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Computer vision has advanced much in recent years. Several tasks, such as image recognition, classification, or image restoration, are regularly solved with applications using artificial intelligence techniques. Image restoration comprises different use cases such as style transferring, improvement of quality resolution, or completing missing parts. The latter is also known as image inpainting, virtual image inpainting in this case, which consists of reconstructing missing regions or elements. This paper explores how to evaluate the performance of a deep learning method to do virtual image inpainting to reconstruct missing architectonical elements in images of ruined Greek temples to measure the performance of different activation functions. Unlike a previous study related to this work, a direct reconstruction process without segmented images was used. Then, two evaluation methods are presented: the objective one (mathematical metrics) and an expert (visual perception) evaluation to measure the performance of the different approaches. Results conclude that ReLU outperforms other activation functions, while Mish and Leaky ReLU perform poorly, and Swish’s professional evaluations highlight a gap between mathematical metrics and human visual perception.

Background: This study aimed to validate the role of the D-dimer to lymphocyte ratio (DLR) for mortality prediction in a large national cohort of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter, observational study that included hospitalized patients due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spain was conducted from March 2020 to March 2022. All biomarkers and laboratory indices analyzed were measured once at admission. Results: A total of 10,575 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 66.9 (±16) years, and 58.6% (6202 patients) of them were male. The overall mortality rate was 16.3% (n = 1726 patients). Intensive care unit admission was needed in 10.5% (n = 1106 patients), non-invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 8.8% (n = 923 patients), and orotracheal intubation was required in 7.5% (789 patients). DLR presented a c-statistic of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.68–0.71) for in-hospital mortality with an optimal cut-off above 1. Multivariate analysis showed an independent association for in-hospital mortality for DLR > 1 (adjusted OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.09–4.04; p = 0.03); in the same way, survival analysis showed a higher mortality risk for DLR > 1 (HR 2.24; 95% CI 2.03–2.47; p < 0.01). Further, no other laboratory indices showed an independent association for mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: This study confirmed the usefulness of DLR as a prognostic biomarker for mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, being an accessible, cost-effective, and easy-to-use biomarker in daily clinical practice.

Elasticity is commonly associated with regular oscillations, which are prevalent in various systems at different scales. However, chaotic oscillations are rarely connected to elasticity. While overdamped chaotic systems have received significant attention, there has been limited exploration of elasticity-driven systems. In this study, we investigate the influence of elasticity on the dynamics of chaotic systems by examining diverse models derived from mechanics, immunology, ecology, and rheology. Through numerical MATLAB simulations obtained by using an ode15s solver, we observe that elasticity profoundly alters the chaotic dynamics of these systems. As a result, we term the underlying equations as the elastic-Lorenz equations. Specifically, we extensively analyze a viscoelastic fluid confined within a closed-loop thermosyphon, considering general heat flux, to demonstrate the impact of the viscoelastic parameter on the model’s chaotic behavior. Our findings build upon prior research on the asymptotic behavior of this model by incorporating the presence of a viscoelastic fluid. The results highlight the non-trivial and non-monotonic role of elasticity in understanding the control, or lack thereof, of chaotic behavior across different scales.

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is caused by one or more of the Grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaVs). GLD’s symptoms are expected to be evident in indicator cultivars, regardless of the GLRaV(s) involved. In the present study, disease incidence (I) and severity (S), symptoms before veraison (Sy < V), a disease severity index (DSI) and an earliness index (EI) (2013–2022) were recorded in order to examine the factors affecting the evolution of GLD in Pinot noir graft inoculated with scions infected with GLRaV-3 that, in origin, showed a diversity of GLD symptoms. Strong correlations between I and S (r = 0.94) and between Sy < V and EI (r = 0.94) were observed; early symptoms proved good predictors of incidence and severity after veraison and of yield and sugar content of the must. The environmental conditions and time after infection did not modify the wide range of symptoms (I: 0–81.5%; S: 0.1–4) that corresponded with the variation in losses (

Electrochemical sensors present a wide range of interesting applications in the areas of environmental, industrial, and chemical analysis. This review presents an overview of two types of sensors: electrocatalytic ones, which involve oxidation and reduction reactions through electron transfer, and photoelectrocatalytic ones, which involve a current response due to the incidence of light and redox reactions. Another point discussed was how these sensors’ detection capacity and behavior can be affected by several factors related to the material used to make the electrode. In this way, inorganic, organic, and hybrid materials were compared in electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic sensors. The use of inorganic materials is interesting due to the fact of their abundance, low cost, and good electroactivity. Among organics, conductive polymers and carbonaceous materials are often cited due to the fact of their conductivity and their different possibilities for synthesis, being possible to mold their shape. Finally, hybrid materials unite these two classes, presenting different properties not found in a single substance.

Legumes have an important role in European agriculture. They assimilate N2 to sustainably support maximum crop growth, in turn providing high-protein food for human consumption and livestock feed. However, the extent of the area for legume cultivation in Europe has declined due to the lower economic competitiveness of legumes in relation to other crops, particularly of cereals and oilseed. To increase yields, there is a need to increase the genetic diversity of legumes in terms of adaptation to environmental stresses. We attempted to address this by conducting field and controlled experiments under drought vs. nondrought and different photoperiod conditions. The current study identified the physiological and agronomic traits correlated with productivity and quality performance in five economically important grain legume species (Pisum sativum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cicer arietinum, Lupinus spp., and Vicia faba). In all species, the days to flowering and seed yield were affected by temperature and photoperiod. For cool-season legume species, long-day photoperiods were favorable and days to flowering was negatively correlated with the average air temperature. For the warm-season legumes, short-day photoperiods and warm temperatures were favorable. Under drought stress, the C/N balance, leaf nutrient (Ca, Fe, and K) concentrations, and yield were significantly reduced, contrary to Zn accumulation, and this information may contribute to improving our understanding and ability to develop sustainable growth. Based on our results, we conclude that the drought-tolerant and photoperiod-insensitive legume genotypes identified in this study constitute valuable starting materials for future programs aimed at improvement of legume productivity at a global/regional scale, which helps to strengthen the competitiveness and economic growth of legumes for European farmers.

An electrochemical sensor for the pesticide Pirimicarb (PMC) has been developed. A screen-printed electrode (SPCE) was used and modified with the conducting polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to enhance electrochemical proprieties. Electrode characterizations were performed using scattering electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). With the SPCE/PEDOT:PSS/AuNPs modified electrode, a new peak at 1.0 V appeared in the presence of PMC related to the PMC oxidation. To elucidate the mechanism of PMC oxidation, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), where two major peaks were identified, evidencing that the device can both detect and degrade PMC by an electro-oxidation process. Exploring this peak signal, it was possible the sensor development, performing detection from 93.81–750 µmol L−1, limits of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD) of 93.91 µmol L−1 and 28.34 µmol L−1, respectively. Thus, it was possible to study and optimization of PMC degradation, moreover, to perform detection at low concentrations and with good selectivity against different interferents using a low-cost printed electrode based on graphite modified with conductive polymer and AuNPs.

Polypyrrole (PPy) is an interesting conducting polymer due to its good environmental stability, high conductivity, and biocompatibility. The association between PPy and metallic nanoparticles has been widely studied since it enhances electrochemical properties. In this context, gold ions are reduced to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) directly on the polymer surface as PPy can be oxidized to an overoxidized state. This work proposes the PPy electrochemical synthesis followed by the direct reduction of gold on its surface in a fast reaction. The modified electrodes were characterized by electronic microscopic and infrared spectroscopy. The effect of reduction time on the electrochemical properties was evaluated by the electrocatalytic properties of the obtained material from the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. The presence of AuNPs improved the AA electrocatalysis by reducing oxidation potential and lowering charge transfer resistance. EIS data were fitted using a transmission line model. The results indicated an increase in the electronic transport of the polymeric film in the presence of AuNPs. However, PPy overoxidation occurs when the AuNPs’ deposition is higher than 30 s. In PPy/AuNPs 15 s, smaller and less agglomerated particles were formed with fewer PPy overoxidized, confirming the observed electrocatalytic behavior.

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) services as compared to no MTM services (i.e., standard of care) on outpatient clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. A systematic literature review of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL electronic databases, grey literature, websites, and journals, was conducted from 1 January 2005–20 July 2021. The search field contained a combination of keywords and MeSH terms such as: “medication therapy management”, “pharmacist”, “treatment outcomes”. Studies published in United States, included adults ≥18 years old who received at least one pharmacist-provided MTM consultation and at least one group who received no MTM, and reported pre-specified clinical outcomes for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or dyslipidemia were included. Of 849 studies identified, eight were included (cohort studies = 6, randomized controlled trials = 2). Clinical outcomes improved with MTM interventions, as evidenced by statistically significant changes in at least one of the three chronic conditions in most studies. Improvements were observed for diabetes outcomes (n = 4 studies), hypertension outcomes (n = 4 studies), and dyslipidemia outcomes (n = 3 studies). Overall, this study indicated that pharmacist delivered MTM services (versus no MTM services) can improve clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

(1) Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin are inflammatory markers. We analyzed the prognostic capacity of serum albumin (SA) and CRP for an outcome comprising mortality, length of stay, ICU admission, and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on the Spanish national SEMI-COVID-19 Registry. Two multivariate logistic models were adjusted for SA, CRP, and their combination. Training and testing samples were used to validate the models. (3) Results: The outcome was present in 41.1% of the 3471 participants, who had lower SA (mean [SD], 3.5 [0.6] g/dL vs. 3.8 [0.5] g/dL; p < 0.001) and higher CRP (108.9 [96.5] mg/L vs. 70.6 [70.3] mg/L; p < 0.001). In the adjusted multivariate model, both were associated with poorer evolution: SA, OR 0.674 (95% CI, 0.551–0.826; p < 0.001); CRP, OR 1.002 (95% CI, 1.001–1.004; p = 0.003). The CRP/SA model had a similar predictive capacity (honest AUC, 0.8135 [0.7865–0.8405]), with a continuously increasing risk and cutoff value of 25 showing the highest predictive capacity (OR, 1.470; 95% CI, 1.188–1.819; p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: SA and CRP are good independent predictors of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. For the CRP/SA ratio value, 25 is the cutoff for poor clinical course.

In this work, we analyze the asymptotic behavior of the solutions for a thermosyphon model where a binary fluid is considered, a fluid containing a soluble substance, and the Reynold’s number is large. The presented results are a generalization, in some sense, of the results for a fluid with only one component provided in Velázquez 1994 and RodrÍguez-Bernal and Van Vleck 1998. We characterize the conditions under which a fast time-dependent solution exits and it is attracted towards a fast stationary solution as the Reynold’s number tends to infinity. Numerical experiments were performed in order to illustrate the theoretical results. Using numerical simulations, we found fast time-dependent solutions close enough to the fast stationary one for certain values of the parameters.

The development of complex and large 3D vascularized tissue constructs remains the major goal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). To date, several strategies have been proposed to build functional and perfusable vascular networks in 3D tissue-engineered constructs to ensure the long-term cell survival and the functionality of the assembled tissues after implantation. However, none of them have been entirely successful in attaining a fully functional vascular network. Herein, we report an alternative approach to bioengineer 3D vascularized constructs by embedding bioinstructive 3D multilayered microchannels, developed by combining 3D printing with the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technology, in photopolymerizable hydrogels. Alginate (ALG) was chosen as the ink to produce customizable 3D sacrificial microstructures owing to its biocompatibility and structural similarity to the extracellular matrices of native tissues. ALG structures were further LbL coated with bioinstructive chitosan and arginine–glycine–aspartic acid-coupled ALG multilayers, embedded in shear-thinning photocrosslinkable xanthan gum hydrogels and exposed to a calcium-chelating solution to form perfusable multilayered microchannels, mimicking the biological barriers, such as the basement membrane, in which the endothelial cells were seeded, denoting an enhanced cell adhesion. The 3D constructs hold great promise for engineering a wide array of large-scale 3D vascularized tissue constructs for modular TERM strategies.

In this work, the synthesis and characterization of core/shell nanoparticles of iron carbide@iron oxide (Fe3C/γ-Fe2O3) encapsulated into micelles of sodium dodecylsulfate and oleic acid and stabilized with chitosan was developed. The materials were sonosynthesized at low intensities using standard ultrasonic baths with iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)5) and oleic acid as iron source and hydrophobic stabilizer, respectively; obtaining nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 19.71 nm and polydispersive index (PDI) of 0.13. The iron carbide@iron oxide nanoparticles (ICIONPs) in oleic acid were used as the organic phase during the self-assemble of nanoemulsion with sodium dodecylsulfate in water to obtain the metastable micelles. The final step involved the stabilization of the micelles using low molecular weight chitosan solution at 2% in acetic acid by ultrasonication bath. The nanosystem showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 185.30 nm, a PDI of 0.15 with a superficial charge ζ of 36.70 mV. Due to the magnetic, physical and chemical properties previously measured of the ICIONPs, it is believed that this type of nanoparticles can be used as a possible nanomedicine agent.

A qualitative microplate screening method, using both low nitrogen (LND) and low glucose (LGD) decarboxylase broths, was used to evaluate the biogenic amine (BA) forming capacity of bacteria present in two types of Spanish ripened cheeses, some of them treated by high hydrostatic pressure. BA formation in decarboxylase broths was later confirmed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). An optimal cut off between 10⁻25 mg/L with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 92% was obtained when detecting putrescine (PU), tyramine (TY) and cadaverine (CA) formation capability, although these broths showed less capacity detecting histamine forming bacteria. TY forming bacteria were the most frequent among the isolated BA forming strains showing a strong production capability (exceeding 100 mg/L), followed by CA and PU formers. Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Leuconostoc groups were found as the main TY producers, and some strains were also able to produce diamines at a level above 100 mg/L, and probably ruled the BA formation during ripening. Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus spp., as well as some Bacillus spp. were also identified among the BA forming bacteria isolated.

Two artisanal varieties of cheese made in Spain, one made of ewes’ raw milk and the other of goats’ raw milk were selected to evaluate the effect of a high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment at 400 MPa during 10 min at 2 °C on the formation of biogenic amines (BA). These conditions were applied at the beginning of the ripening (before the 5th day; HHP1) and in the case of ewes’ milk cheeses also after 15th days (HHP15). BA formation was greatly influenced by HHP treatments in both types of cheese. HHP1 treatments significantly reduced the amounts of BA after ripening, being tyramine and putrescine the most affected BA in goats’ milk cheeses and tyramine and cadaverine in ewes’ milk cheeses. The BA reduction in the HHP1 samples could be explained by the significant decrease in microbiological counts, especially in the LAB, enteroccocci and enterobacteria groups at the beginning of ripening. The proteolysis in these samples was also affected reducing the amount of free amino acids. Although proteolysis in ewes’ milk cheeses HHP15 was similar than in control samples a reduction of BA was observed probably because the decrease caused on microbial counts.