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Introduction: The psychometric properties of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) have been evaluated across numerous languages and population groups, primarily from a factor analysis perspective. In some studies, inconsistencies in structural invariance have been identified. Objective: This study aims to analyze the properties and gender invariance of the SWLS from a network analysis perspective. Method: A total of 857 Spanish university students were obtained through a stratified random cluster sampling method in a cross-sectional survey design study. Descriptive analysis of the items, partial-correlation network, Bayesian network model estimation, and invariance analysis by gender were conducted. Results: The instrument did not exhibit any floor or ceiling effects. Each item can be considered univariately normally distributed, and all items clustered in a single and stable community. The partial-correlation network model and centrality measures were stable in the full sample and invariant across genders. Item 3 emerged as the most central node in the network with the highest predictability. The Bayesian network indicated that items 2 and 4 initiate the process, while item 5 acts as the sink, and items 1 and 3 act as mediators. Conclusions: The SWLS can be used as a unidimensional measure, and the total score and relationships among items are stable and reliable. Any potential differences among genders cannot be associated with the functioning of the instrument. The predictability of every item was high, and the Bayesian network clearly identified different roles among the items.

Testes are very prone to be damaged by environmental pollutants, but there is a lack of information about the impact of "chemical cocktails" (CC) on the testicular metabolome and the possible influence in the gut-gonad crosstalk. For this, BALB/c mice were given flumequine and diclofenac orally in food and potentially toxic trace elements (Cd, Hg, As) in drinking water. A mice group was supplemented with selenium, a well-known antagonist against many pollutants. Our results revealed that the steroid 5-alpha-androstan-17-beta-ol propionate, suggested as a parameter of androgenicity independent of testosterone levels, proline that improves reproductive indicators in male rabbits affected by environmental stress) among others metabolites are only present after CC exposure with rodent and selenium supplemented diet. Selenium also antagonized the up-or down-regulation of anandamide (20:l, n-9) (p < 0.001 and FC 0.54 of CC vs C but p > 0,05 and FC 0.74 of CC-Se vs C), that regulates gonadotropin-releasing hormones in mammals, 2,3-dinor-11b-PGF2a (p < 0.001 and FC 0.12 of CC vs C but p > 0,05 and FC 0.34 of CC-Se vs C), which has been related with reproductive hormones, besides others testicular metabolites altered by the exposure to the CC and reversed the levels to control. Moreover, numerous significant associations between gut microbes and testicular metabolites indicated a possible impact of pollutants in the testes mediated by gut microbiota due to a gut-gonad crosstalk.

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations constitute a powerful tool that provides a 3D perspective of the dynamical behavior of chemical systems. Herein the first MD study of the dynamics of a catalytic organometallic system, in micellar media, is presented. The challenging methane catalytic functionalization into ethyl propionate through a silver-catalyzed process has been targeted as the case study. The intimate nature of the micelles formed with the surfactants sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has been ascertained, as well as the relative distribution of the main actors in this transformation, namely methane, the diazo reagent and the silver catalyst, the latter in two different forms: the initial compound and a silver-carbene intermediate. Catalyst deactivation occurs with halide containing surfactants dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and Triton X-100. Computed simulations allow explaining the experimental results, indicating that micelles behave differently regarding the degree of accumulation and the local distribution of the reactants and their effect in the molecular collisions leading to net reaction.

Heteroatom-tagged proteomics allows the absolute quantification of selenoproteins using the heteroatom as a “tag” into a selective and sensitive atomic detector instead of a molecular one. Using this analytical method, about 90% of total selenium in human serum/plasma can be measured as selenoproteins and total selenometabolites and thus, the status of selenium can be determined. Herein, we determined the absolute concentration of selenoproteins in human serum patients with lung cancer (LC) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a competing cause of morbidity and mortality in smokers as well as an independent risk factor for LC. We conducted an observational study of 154 human serum samples obtained from LC and COPD patients with varying severity of disease, including COPD patients who developed LC during follow-up and healthy controls (HC). Using heteroatom-tagged proteomics, we determined extracellular glutathione peroxidase (eGPx), selenoprotein P (SELENOP), and selenoalbumin (SeAlb). Associations between selenoproteins were also studied as potential biomarkers of disease. The concentration of eGPx was significantly higher in the all-inclusive COPD cohort compared to HC, COPD patients with LC, or those with mild obstructive lung disease, while SELENOP concentration was significantly decreased in LC patients compared to HC and COPD. We found an inverse correlation between SELENOP and SeAlb in HC, but also in LC patients, and especially in patients with COPD and LC. Moreover, we found that eGPx and selenometabolite concentrations were positively associated with LC human serum. Selenoprotein concentrations were altered in COPD and LC when compared to healthy controls suggesting a potential role of the selenoproteome in the diagnosis and/or treatment of these tobacco-related diseases.

Developing gelled environmentally friendly dispersions in oil media is a hot topic for many applications. This study aimed to investigate the production of electrospun cellulose triacetate (CTA) nanofibers and to explore their potential application as a thickening agent for castor oil. The key factors in the electrospinning process, including the intrinsic properties of CTA solutions in methylene chloride (DCM)/ethanol (EtOH), such us the shear viscosity, surface tension, and electrical conductivity, were systematically studied. The impact of the CTA fiber concentration and the ratio of DCM/EtOH on the rheological properties of the gel-like dispersions in castor oil was then investigated. It was found that dispersions with a non-Newtonian response and above a critical concentration (5 wt.%), corresponding to approximately 2–2.5 times the entanglement concentration, are required to produce defect-free nanofibers. The average fiber diameter increased with CTA concentration. Further, the morphology and texture of the electrospun nanofibers are influenced by the ratio of solvents used. The rheological properties of dispersions are strongly influenced by the concentration and surface properties of nanofibers, such as their smooth or porous textures, which allow their modulation. Compared to other commonly used thickeners, such as synthetic polymers and metal soaps, CTA electrospun nanofibers have a much higher oil structuring capacity. This work illustrated the potential of using CTA nanofibers as the foundation for fabricating gel-like dispersions in oil media, and thus exerting hierarchical control of rheological properties through the use of a nanoscale fabrication technique.

Coccomyxa onubensis (C. onubensis) is an acid-tolerant microalga whose ecosystem (Tinto River, Huelva, Spain) contains high amounts of different heavy metals. However, the potential of this microalga to remove these pollutants from the environment has still not been studied. Thus, this work evaluates the tolerance and physiological response of this microalga in the presence of three heavy metals, copper, cadmium, and mercury, and the metalloids As (III) and As (V). The results demonstrated that C. onubensis is able to improve its growth parameters with the presence of copper in the culture medium until concentrations of 2 mM Cu2+ and also shows high tolerance to other heavy metals and metalloids tested, such as Cd2+, As(III), As(V) or Hg2+. Moreover, this microalga seems to be a high arsenic accumulator organism, showing its high potential for arsenic bioremediation processes. Finally, the characterization of three antioxidant enzymes and their evaluation under heavy metal stress was performed. The results showed that ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC:1.11.1.11), catalase (CAT, EC:1.11.1.6), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC:1.6.4.2) were upregulated to different degrees when C. onubensis was cultivated under heavy metal stress.

En los últimos años ha aumentado significativamente la descarga de aplicaciones móviles (apps) orientadas a desarrollar hábitos saludables en la población en general. No obstante, la mayoría no están sujetas a procesos de regulación de calidad, y los instrumentos de evaluación disponibles pueden estar obsoletos. Esta revisión se ha realizado para conocer el estado del arte sobre procesos de diseño, construcción, validación y principales resultados obtenidos en estudios empíricos acerca de los instrumentos de evaluación de la calidad dedichas apps, todo ello a fin de identificar las principales dimensiones e indicadores comunes. Se han llevado a cabo búsquedas en cuatro bases de datos de alto impacto. Se concluye que es un tema de interés reciente y actual en la literatura científica. De 11 documentos incluidos, se han hallado 97 indicadores organizados en 17 dimensiones. Sólo en dos de ellos se incluyeron aspectos relacionados con la privacidad y la seguridad. En definitiva, se ha configurado una lista significativa y actualizada que podrá ser la base para construir un marco de evaluación que permita hacer un estudio integral de estas apps, pues muchos de los instrumentos de evaluación no han sido diseñados pensando en la población en general., The download of the mobile applications (apps) aimed at fostering healthy habits in the general population has increased significantly in recent years. However, the majority of these apps are not subject to quality regulation processes, and the available instruments to assess the quality seem to be obsolete. This review has been made to know the state of the art about the processes of design, construction, validation and main results obtained in empirical studies about the instruments for assessing the quality of said apps, all this in order to identify the main dimensions and common indicators. Searches have been conducted in four databases with high impact. It concludes that is an interest current topic in scientific literature. From 11 documents which have been included, 17 dimensions and 97 indicators have been considered. Privacy and security-related issues were only included in two documents. In short, it has been possible to establish a significant and updated list that may be the basis for constructing an evaluation framework that allows a comprehensive study of these apps, considering that many of the assessment instruments have not been designed for the general population.

This document compiles all the simulations performed to validate the EMS developed in the paper "Fundamentals for the design of energy management strategies for smart grids based on predictive control techniques. Methodology and case studies"

Objective: The aim of the study was the initial psychometric study to validate the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 (AMICO) assessment scale in the general population of the United Kingdom population. Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, psychometric validation and descriptive study was conducted, performing univariate and bivariate analyses, as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The sample was 658 people living in the United Kingdom over 16 years. Of the total, 80.5% were female, with a mean age of 48.25 years (SD = 14.861). A mean score for the AMICO scale of 4.85 (SD = 2.398) was obtained, with a range of scores from 1 to 10. The study of percentiles and quartiles allowed for the identification of three proposed levels of anxiety. Conclusion: The AMICO_UK scale is reliable to measure the presence of anxiety and fear related to the COVID-19 disease in the United Kingdom population. The majority of the United Kingdom population presented low levels of anxiety and fear at the time the scale was administered.

El objetivo de esta investigación es definir los factores sociales que son determinantes en el comportamiento del consumo sustentable de las personas en México. El estudio presenta un diseño empírico estadístico de corte transversal que obtuvo resultados a través de un modelo integrado PLS-SEM. Se aplicó un cuestionario con 26 indicadores a una muestra probabilística de 244 elementos. Se partió de un modelo teórico que concluyó que el 50.8% de la varianza de la variable comportamiento de consumo sustentable, está explicada por los factores educación e información, presión social, condiciones del mercado, influencias del entorno social y variables demográficas. Este modelo provee información para quienes quieren participar de la transición de la sociedad a la sustentabilidad, toda vez que se cuenta con elementos para el diseño pertinente de estrategias, programas, soluciones y cualquier otra acción encaminada a este fin

Microalgae represent a phototrophic resource with a high protein content, whose nutritional value is very high as a result of its amino acid profile. Although the total amino acid profile has been repeatedly described to change little among phylogenetic groups of microalgae, some variability has occasionally been reported. Part of this uncertainty is associated with the low phylogenetic diversity encompassed in the work to date and the high methodological variability between studies. Among these studies, very few have differentiated between total and free amino acid content for common microalgae samples. Thus, in the present work, the profile of total and free amino acids has been determined in a diverse group composed of 56 species of microalgae belonging to 7 phyla. A multivariate analysis of the total amino acid profile in the studied microalgae group revealed close amino acid patterns throughout microalgae phylogeny and agreed with results obtained from similar analysis performed with published data. Conversely, the free amino acid profile strongly differentiated between phylogenetic groups. On the one hand, species of Cyanobacteria, Plantae, Cryptophyta, and Bacillariophyta showed close free amino acid patterns, characterized by the highest abundance of free glutamic acid. Ochrophyta species were particularly rich in free proline, while the free amino acid profile of Miozoa and Haptophyta species stood out from the rest of the phylogenetic groups for their outstanding levels of the two essential amino acids phenylalanine and lysine. Haptophyta species were also characterized by their much higher free tyrosine content.

In this work, we shall estimate via computer simulations the homogeneous nucleation rate for the methane hydrate at 400 bars for a supercooling of about 35 K. The TIP4P/ICE model and a Lennard-Jones center were used for water and methane, respectively. To estimate the nucleation rate, the seeding technique was employed. Clusters of the methane hydrate of different sizes were inserted into the aqueous phase of a two-phase gas-liquid equilibrium system at 260 K and 400 bars. Using these systems, we determined the size at which the cluster of the hydrate is critical (i.e., it has 50% probability of either growing or melting). Since nucleation rates estimated from the seeding technique are sensitive to the choice of the order parameter used to determine the size of the cluster of the solid, we considered several possibilities. We performed brute force simulations of an aqueous solution of methane in water in which the concentration of methane was several times higher than the equilibrium concentration (i.e., the solution was supersaturated). From brute force runs, we infer the value of the nucleation rate for this system rigorously. Subsequently, seeding runs were carried out for this system, and it was found that only two of the considered order parameters were able to reproduce the value of the nucleation rate obtained from brute force simulations. By using these two order parameters, we estimated the nucleation rate under experimental conditions (400 bars and 260 K) to be of the order of log10 (J/(m3 s)) = -7(5).

Selenium (Se) is a trace element crucial for human health. Recently, the impact of Se supplementation on gut microbiota has been pointed out as well as its influence on the expression of certain selenoproteins and gut metabolites. This study aims to elucidate the link between Se supplementation, brain selenoproteins and brain metabolome as well as the possible connection with the gut-brain axis. To this end, an in vivo study with 40 BALB/c mice was carried out. The study included conventional (n=20) and mice model with microbiota depleted by antibiotics (n=20) under a regular or Se supplemented diet. Brain selenoproteome was determined by a transcriptomic/gene expression profile, while brain metabolome and gut microbiota profiles were accomplished by untargeted metabolomics and amplicon sequencing, respectively. The total content of Se in brain was also determined. The selenoproteins genes Dio and Gpx isoenzymes, SelenoH, SelenoI, SelenoT, SelenoV, and SelenoW and 31 metabolites were significantly altered in the brain after Se supplementation in conventional mice, while 11 selenoproteins and 26 metabolites were altered in microbiota depleted mice. The main altered brain metabolites were related to glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and gut microbiota that have been previously related with the gut-brain axis (e.g., members of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families). Moreover, specific associations were determined between brain selenoproteome and metabolome, which correlated with the same bacteria, suggesting an intertwined mechanism. Our results demonstrated the effect of Se on brain metabolome through specific selenoproteins gene expression and gut microbiota.

There are evidences that the 15C nucleus has an extended neutron distribution or a "neutron halo", but this situation is far from clear. If 15C has 1n-halo, the scattering dynamics should be affected and the angular distribution of the elastic channels should be sensitive to coupling effects due to the halo configuration. The objetive of this study is to understand the role of the halo in 15C by investigating its dynamical response in intense electric fields at energies close to the Coulomb barrier. For this purpose experiment IS619 was conducted performing the 15C + 208Pb elastic scattering reaction at HIE-ISOLDE, CERN. The beam energy was 4.37 MeV/u, which is very close to the Coulomb barrier of the system. The experimental setup used was the global detection system GLORIA, a six silicon telescopes array enable to measure the energy and angular distributions of the scattered particles. During the experiment, the 12C+208Pb scattering at 4.37 MeV/u was measured for calibration. The results of the 12C+208Pb measurement were used to fine-tune the geometry of the experimental setup and it is presented in this contribution.

Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of mortality, claiming more than 1.8 million deaths per year worldwide. Surgery is one of the most effective treatments when the disease is in its early stages. The study of metabolic alterations after surgical intervention with curative intent could be used to assess the response to treatment or the detection of cancer recurrence. In this study, we have evaluated the metabolomic profile of serum samples (n = 110) from preoperative (PRE) and postoperative (POST) LC patients collected at two different time points (1 month, A; 3–6 months, B) with respect to healthy people. An untargeted metabolomic platform based on reversed phase (RP) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC), using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS), was applied (MassIVE ID MSV000092213). Twenty-two altered metabolites were annotated by comparing all the different studied groups. DG(14,0/22:1), stearamide, proline, and E,e-carotene-3,3′-dione were found altered in PRE, and their levels returned to those of a baseline control group 3–6 months after surgery. Furthermore, 3-galactosyllactose levels remained altered after intervention in some patients. This study provides unique insights into the metabolic profiles of LC patients after surgery at two different time points by combining complementary analytical methods.

A new fossil trackway is described in the upper lacustrine Miocene in the Prebetic Zone of the Iberian Peninsula, in Jumilla town (Murcia region) called Aenigmatipodus jumillensis nov. ichnogen. nov. ichnosp. This trackway consists of a pattern made up of sets of three tracks or triads, which are subparallel to each other, arranged in alternate groups. Each track presents a depression formed by a central body that is three times as long as it is wide, with straight or slightly curved walls, with two shorter bodies placed at the ends, one of the ends being shorter and more pronounced than the opposite, which is longer and stretched. All the biomechanical possibilities compatible with an anatomical design that could leave the impression of three alternate triads of tracks are analysed. The supports are only from the extremities on one side of the organism (left or right), the displacement being by translation. It is concluded that it had to be a large arthropod (metre scale), with a hexapod or decapod (less probably octopod), which had to be dragged laterally by a current in a very shallow lake or wetland environment. To date, no fossil organism is known, nor its current equivalent, that corresponds to these characteristics.

Two four-coordinate organoboron N,C-chelate complexes with different functional terminals on the PEG chains are studied with respect to their photophysical properties within human MCF-7 cells. Their excited-state properties are characterized by time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime microscopy. The excited-state relaxation dynamics of the two complexes are similar when studied in DMSO. Aggregation of the complexes with the carboxylate terminal group is observed in water. When studying the light-driven excited-state dynamics of both complexes in cellulo, i. e., after being taken up into human MCF-7 cells, both complexes show different features depending on the nature of the anchoring PEG chains. The lifetime of a characteristic intramolecular charge-transfer state is significantly shorter when studied in cellulo (360±170 ps) as compared to in DMSO (∼960 ps) at 600 nm for the complexes with an amino group. However, the kinetics of the complexes with the carboxylate group are in line with those recorded in DMSO. On the other hand, the lifetimes of the fluorescent state are almost identical for both complexes in cellulo. These findings underline the importance to evaluate the excited-state properties of fluorophores in a complex biological environment in order to fully account for intra- and intermolecular effects governing the light-induced processes in functional dyes.

El presente estudio se centra en los falsos amigos, palabras de forma similar pero distinto significado, existentes entre el inglés y el español. En él se analizan ocho parejas de falsos amigos prestando especial atención a su etimología y las derivaciones semánticas desde su étimo común hasta sus actuales acepciones en cada lengua. Los términos escogidos son algunas de las formas menos estudiadas, debido a su menor frecuencia de uso o a su pertenencia a algún tema considerado tabú. Además, con la ayuda de diccionarios etimológicos se han podido presentar estos términos desde un enfoque diacrónico, desde el cual escasamente se han investigado este tipo de voces, y al que apenas se ha recurrido tradicionalmente en su enseñanza. En este trabajo, no obstante, se sostiene que el enfoque diacrónico es la mejor manera de entender sincrónicamente estas palabras y, por lo tanto, con él se puede evitar su estudio memorístico en forma de listas. De este modo, en la búsqueda de un enlace entre ambas lenguas, encontramos la explicación a los significados de estas voces y, con ello, un método significativo por el que hacer más fácil y eficaz su adquisición o enseñanza. Pretendemos que este esbozo pueda servir de ayuda a los investigadores que en el futuro pretendan trabajar en estas nuevas alternativas.

Scope Lack of information about the impact of maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the elemental and metabolomic profile of human milk (HM). Methods and results An observational study on HM from mothers with COVID-19 is conducted including a prepandemic control group. Maternal–infant clinical records and symptomatology are recorded. The absolute quantification of elements and untargeted relative metabolomic profiles are determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, respectively. Associations of HM SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with elemental and metabolomic profiles are studied. COVID-19 has a significant impact on HM composition. COVID-19 reduces the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Se, Ni, V, and Aluminium (Al) and increases Zn compared to prepandemic control samples. A total of 18 individual metabolites including amino acids, peptides, fatty acids and conjugates, purines and derivatives, alcohols, and polyols are significantly different in HM from SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers. Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine, and linoleic acid pathways are significantly altered. Differences are obtained depending on COVID-19 symptomatic and asymptomatic status. Conclusions This study provides unique insights about the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the elemental and metabolomic profiles of HM that warrants further research due the potential implications for infant health.

Introduction Violence against women is a global health problem, and gender violence is a multifactorial phenomenon generally attributed to the fact of living in a patriarchal culture setting. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, LILACS, MEDES, Web of Science, CUIDEN, ENFISPO, IBECS, Dialnet and Cuidatge. Inclusion criteria: quantitative design, Spanish population, Spanish, English, Portuguese and/or French language, no time restriction and use of the Myths about Love Scale. Data was collected and analysed from July to October 2020. A total of 146 records were identified, of which, after applying the eligibility criteria, 12 studies were included, and 6 met the criteria for the meta-analysis. The descriptive and prevalence analysis was performed by means of StatsDirect. In all the analyses, statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05 and the CIs, at 95%. Results The most accepted myths were those related to love idealization: the eternal passion, marriage, omnipotence and perfect match myths. The least accepted myths were those of the couple, jealousy and love-maltreatment link. Men and women accepted the myths in a similar manner, although the former showed more participation in jealousy and in love-maltreatment link. Conclusions The study contributes a current perspective about the beliefs regarding the love myths that can be a conditioning factor in love relationships and a risk factor for gender violence. The bet is on preventive education and socialization at all levels, as well as on the deconstruction of the concept of romantic love and its myths to foster healthy and egalitarian relationships.

Biological systems are exposed to a complex environment in which pollutants can interact through synergistic or antagonistic mechanisms, but limited information is available on the combined effects. To this end, conventional and antibiotic-treated (Abx) mice models were fed regular rodent or selenium (Se) supplemented diets and exposed to a “chemical cocktail” (CC) including metals and pharmaceuticals. Metallomics, metabolomics, and metataxomics were combined to delve into the impact on gut microbiota, plasma selenoproteome, metabolome, and arsenic metabolization. At the molecular level, Se decreased the concentration of the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase in plasma and increased the arsenic methylation rate, possibly favoring its excretion, but not in the Abx and also plasma metabolomes of Abx, and Abx-Se were not differentiated. Moreover, numerous associations were obtained between plasma selenoproteins and gut microbes. Se-supplementation partially antagonizes the gut microbiota alteration caused by Abx, and slightly by CC, but strongly altered profiles were observed in CC-Abx-Se, suggesting synergistic deleterious effects between pollutants, Abx and Se. Moreover, although CC and Abx changed gut microbiota, several common taxa were enriched in CC-Abx and control mice, indicating possible synergistic effects. Our results suggest a potential beneficial impact of supplementation, but mediated by gut microbes being reversed in their absence.

Background: COVID-19 has caused a series of economic, social, personal, and occupational consequences that may affect the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs), with the consequent risk of developing suicidal ideation and behaviors. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the main risk factors that may predispose HCWs to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review of studies published between January 2020 and August 2022 was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines in the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools for non-randomized studies of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The followed protocol is listed in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with code CRD42022340732. Results: A total of 34 studies were included in this review. There are a number of underlying factors such as higher rates of depression, anxiety, pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders or previous lifetime suicide attempt, living alone, having problems with alcohol and/or other drugs, etc. that favor the emergence of suicidal tendencies and ideation in times of COVID-19. Similarly, the pandemic may have precipitated a series of factors such as economic concerns, assessing one's working conditions as poor, having family members or friends infected, changes in services or functions, and feeling discriminated against or stigmatized by society. Other factors such as age, sex, or type of healthcare worker show differences between studies. Conclusion: Organizations should ensure the adoption of strategies and programmes for early detection of suicides as well as increased attention to the mental health of professions with a high workload.

This paper discusses the different types of rules inducing a gender-balanced composition of international legal bodies, the recent evolution in the composition of those bodies from a gender perspective, and the relationship between the aforementioned rules and the state of the art since the 2021 Human Rights Council Report on current levels of representation of women in human rights organs and mechanisms. The study differentiates between the hard and soft rules on gender equality and the rules governing the nomination and election procedures for those legal bodies. The final aim is to draw conclusions on the nature and effectiveness of the different set of rules, proposing a twofold strategy to advance the gender balance question. Undoubtedly, there is no way back, according to the already long-lasting social and legal debate in the academy and the growing domestic and international practice. Although fruits have been reaped, it is necessary to develop new legal tools to strengthen the results achieved and fill the gaps., Este artículo analiza los diferentes tipos de normas dirigidas a lograr una composición equilibrada de género de los órganos internacionales con competencias jurídicas, la evolución reciente en la composición de dichos órganos desde una perspectiva de género y la relación entre las normas mencionadas y dicha evolución, principalmente teniendo en cuenta el Informe del Consejo de Derechos Humanos sobre los niveles actuales de representación de las mujeres en los órganos y mecanismos de derechos humanos, de 2021. El estudio diferencia entre las normas de hard y soft law en relación a la igualdad de género y las normas que regulan los procedimientos de nominación y elección de los miembros de estos órganos. El objetivo final es extraer conclusiones sobre la naturaleza y eficacia de los diferentes conjuntos de normas, proponiendo una doble estrategia para avanzar. Sin duda, la ya larga vida del debate social y jurídico en la academia y la creciente práctica estatal e internacional hacen imposible el retroceso. Si bien se han cosechado frutos, ese necesario desarrollar nuevas herramientas legales que permitan generar nuevos resultados., Cet article analyse les différents types de normes facilitant une composition équilibrée en genre des organes internationaux dotés de pouvoirs juridiques, l’évolution récente de la composition de ces organes dans une perspective de genre, et la relation entre les normes susmentionnées et ladite évolution, en tenant compte principalement du rapport du Conseil des droits de l’homme sur les niveaux actuels de représentation des femmes dans les organes et mécanismes des droits de l’homme, de 2021. Cette étude fait la distinction entre les normes de droit dur et souple (hard et soft law) en matière de parité de genres et les normes qui régissent les procédures de nomination et d’élection des membres de ces organes. Le but ultime est de tirer des conclusions sur la nature et l’efficacité des différents ensembles de règles, en proposant une stratégie à deux volets pour aller de l’avant. Sans aucun doute, la vie déjà longue du débat social et juridique dans l’académie et la pratique croissante des États tant á niveau interne qu’internationales rendent impossible tout marche en arrière. Bien que des fruits aient été récoltés, il est nécessaire de développer de nouveaux outils juridiques qui permettent de générer de nouveaux acquis.

Separating children traveling accompanied by a nonfamily adult is a current practice serving the general purpose of fighting against sexual exploitation, minor trafficking, or general crime prevention. However, such a routine response could violate a minor’s right to family life or preclude an attempted migration to reunification. Although no specific normative framework exists for this migratory category, we will draw our analysis of the conflicting interests by resorting to human rights case law. On the one hand, the expansion of the legally recognized concept of family must help protect interpersonal bonds not based on biological relationships, according to the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. On the other hand, restrictions to the right to family life can be taken for fighting against crime, although a goal of general prevention may not comply with human rights standards on the limitation of rights. The required balance between conflicting interests can be established by resorting to the best interests of the minor. To conclude, we argue that this category could certainly benefit from a concerted, common legislative action at the level of the European Union when revisiting the migration legal regime, alongside operational measures at national, regional, and local levels., La separación de los niños que viajan acompañados de un adulto con el que no tienen un vínculo biológico o familiar en sentido legal supone una práctica habitual como forma de protección frente al tráfico de personas. Sin embargo, puede constituir una vulneración del derecho a la vida de familia de un menor o impedir un intento de reunificación familiar. Los menores separados constituyen una categoría no regulada jurídicamente de forma autónoma. Sin embargo, el examen de los intereses legales contrapuestos puede llevarse a cabo a partir de la jurisprudencia europea de derechos humanos. De un lado, la expansión del concepto de familia sancionado por el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos y el Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea permite proteger vínculos no exclusivamente biológicos. De otro lado, el objetivo de prevención general —lucha contra el tráfico o la trata— no es suficiente por sí mismo para garantizar el respeto de los requisitos de las limitaciones de derechos. El equilibrio entre interés público e individual debe alcanzarse a través de la individualización del interés superior del menor. Para concluir, se proponen medidas normativas y de aplicación, tanto a nivel de la Unión Europea como nacional, regional y local.

Ethanol and other biofuels produced during biomass conversion must be separated from the fermentation broth (mainly water) before being used as a fuel. This can be addressed by adsorption-based separation using porous materials. The key objective of this study is to obtain a molecular understanding of water and alcohol adsorption in pure-silica zeolites, particularly in silicalite-1 (MFI-type zeolite) and silicalite-2 (MEL-type zeolite). Molecular simulation techniques are used for this purpose. They provide information on the configuration of the fluids, and so the microscopic network structure of the adsorbed polar molecules can be characterized by using a specific criterion of hydrogen bonding formation. We conducted Grand-Canonical Monte Carlo simulations to compute the adsorption isotherms of pure short alcohols and water and from the liquid alcohol/water binary mixtures throughout the composition range. Despite MFI and MEL being structurally very similar, we found differences in adsorption, which are related to the underlying molecular behavior. While water intrusion occurs by applying pressure due to stronger water-water than water–silicalite interactions, notable water adsorption from the mixture occurs first by hydrogen bond formation with the adsorbed alcohols and then by self-association. A higher degree of water clustering in MEL compared to MFI zeolite, promoted by its straight channels, leads to relatively lower uptakes of water in the latter zeolite (in favor of alcohol molecules).

Selenium (Se) is a vital trace element for many living organisms inclusive of aquatic species. Although the antagonistic action of this element against other pollutants has been previously described for mammals and birds, limited information on the join effects in bivalves is available. To this end, bivalves of the species Scrobicularia plana were exposed to Se and Cd individually and jointly. Digestive glands were analysed to determine dose-dependent effects, the potential influence of Se on Cd bioaccumulationas well as the possible recover of the oxidative stress and metabolic alterations induced by Cd. Selenium co-exposure decreased the accumulation of Cd at low concentrations. Cd exposure significantly altered the metabolome of clams such as aminoacyltRNA biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid and amino acid metabolism, while Se co-exposure ameliorated several altered metabolites such asLysoPC (14:0), LysoPE (20:4), LysoPE (22:6), PE (14:0/18:0), PE (20:3/18:4) andpropionyl-L-carnitine.Additionally, Se seems to be able to regulate the redox status of the digestive gland of clams preventing the induction of oxidativedamage in this organ. This study shows the potential Se antagonism against Cd toxicity in S. plana and the importance to study join effects of pollutants to understand the mechanism underlined the effects.

In this study, we are interested in the acorn biometry of the putative oak of Akfadou forest in Algeria. We measured the size of acorns of 34 putative species’ trees collected from 9 stands in the Akfadou forest massif (Algeria) and then we evaluated the growth of the seedlings by sowing the acorns in a nursery. We found that the performance of oak seedlings is strongly influenced by a “stand effect” and a “close pure species effect.” Indeed, the position and the ecological region influence acorn morphology. The growth of putative oaks in the nursery is remarkably homogeneous in terms of seedling height and diameter. However, the “close pure species” effect appears in the case of the high altitude stand where holm oak is present. This diversity is probably the consequence of genetic variations and/or environmental conditions of the stands. With climate change and decreasing precipitation, the frequency of dry years will only increase. These putative hybrids trees could constitute a future alternative for reforestation, improvement, and diversification of species in Algeria.

We study a model of a quantum collective spin weakly coupled to a spin-polarized Markovian environment and find that the spectrum is divided into two regions that we name normal and exceptional Liouvillian spectral phases. In the thermodynamic limit, the exceptional spectral phase displays the unique property of being made up exclusively of second-order exceptional points. As a consequence, the evolution of any initial density matrix populating this region is slowed down and cannot be described by a linear combination of exponential decays. This phase is separated from the normal one by a critical line in which the density of Liouvillian eigenvalues diverges, a phenomenon analogous to that of excited-state quantum phase transitions observed in some closed quantum systems. In the limit of no bath polarization, this criticality is transferred onto the steady state, implying a dissipative quantum phase transition and the formation of a boundary time crystal.

Several environmental pollutants have been shown to damage brain and affect gut microbiota. Limited evidence is available about the impact of "chemical cocktails" (CC) of xenobiotics on brain metabolome and their possible influence in the gut-brain crosstalk. To this end, BALB/c mice were exposed to heavy metals (As, Hg, Cd) and pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and flumequine) under regular rodent diet or supplemented with selenium (Se). Selenium, an antioxidant well-known for its antagonism against the neurotoxicity of several pollutants, modulated several brain metabolic impairments caused by CC (e.g., brain levels of the excitatory amino acid N-acetyl aspartic acid) by influencing mainly the metabolisms of purine, glycosylate and dicarboxylate, glutamate, glycerophospholipid, alanine and aspartate. Numerous associations were obtained between brain metabolites and gut microbes and they changed after Se-supplementation (e.g., Lactobacillus was positively associated with a brain ceramide, phosphoserine, phosphocholine, vitamin D3 derivative, fatty acids, malic acid, amino acids, and urea after the exposure, but not after Se-supplementation). Our results showed numerous evidences about the impact of CC on brain metabolome, the potential role of Se as an antagonist and their impact on the gut-brain axis. Further research is needed to understand the complex mechanism of action implied on CC-brain-microbiota interactions.

Scope Lack of information about the impact of maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the elemental and metabolomic profile of human milk (HM). Methods and results An observational study on HM from mothers with COVID-19 is conducted including a prepandemic control group. Maternal–infant clinical records and symptomatology are recorded. The absolute quantification of elements and untargeted relative metabolomic profiles are determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, respectively. Associations of HM SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with elemental and metabolomic profiles are studied. COVID-19 has a significant impact on HM composition. COVID-19 reduces the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Se, Ni, V, and Aluminium (Al) and increases Zn compared to prepandemic control samples. A total of 18 individual metabolites including amino acids, peptides, fatty acids and conjugates, purines and derivatives, alcohols, and polyols are significantly different in HM from SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers. Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine, and linoleic acid pathways are significantly altered. Differences are obtained depending on COVID-19 symptomatic and asymptomatic status. Conclusions This study provides unique insights about the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the elemental and metabolomic profiles of HM that warrants further research due the potential implications for infant health.

Gold nanoparticles stabilized by NHC ligands and supported onto reduced graphene oxide (rGO) catalyse the functionalization of cyclohexane and benzene C–H bonds upon insertion of carbene CHCO2Et (from N2[double bond, length as m-dash]CHCO2Et) groups. This is the first example in which such Csp3-H or Csp2-H bonds are functionalized with this strategy with nanoparticulated gold. This Au-NP@rGO material shows an exceptional activity, providing TON values 5–10 times higher than those already reported for molecular gold catalysts. Recyclability is also effective, reaching an accumulated TON value of 1400 after six consecutive uses.

Research in the Guadalquivir estuary and its environs has revealed evidence of a periodic succession of extreme-wave events in the area from the third millennium BC to the third century AD. Return periods range from 400 to 800 years. Some of these extreme-wave events may have had a magnitude comparable with that of the so-called “Lisbon earthquake” of 1755. Contrary to the tenets of the uniformitarian paradigm in geology—still influential in the archeological literature—these events had short-, mid-, and long-term geomorphological and paleo-environmental, as well as immediately destructive and demographic, effects. Attention should also be called to the reverberations of these events in the cultural development of southwestern Iberia, which is independently known for puzzling interruptions, recommencements, and transformations every few centuries from the Neolithic to the Roman period. The two records, natural and cultural, might be connected. In study areas with a compelling historical and archeological heritage, such as western Andalusia, there is a need for multidisciplinary projects that, by bringing geology and biology to bear on archeology and history, aim to accurately establish the succession of geographical and environmental transformations, the impact of these transformations on the area’s cultural history, and the chronology of the events.

Inverse vulcanization has emerged as a reaction to achieve hybrid inorganic-organic polymeric materials, which allows us to use the high amount of sulfur produced during refining crude oil as a raw material. In this study, a gamut of copolymers has been formulated using a quantitative atom economy, that is, elemental sulfur and castor oil (CO), as can be seen from the appearance of gels to crystalline copolymers. The physical and chemical characterization has been carried out using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, two types of copolymers have been selected to test their capabilities in different applications. Copolymers with S ratios higher than 30% have been tested for water remediation, with high removal rates for metals such as lead and cadmium. Although copolymers with a percentage of up to 10% sulfur have been tested as bio-based lubricants, showing improvements in terms of viscosities compared to the initial vegetable oil.

The current great concern about plastic pollution opens up opportunities for the production of more sustainable polymers. Inverse vulcanization has emerged as a novel procedure to obtain inorganic-organic hybrid polymeric materials. Sulfur is attained as a by-product of oil refining production and makes inverse vulcanization a sustainable process due to a large amount of sulfur without a useful life. In previous studies, vegetable oils were used as a comonomer with sulfur to form copolymers based on sustainable raw material. Nevertheless, compounds from agro-wastes, could be a third comonomer that improves new copolymers bio-applications. In this study, a new series of copolymers with castor oil as vegetable oil and sulfur was formulated by adding a third compound bearing double bonds or heteroatoms. A study was conducted to assess the antimicrobial capacity and antioxidant activity of the copolymers obtained to demonstrate the benefits of adding a new comonomer to improve their bioactivity.

Background: local morphological variation can provide useful information to clarify the role of hybridization in Mediterranean oaks. Accordingly, we have characterized putative hybrids and oak species coexisting in a highly diversified oak forest in Algeria with four native oak species (Quercus suber L., Q. ilex L., Q. canariensis Willd., and Q. afares Pomel). (2) Methods: sixteen plots, including 89 trees from the four native species and their putative hybrids were sampled. Leaves were scanned and their geometric morphometry analyzed by using 11 landmarks on the right side on their abaxial surface. Variation within and among species, and the relationship among oak species and their hybrids were analyzed, utilizing an ANOVA and a canonical analysis using morphoJ software. (3) Results: using the geometric morphometry analysis, we observed that Q. afares shape is intermediate between Q. suber and Q. canariensis, being Q. ilex very different from the others, and that there is no overlap among them. Putative hybrids are morphologically close to Q. afares and, to a lesser extent, to Q. suber and, finally, to Q. ilex and Q. canariensis. (4) Conclusions: the study opens the field for future molecular characterization of hybrids, and for determining their role in terms of adaptation to actual and predicted future climatic conditions. The morphological proximity of hybrids to Q. afares demonstrate this species advantage in the area of study and its importance for the future evolution of the species in the Mediterranean.

This work explores the feasibility of using waste cooking oils (WCO) as eco-lubricants. Five WCO from different food facilities were studied. Three of them were fractionated into both lighter and heavier fractions by molecular distillation. A comprehensive chemical characterization (fatty acids distribution, polar compounds and acidity) was carried out on all WCOs and their fractions, which led to set relationships with the oils’ properties (such as viscosity index, low temperature viscous flow behavior, oxidation resistance, etc.). It is worth mentioning the high viscosity index values found in waste cooking oils with both low total polar compounds and acidity level, as well as the benefit which acidity had on their fluidity at low temperature and their lubricity. Moreover, it was also noteworthy that the lighter fractions, merely constituted by free fatty acids (FFA), presented an improved oxidative resistance. The largest OOT enhancement, 12.4%, was found for the light fraction of a non-segregated oil. Moreover, a better thermal stability was shown by the heavier fractions. Finally, both fractions exhibited enhanced friction-reducing capability as compared to their parent WCO. The light fractions from a non-segregated oil, a fast food restaurant oil and a deep-fried food establishment oil yielded wear reductions of 11.7%, 44.3% and 36.8%, respectively. Therefore, molecular distillation has been proved to be a key strategy to obtain more efficient liquid eco-lubricants.

Biological systems are exposed to a complex environment in which pollutants can interact through synergistic or antagonistic mechanisms, but limited information is available on the combined effects. To this end, conventional and antibiotic-treated (Abx) mice models were fed regular rodent or selenium (Se) supplemented diets and exposed to a "chemical cocktail" (CC) including metals and pharmaceuticals. Metallomics, metabolomics, and metataxomics were combined to delve into the impact on gut microbiota, plasma selenoproteome, metabolome, and arsenic metabolization. At the molecular level, Se decreased the concentration of the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase in plasma and increased the arsenic methylation rate, possibly favoring its excretion, but not in the Abx and also plasma metabolomes of Abx, and Abx-Se were not differentiated. Moreover, numerous associations were obtained between plasma selenoproteins and gut microbes. Se-supplementation partially antagonizes the gut microbiota alteration caused by Abx, and slightly by CC, but strongly altered profiles were observed in CC-Abx-Se, suggesting synergistic deleterious effects between pollutants, Abx and Se. Moreover, although CC and Abx changed gut microbiota, several common taxa were enriched in CC-Abx and control mice, indicating possible synergistic effects. Our results suggest a potential beneficial impact of supplementation, but mediated by gut microbes being reversed in their absence.

Selenium is a well-known essential element with important roles in human reproductive health mainly due to its antioxidant character. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of selenoproteins on gut microbiota and male reproductive health. A new assay for the absolute quantification of selenoproteins in testicular tissue based on two dimensional chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was performed for the first time. The gut microbiota profile was obtained by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Numerous associations were found between testicular selenoproteins and gut microbiota (e.g. Mucispirillum, related with sperm activity and testosterone, was associated with glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and selenoalbumin (SeAlb), while Escherichia/Shigella, related to sex hormones, correlated with GPx, selenoprotein P (SelP) and SeAlb). The effects of Se-supplementation on testicular selenoproteins only occur in conventional mice, suggesting a potential selenoproteins-microbiota interplay that underlies testicular function. The selenoproteins GPx and SelP have been quantified for the first time in the testicles, and the novel identification of SeAlb, a protein with nonspecifically incorporated Se, is also reported. These findings demonstrate the significant impact of Se-supplementation on gut microbiota and male reproductive health. In addition, the analytical methodology applied here in selenoprotein quantification in testicular tissue opens new possibilities to evaluate their role in gut microbiota and reproductive health axis.

Two four-coordinate organoboron N,C-chelate complexes with different functional terminals on the PEG chains are studied with respect to their photophysical properties within human MCF-7 cells. Their excited-state properties are characterized by time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime microscopy. The excited-state relaxation dynamics of the two complexes are similar when studied in DMSO. Aggregation of the complexes with the carboxylate terminal group is observed in water. When studying the light-driven excited-state dynamics of both complexes in cellulo, i. e., after being taken up into human MCF-7 cells, both complexes show different features depending on the nature of the anchoring PEG chains. The lifetime of a characteristic intramolecular charge-transfer state is significantly shorter when studied in cellulo (360±170 ps) as compared to in DMSO (∼960 ps) at 600 nm for the complexes with an amino group. However, the kinetics of the complexes with the carboxylate group are in line with those recorded in DMSO. On the other hand, the lifetimes of the fluorescent state are almost identical for both complexes in cellulo. These findings underline the importance to evaluate the excited-state properties of fluorophores in a complex biological environment in order to fully account for intra- and intermolecular effects governing the light-induced processes in functional dyes.

Augmented reality is presented as a new technology that offers a different way of teaching in an effective and attractive way, allowing the enrichment of educational scenarios by providing complementary virtual information. This study aims to know the notions that teachers in training have about augmented reality in terms of its conception, its potential and its possible didactic application in primary education classrooms. For this purpose, a questionnaire has been developed from a previous study which, after being validated, has been passed on to a sample of 239 Primary Education students. The SPSS statistical package (v25) was used for the analysis of the data and among the results of the dimensions studied; it should be noted that Augmented Reality is perceived as a very useful educational resource. It also has great potential for primary school student learning, since it helps to promote the development of curricular content, being an attractive, fun, dynamic and versatile tool, among other characteristics. It is concluded that, although augmented reality is a technology that helps and facilitates the understanding of curricular content, it is necessary to train teachers to use it correctly, and the use of these tools continues to be a challenge for educators

The chlorophyte microalga Chlorella sorokiniana was tested for the bioremediation of heavy metals pollution. It was cultured with different concentrations of Cu+2+, Cd+2+, As (III) and As (V), showing a significant inhibition on its growth at concentrations of 500 µM Cu+2+, 250 µM Cd+2+, 750 µM AsO33- and 5 mM AsO43- or higher. Moreover, the consumption of ammonium was also studied, showing significant differences for concentrations higher than 1 mM of Cu+2+ and As (III), and 5 mM of As (V). The determination of intracellular heavy metals concentration revealed that Chlorella sorokiniana is an outstanding Cd accumulator organism, able to accumulate 11,232 mg kg−1 of Cd, and removing 65% of initial concentration of this heavy metal. Finally, antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and enzymes involved in the production of glutamate and cysteine, such as glutamine syntethase (GS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OASTL) and NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD-IDH) were studied both at gene expression and enzymatic activity levels. These enzymes exhibited different grades of upregulation, especially in response to Cd and As stress. However, GS expression was downregulated when Chlorella sorokiniana was cultured in the presence of these heavy metals.

Students are a population at risk of developing psychological complications, such as psychological discomfort, stress, and anxiety, among other problems, especially during the current health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study’s objective was to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological discomfort of final-year nursing students. A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out.To analyze the psychological discomfort of the participants, the Kessler test (previously validated) was used. The results of this test were divided into two levels (High ≥ 21/Low < 21), showing high sensitivity as a screening method for anxiety and depression. Questionnaires were sent via email to final-year nursing students of Spanish and South American universities, inviting them to participate voluntarily.The sample consisted of 400 students, with an average age of 23.29 years and a sex proportion of 82.75% women and 17.28% men. Almost all participants (n = 396) belonged to Spanish universities, and the greatest participation corresponded to Andalusian universities (64.5%).The average psychological discomfort was high (M = 27.94).Statistically significant relationships were detected between age, sex, and feeling ready for the world of work, observing no relationships with the rest of the studied variables. The sample of 4th-year students of the Degree of Nursing presented a high level of psychological discomfort. This pathology does not seem to be related to having suffered from COVID-19 or being in contact with infected people during the practicum and is more strongly related to personal sociodemographic variables and students ´ preparation for the world of work.

Haloarchaea produce C50 carotenoids such as bacterioruberin, which are of biotechnological in-terest. This study aimed to analyze the effect of different environmental and nutritional conditions on the cellular growth and dynamics of carotenoids accumulation in Haloferax mediterranei. The maximum production of carotenoids (40 µg·mL−1) was obtained during the stationary phase of growth, probably due to nutrient-limiting conditions (one-step culture). By seven days of culture, 1 mL culture produced 22.4 mg of dry weight biomass containing 0.18 % (w/w) of carotenoids. On the other hand, carbon-deficient cultures (low C/N ratio) were observed to be optimum for C50 bacterioruberin production by Hfx. mediterranei, but negatively affected the growth of cells. Thus, a two-steps process was evaluated for optimum carotenoids yield. In the first step, a nutri-ent-repleted culture medium enabled the haloarchaea to produce biomass, while in the second step, the biomass was incubated under osmotic stress and in a carbon-deficient medium. Under the conditions used, the obtained biomass contained 0.27% (w/w) of carotenoids after seven days, which accounts for 58.49 µg·mL−1 of carotenoids for a culture with turbidity 14.0.

Tracks and trackways of newborns, calves and juveniles attributed to straight-tusked elephants were found in the MIS 5 site (Upper Pleistocene) known as the Matalascañas Trampled Surface (MTS) at Huelva, SW Spain. Evidence of a snapshot of social behaviour, especially parental care, can be determined from the concentration of elephant tracks and trackways, and especially from apparently contemporaneous converging trackways, of small juvenile and larger, presumably young adult female tracks. The size frequency of the tracks enabled us to infer body mass and age distribution of the animals that crossed the MTS. Comparisons of the MTS demographic frequency with the morphology of the fore- and hind limbs of extant and fossil proboscideans shed light into the reproductive ecology of the straight-tusked elephant, Palaeloxodon antiquus. The interdune pond habitat appeared to have been an important water and food resource for matriarchal herds of straight-tusked elephants and likely functioned as a reproductive habitat, with only the rare presence of adult and older males in the MTS. The preservation of this track record in across a paleosol surface, although heavily trampled by different animals, including Neanderthals, over a short time frame, permitted an exceptional view into short-term intraspecific trophic interactions occurring in the Last Interglacial coastal habitat. Therefore, it is hypothesized that Neanderthals visited MTS for hunting or scavenging on weakened or dead elephants, and more likely calves.

Within-field demography of weeds exhibiting wind-mediated long distance seed movement can be largely governed by extra-field seed-source populations. Thus, for these species, a clear understanding of the temporal and spatial patterns of seed dispersal can benefit the development of effective management options. The spatial distribution of the seeds released from the onset of fruiting, in early summer, to the onset of the rainy season, in early autumn, was studied during 2 years at a Mediterranean-climate locality in Erigeron bonariensis L. (Hairy fleabane), a wind-dispersed invasive weed inhabiting ruderal environments and crop fields. Each year, a small source population was established in an open field in SW Spain and seed traps were arranged in the eight cardinal directions at distances up to 100 m (year 1), or in the NE and NW directions at distances up to 65 m (year 2). Counts of trapped seeds were carried out at 4–6 day intervals and the number of seeds released by the source population was estimated each year in most census dates. Four empirical dispersal models based on either thin-tailed or fat-tailed density kernels were tested using year 1 data for their ability to represent the spatial distribution of seeds. To test for anisotropic dispersal, model parameters were allowed to vary according to the wind pattern in each cardinal direction. Based on information criteria, a model including a fat-tailed, Log-hyperbolic secant kernel showing parameter response to the wind pattern, highlighting striking anisotropic dispersal, was selected and evaluated using year 2 data. Distance percentiles 50 and 80 attained by the seed crop released in year 1 season were modeled at 530 m and 10,498 m, respectively. The opposite quadrants encompassing the dominant downwind (N-NE) and upwind directions (S-SW) received 52.5% and 10.8% of seeds. The year 1 population, consisting of 85 plants, generated a modeled seed rain of at least 10 seeds m−2 up to 200 m downwind. Implication