Search

Long-term monitoring of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of post-fire forests is currently one of the key knowledge gaps. Knowing the time scale of the effects is indispensable to aiding post-fire recovery in vulnerable woodlands, including holm oak forests, that are subjected to a Mediterranean climate, as is the case with forests that are found in protected areas such as the Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park in southeastern Spain. We took rhizosphere soil samples from burned and unburned holm oak trees approximately 3, 6, and 9 years after the 2005 fire that devastated almost 3500 ha in southeastern Spain. We observed that the prokaryotic communities are recovering but have not yet reached the conditions observed in the unburned forest. A common denominator between this fire and other fires is the long-term persistence of three ecosystem recovery biomarkers—specifically, higher proportions of the genera Arthrobacter, Blastococcus, and Massilia in soil microbial communities after a forest fire. These pyrophilous microbes possess remarkable resilience against adverse conditions, exhibiting traits such as xerotolerance, nitrogen mineralization, degradation of aromatic compounds, and copiotrophy in favorable conditions. Furthermore, these biomarkers thrive in alkaline environments, which persist over the long term following forest fires. The relative abundance of these biomarkers showed a decreasing trend over time, but they were still far from the values of the control condition. In conclusion, a decade does not seem to be enough for the complete recovery of the prokaryotic communities in this Mediterranean ecosystem.

AISI 316L stainless steel lattices were manufactured using two distinct Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) techniques: a commercial printer equipped with a fiber laser and a novel system equipped with a CO2 laser. Fiber laser systems produce parts exhibiting superior detail, finer cell size, and lower porosity compared to CO2 laser ones because of the stability of the laser beam and the higher absorptivity of the laser light by the material powder. Electrochemical tests indicated that lattices exhibited inferior corrosion resistance compared to solid counterparts for both manufacturing techniques. This disparity is caused by the distinct corrosion mechanisms exhibited by lattices and solid parts, as observed through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The observed differences are attributed not only to the increased different specific surface areas but also to the distinctive morphologies formed in the material beneath the surface. CO2 LPBF lattices demonstrated higher corrosion sensitivity than the fiber LPBF lattices due to their distinct microstructure and the more prevalent presence of defects.

d

In this research, several SO2 removal alternatives were evaluated for the treatment of gaseous effluents generated by the "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" power plant in Cienfuegos to be use in gaseous stream to Ulva lettuce intensive culture. A low-cost sensor was used to monitor the gas concentration during the proposed methods. The sensor was previously calibrated and a linear regression model with a coefficient of determination of 0,9926 was obtained. The alternatives evaluated were adsorption with activated carbon, absorption with calcium hydroxide and absorption with seawater. The removal was evaluated at three levels SO2 concentration. In addition, the parameters pH, salinity and alkalinity were determined to a seawater sample from the Bay of Cienfuegos and with which the experiments were carried out. The values obtained were 8,17±0,003; 26,50±0,10 ups and 171,67±1,03 mg/L respectively, which confirms its good performance for gas removal. The three methods studied showed satisfactory results for SO2 removal. The seawater absorption experiment was the most efficient alternative, achieving the lowest final concentrations in the shortest time.

Abstract The review provides an overview of the latest innovations, trends, and challenges in the field of 3D‐printed metal and metal‐ion batteries. It focuses on the materials used in the printing of batteries, including electrodes, electrolytes, and other electroactive components. Compared to other high‐quality reviews on the topic, this review provides a broader selection of materials that are expected to gain attention in the next few years, such as redox‐active polymers and metal‐organic frameworks. This work gives an overview and insight into the latest trends in printing techniques as well as a statistical review of their uses and strengths. We have also gathered the latest works done for each of the material types, and we have taken the opportunity to put them in context and use them to exemplify in which direction is the field going. The review concludes with a critical view of the challenges ahead and a discussion of the direction that the field is taking as well as the external factors that might help to define its future.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Information is scarce on clinical experiences with non-neutropenic patients with invasive fungal infection (IFI) receiving isavuconazole. We aimed to report the safety and effectiveness of this drug as a first-line treatment or rescue in real life. Methods: A retrospective, observational multicentric study of non-neutropenic patients who received isavuconazole as an IFI treatment at 12 different university hospitals (January 2018-2022). All patients met criteria for proven, probable or possible IFI according to EORTC-MSG. Results: A total of 238 IFIs were treated with isavuconazole during the study period. Combination therapy was administered in 27.7% of cases. The primary IFI was aspergillosis (217, 91.2%). Other IFIs treated with isavuconazole were candidemia (n = 10), mucormycosis (n = 8), histoplasmosis (n = 2), cryptococcosis (n = 2), and others (n = 4). Median time of isavuconazole treatment was 29 days. Only 5.9% (n = 14) of cases developed toxicity, mainly hepatic-related (10 patients, 4.2%). Nine patients (3.8%) had treatment withdrawn. Successful clinical response at 12 weeks was documented in 50.5% of patients. Conclusion: Isavuconazole is an adequate treatment for non-neutropenic patients with IFIs. Toxicity rates were low and its effectiveness was comparable to other antifungal therapies previously reported.

Se evalúa la influencia de la variables meteorológicas y los tipos de situaciones sinópticas (TSS) en condiciones de poca dispersión sobre las concentraciones de los contaminantes atmosféricos (SO2, NO2, O3, PM10 y PM2.5 ) en el Campus del Instituto Superior de Ciencias Aplicadas (InSTEC) de la Universidad de La Habana y en la localidad de San Miguel del Padrón (SMP) durante el periodo de 2015 al 2017 a través de las mediciones realizadas en las estaciones automáticas de monitoreo de la calidad del aire. La situación sinóptica que contribuyo de forma predominante a la ocurrencia de condiciones de poca dispersión fue la TSS VIII (Anticiclón Continental Migratorio) y el segundo lugar la TSS I (Anticiclón del Atlántico). Las muestras horarias que estuvieron por encima de la concentración máxima admisible (CMA) según la NC 1020:2014 fueron 59 y 31 veces para el PM10 y PM2,5 respectivamente, en la localidad de SMP. Por otro lado, en el InSTEC, el PM10 sobrepaso la CMA diaria en 21 ocasiones. Para el caso del PM2,5 fueron sobrepasadas la CMA en 17 veces. El único evento catalogado como episodio extremo de altas concentraciones (SMOG) se desarrolló en la estación de monitoreo de la calidad del aire de SMP durante el día 15 de marzo de 2016. Los demás contaminantes gaseosos sobrepasaron sus respectivas CMA en pocas ocasiones para muestras horarias y diarias y coincidieron en tiempo con las ocurridas para el material particulado. Estas situaciones sinópticas que producen poca dispersión también pueden provocar efectos nocivos sobre la salud humana.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that acute ethanol consumption alters brain function and cognition. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. Astrocyte-mediated gliotransmission is crucial for hippocampal plasticity, and recently, the opening of hemichannels has been found to play a relevant role in this process. Hemichannels are plasma membrane channels composed of six connexins or seven pannexins, respectively, that oligomerize around a central pore. They serve as ionic and molecular exchange conduits between the cytoplasm and extracellular milieu, allowing the release of various paracrine substances, such as ATP, D-serine, and glutamate, and the entry of ions and other substances, such as Ca2+ and glucose. The persistent and exacerbated opening of hemichannels has been associated with the pathogenesis and progression of several brain diseases for at least three mechanisms. The uncontrolled activity of these channels could favor the collapse of ionic gradients and osmotic balance, the release of toxic levels of ATP or glutamate, cell swelling and plasma membrane breakdown and intracellular Ca2+ overload. Here, we evaluated whether acute ethanol exposure affects the activity of astrocyte hemichannels and the possible repercussions of this phenomenon on cytoplasmatic Ca2+ signaling and gliotransmitter release. Acute ethanol exposure triggered the rapid activation of connexin43 and pannexin1 hemichannels in astrocytes, as measured by time-lapse recordings of ethidium uptake. This heightened activity derived from a rapid rise in [Ca2+]i linked to extracellular Ca2+ influx and IP3-evoked Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores. Relevantly, the acute ethanol-induced activation of hemichannels contributed to a persistent secondary increase in [Ca2+]i. The [Ca2+]i-dependent activation of hemichannels elicited by ethanol caused the increased release of ATP and glutamate in astroglial cultures and brain slices. Our findings offer fresh perspectives on the potential mechanisms behind acute alcohol-induced brain abnormalities and propose targeting connexin43 and pannexin1 hemichannels in astrocytes as a promising avenue to prevent deleterious consequences of alcohol consumption.

Multi-host communities are perfect scenarios for the emergence and spread of pathogens, threatening the recovery of endangered, isolated, or inbred populations, such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in northwestern Spain. The population recovery in recent years has forced bears to occupy highly anthropized areas, increasing their interaction with human and domestic animals, with potential consequences for global health. During 2022–2023 a survey of parasites, bacteria and viruses shared between wildlife, domestic animals and humans was performed in this population using non-invasive surveillance, i.e., bear fecal samples (n = 73) and sponge-based sampling of trees (n = 42; 14 rubbed trees and 28 control trees). Pathogen detection rates were defined as the percentage of qPCR or culture-positive samples. Generalized linear models were fitted to assess their relationship with environmental variables including dispersion of the human population, and percentage of agricultural and periurban habitats in a 6 km-buffer around each sample. Canine Adenovirus type 1 (45.2%), Giardia spp. (15.1%), Salmonella spp. (12.3%), and extended-spectrum-beta-lactamases (ESBL) Escherichia coli (1.4%) were identified in fecal samples. In contrast, only five sponges from three rubbed and two control trees resulted positive to E. coli (14.3%). The results suggest that several pathogens are common in the Cantabrian brown bear population and that anthropization of the territory modulates their prevalence and richness.The effective design of management programs for bear conservation will require a one-health approach, in which genetic analysis of non-invasive samples can be key tools for the sanitary surveillance at the wildlife-livestock-human interface.

BackgroundSpasticity is the most common motor disorder in cerebral palsy (CP), and its management is complex, posing a significant challenge for the rehabilitation team. Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) has emerged in recent years as an effective, non-invasive, and low-risk alternative for the management of spasticity in CP patients, with only minor side effects such as small bruises or discomfort during application. There is great variability in rESWT administration protocols, ranging from a single session up to the 12 sessions. The most extensively studied protocol involves 3 rESWT sessions with a one-week interval between session. According to current literature, the effect of rESWT has not been investigated by extending the time interval between sessions beyond 1 week to determine if therapeutic effects on spasticity can be prolonged over time.MethodsFollowing a power calculation using the minimal clinical important difference of our primary outcome (R2 of Modified Tardieu Scale), 72 patients will be included in the study. Enrolment is based upon inclusion/exclusion criteria outlined in the Methods section. Participants will be randomized in 3 groups. Each patient will receive 2000 impulses in the Triceps Sural muscle (distributed by all the plantar flexor muscles: soleus and gastrocnemius), at a 2.2 Bars pressure and a frequency of 8 Hz. The Control Group will receive 3 rESWT sessions with a time interval of 1 week between each session. The Experimental Group A will receive 3 rESTW sessions with a time interval of 2 weeks between each session and the Experimental Group B will receive 3 rESTW sessions with a time interval of 4 weeks between each session.DiscussionThis study will provide further information regarding the effect of rESWT on spasticity in patients with CP. If an increase in the time interval between rESWT sessions allows for the prolongation of therapeutic benefits on spasticity, it will be clinically relevant fact. With the same treatment dosage, patients will be able to benefit from its effects for a longer period of time.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05702606.

Small specimen testing technology (SSTT) refers to the examination of tiny samples of materials to evaluate their suitability for use in fusion reactors. This includes assessing their thermal, mechanical, and radiation properties, as well as their ability to withstand extreme conditions. SSTT plays a critical role in the development of nuclear fusion technology, which holds the potential to provide a virtually limitless and clean energy source. SSTT is imperative in cases where not much material is available or must be subjected to special conditions that limit it.One of the main challenges in nuclear fusion is the development of materials that can withstand the harsh environment inside a fusion reactor. These materials must be able to withstand high temperatures, intense radiation, and mechanical stress, and be able to maintain their structural integrity for long periods. Small specimen testing allows characterizing and evaluating these properties in a controlled and efficient manner.Small specimen samples, under conditions similar to those in a fusion reactor, will provide crucial information for the design and development of fusion components when irradiated at IFMIF- DONES. The results of SSTT are used to refine materials, optimize production processes, and develop new materials with improved properties.In this work, numerous tensile tests (SSTT) have been carried out on pure copper, a material of interest for fusion with different thicknesses, analyzing the effect of the variation of this variable in the determination of mechanical properties.

Diabetes mellitus, known as diabetes, is a chronic disease that affects the control of blood glucose concentration levels, it is a disease that mostly affects adults (type 2 diabetes), but it can also occur in children (type 1 or childhood diabetes), as well as in pregnant women (gestational diabetes). Diabetes is one of the diseases with the highest prevalence and high mortality worldwide. Diabetes has no cure, but continuous monitoring to maintain blood glucose levels in normal ranges reduces the possibility of suffering from gastrointestinal problems, vision loss, limb amputations (such as diabetic foot) and damage to vital organs such as the heart and kidneys, among other associated complications. This article compares the results in glucose estimation by using a linear, quadratic and cubic regression considering the electrical characteristics generated in the cardiac conduction (HR, HRV, T-wave peak, and QT interval) recorded on a single-lead electrocardiogram (VII), used as a non-invasive blood glucose estimation model. The best estimate was obtained using a cubic regression. The validation was performed using the Clarke grid having 77.78 % of data in the A zone and 22.22 % in the B zone and a Pearson correlation value of 0.94103 in the cubic regression.

Abstract Understanding mortality causes is important for the conservation of endangered species, especially in small and isolated populations inhabiting anthropized landscapes where both natural and human-caused mortality may hinder the conservation of these species. We investigated the mortality causes of 53 free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) found dead between 1998 and 2023 in the Cantabrian Mountains (northwestern Spain), a highly human-modified region where bears are currently recovering after being critically threatened in the last century. We detected natural traumatic injuries in 52.63% and infectious diseases in 39.47% of the 38 bears for which the mortality causes were registered, with 21.05% of these cases presenting signs of both infectious diseases and traumas. More specifically, almost 30% of the bears died during or after intraspecific fights, including sexually selected infanticide (10.53%). In addition, primary infectious diseases such as infectious canine hepatitis, distemper, clostridiosis and colibacillosis caused the death of 15.79% of the bears. The number of direct human-caused deaths (i.e., shooting, poisoning, snare) decreased over the study period. This study also reveals three new mortality causes triggered by pathogens, two of which—Clostridium novyi and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli—not previously described in ursids, and the other one, canine distemper virus, never reported in brown bears as cause of death. New management strategies for the conservation of Cantabrian bears, which are urgently needed due to the rapid expansion of the population, should consider the mortality causes described in this study and must promote further research to elucidate how the high prevalence of infectious diseases may threaten the current recovery of the population.

La presente investigación se realizó en la Empresa Agroforestal de Cienfuegos perteneciente al Ministerio de la Agricultura (MINAG), con el objetivo fundamental de aplicar un procedimiento que permita la mejora de la organización del trabajo en el proceso de elaboración del carbón vegetal de modo que favorezca el incremento de la productividad y la erradicación de no conformidades para la implementación del sistema de gestión de la calidad. Para el cumplimiento del mismo se utilizan entrevistas, observaciones directas, revisión de documentos, técnicas de mapeo de procesos, fotografía detallada colectiva e individual, cronometraje, así como técnicas para el análisis desde el punto de vista ergonómico tales como: el método Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Como resultados fundamentales se norman las diferentes actividades del proceso objeto de estudio, se determinan las capacidades por operación, así como un análisis del aprovechamiento de la jornada laboral. Se determinan los gastos energéticos de las operaciones, se calcula la capacidad de trabajo física de los obreros y se proponen mejoras para las diferentes posturas adoptadas por los trabajadores que necesitan cambios de manera inmediata. Además, se propone la modificación del sistema de pago acorde a las exigencias del país para aprovechar las reservas de productividad existentes en la plantilla que no se explotan, proyectándose en un incremento de la productividad de los trabajadores.

This study aimed to assess thoracic radiographic abnormalities in cats infected with immature stages of Dirofilaria immitis to evaluate the utility of this diagnostic technique during early infection. A total of 123 cats from a hyperendemic area were classified into three groups: asymptomatic cats seronegative to anti-D.-immitis antibodies (Group A), seropositive asymptomatic cats (Group B), and seropositive cats with clinical signs that were at high risk of heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) (Group C). Radiographic measurements and lung parenchymal abnormalities were analyzed and compared across the groups. Significant differences in several parameters, including CrPA/R4, and CdPA/R9 ratios, were observed between healthy and seropositive cats, suggesting early arterial damage even in the absence of adult worms. Other parameters that showed differences between healthy and infected cats were CVC/Ao and CVC/R4 ratios, but not the VHS. Group C exhibited a marked bronchointerstitial pattern, indicating severe parenchymal alterations associated with clinical signs. The study demonstrated that thoracic radiography can detect early vascular and parenchymal changes in feline D. immitis infections, providing valuable information for diagnosing HARD. However, it also highlights the limitations of radiographic techniques, as some seropositive cats displayed no significant abnormalities. The findings underscore the importance of combining radiography with clinical and serological assessments for a more accurate diagnosis of feline heartworm disease.

Phylogeographic studies have been conducted on many different mammal species in order to track their recent demographic histories. The climatic fluctuations associated with the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) appear to have had a profound influence on the geographic patterning of genetic diversity in mammals. However, most phylogenetic studies have focused on single species. Few have used a holistic approach covering multiple taxa to explore common patterns. Here, we conducted meta-analyses of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences, identifying haplotype diversity and private allelic richness patterns in a geographic context. Four general patterns emerged among European mammals: an east–west decline in variation, a Western-Central belt of the highest diversity, southern richness, and homogeneity with no geographic pattern. These patterns likely reflect the refugial origins of modern populations. The east–west variation decline suggests species with eastern LGM refugia; the Western-Central belt of the highest diversity may harbor taxa with cryptic northern refugia, while southern richness may correspond to traditional southern refugia. Species with homogeneity and no geographic pattern may have been panmictic without a specific refugium or may reflect the occurrence of both southern and cryptic northern refugia. Surprisingly, the “no pattern” phenomenon is seldom discussed and may frequently have been discounted. Our study emphasizes the importance of considering multiple taxa, providing valuable insights into the responses of European mammals to past climatic changes.

The need to explore new forms of leadership in schools, among other available alternatives, leads to the reflection upon the way in which--specifically from the principal's office--it is developed, implemented and distributed. This paper presents two case studies in Spanish secondary schools in which the practices are analyzed and the limitations recognized in the exercise of distributed leadership by their principals. This study used interviews and shadowing of the principals, recording the observations of meetings and interviews with other influential agents from each school. Despite the particular differences in each case and a greater role of social interaction processes, the outcomes reflect the persistent focus on the individual action of the principals and the pre-eminence of formal and bureaucratic components in the development of distributed leadership. This situation prevents progress beyond the mere distribution of management tasks and hinders the possibilities of consolidating other forms of leadership expression that involve more agents and groups.