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The aim of this research was to separate the over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen, from an aqueous solution using the adsorption method, as this NSAID is one of the most globally consumed. An adsorbent was crafted from the Agave angustifolia bagasse, a byproduct of the bacanora industry (a representative alcoholic beverage of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico). Three bioadsorbents (BCT1, BCT2, and BCT3) were produced via pyrolysis at a temperature of 550 °C, with slight variations in each process for every bioadsorbent. The bioadsorbents achieved material yields of 25.65%, 31.20%, and 38.28% on dry basis respectively. Characterization of the bagasse and adsorbents involved scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The biomass morphology exhibited a cracked surface with holes induced via the bacanora production process, while the surface of the bioadsorbents before ibuprofen adsorption was highly porous, with a substantial surface area. After adsorption, the surface of the bioadsorbents was transformed into a smoother grayish layer. The macromolecules of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were present in the biomass. According to functional groups, cellulose and hemicellulose degraded to form the resulting bioadsorbents, although traces of lignin persisted after the pyrolysis process was applied to the biomass. In an adsorption study, BCT1 and BCT2 bioadsorbents successfully removed 100% of ibuprofen from aqueous solutions with an initial concentration of 62.6 mg/L. In conclusion, the biocarbon derived from Agave angustifolia bagasse exhibited significant potential for removing ibuprofen via adsorption from aqueous solutions.

This study aims to provide valuable insights into consumer preferences for delivery services in online shopping in Chile. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the evolution of delivery and logistics services, leading to increased competition among online stores. Chile, with its highly digitally enabled population and a competitive landscape of online retailers, serves as an ideal reference case for Latin America. By analyzing key delivery attributes such as delivery time, order arrival time range, compensation policies for delivery delays, and delivery prices, we offer valuable insights into consumer behavior. These insights will, in turn, inform the formulation of effective strategies within the online shopping industry. We examine the following aspects: (a) The willingness of consumers to pay for the service attributes; (b) The relative importance assigned to these attributes by consumers; and (c) The relationship between consumer preferences and socioeconomic characteristics. Using Multinomial Logit Models and a database from a Discrete Choice Experiment, we have discovered that the most significant attributes of delivery service are the time until product arrival and the existence of compensation in case of delivery delays. Additionally, we found that consumers are willing to pay more for the same delivery service if the product is large, as large products generally have higher prices. Furthermore, we observed that delivery time preferences vary by gender and for small products, and price sensitivity varies according to educational level, household size, and socioeconomic status. To the best of our knowledge, no previous research of this kind has been conducted for Chile.

Microbial treatment of free-cyanide-polluted wastewater is a cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly method. Free-cyanide-degrading microbial cultures were isolated from different sources using batch-enrichment culture techniques, with acetate as the carbon source. Five microbial cultures were able to tolerate and grow at 1500 mg/L free cyanide, which was used as the only nitrogen source under strongly alkaline conditions (pH = 11). Among them, one bacterial strain (B11) was selected for further study because of its high free-cyanide-biodegradation efficiency. Bacterial strain B11 was molecularly identified as Bacillus licheniformis CDBB B11. Free cyanide inhibited the growth rate of B. licheniformis CDBB B11 at initial cyanide concentrations >75 mg/L. Despite this, the bacterial strain demonstrated 100% cyanide-biodegradation efficiency at initial cyanide concentrations ranging from 25 to 75 mg/L, which decreased to 32% as the initial cyanide concentration increased from 75 to 1500 mg/L. Free-cyanide biodegradation corresponds to bacterial growth and ammonia accumulation in the culture medium. The alkaliphilic B. licheniformis CDBB B11 strain is a robust candidate for the detoxification of free-cyanide-laden wastewater because it tolerates and efficiently degrades free cyanide at concentrations of up to 1500 mg/L.

Laser nanostructuring of thin films with ultrashort laser pulses is widely used for nanofabrication across various fields. A crucial parameter for optimizing and understanding the processes underlying laser processing is the absorbed laser fluence, which is essential for all damage phenomena such as melting, ablation, spallation, and delamination. While threshold fluences have been extensively studied for single compound thin films, advancements in ultrafast acoustics, magneto-acoustics, and acousto-magneto-plasmonics necessitate understanding the laser nanofabrication processes for functional multilayer films. In this work, we investigated the thickness dependence of ablation and delamination thresholds in Ni/Au bilayers by varying the thickness of the Ni layer. The results were compared with experimental data on Ni thin films. Additionally, we performed femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe measurements of transient reflectivity in Ni to determine the heat penetration depth and evaluate the melting threshold. Delamination thresholds for Ni films were found to exceed the surface melting threshold suggesting the thermal mechanism in a liquid phase. Damage thresholds for Ni/Au bilayers were found to be significantly lower than those for Ni and fingerprint the non-thermal mechanism without Ni melting, which we attribute to the much weaker mechanical adhesion at the Au/glass interface. This finding suggests the potential of femtosecond laser delamination for nondestructive, energy-efficient nanostructuring, enabling the creation of high-quality acoustic resonators and other functional nanostructures for applications in nanosciences.

Riboflavin, an essential vitamin for humans, is extensively used in various industries, with its global demand being met through fermentative processes. Hyphopichia wangnamkhiaoensis is a novel dimorphic yeast species capable of producing riboflavin. However, the nutritional factors affecting riboflavin production in this yeast species remain unknown. Therefore, we conducted a kinetic study on the effects of various nutritional factors—carbon and energy sources, nitrogen sources, vitamins, and amino acids—on batch riboflavin production by H. wangnamkhiaoensis. Batch experiments were performed in a bubble column bioreactor to evaluate cell growth, substrate consumption, and riboflavin production. The highest riboflavin production was obtained when the yeast growth medium was supplemented with glucose, ammonium sulfate, biotin, and glycine. Using these chemical components, along with the mineral salts from Castañeda-Agullo’s culture medium, we formulated a novel, low-cost, and effective culture medium (the RGE medium) for riboflavin production by H. wangnamkhiaoensis. This medium resulted in the highest levels of riboflavin production and volumetric productivity, reaching 16.68 mg/L and 0.713 mg/L·h, respectively, within 21 h of incubation. These findings suggest that H. wangnamkhiaoensis, with its shorter incubation time, could improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of industrial riboflavin production, paving the way for more sustainable production methods.

Excessive water hyacinth growth in aquatic environments and metanil yellow (MY) dye in industrial wastewater pose severe environmental and public health challenges. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of various process factors on batch MY biosorption onto water hyacinth leaves (LECs) and MY biosorption kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamics. The optimal pH for MY biosorption by LECs was 1.5–2.0. The initial MY concentration affected the equilibrium MY biosorption capacity but not the LEC particle size and solution temperature. However, the LEC particle size and solution temperature affected the MY biosorption rate; the biosorption rate was higher at a lower particle size (0.15–0.3 mm) and a higher temperature (62 °C) than at higher particle sizes and lower temperatures. The pseudo-second-order model adequately described the biosorption kinetics of MY by LECs at the different levels of the process factors, whereas the Sips and Redlich–Peterson models satisfactorily represented the biosorption isotherm of MY. The Sips model predicted a maximum MY biosorption capacity of 170.8 mg g−1. The biosorption of MY by LECs was endothermic and not spontaneous. These findings demonstrate that LECs exhibit great potential for bioremediating MY-contaminated wastewater, thereby providing valuable insights for effective water treatment and pollution control strategies.

Epilepsy affects millions worldwide, making timely seizure detection crucial for effective treatment and enhanced well-being. Electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis offers a non-intrusive solution, but its visual interpretation is prone to errors and requires a lot of time. Many existing works focus solely on achieving competitive levels of accuracy without considering processing speed or the computational complexity of their models. This study aimed to develop an automated technique for identifying epileptic seizures in EEG data through analysis methods. The efforts have been primarily focused on achieving high accuracy results by operating exclusively within a narrow frequency band of the signal, while also aiming to minimize computational complexity. In this article, a new automated approach is presented for seizure detection by combining signal processing and machine learning techniques. The proposed method comprises four stages: (1) Preprocessing: Savitzky–Golay filter to remove the background noise. (2) Decomposition: discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to extract spontaneous alpha and beta frequency bands. (3) Feature extraction: six features (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, energy, and entropy) are computed for each frequency band. (4) Classification: a support vector machine (SVM) method classifies signals as normal or containing a seizure. The method was assessed using two publicly available EEG datasets. For the alpha band, the highest achieved accuracy was 92.82%, and for the beta band it was 90.55%, which demonstrates adequate capability in both bands for accurate seizure detection. Furthermore, the obtained low computational cost suggests a potentially valuable application in real-time assessment scenarios. The obtained results indicate its capacity as a valuable instrument for diagnosing epilepsy and monitoring patients. Further research is necessary for clinical validation and potential real-time deployment.

This work aimed to identify the influence of pH, molarity, w/v fraction, extraction time, agitation, and either a sodium (Na2HPO4·7H2O-NaH2PO4·H2O) or potassium buffer (K2HPO4-KH2PO4) used in the extraction of C-phycoerythrin (C-PE) from a thermotolerant strain of Potamosiphon sp. An experimental design (Minimum Run Resolution V Factorial Design) and a Central Composite Design (CCD) were used. According to the statistical results of the first design, the K-PO4 buffer, pH, molarity, and w/v fraction are vital factors that enhance the extractability of C-PE. The construction of a CCD design of the experiments suggests that the potassium phosphate buffer at pH 5.8, longer extraction times (50 min), and minimal extraction speed (1000 rpm) are ideal for maximizing C-PE concentration, while purity is unaffected by the design conditions. This optimization improves extraction yields and maintains the desired bright purple color of the phycobiliprotein.

The implementation of e-jeepneys stands as a change process that will eventually transition to the modernization of the public transport system in the Philippines. To address concerns about jeepneys’ effects on the environment, energy use, society, the economy, and policies, their acceptability in the Philippines must be considered. This research study aims to identify the sources of influence on Filipinos’ adoption of e-jeepney utilization as a mode of transportation using the extended Pro-Environmental Planned Behavior (PEBP) model. A total of 502 commuters voluntarily answered the survey questionnaire. Based on the findings, perceived environmental concern (PEC) is the most significant determinant influencing attitude (AT) and, thus, affecting the Filipinos’ behavioral intention (BI) towards the adoption of e-jeepneys. Conversely, AT was the primary determinant of BI, which strongly supported the notion of AT as a strong driving force shaping behavioral decisions. Moreover, perceived authority support (PAS) emerged as a strong predictor of subjective norms (SNs), demonstrating the influence of institutional support on societal perceptions. As a result, more environmentally conscious people are more likely to view e-jeepneys positively and intend to use them as a mode of transportation. The endorsement or support from authoritative figures or institutions notably influences subjective norms, which are individuals’ perceptions of social pressures regarding the use of e-jeepneys.

There is a growing market for craft beverages with unique flavors. This study aimed to obtain a palate-pleasing mead derived from Pichia kudriavzevii 4A as a monoculture. Different culture media were evaluated to compare the fermentation kinetics and final products. The crucial factors in the medium were ~200 mg L−1 of yeast assimilable nitrogen and a pH of 3.5–5.0. A panel of judges favored the mead derived from Pichia kudriavzevii 4A (fermented in a medium with honey initially at 23 °Bx) over a commercial sample produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, considering its appearance, fruity and floral flavors (provided by esters, aldehydes, and higher alcohols), and balance between sweetness (given by the 82.91 g L−1 of residual sugars) and alcohol. The present mead had an 8.57% v/v ethanol concentration, was elaborated in 28 days, and reached a maximum biomass growth (2.40 g L−1) on the same fermentation day (6) that the minimum level of pH was reached. The biomass growth yield peaked at 24 and 48 h (~0.049 g g−1), while the ethanol yield peaked at 24 h (1.525 ± 0.332 g g−1), in both cases declining thereafter. The Gompertz model adequately describes the kinetics of sugar consumption and the generation of yeast biomass and ethanol. Pathogenic microorganisms, methanol, lead, and arsenic were absent in the mead. Thus, Pichia kudriavzevii 4A produced a safe and quality mead with probable consumer acceptance.

Chagas disease is caused by the single-flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects several million people worldwide. Understanding the signal transduction pathways involved in this parasite’s growth, adaptation, and differentiation is crucial. Understanding the basic mechanisms of signal transduction in T. cruzi could help to develop new drugs to treat the disease caused by these protozoa. In the present work, we have demonstrated that Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) can quickly increase the levels of both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of T. cruzi DNA polymerase beta (TcPolβ) in tissue-cultured trypomastigotes. The in vitro phosphorylation sites on TcPolβ by protein kinases TcCK1, TcCK2, TcAUK1, and TcPKC1 have been identified by Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis and with antibodies against phosphor Ser-Thr-Tyr. MS analysis indicated that these protein kinases can phosphorylate Ser and Thr residues on several sites on TcPolβ. Unexpectedly, it was found that TcCK1 and TcPKC1 can phosphorylate a different Tyr residue on TcPolβ. By using a specific anti-phosphor Tyr monoclonal antibody, it was determined that TcCK1 can be in vitro autophosphorylated on Tyr residues. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) can activate the PKC to stimulate the TcPolβ phosphorylation and enzymatic activity in T. cruzi epimastigotes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in knowledge in certain fields such as human breathing and respiratory diseases. In the current study, enclosed-space characteristics were assessed due to the great debate generated because of the pandemic. Temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, particulate matter (PM) concentration and cumulative particle concentration percentage per size fraction were measured in three buildings under the occurrence of activities with different intensity levels. For the measurements, Arduino UNO, Sensiron SCD30 and APS-3321 devices were used. Natural ventilation was controlled via windows and/or doors, and the influence of air conditioning was studied in one of these rooms, in which medium- to high-intensity activities were conducted. All experiments revealed a decrease in temperature associated with an increase in the relative humidity when CO2 decreased. As a consequence, drastic decreases occurred a few minutes after windows and doors were opened. In no-ventilation intervals, the observed linear increase changed into an asymptotic trend below the 1000 ppm limit recommended by Sinphonie guidelines. Additionally, the opposite behavior was observed between particles above and below a certain size. This experiment is of interest to further investigate critical ventilation rate versus volume of air per individual.

Nejayote, the wastewater from the nixtamalization of maize, is difficult to biodegrade due to its abundant calcium content; low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and easily assimilable sugars; elevated pH; and high chemical oxygen demand (COD). The aim of the present study was to isolate microorganisms capable of utilizing filtered nejayote (NEM) as the only source of carbon for growth and to test the best microorganism for the bioremediation of this wastewater by lowering the level of pH and COD. Of the 15 strains of microorganisms tested, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa LCRE was chosen and identified using molecular techniques. Subsequently, its growth kinetics were characterized during cultivation in unenriched NEM (control) and NEM enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus salts. R. mucilaginosa LCRE showed a greater growth (6.9 ≤ X ≤ 8.9 g L−1), biomass yield (0.33 ≤ YX/S ≤ 0.39 g g−1), and specific growth rate (0.748 ≤ µ ≤ 0.80 day−1) in the enriched versus control NEM (X = 6.55 g L−1, YX/S = 0.28 g g−1, and µ = 0.59 day−1). However, a higher total sugar consumption (94.98%), better COD removal efficiency (75.5%), and greater overall COD removal rate (1.73 g L−1 h−1) were found in the control NEM. Hence, R. mucilaginosa LCRE holds promise for the efficient bioremediation of nejayote without costly pretreatments or nutrient supplementation.

The automotive industry is increasingly focused on waste management, elimination, and reduction to achieve sustainability and cost reduction. This focus drives the industry towards resource-efficient operations that minimize environmental impact while exceeding customer expectations. Meeting these demands necessitates the adoption of more efficient production methodologies, such as the PDCA cycle. This work presents a case study that illustrates the application of the PDCA methodology to minimize scrap generation due to process variability in a multinational company that manufactures electric motors for the automotive industry. The aim was to demonstrate how the PDCA methodology can improve quality standards by minimizing scrap generated during the manufacture of electrical armatures. Notably, the organization in this case study set a waste target of 0.7%, which was significantly exceeded. Finally, the implementation of this methodology can deliver significant economic benefits, with a total annual cost reduction of approximately USD 135,000.

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Artificial intelligence, augmented, virtual, and mixed reality applications are improving business tools to increase their efficiency and ability to innovate. Technological innovation offers creative opportunities, but each generation values these advances differently. This study analysed the intergenerational differences and their leadership styles. The research questions are as follows: what are the main characteristics of each generation? And what leadership style is most appropriate for managing generational diversity in companies? Firstly, the main characteristics of each generation—Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha—were identified. Secondly, the most representative leadership styles of each generation were analysed. And thirdly, a proposal for a leadership style that can be used to better manage the intergenerational needs and technological demands of companies was presented. The development of leadership styles that take account of all generations can support economic growth and the creation of innovative and sustainable industries, as well as improve social welfare.

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a growing health problem for which vaccination is a crucial tool for the control of disease. The successful development of an effective vaccine against this disease relies on eliciting a robust and enduring T-cell immune response involving the activation of CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T-cells. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and prophylactic efficacy of a novel nanovaccine comprising a multi-epitope peptide, known as HisDTC, encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles against Leishmania infantum infection in the murine model. The encapsulation strategy was designed to enhance antigen loading and sustain release, ensuring prolonged exposure to the immune system. Our results showed that mice immunized with PLGA-encapsulated HisDTC exhibited a significant reduction in the parasite load in the liver and spleen over both short and long-term duration. This reduction was associated with a cellular immune profile marked by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, and the generation of memory T cells. In conclusion, the current study establishes that PLGA-encapsulated HisDTC can promote effective and long-lasting T-cell responses against L. infantum in the murine model. These findings underscore the potential utility of multi-epitope vaccines, in conjunction with appropriate delivery systems, as an alternative strategy for CanL control.

The pigmentation of the fungiform papillae of the tongue is a rare idiopathic condition in which only the fungiform papillae appear hyperpigmented. In the absence of any reviews on the subject, we conducted a systematic review of the aetiopathogenesis and pathophysiology of pigmented fungiform papillae (PFP) of the tongue, including its demographic and histopathological features, trying to outline a possible aetiology. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was performed using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE databases and manual searches, for publications between January 1974 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria were case reports defining patients’ characteristics, their general medical and dental conditions, histopathological and/or immunohistochemical findings, all with a final definitive diagnosis of PFP. Overall, 51 studies comprising 69 cases of PFP which included histopathological descriptions were reviewed. Prominent features consisted of hyperpigmentation of melanocytes, melanophages, chromatophores, and a lymphocytic infiltrate in the subepidermal area of the fungiform papillae. On special staining, PFP contained melanin, not iron or hemosiderin. On immunohistochemistry, immune-reactive CD3+ T lymphocytes, S-100 and Sox10, but non-immune-reactive melan-A intraepithelial melanocytes were noted in some studies. The presence of hyperpigmented melanocytes and melanophages, with non-immune-reactive melan-A, suggests that PFP are a benign and physiological form of pigmentation. The inflammatory infiltrates described in some papillary lesions could possibly be due to traumatic events during mastication. Nevertheless, the true reasons for the hyperpigmentation of the fungiform papillae are as of yet elusive, and remain to be determined.

(1) Background: Somatic mutations may be connected to the exposome, potentially playing a role in breast cancer’s development and clinical outcomes. There needs to be information regarding Latin American women specifically, as they are underrepresented in clinical trials and have limited access to somatic analysis in their countries. This study aims to systematically investigate somatic mutations in breast cancer patients from Latin America to gain a better understanding of tumor biology in the region. (2) Methods: We realize a systematic review of studies on breast cancer in 21 Latin American countries using various databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, RedAlyc, Dianlet, and Biblioteca Virtual en Salud. Of 392 articles that fit the criteria, 10 studies have clinical data which can be used to create a database containing clinical and genetic information. We compared mutation frequencies across different breast cancer subtypes using statistical analyses and meta-analyses of proportions. Furthermore, we identified overexpressed biological processes and canonical pathways through functional enrichment analysis. (3) Results: 342 mutations were found in six Latin American countries, with the TP53 and PIK3CA genes being the most studied mutations. The most common PIK3CA mutation was H1047R. Functional analysis provided insights into tumor biology and potential therapies. (4) Conclusion: evaluating specific somatic mutations in the Latin American population is crucial for understanding tumor biology and determining appropriate treatment options. Combining targeted therapies may improve clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Moreover, implementing healthy lifestyle strategies in Latin America could enhance therapy effectiveness and clinical outcomes.

Monitoring coastal seabed in very shallow waters (0–5 m) is a challenging methodological issue, even though such data is of major importance to many scientific and technical communities. Over the years, Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry has emerged as a flexible and inexpensive method able to provide both a 3D model and high-resolution imagery of the seabed (~cm level). In this study, we propose a low-cost (about USD 1500), adaptable, lightweight and easily dismantled system called POSEIDON (for Platform Operating in Shallow-water Environment for Imaging and 3D reconstructiON). This prototype combines a floating support (typically a bodyboard), two imagery sensors (here, GoPro® cameras) and an accurate positioning system using Real Time Kinematic GNSS. Validation of this method was deployed in a macrotidal zone, comparing on the foreshore the point cloud provided by POSEIDON “SfM bathymetry” and by classical terrestrial SfM survey. Mean deviation was 5.2 cm and standard deviation was 4.6 cm. Such high-resolution SfM bathymetric surveys have a great potential for a wide range of applications: micro-bathymetry, hydrodynamics (bottom roughness), benthic habitats, ecological inventories, archaeology, etc.

Enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) detects antibodies against seven Taenia solium larvae antigens in three protein families (GP50, T24/42, and 8-kDa) with different structures and functions. EITB banding patterns against these antigens in pigs provide information about the course of infection and may discriminate viable cysticercosis. We analyzed the banding patterns and infection outcomes (presence of viable cysts, degenerated cysts, and any cysts) of 512 rural pigs. Banding patterns were grouped into homogenous classes using latent class analysis, and relationships with infection outcomes were assessed. Four classes were identified: 1 (n = 308, EITB-negative or positive for the GP50 family), 2 (n = 127, positive for GP50 (GP50 family), GP42-39 and GP24 (T24/42 family), but negative for 8-kDa antigens), 3 (n = 22, positive for GP50 and T24/42 antigens (GP42-39 and GP24), as well as to 8-kDa bands GP13, GP14, and GP18, but negative for GP21), and 4 (n = 55, positive for GP50 and T24/42 antigens, as well as to 8-kDa antigens GP21 and GP18 in combination). Pigs in classes 3 and 4 were more likely to have viable cysts (72.6% and 96.4%, respectively) than pigs in classes 1 and 2 (0.7% and 27.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). The number of infections with any cysts was higher in classes 3 and 4 (77.3% and 98.2%, respectively) and lower in classes 2 and 1 (34.7% and 4.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Pigs with viable cysts represented >90% of pigs with any cysts in classes 3 and 4 (94.1% and 98.2%, respectively), while degenerated cysts were frequent among pigs with any cysts in classes 1, 3, and 2 (86.7%, 47.1%, and 43.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). EITB banding patterns strongly correlate with cysticercosis infection status in rural pigs, with classes 3 and 4 being more predictive of viable infections.

Recent reports of the criteria pollutants in the Megalopolis, located in the central part of Mexico, consistently show air quality standard exceedances in most of the cities that make it up, since it is a large concentration where approximately 17% of the national population resides and because it has significant commercial and industrial development. To investigate the similarities and disparities in risk perception concerning air pollution and climate change among residents living in Central Mexico, a cross-sectional survey study was carried out within three metropolitan areas encompassed by the Megalopolis. A total of 1750 questionnaire surveys were conducted across 21 municipalities within the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA), 16 municipalities within the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area (TVMA), and 8 municipalities within the Cuernavaca Metropolitan Area. The three metropolitan areas showed significant differences in terms of air quality perception, risk perception, attitudes, and causal attribution perception, but health-related perception did not have significant differences among the areas. The MCMA exhibited higher knowledge about air pollution, although it associated the causes with urban activities such as car usage, while the Toluca and Cuernavaca areas linked this issue to the burning of garbage, coal, wood, and agricultural activities. Although residents expressed concern about air pollution, climate change, and their effects, they do not know how to act to contribute to the solution.

Fishing has provided mankind with a protein-rich source of food and labor, allowing for the development of an important industry, which has led to the overexploitation of most targeted fish species. The sustainable management of these natural resources requires effective control of fish landings and, therefore, an accurate calculation of fishing quotas. This work proposes a deep learning-based spatial-spectral method to classify five pelagic species of interest for the Chilean fishing industry, including the targeted Engraulis ringens, Merluccius gayi, and Strangomera bentincki and non-targeted Normanichthtys crockeri and Stromateus stellatus fish species. This proof-of-concept method is composed of two channels of a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that processes the Red–Green–Blue (RGB) images and the visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) reflectance spectra of each species. The classification results of the CNN model achieved over 94% in all performance metrics, outperforming other state-of-the-art techniques. These results support the potential use of the proposed method to automatically monitor fish landings and, therefore, ensure compliance with the established fishing quotas.

Facing the decline of biodiversity worldwide, the conservation of the remaining natural and semi-natural areas is fundamental. To do so, the concept of green infrastructure has gained attention recently. This case study presents the method developed to identify the green infrastructure in a cross-border, urbanized territory between Switzerland and France in the area of influence of the city of Geneva. The first part of the methodology consists of calculating and mapping the inputs aggregated in four pillars: (i) the distribution of habitats as well as the predicted distribution of hundreds of plant and animal species, (ii) the supply of five ecosystem services, (iii) the functional connectivity for three animal species and the light pollution and (iv) five indices of landscape’s structure. These inputs are then used to run a prioritization model to identify the areas with the highest ecological interest according to these weighted inputs. The cross-border situation of this case study had impacts on the way the input data were gathered and weighted and on the way the output was created to consider the expectations of the three main local authorities involved, without creating any legal obligations on the implementation of the green infrastructure. As a positive sign of the usefulness of these results, the resulting maps were immediately transferred to the land use planners in charge of developing ambitious visions of the “Grand Genève” territory for 2050 in alignment with 10 objectives of ecological transition as recently agreed and signed by local authorities. The method presented in this article is flexible and includes a broad description of biodiversity, supporting a reliable network of areas with high ecological values for conservation purposes and human well-being.

Here, a study of NMOSD in Central America and the Caribbean with a multinational collaborative, multicentric and descriptive approach involving 25 institutions from 9 countries is presented. Demographics, clinical manifestations, expanded disability scale status (EDSS), brain and spinal cord MRI, serological anti-AQP4-IgG and anti-MOG-IgG antibodies, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal bands were included. A central serological repository utilized the cell-based assay. The specimens outside of this network employed diverse methodologies. Data were collected at the Gorgas Commemorative Institute of Health Studies (ICGES), Panama, and included 186 subjects, of which 84% were females (sex ratio of 5.6:1). Mestizos constituted 72% of the study group. The median age was 42.5 years (IQR: 32.0–52.0). Associated autoimmune diseases (8.1%) were myasthenia gravis, Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. The most common manifestation was optic neuritis-transverse myelitis (42.5%). A relapsing course was described in 72.3% of cases. EDSS scores of 0–3.5 were reported in 57.2% of cases and higher than 7.0 in 14.5%. Positive anti-AQP4-IgG antibody occurred in 59.8% and anti-MOG-IgG antibody in 11.5% of individuals. Antibody testing was lacking for 13.4% of patients. The estimated crude prevalence of NMOSD from Panama and the Dominican Republic was 1.62/100,000 (incidence of 0.08–0.41) and 0.73/100,000 (incidence 0.02–0.14), respectively. This multinational study contributes additional insights and data on the understanding of NMOSD in this Latin American region.

Here we present a study of the characterization and optimization of the production of trans-Resveratrol (t-R) in grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Gamay) cell cultures elicited with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DIMEB). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of a number of factors of the grapevine cell culture on t-R production level in 250 mL shaken flasks that would enable the better control of this bioproduction system when it is upscaled to a 2 L stirred bioreactor. The factors included the optimal growth phase for elicitation, the concentration of elicitors and of biomass, the order of addition of elicitors, and the illumination regime and ageing of cells. We found out that the optimal biomass density for the production of t-R was 19% (w/v) with an optimal ratio of 0.5 g DIMEB/g biomass. The most productive concentrations of the elicitors tested were 50 mM DIMEB and 100 µM MeJA, reaching maximum values of 4.18 mg·mL−1 and 16.3 mg·g biomass−1 of t-R concentration and specific production, respectively. We found that the order of elicitor addition matters since, as compared with the simultaneous addition of both elicitors, the addition of MeJA 48 h before DIMEB results in ca. 40% less t-R production, whilst there is no significant difference when MeJA is added 48 h after DIMEB. Upon upscaling, the better conditions tested for t-R production were aeration at 1.7 vol/vol/min without agitation, 24 °C, and 30 g·L−1 sucrose, achieving production rates similar to those obtained in shaken flasks.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of anatomical variants in the bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) and report its association with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology. Methods: We searched the Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and LILACS databases from their inception up to September 2023. Two authors independently performed the search, study selection, and data extraction, and they also assessed the methodological quality with an assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA). Finally, the pooled prevalence was estimated using a random effects model. Results: A total of 50 studies met the eligibility criteria. Twenty studies, with a total of 88,625 subjects, were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of the bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) variant was 1% (95% CI = 1% to 2%). Conclusions: The correlation between the BMC and TMJ pathologies has a relatively low prevalence in studies that present a considerable number of subjects. From a clinical point of view, a direct association cannot be made between the presence of the BMC and TMJ pathologies or symptoms.

This study investigates the influence of photoperiod and wastewater concentration on the growth of microalgae and cyanobacteria for the removal of environmentally significant parameters (COD, BOD, Cr, Fe, color, chlorides, nitrogen compounds, and phosphates) from dyeing wastewater. A two-factor central composite design with surface response was employed, involving two algae species (Chlorella and Scenedesmus sp.) and two cyanobacteria species (Hapalosiphon and Oscillatoria sp.). The findings indicated that extended photoperiods (>13 h) and higher wastewater concentrations (70–80% v/v) enhanced biomass production across all strains. However, Hapalosiphon and Chlorella sp. (1.6 and 0.45 g/L) exhibited better tolerance to the wastewater’s high toxicity, resulting in higher biomass concentrations and improved COD and BOD removal by Hapalosiphon sp. (75% and 80%, respectively). Further analysis of the obtained biomass revealed their potential applications. Among the cyanobacteria, Hapalosiphon sp. synthesized the highest concentrations of total proteins and lipids (38% and 28% w/w, respectively), while Oscillatoria sp. displayed a high protein content (42% w/w). In contrast, the algae demonstrated a strong propensity for storing substantial quantities of total carbohydrates (65% and 57% w/w for Scenedesmus and Chlorella sp., respectively). These results signify the feasibility of cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms in industrial dyeing wastewater as a sustainable source of nutrients for targeted metabolite production.

Fishing landings in Chile are inspected to control fisheries that are subject to catch quotas. The control process is not easy since the volumes extracted are large and the numbers of landings and artisan shipowners are high. Moreover, the number of inspectors is limited, and a non-automated method is utilized that normally requires months of training. In this work, we propose, design, and implement an automated fish landing control system. The system consists of a custom gate with a camera array and controlled illumination that performs automatic video acquisition once the fish landing starts. The imagery is sent to the cloud in real time and processed by a custom-designed detection algorithm based on deep convolutional networks. The detection algorithm identifies and classifies different pelagic species in real time, and it has been tuned to identify the specific species found in landings of two fishing industries in the Biobío region in Chile. A web-based industrial software was also developed to display a list of fish detections, record relevant statistical summaries, and create landing reports in a user interface. All the records are stored in the cloud for future analyses and possible Chilean government audits. The system can automatically, remotely, and continuously identify and classify the following species: anchovy, jack mackerel, jumbo squid, mackerel, sardine, and snoek, considerably outperforming the current manual procedure.

The yeast Hyphopichia wangnamkhiaoensis excretes a brilliant yellow fluorescent compound into its growth culture. In this study, we isolated and identified this compound using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (RP-HPLC-DAD) as well as 1H NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Two of the three RP-HPLC-DAD methods used successfully separated the fluorescent compound and involved (1) a double separation step with isocratic flow elution, first on a C18 column and later on a cyano column, and (2) a separation with a linear gradient elution on a phenyl column. The wavelengths of maximum absorption of the fluorescent compound-containing HPLC fractions (~224, 268, 372, and 446 nm) are in good agreement with those exhibited by flavins. The 1H NMR spectra revealed methyl (δ 2.30 and 2.40) and aromatic proton (δ 7.79 and 7.77) signals of riboflavin. The 1H NMR spectra of the samples spiked with riboflavin confirmed that the brilliant yellow fluorescent compound is riboflavin. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of the fluorescent compound were 448 and 528 nm, respectively, which are identical to those of riboflavin.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination poses serious health and environmental risks. Chromium biosorption has been employed as an effective means of eradicating Cr(VI) contamination. However, research on chromium desorption from chromium-loaded biosorbents is scarce despite its importance in facilitating industrial-scale chromium biosorption. In this study, single- and two-stage chromium desorption from chromium-loaded Cupressus lusitanica bark (CLB) was conducted. Thirty eluent solutions were evaluated first; the highest single-stage chromium desorption efficiencies were achieved when eluent solutions of 0.5 M NaOH, 0.5 M H2SO4, and 0.5 M H2C2O4 were used. Subsequently, two-stage kinetic studies of chromium desorption were performed. The results revealed that using 0.5 M NaOH solution in the first stage and 0.5 M H2C2O4 in the second stage enabled the recovery of almost all the chromium initially bound to CLB (desorption efficiency = 95.9–96.1%) within long (168 h) and short (3 h) desorption periods at each stage. This study clearly demonstrated that the oxidation state of the recovered chromium depends on the chemical nature and concentration of the eluent solution. The results suggest the possible regeneration of chromium-loaded CLB for its subsequent use in other biosorption/desorption cycles.

Mycobacterium bovis is a facultative intracellular bacterium that produces cellular necrosis in granulomatous lesions in bovines. Although M. bovis-induced inflammation actively participates in granuloma development, its role in necrotic cell death and in bovine macrophages has not been fully explored. In this study, we evaluate the effect of M. bovis AN5 and its culture filtrate protein extract (CFPE) on inflammasome activation in bovine macrophages and its consequences on cell death. Our results show that both stimuli induce necrotic cell death starting 4 h after incubation. CFPE treatment and M. bovis infection also induce the maturation of IL-1β (>3000 pg/mL), oligomerization of ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD), and activation of caspase-1, following the canonical activation pathway of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Inhibiting the oligomerization of NLRP3 and caspase-1 decreases necrosis among the infected or CFPE-stimulated macrophages. Furthermore, histological lymph node sections of bovines naturally infected with M. bovis contained cleaved gasdermin D, mainly in macrophages and giant cells within the granulomas. Finally, the induction of cell death (apoptosis and pyroptosis) decreased the intracellular bacteria count in the infected bovine macrophages, suggesting that cell death helps to control the intracellular growth of the mycobacteria. Our results indicate that M. bovis induces pyroptosis-like cell death that is partially related to the NLRP3 inflammasome activation and that the cell death process could control bacterial growth.

Due to their practicality and convenient parametrization, fractals derived from iterated function systems (IFSs) constitute powerful tools widely used to model natural and synthetic shapes. An IFS can generate sets other than fractals, extending its application field. Some of such sets arise from IFS fractals by adding minimal modifications to their defining rule. In this work, we propose two modifications to a fractal recently introduced by the authors: the so-called 2-ball fractal dust, which consists of a set of balls diminishing in size along an iterative process and delimited by an enclosing square. The proposed modifications are (a) adding a resizer parameter to introduce an interaction between the generator and generated ball elements and (b) a new fractal embedded into the 2-ball fractal dust, having the characteristic of filling zones not covered by the previous one. We study some numerical properties of both modified resulting sets to gain insights into their general properties. The resulting sets are geometrical forms with potential applications. Notably, the first modification generates an algorithm capable of producing geometric structures similar to those in mandalas and succulent plants; the second modification produces shapes similar to those found in nature, such as bubbles, sponges, and soil. Then, although a direct application of our findings is beyond the scope of this research, we discuss some clues of possible uses and extensions among which we can remark two connections: the first one between the parametrization we propose and the mandala patterns, and the second one between the embedded fractal and the grain size distribution of rocks, which is useful in percolation modeling.

The study of building materials is important for a better conservation of built heritage. Worldwide, volcanic stones (including basalt, andesite and dacite) are among the least studied building materials. In this research, the decay of a red basalt due to wet atmospheric deposition was studied. Red basalt was exposed to artificial rain solutions, prepared from rain samples collected weekly from 2014–2019. In this research, the decay of stone-built heritage was indirectly studied emulating wet atmospheric accelerated weathering under three different volume weighted mean (VWM) compositions: global, acid and no-acid categories. Lixiviates were analyzed to better understand the deterioration mechanisms taking place inside the material. Decay was quantified as mass difference, water absorption capacity (WAC) and open porosity (OP) changes. Results show that the methodology used is suitable to research the decay of built heritage. The studied basalt is indeed prone to decay by wet atmospheric deposition. The main decay mechanisms are the washing of insoluble compounds, dissolution of minerals, salt crystallization and cation exchange. WAC and OP showed promising results of their appropriateness as monitoring variables of decay in situ. Acid conditions produce the most severe decay, but Ph effect is not as important as precipitation volume. Non-linear equations relating volume of precipitation with mass difference in red basalt are presented.

We present a machine-learning approach to detect and analyze meteor echoes (MADAME), which is a radar data processing workflow featuring advanced machine-learning techniques using both supervised and unsupervised learning. Our results demonstrate that YOLOv4, a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based one-stage object detection model, performs remarkably well in detecting and identifying meteor head and trail echoes within processed radar signals. The detector can identify more than 80 echoes per minute in the testing data obtained from the Jicamarca high power large aperture (HPLA) radar. MADAME is also capable of autonomously processing data in an interferometer mode, as well as determining the target’s radiant source and vector velocity. In the testing data, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower could be clearly identified from the meteor radiant source distribution analyzed automatically by MADAME, thereby demonstrating the proposed algorithm’s functionality. In addition, MADAME found that about 50 percent of the meteors were traveling in inclined and near-inclined circular orbits. Furthermore, meteor head echoes with a trail are more likely to originate from shower meteor sources. Our results highlight the capability of advanced machine-learning techniques in radar signal processing, providing an efficient and powerful tool to facilitate future and new meteor research.

One of the most important factors when assessing the resilience of critical infrastructure is its vulnerability to extreme events. This study focuses on developing correlation maps that define the vulnerability to fire risk of critical infrastructure and its zone of influence. Using an index approach, a vulnerability assessment is challenging due to the fact that observing and measuring certain vulnerability aspects is not too easy. Furthermore, analyzing the unique vulnerabilities of individual elements becomes intricate, given their interdependencies and correlations. Leveraging GIS mapping techniques, we investigate the impacts of infrastructure disruption on neighboring elements and the urban fabric. The methodology enables multiple levels of assessment, facilitating the identification of vulnerable elements and optimizing decision-making processes before and after extreme events. Our findings highlight the significance of prioritizing emergency planning, enhancing accessibility, implementing preventive measures, and adopting a proactive emergency response approach. In conclusion, these measures contribute to mitigating vulnerability and safeguarding critical infrastructure and surrounding communities from extreme events.

A bicarbonate-peroxide (BAP) system was evaluated to improve the quality of industrial tannery wastewater using an I-optimal experimental design with four variables (temperature, initial pH, bicarbonate, and H2O2 concentration). The response variables were COD removal, ammonia nitrogen removal, and nitrate concentration. The most critical variables were optimized using a The process was carried out in 500 mL reactors, the operational volume of 250 mL, and the agitation was at 550 rpm. A new I-optimal reaction surface design at two levels (bicarbonate concentration 0.01–0.3 mol/L and H2O2 0.05–0.35 mol/L) was used to obtain the optimal data of the experimental design. Optimal conditions were validated by one-way ANOVA statistical analysis using Prism software. Temperatures above 50 °C promote the efficiency of the BAP system, and slightly acidic initial pHs allow stabilization of the system upon inclusion of bicarbonate and peroxide in the concentration of bicarbonate, which is critical for the reaction with peroxide and formation of reactive oxygen species. With the validated optimal data, removal percentages above 78% were achieved for nitrites, ammonia nitrogen, chromium, TSS, BOD, conductivity, chromium, and chlorides; for COD and TOC, removal percentages were above 45%, these results being equal and even higher than other AOPs implemented for this type of water.

Aluminosilicates are adsorbents able to bind mycotoxins, and their chemical modification increases their affinity to adsorb low-polarity mycotoxins. To further investigate if the inclusion of salts in bentonite modifies its adsorptive capacity, we studied T-2 toxin adsorption in natural bentonite (NB) and when modified with quaternary ammonium salts differing in polarity and chain length: myristyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (B14), cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (B16) and benzyl dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride (B18). The results showed that quaternary salts made bentonite: displace monovalent (Na+1, K+1) and divalent (Mg+2, Ca+2) ions; reduce its porosity; change its compaction and structure, becoming more crystalline and ordered; and modify the charge balance of sheets. T-2 adsorption was higher in all modified materials compared to NB (p ≤ 0.0001), and B16 (42.96%) better adsorbed T-2 compared to B18 (35.80%; p = 0.0066). B14 (38.40%) showed no differences compared to B16 and B18 (p > 0.05). We described the T-2 adsorption mechanism in B16, in which hydrogen bond interactions, Van der Waals forces and the replacement of the salt by T-2 were found. Our results showed that interaction types due to the inclusion in B16 might be more important than the hydrocarbon chain length to improve the adsorptive capacity of bentonite.

This paper presents for the first time a compact wideband bandpass filter in groove gap waveguide (GGW) technology. The structure is obtained by including metallic pins along the central part of the GGW bottom plate according to an n-order Chebyshev stepped impedance synthesis method. The bandpass response is achieved by combining the high-pass characteristic of the GGW and the low-pass behavior of the metallic pins, which act as impedance inverters. This simple structure together with the rigorous design technique allows for a reduction in the manufacturing complexity for the realization of high-performance filters. These capabilities are verified by designing a fifth-order GGW Chebyshev bandpass filter with a bandwidth BW = 3.7 GHz and return loss RL = 20 dB in the frequency range of the WR-75 standard, and by implementing it using computer numerical control (CNC) machining and three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques. Three prototypes have been manufactured: one using a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine and two others by means of a stereolithography-based 3D printer and a photopolymer resin. One of the two resin-based prototypes has been metallized from a silver vacuum thermal evaporation deposition technique, while for the other a spray coating system has been used. The three prototypes have shown a good agreement between the measured and simulated S-parameters, with insertion losses better than IL = 1.2 dB. Reduced size and high-performance frequency responses with respect to other GGW bandpass filters were obtained. These wideband GGW filter prototypes could have a great potential for future emerging satellite communications systems.

Using camera-based algorithms to detect abnormal patterns in children’s handwriting has become a promising tool in education and occupational therapy. This study analyzes the performance of a camera- and tablet-based handwriting verification algorithm to detect abnormal patterns in handwriting samples processed from 71 students of different grades. The study results revealed that the algorithm saw abnormal patterns in 20% of the handwriting samples processed, which included practices such as delayed typing speed, excessive pen pressure, irregular slant, and lack of word spacing. In addition, it was observed that the detection accuracy of the algorithm was 95% when comparing the camera data with the abnormal patterns detected, which indicates a high reliability in the results obtained. The highlight of the study was the feedback provided to children and teachers on the camera data and any abnormal patterns detected. This can significantly impact students’ awareness and improvement of writing skills by providing real-time feedback on their writing and allowing them to adjust to correct detected abnormal patterns.

Soils are at the crossroads of many existential issues that humanity is currently facing. Soils are a finite resource that is under threat, mainly due to human pressure. There is an urgent need to map and monitor them at field, regional, and global scales in order to improve their management and prevent their degradation. This remains a challenge due to the high and often complex spatial variability inherent to soils. Over the last four decades, major research efforts in the field of pedometrics have led to the development of methods allowing to capture the complex nature of soils. As a result, digital soil mapping (DSM) approaches have been developed for quantifying soils in space and time. DSM and monitoring have become operational thanks to the harmonization of soil databases, advances in spatial modeling and machine learning, and the increasing availability of spatiotemporal covariates, including the exponential increase in freely available remote sensing (RS) data. The latter boosted research in DSM, allowing the mapping of soils at high resolution and assessing the changes through time. We present a review of the main contributions and developments of French (inter)national research, which has a long history in both RS and DSM. Thanks to the French SPOT satellite constellation that started in the early 1980s, the French RS and soil research communities have pioneered DSM using remote sensing. This review describes the data, tools, and methods using RS imagery to support the spatial predictions of a wide range of soil properties and discusses their pros and cons. The review demonstrates that RS data are frequently used in soil mapping (i) by considering them as a substitute for analytical measurements, or (ii) by considering them as covariates related to the controlling factors of soil formation and evolution. It further highlights the great potential of RS imagery to improve DSM, and provides an overview of the main challenges and prospects related to digital soil mapping and future sensors. This opens up broad prospects for the use of RS for DSM and natural resource monitoring.

Foliar nutrient sprays are broadly used in commercial agriculture. To date, the application of Ca and Si has been little explored in vineyard production but may lead to positive responses at various levels. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplying single or combined calcium (Ca, 120 mM) and silicon (Si, 120 mM) sprays in Tempranillo grape composition. Foliar treatment with Ca + Si foliar enhanced all families of aromatic compounds, whereas single Ca and Si sprays induced lower effects. Regarding phenolic compounds, all foliar treatments led to minor effects. However, all three foliar Ca and Si treatments increased the total grape amino acid content. Consequently, the application of combined Ca and Si sprays to a vineyard is recommended as a tool for improving grape quality.

The framework presented in this article provides a guide for designing secure and sustainable internet of medical things (IoMT) solutions. The main objective is to address the challenges related to safety and sustainability in the medical field. The critical conditions driving these challenges are identified, and future trends in the field of IoMT are discussed. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed framework, a case study was carried out in a private medical clinic. In this study, an IoMT system was implemented to monitor patients’ vital signs, even when they were not in the clinic. The positive results demonstrated that the implemented IoMT system met the established security and sustainability requirements. The main statistical findings of the case study include the real-time monitoring of the vital signs of the patients, which improved the quality of care and allowed for the early detection of possible complications. In addition, medical devices such as the blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, and electrocardiograph were selected, proving safe, durable, and energy and maintenance efficient. These results were consistent with previous research that had shown the benefits of IoMT in remote monitoring, the early detection of health problems, and improved medical decision-making.

Fission yeast ribosomal protein genes (RPGs) contain a HomolD box as a core promoter element required for transcription. Some of the RPGs also contain a consensus sequence named HomolE, located upstream of the HomolD box. The HomolE box acts as an upstream activating sequence (UAS), and it is able to activate transcription in RPG promoters containing a HomolD box. In this work, we identified a HomolE-binding protein (HEBP) as a polypeptide of 100 kDa, which was able to bind to the HomolE box in a Southwestern blot assay. The features of this polypeptide were similar to the product of the fhl1 gene of fission yeast. The Fhl1 protein is the homolog of the FHL1 protein of budding yeast and possesses fork-head-associated (FHA) and fork-head (FH) domains. The product of the fhl1 gene was expressed and purified from bacteria, and it was demonstrated that is able to bind the HomolE box in an electrophoretic mobility assay (EMSA), as well as being able to activate in vitro transcription from an RPG gene promoter containing HomolE boxes upstream of the HomolD box. These results indicate that the product of the fhl1 gene of fission yeast can bind to the HomolE box, and it activates the transcription of RPGs.