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Inflammation is relevant in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure (HF). Previous studies have shown that elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are associated with greater severity and may be associated with adverse outcomes. In this study, we sought to evaluate the prognostic role of hsCRP in a non-selected cohort of patients with acute HF. We prospectively included a multicenter cohort of 3,395 patients following an admission for acute HF. HsCRP levels were evaluated during the first 24 h following admission. Study endpoints were the risks of all-cause mortality, CV-mortality, and total HF readmissions. The mean age was 74.2 ± 11.2 years and 1,826 (53.8%) showed a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%. Median hsCRP was 12.9 mg/L (5.4–30 mg/L). Over a median follow-up of 1.8 (0.6–4.1) years, 1,574 (46.4%) patients died, and 1,341 (39.5%) patients were readmitted for worsening HF. After multivariable adjustment, hsCRP values were significantly and positively associated with a higher risk of all-cause and CV mortality (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively), as well as a higher risk of recurrent HF admissions (p < 0.001). These results remained consistent across important subgroups, such as LVEF, sex, age, or renal function. In patients with acute HF, hsCRP levels were independently associated with an increased risk of long-term death and total HF readmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reliable infrastructure is vital for Nordic societies, but they face escalating climate risks. Climate change is increasing magnitude and frequency of floods, storms, and landslides, making adaptive solutions crucial. Methods: This review explores Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for mitigating natural hazards along Nordic linear infrastructure. The motivation of the review comes as result of a preliminary survey conducted among to the main infrastructure managers in the Fennoscandian peninsula. The objective was to pinpoint the natural hazards that pose greatest concern under future climate scenarios, as well as to understand which specific information is needed to adopt NbS Results: Floods, erosion, landslides and rockfalls emerged as primary hazards of concern for the infrastructure owners, hence the review process was focused only on NbS aimed at mitigating the effects of these specific hazards. A total of 78 documents were identified from the review process and were integrated with examples and case studies from other relevant on-going and past projects. Despite only a few of the NbS identified in these documents were directly implemented for linear infrastructure such as roads and railways, and none dealing with electric grids, several NbS were identified to have a potential for implementation for Nordic linear infrastructure. A list of NbS options, not all implemented along linear infrastructure but with potential for it, is provided. This list is meant to serve as "vade mecum" for a quick and easy access to NbS as mitigation options for linear infrastructure managers in the Nordic Countries. The NbS are classified in green, blue, green/blue and hybrid approaches, and supported by examples of case studies both in the Nordic Countries as well as countries having similar climates. Conclusions: This review underlines the challenges and opportunities of adopting NbS. Challenges such as the lack of expertise, space and climate constraints, and path dependency on adoption of traditional infrastructure must be addressed to mainstream NbS. The review highlights the importance of standardization, European guidelines, and technical manuals in promoting NbS adoption among infrastructure managers, as well as the necessity of accounting for the wider co-benefits of NbS, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity and ecosystem services. This paper contributes to the understanding of NbS as potential natural hazards mitigation options for Nordic infrastructure networks in the face of evolving climate risks, providing valuable insights for infrastructure managers and policymakers alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountains have socio-economic and environmental importance for the entire world, and they are also one of the regions most threatened by global change. As mountains are systems in which the human and nature dimensions are tightly interconnected, studying them as social–ecological systems (SES) is increasingly common. To date, a variety of approaches and frameworks have been used to study mountain SES, making comparisons across mountain areas challenging. In this paper, we use Ostrom's SES framework to review the mountain SES peer-reviewed literature under a common scope, aiming at unraveling which frameworks, approaches, domains, sectors, and elements are studied by researchers. Among the 169 reviewed manuscripts, only 28% of them employed a framework to study their system, and custom-made frameworks were preferred over existing ones. Although most research articles were in the domain of environmental sciences, socio-economic attributes were included more often than ecological ones, and more than 30% did not combine social and ecological information. Moreover, albeit most manuscripts had an empirical approach, field data were seldomly used. Future works should focus on collecting social and ecological data at comparable scales, as well as on developing tools to effectively integrate both dimensions in mountain SES studies. Finally, we examine components of mountain socio-ecological systems commonly addressed in literature, highlighting important elements for overall and sector-specific sustainability. Regarding social aspects, understanding local inhabitants' diverse perspectives and socioeconomic context is crucial. In terms of ecological elements, describing climatic patterns and ecosystem history is key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards online shopping, reshaping consumer habits and intensifying the impact on urban freight distribution. This disruption exacerbated traffic congestion and parking shortages in cities, underscoring the need for sustainable distribution models. The European Union's common transport policy advocates for innovative UFD approaches that promote intermodal transportation, reduce traffic, and optimize cargo loads. Our study addresses these challenges by proposing an agile routing algorithm for an alternative UFD model in Barcelona. This model suggests strategically located micro-hubs selected from a set of railway facilities, markets, shopping centers, district buildings, pickup points, post offices, and parking lots (1057 points in total). It also promotes intermodality through cargo bikes and electric vans. The study has two main objectives: (i) to identify a network of intermodal micro-hubs for the efficient delivery of parcels in Barcelona and (ii) to develop an agile routing algorithm to optimize their location. The algorithm generates adaptive distribution plans considering micro-hub operating costs and vehicle routing costs, and using heuristic and machine learning methods enhanced by parallelization techniques. It swiftly produces high-quality routing plans based on transportation infrastructure, transportation modes, and delivery locations. The algorithm adapts dynamically and employs multi-objective techniques to establish the Pareto frontier for each plan. Real-world testing in Barcelona, using actual data has shown promising results, providing potential scenarios to reduce CO2 emissions and improve delivery times. As such, this research offers an innovative and sustainable approach to UFD, that will contribute significantly to a greener future for cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Recent studies point out to epidemiological changes in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Our aims were to determine in PSC patients followed in several centers in a Mediterranean geographic area: (i) changes in baseline features and (ii) effect of gender on clinical course. Methods: Retrospective multicenter study of PSC patients treated in 8 hospitals in a Mediterranean area between 2000 and 2021. Charts were reviewed compiling demographic, clinical, radiological, and histological variables. Results: Cohort of 112 PSC patients included, 42% women, 70% diagnosed after 2010. Women were increasingly diagnosed in recent cohorts. The median time from diagnosis to the combined endpoint liver transplantation (Lt) and/or death was 6.9 years. Asthenia at diagnosis (p = 0.009) was associated with lower transplant-free survival, while diagnosis before 2005 was associated with greater LT-free survival (p < 0.001). By Cox regression, LT-free survival was not influenced by age, sex, or cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis. Women were found to have less jaundice at diagnosis (2 vs 14%; p = 0.013), higher prevalence of ANA antibodies (43.9 vs 15.7%; p = 0.003), and lower GGT levels at diagnosis (GGT 123 vs 209U/L; p = 0.014) than men. Conclusion: In an area traditionally considered to have low prevalence, the prevalence of affected women surpasses expectations based on existing literature. There appear to be gender-related variations in the presentation of the condition, highlighting the need for confirmation through larger-scale studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In poultry industry, mycoplasmas cause large economic losses. The pathogenic significance of mycoplasmas varies widely between species. In birds where vocalization is crucial for reproductive success, mycoplasmas seem to be absent. Birds with high mycoplasma prevalence like birds of prey and storks do not rely on their vocalization for reproduction. Corvids with an intermediate prevalence use other strategies besides vocalization for mating. It is hypothesized that mycoplasma prevalence and vocalization used for reproduction is evolutionary related. Barn swallows have two traits relevant for mating: tail feather length and vocalization. An intermediate prevalence is expected. Little is known about mycoplasmas in barn swallows and their role as vector or reservoir for poultry pathogenic mycoplasmas. This study investigates the prevalence of mycoplasmas in barn swallows and their relevance for mycoplasma transmission to poultry. Choanal swabs from 188 healthy barn swallow nestlings of 59 different nests from ten different colonies on farms were examined for mycoplasmas by cultivation and genus-specific PCR including molecular biological differentiation of the species. In total, in 31 of 188 barn swallows (16.49%) and in 14 of the 59 nests (23.73%), mycoplasmas were detected. The occurrence of mycoplasmas per colony ranged from 0 to 50% independent of poultry being kept on the farm. In all positive samples, Mycoplasma sturni was identified. Mycoplasma sturni seems not to be an obligatory pathogen for barn swallows and occurs with an expected intermediate prevalence in them, so the results support the described hypothesis and underline a minor role of barn swallows for mycoplasma infection in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous marine invertebrates form symbiotic relationships with single-celled algae, termed "photosymbioses", and the diversity of these interactions is likely underestimated. We examined Phidiana lynceus, a cladobranch sea slug that feeds on photosymbiotic hydrozoans. We assessed its ability to acquire/retain algal symbionts by examining specimens in starvation, finding that P. lynceus is able to incorporate and retain symbionts for up to 20 days. Examining body size during starvation revealed that P. lynceus does not receive enough energy from hosting symbionts to maintain its body mass let alone grow. Intact symbionts were still present in deceased specimens, indicating that P. lynceus does not digest all of its symbionts, even when starving to death. We also examined slug behavior in the field and lab to determine if it seeks light to facilitate photosynthesis, which could provide energetic and oxygenic benefits. In the field, slugs were always observed hiding under stones during the day and they displayed light avoidance in the lab, suggesting this species actively prevents photosynthesis and the benefits it could receive. Lastly, we measured their metabolic rates during the day and night and when treated with and without a photosynthetic inhibitor. Higher metabolic rates at night indicate that this species displays nocturnal tendencies, expending more energy when it emerges at night to forage. Paradoxically, P. lynceus has evolved all of the requisite adaptations to profit from photosymbiosis but it chooses to live in the dark instead, calling into question the nature of this symbiosis and what each partner might receive from their interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountains are social-ecological systems exposed to multiple climatic and socioeconomic drivers. The Pyrenees are a clear example of the concomitant challenges that these regions face, as they are exposed to stressors linked to depopulation, an economic shift towards tourism, and climate change. To understand how these multiple stressors affect the system’s resources, it is useful to study them from a social-ecological system (SES) perspective. Focusing on a Pyrenean SES, we use piecewise structural equation modeling and network analysis to quantitatively describe the interactions between water resources, biodiversity, and the social and economic elements of the system. Our results show that the current economic focus and dependency on tourism severely impact water resources and biodiversity. Future climatic scenarios forecast a worsening of the pressures on the hydrological system and may threaten winter tourism. Actions to alleviate the pressures on water and biodiversity and to increase socioeconomic resilience are a priority. We argue that such actions will have to include both a diversification of the region’s touristic offer and of the economy, coupled with a more sustainable use of water resources. Our findings highlight the importance of studying the interactions and causal relationships between SES elements. This can help gain a comprehensive understanding of how the SES functions and its sustainability challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biallelic pathogenic variants in MAP3K20, which encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase, are a rare cause of split-hand foot malformation (SHFM), hearing loss, and nail abnormalities or congenital myopathy. However, heterozygous variants in this gene have not been definitively associated with a phenotype. Here, we describe the phenotypic spectrum associated with heterozygous de novo variants in the linker region between the kinase domain and leucine zipper domain of MAP3K20. We report five individuals with diverse clinical features, including craniosynostosis, limb anomalies, sensorineural hearing loss, and ectodermal dysplasia-like phenotypes who have heterozygous de novo variants in this specific region of the gene. These individuals exhibit both shared and unique clinical manifestations, highlighting the complexity and variability of the disorder. We propose that the involvement of MAP3K20 in endothelial–mesenchymal transition provides a plausible etiology of these features. Together, these findings characterize a disorder that both expands the phenotypic spectrum associated with MAP3K20 and highlights the need for further studies on its role in early human development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthesizers face a trade-off regarding light: they need enough to maintain high photosynthetic rates, yet excess leads to oxidative stress. Despite this, light and its detrimental effects are chronically underestimated. Solar-powered sea slugs (Sacoglossa: Gastropoda) provide the ideal lens with which to study this trade-off, since they steal chloroplasts from algae but do not inherit photoacclimation and photorepair capacities. We collected three slug species in Curaçao during March and December 2022, comparing the amount of light they received in nature to their optimal light intensities for photosynthesis, and their preferred light intensities. We then investigated behavioral and physiological photoprotection mechanisms to determine if and how they limit light. Finally, we examined oxidative activity under optimal and excess light. All three species were naturally exposed to more light (> 1000 µmol m−2 s−1) than is optimal or preferred. Elysia crispata (kleptoplast retention for > 3 months) is fully exposed to light in nature but reduces the light reaching its kleptoplasts via parapodial shading. Elysia velutinus retains kleptoplasts for ~ 2 weeks and hides in its macroalgal food, limiting light exposure. Both species displayed low amounts of oxidative activity under optimal light, which increased slightly under excess light. Elysia ornata retained chloroplasts for ~ 3 days, lacked observable photoprotection and always displayed high levels of oxidative activity, potentially explaining its limited capacity for kleptoplast retention. Furthermore, both E. velutinus and E. ornata display strong light-avoidance behaviors. This study clearly demonstrates links between high light intensities, photoprotection, and oxidative stress, highlighting the need for future studies that examine aquatic photosynthesizers under natural lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-patch logistic metapopulation model is investigated both analytically and numerically focusing on the impact of dispersal on population dynamics. First, the dependence of the global dynamics on the stability type of the full extinction equilibrium point is tackled. Then, the behaviour of the total population with respect to the dispersal is studied analytically. Our findings demonstrate that diffusion plays a crucial role in the preservation of both subpopulations and the full metapopulation under the presence of stochastic perturbations. At low diffusion, the origin is a repulsor, causing the orbits to flow nearly parallel to the axes, risking stochastic extinctions. Higher diffusion turns the repeller into a saddle point. Orbits then quickly converge to the saddle's unstable manifold, reducing extinction chances. This change in the vector field enhances metapopulation robustness. On the other hand, the well-known fact that asymmetric conditions on the patches is beneficial for the total population is further investigated. This phenomenon has been studied in previous works for large enough or small enough values of the dispersal. In this work, we complete the theory for all values of the dispersal. In particular, we derive analytically a formula for the optimal value of the dispersal that maximizes the total population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a huge group of anthropogenic chemicals with unique properties that are used in countless products and applications. Due to the high stability of their C-F bonds, PFAS or their transformation products (TPs) are persistent in the environment, leading to ubiquitous detection in various samples worldwide. Since PFAS are industrial chemicals, the availability of authentic PFAS reference standards is limited, making non-target screening (NTS) approaches based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) necessary for a more comprehensive characterization. NTS usually is a time-consuming process, since only a small fraction of the detected chemicals can be identified. Therefore, efficient prioritization of relevant HRMS signals is one of the most crucial steps. We developed PFΔScreen, a Python-based open-source tool with a simple graphical user interface (GUI) to perform efficient feature prioritization using several PFAS-specific techniques such as the highly promising MD/C-m/C approach, Kendrick mass defect analysis, diagnostic fragments (MS2), fragment mass differences (MS2), and suspect screening. Feature detection from vendor-independent MS raw data (mzML, data-dependent acquisition) is performed via pyOpenMS (or custom feature lists) with subsequent calculations for prioritization and identification of PFAS in both HPLC- and GC-HRMS data. The PFΔScreen workflow is presented on four PFAS-contaminated agricultural soil samples from south-western Germany. Over 15 classes of PFAS (more than 80 single compounds with several isomers) could be identified, including four novel classes, potentially TPs of the precursors fluorotelomer mercapto alkyl phosphates (FTMAPs). PFΔScreen can be used within the Python environment and is easily automatically installable and executable on Windows. Its source code is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/JonZwe/PFAScreen). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longworth and Sherman are widely used live traps in small mammal communities in temperate and tropical areas, and their performance has been tested over decades. The Heslinga trap looks like a green colored Longworth trap, but it can be considered a technical improvement of the latter model. Due to the similar design, the Heslinga and Longworth traps are expected to have similar performance, but no study has tested the efficacy of the Heslinga trap in field conditions. In this study we compared its performance against the medium-sized Sherman trap, a widely used live trapping model recommended for small mammal sampling, in 15 small mammal stations during four consecutive years (2019–2022) and eight sampling sessions conducted twice a year (21,600 traps-night). The Heslinga trap recorded more species than the Sherman (11 versus 8), but it also recorded more captures (63% vs. 37%) and recaptures (59% vs. 41%). However, the representativeness of the species in the communities was the same when estimated by each trap model. Nonetheless, differences in detectability by trap model suggested that the occupancy of common species could be underestimated by using Sherman traps. We showed that the Heslinga trap outperformed the Sherman trap regarding species diversity estimates, capture success, and sampling inaccuracies. These results are promising, and owing to the several advantages over the Longworth trap (i.e., stronger, durable, better concealment, and cheaper), the Heslinga trap could be a serious alternative to the more widely used trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The superlattice obtained by aligning a monolayer graphene and boron nitride (BN) inherits from the hexagonal lattice a sixty degrees periodicity with the layer alignment. It implies that, in principle, the properties of the heterostructure must be identical for 0° and 60° of layer alignment. Here, we demonstrate, using dynamically rotatable van der Waals heterostructures, that the moiré superlattice formed in a bilayer graphene/BN has different electronic properties at 0° and 60° of alignment. Although the existence of these non-identical moiré twins is explained by different relaxation of the atomic structures for each alignment, the origin of the observed valley Hall effect remains to be explained. A simple Berry curvature argument is not sufficient to explain the 120° periodicity of this observation. Our results highlight the complexity of the interplay between mechanical and electronic properties in moiré structures and the importance of taking into account atomic structure relaxation to understand their electronic properties. Here, the authors report the unexpected observation of different electronic properties of bilayer graphene/boron nitride heterostructures at 0° and 60° twist angles, showing the complex interplay between lattice relaxation and the electronic properties of moiré structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture plays a vital role in slope stability. As water infiltrates into the soil, shear strength decreases eventually leading to failure. However, most of the existing regional-scale landslide early warning systems (LEWS) rely solely on rainfall information and use rainfall thresholds to determine if the landslide triggering conditions are met. The original version of the Catalonia region LEWS combines real-time rainfall observations and susceptibility to compute warnings. The LEWS applies a set of rainfall intensity-duration thresholds to determine if the rainfall conditions have the potential to trigger a landslide. This work explores the potential of using modelled soil moisture data in the Catalonia region LEWS. Volumetric water content (VWC) from the LISFLOOD hydrological simulations of the European Flood Awareness System and rainfall estimates have been analysed at the location of recent landslide events. Based on this data, a set of empirical hydrometeorological thresholds combining rainfall and soil moisture information has been obtained for their application into the Catalonia region LEWS. The LEWS has been run for nine months (April–December 2020) using two approaches: (i) combining susceptibility and rainfall intensity-duration (I-D) thresholds and (ii) combining susceptibility and the new hydrometeorological thresholds including soil moisture information. Generally, both LEWS approaches issued moderate or high warnings in the areas where significant rainfall accumulations were recorded. The outputs have been compared at specific locations where landslides were reported during the analysed period. Results show that at the analysed locations false positives are generally reduced when employing the hydrometeorological thresholds in the LEWS. Therefore, this approach is promising and could help improve regional scale LEWS in Catalonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Positive psychological variables, such as meaning in life and the capacity for enjoyment, are important resilience factors against negative behaviors and symptoms. These constructs are related to better emotional regulation strategies, a greater perception of control over one's life, and better mental health in general. Adjustment disorder (AjD) is a prevalent condition defined as the failure to adapt to a stressful event. Objective: This study presents secondary analysis data on the effect of an Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention (iCBT) for AjD on meaning in life and capacity for enjoyment, compared to a control group. Method: The sample consisted of 68 participants with AjD. 34 in the iCBT condition and 34 in the control group). Meaning in life was assessed by the Purpose-in-Life Test-10, and the Environmental Rewards Observation Scale was used to assess the capacity for enjoyment. The iCBT intervention focused on acceptance and processing of the stressful event. Intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses without any ad hoc imputations and using Cohen's d effect comparisons were conducted. Results: The results revealed a significant main effect of time and a significant group x time interaction in all the measures. Significantly higher pre-post score differences were found in the treatment condition. Discussion: Meaning in life and capacity for enjoyment can change after an iCBT intervention for AjD. Therapeutic implications of the results and future lines of research about the role of meaning in life in AjD are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence of myocardial uptake (MU) and to identify predictors of MU in patients undergoing scintigraphy. Retrospective single-center series of technetium-99 m-labelled 3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid (99mTc-DPD) scans performed from March 2017 to March 2020. All patients undergoing scintigraphy were included, except those with preexisting amyloidosis. The features of MU, patients' characteristics and comorbidities were documented. Multivariate analysis was used to find items predicting MU. A total of 3,629 99mTc-DPD scans (total 11,444) were performed in patients aged > 70. The overall prevalence of MU was 2.7% (82/3,629); 1.2% in 2017–2018, to 2% in 2018–2019, and to 3.7% in 2019–2020. The prevalence of MU in patients without suspected cardiomyopathy was 1.2%; 1.1% in 2017–2018, 1.5% in 2018–2019 and 1% in 2019–2020. There is an increase in the number of requests due to suspected cardiomyopathy from 0.2% in 2017–2018 to 1.4% in 2018–2019 and to 4.8% in 2019–2020. Age, male sex, hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, aortic stenosis, and carpal tunnel syndrome were found to be predictors of MU. In patients without heart failure, only age, atrial fibrillation, and carpal tunnel syndrome were predicted MU. The prevalence of MU in scintigraphic studies surged over time due to the incremental referrals under the indication of cardiomyopathy workup. Atrial fibrillation and carpal tunnel syndrome were predictors for MU in patients without heart failure. Identifying patients with MU and no heart failure for extended screening for ATTR can lead to an earlier diagnosis and application of novel treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new iterative procedure for solving nonlinear equations with multiple roots with high efficiency. Starting from the arithmetic mean of Newton's and Chebysev's methods, we generate a two-step scheme using weight functions, resulting in a family of iterative methods that satisfies the Kung and Traub conjecture, yielding an optimal family for different choices of weight function. We have performed an in-depth analysis of the stability of the family members, in order to select those members with the highest stability for application in solving mathematical chemistry problems. We show the good characteristics of the selected methods by applying them on four relevant chemical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of estimating and tracking the location and orientation of a mobile robot by another in heterogeneous distributed multi-robots is studied in this paper. We propose a distributed multi-robot localization strategy (DMLS) that is Robotic Operating System (ROS) based. It consists of an algorithm that fuses data of diverse sensors from 2 heterogeneous robots that are not connected within their transform trees to localize and measure the relative position and orientation. The method exploits the robust detection of the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and the accurate relative position measurements from the local costmap. The algorithm is composed of two parts: The localization part and the relative orientation measurement part. Localization is done by optimization and alignment calibration of the CNN output with the costmap in an individual robot. The relative orientation measurement is done by a collaborative multi-robot fusing of diverse sensor data to align and synchronize the transform frames of both robots in their costmaps. To illustrate the performance of this strategy, the proposed method is compared with a conventional object localization and orientation measuring method that uses computer vision and QR codes. The results show that this proposed method is robust and accurate while maintaining a degree of simplicity and efficiency in costs. The paper also presents various application experiments in laboratory and simulation environments. By using the proposed method, distributed multi-robots collaborate to achieve collective intelligence from individuals, which increases team performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are key compounds in the transfer of energy and nutrients in marine food webs. Specifically, neutral lipids are the main reservoir of dietary energy in most marine animals and are often used as indicators of nutritional condition. In contrast, polar lipids, including acetone-mobile polar lipids and phospholipids, are key structural components of cell membranes. Here, we explored the fatty acid (FA) composition across the neutral and polar lipid fractions in benthic organisms belonging to five major phyla (Arthropoda, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Mollusca, and Porifera), which were collected from a deep-water region in the Northwest Atlantic. Overall, the FA composition of acetone-mobile polar lipids (e.g., glycolipids) and phospholipids was more similar to each other and characterized by higher proportions of saturated FA (e.g., 16:0) compared to that of neutral lipids. This result reflected the different functions (structural vs storage) of these lipid fractions. Furthermore, independently of the taxon, monounsaturated FA (e.g., 16:1ω7, 18:1ω9) were dominant in neutral lipids, suggesting their preferential utilization for energy production. Whereas several species, including the gastropod Buccinum sp., retained the essential polyunsaturated FA (i.e., ω3 and ω6 FA) in their neutral lipids, others, such as the crustacean Pasiphaea tarda and the echinoderm Phormosoma placenta incorporated them into their polar lipids, pointing to differences in the metabolism of essential FA across species. These findings highlight the value of quantifying differences among lipid fractions. Last, the relatively high content of essential FA in neutral lipids of most species suggested a dietary surplus indicating a healthy, productive food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean brown trout (Salmo trutta complex) is native to basins draining to the Western Mediterranean Sea, and natural populations are currently declining in abundance and distribution due to habitat degradation and introgression with stocked trout of the Atlantic lineage. Data on its life history traits are limited, although is an essential first step in developing effective conservation and management strategies. We studied age, growth and reproduction of Mediterranean brown trout from three headwater streams in northeast Iberian Peninsula. The maximum observed fork length was 382 mm in males and 322 mm in females, and six age groups (from 1+ to 6+) were identified. There was large variation in the back-calculated lengths for individual fish within ages. The von Bertalanffy growth curves were similar among streams and comparable to other European populations from small streams, but growth rate was lower when compared to larger and more productive rivers. Overall, sexual maturation began at age 1+, and the estimated L50 was 136 mm for males and 150 mm for females. Monthly variations in the gonadosomatic index showed that spawning occurred between late autumn and early winter, mainly in November and December. Mean fecundity and egg diameter were positively correlated with fish length, and values were within the typical range reported in other brown trout populations. Most of the differences among streams can be explained by differences in water temperature. These results constitute a contribution to better understanding of key aspects of Mediterranean brown trout biology, and to develop conservation and management strategies for preserving their populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enable sustainability pathways, we need to understand how social–ecological systems (SES) respond to different governance configurations, considering their historical, institutional, political, and power conditions. We advance a robust methodological approach for the integrated analysis of those conditions in SES traps. Our advancement consists of a novel combination of the networks of action situations approach with an agency-based polycentric power typology and the concept of discursive power. We test the approach by building on previous research on the Doñana estuary–delta SES (Guadalquivir estuary), which is characterized by a rigidity trap in the context of ecosystem and water governance. Specifically, we focus on a recent hydraulic megaproject involving deep dredging in the Guadalquivir estuary, finally canceled due to its broad negative socioeconomic and environmental repercussions. According to our analysis, certain governance, institutional, and informational mechanisms currently prevent further SES degradation in Doñana. However, key governance actors are caught in a lasting coordination failure prone to mutual defection strategies owing to power dynamics and discursive-institutional inertia. Although seemingly stable due to counteractive mechanisms among actors, this situation is at continuous risk of being unbalanced by powerful actors promoting large SES interventions such as deep dredging. Such interventions bear the systemic risk of strong suppression of SES functions, and a regime shift to a lock-in trap. This overall undesirable situation might be escaped through transformative policy designs that take into account meso-level mechanisms, such as discursive power and its role in non-decision-making, pragmatic inaction, and inefficient investment and infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of genetics has seen major advances in recent decades, particularly in research, prevention and diagnosis. One of the most recent developments, the genomic editing technique Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9, has opened the possibility for genetic therapies through genome modification. The technique marks an improvement on previous procedures but poses some serious ethical conflicts. Bioethics is the discipline geared at finding answers to ethical challenges posed by progress in medicine and biology and examining their repercussions for society. It can also offer a conceptualization of these ethical dilemmas. The aim of this paper is to offer a map of the ethical dilemmas associated with this technique by way of a critical analysis of current literature. The main issues can be grouped in four areas: efficacy and security; the types of cells which can be targeted by the technique (somatic, embryonic and gametes); the goal of the therapy; and accessibility and justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is introducing developments in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and other technologies in different sectors of our society, including education. This reality leads to a paradigm shift in which web-based cyber-physical environments will shape future learning environments. Thus, learning becomes ubiquitous, and schools assume new roles with systemic changes in communication, administration and management, becoming learning organisations. The use of technologies aligned with pedagogical strategies and new methodologies must lead to more-personalised systems. In this article, a comprehensive definition of smart schools is proposed. Smart schools must be endowed with integral management systems, inclusive, sustainable, and adopt new learning methodologies and advances from Industry 4.0 in an efficient way. Despite this conception and because research, government policies and business projects are not always in line with research, there is a need for deeper knowledge of how schools are approaching their upcoming transformation. To illuminate this purpose, in this study 37 principals from primary and secondary schools in Catalonia were interviewed. Thematic analysis focusing on technological and pedagogical innovations, management systems, inclusion, and sustainability identified some analogies with related research, pointing out that schools are far from implementing advanced technologies. Inclusion is the most-respected element thanks to the existing government regulation. Sustainability is hardly considered because of a lack of economic resources, but several schools consider themselves green schools and exhibit environmental practices. Conclusions are drawn to show that, although schools are not yet prepared to cope with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, its impact relies on the technology's level of maturity and ease of use, as well as stakeholders as policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gloria storm rainfalls affected Catalonia from 20 to 23 January 2020 and triggered multiple landslides, some of which affected buildings and infrastructures (such as roads and railways). This paper presents the rainfall and landslide datasets collected during the event, and evaluates the performance of a regional landslide early warning system (LEWS) during the Gloria storm applying a fuzzy verification method. The majority of the inventoried landslides can be classified as slides, involving a limited volume of sediment (up to 10 m3), and were triggered in cut slopes along linear infrastructures. Rainfall accumulations were significant in the whole region, especially in the Montseny area, where over 450 mm were registered in 96 h. Generally, the LEWS computed moderate and high warnings in the areas where large rainfall amounts were recorded, and showed good correspondence with the locations where landslides were reported. The fuzzy verification method has been applied using neighbouring windows of different sizes to obtain scale-dependant information on the LEWS performance. The skill of the LEWS considerably improves when enlarging the neighbouring window size from 500 m to 1 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency is the hallmark of tumours from Lynch syndrome (LS), sporadic MLH1 hypermethylated and Lynch-like syndrome (LLS), but there is a lack of understanding of the variability in their mutational profiles based on clinical phenotypes. The aim of this study was to perform a molecular characterisation to identify novel features that can impact tumour behaviour and clinical management. Methods: We tested 105 MMR-deficient colorectal cancer tumours (25 LS, 35 LLS and 45 sporadic) for global exome microsatellite instability, cancer mutational signatures, mutational spectrum and neoepitope load. Results: Fifty-three percent of tumours showed high contribution of MMR-deficient mutational signatures, high level of global exome microsatellite instability, loss of MLH1/PMS2 protein expression and included sporadic tumours. Thirty-one percent of tumours showed weaker features of MMR deficiency, 62% lost MSH2/MSH6 expression and included 60% of LS and 44% of LLS tumours. Remarkably, 9% of all tumours lacked global exome microsatellite instability. Lastly, HLA-B07:02 could be triggering the neoantigen presentation in tumours that show the strongest contribution of MMR-deficient tumours. Conclusions: Next-generation sequencing approaches allow for a granular molecular characterisation of MMR-deficient tumours, which can be essential to properly diagnose and treat patients with these tumours in the setting of personalised medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma spp. are important pathogens in poultry and cause high economic losses for poultry industry worldwide. In other bird species (e.g. white storks, birds of prey, and several waterfowl species), Mycoplasma spp. are regularly found in healthy individuals, hence, considered apathogenic or part of the microbiota of the upper respiratory tract. However, as Mycoplasma spp. are absent in healthy individuals of some wild bird species, they might play a role as respiratory pathogen in these bird species, e.g. Mycoplasma gallisepticum in house finches. The knowledge on the occurrence of Mycoplasma spp. in wild birds is limited. To evaluate the relevance of Mycoplasma spp. in free-ranging nightingales and tits, 172 wild caught birds were screened for the presence of mycoplasmas. The birds were sampled via choanal swabs and examined via molecular methods (n = 172) and, when possible, via culture (n = 142). The Mycoplasma sp. was determined by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S Intergenic Transcribed Spacer Region. All birds were tested negative for mycoplasmas via PCR and/or mycoplasmal culture. Hence, free-ranging nightingales and tits do not show any mycoplasma in their microbial flora of the respiratory tract. Therefore, these songbird species may suffer from clinical mycoplasmosis when being infected. We hypothesize that birds relying on their vocal ability for reproduction have excluded mycoplasmas from their respiratory flora compared to other bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the association between CA125 and the long-term risk of total acute heart failure (AHF) admissions in patients with an index hospitalization with AHF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We prospectively included 2369 patients between 2008 and 2019 in three centers. CA125 and NT-proBNP were measured during early hospitalization and evaluated as continuous and categorized in quartiles (Q). Negative binomial regressions were used to assess the association with the risk of recurrent AHF admission. The mean age of the sample patients was 76.7 ± 9.5 years and 1443 (60.9%) were women. Median values of CA125 and NT-proBNP were 38.3 (19.0–90.0) U/mL, and 2924 (1590–5447) pg/mL, respectively. During a median follow-up of 2.2 (0.8–4.6) years, 1200 (50.6%) patients died, and 2084 AHF admissions occurred in 1029 (43.4%) patients. After a multivariate adjustment, CA125, but not NT-proBNP, was positively and non-linearly associated with the risk of cumulative AHF-readmission (p < 0.001). Compared to Q1, patients belonging to Q2, Q3, and Q4 showed a stepwise risk increase (IRR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.08–1.55, p = 0.006; IRR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.12–1.63, p = 0.002; and IRR = 1.62, 95% CI 01.34–1.96, p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, CA125 predicted the risk of long-term AHF-readmission burden in patients with HFpEF and a recent admission for AHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: We aimed to demonstrate that laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy/cervicopexy (LSC-Cx) versus anterior vaginal mesh (AVM) results in a longer vaginal length without impacting sexual activity or function. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of sexual outcomes of a previous randomized control trial comparing LSC-Cx and AVM in 120 women (60/group) with symptomatic POP stage ≥ 3. We evaluated sexually active (SA) and non-sexually active women (NSA) using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-IUGA-Revised (PISQ-IR) preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were built to assess the impact of different variables on sexual activity and function, respectively. Results: Among 120 women included, no statistically significant differences were found between vaginal length and preoperative dyspareunia (20.7% AVM vs. 22,8% LSC-Cx) comparing SA to NSA women and LSC-Cx to AVM. Vaginal length was significantly longer after LSC-Cx versus AVM (p < 0.001). The postoperative dyspareunia rate was 17.2% AVM versus 10.5% LSC-Cx. Partnered women were significantly more likely to be SA than unpartnered women before (OR = 19.04; p = 0.006) and after surgery (OR = 36.28; p = 0.002). Only dyspareunia was independently associated with sexual function pre- (B = −0.431; p = 0.017) and postoperatively (B = −0.3 96; p = 0.007). Conclusions: Vaginal length was greater following LSC-Cx compared to AVM. While vaginal length has no impact on female sexuality pre- and postoperatively, the most important factors were "having a partner" for sexual activity and dyspareunia for sexual function. Persistence of dyspareunia was higher after AVM. LSC-Cx should be considered in women with POP undergoing mesh surgery with future sexual expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides theoretical reflections and recommendations for implementing smart learning spaces in schools. Learning resource networks are enlarging students' opportunities for exploring alternative formal, non-formal and informal education, in physical and virtual learning spaces, inside and outside traditional classrooms. Smart Pedagogy needs to include a shared conceptual understanding of what is knowledge and what is learning, and a deeper theoretical consideration of how humans learn, how they think, and why they interact. It should offer practical proposals around who should teach in a hybrid human–machine society, for what purpose, and why. Smart classrooms will be made up of several smart learning spaces, eventually employing some type of artificial intelligence. Such platforms will require a well-conceived pedagogical framework, and the integration of such artificial intelligence tools with other tools in the pedagogical matrix. They must be ethically developed to offer both personalised self-access, and interconnections that facilitate interaction with other students. Information 4.0 is a communicational framework that provides a useful basis to extend into elements of a holistic smart pedagogy that is a necessary precondition for implementing smart learning spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on emotional processes has been closely related to the use of emotional stimuli, promoting the development of different standardized sets of images. However, some kinds of images that would be relevant in clinical psychology research are not available, especially for small animal phobias. The aim of the present study is to validate a set of animal images that includes images of cockroaches, which are not present in the current sets of images. Two hundred and forty images depicting five types of animals (cockroaches, spiders, snakes, cats, and butterflies) were collected from online public domains. Four hundred and twenty-four participants (72.9% women) took part in the study rating the images in two affective dimensions (i.e., valence and arousal). Cockroach pictures were rated as significantly more unpleasant than pictures of spiders, snakes, butterflies, and cats. Moreover, results revealed that women rated cockroach, spider, and snake pictures as more negative than men did. Also, women in comparison with men rated cockroach images as more arousing. The results highlight the importance of using images of cockroaches, due to their high negative valence, which even exceeds that of snakes and spiders, the unpleasant animals typically used in phobic research. This set of images can be useful in research on small-animal phobias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts moral reasoning strategies (moral rationalization and decoupling) to investigate why consumers support companies involved in ethical transgressions. Drawing on several cases of real multinationals publicly involved in tax avoidance practices, it aims to demonstrate that moral rationalization and moral decoupling depend not only on how consumers perceive the magnitude of the transgression, but also on their individual differences, such as political ideology and brand identification. A quantitative study with a sample of 3989 consumers of five different focal brands was employed to test a set of hypotheses. Findings reveal that moral decoupling directly (and indirectly through performance judgments) explains purchase intentions. However, rationalization only explains behavioral intentions if it leads to a reduction in the perceived immorality of the action. Furthermore, the study reveals significant differences across personal values. Left-leaning individuals tend to rationalize less and decouple more when they perceive that the magnitude of the transgression as egregious. Interestingly, consumers who are highly identified with the brand are less affected by the transgression and tend to be more supportive toward the brand by engaging in rationalization mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we provide a construction of the so-called backbone decomposition for multitype supercritical superprocesses. While backbone decompositions are fairly well known for both continuous-state branching processes and superprocesses in the one-type case, so far no such decompositions or even description of prolific genealogies have been given for the multitype cases. Here we focus on superprocesses, but by turning the movement off, we get the prolific backbone decomposition for multitype continuous-state branching processes as an easy consequence of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vedolizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that binds to integrin α4β7 expressed in T-cells, inhibiting its binding to the mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), which is specifically expressed in the small intestine and colon, playing a fundamental role in T-cell migration to the gastrointestinal tract. Vedolizumab has been shown to be effective in treating adults with inflammatory bowel disease; however, efficacy data for paediatric use are scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab for inducing and maintaining clinical remission in children with inflammatory bowel disease. We conducted a retrospective multicentre study of patients younger than 18 years with inflammatory bowel disease refractory to anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) drugs, who underwent treatment with vedolizumab. Clinical remission was defined as a score < 10 points in the activity indices. We included 42 patients, 22 of whom were male (52.3%), with a median age of 13.1 years (IQR 10.2–14.2) at the start of treatment. Of the 42 patients, 14 (33.3%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 28 (66.7%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). At the start of treatment with vedolizumab, the Paediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index was 36 (IQR 24–40) and the Paediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index was 47 (IQR 25–65). All of them had received prior treatment with anti-TNF and 3 patients ustekinumab. At week 14, 69% of the patients responded to the treatment (57.1% of those with CD and 75% of those with UC; p=0.238), and 52.4% achieved remission (35.7% with CD and 60.7% with UC; p=0.126). At 30 weeks, the response rate was 66.7% (46.2% and 78.3% for CD and UC, respectively; p=0.049), and 52.8% achieved remission (30.8% and 65.2% for CD and UC, respectively; p=0.047). Among the patients with remission at week 14, 80% of the patients with CD and 84.5% of those with UC maintained the remission at 52 weeks. Adverse effects were uncommon and mild. Three patients (7.1%) presented headaches, 1 presented alopecia, 1 presented anaemia and 1 presented dermatitis. Conclusion: The results show that treatment with vedolizumab is a safe and effective option for achieving clinical remission in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease with primary failure or loss of response to other treatments, especially in UC. What is Known: • Vedolizumab is effective in inducing and maintaining remission in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease. • Most studies and clinical trials have been performed on adult populations, and there is currently no indication for paediatric populations. What is New: • Children with inflammatory bowel disease refractory to anti-TNF presented higher clinical remission rates than those published for adults. • There are few publications of this magnitude on paediatric populations treated with vedolizumab and with long-term follow-up (52 weeks). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For patients with heart failure (HF), iron deficiency (ID) is a common therapeutic target. However, little is known about the utility of transferrin saturation (TSAT) or serum ferritin for risk stratification in decompensated HF (DHF) or the European Society of Cardiology's (ESC) current definition of ID (ferritin < 100 μg/L or TSAT < 20% if ferritin is 100–299 μg/L). We evaluated the association between these potential markers of ID and the risk of 30-day readmission for HF or death in patients with DHF. Methods: We retrospectively included 1701 patients from a multicenter registry of DHF. Serum ferritin and TSAT were evaluated 24–72 h after hospital admission, and multivariable Cox regression was used to assess their association with the composite endpoint. Results: Participants' median (quartiles) age was 76 (68–82) years, 43.8% were women, and 51.7% had a left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%. Medians for NT-proBNP, TSAT, and ferritin were 4067 pg/mL (1900–8764), 14.1% (9.0–20.3), and 103 ug/L (54–202), respectively. According to the current ESC definition, 1,246 (73.3%) patients had ID. By day 30, there were 177 (10.4%) events (95 deaths and 85 HF readmission). After multivariable adjustment, lower TSAT was associated with outcome (p = 0.009) but serum ferritin was not (HR 1.00; 95% confidence interval 0.99–1.00, p = 0.347). Conclusions: Lower TSAT, but not ferritin, was associated with a higher risk of short-term events in patients with DHF. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and the utility of serum ferritin as a marker of ID in DHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by cerebral dopamine depletion that causes motor and cognitive deficits. The dopamine-related gene ANKK1 has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders with a dopaminergic deficiency in the striatum. This study aims to define the contribution of ANKK1 rare variants in PD. We found in 10 out of 535 PD patients 6 ANKK1 heterozygous rare alleles located at the 5′UTR, the first exon, intron 1, and the nearby enhancer located 2.6 kb upstream. All 6 ANKK1 single nucleotide variants were located in conserved regulatory regions and showed significant allele-dependent effects on gene regulation in vitro. ANKK1 variant carriers did not show other PD-causing Mendelian mutations. Nevertheless, four patients were heterozygous carriers of rare variants of ATP7B gene, which is related to catecholamines. We also found an association between the polymorphic rs7107223 of the ANKK1 enhancer and PD in two independent clinical series (P = 0.007 and 0.021). rs7107223 functional analysis showed significant allele-dependent effects on both gene regulation and dopaminergic response. In conclusion, we have identified in PD patients functional variants at the ANKK1 locus highlighting the possible relevance of rare variants and non-coding regulatory regions in both the genetics of PD and the dopaminergic vulnerability of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: The differential impact of specific pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery on sexual activity and function is unknown. Our primary aim was to analyse sexual inactivity and function in women with symptomatic advanced stages of POP and the changes incurred after laparoscopic or vaginal mesh surgery. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of sexual outcomes of a previously published randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy/cervicopexy (LSC-Cx) and anterior vaginal mesh (AVM) in 120 women (60/group) with symptomatic anterior POP stage ≥ 3 and apical ≥ 2. Sexual activity and function were assessed preoperatively and 1 and 2 years postoperatively using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-IUGA-Revised (PISQ-IR). Results: Sexual activity was recovered in 42.9% of non-sexually active (NSA) women 1 year postoperatively, mainly in women with higher preoperative POP-related subscale scores of the PISQ-IR, which indicated a negative preoperative sexuality by POP. Recovery of sexual activity was greater after LSC-Cx, albeit not significantly (2 years: 35.5% AVM vs. 45% LSC-Cx). Among sexually active (SA) women preoperatively remaining SA postoperatively, the difference in the mean PISQ-IR summary score significantly improved [mean baseline difference – 2 years; all: 0.3 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.5) p = 0.001; AVM 0.19 (95% CI –0.1 to −0.5) p > 0.05; LSC-Cx 0.37 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.7) p = 0.003]. Preoperative dyspareunia was significantly reduced after LSC-Cx (baseline: 24.6%, 2 years: 9.8%, p = 0.0448), but not after AVM (baseline: 20.7%, 2 years: 18.2%, p = 0.7385). Conclusions: Most women reported improved sexual activity and function 2 years after LSC-Cx or AVM, mainly because of enhanced POP-related subscales in both NSA and SA women. Recovery of sexual activity and improved sexual function were greater after LSC-Cx compared to AVM, likely related to less postoperative dyspareunia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that microvascular injury consists of microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH). In patients with reperfused ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) quantitative assessment of IMH with T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) appears to be useful in evaluation of microvascular damage. The current study aimed to investigate feasibility of this approach and to correlate IMH with clinical and CMR parameters. A single center observational cohort study was performed in reperfused STEMI patients with CMR examination 7 days (IQR: 5 to 8 days) after percutaneous coronary intervention. Infarct size (IS) and MVO were evaluated in short-axis late gadolinium enhancement sequences and IMH with whole LV volume T2* mapping sequences. Of the 94 patients, MVO was identified in 52% of patients and the median size of MVO was 3% of LV mass (IQR: 1.5 to 5.4%). IMH was present in 28% of patients and the median size of IMH was 1.1% of LV mass (IQR: 0.5 to 2.9%). IMH extent was independently associated with anterior myocardial infarction (p = 0.022) and thrombectomy (p = 0.049). IMH was correlated with MVO (R = 0.62, p < 0.001), necrosis (R = 0.58, p < 0.001) and LVEF (R = -0.21, p = 0.04). Patients with IMH presented higher incidence of MACE events, independently of LVEF (p = 0.022). T2* mapping is a novel imaging approach that proves useful to asses IMH in the setting of reperfused STEMI. T2* IMH extent was associated with anterior infarction and thrombectomy. T2* IMH was associated with higher incidence of MACE events regardless preserved or reduced LVEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional properties of cuprates are strongly determined by the doping state and carrier density. We present an oxygen doping study of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) thin films from underdoped to overdoped state, correlating the measured charge carrier density, n H , the hole doping, p, and the critical current density, J c . Our results show experimental demonstration of strong increase of J c with n H , up to Quantum Critical Point (QCP), due to an increase of the superconducting condensation energy. The ultra-high J c achieved, 90 MA cm−2 at 5 K corresponds to about a fifth of the depairing current, i.e. a value among the highest ever reported in YBCO films. The overdoped regime is confirmed by a sudden increase of n H , associated to the reconstruction of the Fermi-surface at the QCP. Overdoping YBCO opens a promising route to extend the current carrying capabilities of rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) coated conductors for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical coral reefs influenced by rivers are exposed to changes in turbidity, sedimentation, and wastewater discharges that might affect the growth and survival of the corals and their associated community. However, riverine nutrients and fine particulate organic matter can constitute food resources for suspension-feeding animals within reef ecosystems. Organic biomarkers from sessile suspension feeders represent their surrounding environment more reliably and can assist in monitoring the health of ecosystems. Here we evaluated the seasonal (dry and rainy) effect of natural and anthropogenic sources of organic matter on fatty acid and sterol biomarkers of sessile suspension and filter-feeding animals such as the sponge Aplysina sp., the great star coral Montastraea cavernosa, and the amber pen shell Pinna carnea in a coral reef under river influence. Sponges did not show significant differences in their fatty acid profiles between dry and rainy seasons, except for increases in fatty acids associated with the consumption of bacteria in the rainy season. However, they shifted from higher proportions of episterol, brassicasterol, and poriferasterol, which are abundant in phytoplankton, red, and brown algae, respectively, in the dry season, to higher proportions of β-sitosterol abundant in higher plants such as seagrass and mangrove, in the rainy season. In contrast, the fatty acid profile of the whole coral M. cavernosa had an 80% multivariate similarity with that of its symbiont Symbiodiniaceae, a fraction which was separated only in the rainy season. The whole coral M. cavernosa also had a higher proportion of gorgosterol, in the dry season. However, during the rainy season, the whole coral shifted from higher proportions of gorgosterol and campesterol to higher proportions of cholesterol, brassicasterol from red algae and episterol, a distinctive sterol of phytoplankton. Bivalves reflected a significant shift in their fatty acids following seasonal phytoplankton changes, but did not show seasonal changes in their sterols. Sterol profiles in sponges, corals, and bivalves were significantly different from the sterol profile in sewage. However, in the rainy season, their similarity increased compared to the dry season. Still, coprostanol, a human feces biomarker indicative of sewage input, was detected in the suspended particulate matter at the surface, but not in any of the suspension-feeding animals studied. This suggests that marine currents dispersed urban sewage before reaching benthic organisms. Alternatively, coprostanol could have been metabolized before reaching the filter feeders or by the filter feeders themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under a first order moment condition on the immigration mechanism, we show that an appropriately scaled supercritical and irreducible multi-type continuous state and continuous time branching process with immigration (CBI process) converges almost surely. If an x log(x) moment condition on the branching mechanism does not hold, then the limit is zero. If this x log(x) moment condition holds, then we prove L1 convergence as well. The projection of the limit on any left non-Perron eigenvector of the branching mean matrix is vanishing. If, in addition, a suitable extra power moment condition on the branching mechanism holds, then we provide the correct scaling for the projection of a CBI process on certain left non-Perron eigenvectors of the branching mean matrix in order to have almost sure and L1 limit. Moreover, under a second order moment condition on the branching and immigration mechanisms, we prove L2 convergence of an appropriately scaled process and the above-mentioned projections as well. A representation of the limits is also provided under the same moment conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a prototype landslide early warning system (LEWS) adapted to real-time performance over the region of Catalonia (NE Spain). The system uses high-resolution rainfall information obtained from weather radar observations and susceptibility maps to issue a qualitative warning level at a regional scale. To study the influence of the mapping unit on the LEWS outputs, susceptibility maps obtained for Catalonia based on (i) pixels of different sizes and (ii) hydrological subbasins have been compared. The susceptibility has been derived using a simple fuzzy logic approach combining slope angle and land cover data. The susceptibility maps for the different mapping units have then been employed to run the LEWS for a period of 7 months (warm season of 2010). For each configuration, the performance, interpretability of the warnings, and computational requirements have been compared to assess the suitability of each mapping unit for their use in the LEWS in real time. The configuration using pixels of 30-m resolution as mapping units seems to be the best as a compromise between resolution, performance, and computational cost. However, from an end-user's real-time perspective, the interpretation of the warnings can be difficult. Therefore, summarizing and visualizing the warnings, which are computed over the high-resolution grid, by subbasins is proposed as the best option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Radiohumeral synovial plicae (RHSP) have been studied by different authors in different ways; in spite of this, the evidence is poor and the results are controversial and inconclusive even when it comes to referring to this elbow structure. The aim of this article is to review the embryologic development, anatomy and histology, pathophysiologic features, clinical manifestations, physical examination, imaging findings, and treatment of radiohumeral synovial plicae, for their correct clinical interpretation in patients with intractable lateral epicondylitis. Recent Findings: Radiohumeral synovial plicae syndrome (RHSPS) can cause intractable lateral epicondylitis and can be easily confused with other clinical conditions affecting the elbow. Many clinicians are not familiar with radiohumeral synovial plica syndrome since there are not many studies about it and previous reports do not seem to reach a consensus. Although its role in elbow injuries and epicondylitis is accepted and its surgical treatment is effective, there is no clear consensus about clinically relevant aspects. Summary: RHSP are remnants of normal embryo development of the articular synovial membrane with different anatomical locations, size and shape. Traumatism or overuse can turn RHSP into symptomatic structures at any age and can be compressed between the radial and humeral heads during movement. This compression can cause pain and other symptoms such as snapping, catching, mobility restriction, pitching, clicking, locking, blockage, popping and swelling. Radiohumeral synovial plica syndrome (RHSPS) may be an isolated condition or it can be associated with other elbow abnormalities. The findings on physical examination and imaging diagnosis are multiple and variable. Nowadays, RHSPS are quite unknown and previous reports do not seem to agree, leading to misdiagnoses as epicondylitis and making this structure the main cause of some cases of "intractable lateral epicondylitis". The outcomes of surgical treatments are quite promising although more, higher quality research is needed. Taking this into account, this review is meant to be a starting point for new anatomical and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical modelling has established itself as a theoretical tool to understand fundamental aspects of a variety of medical-biological phenomena. The predictive power of mathematical models on some chronic conditions has been helpful in its proper prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Such is the case of the modelling of glycaemic dynamics in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), whose physiology-based mathematical models have captured the metabolic abnormalities of this disease. Through a physiology-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic approach, this work addresses a mathematical model whose structure starts from a model of blood glucose dynamics in healthy humans. This proposal is capable of emulating the pathophysiology of T2DM metabolism, including the effect of gastric emptying and insulin enhancing effect due to incretin hormones. The incorporation of these effects lies in the implemented methodology since the mathematical functions that represent metabolic rates, with a relevant contribution to hyperglycaemia, are adjusting individually to the clinical data of patients with T2DM. Numerically, the resulting model successfully simulates a scheduled graded intravenous glucose test and oral glucose tolerance tests at different doses. The comparison between simulations and clinical data shows an acceptable description of the blood glucose dynamics in T2DM. It opens the possibility of using this model to develop model-based controllers for the regulation of blood glucose in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormalities in actin cytoskeleton have been linked to Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), an inherited peripheral neuropathy characterised by an early loss of neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) among other clinical symptoms. Despite all efforts to date, we still do not fully understand the molecular events that contribute to the lack of sensory neurons in FRDA. We studied the adult neuronal growth cone (GC) at the cellular and molecular level to decipher the connection between frataxin and actin cytoskeleton in DRG neurons of the well-characterised YG8R Friedreich's ataxia mouse model. Immunofluorescence studies in primary cultures of DRG from YG8R mice showed neurons with fewer and smaller GCs than controls, associated with an inhibition of neurite growth. In frataxin-deficient neurons, we also observed an increase in the filamentous (F)-actin/monomeric (G)-actin ratio (F/G-actin ratio) in axons and GCs linked to dysregulation of two crucial modulators of filamentous actin turnover, cofilin-1 and the actin-related protein (ARP) 2/3 complex. We show how the activation of cofilin is due to the increase in chronophin (CIN), a cofilin-activating phosphatase. Thus cofilin emerges, for the first time, as a link between frataxin deficiency and actin cytoskeleton alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]