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In the last 15 years, new types of display technologies have increasingly replaced cathode ray tube (CRT) screens, which has led to an increase in landfill of old discarded CRT televisions, which present a great environmental challenge throughout the world due to their high lead content. In addition, environmental awareness has led to greater use of recycled aggregates to reduce the exploitation of existing reserves. This document aims to study the feasibility of incorporating CRT glass waste with recycled aggregate (RA) in combinations for use in civil engineering, more specifically in road bases and sub-bases. For the mechanical and environmental assessment of all of the samples and materials, the following procedures have been performed: the compliance batch test of UNE-EN 12457-4:2004 for RA, CRT, and mixtures; the Percolation Test according CEN/TS 14405 for the mixtures, CRT, and RA; Modified Proctor and load capacity (the California Bearing Ratio, or CBR) in all mixtures without cement addition, and finally, compressive strength of the material treated with cement at different ages of curing. The analysis of the mechanical and environmental properties through different techniques of lixiviation was positive, showing the ability to use CRT for certain dosage percentages mixed with recycled aggregates.

Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne nematode of dogs, other carnivores and, occasionally, humans. Globally, D. immitis infection (which causes heartworm) is typically more prevalent in tropical than temperate regions. In this study, the seroprevalence of D. immitis was determined from a sample of 335 non-stray dogs from four municipalities, two each from the states of Puebla and Guerrero in Mexico, using polyclonal antibodies to detect serum antigens using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The accuracy of the assay was compared with the modified Knott’s test. The polyclonal antibody used in the direct ELISA had a high sensitivity (100%) with variable specificity (98.2–98.8%) in the municipalities of Puebla and Guerrero. The area under the curve for the four municipalities was 1.0, indicating a high accuracy test, with a cut-off value ranging from 0.45 to 0.50. The overall prevalence of D. immitis infection was 17.56% (59 out of 335). The highest prevalence was in Acapulco (24.78%), followed by Chilpancingo (20.93%), Tecamachalco (10.81%) and Quecholac (8.06%). The highest percentage of positive samples was detected in tropical regions (23.12%) and the lowest in temperate regions (9.56%). This study demonstrates that polyclonal anti-D. immitis antibodies can successfully diagnose heartworm-infected dogs and be used to monitor prevalence effectively and develop prevention strategies against Dirofilaria infection.

Background: Chemsex has been defined as the deliberate use of drugs for prolonged sexual intercourse between gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Drugs associated with chemsex can trigger mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, risk of psychosis and suicidal ideation, social isolation, stigmatization, and even loss of impulse control and lack of coping strategies. Currently, the increase in illicit drugs in a sexual context is considered an outbreak of a public health emergency. Objective: The aim of this study is the construction and validation of the Chem-Sex Inventory (CSI), a new scale to assess the mental health risk of chemsex behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted to study 563 participants. Data were collected through an online questionnaire between January and April 2023, and the construct validity of the CSI was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The sample was, on average, 36 years old (SD: ±9.2). The majority of gender identity was cisgender (97.7%). A factor structure was found that can be summarized in four dimensions: emotional instability, risk of psychosis, altered body perception, and risk of suicide. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) presents adequate reliability values, with a Cronbach’s alpha above 0.87 for all dimensions and a McDonald’s omega above 0.88 with a good fit of the 42 items. Conclusions: Our study has shown that the Chem-Sex Inventory (CSI) scale has factorial validity and could be used in clinical practice and research to measure the behavioral contribution of the chemsex phenomenon in MSM.

Background: Historically, a large gender-related disparity in vascular access (VA) has been demonstrated, with there being a lower prevalence of women with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) compared to men, and women have worse maturity rates. The cause of this difference is not entirely clear, although several reasons that could contribute to it have been hypothesized. The emergence of new percutaneous FAV (pFAV) systems could be an alternative for reducing these differences. Objective: This study aims to determine whether there is a gender difference in the creation of AVFs using new percutaneous systems. Material and Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching PubMed and Google Scholar using the following terms: “percutaneous arteriovenous fistula”, “endovascular arteriovenous fistula”, and “hemodialysis”. All clinical trials, comparative studies, and descriptive studies involving patients who underwent a pAVF were included. Results: Finally, the review includes 19 studies, comprising 14 retrospective studies and 5 prospective studies. Of these, six studies are comparative, five of which compare pAVFs with surgically created AVFs (sAVFs), and one compares pAVFs performed using different systems with each other. A total of 1269 patients were included in the review. Of the total number of patients, only 414 were women, representing 32.62% of patients. Conclusions: The number of women included in the various studies analyzing pAVF remains very low, representing less than one-third of all patients. Although the causes of this difference are not entirely clear, several reasons have been hypothesized, such as socioeconomic factors, anatomical factors, or even patients’ preferences. Given these results, further studies are needed to try to clarify the reasons for this gender disparity and to establish different strategies to mitigate the barriers faced by women in accessing AVFs.

The main objective was to evaluate the use of common bean flour (CBF), corn flour, and semolina to obtain instant noodles by means of a hot dry and frying process. The hot drying process was conducted at 60 °C for 4 h, and frying was conducted at 140 °C and 160 °C for 1 and 3 min. Proximate analysis, total phenolic content (TPC), the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, phenolic acids and flavonoids profile by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, the optimal cooking time (OCT), and color and texture analysis (TPA) were conducted. The general linear model and regression analysis were used. The incorporation of CBF resulted in an elevated protein content and TPC of the noodles. The noodles (hot dry) with CBF exhibited an enhanced antioxidant capacity. The adhesiveness has a direct correlation with the cinnamic, chlorogenic, and caffeic acid content (r2 = 0.95 or higher), as well as an inverse relationship with the vanillic, ferulic, and sinapic acids (r2 = −0.80 to −0.85). The dry hot noodles exhibited the lowest value of hardness (31.0 ± 1.5 N). The incorporation of common bean flour and corn flour enhances the nutritional profile of noodles. However, hot dry process affects their mechanical characteristics in comparison to the frying process.

Suicidal ideation is a process that is intertwined with suicidal behavior. It begins with the formation of an idea about whether it is worth continuing to live, an idea that can evolve and trigger a series of actions ranging from planning to the execution of the suicidal act. This is a descriptive observational study based on numerical measurements with its respective statistical analysis that established the behavioral patterns of the phenomenon studied. The research proposal was approved by the research committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, URSE; data collection was performed through the instruments: Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Abbreviated Scale of School Bullying Questionnaire, Drug Dependence Identification Questionnaire, and Family Apgar. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 5.4%; 19.7% of the medical students have been victims of bullying in any form; 22.2% reported regular use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other addictive substances; in addition, 17.7% had mild family dysfunction, moderate in 9.9% and severe with 15.3%; depression was recorded to a mild degree with 6.4%, followed by moderate in 1.5% of cases. Suicidal ideation among medical students is of concern; these problems must be addressed comprehensively, promoting a supportive environment that promotes the mental health and well-being of medical students.

The existing literature on sexual consent is extensive, but a new social approach to this topic is emerging, necessitating further research. This article addresses a gap in understanding how men’s interactions with other men, who are not their sexual partners, both before and during sexual encounters, influence their approach to consent beyond sexual cues. The study involved sixteen interviews and two focus groups with men aged 18–25. Conducted within the framework of the Consent project (PID2019-110466RB-100), this research aims to analyze how communicative acts, beyond verbal exchanges, shape relationships where either consent or coercion prevails. The findings reveal that when men engage in coercive interactions with non-sexual male peers, these interactions can encourage the violation of consent in their sexual relationships. Conversely, some men reject this coercive behavior, take a stand, and support others in avoiding situations that compromise consent. These results underscore the importance of addressing norms of masculinity and male interactions to ensure that all individuals can autonomously make decisions about their sexual lives.

This study investigates the enhanced production of key therapeutic metabolites (ellagic acid, serotonin, and chlorogenic acid) in response to abiotic stress in in vitro cultures of Quercus suber somatic embryos. Findings indicate significant increases in metabolite levels under various stress conditions, highlighting the potential for commercial-scale production of these compounds, known for their antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-COVID-19 properties. Under osmotic/saline stress, ellagic acid production significantly increased, representing an 80% increase compared to control conditions. In embryos exposed to different stressors, serotonin accumulation showed a six-fold increase under osmotic/saline stress. Although the elicitors used did not increase chlorogenic acid levels, exploring alternative stress types may enhance its production. This research paves the way for sustainable, large-scale production of health-beneficial metabolites, addressing global health challenges and promoting resource sustainability.

Background: To evaluate analgesic practices in perioperative treatment during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; recording parameters collected in the PAIN OUT database, and to compare COVID and no-COVID data. Methods: Data were analyzed for 277 patients (87 COVID-19 confirmed diagnosis and 190 non-COVID): years aged, gender, minutes of surgery duration, Likert Scale punctuation, hours in severe pain, minimum and maximum pain intensity, interference with sleep quality, anxiety, need for help, nausea, drowsiness, itching, dizziness, perception of care, pain relief, participation, satisfaction, and information received. Results: Postoperative mortality 1 month after surgery was recorded at 25.3% in COVID-19. Significant differences were found in postoperative pain intensity (p = 0.019), time with severe pain (p < 0.01), lower sleep quality (p < 0.01), and better outcomes in functional items (p < 0.01); there were more side effects and satisfaction with pain relief (p < 0.01) in COVID-patients than with no COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: In conclusion, COVID-19 patients presented greater intensity and duration of severe postoperative pain, greater somnolence, pruritus, and dizziness, lower physical activity limitation, and higher quality index.

Ternary and quaternary compounds offer vast potential for tailoring material properties through compositional adjustments and complex interactions among their constituent elements. However, many of their compositional possibilities still need to be investigated. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) is crucial for determining elemental composition but is inadequate for identifying chemical bonds and physical properties. This work introduces a novel methodology using a stoichiometric deviation vector (SDV) to estimate the physical and compositional feature characteristics of Si, N, and O compounds by comparing actual molar ratios with ideal stoichiometric references. We validated this method by estimating Si-O bonds in silicon oxynitride samples, demonstrating strong agreement with FTIR and refractive index results. We also extended our proof of principle for SiAlON compounds and established an adaptable procedure to analyze compounds with more than three elements. This flexible methodology will significantly value the materials research community, providing valuable compositional features and physical insights by performing elemental EDX characterizations.

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.

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.

High-density olive groves, despite their interesting production potential, have several limitations, including their high fruit load and irrigation requirements. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fruit load and deficit irrigation on oil yield, fruit quality, and olive chemical composition in a high-density olive grove (cv Sikitita). Our main hypothesis was that primary metabolism, as influenced by crop load and stress, could modify the accumulation of different phenolic classes. Different fruit loads were generated through flower thinning (66%, 50%, 33%, 0%), and two deficit irrigation treatments (−60%, −75%) were compared to the well-watered control (920 m3/ha). Thinning treatments had a limited effect on oil yield; on the other hand, deficit irrigation caused considerably less oil accumulation in the fruit on all sampling dates. Thinning 66% and deficit irrigation 75% were considered with the control for untargeted metabolomic analysis, including three sampling dates. A total of 233 distinct phenolic compounds were annotated. Multivariate HCA results indicated that harvest time had an impact on the phenolic profile of olive fruits, obtaining two separated clusters that grouped t1 and t2 together and apart from t3, which clustered independently. Regarding agronomic techniques, they played a differential role in the phenolic profile (supervised OPLS-DA). Fruit load mostly affected flavonoid glycosides. In contrast, the phenolic response to deficit irrigation was more heterogeneous, with phenolic acids (35%), flavonoids (25%), LMW, and other phenols (25%).

Most crops are fertilized with high amounts of nitrogen, and have an alarmingly low utilization efficiency. For this reason, the coordination between the fertilizer contribution and the nitrogen requirements of the crop is very important. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to establish new indices to determine nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and to define the amount of assimilated nitrogen, which is used for the formation of green bean plant organs, fertilized with molybdenum nanofertilizer applied foliarly, and combined with edaphic fertilization of ammonium nitrate. The plants were grown in a greenhouse covered with anti-aphid mesh and irrigated with nutrient solution. Three sources of foliar molybdenum (Nanofertilizer, molybdenum Chelate and Sodium Molybdate) were applied in four doses of 0, 5, 10 and 20 ppm Mo, complemented with edaphic fertilization of NH4NO3 (0, 3, 6 and 12 mM of N). As results, the NUE indices showed that with the application of the nanofertilizer, the total biomass production increased 41.65% more than with the application of the chelate, and 36.84% more than with the application of molybdate. In summary, the dose that presented the highest efficiency was 6 mM-N with 10 ppm-Mo. Finally, it is concluded that the use of NUE indices is an important approach that evaluates the fate of nitrogen and accurately estimates plant yield.

Adherence to hand hygiene procedures is crucial for all populations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented specific guidelines for infection control. Frequent and correct hand hygiene can prevent infections, but non-compliance with hand hygiene is pervasive. Nursing students address this issue from the beginning of their training. In nursing training, self-efficacy is crucial in enhancing students’ competence, motivation, and clinical performance. We performed a cross-sectional multicenter study in five European countries, with a cross-sectional design with an online application of an instrument measuring hand hygiene knowledge based on WHO guidelines and general self-efficacy and specific self-efficacy for infection control. A total of 638 first-year nursing students participated in this study. The mean percentage of correct answers was 67.9%, with a considerable difference depending on the items. The worst results were obtained for questions related to sources of infection and types of hand hygiene methods in different situations. Finnish students displayed significantly (p < 0.001) higher scores in HH knowledge, whereas Estonian students had significantly (p < 0.001) higher levels of self-efficacy. There were significant correlations between the hand hygiene knowledge score and the self-efficacy score (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis by linear regression analysis showed significant associations between the hand hygiene knowledge survey score and the students’ age (p < 0.001, OR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.04–0.10), as well as their country of origin (p = 0.01, OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.03–0.34). HH knowledge is quite low among nursing students, and is correlated with self-efficacy, although the strongest predictors are age and country of origin. Different nursing curricula must favor HH knowledge, with varying degrees of emphasis depending on the country.

This study investigates the relationship between semantic memory and social cognition in schizophrenia. The sample included 50 individuals with schizophrenia (mean age 42.54, SD 9.98; 14 women, 36 men) and 30 controls (mean age 42.06, SD 12.50; 6 women, 24 men). Semantic memory was assessed using verbal fluency and the Camel and Cactus Test, while social cognition was evaluated through the Face Test and the Hinting Task. The schizophrenia group showed significantly lower performance in both semantic memory (semantic fluency: t(78) = 7.77, p < 0.007, δ = 1.79; Camel and Cactus Test: t(78) = 5.37, p < 0.007, δ = 1.26) and social cognition (Face Test: t(78) = 5.94, p < 0.007, δ = 1.34; Hinting Task: t(78) = 7.79, p < 0.007, δ = 1.79). Strong correlations were observed between the Camel and Cactus Test and social cognition measures (Face Test: r = 0.63, p < 0.005; Hinting Task: r = 0.54, p < 0.005). Regression analyses indicated that the Camel and Cactus Test significantly predicted social cognition performance independent of symptomatology, explaining 53% of the variance in the Face Test and 54% in the Hinting Task. This study provides new insights into the cognitive underpinnings of schizophrenia, emphasizing the need for further research to explore these relationships and their implications for cognitive models and therapeutic interventions.

Prostate cancer (PCa) poses a significant challenge because of the difficulty in identifying aggressive tumors, leading to overtreatment and missed personalized therapies. Although only 8% of cases progress beyond the prostate, the accurate prediction of aggressiveness remains crucial. Thus, this study focused on studying retinoblastoma phosphorylated at Serine 249 (Phospho-Rb S249), N-cadherin, β-catenin, and E-cadherin as biomarkers for identifying aggressive PCa using a logistic regression model and a classification and regression tree (CART). Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), we targeted the expression of these biomarkers in PCa tissues and correlated their expression with clinicopathological data of the tumor. The results showed a negative correlation between E-cadherin and β-catenin with aggressive tumor behavior, whereas Phospho-Rb S249 and N-cadherin positively correlated with increased tumor aggressiveness. Furthermore, patients were stratified based on Gleason scores and E-cadherin staining patterns to evaluate their capability for early identification of aggressive PCa. Our findings suggest that the classification tree is the most effective method for measuring the utility of these biomarkers in clinical practice, incorporating β-catenin, tumor grade, and Gleason grade as relevant determinants for identifying patients with Gleason scores ≥ 4 + 3. This study could potentially benefit patients with aggressive PCa by enabling early disease detection and closer monitoring.

The production of lettuce has increased significantly due to the use of hydroponic systems that rely on substrates. Disposal and acquisition costs present problems, necessitating the identification of sustainable alternatives. The present study aimed to evaluate the use of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) dry matter in a substrate for the formation of lettuce seedlings. Water plants were collected to obtain their dry matter, and twelve mixtures were formed with Sphagnum and perlite. Mixtures with more water hyacinth dry matter exhibited greater water retention. However, these mixtures also lost water at a faster rate than those containing primarily Sphagnum dry matter did. Higher percentages of germination were detected in the mixtures with water hyacinth dry matter, but these seedlings also presented higher concentrations of proline, such as 16.0 µg mL−1. The mixtures with water hyacinth dry matter presented the highest ion concentrations, mainly at high levels of humidity. Mixtures with a high proportion of water hyacinth dry matter had a greater water retention capacity and a high percentage of lettuce seed that germinated. The mixtures with a higher proportion of Sphagnum led to greater root length, greater concentrations of chlorophyll in cotyledonary leaves, and better morphological development of the seedlings.

This paper presents an actuator fault-tolerant control (FTC) strategy for a hexacopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed specifically for precision agriculture applications. The proposed approach integrates advanced sensing techniques, including the estimation of Near-Infrared (NIR) reflectance from RGB imagery using the Pix2Pix deep learning network based on conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGANs), to enable the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for health assessment. Additionally, trajectory flight planning is developed to ensure the efficient coverage of the targeted agricultural area while considering the vehicle’s dynamics and fault-tolerant capabilities, even in the case of total actuator failures. The effectiveness of the proposed system is validated through simulations and real-world experiments, demonstrating its potential for reliable and accurate data collection in precision agriculture. An NDVI test was conducted on a sugarcane crop using the estimated NIR to assess the crop’s condition during its tillering stage. Therefore, the main contributions this paper include (i) the development of an actuator FTC strategy for a hexacopter UAV in precision agriculture applications, integrating advanced sensing techniques such as NIR reflectance estimation using deep learning network; (ii) the design of a flight trajectory planning method ensuring the efficient coverage of the targeted agricultural area, considering the vehicle’s dynamics and fault-tolerant capabilities; (iii) the validation of the proposed system through simulations and real-world experiments; and (iv) the successful integration of FTC scheme, advanced sensing, and flight trajectory planning for reliable and accurate data collection in precision agriculture.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature cells with an immunosuppressive function. MDSCs have been related to inflammation in many settings, including infections, transplantation, obesity, aging, or cancer. In oncological settings, MDSCs participate in tumor immunoescape, growth, and metastasis. Certain nutrients can modify chronic inflammation by their interaction with MDSCs. Therefore, the possible influence of certain nutrients on immune surveillance by their actions on MDSCs and how this may affect the prognosis of cancer patients were evaluated in this scoping review. We identified seven papers, six of which were murine model studies and only one was a human clinical trial. Globally, a significant reduction in cancer growth and progression was observed after achieving a reduction in both MDSCs and their immunosuppressive ability with nutrients such as selected vegetables, icaritin, retinoic acid, curdlan, active vitamin D, soy isoflavones, and green tea. In conclusion, the consumption of certain nutrients may have effects on MDSCs, with beneficial results not only in the prevention of tumor development and growth but also in improving patients’ response.

A randomized, double-blind and controlled study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the intake of 250 mL of lactose-free skimmed milk enriched with ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) alone or combined with tryptophan vs. non-enriched milk (control) on the subjective quality of sleep in healthy adults with sleep problems. The duration of supplementation was 90 days. Fifty-two eligible subjects were assigned to the study arms of ashwagandha 250 mg, ashwagandha 250 mg plus tryptophan 175 mg, ashwagandha 600 mg, and control with 13 subjects in each group. It was hypothesized that ashwagandha plus tryptophan could be superior to ashwagandha alone for improving sleep-related variables. Changes in the visual analogue scale (VAS) for sleep quality were significantly higher in the three experimental groups as compared with controls (p = 0.014). Improvements in the subscales of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were found in all groups, but between-group differences were not significant. In the index of insomnia severity, decreases were higher in the three experimental groups as compared with controls especially in the group of ashwagandha 600 mg. Daytime somnolence was also reduced in the three experimental groups. Changes in anxiety levels and Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire were not observed. The study products did not elicit changes in body composition and were well tolerated and safe. The data did not support the hypothesis, as the combination of ashwagandha and tryptophan did not show greater benefits in improving sleep quality than ashwagandha alone. However, the results from the three experimental groups containing ashwagandha were more favorable compared to the placebo group.

Petrochemical clusters are forms of industrialization that use compounds and polymers derived directly or indirectly from gas or crude oil for chemical applications. They pose a variety of short- and long-term risks to the environment and the people who live nearby. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between the degree of perceived technological risk and the emotional value generated by the contemplation of the petrochemical industry landscape in order to try to establish strategic lines of action to mitigate the perception of risk and improve the emotional well-being of the population. This study uses manipulated pictures and a Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) survey to assess changes in perception and emotional response in residents in Teheran (Iran). Key findings show an insignificant relationship between technological risk and landscape value perception in both original and manipulated pictures. However, taking into account that, in general, in manipulated pictures, there is a more significant relationship, designing the landscape could help to mitigate the technological risk perception. This study contributes to the broader discussion about industrialization and its environmental and social consequences. It emphasizes the importance of considering public perception when planning and developing industrial areas, so as to balance industrial functionality and environmental and aesthetic considerations for long-term urban development.

Determining the number of cases of an epidemic is the first function of epidemiological surveillance. An important underreporting of cases was observed in many locations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. To estimate this underreporting in the COVID-19 outbreak of Borriana (Valencia Community, Spain) in March 2020, a cross-sectional study was performed in June 2020 querying the public health register. Logistic regression models were used. Of a total of 468 symptomatic COVID-19 cases diagnosed in the outbreak through anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology, 36 cases were reported (7.7%), resulting in an underreporting proportion of 92.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.5–94.6%), with 13 unreported cases for every reported case. Only positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction cases were predominantly reported due to a limited testing capacity and following a national protocol. Significant factors associated with underreporting included no medical assistance for COVID-19 disease, with an adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of 10.83 (95% CI 2.49–47.11); no chronic illness, aOR = 2.81 (95% CI 1.28–6.17); middle and lower social classes, aOR = 3.12 (95% CI 1.42–6.85); younger age, aOR = 0.97 (95% CI 0.94–0.99); and a shorter duration of illness, aOR = 0.98 (95% CI 0.97–0.99). To improve the surveillance of future epidemics, new approaches are recommended.

Campylobacter jejuni plays a significant role in human health, food production, and veterinary practice. Biofilm formation is a likely mechanism explaining the survival of C. jejuni in seemingly unfavourable environments, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We propose a mathematical model to unify various observations regarding C. jejuni biofilm formation. Specifically, we present a cellular automaton with stochastic dynamics that describes both the probability of biofilm initiation and its subsequent growth. Our model incorporates fundamental processes such as cell rearrangement, diffusion of chemical compounds, accumulation of extracellular material, cell growth, lysis, and deactivation due to nutrient scarcity. The model predicts an optimal nutrient concentration that enhances population survival, revealing a trade-off where higher nutrient levels may harm individual cells but benefit the overall population. Our results suggest that the lower biofilm accumulation observed experimentally in aerobic conditions compared to microaerobic conditions may be due to a reduced surface invasion probability of individual cells. However, cells that do manage to invade can generate microcolonies of a similar size under both aerobic and microaerobic conditions. These findings provide new insights into the survival probability and size of C. jejuni biofilms, suggesting potential targets for controlling its biofilm formation in various environments.

Background: Audiovestibular disorders in childhood occur with considerable frequency. However, the difficulty of obtaining medical history, the nonspecificity of symptoms, and the lack of cooperation during complementary tests often contribute significantly to diagnostic biases, attributing clinical presentations to psychosomatic disorders. The objectives of this work are, firstly, to characterize, from an auditory and vestibular perspective, the most frequent causes of vertigo in childhood and a possible relationship with emotional symptoms. On the other hand, to propose the usefulness of the MSSQ-Short questionnaire as a predictive variable in the evolution of children diagnosed with recurrent vertigo of childhood (RVC). Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was designed with retrospective data collection at three tertiary hospitals. Results: Among the 117 patients recruited between 2016 and 2024, 32 patients (27.35%) were diagnosed with an anxious-depressive syndrome prior to audiovestibular testing. The mean age was 11.19 ± 5.61 years and the most frequent final diagnoses were vestibular migraine (VM) with 41.03% and RVC with 23.93%. Patients with VM, compared with RVC, are approximately 1.12 times more likely to have psychosomatic pathology (CI 0.39 to 3.25). The most sensitive and frequently altered test was VEMPS (39.32%), with statistical significance in VM and otic capsule dehiscence, while regarding the MSSQ-Short questionnaire, the linear regression of 0.28 indicates an increase in clinical duration with high questionnaire scores. Conclusions: Vestibular disorders causing dizziness and vertigo are challenging to diagnose, often due to lack of cooperation and/or symptom nonspecificity. A thorough medical history and complementary tests, including audiovestibular and imaging studies, are advisable, thus avoiding systematically attributing children’s complaints to other psychosomatic disorders.

The aim of this study is to calculate the gains of the quantified visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex (qVVOR) and the quantified vestibulo-ocular reflex suppression (qVORS), using a specific system to generate a visual suppression index (SI) in healthy subjects obtained through the gains of qVVOR and qVORS, and to determine the normal values of the index, as well as the influence of age and sex variables on the SI. Methods. This prospective observational clinical study includes 83 healthy subjects who underwent the head impulse and suppression tests (HIMP and SHIMP, respectively), qVVOR, and qVORS tests, all of the vHIT. The sinusoidal tests (qVVOR and qVORS) were conducted at an intended frequency of 0.75 Hz. The gains of these tests were calculated using a system specifically designed for this purpose. A formula for the SI was established using a ratio of the gains from these tests. Two SI values are presented: unilateral, distinct for each direction of head movement, and bilateral, representing the suppression of both sides simultaneously. Results. Mean gains for the qVVORs were 0.981 ± 0.070 and 0.978 ± 0.077 for the rightwards and leftwards qVVORs, respectively. The gains for the suppressed tests were 0.334 ± 0.112 and 0.353 ± 0.110 for the rightwards and leftwards qVORSs, respectively. A difference of 0.05 Hz was observed between the expected (0.75 Hz) and the obtained frequency of head movement, which is statistically significant (p < 0.001). The SI was 0.342 ± 0.118 for the right side (right SI) and 0.363 ± 0.117 for the left side (left SI). The bilateral SI had a mean value of 0.295 ± 0.104. No significant differences in the SI were noted according to the subject’s age. The SI for women was lower than in the case of males. Conclusions: The VVOR/VORS quantification algorithm allows for the reliable calculation of the numerical gain of qVVOR and qVORS with mathematical soundness and consistency of results. Our data support the use of a single or specific measure for direction of head movement; although significant differences exist, these differences are not clinically relevant.

Urban and agricultural runoffs can transport contaminants and pesticides into freshwater ecosystems, particularly in the developing tropics. For instance, organophosphate and pyrethroids pesticides, such as Roundup, Malathion, and Permethrin, have been found in tropical streams. The uncontrolled application of these pesticides has become a growing concern due to their adverse effects on various non-targeted organisms. Unfortunately, most studies have focused on a few selected model species, ignoring the effects on other non-target organisms, which may play an important role in tropical lotic ecosystems. In addition, the biological characteristics of aquatic crustaceans, including their morphology, physiology, and behavior, make them susceptible to toxic chemicals. For this reason, this study used the widely distributed freshwater shrimp Xiphocaris elongata as a model organism to determine the acute toxicity of Permethrin, Malathion, and Roundup. Our results show that the proportion of mortality of X. elongata in each concentration group became progressively higher as the concentration of exposure increased. We also found that the synthetic pyrethroid Permethrin was the most toxic pesticide tested, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) value for 96 h of 3.96 × 10−6 µg·L−1, followed by organophosphate Malathion (8.87 µg·L−1) and Roundup (748.92 µg·L−1). Experiments with this freshwater shrimp showed a good control performance and reproducibility for the tested pesticides. This study demonstrated that X. elongata is a suitable test organism that can be a representative bioindicator of pesticide toxicity in tropical streams.

COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern, but long COVID’s effects are yet to be fully understood. Hence, globally, SARS-CoV-2 is still a profound threat to public health and of perilous nature as a zoonotic disease. Timely vaccination provided to individuals worldwide during the pandemic phase was under a certain degree of control; however, few studies have reported the effectiveness of vaccines administered in Mexico, and its surveillance is paramount. Furthermore, an unknown proportion of Mexican individuals have not yet received any vaccine, and the circulation of the Omicron, Pirola, and FLiRT variants is ongoing. A cross-sectional serology survey study design was employed, involving 150 individuals from Southern Mexico (Oaxaca) whose humoral immune responses after vaccination were tested by an ELISA; the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein served as a recombinant antigen in the ELISA. One hundred thirty-nine out of 150 individuals (92.6%; 95%-CI = 87–95%) examined were positive for the ELISA, but in 11 individuals, the vaccines did not induce any immune response. Interestingly, the immune responses (antibody prevalence and levels) of females (58%) were higher (T= −2.21; p-value = 0.02) than those of males (41%). However, in this sample population of Southern Mexico, age, vaccine type, comorbidity, and body mass index did not have any effect (p > 0.05) after COVID-19 vaccination. Taking all results together, here, we present factors that affected immune responses of individuals during the first vaccination campaign in Oaxaca, Mexico; however, vaccine surveillance during the post-pandemic phase needs further investigation.

The Addax nasomaculatus is an African antelope currently considered “critically endangered”. There is little scientific knowledge about the species, which could potentially aid in species conservation. The objective of this study was to determine how hair cortisol concentration and hair color vary according to sex, body site, and season across a whole year in zoo-housed addax. The addax population was housed at Parque Lecocq Zoo, Uruguay. Hair samples were taken from the shoulder and rump in autumn, winter, spring, and summer. Hair cortisol concentration in addax varied according to sex, with males exhibiting a higher hair cortisol concentration than females (1.03 ± 0.05 pg/mg vs. 0.91 ± 0.05 pg/mg, p = 0.016, respectively), with these differences being more significant in the spring (p < 0.0001). Hair cortisol concentration varied across seasons (p < 0.0001), with maximum values observed in summer. The color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) varied across seasons (p < 0.0001). The coat was blacker and yellower in winter and whiter in summer. Males had darker and greener hair color than females (p < 0.05). Sex and season-driven variation in hair cortisol concentration and hair color seem to be important elements to consider in relation to thermal comfort and animal welfare in addax, highlighting the warmer seasons as critical.

Nowadays, most of the health expenditure is due to chronic patients who are readmitted several times for their pathologies. Personalized prevention strategies could be developed to improve the management of these patients. The aim of the present work was to develop local predictive models using interpretable machine learning techniques to early identify individual unscheduled hospital readmissions. To do this, a retrospective, case-control study, based on information regarding patient readmission in 2018–2019, was conducted. After curation of the initial dataset (n = 76,210), the final number of participants was n = 29,026. A machine learning analysis was performed following several algorithms using unscheduled hospital readmissions as dependent variable. Local model-agnostic interpretability methods were also performed. We observed a 13% rate of unscheduled hospital readmissions cases. There were statistically significant differences regarding age and days of stay (p < 0.001 in both cases). A logistic regression model revealed chronic therapy (odds ratio: 3.75), diabetes mellitus history (odds ratio: 1.14), and days of stay (odds ratio: 1.02) as relevant factors. Machine learning algorithms yielded better results regarding sensitivity and other metrics. Following, this procedure, days of stay and age were the most important factors to predict unscheduled hospital readmissions. Interestingly, other variables like allergies and adverse drug reaction antecedents were relevant. Individualized prediction models also revealed a high sensitivity. In conclusion, our study identified significant factors influencing unscheduled hospital readmissions, emphasizing the impact of age and length of stay. We introduced a personalized risk model for predicting hospital readmissions with notable accuracy. Future research should include more clinical variables to refine this model further.

(1) Background: The rise of online health resources and AI has reshaped the diagnosis and treatment of disease, altering the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals and encouraging self-medication. However, questionnaires validated in the literature on self-medication seem to lack questions on the possible causes that induce such behaviors, including items that explore trust toward websites and artificial intelligence. The aim of this study is to design and validate the content of a questionnaire designed to assess self-medication in health professionals, delving into the underlying etiologies, the pharmacological categories involved and the degree of confidence placed in clinical assessments derived from AI tools. (2) Methods: Validation study of the content of an instrument consisting of two phases: 1. The content validation phase involved evaluation by a selected group of health experts, who, using a Likert-type scale, analyzed the clarity, coherence and relevance of the items. 2. Pilot study of health professionals who have indicated the practice of self-administration of medications. (3) Results: In the first phase of the study, the experts considered most of the questionnaire items to be clear, representative and consistent with the construct to be measured. In its second phase, the preliminary results of our pilot study suggest a significant trend toward self-medication among healthcare workers, along with a strong inclination to use online resources to search for health-related information. (4) Conclusions: The development of a validated instrument to measure the influence of the different causes that lead healthcare personnel to practice self-medication, guaranteeing validity and efficacy, allows us to establish strategies to reduce this growing problem.

The introduction of advanced driver assistance systems has significantly reduced vehicle accidents by providing crucial support for high-speed driving and alerting drivers to imminent dangers. Despite these advancements, current systems still depend on the driver’s ability to respond to warnings effectively. To address this limitation, this research focused on developing a neural network model for the automatic detection and classification of objects in front of a vehicle, including pedestrians and other vehicles, using radar technology. Radar sensors were employed to detect objects by measuring the distance to the object and analyzing the power of the reflected signals to determine the type of object detected. Experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the radar-based system under various driving conditions, assessing its accuracy in detecting and classifying different objects. The proposed neural network model achieved a high accuracy rate, correctly identifying approximately 91% of objects in the test scenarios. The results demonstrate that this model can be used to inform drivers of potential hazards or to initiate autonomous braking and steering maneuvers to prevent collisions. This research contributes to the development of more effective safety features for vehicles, enhancing the overall effectiveness of driver assistance systems and paving the way for future advancements in autonomous driving technology.

Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 is a diarrheal agent and a significant cause of hemorrhagic colitis and the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), mainly in infants. Early detection of contaminated food and water using reliable and fast tests is one of the strategies to prevent infections from E. coli O157:H7. Methods: Four quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocols (SYBR Green qPCR) were developed and validated to determine the presence of the bacteria according to its rfbE, stx1, and stx2 genes. Results: The results of the efficiencies were between 80% and 97% with a high linearity (R2 0.99). The cut-off limits for each primer sequence were 3.1667 × 10−2 ng µL−1 for two sequences of the serogroup O157 (primers rfbE and O157), 1.7228 × 10−3 ng µL−1 for stx1, and 3.5185 × 10−3 ng µL−1 for stx2. The inclusivity and the exclusivity of each gene, as well as the analytical precision and the positive and negative predictive value, were 100%. A contaminated meat matrix was evaluated, detecting up to 4 CFU g−1. Conclusions: SYBR Green qPCR protocols could be implemented to trace the presence of E. coli O157 in a routine analysis of ground beef or as an easy, rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic test while still considering microbiological tests to validate any inconclusive results.

The Bacillus megaterium LVN01 species native to Colombia has demonstrated the ability to metabolize different coproducts or industrial waste (such as fique juice, cane molasses, and residual glycerol) and accumulate polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), giving it potential in the bioplastics industry. In this research, the potential of liquid digestate as a carbon source for the production of PHA polymers in fermentation processes with this bacterial strain was evaluated. Favorably, it was found that B. megaterium utilizes the nutrients from this residual substrate to multiply appropriately and efficiently synthesize poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV). Bench-scale aerobic batch fermentation, under the operational conditions of this research [volume: 3 L; temperature: 30.8 °C; agitation: 400 rpm; pH: 7.0 ± 0.2; dissolved oxygen: 100% saturation; antifoam: 10% (v/v)], generated maximum values of dry cell weight (DCW) (0.56 g cell L−1) at 60 h, while the maximum PHBV yield (360 mg PHBV L−1) occurred at 16 h, which is very favorable for sustainable degradable bioplastics production. Additionally, GC–MS and NMR analyses confirmed that the PHBV copolymer synthesized by B. megaterium is made up of the monomers 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV). Furthermore, the thermal properties determined by TGA (Tonset = 283.1 °C; Tendset = 296.98 °C; Td = 290.114 °C) and DSC (Tm = °C 155.7 °C; ΔHf = 19.80 J g−1; Xcr = 18.17%) indicate that it is a thermally stable biopolymer with low percentages of crystallinity, providing flexibility that facilitates molding, adaptation, and application in various industrial sectors.

Aquaculture development is a challenge for the economic growth of coastal territories and to promote the food security of their populations. Many efforts have been made by international, national, and local public institutions to develop this sector. Despite this political objective, the coastal zones of Europe and the Mediterranean in general are faced with problems that strongly limit this development. This is linked to several factors, including social opposition, which raises the question of the social acceptability of aquaculture development. Beyond understanding the factors that explain the social rejection of this sector or its products, the key question concerns the capacity of private and public institutions to deal with this social opposition in a practical way. Based on fieldwork and a participatory approach, this paper analyzes the constraints of aquaculture development in Monastir Bay, Tunisia, and in particular, those relying on social dimensions. Under this participatory approach, the authors propose a research–action framework allowing the building of bases for engaging stakeholders in a co-construction process of a shared vision of aquaculture development in Monastir, in accordance with the constraints and ambitions expressed by the local communities regarding territorial needs. This paper shows the value of building the transition from an individual or group vision to a collective vision through a participatory approach that is likely to form a consensus, as opposed to an aggregation of individual visions that can lead to social unacceptance. It also argues that involving citizens in the exploration of aquaculture development scenarios adapted to the territory is an essential prerequisite to exploring the conditions that question the social acceptability and its improvement.

Given the rising interest in functional foods for health benefits, this study aims to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of an ice cream base incorporating Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and aguamiel syrup. We assessed the probiotic viability and ACE inhibitory activity in ice cream enriched with aguamiel syrup compared to inulin. Several reports have highlighted the importance of consuming symbiotic dairy foods to modulate the intestinal microbiota and multiple pathophysiologies. Ice cream has a high worldwide consumption rate, so it is an alternative to incorporating probiotics and prebiotics. The probiotic was inoculated (109 CFU/mL) into an ice cream base enriched with aguamiel syrup and a control base with added inulin. The carbohydrate profiles in the aguamiel (used to produce the syrup) and the aguamiel syrup were obtained through HPLC. TNBS and SDS-PAGE analysis were used to determine the proteolytic action of the probiotic. Sucrose was the carbohydrate with the highest concentration in fresh aguamiel and aguamiel syrup. The probiotic remained viable for 14 days under refrigerated storage conditions, with the aguamiel syrup base showing superior protein hydrolysis (free amino groups 302.67 ± 2.29 µg/mL) and 65% ACE inhibition. Likewise, the pH remained unchanged throughout the refrigerated days. These results underscore the potential of aguamiel syrup as a prebiotic in functional dairy products.

This paper addresses the problem of how Spanish digital media reported income inequality during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this way, the goal was to study the framing of definition, contextual aspects, and depth. For this article, a tool was designed to analyse the content of the items. An analysis of news published by six digital media in Spain from March 2020 to February 2021 was conducted using content analysis. Within a sample of 2727 media stories in which there was a connection between the coronavirus and inequality, a stratified sample was used (n = 958) according to the content production by quarter and by media. The results of this study show that income inequality was the most common type of inequality reported in the media, and they cantered more on the micro level. Also, it appeared to be linked to the social gap and showed poverty as the main consequence. The frame was focused on social issues, international and national contexts, and expert sources. Finally, different levels of depth can be observed in the news items analysed, depending on the frame.

This study explores the relationship between procrastination and declining healthy habits among adolescents, a topic lacking systematic reviews in the existing literature. The primary purpose is to lay the groundwork for promoting mental health and preventing procrastination as risky behavior. This systematic review examined five areas related to procrastination and its influence on healthy lifestyle habits in adolescents: technology and procrastination; sleep and procrastination; academic procrastination; and the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight that technology misuse is linked with procrastination; adolescents tend to procrastinate when going to sleep; academic procrastination negatively impacts long-term educational achievements, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this phenomenon. Ultimately, it is concluded that procrastination is related to all these aspects and has detrimental effects on adolescents’ physical and psychological development.

Pereskia sacharosa Griseb. is a plant used in traditional herbal medicine to treat inflammation. We analyzed the phenolic content of P. sacharosa leaves (EEPs) by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of EEPs and its flavonoid fraction (F10) in animal models subjected to acute neuroinflammation induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Coronal brain sections of C57BL/6JN male mice or Wistar male rats administered with EEPs or F10 before LPS were subjected to in situ hybridization to determine c-fos and CD14 mRNA levels in the hypothalamus or GABAA γ2 mRNA levels in the hippocampus. Theta oscillations were recorded every 6 h in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. In total, five flavonoids and eight phenolic acids were identified and quantified in P. sacharosa leaves. Either EEPs or F10 crossed the blood–brain barrier (BBB) into the brain and reduced the mRNA expression of c-fos, CD14, and GABAA γ2. A decrease in theta oscillation was observed in the hippocampus of the LPS group, while the F10 + LPS group overrode the LPS effect on theta activity. We conclude that the bioactive compounds of P. sacharosa reduce the central response to inflammation, allowing the early return of ambulatory activity and well-being of the animal.

SARS-CoV-2 is an obligatory intracellular pathogen that requires a lipid bilayer membrane for its transport to build its nucleocapsid envelope and fuse with the host cell. The biological membranes are constituted by phospholipids (PLs), and vitamin E (Vit E) protects them from oxidative stress (OS). The aim of this study was to demonstrate if treatment with Vit E restores the modified profile of the FA in PLs in serum from patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We evaluated Vit E, total fatty acids (TFAs), fatty acids of the phospholipids (FAPLs), total phospholipids (TPLs), 8-isoprostane, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), prostaglandins (PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum from 22 COVID-19 patients before and after treatment with Vit E and compared the values with those from 23 healthy subjects (HSs). COVID-19 patients showed a decrease in Vit E, TPLs, FAPLs, and TFAs in serum in comparison to HSs (p ≤ 0.01), and Vit E treatment restored their levels (p ≤ 0.04). Likewise, there was an increase in IL-6 and CRP in COVID-19 patients in comparison with HSs (p ≤ 0.001), and treatment with Vit E decreased their levels (p ≤ 0.001). Treatment with Vit E as monotherapy can contribute to restoring the modified FA profile of the PLs in the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and this leads to a decrease in lipid peroxidation, OS, and the inflammatory process.

Nystagmus induced by applying an intense vibratory stimulus to the skull (SVIN) indicates vestibular functional asymmetry. In unilateral vestibular loss, a 100 Hz bone-conducted vibration given to either mastoid immediately causes a primarily horizontal nystagmus. The test is performed in darkness to avoid visual fixation (VF) but there are no data about how much VF affects the often-intense SVIN. The aim is to analyze the amount of reduction in SVIN when VF is allowed during testing. Thus, all patients seen in a tertiary hospital for vertigo or dizziness with positive SVIN were included. SVIN was recorded for 10 s for each condition: without VF (aSVINwo) and with VF (aSVINw). We obtained an aSVINwo and an aSVINw as average slow-phase velocities (SPV) without and with VF. VF index (FISVIN) was calculated as the ratio of SPV. Among the 124 patients included, spontaneous nystagmus (SN) was found in 25% and the median slow phase velocity (mSPV) (without VF) of SN was 2.6 ± 2.4°/s. Mean FISVIN was 0.27 ± 0.29. FISVIN was 0 in 42 patients, and FISVIN between 0 and 1 was found in 82 (mean FISVIN 0.39 ± 0.02). Fixation suppression was found in all patients with SVIN in cases of peripheral vestibulopathy. FISVIN clearly delineates two populations of patients: with or without a complete visual reduction in nystagmus.

The family Atyidae is composed of species whose existence has been known since the seventeenth century. Widely found in the Caribbean, Atya lanipes is a freshwater scraper/filter feeder shrimp with an amphidromous complex life cycle. Hunte (1975) described the first larval (zoeal) stage of the species. However, no scientific study has described the early larval development of this species after the first stage. This study aimed to document the early larval development of Atya lanipes under laboratory conditions and compare its larval development with other previously described species of the Atyidae family. Larval development was recorded by taking daily photos and videos of larval (zoeal) growth using a stereo microscope. Larvae were also preserved in ethanol for further morphological analysis. The results revealed that the best conditions for Atya lanipes development were 30 ppm water salinity, constant gentle aeration, and 27 °C water temperature. Nine stages were identified for the description of the early larval development of Atya lanipes. Early larval stages differ primarily in interstage larval size, the appearance and development of the telson, appendage appearance, growth of antennae and antennules, and pigmentation. The present contribution represents the first study that describes the larval development of the Caribbean shrimp Atya lanipes.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. One-third of the world’s population has come into contact with this parasite. In Mexico, the prevalence is between 15% and 50% in the general population and 34.9% in women with high-risk pregnancies. In pregnancy, the highest incidence of infection occurs in the third trimester and fetal damage is inversely proportional to gestational age. Maternal hormones play a fundamental role in the immune response. There are very few studies, with controversial results, on the levels of increased hormones and their relationship to the kinetics of T. gondii infections during pregnancy. The aim was to determine the serum levels of 17-β estradiol, prolactin, and progesterone, and their association with anti-T. gondii antibodies’ kinetics in pregnancy. Fifty-two pregnant patients were studied. A questionnaire with sociodemographic and clinical aspects was used. Afterward, 10 mL of venous blood was collected by venipuncture every trimester. The concentrations of 17-β estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin were measured, using the ELISA method. In addition, anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were also determined in the first, second, and third trimester. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 26.92% in the first and second trimester and 32.7% in the third trimester. In seropositive women, 17-β estradiol increased in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Progesterone increased significantly p < 0.039 in the third trimester in these women, while prolactin increased in the second trimester with a statistical significance of p < 0.021. In addition, 17-β estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin are associated with T. gondii infection during pregnancy. New studies are necessary to clarify the specific mechanisms of immune response related to these hormones during pregnancy.

Food allergies have increased significantly in recent decades, with shellfish being a leading cause of food allergy and anaphylaxis worldwide, affecting both children and adults. The prevalence of shellfish allergies is estimated to be approximately 0.5–2.5% of the general population, varying significantly by geographical location, age, and consumption habits. Although mollusk consumption has risen, the prevalence of mollusk allergies remains unknown. While extensive research has focused on crustacean allergies, mollusk allergies, particularly those related to gastropods, have received comparatively less attention. Clinical manifestations of shellfish allergy range from localized symptoms to life-threatening systemic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Notably, severe bronchospasm is a predominant clinical feature in cases involving gastropods. Several allergens have been identified in mollusks, including paramyosin, tropomyosin, and sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein. In gastropods, documented allergens include tropomyosin, paramyosin, the heavy chain of myosin, and Der p 4 amylase. Diagnosis typically involves a thorough clinical history, skin testing, in vitro quantification of immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and confirmation through an oral challenge, although the latter is reserved for selected cases. This narrative review highlights the limited research on gastropod allergy. It provides a comprehensive list of purified and recombinant allergens and discusses the applications of component-resolved diagnosis as well as current therapeutic developments.

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.

This research assesses the environmental uses of Haleakalā Crater, and adjoining east Maui areas, by native Hawaiians during recent centuries, and evaluates the modern utilization of this volcanic depression. The study methods examine, and focus on, numerous historical and modern accounts and reports. Three historical periods were identified as follows: (1). A phase, from the ~1400s until contact with foreigners in 1778, characterized by the development of settlements, population expansion, the intensification of traditional agriculture, and the political consolidation of Maui. The construction of the Kiha-a-Pi‘i-lani trail across the crater enhanced travel between distant island areas. (2). Following the collapse of Maui’s human populations during the late 1700s, and until the 20th century, came a period distinguished by scientific exploration of the crater, and intentional or accidental introductions of animals, including goats, horses, cattle, and wild dogs. (3). After Haleakalā became a National Park in 1916, efforts to eradicate introduced animals and to encourage the reproduction of silverswords and other plants were initiated. Unfortunately, in retrospect, construction of a modern paved road, improvement of hiking trails, and building of facilities allowed swift access to the Park and substantially increased tourist numbers, up to ~2 million yearly visitors. Faced with such crowds, the long-term planning of Park resources appears to be a formidable task.

This study describes the methodology and main results obtained after applying several geomatic techniques, based on the fusion of data acquired by several sensors, to document the recovery works carried out in an abandoned church. A century ago, the façade was moved to a museum to ensure its preservation. In addition to documentary purposes, a secondary goal is the virtual repositioning of a model of this element on that of the church. The method takes advantage of the potential of each technique, considering the acquisition of geometry based mainly on laser scanning techniques and radiometry on photogrammetry. The results include 3D models and orthoimages, which are used to perform a stratigraphic study. The 3D model of the façade has been repositioned in the general one, considering common geometries previously fitted in both models and repeating part of the photogrammetric process, using masks to define the image areas related to the church and the façade. Therefore, we obtained a 3D model with the façade included in it. This procedure has demonstrated its feasibility despite the existence of different environmental conditions in both areas. Using these results, we have also developed a BIM to allow for the management of future restoration works.

The proximity television model adopted by Castilla y León since 1999 is based on promoting territorial identity and closeness to citizens, in line with the principles of identity and proximity in regional television, albeit with the particularity in the Spanish context of being a regional television system managed by a private concessionaire. In response to the current challenges of the television sector, a consultancy project is implemented with a methodological approach based on a SWOT analysis and the participation of multiple actors. This work details the methodology followed during the different phases of this interdisciplinary consultancy work: definition of bases, development of a base document, and concretion of actions, until reaching the elaboration of a detailed guide that establishes strategic objectives and specific actions. This strategic approach translates into a proposal to improve the performance of regional television and its contribution to the economic and social development of the region; however, the difficulty for its effective implementation due to an uncertain political scenario is pointed out.