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Abstract The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has two scientific objectives of cosmological focus: to probe the expansion rate of the universe, and to understand stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and their implications for early universe and particle physics, from the MeV to the Planck scale. However, the range of potential cosmological applications of gravitational-wave observations extends well beyond these two objectives. This publication presents a summary of the state of the art in LISA cosmology, theory and methods, and identifies new opportunities to use gravitational-wave observations by LISA to probe the universe.

In the original publication [...]

Methylene blue was electropolymerized on the surface of stainless steel 316. The addition of sodium oxalate and working at a pH near 11 allowed us to obtain steel electrodes coated with an electroactive polymer. This polymer shows electrochromic properties like those of the monomer, but also exhibits electroactivity at more positive potentials, which is associated with the active centers in the bridges between monomeric units. A digital video electrochemistry study allowed us to simultaneously quantify, on the one hand, the color changes on the entire surface of the stainless steel and on the other to separate the contribution of the active centers of the phenothiazine ring and of the inter-monomer bonds to the overall polymer response by means of assessing the mean color intensities. A reduction mechanism for the polymer, compatible with the pH variation of the observed electrochemical behavior, was proposed.

The objective of this study was to assess the health and welfare of 70 commercial broiler flocks (transport batches) in three distinct slaughterhouses based on various indicators including emaciation, dirty feathers (DFs), footpad dermatitis (FPD), hock burn (HB), breast burn (BB), breast blister, breast ulcer, ascites, septicemia/abnormal color, cellulitis, extensive traumatisms, dead on arrival (DoA) and condemnation rate. Assessment scales ranging from 0 (absence) to 2 (severe) were used for DFs, FPD, and HB, while a 0 (absence) to 1 (present) scale was applied to BB, breast blisters, and breast ulcers. The prevalence of total condemnation causes (emaciation, ascites, septicemia/abnormal color, cellulitis, and extensive traumatism) and DoA were recorded and presented in percentages. Three flocks presented condemnation rates higher than 4% and 11 flocks presented DoA rates higher than 0.5%. Twenty-one flocks achieved grade 1 (warning) for FPD and 14 achieved grade 2 for FPD (alarm). Extensive trauma was observed in 0.01% of the slaughtered animals, and no flock reached the threshold of 2%. Breast blisters and breast ulcers lesions were not observed in the studied flocks. The significant positive associations observed for the presence of severe footpad dermatitis (FPD2), severe hock burns (HB2), and breast burns (BB1) indicate simultaneous occurrences. Absences of hock burns (HB0) and breast burns (BB0) were also associated. Eleven houses that obtained the worst results for welfare indicators at slaughterhouses were audited. FPD, HB, DoA, and the condemnation rate were the most crucial indicators for identifying farms with inadequate welfare conditions. These indicators should be systematically integrated into the welfare monitoring of broilers in slaughterhouses. Audits conducted on farms detected some noncompliance with regulatory welfare standards and suggested improvements in environmental and structural conditions, as well as the reduction in stocking densities and improvements in the water systems.

Dairy products are an important source of protein and other nutrients in the Mediterranean diet. In these countries, the most common sources of milk for producing dairy products are cow, goat, sheep, and buffalo. Andalusia is traditionally the largest producer of goat milk in Spain. Kefir is a fermented product made from bacteria and yeasts and has health benefits beyond its nutritional properties. There is a lack of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms and metabolites that bring about these benefits. In this work, the combination of analytical techniques (GC-FID, UHPLC-MS-QToF, GC-QqQ-MS, and GC-ToF-MS) resulted in the detection of 105 metabolites in kefir produced with goat milk from two different thermal treatments (raw and pasteurized) fermented at four time points (12, 24, 36, and 48 h, using 0 h as the control). Of these, 27 metabolites differed between kefir produced with raw and pasteurized milk. These changes could possibly be caused by the effect of pasteurization on the microbial population in the starting milk. Some interesting molecules were identified, such as shikimic acid, dehydroabietic acid, GABA, and tyramine, which could be related to antibacterial properties, strengthening of the immune system, and arterial pressure. Moreover, a viability assay of the NIRS technique was performed to evaluate its use in monitoring the fermentation and classification of samples, which resulted in a 90% accuracy in comparison to correctly classified samples according to their fermentation time. This study represents the most comprehensive metabolomic analysis of goat milk kefir so far, revealing the intricate changes in metabolites during fermentation and the impact of milk treatment.

The implementation of the dual vocational training policy establishes horizontal training between schools and the labour market, contributes to educational continuity and is an effective measure against early school leaving. In addition, it has a link with the business sector that enables labour integration and also participates in the training and qualification of students. To approach it, we start from a historical overview of education, where we analyse the different laws passed in recent decades and investigate dual vocational training as an effective policy for training for employment and training of skills, abilities and competences necessary for the acquisition of a job. To this end, we present a study in which we make visible, through interviews, the perspective of students in relation to vocational training in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The majority of those interviewed gave a positive assessment of these studies. Moreover, the interviews show how this educational policy has a positive impact on the labour market insertion of the participants.

Salmonella spp. pose a global threat as a leading cause of foodborne illnesses, particularly prevalent in the European Union (EU), where it remains the second cause of foodborne outbreaks. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella spp. has become a critical concern, complicating treatment strategies and escalating the risk of severe infections. The study focuses on large and small ruminants, identifying a prevalence of Salmonella spp. in slaughterhouses and revealing varied AMR rates across antimicrobial families throughout a meta-analysis. Also, comparison with AMR in human medicine was carried out by a systematic review. The results of the present meta-analysis displayed a prevalence of Salmonella spp. in large and small ruminants at slaughterhouses of 8.01% (8.31%, cattle; 7.04%, goats; 6.12%, sheep). According to the AMR of Salmonella spp., 20, 14, and 13 out of 62 antimicrobials studied were classified as low (5% but 10%), respectively. Salmonella spp. did not display AMR against aztreonam, mezlocillin, ertapenem, meropenem, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, levofloxacin, tilmicosin, linezolid, fosfomycin, furazolidone, quinupristin, trimethoprim and spectinomycin. In contrast, a prevalence of 100% of AMR has been described against ofloxacin, lincomycin, and cloxacillin. In the context of the main antibiotics used in the treatment of human salmonellosis, azithromycin was shown to have the highest resistance among Salmonella spp. isolates from humans. Regarding cephalosporins, which are also used for the treatment of salmonellosis in humans, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. resistance to this class of antibiotics was similar in both human and animal samples. Concerning quinolones, despite a heightened resistance profile in Salmonella spp. isolates from ruminant samples, there appears to be no discernible compromise to the efficacy of salmonellosis treatment in humans since lower prevalences of AMR in Salmonella spp. isolated from human specimens were observed. Although the resistance of Salmonella spp. indicates some degree of concern, most antibiotics are not used in veterinary medicine. Thus, the contribution of cattle, sheep and goats to the rise of antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. and its potential impact on public health appears to be relatively insignificant, due to their low prevalence in carcasses and organs. Nevertheless, the observed low prevalence of Salmonella spp. in ruminants at slaughterhouse and the correspondingly low AMR rates of Salmonella spp. to key antibiotics employed in human medicine do not indicate that ruminant livestock poses a substantial public health risk concerning the transmission of AMR. Thus, the results observed in both the meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that AMR is not solely attributed to veterinary antibiotic use but is also influenced by factors such as animal health management (i.e., biosecurity measures, prophylactic schemes) and human medicine.

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin disease involving diverse symptoms with a variable clinical progress which can severely impact the patient’s quality of life as well as their mental health. The pathophysiological model of rosacea involves an unbalanced immune system predisposed to excessive inflammation, in addition to vascular and nervous alterations, being certain cutaneous microorganisms’ triggers of the symptoms onset. The gut-skin axis explains a bidirectional interaction between skin and gut microbiota in some inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, or rosacea. The introduction and consolidation of the next-generation sequencing in recent years has provided unprecedented information about the microbiome. However, the characterization of the gut and skin microbiota and the impact of the gut-skin axis in patients with rosacea has been little explored, in contrast to other inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. Furthermore, the clinical evolution of patients with rosacea is not always adequate and it is common for them to present a sustained symptomatology with frequent flare-ups. In this context, probiotic supplementation could improve the clinical evolution of these patients as happens in other pathologies. Through this review we aim to establish and compile the basics and directions of current knowledge to understand the mechanisms by which the microbiome influences the pathogenesis of rosacea, and how modulation of the skin and gut microbiota could benefit these patients.

GW230529 is the first compact binary coalescence detected by the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA collaboration with at least one component mass confidently in the lower mass gap, corresponding to the range 3–5 M _⊙ . If interpreted as a neutron star–black hole merger, this event has the most symmetric mass ratio detected so far and therefore has a relatively high probability of producing electromagnetic (EM) emission. However, no EM counterpart has been reported. At the merger time t _0 , Swift-BAT and Fermi-GBM together covered 100% of the sky. Performing a targeted search in a time window [ t _0 − 20 s, t _0 + 20 s], we report no detection by the Swift-BAT and Fermi-GBM instruments. Combining the position-dependent γ -ray flux upper limits and the gravitational-wave posterior distribution of luminosity distance, sky localization, and inclination angle of the binary, we derive constraints on the characteristic luminosity and structure of the jet possibly launched during the merger. Assuming a top-hat jet structure, we exclude at 90% credibility the presence of a jet that has at the same time an on-axis isotropic luminosity ≳10 ^48 erg s ^−1 in the bolometric band 1 keV–10 MeV and a jet opening angle ≳15°. Similar constraints are derived by testing other assumptions about the jet structure profile. Excluding GRB 170817A, the luminosity upper limits derived here are below the luminosity of any GRB observed so far.

Hybrid immunity (vaccination + natural infection) to SARS-CoV-2 provides superior protection to re-infection. We performed immune profiling studies during breakthrough infections in mRNA-vaccinated hamsters to evaluate hybrid immunity induction. The mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2, was dosed to induce binding antibody titers against ancestral spike, but inefficient serum virus neutralization of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 or variants of concern (VoCs). Vaccination reduced morbidity and controlled lung virus titers for ancestral virus and Alpha but allowed breakthrough infections in Beta, Delta and Mu-challenged hamsters. Vaccination primed for T cell responses that were boosted by infection. Infection back-boosted neutralizing antibody responses against ancestral virus and VoCs. Hybrid immunity resulted in more cross-reactive sera, reflected by smaller antigenic cartography distances. Transcriptomics post-infection reflects both vaccination status and disease course and suggests a role for interstitial macrophages in vaccine-mediated protection. Therefore, protection by vaccination, even in the absence of high titers of neutralizing antibodies in the serum, correlates with recall of broadly reactive B- and T-cell responses.

Summary: Primary human lung organoid-derived air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures serve as a physiologically relevant model to study human airway epithelium in vitro. Here, we present a protocol for establishing these cultures from cryopreserved human lung tissue. We describe steps for lung tissue cryostorage, tissue dissociation, lung epithelial organoid generation, and ALI culture differentiation. We also include quality control steps and technical readouts for monitoring virus response. This protocol demonstrates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in these cultures as an example of their utility.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Diana Cadena Castaneda et al. (2023).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Abstract Administration of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) has proved to be effective by providing immediate protection against SARS‐CoV‐2. However, dual strategies combining virus neutralization and immune response stimulation to enhance specific cytotoxic T cell responses, such as dendritic cell (DC) cross‐priming, represent a promising field but have not yet been explored. Here, a broadly nAb, TNT, are first generated by grafting an anti‐RBD biparatopic tandem nanobody onto a trimerbody scaffold. Cryo‐EM data show that the TNT structure allows simultaneous binding to all six RBD epitopes, demonstrating a high‐avidity neutralizing interaction. Then, by C‐terminal fusion of an anti‐DNGR‐1 scFv to TNT, the bispecific trimerbody TNTDNGR‐1 is generated to target neutralized virions to type 1 conventional DCs (cDC1s) and promote T cell cross‐priming. Therapeutic administration of TNTDNGR‐1, but not TNT, protects K18‐hACE2 mice from a lethal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, boosting virus‐specific humoral responses and CD8+ T cell responses. These results further strengthen the central role of interactions with immune cells in the virus‐neutralizing antibody activity and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of the Fc‐free strategy that can be used advantageously to provide both immediate and long‐term protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 and other viral infections.

The constant appearance of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VoCs) has jeopardized the protective capacity of approved vaccines against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). For this reason, the generation of new vaccine candidates adapted to the emerging VoCs is of special importance. Here, we developed an optimized COVID-19 vaccine candidate using the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector to express a full-length prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, containing 3 proline (3P) substitutions in the S protein derived from the beta (B.1.351) variant, termed MVA-S(3Pbeta). Preclinical evaluation of MVA-S(3Pbeta) in head-to-head comparison to the previously generated MVA-S(3P) vaccine candidate, expressing a full-length prefusion-stabilized Wuhan S protein (with also 3P substitutions), demonstrated that two intramuscular doses of both vaccine candidates fully protected transgenic K18-hACE2 mice from a lethal challenge with SARS-CoV-2 beta variant, reducing mRNA and infectious viral loads in the lungs and in bronchoalveolar lavages, decreasing lung histopathological lesions and levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs. Vaccination also elicited high titers of anti-S Th1-biased IgGs and neutralizing antibodies against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and VoCs alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron. In addition, similar systemic and local SARS-CoV-2 S-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immune responses were elicited by both vaccine candidates after a single intranasal immunization in C57BL/6 mice. These preclinical data support clinical evaluation of MVA-S(3Pbeta) and MVA-S(3P), to explore whether they can diversify and potentially increase recognition and protection of SARS-CoV-2 VoCs.

Abstract Background and objective Recently, we demonstrated that staging Parkinson's disease (PD) with a novel simple classification called MNCD, based on four axes (motor, non‐motor, cognition, and dependency) and five stages, correlated with disease severity and patients’ quality of life. Here, we analyzed the correlation of MNCD staging with PD caregiver's status. Patients and methods Data from the baseline visit of PD patients and their principal caregiver recruited from 35 centers in Spain from the COPPADIS cohort from January 2016 to November 2017 were used to apply the MNCD total score (from 0 to 12) and MNCD stages (from 1 to 5) in this cross‐sectional analysis. Caregivers completed the Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZCBI), Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II), PQ‐10, and EUROHIS‐QOL 8‐item index (EUROHIS‐QOL8). Results Two hundred and twenty‐four PD patients (63 ± 9.6 years old; 61.2% males) and their caregivers (58.5 ± 12.1 years old; 67.9% females) were included. The frequency of MNCD stages was 1, 7.6%; 2, 58.9%; 3, 31.3%; and 4–5, 2.2%. A more advanced MNCD stage was associated with a higher score on the ZCBI (p

La formación del futuro profesorado de Ciencias Sociales en España, en la etapa de secundaria, sigue un modelo consecutivo, es decir, primero se logra la titulación de Grado en alguna especialidad relacionada con las Ciencias Sociales y después se realiza un Máster de un año con formación principalmente pedagógica. Este Máster, el de Formación del Profesorado de Enseñanza Secundaria, es evaluado regularmente por agencias externas oficiales. El objetivo de este artículo es conocer la percepción del alumnado que cursa el Máster en la especialidad de Ciencias Sociales sobre la coordinación docente en dos universidades diferentes durante el curso 2020-2021. El método seguido en la investigación es el analítico-descriptivo-comparativo, combinando un enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo. El análisis se realiza a partir de la información recogida mediante un cuestionario y se compara con otras fuentes documentales como las procedentes de las agencias de evaluación oficiales. Los resultados confirman la necesidad de revisar la coordinación en aspectos como los contenidos de las asignaturas, la relación entre las materias, y la utilidad de las actividades. Se concluye que es necesario avanzar hacia un modelo docente universitario mucho más cooperativo y en el que la coordinación sea un pilar fundamental para mejorar la enseñanza.

ABSTRACTIn this text, Juan García Salazar and Catherine Walsh draw from and extend portions of their conversations begun a number of years ago about the sowing and re-sowing of knowledge and life in the communities of the Colombo-Ecuadorian region-territory of the AfroPacific. The conversation invokes and thinks with a third voice, that of Grandfather Zenón, considered the Grandfather of all those beings who reside in this territory. It is Zenón’s voice that expresses and brings to life the words, teachings, and collective memory of the elders past and present, and, in so doing, continues the ancestral plantings, giving meaning and force to the collective philosophies, knowledges, and memory that persist, resist, and re-exist in the AfroPacific and beyond in these present times.

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an increasingly used procedure to treat severe aortic stenosis (AS) that should be monitored in the real-world routine clinical practice. We assessed TAVI outcomes (SAPIEN 3) in terms of the patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL), clinical endpoints, and resource utilization considering a valid risk score. Methods: This was an observational prospective study including all consecutive patients with severe AS treated with TAVI (Edwards SAPIEN 3, transfemoral access) conducted during the calendar year of 2018. A systematic assessment of the patients’ HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire), clinical endpoints, and resource utilization (length of stay at the hospital/intensive care unit setting) was implemented. Assessment was scheduled before the procedure (baseline), at discharge, and 1, 6, and 12 months after implantation. Multivariate regression models were applied to test outcomes while controlling the patients’ risk (eg, Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score). Results: A total of 76 patients (50% female) with a mean age of 82.05 ± 4.76 years, and 55% with intermediate-high risk were included. The rates of successful impantation and cardiac death were 97.37% and 2.63%, respectively, at 1 year. Significant reductions in mean and maximum gradients were achieved and maintained at follow-up. The mean length of stay at the hospital (5.2 6 ± 4.05) and intensive care unit setting (0.22 ± 0.64) was short. Significant improvements (all adjusted P < .05) were detected in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary scores, EQ-5D-5L, and the 36-item Short Form (physical component summary). Conclusions: This research highlights how positive clinical outcomes translated into significant improvements in relation to the patients’ HRQoL. Use of resources —generally low— was based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score. (SARU Study; code: 2017-01, Murcia, Spain).

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: El uso del implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica (TAVI, transcatheter aortic valve implantation) está aumentando en el tratamiento de la estenosis aórtica grave. Por ello, el uso de TAVI en la vida real debe monitorizarse. Evaluamos los resultados del TAVI en términos de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS), resultados clínicos y uso de recursos teniendo en cuenta un marcador de riesgo válido. Métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo incluyendo todos los pacientes consecutivos con estenosis aórtica grave tratados con TAVI (Edwards SAPIEN 3, acceso transfemoral) en 2018. Se evaluaron de forma sistemática la CVRS (EQ-5D-5L, Short Form-36 Health Survey, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire), los resultados clínicos y el uso de recursos (estancia en planta/unidad de cuidados intensivos). La evaluación se hizo antes de la intervención (basal), al alta y después de 1,6 y 12 meses del implante. Se aplicaron modelos de regresión multivariante para evaluar los resultados mientras se controlaba el riesgo del paciente (por ejemplo, escala de riesgo de la Society of Thoracic Surgeons). Resultados: Se incluyó a 76 pacientes (el 50% mujeres), con una edad media de 82,05 ± 4,76, y el 55% con riesgo intermedio-alto. Hubo un 97,37% de éxito del implante y la tasa de muerte de causa cardiovascular fue del 2,63% al año. Se consiguieron reducciones significativas en los gradientes medios y máximos, y se mantuvieron durante las visitas de seguimiento. Las estancias medias en planta (5,26 ± 4,05 días) y en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (0,22 ± 0,64 días) fueron bajas. Se detectaron mejoras significativas (todo ajustado p < 0,05) en el Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (puntuaciones generales), el EQ-5D-5L y el Short Form-36 (componente físico). Conclusiones: Esta investigación destaca resultados clínicos positivos que se traducen en mejoras significativas en términos de calidad de vida de los pacientes. El uso de recursos, que fue en general bajo, también fue dependiente de la escala de riesgo de la Society of Thoracic Surgeons. (Estudio SARU, código: 2017-01, Murcia, España).

Biological treatments have become insufficient to treat municipal wastewater with greater toxicity and excess nitrogen and phosphate species, thus affecting the organisms that consume the water. In this work, a process was implemented for the removal of nutrients through three stages: stage A, complete aeration (24 h, 43 months); stage B, decreased aeration (12 h, 17 months); and stage C, decreased aeration with biocalcium (12 h, 19 months). The addition of biocalcium from eggshell promoted the formation of flocks, which resulted in the removal of nitrites (61 %), nitrates (84 %), total nitrogen (57 %), total phosphorus (8.3 %), sedimentable solids (50 %), total suspended solids (69 %), BOD5 (76 %), helminth eggs (50 %) and fecal coliforms (54 %). The statistical analyses in the three stages indicated that there is a strong correlation between the concentration of fats and oils and the removal of sedimentable solids and total suspended solids, since these parameters were correlated by 97 and 89 %, respectively. Sedimentable solids were correlated with total suspended solids by 94 %, while nitrates and total nitrogen were correlated 92 %, which favors the removal of nutrients in wastewater. The increase in the concentration of nitrogen in the sludge in stage C generated a C:N ratio of 7.98. This ratio shows that the sludge is feasible for use as a mediator of soils and a biofertilizer because of the high contents of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen. In addition, biocalcium promoted the precipitation of hydroxyapatite, struvite, calcite and quartz. In general, the three stages of the treatment contributed to the stabilization of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in an efficient, economical, and safe way.

The development of novel optimized vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that are capable of controlling the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and the appearance of different variants of concern (VoC) is needed to fully prevent the transmission of the virus. In the present study, we describe the enhanced immunogenicity and efficacy elicited in hamsters by a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector expressing a full-length prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein [termed MVA–S(3P)]. Hamsters vaccinated with one or two doses of MVA-S(3P) developed high titers of S-binding IgG antibodies and neutralizing antibodies against the ancestral Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 virus and VoC beta, gamma, and delta, as well as against omicron, although with a somewhat lower neutralization activity. After SARS-CoV-2 challenge, vaccinated hamsters did not lose body weight as compared to matched placebo (MVA-WT) controls. Consistently, vaccinated hamsters exhibited significantly reduced viral RNA in the lungs and nasal washes, and no infectious virus was detected in the lungs in comparison to controls. Furthermore, almost no lung histopathology was detected in MVA-S(3P)-vaccinated hamsters, which also showed significantly reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs compared to unvaccinated hamsters. These results reinforce the use of MVA-S(3P) as a vaccine candidate against COVID-19 in clinical trials.

Pig feeding prior to the extensive fattening phase might affect the final lipid profile and product quality. This study evaluates how maternal supplementation with vitamin E (VITE) (100 mg/kg), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) (1.5 mg/kg), or combined administration (VE + HXT) affects the piglet’s plasma and tissues’ fatty acid profiles and lipid stability according to the sow’s parity number (PN), as well as the possible changes to the lipid profile after extensive feeding. The sows’ PN affected the total fatty acid profile of plasma, muscle, and liver of piglets, with lower Δ-9 and Δ-6 desaturase indices but higher Δ-5 in those from primiparous (P) than multiparous (M) sows. Dietary VITE was more effective at decreasing C16:0 and saturated fatty acids in the muscle of piglets born from M than P sows, and modified the liver phospholipids in a different way. Sows’ supplementation with HXT increased C18:2n-6 in triglycerides and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in muscle phospholipids. In the liver, HXT supplementation also increased free-PUFA and free-n-3 fatty acids. However, lipid oxidation of piglets’ tissues was not affected by the antioxidant supplementation, and it was higher in the livers of piglets born from M sows. The fatty acid profile in the muscle of pigs after extensive feeding was not affected by the PN, but it was by the sows’ antioxidant supplementation, with positive effects on quality by both compounds.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar física y químicamente los suelos cafetaleros del sur de Manabí. La investigación se realizó en 7 parroquias de los 4 cantones productores de café de la provincia: Jipijapa, Paján, 24 de Mayo y Santa Ana; se tomaron 181 muestras, se siguió el procedimiento en zigzag, y se tomaron 15 sub muestras por finca. Para el análisis estadístico, se aplicó el análisis de varianza y diseños multivariantes (Clúster jerárquico y componentes principales). Las variables estudiadas fueron: pH, materia orgánica M.O, micro y macro nutrientes, y a nivel físico: textura, Capacidad de Campo (CC), y el Punto de Marchitez Permanente (PMP) y Agua Disponible en el suelo (AD). Los resultados obtenidos determinaron que los suelos sur manabitas son actos para la caficultura. El nivel de pH, cuyo rango fue de 5,5 a 6,5, catalogándolos entre medio ácido y líder acido; El análisis multivariante definió 3 componentes; el componente uno presentó mejores características a nivel de pH, M.O, Macro y micro nutrientes, de textura franco arcillosa, con mejor retención de agua; representó el 31,5 % de los suelos analizados, y lo conforman las parroquias La América, El Anegado y la comunidad el Matal, los componentes 2 y 3 presentaron una estrecha correlación y representan el 68,5 % restantes, son de suelos francos, con deficiencias de M.O, así como de macro nutrientes, con excepción del P y K, que alcanzan niveles medios y altos niveles de Mg y Ca, y con contenido medio a nivel de los micronutrientes.

Introducción al dossier

Abstract ApoE is the major lipid and cholesterol carrier in the CNS. There are three major human polymorphisms, apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4, and the genetic expression of APOE4 is one of the most influential risk factors for the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroinflammation has become the third hallmark of AD, together with Amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated aggregated tau protein. This review aims to broadly and extensively describe the differential aspects concerning apoE. Starting from the evolution of apoE to how APOE's single-nucleotide polymorphisms affect its structure, function, and involvement during health and disease. This review reflects on how APOE's polymorphisms impact critical aspects of AD pathology, such as the neuroinflammatory response, particularly the effect of APOE on astrocytic and microglial function and microglial dynamics, synaptic function, amyloid-β load, tau pathology, autophagy, and cell–cell communication. We discuss influential factors affecting AD pathology combined with the APOE genotype, such as sex, age, diet, physical exercise, current therapies and clinical trials in the AD field. The impact of the APOE genotype in other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by overt inflammation, e.g., alpha- synucleinopathies and Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis, is also addressed. Therefore, this review gathers the most relevant findings related to the APOE genotype up to date and its implications on AD and CNS pathologies to provide a deeper understanding of the knowledge in the APOE field.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a health crisis with major unmet medical needs. The early responses from airway epithelial cells, the first target of the virus regulating the progression toward severe disease, are not fully understood. Primary human air-liquid interface cultures representing the broncho-alveolar epithelia were used to study the kinetics and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants infection. The infection measured by nucleoprotein expression, was a late event appearing between day 4–6 post infection for Wuhan-like virus. Other variants demonstrated increasingly accelerated timelines of infection. All variants triggered similar transcriptional signatures, an “early” inflammatory/immune signature preceding a “late” type I/III IFN, but differences in the quality and kinetics were found, consistent with the timing of nucleoprotein expression. Response to virus was spatially organized: CSF3 expression in basal cells and CCL20 in apical cells. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 virus triggers specific responses modulated over time to engage different arms of immune response.

Esta investigación se propone estudiar las recomendaciones literarias de la prensa cultural especializada, prescriptora de contenidos y responsable de marcar la agenda cultural. Se tomaron como objeto de estudio las listas de mejores libros que confeccionan a finales de cada año los principales suplementos culturales de los medios escritos españoles (ABC Cultural, de ABC; Babelia, de El País; El Cultural, de El Mundo, y Cultura|s, de La Vanguardia). El periodo de análisis se fijó entre los años 2010 y 2021 (n = 1.286). Los resultados reflejan una marcada preferencia de los suplementos por incluir autores de nacionalidad española o, cuando menos, por obras escritas en español, aunque la pujanza de los Estados Unidos y el inglés es cada vez mayor en la serie histórica. Se aprecia también un claro dominio de los grandes sellos y grupos editoriales sobre los independientes: en los últimos años, solo Planeta y Penguin Random House aportan casi la mitad de las obras seleccionadas. Además, son mayoría los autores de edad avanzada —se recomiendan, de hecho, más libros de fallecidos que de menores de 40 años—, con las limitaciones que ello implica a la proyección de la literatura escrita por jóvenes.

Como área específica de conocimiento, la Sociología de la Educación ha prestado escasa atención al fenómeno de naciones y nacionalismo. Preocupada desde sus orígenes durkheimianos y marxianos por la relación escuela-sociedad, por las funciones sociales de la escuela y los vínculos entre educación y estratificación social, el papel de la institución escolar en la construcción y reproducción del nacionalismo ha recibido una atención residual, casi insignificante. En este artículo se analiza en detalle el modo en que la Sociología de la Educación española ha relegado y desatendido la cuestión de naciones y nacionalismo, revisando para ello los manuales universitarios publicados durante las últimas décadas (1990-2021). Utilizando las categorías propuestas por el psicólogo social Michael Billig -nacionalismo caliente y banal, nacionalismo metodológico- los autores del artículo señalan también cómo este olvido de la Sociología de la Educación habría contribuido paralelamente a la construcción, reificación y naturalización de un mundo de naciones y nacionalismo

Abstract The advent of high-throughput single-cell transcriptomic analysis of microglia has revealed different phenotypes that are inherently associated with disease conditions. A common feature of some of these activated phenotypes is the upregulation of galectin-3. Representative examples of these phenotypes include disease-associated microglia (DAM) and white-associated microglia (WAM), whose role(s) in neuroprotection/neurotoxicity is a matter of high interest in the microglia community. In this review, we summarise the main findings that demonstrate the ability of galectin-3 to interact with key pattern recognition receptors, including, among others, TLR4 and TREM2 and the importance of galectin-3 in the regulation of microglia activation. Finally, we discuss increasing evidence supporting the involvement of this lectin in the main neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.

Este trabajo se enmarca en una línea novedosa de trabajos académicos que reflexionan sobre la idea de universidad y el desarrollo de la educación superior desde un enfoque filosófico-educativo. Nuestra hipótesis de partida es que la crisis de identidad que atraviesa la Universidad no es negativa. Antes bien, está obligando a la comunidad académica a elaborar y proponer respuestas que están revitalizando la propia noción de educación superior desde un enfoque humanista. En este contexto proponemos el aprendizaje-servicio como un enfoque filosófico-educativo práctico y normativo y, por tanto, como una “teoría ética de la formación humana”, que ayuda a responder a los interrogantes y desafíos del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES). Para ello, y siguiendo una metodología de indagación crítico-hermenéutica, examinamos la construcción del EEES a través de sus documentos constitutivos, a la vez que ahondamos y contrastamos con la idea de universidad que se está reclamando. Este primer movimiento, en el que tratamos de establecer un equilibrio entre posturas más vocacionales y aquellas más liberales, nos permitirá ir construyendo y analizando la consistencia teórica que muestran las principales aportaciones que el aprendizaje-servicio, como filosofía de la educación superior, puede realizar a la Universidad y a los procesos de desarrollo del EEES. Contribuciones que agrupamos en tres aportaciones: el servicio como valor en la educación superior; el APS como enfoque que alinea los pilares clásicos de la Universidad y, por último, esta metodología como propuesta virtual que nos ayuda a reflexionar sobre el sentido de las tecnologías digitales en la educación superior.

Enterococci have become major nosocomial pathogens. An increasing number of these infections are as a result of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Accurate detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is important, so that appropriate therapy and infection control measures may be instituted, including veterinary surveillance. Two screening assays to detect vancomycin resistance in enterococci are proposed. Barnes Basal Medium agar (Ba) and Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth (plus 1% TTC-2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) with several concentrations of vancomycin were used in this work. Five Enterococcus casseliflavus strains with low-level resistance to vancomycin (4 µg/mL) were used. Both media were able to quickly detect the breakpoint of the vancomycin-resistant strains used in this work, and also provided insight into the dynamics of the antibiotic effect at a low concentration on the tested bacterial suspensions.

Claw diseases have a profound impact on cattle welfare, affecting behaviors such as grazing, rumination, rest, decubitus, and water consumption. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of claw lesions and classify them according to the ICAR Claw Health Atlas (International Committee of Animal Recording) in two slaughterhouses. The influence of claw lesions on carcass weight, classification, and fat deposition was also examined. Involving 343 crossbreed cattle from 103 different extensive or semi-intensive farms, this study found an animal prevalence of claw disorders at 65.8%, with a higher incidence in females (n = 207, 60.35%) compared to males (n = 136, 39.65%). Despite the observed prevalence, claw lesions were not influenced by age or sex (p > 0.05). The main claw lesions identified, including heel horn erosion, double sole, and asymmetric claw, were consistent with the cattle management practices in the study area. These cattle were raised in small, rustic premises with uneven floors, utilizing a mix of manure and plant material as bedding and lacking access to pasture. Also, no negative economic impact was detected concerning carcass weight, classification, or fat deposition. Consequently, it was concluded that the presence of claw lesions in beef cattle raised under the characteristic management of this geographical area does not adversely affect animal health or farm economics.

Thermal processes induce the formation of undesired toxic components, such as acrylamide (AA), which has been shown to induce brain toxicity in humans and classified as Group 2A by the International Agency of Research in Cancer (IARC), as well as some mycotoxins. AA and mycotoxins’ toxicity is studied in several in vitro models, including the neuroblastoma cell line model SH-SY5Y cells. Both AA and mycotoxins occur together in the same food matrix cereal base (bread, pasta, potatoes, coffee roasting, etc.). Therefore, the goal of this review is to deepen the knowledge about the neurological effects that AA and mycotoxins can induce on the in vitro model SH-SY5Y and its mechanism of action (MoA) focusing on the experimental assays reported in publications of the last 10 years. The analysis of the latest publications shows that most of them are focused on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and alteration in protein expression, while others are interested in oxidative stress, axonopathy, and the disruption of neurite outgrowth. While both AA and mycotoxins have been studied in SH-SY5Y cells separately, the mixture of them is starting to draw the interest of the scientific community. This highlights a new and interesting field to explore due to the findings reported in several publications that can be compared and the implications in human health that both could cause. In relation to the assays used, the most employed were the MTT, axonopathy, and qPCR assays. The concentration dose range studied was 0.1–10 mM for AA and 2 fM to 200 µM depending on the toxicity and time of exposure for mycotoxins. A healthy and varied diet allows the incorporation of a large family of bioactive compounds that can mitigate the toxic effects associated with contaminants present in food. Although this has been reported in some publications for mycotoxins, there is still a big gap for AA which evidences that more investigations are needed to better explore the risks for human health when exposed to AA and mycotoxins.

Phosphorus monoxide (PO) is a key brick of prebiotic chemistry since it is a potential precursor of phosphates, which are present in all living systems. Prompted by the lack of information on the different processes involved in the formation of PO, we have revisited and analyzed in detail the P( ^4 S ) + O _2 ( ^3 Σ ^− ) and P( ^4 S ) + O _2 ( ^1 Δ) reactions leading to PO. The former process has been widely studied from both experimental and theoretical points of view, however, with contradictory results. We have used high-level quantum-chemical calculations to accurately describe the reaction mechanisms. Next, rate constants have been computed using a master equation approach based on ab initio transition state theory. By incorporating the P( ^4 S ) + O _2 ( ^3 Σ ^− ) reaction in an astrochemical model, we have found that this reaction cannot be overlooked when aiming at a complete understanding of the PO abundance in regions dominated by shocks with speeds below 40 km s ^−1 .

Edible insects can diversify diets, improve livelihoods, contribute to food and nutrition security, and have a smaller ecological impact. The European Union has categorized insects as novel food, and recently, in 2021 and 2022, two species, Tenebrio molitor and Acheta domesticus, were authorized for commercialization. The acceptance and perception of food risk derived from insect consumption vary depending on factors impacting insect consumption acceptability, including neophobic tendencies, gender differences, familiarity, and gastronomic perceptions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the perception and acceptance of edible insects by exploring these factors. This study was carried out on higher-education students from universities in Valencia (Spain). The students recognized insects’ high nutritional value, particularly protein content, and had varying levels of knowledge about specific nutritional components. In terms of labeling and marketing, removing health and sustainability benefits from packaging can improve consumer responses. Most respondents prefer clear labeling of insect derivatives, quality certification seals, and complete information about insect content. Students consider marketing and knowledge to be significant influencers of insect consumption. In summary, this text highlights the multifaceted nature of insect consumption acceptability. These insights offer valuable perspectives on insect consumption dynamics.

Preventing the progressive deterioration of works of art over time is a topic of great interest to collectors and museums. With this aim, time capsules where environmental conditions remain unchanged are well known for preserving art. In this paper, a prototype of an IoT time capsule is presented with a focus on low cost in order to make it accessible to private collectors or small museums with tight budgets. Valencian ‘sainetes’ (small plays), which are considered materials of artistic interest, have been placed in a “time capsule”, which is a manually made container with insulating materials for keeping small pieces for a long time. Environmental control has been performed with a low-cost microcontroller, sensors and actuators connected to a free online IoT platform. This platform recorded data and made decisions based on these data, sending cooling or heating orders to an environmental control system. The results obtained are very satisfactory and open interesting perspectives for future research. However, they also highlight some relevant technical and economic limitations that will have to be considered in the future.

Migratory flows and international travel are triggering an increase in imported cases of schistosomiasis in non-endemic countries. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the LAMP technique on patients’ urine samples for the diagnosis of imported schistosomiasis in a non-endemic area in comparison to a commercial immunochromatographic test and microscopic examination of feces and urine. A prospective observational study was conducted in sub-Saharan migrants attending the Tropical Medicine Unit, Almería, Spain. For schistosomiasis diagnosis, serum samples were tested using an immunochromatographic test (Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM). Stool and urine samples were examined by microcopy. Urine samples were evaluated by combining three LAMP assays for the specific detection of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, and for the genus Schistosoma. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, a latent class analysis (LCA) was performed. In total, 115 patients were included (92.2% male; median age: 28.3 years). Of these, 21 patients (18.3%) were diagnosed with schistosomiasis confirmed by microscopy, with S. haematobium being the most frequent species identified (18/115; 15.7%). The Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM test result was 100% positive and Schistosoma-LAMP was 61.9% positive, reaching as high as 72.2% for S. haematobium. The sensitivity and specificity estimated by LCA, respectively, were: 92% and 76% for Schistosoma ICT IgG-IgM, 68% and 44% for Schistosoma-LAMP, and 46% and 97% for microscopy. In conclusion, the Schistosoma-LAMP technique presented a higher sensitivity than microscopy for the diagnosis of imported urinary schistosomiasis, which could improve the diagnosis of active infection, both in referral centers and in centers with limited experience or scarce resources and infrastructure.