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This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) (blue, green, red, and white) on carotenoid and lipid production by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CCT 7688. Results showed that LED at 50 µmol m−2 s−1 enhanced carotenoid production in all colors under study, by comparison with the control (1794.21 µg L−1). However, both green (3473.00 µg L−1) and red (3497.76 µg L−1) stood out in the production since there was increase of 93.5 and 94.9%, respectively. β-Carotene and astaxanthin were found to be the major carotenoids. However, at intensity of 100 µmol m−2 s−1, there was decrease (green 1377.0 µg L−1; red 826.86 µg L−1). In lipid production, there was no significant change when 50 µmol m−2 s−1 was used. The yeast exhibited distinct behavior towards the LED; i.e., carotenogenic production was notably more accentuated, a fact that shows that adequate illumination is an effective strategy to increase carotenoid production. In this sense, it is concluded that the intensity of light and colors applied to microbial cultivation is extremely important, as it affects the metabolism of yeasts, leading to an increase in the production of carotenoids and causing a significant change in the profile of fatty acids produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the effects of cultivating Tridax procumbens in hydroponic conditions with different concentrations of copper ions, aiming to understand the physiological changes and the impact on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The treatments consisted of a completely randomized design, with five increasing concentrations of copper (T0 = 0.235, T1 = 12.5, T2 = 25, T3 = 50, T4 = 100 µmol L−1 of Cu), under controlled conditions for 36 days. Analysis of bioactive compounds in leaves was performed by HPLC–DAD and ESI–MS. Several phenolic compounds, alkaloids, phytosterols and triterpenoids were identified, demonstrating the plant's metabolic plasticity. The highest dose of copper (100 µmol L−1) significantly promoted voacangine, the most predominant compound in the analyses. Notably, 66.7% of the metabolites that showed an increase in concentration, were phenolic compounds. Furthermore, treatments with 12.5 and 25 µmol L−1 of copper were identified as promoting the biosynthesis of phytosterols and triterpenoids. These biochemical adaptations can play a fundamental role in the survival and development of plants in environments contaminated by metals, and from this it is possible to determine cultivation techniques that maximize the biosynthesis of the compound of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper is a trace element in plants and animals whose importance can be understood due to its role in different essential metabolic processes. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and mining are potential sources of pollution due to the emission of copper into the environment. Brazilian legislation ties soil quality to guideline values, among which the Prevention Value indicates the critical environmental limit for trace elements. The aim of this study was to obtain PVs for copper for two subtropical soils (Cambisol and Nitisol), given that the pedological richness was not considered when deriving the PVs contained in the federal normative. Reproduction assays followed ISO guidelines with the earthworm species Eisenia andrei and Perionyx excavatus, the enchytraeids Enchytraeus crypticus and Enchytraeus bigeminus and the springtails Folsomia candida and Proisotoma minuta. Results showed that the sensitivity of the organisms was greater in Cambisol. The most sensitive species were the earthworms, especially Perionyx excavatus (EC50 = 67.83 in Cambisol; EC50 = 264.96 in Nitisol). The springtails, on the other hand, were the least sensitive to contamination. These findings reinforce the need to include organisms from different ecological groups in ecotoxicological assessments. It was also observed that the PV adopted in federal legislation (= 60 mg kg−1) is in fact protective for the species and soils we evaluated, since the PVs we obtained based on the EC50 were 346.74 mg kg−1 in Nitisol and 134.05 mg kg−1 in Cambisol. It is important to note that our results do not exclude the need for evaluations with other subtropical soils, given the influence of their properties on the toxicity and bioavailability of copper to soil organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting rainfall is essential for warning of issues and mitigating natural disasters. For this purpose, employing numerical weather models, even with their uncertainties, can generate reliable forecasts and guide decision-makers. The accuracy of a numerical model can be verified using statistical tools, and it is an essential procedure that needs to be made operationally, aiming to increase the forecasts' reliability. Numerical precipitation forecasts for the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were performed using the Weather Research & Forecasting model, configured with three spatial resolution grids of 9, 3, and 1 km, and combining different parameterizations for five physical processes: cloud microphysics, cumulus, planetary boundary layer, surface layer, and land surface. The period of interest was January 11th–12th, 2011, when significant rainfall accumulations originated the fatal natural hazards in Brazil. Analyses of the spatial distribution of rainfall and its temporal evolution were performed to evaluate the predictions from the quantitative and qualitative approaches. The results showed that the Kessler (cloud microphysics), MYNN3 (planetary boundary layer), Grell-Freitas, Betts-Miller-Janjic (cumulus) parameterizations, and the two highest resolution grids (at times, one was better than the other) had predicted the highest rainfall accumulations. From the initial results, this work reinforces the importance of forecast verification, especially considering different physical parameterizations and spatial resolutions since they can strongly influence the results. Also, it corroborates the importance of local numerical forecasts studies aiming to identify the best numerical configurations to forecast heavy rainfall events to alert decision-makers to the possibility of a natural hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the geographical variation in tree species composition across Amazonian forests and show how environmental conditions are associated with species turnover. Our analyses are based on 2023 forest inventory plots (1 ha) that provide abundance data for a total of 5188 tree species. Within-plot species composition reflected both local environmental conditions (especially soil nutrients and hydrology) and geographical regions. A broader-scale view of species turnover was obtained by interpolating the relative tree species abundances over Amazonia into 47,441 0.1-degree grid cells. Two main dimensions of spatial change in tree species composition were identified. The first was a gradient between western Amazonia at the Andean forelands (with young geology and relatively nutrient-rich soils) and central–eastern Amazonia associated with the Guiana and Brazilian Shields (with more ancient geology and poor soils). The second gradient was between the wet forests of the northwest and the drier forests in southern Amazonia. Isolines linking cells of similar composition crossed major Amazonian rivers, suggesting that tree species distributions are not limited by rivers. Even though some areas of relatively sharp species turnover were identified, mostly the tree species composition changed gradually over large extents, which does not support delimiting clear discrete biogeographic regions within Amazonia. Tree species turnover across Amazonian forests unveils sharp floristic transitional zones, that are linked with changes in soil fertility and climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health is deteriorating far and fast globally post-COVID. Though there were already over one billion people living with mental disorders pre-pandemic, in the first year of COVID-19 alone, the prevalence of anxiety and depression soared by 25% worldwide. In light of the chronic shortages of mental health resources and talents, along with disruptions of available health services caused by pandemic-related restrictions, technology is widely believed to hold the key to addressing the rising mental health crises. However, hurdles such as fragmented and oftentimes suboptimal patient protection measures substantially undermine technology's potential to address the global mental health crises reliably and at scale. To shed light on these issues, this paper aims to discuss the post-pandemic mental health challenges and opportunities, and the strategies and solutions the global mental health community could leverage to protect and elevate society's mental health in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic arterial hypertension is accompanied by autonomic impairments that, if not contained, promotes cardiac functional and morphological damages. Pyridostigmine bromide (PYR) treatment results in positive effects on autonomic control and beneficial cardiac remodeling. These findings were also observed after aerobic physical training (APT). However, little is known about PYR effects on left ventricular contractility, mainly when it is combined with APT. We aimed to investigate the effects of chronic acetylcholinesterase inhibition on cardiac autonomic tone balance, coronary bed reactivity, and left ventricular contractility in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) submitted to APT. Male SHR (18 weeks) were divided into two groups (N = 16): untrained and submitted to APT for 14 weeks (18th to 32nd week). Half of each group was treated with PYR (15 mg/kg/day) for two weeks (31st to 32nd week). The experimental protocol consisted of recording hemodynamic parameters, double autonomic blockade with atropine and propranolol, and assessment of coronary bed reactivity and ventricular contractility in isolated hearts using the Langendorff technique. PYR and APT reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and sympathetic influence on the heart. The Langendorff technique showed that APT increased coronary perfusion pressure and left ventricle contractility in response to coronary flow and β-agonist administration. However, treatment with PYR annulled the effects of APT. In conclusion, although chronic treatment with PYR reduces cardiac sympathetic tonic influence, it does not favor coronary bed reactivity and cardiac contractility gains. PYR treatment in the trained SHR group nullified the coronary vascular reactivity and cardiac contractility gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the importance of enhancing traditional fluid-flow solvers by introducing a Machine Learning procedure to model pressure fields computed by standard fluid-flow solvers. The conventional approach involves enforcing pressure–velocity coupling through a Poisson equation, combining the Navier–Stokes and continuity equations. The solution to this Poisson equation constitutes a substantial percentage of the overall computational cost in fluid flow simulations, therefore improving its efficiency can yield significant gains in computational speed. The study aims to create a versatile method applicable to any geometry, ultimately providing a more efficient alternative to the conventional pressure solver. Machine Learning models were trained with flow fields generated by a Computational Fluid Dynamics solver applied to the confined flow over multiple geometries, namely wall-bounded cylinders with circular, rectangular, triangular, and plate cross-sections. To achieve applicability to any geometry, a method was developed to estimate pressure fields in fixed-shape blocks sampled from the flow domain and subsequently assemble them to reconstruct the entire physical domain. The model relies on multilayer perceptron neural networks combined with Principal Component Analysis transformations. The developed Machine Learning models achieved acceptable accuracy with errors of around 3%. Furthermore, the model demonstrated enhanced computational efficiency, outperforming the classical PISO algorithm by up to 30 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiome is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Modulating the gut microbiome can lead to eubiosis and treatment of various metabolic conditions. However, there is no proper study assessing the delivery of microbial technology for the treatment of such conditions. The present study involves the development of guar gum-pectin-based solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) containing curcumin (CCM) and fecal microbiota extract (FME) for the treatment of PCOS. The optimized S-SNEDDS containing FME and CCM was prepared by dissolving CCM (25 mg) in an isotropic mixture consisting of Labrafil M 1944 CS, Transcutol P, and Tween-80 and solidified using lactose monohydrate, aerosil-200, guar gum, and pectin (colon-targeted CCM solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system [CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS]). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation was carried out on letrozole-induced female Wistar rats. The results of pharmacokinetic studies indicated about 13.11 and 23.48-fold increase in AUC of CCM-loaded colon-targeted S-SNEDDS without FME (CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS (WFME)) and CCM-loaded colon-targeted S-SNEDDS with FME [(CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS (FME)) as compared to unprocessed CCM. The pharmacodynamic study indicated excellent recovery/reversal in the rats treated with CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS low and high dose containing FME (group 13 and group 14) in a dose-dependent manner. The developed formulation showcasing its improved bioavailability, targeted action, and therapeutic activity in ameliorating PCOS can be utilized as an adjuvant therapy for developing a dosage form, scale-up, and technology transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Biomarkers are substances measured at the systemic level to evaluate organic responses in certain situations, establishing diagnoses, disease staging, and prognosis. Blood glucose is a biomarker recognized as a predictor of prognosis in children victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The scope of this study was to identify the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of severe brain injury. Methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted through the consecutive review of medical records of children and teenage victims of TBI who underwent neurological surgery between 2016 and 2023 in a level 1 trauma center. Two groups were compared: children with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8 and children with GCS > 8. We calculated the predictive values to define the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of brain injury. Results: Ninety-two medical records were included for analysis. Hyperglycemia predominated in cases with GCS ≤ 8 (48% vs 3%; p < 0.0001; OR, 30; 95% CI, 5.9902–150.2448). The glycemic measurement considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L showed a specificity of 97%, a positive predictive value of 86%, an accuracy of 84%, and a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 16. Conclusion: Victims with GCS ≤ 8 are 16 times more likely to develop acute hyperglycemia after TBI when compared to those with GCS > 8. Blood glucose is a biomarker with an accuracy of 84% to predict severe brain injury, considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies the concentration index to estimate socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills among children aged 5 to 15, using longitudinal data from Peru. We find the existence of socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills, starting from an early age and showing little change until adolescence, albeit dropping. The cognitive achievement regression estimates highlight the significant role of family socioeconomic status (SES) on children's language performance. Our decomposition analysis strengthens this result, indicating parental SES as the major contributor to socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills, even after accounting for the lagged test scores. We further decompose the source of changes in socioeconomic-related inequality in language skills between ages 5 and 15, and show changes in household wealth inequality and the associated elasticity both contribute to changes in socioeconomic-related inequalities in language performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin cancer remains one of the most prominent types of cancer. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are commonly found together, with melanoma being the more deadly type. Skin cancer can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, which mostly uses small molecular medicines, phytoceuticals, and biomacromolecules. Topical delivery of these therapeutics is a non-invasive way that might be useful in effectively managing skin cancer. Different skin barriers, however, presented a major obstacle to topical cargo administration. Transferosomes have demonstrated significant potential in topical delivery by improving cargo penetration through the circumvention of diverse skin barriers. Additionally, the transferosome-based gel can prolong the residence of drug on the skin, lowering the frequency of doses and their associated side effects. However, the choice of appropriate transferosome compositions, such as phospholipids and edge activators, and fabrication technique are crucial for achieving improved entrapment efficiency, penetration, and regulated particle size. The present review discusses skin cancer overview, current treatment strategies for skin cancer and their drawbacks. Topical drug delivery against skin cancer is also covered, along with the difficulties associated with it and the importance of transferosomes in avoiding these difficulties. Additionally, a summary of transferosome compositions and fabrication methods is provided. Furthermore, topical delivery of small molecular drugs, phytoceuticals, and biomacromolecules using transferosomes and transferosomes-based gel in treating skin cancer is discussed. Thus, transferosomes can be a significant option in the topical delivery of drugs to manage skin cancer efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra virgin olive oil is a product with high commercial value mainly due to its unique quality and bioactive properties. It is commonly adulterated with other less expensive edible oils, making it necessary to develop and study rapid, cheap, and accurate analytical methods to identify extra virgin olive oil adulteration. In this respect, the current study aims to evaluate the application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to identify the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil with canola and sunflower oils. The experimental observations were processed through principal component analysis followed by hierarchical clustering to identify groups of treatments with similar behavior. Results have demonstrated that the approach could successfully classify the non-adulterated samples in a separate cluster in relation to the adulterated samples. An empirical equivalent electrical circuit parameter has suggested that the method is able to identify adulteration with 2% of the adopted edible oils and provided a clear distinction between the two adulterants. Overall, the study demonstrated the feasibility of the technique to identify the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil with the two adulterants. However, further studies are necessary to identify the limit of detection clearly and improve the quantification of adulterants added to the control samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Trials demonstrating benefits of tamoxifen for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were published > 20 years ago; yet subsequent uptake of endocrine therapy was low. We estimated endocrine therapy initiation in women with DCIS between 2001 and 2018 in a community setting, reflecting more recent years of diagnosis than previous studies. Methods: This retrospective cohort included adult females ≥ 20 years diagnosed with first primary DCIS between 2001 and 2018, followed through 2019, and enrolled in one of three U.S. integrated healthcare systems. We collected data on endocrine therapy dispensings (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors [AIs]) from electronic pharmacy records within 12 months after DCIS diagnosis. Using generalized linear models with a log link and Poisson distribution, we estimated endocrine therapy initiation rates over time and by patient, tumor (including estrogen receptor [ER] status), and treatment characteristics. Results: Among 2020 women with DCIS, 587 (29%) initiated endocrine therapy within 12 months after diagnosis (36% among 1208 women with ER-positive DCIS). Among women who used endocrine therapy, 506 (86%) initiated tamoxifen and 81 (14%) initiated AIs. Age-adjusted endocrine therapy initiation declined from 34 to 21% between 2001 and 2017; between 2015 and 2018, AI use increased from 8 to 35%. Women less likely to initiate endocrine therapy were ER-negative or had borderline/unknown or no ER test results, ≥ 65 years at diagnosis, Black, and received no radiotherapy. Conclusion: One-third of women diagnosed with DCIS initiated endocrine therapy, and use decreased over time. Understanding why women eligible for endocrine therapy do not initiate is important to maximizing disease-free survival following DCIS diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across studies, intuitive eating is associated with many health indicators. The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), the instrument for measuring intuitive eating, had not previously been explored with a sample of sexual minority [Sexual minority refers to individuals who experience consensual sexual identity, attraction, or behavior that is non normative (typically sexual minority individuals are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or non-heterosexual)] individuals despite the disparities in eating behaviors and stress that persist among this population. Further, past work suggests the context of being partnered can be both protective and harmful for eating behaviors, highlighting an important avenue for investigating intuitive eating at the dyad level. This study sought to investigate the factor structure of the IES-2 and to explore the associations between both partner's mental health, relational quality, and interpersonal eating interactions within a dyadic sample of 228 married male sexual minority couples (88% white, 8.8% Latino or Hispanic, 5.3% African American or Black, and 5.9% in other racial or ethnic groups). The original four-factor solution did not fit the current sample; instead, a new, fifth factor emerged, which was labeled as Eating Not as Coping. Intuitive eating behaviors were dyadically associated with mental and relational health and partners' health-related interactions with one another. Future use of the IES-2 is informed by present results which may also inform recommendations for practice with and study of health and relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in the ovarian reserve leads to menopause and reduced serum estrogens. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs, which can regulate gene expression and be secreted by cells and trafficked in serum via exosomes. Serum miRNAs regulate tissue function and disease development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify miRNA profiles in serum exosomes of mice induced to estropause and treated with 17β-estradiol (E2). Female mice were divided into three groups including control (CTL), injected with 4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), and injected with VCD plus E2 (VCD + E2). Estropause was confirmed by acyclicity and a significant reduction in the number of ovarian follicles (p < 0.05). Body mass gain during estropause was higher in VCD and VCD + E2 compared to CTL females (p = 0.02). Sequencing of miRNAs was performed from exosomes extracted from serum, and 402 miRNAs were detected. Eight miRNAs were differentially regulated between CTL and VCD groups, seven miRNAs regulated between CTL and VCD + E2 groups, and ten miRNAs regulated between VCD and VCD + E2 groups. Only miR-200a-3p and miR-200b-3p were up-regulated in both serum exosomes and ovarian tissue in both VCD groups, suggesting that these exosomal miRNAs could be associated with ovarian activity. In the hepatic tissue, only miR-370-3p (p = 0.02) was up-regulated in the VCD + E2 group, as observed in serum. Our results suggest that VCD-induced estropause and E2 replacement have an impact on the profile of serum exosomal miRNAs. The miR-200 family was increased in serum exosomes and ovarian tissue and may be a candidate biomarker of ovarian function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leprosy is a neglected contagious disease that causes physical disability and episodes of inflammation, called leprosy reactions. There are currently no consolidated laboratory markers that can predict or confirm the diagnosis of leprosy reactions, negatively impacting the progression of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the behavior of inflammatory biomarkers in a population of patients with multibacillary leprosy. This prospective study in a northeastern capital involved 67 new cases of multibacillary leprosy, assessing inflammatory biomarkers at diagnosis. Histopathology, qPCR, slit skin smear microscopy, and laboratory tests, including CRP-albumin, neutrophil-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-monocyte, platelet-lymphocyte ratios, and systemic immune-inflammation index, were conducted. Statistical analysis utilized Stata version 16.0®, employing Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Poisson regression (5% significance). The population, mainly young brown men with low socioeconomic status, borderline leprosy, and and degree of physical disability one, saw 19.4% experiencing leprosy reactions. Standard multibacillary multidrug therapy was administered to all. Ratios and index values exceeding medians were prevalent (46.3-47.8%). Assessing biological markers against leprosy reactions revealed a positive relation between reactions and lymphocyte-platelet ratio (p = 0.05) and a positive trend with the systemic immune-inflammation index (p = 0.06). Patients with reactions were 1.3 times more likely to exhibit an elevated lymphocyte-platelet ratio. The lymphocyte-platelet ratio emerged as a potential indicator for recognizing leprosy reactions. Further research is essential to validate these findings, aiming for earlier detection of leprosy reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rationale of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Dog-assisted Therapy (DAT) in children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). We conducted a randomized controlled trial in a cohort of 71 children and adolescents with FASD. Participants were randomly assigned either to DAT group (n = 38) or Relaxation Group (control group) (n = 33). Results revealed that participants who were assigned to the DAT group experienced significantly reduced externalizing symptoms (CBCL Externalizing Inattention: t (69) = 2.81, p =.007; d = 0.7); CBCL Opposition: t (69) = 2.54, p =.013; d = 0.6), reduced internalizing symptoms (CBCL Social problems: t (69) = 3.21, p =.002; d = 0.8) as well as improvements on social skills (SSIS-P Problem behavior: t (68) = 2.55, p =.013; d = 0.6), and quality of life (KidScreen Autonomy and Parents: t (51) = − 2.03, p =.047; d = 0.5) compared to the relaxation control group. The relaxation control group obtained significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment evaluation, diminishing withdraw symptoms (t (32) = 3.03, p =.005; d = 0.2). Results suggest that DAT and relaxation may be promising adjunctive treatments for children and adolescents with FASD. Clinical trial registration information:http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT04038164. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to deposit a Ni–La–Zr catalyst on a FeCrAl monolith by in situ growth of the catalyst on a metallic surface through immersion in a modified polymeric precursor solution. The prepared monolith was characterized by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy and was tested in a tri-reforming reaction of simulated biogas (CH4/CO2 = 3) for synthesis gas production. The monolithic catalyst presented better stability than the powdered catalyst under the 50-h test. In contrast, the powdered catalyst showed more pronounced deactivation, which was associated with higher carbon deposition. This study provides valuable information on a simple deposition method for Ni-based catalysts on FeCrAl monoliths for biogas tri-reforming reactions, which could have implications for biogas upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents lightweight tooling concepts based on additive manufacturing, with the aim of developing advanced tooling systems as well as installing sensors for real-time monitoring and control during the anchoring and manufacturing of aeronautical parts. Leveraging additive manufacturing techniques in the production of tooling yields benefits in manufacturing flexibility and material usage. These concepts transform traditional tooling systems into active, intelligent tools, improving the manufacturing process and part quality. Integrated sensors measure variables such as displacement, humidity and temperature allowing data analysis and correlation with process quality variables such as accuracy errors, tolerances achieved and surface finish. In addition to sensor integration, additive manufacturing by directed energy arc and wire deposition (DED-arc) has been selected for part manufacturing. The research includes the mechanical characterisation of the material and the microstructure of the material once manufactured by DED-arc. Design for additive manufacturing" principles guide the design process to effectively exploit the capabilities of DED-arc. These turrets, equipped with sensors, allow real-time monitoring and control of turret deformation during clamping and manufacturing of aeronautical parts. As a first step, deformation monitoring is carried out within the defined tolerance of ± 0.15, which allows a control point to be established in the turret. Future analysis of the sensor data will allow correlations with process quality variables to be established. Remarkably, the optimised version of the turret after applying DED technology weighed only 2.2 kg, significantly lighter than the original 6 kg version. Additive manufacturing and the use of lightweight structures for fixture fabrication, followed by the addition of sensors, provide valuable information and control, improving process efficiency and part quality. This research contributes to the development of intelligent and efficient tool systems for aeronautical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the photoactivation of hydrogen peroxide gels at different concentrations using blue or violet LED in terms of whitening efficacy and tooth sensitivity. Forty patients were randomly divided into 4 groups: HP6V (violet LED and 6% hydrogen peroxide), HP6B (blue LED and 6% hydrogen peroxide), HP35V (violet LED and 35% hydrogen peroxide), and HP35B (blue LED and 35% hydrogen peroxide). The L*, a* and b* values were measured before, 1 week and 3 months after treatment, and the ΔE and ΔWID values were calculated. Tooth sensitivity was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) before, immediately after, and 24 h after bleaching. The ΔE, ΔWID and bleaching sensitivity values were subjected to the ANOVA test and Bonferroni post-test. HP35V and HP35B showed higher whitening efficacy than HP6VL, while HP6V did not show statistical differences compared to the other groups. Regarding bleaching-related sensitivity, the HP6V and HP6B groups presented the lowest values when compared to HP35V and HP35B. HP6V showed whitening efficacy comparable to HP35V and HP35B but with reduced tooth sensitivity. Trial registration number: NCT06165458; registration date: 12/09/2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In climate model assessment, one of the most widely used procedures is to evaluate the large-scale spatial patterns simulated by models. In this study, we evaluated four non-complex metrics for assessing dipolar and multipolar climate patterns, aiming to ascertain their strengths and possible caveats. Three established metrics are employed: the Taylor skill (TS) score, the Arcsin-Mielke measure M (measure M), and the Spatial Efficiency (SPAEF) metric. Additionally, a fourth metric is introduced by adjusting the TS score (TSadj score), where the standard deviation ratio is substituted with the spatial root-mean-square error (RMSE). By applying these metrics to measure and rank the performance of six CMIP6 models in simulating the dipolar patterns of the East Asian Summer Monsoon and Atlantic Meridional Mode, as well as the quadripolar pattern of the Pacific-North American pattern, the results show that metrics considering spatial error (RMSE/MSE), such as the TSadj score and measure M, offer a more accurate assessment compared to metrics relying on variance comparison of the patterns (such as the TS score and SPAEF metric) since they account for the patterns' spatial variance distribution. Furthermore, the results provided by the established metrics might not effectively assess the quality of the models' simulation. Therefore, the TSadj score can be quantified using a threshold set at half of its maximum attainable value to identify well-performing models, corresponding to a minimum spatial correlation of 0.4 and a maximum normalized RMSE of 1. This modification of the TSadj score yields a more practical outcome for the assessment of models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic neophytes are among the most harmful invasive species worldwide. Here we report the finding of the semi-aquatic invasive plant Crassula helmsii, naturalized in a freshwater reservoir that provides water to the large city of A Coruña, NW Spain. To better understand the extent and potential environmental correlates of C. helmsii invasion, we recorded the presence and frequency of C. helmsii in its emerged and floating mat forms at twelve sampling sites along the reservoir margins, and characterized the soil characteristics, plant community and environmental factors. Crassula helmsii is dispersed by fragmentation of the stems, potentially aided through shredding by local fauna such as the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii. We hypothesize that this could be a case of an invasional meltdown, when multiple invasive species facilitate one another and have synergistic effects on native ecosystems. The emerged form of C. helmsii was found in ten out of twelve sites with a mean cover value of 9.8 ± 10.4% (mean ± SD). We found no correlation between frequency of the emerged form of C. helmsii and abundance of Procambarus clarkii, but frequency of the emerged form of C. helmsii increased with higher soil nitrogen and vascular plant richness. We outline emergency actions for management of C. helmsii at this stage of the invasion, focusing on containment and avoiding spread to nearby water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversification of species for bioenergy silviculture in Amazonia will help several local and/or regional industrial segments. Thus, the expansion of knowledge on silvicultural practices of Tachigali vulgaris will support future commercial-scale plantations in Amazonia. This study aimed to evaluate possible differences in diameter, height, and wood volume of T. vulgaris trees grown under different nutritional doses, on two soil texture classes. In addition, we sought to determine the appropriate nutritional dose for the studied types of soil texture aiming at the production of energy wood. The study was conducted in two experimental areas of 1.6 ha each, located in the municipality of Almeirim – Pará, Brazil. Independent analyses were performed in both experimental areas at each age. The experiments were set up in a randomized block design with four blocks. A factorial scheme considering four phosphorus and three potassium doses were adopted, totaling 12 treatments. The diameter at 1.30 m (DBH), equivalent diameter, total height of the trees, and the commercial wood volume with bark per hectare (Vwb ha−1) were evaluated. A significant effect of nutrient doses was reported on DBH at the age of 2 years for the soil with a sandy loam texture. The Vwb ha−1 of the trees at 4, 5, and 6 years old was significantly affected by fertilization in clayey soils. Under the conditions of the present study, the nutritional doses of 0 kg ha−1 of triple superphosphate and 172 kg ha−1 of potassium chloride are recommended for the area with Oxisol of sandy loam texture and 195 kg ha−1 of triple superphosphate and 343 kg ha−1 of potassium chloride are recommended for the area with Oxisol of clayey texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cetaceans and pinnipeds are lineages of mammals that have independently returned to the aquatic environment, acquiring varying degrees of dependence on it while sharing adaptations for underwater living. Here, we focused on one critical adaptation from both groups, their ability to withstand the ischemia and reperfusion experienced during apnea diving, which can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative damage. Previous studies have shown that cetaceans and pinnipeds possess efficient antioxidant enzymes that protect against ROS. In this study, we investigated the molecular evolution of key antioxidant enzyme genes (CAT, GPX3, GSR, PRDX1, PRDX3, and SOD1) and the ROS-producing gene XDH, in cetaceans and pinnipeds lineages. We used the ratio of non-synonymous (dN) to synonymous (dS) substitutions as a measure to identify signatures of adaptive molecular evolution in these genes within and between the two lineages. Additionally, we performed protein modeling and variant impact analyzes to assess the functional consequences of observed mutations. Our findings revealed distinct selective regimes between aquatic and terrestrial mammals in five of the examined genes, including divergences within cetacean and pinniped lineages, between ancestral and recent lineages and between crowns groups. We identified specific sites under positive selection unique to Cetacea and Pinnipedia, with one site showing evidence of convergent evolution in species known for their long and deep-diving capacities. Notably, many sites under adaptive selection exhibited radical changes in amino acid properties, with some being damaging mutations in human variations, but with no apparent detrimental impacts on aquatic mammals. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the adaptive changes that have occurred in the antioxidant systems of aquatic mammals throughout their evolutionary history. We observed both distinctive features within each group of Cetacea and Pinnipedia and instances of convergence. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of the antioxidant system in response to challenges of the aquatic environment and provide a foundation for further investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of heat and momentum losses on the steady solutions admitted by the reactive Euler equations with sink/source terms is examined for stoichiometric hydrogen–oxygen mixtures. Varying degrees of nitrogen and argon dilution are considered in order to access a wide range of effective activation energies, E a,eff / R u T 0 , when using detailed thermochemistry. The main results of the study are discussed via detonation velocity-friction coefficient (D– c f ) curves. The influence of the mixture composition is assessed, and classical scaling for the prediction of the velocity deficits, D (c f,crit) / D CJ , as a function of the effective activation energy, E a,eff / R u T 0 , is revisited. Notably, a map outlining the regions where set-valued solutions exist in the E a,eff / R u T 0 -- α space is provided, with α denoting the momentum–heat loss similarity factor, a free parameter in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) are methods of data analysis used to synthesize information presented in multiple publications on the same topic. A thorough understanding of the steps involved in conducting this type of research and approaches to data analysis is critical for appropriate understanding, interpretation, and application of the findings of these reviews. Methods: We reviewed reference texts in clinical neuroepidemiology, neurostatistics and research methods and other previously related articles on meta-analyses (MAs) in surgery. Based on existing theories and models and our cumulative years of expertise in conducting MAs, we have synthesized and presented a detailed pragmatic approach to interpreting MAs in Neurosurgery. Results: Herein we have briefly defined SRs sand MAs and related terminologies, succinctly outlined the essential steps to conduct and critically appraise SRs and MAs. A practical approach to interpreting MAs for neurosurgeons is described in details. Based on summary outcome measures, we have used hypothetical examples to illustrate the Interpretation of the three commonest types of MAs in neurosurgery: MAs of Binary Outcome Measures (Pairwise MAs), MAs of proportions and MAs of Continuous Variables. Furthermore, we have elucidated on the concepts of heterogeneity, modeling, certainty, and bias essential for the robust and transparent interpretation of MAs. The basics for the Interpretation of Forest plots, the preferred graphical display of data in MAs are summarized. Additionally, a condensation of the assessment of the overall quality of methodology and reporting of MA and the applicability of evidence to patient care is presented. Conclusion: There is a paucity of pragmatic guides to appraise MAs for surgeons who are non-statisticians. This article serves as a detailed guide for the interpretation of systematic reviews and meta-analyses with examples of applications for clinical neurosurgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report on the process of a highly impactful and successful creative, collaborative, and multi-partner public engagement project, Radiation Reveal. It brought together ten young adults aged 17–25-year-olds with experience of radiotherapy with researchers at Cancer Research UK RadNet City of London across three 2-hour online workshops. Our aims were to 1) initiate discussions between young adults and radiation researchers, and 2) identify what people wish they had known about radiotherapy before or during treatment. These aims were surpassed; other benefits included peer support, participants' continued involvement in subsequent engagement projects, lasting friendships, creation of support groups for others, and creation and national dissemination of top ten tips for medical professionals and social media resources. A key learning was that this project required a dedicated and (com)passionate person with connections to national cancer charities. When designing the project, constant feedback is also needed from charities and young adults with and without radiotherapy experience. Finally, visually capturing discussions and keeping the door open beyond workshops further enhanced impact. Here, we hope to inform and inspire people to help project the patient voice in all we do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limosilactobacillus (L) fermentum (strains 139, 263, 296) is a novel probiotic mixture isolated from fruit processing by-products. The use of this formulation has been associated with improvements in cardiometabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters. The present study evaluated the safety of a potential multi-strain probiotic by genotoxicity (micronucleus assay) and subchronic toxicity study (13-week repeated dose). In the genotoxicity evaluation, L. fermentum 139, 263, 296 did not increase the frequency of micronuclei in erythrocytes of rats of both sexes at doses up to 1010 CFU/mL. In the subchronic toxicity study, the administration of L. fermentum did not promote adverse health effects, such as behavioral changes, appearance of tumors, changes in hematological and biochemical parameters. In addition, higher doses of L. fermentum 139, 263, 296 have been shown to reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Administration of potentially probiotic L. fermentum did not promote adverse health effects in rats and could be evaluated as a potential probiotic for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present unprecedented datasets of current and future projected weather files for building simulations in 15 major cities distributed across 10 climate zones worldwide. The datasets include ambient air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, direct and diffuse solar irradiance, and wind speed at hourly resolution, which are essential climate elements needed to undertake building simulations. The datasets contain typical and extreme weather years in the EnergyPlus weather file (EPW) format and multiyear projections in comma-separated value (CSV) format for three periods: historical (2001–2020), future mid-term (2041–2060), and future long-term (2081–2100). The datasets were generated from projections of one regional climate model, which were bias-corrected using multiyear observational data for each city. The methodology used makes the datasets among the first to incorporate complex changes in the future climate for the frequency, duration, and magnitude of extreme temperatures. These datasets, created within the IEA EBC Annex 80 "Resilient Cooling for Buildings", are ready to be used for different types of building adaptation and resilience studies to climate change and heatwaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of positivity and self-efficacy beliefs in managing anger, fear, and sadness on positive and negative affect was examined at three time points over 9 months. Data from 1,401 students (73.4% women) attending an online University in Spain were collected before the beginning and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of a random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that the strongest relationships in terms of effect size occurred at the trait level, in which participants who had a general higher positivity over time were also those who reported, in general, higher self-efficacy, higher positive affect, and lower negative affect than their counterparts. At the within-person level, while controlling for stable (trait-like) individual differences, higher than usual levels (state-like) of positivity in January 2020 predicted higher than usual levels of emotional self-efficacy beliefs and lower than usual levels of negative affect in June 2020. During the same transition, higher than usual levels of negative affect in January 2020 predicted lower than usual levels of emotional self-efficacy in June 2020. Moreover, higher than usual levels of self-efficacy in June 2020 predicted higher than usual levels of positivity in September 2020. We did not find any predictive effect for positive affect. The results pointed to the protective role of both positivity and regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs mostly against negative affect, corroborating previous findings suggesting a virtuous circle of reciprocal influence between positivity and regulatory emotional self-efficacy. The practical implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the joint impact of non-linearity and non-Gaussianity on predictive performance in 23 Brazilian monthly streamflow time series from 1931 to 2022. We consider point and interval forecasting, employing a PAR(p) model and comparing it with the periodic vine copula model. Results indicate that the Gaussian hypothesis assumed by PAR(p) is unsuitable; gamma and log-normal distributions prove more appropriate and crucial for constructing accurate confidence intervals. This is primarily due to the assumption of the Gaussian distribution, which can lead to the generation of confidence intervals with negative values. Analyzing the estimated copula models, we observed a prevalence of the bivariate Normal copula, indicating that linear dynamic dependence is frequent, and the Rotated Gumbel 180°, which exhibits lower tail dependence. Overall, the temporal dynamics are predominantly shaped by combining these two types of effects. In point forecasting, both models show similar behavior in the estimation set, with slight advantages for the copula model. The copula model performs better during the out-of-sample analysis, particularly for certain power plants. In interval forecasting, the copula model exhibits pronounced superiority, offering a better estimation of quantiles. Consistently demonstrating proficiency in constructing reliable and accurate intervals, the copula model reveals a notable advantage over the PAR(p) model in interval forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To describe overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in a cohort of tongue cancer patients, together with the corresponding demographic, tumor and surgical characteristics. Methods: A retrospective study was made of 205 consecutive patients with primary tongue cancer subjected to surgery and adjuvant therapy according to the stage of the disease, in Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HUVA) (Murcia, Spain) during the period 2000–2020. Survival was evaluated based on the Kaplan–Meier method, and the existence of significant differences between the different study variables was analyzed using the log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was performed for the identification of risk factors. Results: In relation to overall survival, 72.6% of the patients survived for a mean time of 14.43 years [standard error (SE) = 0.74; 95% CI: 12.98–15.87], with a cumulative survival rate of 49.8 ± 3%. Survival was reduced by the presence of tumor adjacent to resection margins [hazard ratio (HR) 2.20; 95% CI 1.09–4.43] (p = 0.028) and infiltrated resection margins (HR 3.86, 95% CI 1.56–9.57) (p = 0.004). Lymphadenectomy in turn increased survival (HR 0.15; 95% CI 0.06–0.42) (p < 0.001). In relation to disease-free survival, 55.3% of the patients suffered no relapse over a mean period of 9.91 years (SE = 0.66; 95% CI: 8.61–11.2), with a cumulative survival rate of 26.6% ± 8.4%. Conclusions: In tongue cancer patients, overall and specific survival were reduced in the presence of infiltrated resection margins. Lymphadenectomy in turn improved survival compared with patients in which this procedure was not carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination with toxic metals causes harmful effects on the environment and to human health. Although cucurbiturils have carboxyl groups in their portal that can interact with metal ions, there is a lack of studies about their use as metal adsorbent. This scenario has motivated conduction of the present study, which addresses the use of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) for adsorbing Pb and Cr from water samples, in free forms and immobilized in poly(urethane) sponges. The adsorption kinetics revealed that CB[8] leads to faster adsorption compared to CB[6], with equilibrium achieved in 8 h for CB[8] and 48 h for CB[6] for both metals, and achieved up to 80% of decrease in metal concentration. The Langmuir isotherm model provided a better description of adsorption for Cr and Pb in CB[6] and Pb in CB[8] with a maximum concentration adsorbed of 32.47 mg g−1 for Pb in CB[6], while the Dubinin–Radushkevich model was more suitable for Cr adsorption in CB[8]. Sponges containing CB[6] and CB[8] have proven to be efficient for Pb and Cr remediation in tannery effluent samples, reducing Cr and Pb concentration by 42 and 33%, respectively. The results indicate that CB[6] and CB[8], whether used in their pure form or integrated into sponges, exhibit promising potential for efficiently adsorbing metals in aqueous contaminated environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of inulin on stress and innate immunity of hybrid catfish (P. reticulatum × L. marmoratus). A total of 208 juvenile surubim, with initial average weight and length 37.91 ± 5.58 g and 18.51 ± 0.69 cm, were randomly distributed in 16 tanks (100 L) in a 4 × 5 factorial scheme. Inulin was used at four inclusion levels (0% — control, 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%) for 31 days. At the end of period, blood aliquots were collected to characterize time zero. Then, the fish were exposed to pursuit/capture/atmospheric exposure stress for a new blood collection after 0.5 h. Soon after, the fish were exposed to A. hydrophila, and new blood samples were obtained at 3, 6, and 24 h post-challenge. There was a significant interaction on plasma cortisol in 0.50% inulin group. There was a significant reduction in hemoglobin and hematocrit at 24 and 3 h, respectively, after stress management + bacterial challenge. For glucose, a significant increase was observed after stress management (0.5 h) as well as a significant decrease at 6 h after stress management + bacterial challenge. A significant increase in total leukocytes and lymphocytes was observed at 6 h, while thrombocytes increased significantly at 6 and 24 h. No significant interaction was observed in leukocyte respiratory activity. Fish supplemented with 0.50% inulin showed a significant increase in serum lysozyme. The inclusions of inulin at 0.25% and 0.75% provide greater hormone cortisol homeostasis, while inulin at 0.50% improved the immune system of hybrid surubim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex development is a multi-step process involving determination, differentiation, and maintenance of the gonads, which culminates in producing fertile sperm and eggs. In teleosts, candidate genes mastering this process can be thermosensitive before or just at the beginning of differentiation, the sensitive period in fish. The knowledge of these mechanisms may be useful for the production of monosex populations in aquaculture. Here we investigated the influence of temperature on survival, growth, expression profiles of genes involved in early sexual development, and sex ratio. 5-day-old (undifferentiated) larvae were reared at 26, 28 and 31 °C for 90 days, and expression of genes involved in testis- (wt1b and ar) and ovary-determining (amh and foxl2) pathways, and vasa, were analysed four times from 20 to 90 days post-hatching, and the resulting sex ratios were estimated. Only foxl2 showed a thermosensitive transcription at 20 dph, decreasing at the highest temperature. None of the male-bias genes were regulated by temperature. Still, both wt1b and ar were upregulated in some individuals long after sex differentiation, suggesting the importance of testis-skewed genes not only at testis establishment but also at later stages. The sex ratio was not affected by temperature. Our study also revealed an unusual vasa expression profile before and after gonadal differentiation; in some fish increasing expression values were recorded while others presented low vasa expression even after differentiation. Our results support a strict genetic control in the sex determination of tambaqui, despite thermosensitivity of some genes involved in its sexual development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular A2 (EphA2) is a vital member of the Eph tyrosine kinase receptor family and has been associated with developmental processes. However, it is often overexpressed in tumors and correlates with cancer progression and worse prognosis due to the activation of its noncanonical signaling pathway. Throughout cancer treatment, the emergence of drug-resistant tumor cells is relatively common. Since the early 2000s, researchers have focused on understanding the role of EphA2 in promoting drug resistance in different types of cancer, as well as finding efficient and secure EphA2 inhibitors. In this review, the current knowledge regarding induced resistance by EphA2 in cancer treatment is summarized, and the types of cancer that lead to the most cancer-related deaths are highlighted. Some EphA2 inhibitors were also investigated. Regardless of whether the cancer treatment has reached a drug-resistance stage in EphA2-overexpressing tumors, once EphA2 is involved in cancer progression and aggressiveness, targeting EphA2 is a promising therapeutic strategy, especially in combination with other target-drugs for synergistic effect. For that reason, monoclonal antibodies against EphA2 and inhibitors of this receptor should be investigated for efficacy and drug toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper presents the practical development of imaging biomarkers in the scope of the PRIMAGE (PRedictive In silico Multiscale Analytics to support cancer personalized diaGnosis and prognosis, Empowered by imaging biomarkers) project, as a noninvasive and reliable way to improve the diagnosis and prognosis in pediatric oncology. The PRIMAGE project is a European multi-center research initiative that focuses on developing medical imaging-derived artificial intelligence (AI) solutions designed to enhance overall management and decision-making for two types of pediatric cancer: neuroblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. To allow this, the PRIMAGE project has created an open-cloud platform that combines imaging, clinical, and molecular data together with AI models developed from this data, creating a comprehensive decision support environment for clinicians managing patients with these two cancers. In order to achieve this, a standardized data processing and analysis workflow was implemented to generate robust and reliable predictions for different clinical endpoints. Magnetic resonance (MR) image harmonization and registration was performed as part of the workflow. Subsequently, an automated tool for the detection and segmentation of tumors was trained and internally validated. The Dice similarity coefficient obtained for the independent validation dataset was 0.997, indicating compatibility with the manual segmentation variability. Following this, radiomics and deep features were extracted and correlated with clinical endpoints. Finally, reproducible and relevant imaging quantitative features were integrated with clinical and molecular data to enrich both the predictive models and a set of visual analytics tools, making the PRIMAGE platform a complete clinical decision aid system. In order to ensure the advancement of research in this field and to foster engagement with the wider research community, the PRIMAGE data repository and platform are currently being integrated into the European Federation for Cancer Images (EUCAIM), which is the largest European cancer imaging research infrastructure created to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human feeding patterns have been reconstructed in Archaeology by analysing either oral pathology or stable isotope ratios in human skeletal remains. However, no clear agreement has been developed between these two methodologies. The main objective of this study is to determine if we can establish a link between them when analysing a population with a hyper-specialized diet, in this case marine resources (and millet/maize). To reach this goal we developed a conjoined multi-isotope analysis using collagen and bioapatite (δ13Ccol, δ15Ncol and δ13Ccar) and a detailed study of oral health (caries, antemortem loss, periapical lesions, periodontal disease, calculus, and wear). All available skeletons with at least one preserved tooth from two cemeteries of the medieval town of Pontevedra (n = 34) were studied. The buried individuals belonged to the guild of fishers and artisans, professions which were dominant among the families of medieval Pontevedra. A detailed FTIR-ATR study of extracted bone bioapatite showed a high correlation between bioapatite carbonate content, carbonate typical vibrations, and FTIR-ATR indices related to bone diagenesis, which is in line with previous research. No significant correlations were found with bioapatite yield and isotopic composition (δ13Ccar and Δ13C), ruling out possible diagenetic effects. The diet was based on marine fish protein with contributions of millets (e.g., δ13Ccar -11.9 ± 1.8‰) that seems to be slightly higher in individuals linked to artisanal guilds. The oral pathology study shows severe dental wear from an early age (Grade 2–4 in permanent dentition for 20% of infants and 60% of juveniles in M1), as well as moderate-high presence of caries in permanent dentition (64%, 22/34) and dental calculus (72%, 24/33). Both the oral pathology and the isotopic signal differ from that observed in other areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This study points to the existence of connections between findings of the two methodologies, and specifically an association between intense dental wear and high consumption of marine resources and millet. At the same time, this analysis implies the necessity of caution in estimation of age by dental wear in populations linked to the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Doce River Basin (DRB) suffers with the adverse impacts of mining activities, due to its high level of urbanization and numerous industrial operations. In this study, we present novel insights into contaminant flow dynamics, seasonal variations, and the primary factors driving concentration levels within the region. We conducted an extensive analysis using a database sourced from the literature, which contained data on the contamination of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in the Doce River. Our primary aim was to investigate the patterns of As and Pb flow throughout the entire basin, their response to seasonal fluctuations, and the key parameters influencing their concentration levels. The results showed significant seasonal fluctuations in As and Pb fluxes, peaking during the rainy season. The 2015 Fundão dam breach in the DRB led to notable changes, elevating elemental concentrations, particularly As and Pb, which were subsequently transported to the Atlantic Ocean. These increased concentrations were primarily associated with iron and manganese oxides, hydroxides, and sulfates, rather than precipitation, as evidenced by regressions with low R2 values for both As (R2 = 0.07) and Pb (R2 < 0.001), concerning precipitation. The PCA analysis further supports the connection between these elements and the oxides and hydroxides of Fe and Mn. The approach employed in this study has proven to be highly effective in comprehending biogeochemical phenomena by leveraging data from the literature and could be a model for optimizing resources by capitalizing on existing information to provide valuable insights for drainage basin management, particularly during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a nonconforming virtual element method for the Poisson problem on domains with fixed curved boundary and internal interfaces. We prove arbitrary order optimal convergence in the energy and L 2 norms, and assess the theoretical results with numerical experiments. The proposed scheme has the upside that it can be designed and analyzed in any dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to determine whether the morphometric evaluation of the foramen magnum using computed tomography can be used as an accurate tool in estimating the sex of an individual. An extensive search of the databases, PubMed, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Scopus, was carried out to procure articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The AQUA tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A random effects model was used for the meta-analysis of the eligible studies using the STATA software, version 16, 2019 at 95% CI and p ≤ 0.05. Eleven eligible articles that measured the transverse and sagittal diameters of the foramen magnum using computed tomography were included in this study. The sagittal diameter of the foramen magnum was greater than the transverse diameter, and both the diameters were greater in males than in females. Meta-analysis revealed that both transverse and sagittal diameters were more reliable for male sex estimation. Since there is a dimensional variation between the male and female foramen magnum, it can be used for initial sex identification and also as an auxiliary to other advanced methods of sex estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the field of health sciences gender is often confused with biological sex (male/female) or reduced to a dichotomous classification (masculinity/femininity). The concepts of sex and gender interact with each other, but they are not equivalent. According to Sandra Bem four gender typologies can be established (androgynous, masculine, feminine and undifferentiated). A relationship has been shown to exist between gender and health. Yet, there is little evidence as to the relationship between gender typologies and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The aim of this research is to evaluate the association between Bem's gender typologies and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Methods: Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and Bem's gender typologies were the main variables. Sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), body mass index (BMI) and obesity were analyzed as covariates. Results: Multilevel multivariate analysis showed that androgynous typology was associated with increased adherence to Mediterranean diet (β = 0.46 (SE 0.21), p = 0.033), adjusting by covariates, in a university population in Spain. Moreover, this was not the case with masculinity or femininity typologies. Conclusion: Thus, the results of this study suggest (1) that androgynous typology is not only associated with better mental health but also with healthy/healthier lifestyles, and (2) the complexity of the relationship between sex-gender and health would advise researchers avoid dichotomies such as male/female or masculinity/femininity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the impact of entrepreneurship on economic growth. To do so, we analyze whether entrepreneurial activity (based on data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, GEM) affect the economic activity in a given country (as measured by the Gross Domestic Product, GDP). A key methodological contribution of this paper is that the relationship between entrepreneurial activity and GDP growth considers that a relevant part of economic growth is explained by exogenous variables. For this reason, the empirical analysis is based on data on South American Countries, where external factors are more relevant to drive GDP. We found that for the countries analyzed there is a positive and significant relationship between intrapreneurial activity and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]