associated with structural characteristics, such as crystallinity and thermal behavior. It also discusses various methods for producing fibrous materials, with particular emphasis on ES and SBS and on describing in more detail the main properties of the SBS method, along with its processing conditions and potential applications. Additionally, this review examines the properties of nanofibrous materials, particularly PLA-based nanofibers, and the new applications for which it is thought that they may be more useful, such as drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, and food packaging. Ultimately, this review highlights the potential of the SBS method and PLA-based nanofibers in various new applications and suggests future research directions to address existing challenges and further enhance the SBS method and the quality of fibrous materials.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the leading causes of mortality and is a public health challenge worldwide. Metformin is the first-choice treatment for T2D; its pharmacokinetics (PK) is facilitated by members of the solute carrier (SLC) superfamily of transporters, it is not metabolized, and it is excreted by the kidney. Although interindividual variability in metformin pharmacokinetics is documented in the Mexican population, its pharmacogenomics is still underexplored. We aimed to identify variants in metformin SLC transporter genes associated with metformin PK and response in Mexican patients. Methods: Using exome data from 2217 Mexican adults, we identified 86 biallelic SNVs in the eight known genes encoding SLC transporters, with a minor allele frequency ≥ 1%, which were analyzed in an inadequate glycemic control (IGC) association study in T2D metformin treated patients. Metformin PK was evaluated in a pediatric cohort and the effect of associated SNVs was correlated. Results: Functional annotation classified two SNVs as pathogenic. The association study revealed two blocks associated with IGC. These haplotypes comprise rs622591, rs4646272, rs4646273, and rs4646276 in SLC22A1; and rs1810126 and rs668871 in SLC22A3. PK profiles revealed that homozygotes of the SLC22A1 haplotype reached lower plasma metformin concentrations 2 h post administration than the other groups. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential of pharmacogenomics studies to enhance precision medicine, which may involve dosage adjustments or the exploration of alternative therapeutic options. These hold significant implications for public health, particularly in populations with a high susceptibility to develop metabolic diseases, such as Latin Americans.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with both motor and non-motor symptoms, with anxiety and depression being prominent and potentially exacerbated by negative thoughts. Therefore, the experiential avoidance (EA) exhibited by patients post diagnosis is particularly relevant. This study aimed to measure the degree of EA in patients with MS and determine its relationship with emotional disturbances. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a sample of 64 patients diagnosed with MS. In October 2018, these patients underwent evaluations of functional and cognitive variables, such as anxiety, depression, and avoidant behaviors towards the disease, using the Expanded Disability Status Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Self-Compassion Scale Short Form, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15, prefrontal symptoms inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to assess coping mechanisms in handling the disease. Higher levels of state anxiety (β = 0.79; p < 0.001), trait anxiety (β = 0.82; p < 0.001), and depression (β = 0.62; p < 0.001) were observed in patients with MS as their EA and psychological inflexibility increased. Participants with high self-compassion/self-acceptance tended to have fewer negative thoughts and exhibited better coping with the disease, which may, in turn, affect patterns of psychological rigidity or inflexibility. Dimensions such as kindness and humility could act as positive factors in coping with the disease, whereas self-judgment and isolation are negative elements often associated with avoidant behaviors that hinder effective coping with the illness.

Evaluating the seismic vulnerability of facades of historic masonry buildings is essential not only for their significant historical and heritage value, but also to evaluate the safety of this type of construction. This work applies a simplified methodology to assess the seismic vulnerability of the facade of masonry buildings in the historic center of Morelia, Michoacán, México. The historic center of Morelia was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. On the facades, there is ornamentation with sculptural and vegetal decorative elements. The methodology involved conducting visual inspections to identify the location, type of structure, construction materials, doors, windows, balconies, cornices, ironwork, pediments, niches, and sculptures, among other characteristic elements of colonial architecture. The seismic demands were determined specifically for the city’s historic center based on a recent seismic hazard assessment of Morelia. Based on the methodology and the compiled database, characterized vulnerability indices were defined for the different damage scenarios that buildings may present. Results indicate that earthquakes with intensities greater than VIII on the Modified Mercalli scale risk collapsing heritage masonry buildings’ facades.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is mainly caused by viral pathogens, with a high prevalence in high-risk populations such as infants and older adults. Coinfections by different viruses are frequent and, in some cases, associated with severe disease outcomes. Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to identify respiratory viruses circulating in Barranquilla during the peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic and estimate the prevalence of viral coinfections in samples from individuals with different degrees of respiratory infection. Methods: We received 5083 samples between epidemiological weeks 33–42 of 2021 submitted by the District Health Laboratory of Barranquilla and four local healthcare institutions during COVID-19 surveillance. Among them, we analyzed 101 samples from individuals presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI). Eighteen respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, were evaluated via qRT-PCR using nasal swabs or nasopharyngeal aspirate samples. Results: Of the 101 study individuals, 56 were male and 45 were female (55.5% and 44.5%, respectively); 25.7% of individuals were infected with at least one of the evaluated viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human rhinovirus (HRV) were the two most frequently detected viruses (30.7% and 15.4% of total positives, respectively). Coinfections with two or more respiratory viruses accounted for 42% of the total positive cases. Discussion: Our findings indicate the presence of different respiratory viruses in swab or nasopharyngeal aspirate samples from individuals with ILI, including coinfections. These results reveal the circulation of several respiratory viruses in the city of Barranquilla, confirming their importance as potential causes of SARI in Colombia and the need for their active surveillance.

Water quality concerns the physical, chemical, and biological factors that could negatively impact human health through its consumption, potentially causing infectious and chronic diseases due to immediate or prolonged exposure. In this context, the objective of this study is to identify diseases that are correlated with the quality of drinking water according to the literature. A systematic review was carried out considering academic and scientific documents from the last 6 years, including peer-reviewed research articles, books, and technical documents, such as standards and regulations related to public health and water quality. Subsequently, these results were applied to a case study from Tonosí (a district in Panama), where a drinking water quality assessment project was developed over the past two years including physicochemical, biological, inorganic chemical, and organic chemical analyses on drinking water during the rainy and dry seasons. Forty-five documents were obtained from the literature review and are presented in tables relating to diseases and water quality parameters. Based on the drinking water quality assessment results from Tonosí, the levels above and below the permissible range—according to the DGNTI-COPANIT 21-2019 Technical Regulation adopted by Panama as a drinking water quality standard—and the diseases associated with the parameters evaluated (in accordance with the literature review) are presented. The results show that there is a possible relationship between some of the water quality parameters and cases of gastrointestinal diseases in the area; however, more in-depth research and statistics at the national level are needed on the health of the population.

The effect of liver fibrosis on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is unclear. Therefore, we performed a prospective cross-sectional study on 219 patients with T2DM and older than 60 years to evaluate the association between liver fibrosis, liver steatosis, and cognitive impairment. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to screen for MCI or dementia. Liver fibrosis was estimated using the non-invasive Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, and liver steatosis was assessed with the hepatic steatosis index. The mean age was 71 ± 6 years, 47% were women and according to MoCA cut-off values, 53.88% had MCI and 16.43% had dementia. A moderate or high risk of advanced fibrosis was significantly higher in patients with MCI or dementia compared to those with normal cognition (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, a FIB-4 score greater than 1.54 was associated with MCI or dementia (p = 0.039). Multivariate analysis identified age over 70.5 years, antiplatelet medication use, and a FIB-4 score above 1.54 as the most relevant risk factors. Liver fibrosis, but not liver steatosis, is associated with MCI or dementia in older T2DM patients, suggesting that FIB-4 score might be a simple biomarker for the detection of cognitive impairment.

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that is most frequently found in Western countries, and the only treatment available today is a lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD). The main aim of the present study is to compare the self-care practices and body mass index (BMI) of adolescents with CD and without CD in different dimensions (physical, psychological, social, and management). The non-probabilistic sample included 236 participants (118 with CD) aged between 12 and 16 years old, who were part of the project “Role of the family in the perception of youth self-care”. The data were obtained through the self-administration of the Practice and Management of Youth Self-care questionnaire, while the celiac population also completed the Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet (GFD) questionnaire. The celiac population analyzed showed significant correlations between the Physical Practices and Management with adherence to a GFD, and between a GFD and Psychological Practices. Differences were observed between the celiac and the non-celiac populations in the dimensions of Physical Practices, Social Practices, and Management. With respect to BMI, age and CD showed a significant influence of a GFD on BMI (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the application of multi-dimensional questionnaires and their relationship with the adherence to a GFD provide valuable information to propose interventions directed to this population.

Genetic variants in the zone of polarizing activity regulatory sequence (ZRS) that induce ectopic expression of the SHH gene have been associated with different ZRS-related phenotypes. We report the first patient with a de novo variant, c.423+4916 T>C, in ZRS (previously classified as a variant of uncertain significance) that causes tibial hemimelia-polysyndactyly-triphalangeal thumb syndrome (THPTTS). A two-month-old male patient presented with bilateral preaxial polydactyly, triphalangeal thumb, and tibial agenesis and was heterozygous for the variant c.423+4916T>C (neither of his parents was a carrier). The findings obtained from the family study were sufficient to reclassify the variant from “uncertain significance” to “likely pathogenic” according to three criteria from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, as follows: (1) absence of gnomAD, (2) confirmation of paternity and maternity, and (3) strong phenotype–genotype association. In ZRS-associated syndromes, a wide clinical spectrum has been observed, ranging from polydactyly to THPTTS; our patient has the most severe and rare phenotype. We did not perform functional assays. However, the c.423+4916T>C variant is flanked by three variants, which have been proven not only to cause the phenotype but also to increase the expression of SHH. Through all this data gathering, we consider the c.423+4916T>C variant to be causative of THPTTS.

Conifer forests in Michoacán are facing climate change. Pinus devoniana Lindley, with natural distribution in the state, has shown certain adaptability, and knowing the influence of anatomy in the flow system is essential to delimit how it contributes to safety margins and water efficiency. For this, the pressure gradients in the cell lumens and their ramifications were analyzed by numerical simulations of flow throughout the real microstructure. Xylem were evaluated in radial, tangential and longitudinal directions. With the skeletonization of lumens and their constrictions, a branching system of interconnection between tracheids, ray cells, intercellular chambers, extensions, and blind pits were identified. In the simulation, the branched system bypasses the longitudinal fluid passage through the pores in membranes of pairs of pits to redirect it through the direct path branching, contributing to safety margins and water efficiency. Thus, resilience at low pressures because of the lower pressure drop in the extensions. The interface between the branching system and the cell lumens are sites of higher pressure gradient, more conducive to water-vapor formation or air leakage in the face of the lowest pressure system. The flow lines move along easy paths, regardless of the simulated flow direction. Deposits in the cell extensions were shown to be attached to the S3 layer of the cell wall, leaving the center of the duct free to flow. It is concluded that the spatial architecture of the xylem anatomy of Pinus dvoniana is a factor in the resilience at low pressures due to high water stress of the species.

In the near future, commercially accessible quantum computers are anticipated to revolutionize the world as we know it. These advanced machines are predicted to render traditional cryptographic security measures, deeply ingrained in contemporary communication, obsolete. While symmetric cryptography methods like AES can withstand quantum assaults if key sizes are doubled compared to current standards, asymmetric cryptographic techniques, such as RSA, are vulnerable to compromise. Consequently, there is a pressing need to transition towards post-quantum cryptography (PQC) principles in order to safeguard our privacy effectively. A challenge is to include PQC into existing protocols and thus into the existing communication structure. In this work, we report on the first experimental IPsec tunnel secured by the PQC algorithms Falcon, Dilithium, and Kyber. We deploy our IPsec tunnel in two scenarios. The first scenario represents a high-performance data center environment where many machines are interconnected via high-speed networks. We achieve an IPsec tunnel with an AES-256 GCM encrypted east–west throughput of 100 Gbit/s line rate. The second scenario shows an IPsec tunnel between a wireless NVIDIA Jetson and the cloud that achieves a 0.486 Gbit/s AES-256 GCM encrypted north–south throughput. This case represents a mobile device that communicates securely with applications running in the cloud.

Studies of the virome of olive trees with symptoms of leaf mottling by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) revealed the presence of a new virus. Full coding genome sequences of two isolates were determined and consisted of a single RNA segment of 16,516 nt and 16,489, respectively. The genomic organization contained 10 open reading frames (ORFs) from 5′ to 3′: ORF1a, ORF1b (RdRp), ORF2 (p22), ORF3 (p7), ORF4 (HSP70h), ORF5 (HSP90h), ORF6 (CP), ORF7 (p19), ORF8 (p12), ORF9 (p23) and ORF10 (p9). Phylogenetic analyses clustered this virus in the genus Olivavirus, family Closteroviridae, with the closest species being Olivavirus flaviolae, commonly named olive leaf yellowing-associated virus (OLYaV). However, amino acid sequences of all taxonomically relevant proteins showed, in all cases, a divergence higher than 25% between OLYaV and the new virus, indicating that it represents a new species in the genus Olivavirus for which the common name of olive leaf mottling virus (OLMV) is proposed. This study represents an advance in the genus Olivavirus and provides new insights into the olive virome.

Advances in convolutional neural networks (CNNs) provide novel and alternative solutions for water quality management. This paper evaluates state-of-the-art optimization strategies available in PyTorch to date using AlexNet, a simple yet powerful CNN model. We assessed twelve optimization algorithms: Adadelta, Adagrad, Adam, AdamW, Adamax, ASGD, LBFGS, NAdam, RAdam, RMSprop, Rprop, and SGD under default conditions. The AlexNet model, pre-trained and coupled with a Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model, was used to estimate the quantity black pixels (suspended solids) randomly distributed on a white background image, representing total suspended solids in liquid samples. Simulated images were used instead of real samples to maintain a controlled environment and eliminate variables that could introduce noise and optical aberrations, ensuring a more precise evaluation of the optimization algorithms. The performance of the CNN was evaluated using the accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, and F_Score metrics. Meanwhile, MLR was evaluated with the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute and mean square errors. The results indicate that the top five optimizers are Adagrad, Rprop, Adamax, SGD, and ASGD, with accuracy rates of 100% for each optimizer, and R2 values of 0.996, 0.959, 0.971, 0.966, and 0.966, respectively. Instead, the three worst performing optimizers were Adam, AdamW, and NAdam with accuracy rates of 22.2%, 11.1% and 11.1%, and R2 values of 0.000, 0.148, and 0.000, respectively. These findings demonstrate the significant impact of optimization algorithms on CNN performance and provide valuable insights for selecting suitable optimizers to water quality assessment, filling existing gaps in the literature. This motivates further research to test the best optimizer models using real data to validate the findings and enhance their practical applicability, explaining how the optimizers can be used with real data.

Hyperthermia elicits several physiological and behavioral responses in livestock to restore thermal neutrality. Among these responses, vasodilation and sweating help to reduce core body temperature by increasing heat dissipation by radiation and evaporation. Thermoregulatory behaviors such as increasing standing time, reducing feed intake, shade-seeking, and limiting locomotor activity also increase heat loss. These mechanisms are elicited by the connection between peripheral thermoreceptors and cerebral centers, such as the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. Considering the importance of this thermoregulatory pathway, this review aims to discuss the hypothalamic control of hyperthermia in livestock, including the main physiological and behavioral changes that animals adopt to maintain their thermal stability.

In an era dominated by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, and rapid advances in cloud and edge computing, the demand for efficient and lightweight models suitable for resource-constrained devices such as data processing units (DPUs) has surged. Traditional deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), pose significant computational and memory challenges, limiting their use in resource-constrained environments. Echo State Networks (ESNs), based on reservoir computing principles, offer a promising alternative with reduced computational complexity and shorter training times. This study explores the applicability of ESN-based architectures in image classification and weather forecasting tasks, using benchmarks such as the MNIST, FashionMnist, and CloudCast datasets. Through comprehensive evaluations, the Multi-Reservoir ESN (MRESN) architecture emerges as a standout performer, demonstrating its potential for deployment on DPUs or home stations. In exploiting the dynamic adaptability of MRESN to changing input signals, such as weather forecasts, continuous on-device training becomes feasible, eliminating the need for static pre-trained models. Our results highlight the importance of lightweight models such as MRESN in cloud and edge computing applications where efficiency and sustainability are paramount. This study contributes to the advancement of efficient computing practices by providing novel insights into the performance and versatility of MRESN architectures. By facilitating the adoption of lightweight models in resource-constrained environments, our research provides a viable alternative for improved efficiency and scalability in modern computing paradigms.

This article delves into the dynamics of managing religious diversity within the healthcare field in Argentina. It focuses on the articulations between health practices and individual belief systems among healthcare professionals and users. Applying a comparative approach based on qualitative interviews, we draw conclusions that underscore the imperative of acknowledging the sociocultural diversity within our societies. This recognition is fundamental in cultivating healthcare environments that not only respect users’ diverse worldviews but also healthcare professionals’ religious perspectives. Our findings advocate for incorporating religious diversity management principles in healthcare, emphasizing the development of inclusive approaches in dealing with health, illness, and wellbeing.

The half-normal distribution is composited with the Pareto model to obtain a uni-parametric distribution with a heavy right tail, called the composite half-normal-Pareto distribution. This new distribution is useful for modeling positive data with atypical observations. We study the properties and the behavior of the right tail of this new distribution. We estimate the parameter using a method based on percentiles and the maximum likelihood method and assess the performance of the maximum likelihood estimator using Monte Carlo. We report three applications, one with simulated data and the others with income and expenditure data, in which the new distribution presents better performance than the Pareto distribution.

Background: A nationwide, prospective, multicenter, cohort study (the Disease-Related caloric-protein malnutrition EChOgraphy (DRECO) study) was designed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound of the rectus femoris for detecting sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition and to define cut-off values of ultrasound measures. Methods: Patients at risk of malnutrition according to the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) underwent handgrip dynamometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and rectus femoris ultrasound studies. European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria were used to define categories of sarcopenia (at risk, probable, confirmed, severe). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were used to determine the optimal diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of cut-off points of the ultrasound measures for the detection of risk of sarcopenia and probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia. Results: A total of 1000 subjects were included and 991 of them (58.9% men, mean age 58.5 years) were evaluated. Risk of sarcopenia was detected in 9.6% patients, probable sarcopenia in 14%, confirmed sarcopenia in 9.7%, and severe sarcopenia in 3.9%, with significant differences in the distribution of groups between men and women (p < 0.0001). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris showed a significantly positive correlation with body cell mass of BIA and handgrip strength, and a significant negative correlation with TUG. Cut-off values were similar within each category of sarcopenia, ranging between 2.40 cm2 and 3.66 cm2 for CSA, 32.57 mm and 40.21 mm for the X-axis, and 7.85 mm and 10.4 mm for the Y-axis. In general, these cut-off values showed high sensitivities, particularly for the categories of confirmed and severe sarcopenia, with male patients also showing better sensitivities than women. Conclusions: Sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition was high. Cut-off values for the better sensitivities and specificities of ultrasound measures of the rectus femoris are established. The use of ultrasound of the rectus femoris could be used for the prediction of sarcopenia and be useful to integrate nutritional study into real clinical practice.

Most of the responses present in animals when exposed to stressors are mediated by the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system, known as the one responsible for the “fight or flight” reaction, triggers cardiovascular changes such as tachycardia or vasomotor alterations to restore homeostasis. Increase in body temperature in stressed animals also activates peripheral compensatory mechanisms such as cutaneous vasodilation to increase heat exchange. Since changes in skin blood flow influence the amount of heat dissipation, infrared thermography is suggested as a tool that can detect said changes. The present review aims to analyze the application of infrared thermography as a method to assess stress-related autonomic activity, and their association with the cardiovascular and heart rate variability in domestic animals.

In this paper, the scale mixture of the Gleser (SMG) distribution is introduced. This new distribution is the product of a scale mixture between the Gleser (G) distribution and the Beta(a,1) distribution. The SMG distribution is an alternative to distributions with two parameters and a heavy right tail. We study its representation and some basic properties, maximum likelihood inference, and Fisher’s information matrix. We present an application to a real dataset in which the SMG distribution shows a better fit than two other known distributions.

This paper addresses the issue of LED short-circuit fault detection in signaling and lighting systems in the automotive industry. The conventional diagnostic method commonly implemented in newer vehicles relies on measuring the voltage drop across different LED branches and comparing it with threshold values indicating faults caused by open circuits or LED short circuits. With this algorithm, detecting cases of a few LEDs short-circuited within a branch, particularly a single malfunctioning LED, is particularly challenging. In this work, two easily implementable algorithms are proposed to address this issue within the vehicle’s control unit. One is based on a mathematical prediction model, while the other utilizes a neural network. The results obtained offer a 100% LED short-circuit fault detection rate in the majority of analyzed cases, representing a significant improvement over the conventional method, even in scenarios involving a single malfunctioning LED within a branch. Additionally, the neural network-based model can accurately predict the number of failed LEDs.

The present review aims to analyze the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the mammary gland and udders of water buffalo by making an anatomofunctional comparison with dairy cattle. It will also discuss the knowledge generated around the physiological regulation of milk ejection in the water buffalo. It was found that buffalo’s average udder depth and width is approximately 20 cm smaller than Bos cattle. One of the main differences with dairy cattle is a longer teat canal length (around 8.25–11.56 cm), which highly influences buffalo milking. In this sense, a narrower teat canal (2.71 ± 0.10 cm) and thicker sphincter muscle are associated with needing higher vacuum levels when using machine milking in buffalo. Moreover, the predominant alveolar fraction of water buffalo storing 90–95% of the entire milk production is another element that can be related to the lower milk yields in buffalo (when compared to Bos cattle) and the requirements for prolonged prestimulation in this species. Considering the anatomical characteristics of water buffalo’s udder could help improve bubaline dairy systems.

Background: Skin cancer is one of the most frequent types of cancer, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) constitutes 20% of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) cases. PTCH1, a tumor suppressor gene involved in the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway, plays a crucial role in neoplastic processes. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study, encompassing 211 cSCC patients and 290 individuals in a control group (CG), was performed. A subgroup of samples was considered for the relative expression analysis, and the results were obtained using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) with TaqMan® probes. The functional, splicing, and disease-causing effects of the proposed variants were explored via bioinformatics. Results: cSCC was predominant in men, especially in sun-exposed areas such as the head and neck. No statistically significant differences were found regarding the rs357564, rs2236405, rs2297086, and rs41313327 variants of PTCH1, or in the risk of cSCC, nor in the mRNA expression between the cSCC group and CG. A functional effect of rs357564 and a disease-causing relation to rs41313327 was identified. Conclusion: The proposed variants were not associated with cSCC risk in this Mexican population, but we recognize the need for analyzing larger population groups to elucidate the disease-causing role of rare variants.

The synthesis of gold(III) and gold(I)–gold(III) complexes with phosphide bridges is still a matter that requires solutions for their marked instability, in spite of the affinity of this metal in both oxidation states for phosphorous donor ligands. In the course of our studies, we realized that the presence of perhalophenyl groups of the type pentafluorophenyl or 3,5-dichlorotrifluorophenyl in the complexes gives rise to an increase in their stability that eases their isolation and structural characterization. In this paper, we describe two new fully characterized neutral compounds of this type to extend the knowledge on this family of compounds, [{Au(C6Cl2F3)2}2(µ-PPh2)2] (1) and [{Au(C6Cl2F3)2(µ-PPh2)2Au}2] (2). In this work, we analyze the role of the perhalophenyl groups in the stability of these complexes by using quantum chemical topology methodologies, specifically employing an analysis of the non-covalent interactions (NCIs) in real space and evaluating the electrostatic potential surfaces (ESP). Our findings reveal the existence of appreciable π-stacking interactions among the perhalophenyl and phenyl groups in both compounds, significantly contributing to the stability of the systems.

Approximately a quarter of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) who have surgical indication only receive antibiotic treatment. Their short-term prognosis is dismal. We aimed to describe the characteristics of this group of patients to evaluate the mortality according to the cause of rejection and type of surgical indication and to analyze their prognostic factors of mortality. From 2005 to 2022, 1105 patients with definite left-sided IE were consecutively attended in three tertiary hospitals. Of them, 912 (82.5%) had formal surgical indication according to the most recent European Guidelines available in each period of the study and 303 (33%) only received medical treatment. These were older, had more comorbidities and higher in-hospital (46% vs. 24%; p < 0.001) and one year mortality (57.1% vs. 27.6%; p < 0.001) than operated patients. The main reason for surgical rejection was high surgical risk (57.1%) and the highest mortality when the cause were severe neurological conditions (76%). When the endocarditis team took the decision not to operate (25.5% of the patients), in-hospital (7%) and one-year mortality (17%) were low. In-hospital mortality associated with each surgical indication was 67% in heart failure, 53% in uncontrolled infection and 45% in prevention of embolisms (p < 0.001). Heart failure (OR: 2.26 CI95%: 1.29–3.96; p = 0.005), Staphylococcus aureus (OR: 3.17; CI95%: 1.72–5.86; p < 0.001) and persistent infection (OR: 5.07 CI95%: 2.85–9.03) are the independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality. One third of the patients with left-sided IE and formal surgical indication are rejected for surgery. In-hospital mortality is very high, especially when heart failure is the indication for surgery and when severe neurological conditions the reason for rejection. Short term prognosis of patients rejected by a specialized endocarditis team is favorable.

This paper presents baseline results from the NutriEcoMuscle study, a multicenter observational study conducted in Spain which focused on changes in nutritional status, body composition, and functionality in post-intensive care unit (ICU) COVID-19 patients following a nutritional intervention. Assessments at hospital discharge included Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, the Barthel index, handgrip strength (HGS) and the Timed Up-and-Go test, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and nutritional ultrasound (US). The study involved 96 patients (71.9% male, mean age 58.8 years, mean BMI 28.8 kg/m2, 36.5% obese). All patients were malnourished at discharge according to GLIM and SGA. Functional status declined from admission up to hospital discharge. A total of 33.3% of patients had a low fat-free mass index (FFMI) and 29.5% had a low phase angle (PhA). Myosteatosis was observed in 83.7% of the population. There was a positive correlation between rectus femoris cross-sectional area, PhA, FFMI, and HGS. In conclusion, post-critically ill COVID-19 patients commonly suffer from malnutrition and reduced muscle mass, causing a loss of independence at hospital discharge. BIA and US could be valuable tools for assessing body composition in these patients. The NutriEcoMuscle study highlights the need for a thorough nutritional and morphofunctional status assessment of post-ICU patients.

Aging is characterized by increased reactive species, leading to redox imbalance, oxidative damage, and senescence. The adverse effects of alcohol consumption potentiate aging-associated alterations, promoting several diseases, including liver diseases. Nucleoredoxin (NXN) is a redox-sensitive enzyme that targets reactive oxygen species and regulates key cellular processes through redox protein–protein interactions. Here, we determine the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on NXN-dependent redox interactions in the liver of aged mice. We found that chronic alcohol consumption preferentially promotes the localization of NXN either into or alongside senescent cells, declines its interacting capability, and worsens the altered interaction ratio of NXN with FLII, MYD88, CAMK2A, and PFK1 proteins induced by aging. In addition, carbonylated protein and cell proliferation increased, and the ratios of collagen I and collagen III were inverted. Thus, we demonstrate an emerging phenomenon associated with altered redox homeostasis during aging, as shown by the declining capability of NXN to interact with partner proteins, which is enhanced by chronic alcohol consumption in the mouse liver. This evidence opens an attractive window to elucidate the consequences of both aging and chronic alcohol consumption on the downstream signaling pathways regulated by NXN-dependent redox-sensitive interactions.

Coronilla viminalis Salisb. is a fodder leguminous plant from the Canary Islands and Northwestern Africa with adaptation to drought. Its conservation status is critical. Its low germination capacity and intense loss of viability of the seeds over time complicate its conservation, limiting its long-term maintenance in germplasm banks and hampering its potential use as a resilient fodder crop. Therefore, in this work, two alternative propagation methods have been addressed. The first was based on facilitating seed germination under aseptic conditions, supplementing the media with gibberellic acid (GA3). The latter consisted of creating a micropropagation method from nodal segments and testing different media and pretreatments with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The quantity and quality of the roots were assessed, and the plant acclimation rate was measured. The results showed that the optimum concentration of GA3 for germination, up to 98%, was 250 PPM. The experiments showed that using IAA in the micropropagation media is critical for in vitro rooting in this species. A hormonal pretreatment with IAA significantly improved the rooting efficiency compared to supplementing it into the culture media. One hundred percent of acclimated plants survived the process. These new protocols will help conserve the species and explore its possibilities as fodder crops.

Infrared Thermography (IRT) has become an assistance tool in medicine and is used to noninvasively evaluate heat elimination during and after inflammatory processes or during the recovery period. However, its application in veterinary patients undergoing physiotherapy is a field that requires deep research. This review aims to analyze the application of IRT in the monitoring of animal physiotherapy, using the thermal changes that are present in patients undergoing gait or lameness issues (e.g., inflammation, pain, increased local temperature) as a neurobiological basis. Rehabilitation techniques such as acupuncture, physical therapies, thermotherapy, photo-biomodulation, and electrostimulation have been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect that decreases the amount of local heat production, which is heat that can be recorded with IRT. Therefore, IRT could be used as a complementary tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy, and it is suggested that further studies evaluate the accuracy, sensibility, and sensitivity of IRT.

Sign language serves as the primary mode of communication for the deaf community. With technological advancements, it is crucial to develop systems capable of enhancing communication between deaf and hearing individuals. This paper reviews recent state-of-the-art methods in sign language recognition, translation, and production. Additionally, we introduce a rule-based system, called ruLSE, for generating synthetic datasets in Spanish Sign Language. To check the usefulness of these datasets, we conduct experiments with two state-of-the-art models based on Transformers, MarianMT and Transformer-STMC. In general, we observe that the former achieves better results (+3.7 points in the BLEU-4 metric) although the latter is up to four times faster. Furthermore, the use of pre-trained word embeddings in Spanish enhances results. The rule-based system demonstrates superior performance and efficiency compared to Transformer models in Sign Language Production tasks. Lastly, we contribute to the state of the art by releasing the generated synthetic dataset in Spanish named synLSE.

Heat stress is a condition that can affect the health, performance, and welfare of farm animals. The perception of thermal stress leads to the activation of the autonomic nervous system to start a series of physiological and behavioral mechanisms to restore thermostability. One of these mechanisms is vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels to increase heat loss through the skin. Due to this aspect, infrared thermography has been suggested as a method to assess the thermal state of animals and predict rectal temperature values noninvasively. However, it is important to consider that predicting rectal temperature is challenging, and its association with IRT is not always a direct linear relationship. The present review aims to analyze the neurobiological response associated with heat stress and how thermal imaging in different thermal windows can be used to recognize heat stress in farmed ungulates.

Composites of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in the shape of braids, in combination with crystals of hydroxyapatite (HAp), were analyzed to perceive the influence of this bioceramic on both the quasi-static and viscoelastic behavior under tensile loading. Analyses involving energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed us to conclude that the production of a homogeneous layer of HAp on the braiding surface and the calcium/phosphate atomic ratio were comparable to those of natural bone. The maximum degradation temperature established by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a modest decrease with the addition of HAp. By adding HAp to PVA braids, an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) is noticed, as demonstrated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The PVA/HAp composite braids’ peaks were validated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to be in good agreement with common PVA and HAp patterns. PVA/HAp braids, a solution often used in the textile industry, showed superior overall mechanical characteristics in monotonic tensile tests. Creep and relaxation testing showed that adding HAp to the eight and six-braided yarn architectures was beneficial. By exhibiting good mechanical performance and most likely increased biological qualities that accompany conventional care for bone applications in the fracture healing field, particularly multifragmentary ones, these arrangements can be applied as a fibrous fixation system.

This study explores the genetic factors associated with atypical femoral fractures (AFF), rare fractures associated with prolonged anti-resorptive therapy. AFF are fragility fractures that typically appear in the subtrochanteric or diaphyseal regions of the femur. While some cases resemble fractures in rare genetic bone disorders, the exact cause remains unclear. This study investigates 457 genes related to skeletal homeostasis in 13 AFF patients by exome sequencing, comparing the results with osteoporotic patients (n = 27) and Iberian samples from the 1000 Genomes Project (n = 107). Only one AFF case carried a pathogenic variant in the gene set, specifically in the ALPL gene. The study then examined variant accumulation in the gene set, revealing significantly more variants in AFF patients than in osteoporotic patients without AFF (p = 3.7 × 10−5), particularly in ACAN, AKAP13, ARHGEF3, P4HB, PITX2, and SUCO genes, all of them related to osteogenesis. This suggests that variant accumulation in bone-related genes may contribute to AFF risk. The polygenic nature of AFF implies that a complex interplay of genetic factors determines the susceptibility to AFF, with ACAN, SUCO, AKAP13, ARHGEF3, PITX2, and P4HB as potential genetic risk factors. Larger studies are needed to confirm the utility of gene set analysis in identifying patients at high risk of AFF during anti-resorptive therapy.

Anthocyanins are a specific group of molecules found in nature that have recently received increasing attention due to their interesting biological and colorimetric properties that have been successfully applied in several fields such as food preservation and biomedicine. Consequently, reviews devoted to a general overview of these flavonoids have proliferated in recent years. Meanwhile, the incorporation of anthocyanins into polymeric systems has become an interesting strategy to widen the applicability of these molecules and develop new smart and functional polymers in the above cited areas. However, anthocyanin-based polymers have been scarcely reviewed in the literature. Accordingly, this review aims to be a systematic summary of the most recent approaches for the incorporation of anthocyanins into macro-, micro-, or nanostructured polymers. Moreover, this work describes the fundamentals of the applicability of smart anthocyanin-based polymers and offers an updated review of their most interesting applications as sensors, biological regulators, and active materials.

This paper presents a methodology to detect the coastal erosion and progradation effects in the ‘Atrato River’ delta, located in the Gulf of Urabá in Colombia, using SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) images. Erosion is the physical–mechanical loss of the soil that affects its functions and ecosystem services while producing a reduction in its productive capacity. Progradation is the deposition of layers in the basinward direction while moving coastward. Other studies have investigated these two phenomena using optical images, encountering difficulties due to the persistent presence of clouds in this region. In order to avoid the cloud effects, in this study, we used 16 Sentinel 1 SAR images with two different polarizations between 2016 and 2023. First, each image was rescaled from 0 to 255, then the image was despeckled by a deep learning (DL) model. Afterwards, a single RGB image was composed with the filtered polarizations. Next, a classifier with 99% accuracy based on Otsu’s method was used to determine whether each pixel was water or not. Then, the classified image was registered to a reference one using Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) descriptor. Finally, a multitemporal analysis was performed by comparing every image to the previous one to identify the studied phenomena, calculating areas. Also, all images were integrated to obtain a heatmap that showed the overall changes across eight years (2016–2023) in a single image. The multitemporal analysis performed found that the newly created mouth is the most active area for these processes, coinciding with other studies. In addition, a comparison of these findings with the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) showed a relative delayed coupling to the erosion process and a coupling of progradation with dry and wet seasons.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is widely used in tissue engineering and other biomedical applications. PLA can be modified with appropriate biocompatible ceramic materials since this would allow tailoring the mechanical properties of the tissues to be engineered. In this study, PLA-based non-woven fibrillar nanocomposites containing nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (HA), a bioceramic commonly used in bone tissue engineering, were prepared via solution blow spinning (SBS). The compositions of the final materials were selected to study the influence of HA concentration on the structure, morphology, and thermal and mechanical properties. The resulting materials were highly porous and mainly constituted fibers. FTIR analysis did not reveal any specific interactions. The diameters of the fibers varied very little with the composition. For example, slightly thinner fibers were obtained for pure PLA and PLA + 10% HA, with fiber diameters of less than 400 nm, while the thicker fibers were found for PLA + 1% HA, with average diameters of 427 ± 170 nm. The crystallinity and stiffness of the PLA/HA composite increased with the HA content. Further, composites containing PLA fibers with slightly larger diameters were more ductile. Thus, with an appropriate balance between factors, such as the diameter of the solution-blow-spun PLA fibers, HA particle content, and degree of crystallinity, PLA/HA composites may be effectively used in tissue engineering applications.

Apart from structure and composition, morphology plays a significant role in influencing the performance of materials in terms of both bulk and surface behavior. In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) constituted by submicrometric fibers is prepared. Using a modified electrospinning (ES) device to carry out solution blow spinning (SBS), the fibrillar morphology is modified, with the aim to induce variations in the properties of the material. The modification of the ES device consists of the incorporation of a source of pressurized gas (air) and a 3D-printed nozzle of our own design. For this work, the morphology of the PLA submicrometric fibers is modified by varying the rotational speed of the collector in order to understand its influence on different properties and, consequently, on the performance of the material. The rotational speed of a cylindrical collector (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 rpm) is considered as variable for changing the morphology. Morphological study of the materials was performed using scanning electron microscopy and image analysis carried out with ImageJ 1.54f software. Besides a morphology study, structural characterization by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy using attenuated total reflectance of prepared materials is carried out. Finally, the morphology and structure of produced PLA fibrous mats were correlated with the analysis of mechanical properties, wettability behavior and adhesion of DH5-α E. coli bacteria. It is of interest to highlight how small morphological and chemical structure variations can lead to important changes in materials’ performance. These changes include, for example, those above 30% in some mechanical parameters and clear variations in bacterial adhesion capacity.

The aim of this research was the creation and validation of a questionnaire to assess education quality in university contexts and to find factors that can help improve the educational system. The questionnaire was validated via a psychometric study through exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) data analyses from a sample of 1302 subjects to find students’ level of satisfaction in the university environment. The results show good reliability and validity, highlighting three factors: access level to computer aspects; different material resources and university students’ degree of satisfaction with the educational community. We concluded that this validated questionnaire provides information regarding students’ opinions about the quality of education in university contexts and can serve as a measurement tool for the educational system’s good functioning in an effective and efficient way.

This study presents an in vitro analysis of the bactericidal and cytotoxic properties of hybrid films containing nickel oxide (NiO) and nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles embedded in polypropylene (PP). The solvent casting method was used to synthesize films of PP, PP@NiO, and PP@NiFe2O4, which were characterized by different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed that the small crystallite sizes of NiO and NiFe2O4 NPs were maintained even after they were incorporated into the PP matrix. From the Raman scattering spectroscopy data, it was evident that there was a significant interaction between the NPs and the PP matrix. Additionally, the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed a homogeneous dispersion of NiO and NiFe2O4 NPs throughout the PP matrix. The incorporation of the NPs was observed to alter the surface roughness of the films; this behavior was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The antibacterial properties of all films were evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC®: 43636™) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC®: 23235™), two opportunistic and nosocomial pathogens. The PP@NiO and PP@ NiFe2O4 films showed over 90% bacterial growth inhibition for both strains. Additionally, the effects of the films on human skin cells, such as epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, were evaluated for cytotoxicity. The PP, PP@NiO, and PP@NiFe2O4 films were nontoxic to human keratinocytes. Furthermore, compared to the PP film, improved biocompatibility of the PP@NiFe2O4 film with human fibroblasts was observed. The methodology utilized in this study allows for the production of hybrid films that can inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. aureus, and Gram-negative bacteria, such as P. aeruginosa. These films have potential as coating materials to prevent bacterial proliferation on surfaces.

The Gymnocalycium genus includes numerous highly valued species in the ornamental plant market and their propagation is usually carried out using traditional methods. However, there is a lack of information regarding the efficiency of micropropagation through in vitro tissue culture techniques on these species. So, with the objective of establishing an efficient micropropagation protocol that allows for optimizing the plant obtaining processes, the morphogenic potential of Gymnocalycium cv. Fancy has been studied in this work. For this purpose, plants of two different sizes (medium and large) were used as the starting material, from which three types of explants were obtained (apex, central discs and bases). The effect of three plant growth regulators (6-Benzylaminopurine, BAP; Kinetin, KIN; and Thidiazuron, TDZ) at three different concentrations each were studied, and the number of generated shoots, the frequency of appearance of callogenesis and rhizogenesis by explant and condition were assessed. An efficient protocol based on the use of KIN at 4 µM and central discs as a starting explant was developed. Moreover, the obtained sprouts rooted successfully (especially using BAP at 2 µM), and their subsequent acclimatization was very effective. Furthermore, emergence of a new morphotype is presented, that has not previously been described.

The seismic performance of buildings requires researchers to collect a suite of seismic records that are usually scaled to characterize the seismic hazard of the site. After scaling the accelerograms, a nonlinear analysis of the buildings allows researchers to evaluate the expected performance and to assess damage limit states based on seismic demands in buildings’ structural elements. Scaling seismic records is a frequent task in the nonlinear analysis of structures using different methodologies not always well justified in the studies. This study presents the effect of ten scaling methodologies on the expected behavior of reinforced concrete buildings subjected to a suite of accelerograms recorded in a high-seismic-hazard region. Based on the nonlinear analysis, the seismic demands of the buildings were assessed to determine the expected damage by selecting performance limit states. The results show an important variability in the building demands that can draw different conclusions as a function of the scaling methodology used in the nonlinear analysis.

PVC is widely used in packaging, electrical insulation, and medical devices due to its versatility owing to its resistance, incombustible and barrier properties as well as affordable cost. In the present study, bibliometric and co-occurrence analyses are proposed to identify trends, gaps, future directions, and challenges regarding process system engineering (PSE) applied to the production process of PVC using VOSviewer as a tool for analyzing the data obtained from SCOPUS. A mapping of different topics alluding to simulation of PVC production was provided to gain a better insight into the development of the topic and its progression. The findings indicate that the literature on this topic falls into five different clusters: modeling and simulation of PVC production, process control and optimization, and optimization strategies of the process. From a co-occurrence study we identified that mathematics and statistics applied to polymer chemistry, separation phenomena, and polymer production are the main areas of interest for further research. The trends suggest that Monte Carlo and numerical simulation can contribute to a deeper understanding of PVC’s properties and behavior. In addition, the focus on plastics and microplastics reflects concerns about the environmental impact. A bibliometric study evidenced that PSE provides the tools for improvement in PVC production processes by employing advanced process engineering techniques. Modelling and new algorithms for simulation methods of continuous polymerization processes are important to enhance accuracy and efficiency across various applications. The study also proposes a research agenda for future researchers working in the field of the use of PSE applied to the PVC production process.