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Resumen: Introducción: En la actualidad, la tromboprofilaxis en cirugía de columna es motivo de estudio ya que a pesar de ser un evento poco frecuente, puede causar complicaciones graves. El objetivo del presente estudio es proponer un protocolo de prevención de eventos trombóticos en cirugía de columna por vía posterior que reduzca la aparición de estos eventos, ya sea en forma de trombosis venosa profunda o tromboembolismo pulmonar, limitando el número de pacientes en los que se emplea profilaxis farmacológica para intentar evitar la aparición de hematoma epidural. Material y método: Se estudió de manera retrospectiva a los 235 pacientes del centro a los que se les había practicado una cirugía de artrodesis de columna por vía posterior en los cinco años previos, encontrándose el protocolo en vigencia. En todos ellos se aplicaron medidas mecánicas de tromboprofilaxis, consistentes en medias de compresión y, en aquellos con factores de riesgo de trombosis, se aplicaron también medidas farmacológicas. En todos se inició la deambulación precoz tras la cirugía. Se recogieron variables demográficas, clínicas, quirúrgicas, así como las complicaciones aparecidas a lo largo del seguimiento que se realizaba al mes uno, dos, cuatro, seis y 12 tras la cirugía. Los eventos trombóticos, en caso de aparecer, se diagnosticaban mediante la clínica y pruebas de imagen, como la ecografía Doppler y el angioTAC. Resultados: De los 235 pacientes, 153 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión del estudio. Aparecieron un total de cuatro eventos trombóticos, uno en forma de trombosis venosa profunda y tres en forma de tromboembolismo pulmonar, acabando estos últimos en éxitus. Ninguna de las variables estudiadas tuvo significación estadística para la aparición de evento trombótico. Estos pacientes estaban recibiendo medidas farmacológicas adicionales a las mecánicas por presentar factores de riesgo de trombosis. Conclusiones: Mediante la aplicación de dichas medidas se consigue realizar una adecuada prevención de eventos tromboembólicos en la población estudiada de pacientes intervenidos de cirugía de columna por vía posterior. Summary: Introduction: There is no generalized consensus regarding perioperative prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), either on using or timing it in patients undergoing spine surgery. VTE is a current concern because, even though being an uncommon event, it can cause serious complications. The aim of the present study is to propose guidelines for the prevention of thrombotic events in posterior spinal surgery, either as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism. If the number of patients getting prophylaxis drugs is reduced a subsequent reduction of the incidence of epidural hematoma can be expected. Materials and methods: A number of 235 patients who had undergone posterior spinal arthrodesis in the previous five years were studied. Mechanical thromboprophylaxis measures consisting of compression stockings were applied in all of them. Anticoagulant drugs were also applied whenever risk factors for thrombosis were observed. Early weight-bearing was resumed immediately after surgery. Demographic, clinical, and surgical variables were collected, as well as complications appearing during the follow-up period, that was scheduled at one, two, four, six and twelve months after the surgery. Thrombotic events, if present, were diagnosed by clinical and imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT angiography. Results: From the total 235 patients of this series, one hundred and fifty-three cases met the study inclusion criteria. A total of four thrombotic events appeared, one in the form of deep vein thrombosis and other three in the form of pulmonary thromboembolism. These last patients suffering an embolism died because of it. None of the variables studied had statistical significance for the occurrence of a thrombotic event. All four patients who suffered thrombotic events were receiving anticoagulant drugs, in addition to mechanical compression stockings, because of the presence of risk factors for thrombosis. Conclusions: By applying the fore mentioned protocol, adequate prevention of thromboembolic events was achieved in this study population of patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery.

The flipped classroom model has positive effects on the educational process, and has recently become an alternative to the traditional model. However, additional research is necessary to identify the causes of those improvements and the contexts in which this methodology performs better. In this study, we analyze the perceptions of different students pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Jaén (Spain) regarding flipped learning dynamics and the relationship between those perceptions and perceptions of their learning outcomes. Specifically, we investigate whether students' acquired competences and attitude, as well as the use of formative assessment have positive effects on student perceptions on results. To accomplish this task, during the first semester of the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years, we collected the opinions of students via a questionnaire and tested those relationships using PLS. The results indicate that the three variables (acquired competences, attitude, and formative assessment) explain the perceptions of students with respect to achieving better grades, and are key elements of superior learning, that can improve students' performance. Accordingly, this study provides evidence regarding the positive effects of flipped classroom on the teaching-learning process in higher education and explains the reasons for the resulting improvement in learning outcomes.

Introducción: La anemia es una enfermedad de prevalencia mundial caracterizada por ineficacia de los eritrocitos para distribuir oxígeno, cuya principal etiología es ferropénica. Existen métodos mundialmente conocidos para combatirla; sin embargo, Latinoamérica dispone de escasa evidencia sobre el impacto de estas en la reducción de prevalencia de anemia. Objetivo: El presente estudio revisó las intervenciones del sector salud y multisectoriales para la reducción de anemia en niños de 6 meses a 5 años en Latinoamérica. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura con las palabras clave: child, anemia, Latin America, prevention and control en las bases de datos de Embase, Pubmed, La Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS) y Google Scholar, los artículos fueron filtrados en 4 etapas (identificación, selección, elegibilidad e inclusión) individualmente por los autores quedando 9 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados elegibles. Resultados: De los ensayos se encontraron intervenciones como micronutrientes en polvo (MNP), suplemento alimenticio Nutrisano, bebida láctea Nutrisano, jarabes, ollas de hierro y galletas fortificadas con plantas. Se halló que los MNP, jarabes y galletas con caupí reducen la anemia significativamente; sin embargo, por factores como adherencia y eficiencia los MNP y las galletas son las más recomendadas. El uso de la bebida láctea Nutrisano + MNP y el uso de ollas de hierro no redujeron la anemia significativamente. Conclusiones: En Latinoamérica se recomiendan los MNP según Neufeld para reducir la anemia, y las galletas fortificadas con caupí según Landim para incrementar la hemoglobina

Abstract The CMS detector, including its muon system, has been operating at the CERN LHC in increasingly challenging conditions for about 15 years. The muon detector was designed to provide excellent triggering and track reconstruction for muons produced in proton–proton collisons at an instantaneous luminosity ( $$\mathcal {L}$$ L ) of $$1 \times 10^{34}$$ 1 × 10 34 cm $$^{-2}$$ - 2 s $$^{-1}$$ - 1 . During the Run 2 data-taking period (2015–2018), the LHC achieved an instantaneous luminosity of twice its design value, resulting in larger background rates and making the efficient detection of muons more difficult. While some backgrounds result from natural radioactivity, cosmic rays, and interactions of the circulating protons with residual gas in the beam pipe, the dominant source of background hits in the muon system arises from proton–proton interactions themselves. Charged hadrons leaving the calorimeters produce energy deposits in the muon chambers. In addition, high-energy particles interacting in the hadron calorimeter and forward shielding elements generate thermal neutrons, which leak out of the calorimeter and shielding structures, filling the CMS cavern. We describe the method used to measure the background rates in the various muon subsystems. These rates, in conjunction with simulations, can be used to estimate the expected backgrounds in the High-Luminosity LHC. This machine will run for at least 10 years starting in 2029 reaching an instantaneous luminosity of $$\mathcal {L} = 5 \times \text {10}^\text {34}\,\text {cm}^\text {-2}\,\text {s}^\text {-1}$$ L = 5 × 10 34 cm -2 s -1 and increasing ultimately to $$\mathcal {L} = 7.5 \times \text {10}^\text {34}\,\text {cm}^\text {-2}\,\text {s}^\text {-1}$$ L = 7.5 × 10 34 cm -2 s -1 . These background estimates have been a key ingredient for the planning and design of the muon detector upgrade.

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a substantial number of invasive infections globally each year. These infections are problematic because they are frequently recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic tolerance, the ability of bacteria to persist despite normally lethal doses of antibiotics, contributes to antibiotic treatment failure in S. aureus infections. To understand how antibiotic tolerance is induced, S. aureus biofilms exposed to multiple anti-staphylococcal antibiotics are examined using both quantitative proteomics and transposon sequencing. These screens indicate that arginine metabolism is involved in antibiotic tolerance within a biofilm and support the hypothesis that depletion of arginine within S. aureus communities can induce antibiotic tolerance. Consistent with this hypothesis, inactivation of argH, the final gene in the arginine synthesis pathway, induces antibiotic tolerance. Arginine restriction induces antibiotic tolerance via inhibition of protein synthesis. In murine skin and bone infection models, an argH mutant has enhanced ability to survive antibiotic treatment with vancomycin, highlighting the relationship between arginine metabolism and antibiotic tolerance during S. aureus infection. Uncovering this link between arginine metabolism and antibiotic tolerance has the potential to open new therapeutic avenues targeting previously recalcitrant S. aureus infections.

Abstract Key message The elapsed times to deplete starch concentrations and to reach a null hydraulic safety margin were related to tree seedling mortality under experimental drought. Starch concentration showed an accelerated decline across all species during the early stages of dehydration, while the concentrations of soluble sugars and total nonstructural carbohydrates remained stable. Concomitant carbohydrate depletion and hydraulic failure drive seedling mortality under drought. Context Current upsurges of drought events are provoking impacts on tree physiology, resulting in forest mortality. Hydraulic dysfunction and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) depletion have been posited as the main mechanisms leading to plant mortality under drought. Aims This study explores the dynamics of the two mortality-inducing processes during drought stress using an experimental approach with 12 evergreen tree species. Methods Seedlings were subjected to drought until 100% mortality was observed. Midday (ΨMD) and predawn (ΨPD) water potentials, xylem pressure leading to a 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (Ψ50), along with NSC concentrations in different organs (leaves, stems, and roots) were measured regularly during drought. Results Total NSC concentrations and soluble sugar pools did not decline during drought. However, starch pools showed strong reductions early during drought stress as ΨPD decreased, and the time leading to starch depletion emerged as a strong mortality predictor. Ψ50 alone did not provide an accurate estimate of mortality, while the elapsed time to reach a null hydraulic safety margin (ΨMD—Ψ50 = 0) was related to seedling mortality. Conclusion Adopting a dynamic approach by estimating the times to consume both starch reserves and hydraulic safety margins is highly relevant to improve predictions of tree mortality under the current context of increasing global drought.

This study focuses on the challenge of introducing cooperative entrepreneurship as an option for university business students, as recommended by the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) adopted in the European Union (EU). This aim is linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which calls for efforts to ensure quality education for all. Our study jointly addresses both entrepreneurship and the need for high-quality education among the university students we are analysing. The use of success stories in cooperative entrepreneurship is based on a Best Practice Learning (BPL) methodology. The students under analysis are categorized into two areas of knowledge, law and economics, depending on whether the main content of their studies focuses on aspects of law or on purely economic aspects. The results show an increased interest in cooperative entrepreneurship in all participants after the application of BPL, and a high level of satisfaction with the activities carried out as part of this experience. However, differences were found between economics and law students, with the former having more knowledge about the concept of entrepreneurship. On the other hand, the latter group shows a greater awareness of the importance of cooperativism. The results of this study can provide the basis for new initiatives at the university level, aimed at the promotion of cooperative entrepreneurship in line with its key role in the SEAP and the SDGs.

Introduction: There is no generalised consensus regarding perioperative prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), either on using or timing it in patients undergoing spine surgery. VTE is a current concern because, even though being an uncommon event, it can cause serious complications. The aim of the present study is to propose guidelines for the prevention of thrombotic events in posterior spinal surgery, either as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism. If the number of patients getting prophylaxis drugs is reduced a subsequent reduction of the incidence of epidural haematoma can be expected. Materials and methods: A number of 235 patients who had undergone posterior spinal arthrodesis in the previous five years were studied. Mechanical thromboprophylaxis measures consisting of compression stockings were applied in all of them. Anticoagulant drugs were also applied whenever risk factors for thrombosis were observed. Early weight-bearing was resumed immediately after surgery. Demographic, clinical, and surgical variables were collected, as well as complications appearing during the follow-up period, that was scheduled at one, two, four, six and twelve months after the surgery. Thrombotic events, if present, were diagnosed by clinical and imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT angiography. Results: From the total 235 patients of this series, one hundred and fifty-three cases met the study inclusion criteria. A total of four thrombotic events appeared, one in the form of deep vein thrombosis and other three in the form of pulmonary thromboembolism. These last patients suffering an embolism died because of it. None of the variables studied had statistical significance for the occurrence of a thrombotic event. All four patients who suffered thrombotic events were receiving anticoagulant drugs, in addition to mechanical compression stockings, because of the presence of risk factors for thrombosis. Conclusions: By applying the fore mentioned protocol, adequate prevention of thromboembolic events was achieved in this study population of patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery. Resumen: Introducción: En la actualidad, la tromboprofilaxis en cirugía de columna es motivo de estudio ya que a pesar de ser un evento poco frecuente, puede causar complicaciones graves. El objetivo del presente estudio es proponer un protocolo de prevención de eventos trombóticos en cirugía de columna por vía posterior que reduzca la aparición de estos eventos, ya sea en forma de trombosis venosa profunda o tromboembolismo pulmonar, limitando el número de pacientes en los que se emplea profilaxis farmacológica para intentar evitar la aparición de hematoma epidural. Material y método: Se estudió de manera retrospectiva a los 235 pacientes del centro a los que se les había practicado una cirugía de artrodesis de columna por vía posterior en los cinco años previos, encontrándose el protocolo en vigencia. En todos ellos se aplicaron medidas mecánicas de tromboprofilaxis, consistentes en medias de compresión y, en aquellos con factores de riesgo de trombosis se aplicaron también medidas farmacológicas. En todos se inició la deambulación precoz tras la cirugía. Se recogieron variables demográficas, clínicas, quirúrgicas, así como las complicaciones aparecidas a lo largo del seguimiento que se realizaba al mes uno, dos, cuatro, seis y 12 tras la cirugía. Los eventos trombóticos, en caso de aparecer, se diagnosticaban mediante la clínica y pruebas de imagen, como la ecografía Doppler y el angio-TAC. Resultados: De los 235 pacientes, 153 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión del estudio. Aparecieron un total de cuatro eventos trombóticos, uno en forma de trombosis venosa profunda y tres en forma de tromboembolismo pulmonar, acabando estos últimos en éxitus. Ninguna de las variables estudiadas tuvo significación estadística para la aparición de evento trombótico. Estos pacientes estaban recibiendo medidas farmacológicas adicionales a las mecánicas por presentar factores de riesgo de trombosis. Conclusiones: Mediante la aplicación de dichas medidas se consigue realizar una adecuada prevención de eventos tromboembólicos en la población estudiada de pacientes intervenidos de cirugía de columna por vía posterior.

Abstract Key Message Understanding the impact of extreme drought on the canopy fuel moisture content (CFMC) is crucial to anticipate the effects of climate change on wildfires. Our study demonstrates that foliage mortality, caused by leaf embolism, can substantially diminish CFMC during drought on Pinus halepensis Mill. and Quercus ilex L. It emphasizes the importance of considering plant hydraulics to improve wildfire predictions. Context Canopy fuel moisture content (CFMC), which represents the water-to-dry mass ratio in leaves and fine twigs within the canopy, is a major factor of fire danger across ecosystems worldwide. CFMC results from the fuel moisture content of living foliage (live fuel moisture content, LFMC) and dead foliage (dead fuel moisture content, DFMC) weighted by the proportion of foliage mortality in the canopy (α Dead ). Understanding how LFMC, α Dead , and ultimately CFMC are affected during extreme drought is essential for effective wildfire planning. Aims We aimed to understand how plant hydraulics affect CFMC for different levels of soil water deficit, examining its influence on both LFMC and α Dead . Methods We conducted a drought experiment on seedlings of two Mediterranean species: Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) and Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.). Throughout the drought experiment and after rewatering, we monitored CFMC, LFMC, and α Dead along with other ecophysiological variables. Results LFMC exhibited a significant decrease during drought, and as leaf water potentials reached low levels, α Dead increased in both species, thereby reducing CFMC. Distinct water use strategies resulted in species-specific variations in dehydration dynamics. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that as drought conditions intensify, foliage mortality might become a critical physiological factor driving the decline in CFMC.

BackgroundThe widespread use of online social networks, particularly among the younger demographic, has catalyzed a growing interest in exploring their influence on users’ psychological well-being. Instagram (Meta), a visually oriented platform, has garnered significant attention. Prior research has consistently indicated that Instagram usage correlates with heightened levels of perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, and diminished self-esteem. Perfectionism is closely linked to self-criticism, which entails an intense self-scrutiny and is often associated with various psychopathologies. Conversely, self-compassion has been linked to reduced levels of perfectionism and stress, while fostering greater positive affect and overall life satisfaction. ObjectiveThis study investigates the relationship between Instagram usage (time of use and content exposure) and users’ levels of self-compassion, self-criticism, and body dissatisfaction. MethodsThis study comprised 1051 adult participants aged between 18 and 50 years, either native to Spain or residing in the country for at least a decade. Each participant completed a tailored questionnaire on Instagram usage, along with abbreviated versions of the Self-Compassion Scale, the Body Shape Questionnaire, and the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, spanning from January 23 to February 25, 2022. ResultsA positive correlation was observed between daily Instagram usage and self-criticism scores. Participants of all age groups who spent over 3 hours per day on Instagram exhibited higher self-criticism scores than users who spent less than 1 hour or between 1 and 3 hours per day. Contrary to previous findings, no significant relationship was detected between Instagram usage time and levels of self-compassion or body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, content centered around physical appearance exhibited a positive correlation with self-criticism and body dissatisfaction scores. Among younger participants (aged 18-35 years), those who primarily viewed beauty or fashion content reported higher self-criticism scores than those consuming science-related content. However, this association was not significant for participants aged 35-50 years. Conversely, individuals who predominantly engaged with sports or fitness or family or friends content exhibited higher levels of body dissatisfaction than those focusing on science-related content. No significant associations were observed between self-compassion scores and daily Instagram usage or most-viewed content categories. ConclusionsThe findings of this study underscore the considerable impact of Instagram usage on self-criticism and body dissatisfaction—2 variables known to influence users’ psychological well-being and be associated with various symptoms and psychological disorders.

The composition, abundance and size structure of the phytoplankton community at a coastal time series station (38° 28' S-57° 41' W, EPEA, Argentina) was characterized by applying the chemotaxonomic approach. The seasonal variability of pigment diversity determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, n = 171), nutrient concentration (n = 934), and temperature, salinity and degree of stratification of the water column was identified (n = 190 CTD profiles). The CHEMTAX program was used to estimate phytoplankton abundance in terms of contribution to chlorophyll a concentration of the different phytoplankton pigmentary types (PPTs). Two different pigment indices were compared to estimate phytoplankton community size fractions throughout the year, giving contrasting results. Water column was mostly mixed, with minimum temperatures between July and September and maximum between January-March (range: 8-23 °C). Nitrate was the limiting nutrient, with minimal concentrations at the end of summer. It’s range varied between 0.010-13.330 μM, while silicate ranged between 0.016-10.670 μM without major seasonal variations, and phosphate between 0.120-2.180 μM. Fucoxanthin, chlorophyll c2, 19’-hexanoyl-oxy-fucoxanthin, diadinoxanthin, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll c3, peridinin and, alloxanthin, were the most frequent phytoplankton pigments. The PPT DINO-1 (dinoflagellates with peridinin), haptophytes types: HAPTO-6, HAPTO-7 and HAPTO-P showed a seasonal cycle with peaks of abundance in autumn and spring, while the diatoms DIATO-1 was high during the whole year and DIATO-2 mainly during winter. A pigment profile of a group of prymnesiophytes possessing MVChl_c3 was described. It was evident that at this site PPTs having potentially toxic species bloom under different hydrological conditions. DINO-1 is likely to bloom in April (autumn), with temperatures close to 18 °C and weak stratification conditions, while October bloom (spring) occurs with lower temperatures of 10-12 °C. DINO-4 was noted during January and February (summer), when temperature was > 18 °C, salinity < 33.7, and the water column showed maximum stratification. In contrast, the maximum abundances of DIATO-2 occurred between August and September (winter), under completely mixed conditions, high nitrate concentration and low temperature of 10 °C. This work constitutes the first description of the variability of the abundance of the main PPTs in a coastal a time series station in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean shelf throughout the annual cycle, demonstrating the power of chemotaxonomy and CHEMTAX to perform descriptive analysis of a large number of samples.

BackgroundMental disorders significantly impact individuals and societies globally. Addressing societal stigma is crucial, as it affects help-seeking behaviors and the effectiveness of treatment for mental disorders.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the knowledge and perceptions of the Spanish population toward mental disorders and their treatment, assess changes in mental health stigma over time, and examine variations across sociodemographic variables by comparing current results with previous studies.MethodsA panel of three psychiatrists designed a questionnaire to collect public opinions about various aspects of mental illness in Spain, covering topics such as social perception, diagnostic reliability, causes, symptoms, treatment, suicide, and media influence. The survey, conducted from October to December 2022, involved 1,002 Spanish individuals aged 18–70.ResultsOur results indicated an improved general knowledge of mental health, reduced stigma, and greater acceptance of those affected by these disorders, compared to past research. Almost 80% of the participants have accurate knowledge regarding the complex and multifactorial nature of mental illnesses. Around 90% of the participants share the belief that stigma affects those affected by mental disorders. Psychological and pharmacological treatment are considered to be effective and helpful by more than 70% of the sample. More than 60% of the participants highlighted that suicide needs to be addressed appropriately in the media.ConclusionThese findings suggest a significant shift in how Spanish society views mental disorders, marking progress over decades of discrimination. Reducing the stigma associated with mental health can encourage individuals to seek assistance without the fear of judgment or discrimination, thereby increasing the likelihood of early intervention and treatment. Open conversations about mental health within families, communities, and workplaces can create a supportive environment that enhances recovery. However, continued efforts and awareness campaigns targeted to broader audiences remain necessary. Responsible media portrayals of mental health, avoiding stigmatizing language or sensationalism, are also essential.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood which accounts for numerousannual hospitalizations due to a lack of management and proper management of the disease. Thus,this study aimed to evaluate the effect of using an educational booklet with or without combinationwith motivational interviewing (MI) on the self-efficacy of parents/caregivers in the control andmanagement of childhood asthma.Methods: A clinical trial was carried out with 86 parents/caregivers of children with asthma agedbetween 2 and 12 years who were followed up in primary health care units from March 2019 toDecember 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one of the groups read the bookletand the other read the booklet combined with the MI. The Brazilian version of the Self-Efficacy andTheir Child’s Level of Asthma Control scale was applied before and 30 days after the interventionfor assessment of self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and R 3.6.3 software. Pvalues

Abstract Nowadays, social networks have taken on an irreplaceable role as sources of information. Millions of people use them daily to find out about the issues of the moment. This success has meant that the amount of content present in social networks is unmanageable and, in many cases, fake or non-credible. Therefore, a correct pre-processing of the data is necessary if we want to obtain knowledge and value from these data sets. In this paper, we propose a new data pre-processing technique based on Big Data that seeks to solve two of the key concepts of the Big Data paradigm, data validity and credibility of the data and volume. The system is a Spark-based filter that allows us to flexibly select credible users related to a given topic under analysis, reducing the volume of data and keeping only valid data for the problem under study. The proposed system uses the power of word embeddings in conjunction with other text mining and natural language processing techniques. The system has been validated using three real-world use cases.

Rodents play a significant role in the transmission of zoonotic diseases; anthropization has increased human contact with these animals, vectors of infectious agents. However, the processes driving parasitism of hosts remains poorly understood. Yersinia pestis, Rickettsia spp., and Francisella tularensis are three infectious agents transmitted to humans through ectoparasites, with rodents serving as the primary reservoirs. To explore the relationship between both intrinsic and extrinsic factors on host pathogen status, we evaluated heteromyid rodents in the Chihuahuan desert (ChD). From December 2022 to May 2023, we sampled 213 rodents at three locations with different anthropization levels. A total of 103 rodent blood samples, 84 organ samples, and 204 collected ectoparasites were analyzed for molecular detection of infectious agents (Y. pestis, Rickettsia spp., and F. tularensis) with PCR. We captured seven species of rodents (Dipodomys ordii, D. merriami, D. spectabilis, Chaetodipus hispidus, Ch. eremicus, Perognathus flavus, and P. flavescens) and identified one tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), two fleas (Meringis altipecten and M. dipodomys) and one louse (Fahrenholzia spp.). Molecular analyses yielded positive for Y. pestis, Rickettsia spp., and negative for F. tularensis. We then modelled the pathogen status as a function of intrinsic (body condition and sex) and extrinsic factors (locality, anthropization level, season, sample type, and parasite-infestation status). We found that non-parasite-infested individuals with better body condition have a higher probability of pathogen infection. Furthermore, we observed that blood samples had a higher probability of detecting pathogen-infected individuals, as compared to spleen or liver samples. Our results offer important insights into host–pathogen interactions and the role of body condition in the pathogen status.

The real-time monitoring of plant water status is an important issue for digital irrigation to increase water productivity. This work focused on a comparison of three biosensors that continuously evaluate plant water status: trunk microtensiometers (MTs), trunk time-domain reflectometry (TDR), and LVDT sensors. During the summer and autumn seasons (DOY 150–300), nectarine trees were subjected to four different consecutive irrigation periods based on the soil Management Allowed Deficit (MAD) concept, namely: MAD10 (light deficit); MAD50 (moderate deficit); MAD100 (severe deficit), and MAD0 (full irrigation). Measurements of stem water potential (Ψstem) and leaf gas exchange were recorded on representative days. A continuous measurement of the plant water status of Ψtrunk, MDS, and Ktrunk revealed the water deficits imposed on the soil. The highest water deficit observed at the end of the MAD100 period (Ψstem = −2.04 MPa and Ɵv = 17%) resulted in a minimum value of Ψtrunk (−1.81 MPa). The maximum value of MDS (408 µm) was observed earlier than that of Ψtrunk, motivated by the low sensitivity of MDS at Ψtrunk < −1.2 MPa and Ψstem < −1.5 MPa due to a decrease in the tissue elasticity of the trunk when severe water deficit conditions are reached. Both Ψtrunk and Ψstem were more dependent on soil water content, while MDS was more responsive to environmental changes. Ktrunk was the weakest indicator for determining plant water status, although when expressed as a daily fraction of depletion (KtrunkFD), it improved, evidencing a process of hysteresis. Ψtrunk showed the highest sensitivity, suggesting the potential use of MTs as a valuable biosensor for monitoring nectarine water status in digital agrosystems.

This contribution concerns studying a realistic predator–prey interaction, which was achieved by virtue of formulating a modified Leslie–Gower predator–prey model under the influence of the double Allee effect and fear effect in the prey species. The initial theoretical work sheds light on the relevant properties of the solution, presence, and local stability of the equilibria. Both analytic and numerical approaches were used to address the emergence of diverse bifurcations, like saddle-node, Hopf, and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcations. It is noteworthy that while making the assumption that the characteristic equation of the Jacobian matrix J has a pair of imaginary roots C(ρ)±ιD(ρ), it is sufficient to consider only C(ρ)+ιD(ρ) due to symmetry. The impact of the fear effect on the proposed model is discussed. Numerical simulation results are provided to back up all the theoretical analysis. From the findings, it was established that the initial condition of the population, as well as the phenomena (fear effect) introduced, played a crucial role in determining the stability of the proposed model.

Antecedentes: La puntuación de fugas de colon (CLS) se desarrolló para la predicción del riesgo de fuga anastomótica (AL) en la cirugía colorrectal del lado izquierdo, con la finalidad de obtener un pronóstico preciso. Objetivo: Este estudio tiene el objetivo de aplicar el CLS en pacientes con cirugía colorrectal de lado izquierdo. Método: Estudio retrospectivo en pacientes con cirugía colorrectal izquierda y anastomosis primaria sin estoma de derivación. Se calculó el CLS en los pacientes, los cuales fueron clasificados en los grupos con AL y sin AL. Resultados: La media del CLS de todos los pacientes fue de 7.2 ± 3.2 (0-17). Los pacientes con AL tenían un CLS más alto (11.8 ± 2.3) que los pacientes sin AL (6.8 ± 3) (p = 0.0001). El área bajo la curva para la predicción de la AL mediante el CLS fue de 0.898 (intervalo de confianza (CI) 0.829-0.968; p = 0.0001). Un CLS de 8.5 tuvo una sensibilidad del 93% y una especificidad del 72%. Además, se obtuvo un Odds Ratio con una diferencia estadísticamente significativa para el CLS y AL (0.58; CI 0.46-0.73; p = 0.0001). Conclusión: La CLS es una herramienta útil para predecir la AL en la cirugía colorrectal del lado izquierdo.

ABSTRACT The host protein calprotectin inhibits the growth of a variety of bacterial pathogens through metal sequestration in a process known as “nutritional immunity.” Staphylococcus aureus growth is inhibited by calprotectin in vitro, and calprotectin is localized in vivo to staphylococcal abscesses during infection. However, the staphylococcal adaptations that provide defense against nutritional immunity and the role of metal-responsive regulators are not fully characterized. In this work, we define the transcriptional response of S. aureus and the role of the metal-responsive regulators, Zur, Fur, and MntR, in response to metal limitation by calprotectin exposure. Additionally, we identified genes affecting the fitness of S. aureus during metal limitation through a Transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) approach. Loss of function mutations in clpP, which encodes a proteolytic subunit of the ATP-dependent Clp protease, demonstrate reduced fitness of S. aureus to the presence of calprotectin. ClpP contributes to pathogenesis in vivo in a calprotectin-dependent manner. These studies establish a critical role for ClpP to combat metal limitation by calprotectin and reveal the genes required for S. aureus to outcompete the host for metals.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections, bloodstream infections, and endocarditis. Antibiotic treatment failures during S. aureus infections are increasingly prevalent, highlighting the need for novel antimicrobial agents. Metal chelator-based therapeutics have tremendous potential as antimicrobials due to the strict requirement for nutrient metals exhibited by bacterial pathogens. The high-affinity transition metal-binding properties of calprotectin represents a potential therapeutic strategy that functions through metal chelation. Our studies provide a foundation to define mechanisms by which S. aureus combats nutritional immunity and may be useful for the development of novel therapeutics to counter the ability of S. aureus to survive in a metal-limited environment.

IntroductionTobacco consumption and its impact on health remain high worldwide. Additionally, it is a contentious issue generating significant controversy. Twitter has proven to be a useful platform for evaluating public health topics related to population health behaviors, and tobacco consumption.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to analyze the content of tweets related to tobacco. Moreover, geolocation data will be considered to understand regional differences.MethodsTweets published between 2018 and 2022, in both English and Spanish, containing the keyword “tobacco,” were analyzed. A total of 56,926 tweets were obtained. The tweets were classified into different categories. 550 tweets were manually analyzed, and an automated and computerized classification was performed for the remaining and largest subset of tweets.ResultsThe analysis yielded 30,812 classifiable tweets. Healthcare professionals were the most frequent contributors to the topic (50.2%), with the most common theme being general information about the toxic effects of tobacco. 57.9% of the tweets discussed the harmful effects of tobacco on health, with fear being the predominant emotion. The largest number of tweets were located in America.ConclusionsOur study revealed a substantial number of tweets highlighting the health risks and negative perceptions of tobacco consumption. Africa showed the lowest percentage of tweets discussing the health risks associated with tobacco, coinciding with the continent having the least developed anti-tobacco policies. Healthcare professionals emerged as the most prominent users discussing the topic, which is encouraging as they play a crucial role in disseminating accurate and scientific health information.

Background/objective: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are known to increase the risk of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Hyperglycemic DKA (hDKA), however, is not a common side effect of SGLT-2 inhibitor monotherapy. Case report: We present a case of hyperglycemic DKA in a middle-aged Caucasian male with a history of type 2 diabetes on monotherapy with an SGLT-2 inhibitor, no history of insulin deficiency or evidence of autoimmune diabetes and no precipitating factors for DKA at presentation. The patient was discharged from the hospital on insulin therapy after resolution of DKA and was transitioned to an oral anti-hyperglycemic regimen which did not include SGLT-2 inhibitors. Close outpatient follow up subsequently revealed declining C-peptide levels and increasing hemoglobin A1C levels without any episodes of DKA. Discussion: The mechanisms by which SGLT-2 inhibitors cause hDKA are not fully understood and likely involve hyperglucagonemia. Inhibition of SGLT-2 by dapagliflozin has been shown to paradoxically trigger glucagon secretion at higher glucose concentrations possibly due to direct effects on KATP channel activation and membrane depolarization in pancreatic α-cells. Conclusion: We conclude that monotherapy with SGLT-2 inhibitors presents a risk of not just euglycemic, but also hyperglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes and declining endogenous insulin production.

Phosphogypsum is an industrial waste considered as naturally occurring radioactive material. Stack disposal and exposure to the environmental condition involve the production of acid leachates with high potential pollutant loads as heavy metals and radionuclides. In this study, a sequential neutralisation process was applied for cleaning the generated releases, and the two obtained residues were characterised from the physical-chemical and radiological point of view before their valorisation. The cleaning process was made up of two steps: the first one using calcium carbonate until pH = 3.5, and the second one using calcium hydroxide until pH = 12. The residue obtained in the first step was mostly calcium fluoride, while in the second step most phosphates were precipitated, mainly as hydroxyapatite. The final liquid was treated to reduce pH lower than 9, which is the limit included in the current directive for discharges of liquid effluents into coastal waters. The main conclusion was that the solids from the first step could be valorised as an additive in the manufacture of commercial Portland cements and ceramics, while the solids from the second step could be used as raw material for the phosphoric acid manufacture.

Societal Impact Statement The rapidity of evolutionary changes in trees and whether this pace is sufficient to cope with ongoing climatic change are hotly debated issues in ecology today. Climate warming began in the mid‐19th century, after the Little Ice Age (LIA). Monitoring temporal genetic changes during this climatic transition in multicentennial oak populations revealed evidence of fluctuating selection and rapid evolution. These findings suggest that rapid evolution is probably also currently underway. They may lead to management options for operational forestry aiming to stimulate evolutionary mechanisms during the renewal of oak stands and to decrease potential temporal gene flow. Summary Retrospective studies of the evolutionary responses of tree populations to past documented climate change can provide insight into the adaptive responses of these organisms to ongoing environmental changes. We used a retrospective approach to monitor genetic changes over time in multicentennial sessile oak (Quercus petraea L.) forests. We compared the offspring of three age‐structured cohorts (340, 170, and 60 years old, dating from about 1680, 1850, and 1960) spanning the late Little Ice Age and early Anthropocene. The experiment was repeated in three different forests in western France. The offspring were raised in a common garden experiment, with 30 to 53 open‐pollinated families per cohort. We assessed 16 phenotypic traits in the common garden and observed significant shifts between cohorts for growth and phenology‐related traits. These shifts were correlated with differences in the prevailing temperatures in the past and could be interpreted as temporal genetic changes. However, there was no temporal trend for genetic variation. The genetic changes between the cold (late Little Ice Age) and warm (early Anthropocene) periods were mostly opposite for growth and phenology‐related traits. These findings highlight fluctuations of selection and a rapid evolutionary response of tree populations to climatic transitions in the past, suggesting that similar trends may be at work now. We discuss these results in terms of the mode and direction of evolution, and their potential implications for the adaptive management of oak forests.

Abstract Polar ecosystems are experiencing amongst the most rapid rates of regional warming on Earth. Here, we discuss ‘omics’ approaches to investigate polar biodiversity, including the current state of the art, future perspectives and recommendations. We propose a community road map to generate and more fully exploit multi-omics data from polar organisms. These data are needed for the comprehensive evaluation of polar biodiversity and to reveal how life evolved and adapted to permanently cold environments with extreme seasonality. We argue that concerted action is required to mitigate the impact of warming on polar ecosystems via conservation efforts, to sustainably manage these unique habitats and their ecosystem services, and for the sustainable bioprospecting of novel genes and compounds for societal gain.

Abstract Background Alactic base excess (ABE) is a novel biomarker that estimates the renal capability of handling acid–base alterations during the sepsis. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ABE to predict the renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with septic shock. Methods A total of 164 patients admitted to the intensive care units with a diagnosis of septic shock according to the third international consensus on sepsis and septic shock (Sepsis-3) were included. This study was retrospective, single center, and conducted between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020. The individuals were stratified in patients who did [n = 68] or did not [n = 96] receive the RRT. The diagnostic performed of the variables for the classification into patients who required RRT was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and area under curve (AUC) was calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for RRT. Results The median age of the patients was 59 years and female sex (51.8%) predominated. ABE (odds ratio [OR] 1.2270, [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0453–1.4403], p = 0.0124) and urea (OR 1.0114, [95% CI 1.0053–1.0176], p = 0.0002) were associated with risk of RRT. HCO3− (OR 0.6967, [95% CI 0.5771–0.8410], p = 0.0002) was a protective factor of RRT. ABE (AUC = 0.649, p 75 mg/dL, respectively. Conclusion Although HCO3− is associated with low risk, ABE and urea are independent risk factors for RRT in the patients with septic shock.

Purpose: Optimizing brain bioavailability is highly relevant for the development of drugs targeting the central nervous system. Several pharmacokinetic parameters have been used for measuring drug bioavailability in the brain. The most biorelevant among them is possibly the unbound brain-to-plasma partition coefficient, Kpuu,brain,ss, which relates unbound brain and plasma drug concentrations under steady-state conditions. In this study, we developed new in silico models to predict Kpuu,brain,ss.Methods: A manually curated 157-compound dataset was compiled from literature and split into training and test sets using a clustering approach. Additional models were trained with a refined dataset generated by removing known P-gp and/or Breast Cancer Resistance Protein substrates from the original dataset. Different supervised machine learning algorithms have been tested, including Support Vector Machine, Gradient Boosting Machine, k-nearest neighbors, classificatory Partial Least Squares, Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting, Deep Learning and Linear Discriminant Analysis. Good practices of predictive Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships modeling were followed for the development of the models.Results: The best performance in the complete dataset was achieved by extreme gradient boosting, with an accuracy in the test set of 85.1%. A similar estimation of accuracy was observed in a prospective validation experiment, using a small sample of compounds and comparing predicted unbound brain bioavailability with observed experimental data.Conclusion: New in silico models were developed to predict the Kpuu,brain,ss of drug candidates. The dataset used in this study is publicly disclosed, so that the models may be reproduced, refined, or expanded, as a useful tool to assist drug discovery processes.

La hidroponía es la tecnología de la agricultura sin suelo, en la que las plantas crecen en un medio acuático. Mientras que la acuaponía es un sistema de producción de alimentos en rápido crecimiento que integra la hidroponía con la acuicultura (cultivo de peces). El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la producción de acelga (Beta vulgaris var. Cicla L.) mediante un sistema hidropónico típico y un sistema acuapónico de producción de tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) en invernadero. Se utilizaron seis sistemas de recirculación independientes para comprobar la producción por triplicado. Un análisis de regresión lineal simple indicó que la tasa de producción de hojas difirió de forma significativa entre sistemas (p < 0.05), ya que en el hidropónico se obtuvieron 3.46 hojas semana-1, mientras que en el acuapónico fue de 1.53 hojas semana-1. La biomasa vegetal aumentó 53.91 g semana-1 en el tratamiento hidropónico y 38.24 g semana-1 en el acuapónico, aunque dichas tasas de producción no difirieron significativamente (p>0.05). No se detectaron diferencias significativas en las concentraciones de amonio (NH4+), nitrito (NO2-), y fosfato (PO4+) en ambos tratamientos; pero se encontraron diferencias significativas para nitratos (NO3-) entre sistemas (p < 0.05). La producción de acelgas en el sistema hidropónico fue mayor que en el sistema acuapónico en cuanto al número de hojas y la biomasa.

Resumen: Introducción: La infección por SARS-CoV2 ha impactado de forma importante en los pacientes con trasplante renal causando una elevada mortalidad en los primeros meses de la pandemia. La reducción intencionada de la inmunosupresión se ha postulado como uno de los pilares en el manejo de la infección ante la falta de un tratamiento antiviral dirigido. Esta se ha modificado de acuerdo con la situación clínica de los pacientes, y su efecto sobre la función renal o los anticuerpos anti-HLA a medio plazo no ha sido evaluado. Objetivos: Evaluar los cambios de inmunosupresión realizados durante la infección por SARS-CoV2, así como la función renal y los anticuerpos anti-HLA de los pacientes trasplantados de riñón a los 6 meses del diagnóstico de COVID19. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, multicéntrico nacional (30 centros) de pacientes trasplantados de riñón con COVID19 desde el 01/02/20 al 31/12/20. Se recogieron las variables de la historia clínica y se incluyeron en una base de datos anonimizada. Se utilizó el programa estadístico SPSS para el análisis de resultados. Resultados: Se incluyeron 615 trasplantados renales con COVID19 (62,6% varones), con una edad media de 57,5 años.El tratamiento inmunosupresor predominante antes del COVID19 era la triple terapia con prednisona, tacrolimus y ácido micofenólico (54,6%) seguido de los regímenes con inhibidores m-TOR (18,6%). Tras el diagnóstico de la infección se suspendió el ácido micofenólico en el 73,8% de los pacientes, el inhibidor m-TOR en el 41,4%, tacrolimus en el 10,5% y ciclosporina A en el 10%. A su vez, el 26,9% recibieron dexametasona y al 50,9% se les inició o aumentó la dosis de prednisona basal.La creatinina media antes del diagnóstico de COVID19, en el momento del diagnóstico y a los 6 meses fue de 1,7 ± 0,8; 2,1 ± 1,2 y 1,8 ± 1 mg/dl, respectivamente (p

Mechatronics and Robotics (MaR) have recently gained importance in product development and manufacturing settings and applications. Therefore, the Center for Space Emerging Technologies (C-SET) has managed an international multi-disciplinary study to present, historically, the first Latin American general review of industrial, collaborative, and mobile robotics, with the support of North American and European researchers and institutions. The methodology is developed by considering literature extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, and Aerospace Research Central and adding reports written by companies and government organizations. This describes the state-of-the-art of MaR until the year 2023 in the 3 Sub-Regions: North America, Central America, and South America, having achieved important results related to the academy, industry, government, and entrepreneurship; thus, the statistics shown in this manuscript are unique. Also, this article explores the potential for further work and advantages described by robotic companies such as ABB, KUKA, and Mecademic and the use of the Robot Operating System (ROS) in order to promote research, development, and innovation. In addition, the integration with industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing, architecture and construction, aerospace, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, and computational social science (human-robot interaction) is analyzed to show the promising features of these growing tech areas, considering the improvements to increase production, manufacturing, and education in the Region. Finally, regarding the information presented, Latin America is considered an important location for investments to increase production and product development, taking into account the further proposal for the creation of the LATAM Consortium for Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics, which could support and work on roboethics and education/R+D+I law and regulations in the Region. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-04-025 Full Text: PDF

Abstract Availability of light and CO2, substrates of microalgae photosynthesis, is frequently far from optimal. Microalgae activate photoprotection under strong light, to prevent oxidative damage, and the CO2 Concentrating Mechanism (CCM) under low CO2, to raise intracellular CO2 levels. The two processes are interconnected; yet, the underlying transcriptional regulators remain largely unknown. Employing a large transcriptomic data compendium of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii’s responses to different light and carbon supply, we reconstruct a consensus genome-scale gene regulatory network from complementary inference approaches and use it to elucidate transcriptional regulators of photoprotection. We show that the CCM regulator LCR1 also controls photoprotection, and that QER7, a Squamosa Binding Protein, suppresses photoprotection- and CCM-gene expression under the control of the blue light photoreceptor Phototropin. By demonstrating the existence of regulatory hubs that channel light- and CO2-mediated signals into a common response, our study provides an accessible resource to dissect gene expression regulation in this microalga.