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Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that has become a global health emergency according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It affects 280 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability and financial loss. Patients with MDD present immunoendocrine alterations like cortisol resistance and inflammation, which are associated with alterations in neurotransmitter metabolism. There are currently numerous therapeutic options for patients with MDD; however, some studies suggest a high rate of therapeutic failure. There are multiple hypotheses explaining the pathophysiological mechanisms of MDD, in which several systems are involved, including the neuroendocrine and immune systems. In recent years, inflammation has become an important target for the development of new therapeutic options. Extracellular monomeric ubiquitin (emUb) is a molecule that has been shown to have immunomodulatory properties through several mechanisms including cholinergic modulation and the generation of regulatory T cells. In this perspective article, we highlight the influence of the inflammatory response in MDD. In addition, we review and discuss the evidence for the use of emUb contained in Transferon as a concomitant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses documentary sources on the formal antecedents of the concept of sustainable development as proposed by the United Nations in the document "Our Common Future" or Brundtland Report and its evolution towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Good Life Goals (GLGs) to establish a chronology of the relevant events determining the policies and actions that are currently carried out, as well as to get an adequate referential framework for future research on this topic. The analysis of the compiled information indicates that the formal antecedents of the concept date back to 1965, when the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was established by merging the pre-existing Extended Programme of Technical Assistance (from 1949) and Special Fund (from 1958). Later on, the first formal use of the term occurred in an official document from 1969 promoted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The chronological presentation of relevant events makes it possible to highlight the leadership of the United Nations, its agencies or departments in this area-before and after the appearance of the concept–, together with the also relevant role of other organisations, namely different European instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) plays an essential role in agricultural mapping. It reduces costs and time and increases efficiency in agricultural management activities, which improves the food industry. Agricultural mapping is necessary for resource management and requires technologies for farming challenges. The mapping in agricultural AI applications gives efficiency in mapping and its subsequent use in decision-making. This study analyses AI's current state in agricultural mapping through bibliometric indicators and a literature review to identify methods, agricultural resources, geomatic tools, mapping types, and their applications in agricultural management. The methodology begins with a bibliographic search in Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS). Subsequently, a bibliographic data analysis and literature review establish the scientific contribution, collaboration, AI methods, and trends. The United States (USA), Spain, and Italy are countries that produce and collaborate more in this area of knowledge. Of the studies, 76% use machine learning (ML) and 24% use deep learning (DL) for agricultural mapping applications. Prevailing algorithms such as Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) correlate mapping activities in agricultural management. In addition, AI contributes to agricultural mapping in activities associated with production, disease detection, crop classification, rural planning, forest dynamics, and irrigation system improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the methodology and main results obtained after applying several geomatic techniques, based on the fusion of data acquired by several sensors, to document the recovery works carried out in an abandoned church. A century ago, the façade was moved to a museum to ensure its preservation. In addition to documentary purposes, a secondary goal is the virtual repositioning of a model of this element on that of the church. The method takes advantage of the potential of each technique, considering the acquisition of geometry based mainly on laser scanning techniques and radiometry on photogrammetry. The results include 3D models and orthoimages, which are used to perform a stratigraphic study. The 3D model of the façade has been repositioned in the general one, considering common geometries previously fitted in both models and repeating part of the photogrammetric process, using masks to define the image areas related to the church and the façade. Therefore, we obtained a 3D model with the façade included in it. This procedure has demonstrated its feasibility despite the existence of different environmental conditions in both areas. Using these results, we have also developed a BIM to allow for the management of future restoration works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis is an infection widely distributed around the world, and in some countries it is considered a public health problem. Brucellosis causes insidious symptoms that make it difficult to diagnose. Infection can also trigger chronic pain and neuropsychiatric complications. Antibiotics are not always effective to eradicate infection, contributing to chronicity. We aimed to investigate the effects of antibiotic treatment on proinflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitters, corticosterone, and behavior in a murine model of infecrion of B. abortus strain 2308. Four study groups were created: (a) control; (b) antibiotic control; (c) infected with B. abortus 2308; and (d) infected and treated with rifampicin and doxycycline. We determined B. abortus 2308 colony-forming units (CFUs), the count of dendritic cells, and macrophages in the spleen; serum levels of cytokines and corticosterone; levels of serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the brain; and equilibrium, physical strength, anxiety, and hopelessness tests. The infected and treated mice group was compared with the control and infected mice to assess whether treatment is sufficient to recover neuroimmunoendocrine parameters. Our results showed that despite the treatment of brucellosis with rifampicin and doxycycline, antibiotic-treated mice showed a persistence of B. abortus 2308 CFUs, an increased count in macrophage number, and higher circulating levels of corticosterone. Furthermore, the levels of IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-α remained higher. We found a decrease in muscular strength and equilibrium concomitant to changes in neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and frontal cortex. Our data suggest that the remaining bacterial load after antibiotic administration favors inflammatory, neurochemical, and behavioral alterations, partly explaining the widespread and paradoxical symptomatology experienced by patients with chronic brucellosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, the development of nanotechnology has allowed for the synthesis of many different nanostructures with controlled sizes, shapes, and chemical properties, with dendrimers being the best-characterized of them. In this review, we present a succinct view of the structure and the synthetic procedures used for dendrimer synthesis, as well as the cellular uptake mechanisms used by these nanoparticles to gain access to the cell. In addition, the manuscript reviews the reported in vivo applications of dendrimers as drug carriers for drugs used in the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and ocular diseases. The dendrimer-based formulations that have reached different phases of clinical trials, including safety and pharmacokinetic studies, or as delivery agents for therapeutic compounds are also presented. The continuous development of nanotechnology which makes it possible to produce increasingly sophisticated and complex dendrimers indicates that this fascinating family of nanoparticles has a wide potential in the pharmaceutical industry, especially for applications in drug delivery systems, and that the number of dendrimer-based compounds entering clinical trials will markedly increase during the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Intra-abdominal abscesses complicating Crohn's disease [CD] are a challenging situation. Their management, during hospitalisation and after resolution, is still unclear. Methods Adult patients with CD complicated with intra-abdominal abscess. who required hospitalisation, were included from the prospectively maintained ENEIDA registry from GETECCU. Initial strategy effectiveness and safety to resolve abscess was assessed. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate recurrence risk. Predictive factors associated with resolution were evaluated by multivariate regression and predictive factors associated with recurrence were assessed by Cox regression. Results In all, 520 patients from 37 Spanish hospitals were included; 322 [63%] were initially treated with antibiotics alone, 128 [26%] with percutaneous drainage, and 54 [17%] with surgical drainage. The size of the abscess was critical to the effectiveness of each treatment. In abscesses < 30 mm, the antibiotic was as effective as percutaneous or surgical drainage. However, in larger abscesses, percutaneous or surgical drainage was superior. In abscesses > 50 mm, surgery was superior to percutaneous drainage, although it was associated with a higher complication rate. After abscess resolution, luminal resection was associated with a lower 1-year abscess recurrence risk [HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.24-0.76]. However, those patients who initiated anti-TNF therapy had a similar recurrence risk whether luminal resection had been performed. Conclusions Small abscesses [<30mm] can be managed with antibiotics alone; larger ones require drainage. Percutaneous drainage will be effective and safer than surgery in many cases. After discharge, anti-TNF therapy reduces abscess recurrence risk in a similar way to bowel resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway interlocking systems are crucial safety components in rail transportation, designed to prevent train collisions by regulating switch positions and signal indications. These systems delineate potential train movements within a railway station by connecting sections into routes, which are further divided into blocks. To ensure safety, the system prohibits the simultaneous allocation of the same block or intersecting routes to multiple trains. In this study, we characterize the 'interlocking problem' as a safety verification task for a single real-time station configuration, rather than a 'command and control' function. This is a matter of verification, not solution, typically managed by an interlocking system that receives movement authority requests. Over the years, we have developed various algebraic models to address this issue, suggesting the potential use of computer algebra systems in implementing interlocking systems. However, some of these models exhibit limitations. In this paper, we propose a novel algebraic model for decision-making in railway interlocking systems that overcomes the limitations of previous approaches, making it suitable for large railway stations. Our primary objective is to offer a mathematical solution to interlocking problems in linear time, which our approach accomplishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]