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Reading the brilliant blog post of my colleague Teresa Navarro, one may get the impression that the situation in Doñana is principally the epitome of an ongoing electoral process. However, the threats to the ecological integrity of that unique natural space emanate from the very origins that justified its protection. The current crisis is but the culmination of the constant and serious threats, caused by the proposed bill to legalize new irrigation and aggravated by incompetence and lack of responsibility of the state, regional and local authorities ignoring the requirements of EU law.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is the most employed method to assess white matter properties using quantitative parameters derived from diffusion MRI, but it presents known limitations that restrict the evaluation of complex structures. The objective of this study was to validate the reliability and robustness of complementary diffusion measures extracted with a novel approach, Apparent Measures Using Reduced Acquisitions (AMURA), with a typical diffusion MRI acquisition from a clinical context in comparison with DTI with application to clinical studies. Fifty healthy controls, 51 episodic migraine and 56 chronic migraine patients underwent single-shell diffusion MRI. Four DTI-based and eight AMURA-based parameters were compared between groups with tract-based spatial statistics to establish reference results. On the other hand, following a region-based analysis, the measures were assessed for multiple subsamples with diverse reduced sample sizes and their stability was evaluated with the coefficient of quartile variation. To assess the discrimination power of the diffusion measures, we repeated the statistical comparisons with a region-based analysis employing reduced sample sizes with diverse subsets, decreasing 10 subjects per group for consecutive reductions, and using 5,001 different random subsamples. For each sample size, the stability of the diffusion descriptors was evaluated with the coefficient of quartile variation. AMURA measures showed a greater number of statistically significant differences in the reference comparisons between episodic migraine patients and controls compared to DTI. In contrast, a higher number of differences was found with DTI parameters compared to AMURA in the comparisons between both migraine groups. Regarding the assessments reducing the sample size, the AMURA parameters showed a more stable behavior than DTI, showing a lower decrease for each reduced sample size or a higher number of regions with significant differences. However, most AMURA parameters showed lower stability in relation to higher coefficient of quartile variation values than the DTI descriptors, although two AMURA measures showed similar values to DTI. For the synthetic signals, there were AMURA measures with similar quantification to DTI, while other showed similar behavior. These findings suggest that AMURA presents favorable characteristics to identify differences of specific microstructural properties between clinical groups in regions with complex fiber architecture and lower dependency on the sample size or assessing technique than DTI.

Summary: Patients with COVID-19 may develop abnormal inflammatory response, followed in some cases by severe disease and long-lasting syndromes. We show here that in vitro exposure to SARS-CoV-2 activates the expression of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) HERV-W proinflammatory envelope protein (ENV) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a subset of healthy donors, in ACE2 receptor and infection-independent manner. Plasma and/or sera of 221 COVID-19 patients from different cohorts, infected with successive SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Omicron, had detectable HERV-W ENV, which correlated with ENV expression in T lymphocytes and peaked with the disease severity. HERV-W ENV was also found in postmortem tissues of lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, brain olfactory bulb, and nasal mucosa from COVID-19 patients. Altogether, these results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 could induce HERV-W envelope protein expression and suggest its involvement in the immunopathogenesis of certain COVID-19-associated syndromes and thereby its relevance in the development of personalized treatment of patients.

ObjectivesTo assess the expected learning outcomes of medical humanities subjects in medical studies curricula. To connect those expected learning outcomes with the types of knowledge to be acquired in medical education.MethodsMeta-review of systematic and narrative reviews. Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Pubmed), Embase, CINAHL, and ERIC were searched. In addition, references from all the included studies were revised, and the ISI Web of Science and DARE were searched.ResultsA total of 364 articles were identified, of which six were finally included in the review. Learning outcomes describe the acquisition of knowledge and skills to improve the relationship with patients, as well as the incorporation of tools to reduce burnout and promote professionalism. Programs that focus on teaching humanities promote diagnostic observation skills, the ability to cope with uncertainty in clinical practice, and the development of empathetic behaviors.ConclusionThe results of this review show heterogeneity in the teaching of medical humanities, both in terms of content and at the formal level. Humanities learning outcomes are part of the necessary knowledge for good clinical practice. Consequently, the epistemological approach provides a valid argument for including the humanities in medical curricula.

El objetivo del estudio fue comparar las competencias específicas para la docencia digital en profesores universitarios diferentes atendiendo a variables académicas de interés. Este tuvo enfoque cuantitativo y diseño no experimental con alcance comparativo. Participaron 114 profesores de una universidad ecuatoriana y otra española. Los datos se obtuvieron a través de la Escala de Funciones y Competencias del Tutor Online. En la mayoría de los profesores se manifestaron todas las competencias específicas para la docencia virtual con frecuencias que oscilaron entre el 81.6 % y el 100 %. Los resultados de la prueba H de Kruskal-Wallis no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las comparaciones realizadas. Entre los participantes predominaron aquellos con menos de seis años de experiencia académica, los que trabajaban jornada de tiempo completo en la actividad docente, aquellos que preferían la modalidad presencial y los que declararon no percibir que tenían problemas para ejercer la docencia virtual. No se identificó diferencias significativas entre los grupos estudiados y las competencias específicas para el desarrollo de la docencia.

IntroductionThe circadian system synchronizes behavior and physiology to the 24-h light– dark (LD) cycle. Timing of food intake and fasting periods provide strong signals for peripheral circadian clocks regulating nutrient assimilation, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Mice under 12 h light:12 h dark (LD) cycles exhibit behavioral activity and feeding during the dark period, while fasting occurs at rest during light. Disruption of energy metabolism, leading to an increase in body mass, was reported in experimental models of circadian desynchronization. In this work, the effects of chronic advances of the LD cycles (chronic jet-lag protocol, CJL) were studied on the daily homeostasis of energy metabolism and weight gain.MethodsMale C57 mice were subjected to a CJL or LD schedule, measuring IPGTT, insulinemia, microbiome composition and lipidemia.ResultsMice under CJL show behavioral desynchronization and feeding activity distributed similarly at the light and dark hours and, although feeding a similar daily amount of food as compared to controls, show an increase in weight gain. In addition, ad libitum glycemia rhythm was abolished in CJL-subjected mice, showing similar blood glucose values at light and dark. CJL also generated glucose intolerance at dark in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), with increased insulin release at both light and dark periods. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterolemia was increased under this condition, but no changes in HDL cholesterolemia were observed. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was analyzed as a marker of circadian disruption of microbiota composition, showing opposite phases at the light and dark when comparing LD vs. CJL.DiscussionChronic misalignment of feeding/fasting rhythm leads to metabolic disturbances generating nocturnal hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia in a IPGTT, increased LDL cholesterolemia, and increased weight gain, underscoring the importance of the timing of food consumption with respect to the circadian system for metabolic health.

El marco de teoría de juegos puede ser empleada en un amplio abanico de disciplinas y casos de estudio. El presente trabajo propone el enfoque de teoría de juegos y rejillas binomiales, como herramientas estratégicas para analizar y evaluar la articulación y toma de decisiones de actores del complejo ganadero cárnico bovino, específicamente entre cría e invernada. La originalidad surge de incorporar la interdependencia estratégica y articulaciones entre jugadores considerando distintos escenarios de cada negocio particular. Los resultados permiten concluir que se llega a un dilema de prisionero a partir de las diferencias entre articularse mediante canales planteados. El criador, como actor de menor poder, es quien debería orientar mayores esfuerzos de articulación directa con invernador.

Biostimulants are presented as a potential tool to achieve the main objectives of modern agriculture: increase crop yield and nutritional quality while reducing chemical fertilizer use. Here, we investigated the use of a HS-based product (BLACKJAK®, from Sofbey S.A., Mendrisio, Switzerland) as a biostimulant to enhance plant growth, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) use efficiency, as well as antioxidant capacity. For this purpose, BLACKJAK® was applied to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as radicular (‘R’) and foliar (‘F’) at doses: 0.20 mL/L (R1), 0.40 mL/L (R2), 0.60 mL/L (R3), and 0.80 mL/L (R4), 5.00 mL/L (F1), 7.50 mL/L (F2), 10.00 mL/L (F3), and 12.50 mL/L (F4), along with a control. Shoot fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW), leaf area, NPK use efficiency parameters, and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Our results showed that R1, R2, R3, F2, and F3 enhanced shoot FW and leaf area, while only R3 increased shoot DW. Furthermore, in general, most of the doses employed enhanced NPK use efficiency parameters such as apparent crop recovery, nutrient export, physiological efficiency, and internal utilization of applied nutrients. Similarly, HS also increased ascorbate, glutathione, and phenol concentrations, showing an improvement in antioxidant capacity measured through FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) and TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) assays. Overall, root-HS offered better results than foliar-HS, especially at R3. Hence, our results indicate that BLACKJAK® could be a good candidate to enhance crop productivity and nutritional quality while reducing the use of chemical NPK fertilizers.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most common mode of failure of megaprostheses, yet the literature on the topic is scarce, and studies report conflicting data regarding the optimal treatment strategy. Patients with megaprostheses PJI are often immunosuppressed, and surgeons must balance the trade-off between treatment efficacy and morbidity associated with the surgery aiming for infection eradication. Our review on megaprostheses PJI focuses on two axes: (1) risk factors and preventative strategies; and (2) surgical strategies to manage this condition. Risk factors were classified as either unmodifiable or modifiable. Attempts to decrease the risk of PJI should target the latter group. Strategies to prevent PJI include the use of silver-coated implants, timely discontinuation of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and adequate soft tissue coverage to diminish the amount of dead space. Regarding surgical treatment, main strategies include debridement, antibiotics, implant retention (DAIR), DAIR with modular component exchange, stem retention (DAIR plus), one-stage, and two-stage revision. Two-stage revision is the “gold standard” for PJI in conventional implants; however, its success hinges on adequate soft tissue coverage and willingness of patients to tolerate a spacer for a minimum of 6 weeks. DAIR plus and one-stage revisions may be appropriate for a select group of patients who cannot endure the morbidity of two surgeries. Moreover, whenever DAIR is considered, exchange of the modular components should be performed (DAIR plus). Due to the low volume of megaprostheses implanted, studies assessing PJI should be conducted in a multi-institutional fashion. This would allow for more meaningful comparison of groups, with sufficient statistical power. Level of evidence: IV.

This review aims to synthesize and discuss the potential effects of a stack height modification on the function of the different footwear features and their effects on running performance. Peer-reviewed studies were identified from electronic databases using a structured keyword search and a screening process. Complementary sources were used to illustrate and discuss the current racing footwear constructions. With regard to the shoe mass, it is suggested that a stack height difference of 20 mm could induce a meaningful effect on performance. With respect to the midsole properties, it seems that reducing the stack height does not alter the energy returned, given that the lower midsole deformation is counteracted with an increased stiffness. However, it should be noted that this might affect the timing of the midsole deformation and restitution, which should be matched with the mid and propulsive stance phases. Lastly, the curved geometry of the forefoot sole needed to create the teeter-totter effect could be affected by the stack height reduction. However, current racing footwear designs have counteracted this modification by proximately placing the rocker axis and increasing the toe spring.

Monitoring the genetic variance of traits is a key priority to ensure the sustainability of breeding programmes in populations under directional selection, since directional selection can decrease genetic variation over time. Studies monitoring changes in genetic variation have typically used long-term data from small experimental populations selected for a handful of traits. Here, we used a large dataset from a commercial breeding line spread over a period of twenty-three years. A total of 2,059,869 records and 2,062,112 animals in the pedigree were used for the estimations of variance components for the traits: body weight (BWT; 2,059,869 records) and hen-housed egg production (HHP; 45,939 records). Data were analysed with three estimation approaches: sliding overlapping windows, under frequentist (restricted maximum likelihood (REML)) and Bayesian (Gibbs sampling) methods; expected variances using coefficients of the full relationship matrix; and a “double trait covariances” analysis by computing correlations and covariances between the same trait in two distinct consecutive windows. The genetic variance showed marginal fluctuations in its estimation over time. Whereas genetic, maternal permanent environmental, and residual variances were similar for BWT in both the REML and Gibbs methods, variance components when using the Gibbs method for HHP were smaller than the variances estimated when using REML. Large data amounts were needed to estimate variance components and detect their changes. For Gibbs (REML), the changes in genetic variance from 1999–2001 to 2020–2022 were 82.29 to 93.75 (82.84 to 93.68) for BWT and 76.68 to 95.67 (98.42 to 109.04) for HHP. Heritability presented a similar pattern as the genetic variance estimation, changing from 0.32 to 0.36 (0.32 to 0.36) for BWT and 0.16 to 0.15 (0.21 to 0.18) for HHP. On the whole, genetic parameters tended slightly to increase over time. The expected variance estimates were lower than the estimates when using overlapping windows. That indicates the low effect of the drift-selection process on the genetic variance, or likely, the presence of genetic variation sources compensating for the loss. Double trait covariance analysis confirmed the maintenance of variances over time, presenting genetic correlations >0.86 for BWT and >0.82 for HHP. Monitoring genetic variance in broiler breeding programmes is important to sustain genetic progress. Although the genetic variances of both traits fluctuated over time, in some windows, particularly between 2003 and 2020, increasing trends were observed, which warrants further research on the impact of other factors, such as novel mutations, operating on the dynamics of genetic variance.

Bacterial adhesion to the surface of materials is the first step in biofilm formation, which will lead to conditions that may compromise the health status of patients. Recently, polydopamine (PDA) has been proposed as an antibacterial material. Therefore, the objective of the current work was to assess and compare the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) discs that were modified using PDA following a biomimetic approach versus smooth PDA-coated PMMA surfaces. In addition, an assessment of the growth inhibition by PDA was performed. PMMA discs were manufactured and polished; soft lithography, using the topography from the Crocosmia aurea leaf, was used to modify their surface. PDA was used to smooth-coat PMMA discs by dip-coating. The growth inhibition was measured using an inhibition halo. The surfaces were characterized by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), the contact angle (CA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Polydopamine exhibited a significant antibacterial effect when used directly on the S. mutans planktonic cells, but such an effect was not as strong when modifying the PMMA surfaces. These results open the possibility of using polydopamine to reduce the adhesion and growth of S. mutans, which might have important consequences in the dental field.

Immune dysregulation and cancer treatment may affect SARS-CoV-2 vaccination protection. Antibody production by B-cells play a vital role in the control and clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study prospectively explores B-cell seroconversion following SARS-CoV-2 immunization in healthy individuals and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing oncological treatment. 92 NSCLC patients and 27 healthy individuals’ blood samples were collected after receiving any COVID-19 vaccine. Serum and mononuclear cells were isolated, and a serum surrogate virus neutralization test kit evaluated SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. B-cell subpopulations on mononuclear cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Patients were compared based on vaccination specifications and target mutation oncological treatment. A higher percentage of healthy individuals developed more SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies than NSCLC patients (63% vs. 54.3%; p = 0.03). NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy (CTX) or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) developed antibodies in 45.2% and 53.7%, of cases, respectively, showing an impaired antibody generation. CTX patients exhibited trends towards lower median antibody production than TKIs (1.0, IQR 83 vs. 38.23, IQR 89.22; p = 0.069). Patients receiving immunotherapy did not generate antibodies. A sub-analysis revealed that those with ALK mutations exhibited non-significant trends towards higher antibody titers (63.02, IQR 76.58 vs. 21.78, IQR 93.5; p = 0.1742) and B-cells quantification (10.80, IQR 7.52 vs. 7.22, IQR 3.32; p = 0.1382) against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein than EGFR patients; nonetheless, these differences were not statistically significant. This study shows that antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 may be impaired in patients with NSCLC secondary to EGFR-targeted TKIs compared to ALK-directed treatment.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the history of commercial poultry breeding, from domestication to the development of science and commercial breeding structures. The development of breeding goals over time, from mainly focusing on production to broad goals, including bird welfare and health, robustness, environmental impact, biological efficiency and reproduction, is detailed. The paper outlines current breeding goals, including traits (e.g., on foot and leg health, contact dermatitis, gait, cardiovascular health, robustness and livability), recording techniques, their genetic basis and how trait these antagonisms, for example, between welfare and production, are managed. Novel areas like genomic selection and gut health research and their current and potential impact on breeding are highlighted. The environmental impact differences of various genotypes are explained. A future outlook shows that balanced, holistic breeding will continue to enable affordable lean animal protein to feed the world, with a focus on the welfare of the birds and a diversity of choice for the various preferences and cultures across the world.

Abstract Background Given the observed antitumor activity of immune-checkpoint-inhibitors in patients with mismatch-repair deficient (MSI-H) tumors, we hypothesized that deficiency in homologous-recombination-repair (HRR) can also influence susceptibility. Methods Patients with disease progression on standard of care and for whom pembrolizumab had no FDA approved indication received pembrolizumab. Patients with MSI-H tumors were excluded. Objectives included immune-related objective response rate (iORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and 20-weeks-PFS. Pembrolizumab was given every 3 weeks and scans performed every six. We evaluated a triple-stain (FANCD2foci/DAPI/Ki67) functional assay of the Fanconi Anemia (FA) pathway: FATSI, in treated patients’ archived tumors. The two-stage sample size of 20/39 patients evaluated an expected iORR≥20% in the whole population vs. the null hypothesis of an iORR≤5%, based on an assumed iORR≥40% in patients with functional FA deficiency, and

The teaching-learning process from different educational institutions reveals that it is necessary to promote knowledge and appreciation of the artistic manifestations of the country’s cultural heritage. Finding effective ways to promote experiences related to art aimed at students is essential, since they are useful for developing multiple intelligences, especially spatial intelligence. In this sense, virtual tours are an important tool to appreciate art from anywhere in the world. Such tours allow students to virtually explore the cultural heritage from different museums and thus acquire their knowledge. This article presents an exercise conducted with the aim of identifying the impact of technology in artistic-cultural education. The documents present, first, a bibliographic review of the fundamental concepts and categories in this field. Subsequently, the methodology used for the research, a qualitative analysis of the information, is described. Next, the experience of three museums that offer virtual tours for the public –Museo Casa Guayasamín, Museo de San Francisco and Museo Interactivo de Ciencias (MIC)– in the city of Quito was analyzed. Finally, the conclusions and the bibliographical references are stated.

Neural collaborative filtering is the state of art field in the recommender systems area; it provides some models that obtain accurate predictions and recommendations. These models are regression-based, and they just return rating predictions. This paper proposes the use of a classification-based approach, returning both rating predictions and their reliabilities. The extra information (prediction reliabilities) can be used in a variety of relevant collaborative filtering areas such as detection of shilling attacks, recommendations explanation or navigational tools to show users and items dependences. Additionally, recommendation reliabilities can be gracefully provided to users: “probably you will like this film”, “almost certainly you will like this song”, etc. This paper provides the proposed neural architecture; it also tests that the quality of its recommendation results is as good as the state of art baselines. Remarkably, individual rating predictions are improved by using the proposed architecture compared to baselines. Experiments have been performed making use of four popular public datasets, showing generalizable quality results. Overall, the proposed architecture improves individual rating predictions quality, maintains recommendation results and opens the doors to a set of relevant collaborative filtering fields.

Introducción: Las taxonomías de enfermería NANDA, NOC y NIC (NNN) son un lenguaje estandarizado y reconocido internacionalmente, compatible con el cuidado ofrecido en salud ocupacional. Objetivo: Desarrollar una metodología para la implementación de las taxonomías NNN en la salud ocupacional. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de tipo teórico-reflexivo que se apoyó en la revisión bibliográfica. Se definieron las palabras clave “proceso de atención de enfermería”, “salud ocupacional” y “taxonomías NNN”. La búsqueda incluyó artículos en español relacionados con la temática, publicados entre los años 2010 y 2019 y disponibles en las bases de datos Medline, SciELO, Elsevier y CUIDEN. Resultados: La metodología se sustentó en las etapas de valoración, diagnóstico, planificación, ejecución y evaluación del PAE para la implementación de las taxonomías NNN en la salud ocupacional. Aportó una guía para las observaciones de enfermería según los patrones funcionales. Se determinaron los diagnósticos de enfermería de riesgo y promoción de salud, el dominio de conocimiento y conducta en salud de las NOC y el de seguridad de las NIC como los más afines para el cuidado del trabajador. Conclusión: La metodología para la implementación de las taxonomías NNN en la salud ocupacional cubre los problemas fundamentales de seguridad y salud del trabajador y está destinada a garantizar la calidad en su atención Introduction: The nursing taxonomies NANDA, NOC and NIC (NNN) are an internationally recognized standardized language compatible with the care offered in occupational health. Objective: Develop a methodology for the implementation of NNN taxonomies in occupational health. Methods: A theoretical-reflexive study was conducted based on a bibliographic review. The key terms used were "nursing care process", "occupational health" and "NNN taxonomies". The search included articles in Spanish about the topic published from 2010 to 2019 and available in the databases MEDLINE, SciELO, Elsevier and CUIDEN. Discussion: The methodology was founded on assessment stages, diagnosis, planning, conduct and evaluation of the NCP for the implementation of NNN taxonomies in occupational health. It contributed a guide for nursing observations in keeping with functional patterns. Determination was made of nursing diagnoses of risk and health promotion, knowledge command and healthcare behavior of the NOC, and the safety diagnosis of the NIC as the most closely related to occupational healthcare. Conclusion: The methodology for the implementation of NNN taxonomies in occupational healthcare covers the main problems to do with occupational health and safety, and is aimed at ensuring the quality of care

Abstract Background Genetic variation at the PTK2B locus encoding the protein Pyk2 influences Alzheimer’s disease risk. Neurons express Pyk2 and the protein is required for Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide driven deficits of synaptic function and memory in mouse models, but Pyk2 deletion has minimal effect on neuro-inflammation. Previous in vitro data suggested that Pyk2 activity might enhance GSK3β-dependent Tau phosphorylation and be required for tauopathy. Here, we examine the influence of Pyk2 on Tau phosphorylation and associated pathology. Methods The effect of Pyk2 on Tau phosphorylation was examined in cultured Hek cells through protein over-expression and in iPSC-derived human neurons through pharmacological Pyk2 inhibition. PS19 mice overexpressing the P301S mutant of human Tau were employed as an in vivo model of tauopathy. Phenotypes of PS19 mice with a targeted deletion of Pyk2 expression were compared with PS19 mice with intact Pyk2 expression. Phenotypes examined included Tau phosphorylation, Tau accumulation, synapse loss, gliosis, proteomic profiling and behavior. Results Over-expression experiments from Hek293T cells indicated that Pyk2 contributed to Tau phosphorylation, while iPSC-derived human neuronal cultures with endogenous protein levels supported the opposite conclusion. In vivo, multiple phenotypes of PS19 were exacerbated by Pyk2 deletion. In Pyk2-null PS19 mice, Tau phosphorylation and accumulation increased, mouse survival decreased, spatial memory was impaired and hippocampal C1q deposition increased relative to PS19 littermate controls. Proteomic profiles of Pyk2-null mouse brain revealed that several protein kinases known to interact with Tau are regulated by Pyk2. Endogenous Pyk2 suppresses LKB1 and p38 MAPK activity, validating one potential pathway contributing to increased Tau pathology. Conclusions The absence of Pyk2 results in greater mutant Tau-dependent phenotypes in PS19 mice, in part via increased LKB1 and MAPK activity. These data suggest that in AD, while Pyk2 activity mediates Aβ-driven deficits, Pyk2 suppresses Tau-related phenotypes.

Las fracturas articulares complejas del húmero distal suponen un gran desafío para el cirujano ortopédico. La complejidad de la anatomía, la presencia de múltiples fragmentos y la mala calidad ósea representan algunas de las principales dificultades para resolver. La relativa infrecuencia de estas fracturas atenta directamente contra el entrenamiento y la sistematización del procedimiento quirúrgico y, por consiguiente, tiene impacto sobre el resultado final y la tasa de complicaciones. El objetivo de esta comunicación es proporcionar herramientas al cirujano a través de la revisión de la bibliografía y la experiencia de los autores para disminuir las complicaciones y optimizar los resultados en el tratamiento de estas fracturas.

Los biliomas son colecciones de bilis fuera del árbol biliar. Las etiologías más frecuentes son la iatrogenia y el trauma. Los casos de biliomas espontáneos o atraumáticos son poco frecuentes. El manejo de los biliomas depende del tamaño y la localización y puede incluir vigilancia solamente, si el tamaño es < 4 cm, puede haber intervención percutánea o endoscópica. El uso de antibióticos depende del estado clínico del paciente. Presentamos el caso de un hombre que presentó un bilioma espontáneo 8 años después de una colecistectomía laparoscópica que, además de signos de coledocolitiasis, presentaba una estenosis del conducto biliar común. En los pacientes con clínica de patología biliar debe considerarse el diagnóstico de bilioma aun en los casos que no presenten antecedente de trauma o cirugía reciente con el fin de iniciar el tratamiento adecuado tempranamente. Muchos casos son asintomáticos y se resuelven espontáneamente, pero en ocasiones requieren manejo percutáneo o endoscópico.

La presente investigación tiene como principal objetivo identificar un perfil demográfico de un grupo de personas frente a la compra de una vivienda con características sostenibles. Determinar cómo esas variables demográficas pueden influenciar una decisión de compra frente a esta nueva forma de diseñar y construir viviendas permite la compresión detallada que potenciales clientes experimentan durante el proceso de compra. La investigación tiene un enfoque cuantitativo. Se utilizó en esta investigación el análisis de correspondencias, que consiste en un método descriptivo o exploratorio como alcance. La muestra es no probabilística a conveniencia del investigador. Acorde a los resultados del presente trabajo investigativo, se concluye que existe un perfil específico de los compradores de una vivienda con atributos de sostenibilidad. Dichos compradores tienen características demográficas orientadas a preferir el estrato 5; sin embargo, requieren condiciones flexibles en cuanto a cuota inicial, precio, y factores de diferenciación claros en la vivienda sostenible.

Este trabajo estudia la situación actual de la despoblación en España, en la que se destaca el envejecimiento de su población, la baja natalidad y la dificultad para garantizar la prestación de los servicios públicos, todo lo cual obliga a un replanteamiento de las políticas públicas para que conduzcan a una mayor cohesión territorial y, en definitiva, a ofrecer soluciones a estos territorios

IntroductionWhile Yap and Wwtr1 regulate resident cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation following cardiac injury, their role specifically in activated myofibroblasts remains unexplored.MethodsWe assessed the pathophysiological and cellular consequence of genetic depletion of Yap alone (Yapfl/fl;PostnMCM) or Yap and Wwtr1 (Yapfl/fl;Wwtr1fl/+;PostnMCM) in adult mouse myofibroblasts following myocardial infarction and identify and validate novel downstream factors specifically in cardiac myofibroblasts that mediate pathological remodeling.ResultsFollowing myocardial infarction, depletion of Yap in myofibroblasts had minimal effect on heart function while depletion of Yap/Wwtr1 resulted in smaller scars, reduced interstitial fibrosis, and improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Single cell RNA sequencing of interstitial cardiac cells 7 days post infarction showed suppression of pro-fibrotic genes in fibroblasts derived from Yapfl/fl,Wwtr1fl/+;PostnMCM hearts. In vivo myofibroblast depletion of Yap/Wwtr1 as well in vitro knockdown of Yap/Wwtr1 dramatically decreased RNA and protein expression of the matricellular factor Ccn3. Administration of recombinant CCN3 to adult mice following myocardial infarction remarkably aggravated cardiac function and scarring. CCN3 administration drove myocardial gene expression of pro-fibrotic genes in infarcted left ventricles implicating CCN3 as a novel driver of cardiac fibrotic processes following myocardial infarction.DiscussionYap/Wwtr1 depletion in myofibroblasts attenuates fibrosis and significantly improves cardiac outcomes after myocardial infarction and we identify Ccn3 as a factor downstream of Yap/Wwtr1 that contributes to adverse cardiac remodeling post MI. Myofibroblast expression of Yap, Wwtr1, and Ccn3 could be further explored as potential therapeutic targets for modulating adverse cardiac remodeling post injury.

Two time-varying Beverton–Holt models are investigated in which the population of the same species evolves jointly in two coupled habitats which can be subject to population exchanges. Both habitats can have different parameterizations concerning their intrinsic growth rates and their environment carrying capacities due to different environmental conditions. Mutual fluxes of populations in-between both habitats are possible together with harvesting actions. In one of the models harvesting acts on juvenile individuals. In the other proposed model, harvesting takes place on the adult populations after the reproduction cycle they have performed has ended. The second investigated model, contrarily to the first one, relies on an “a posteriori” harvesting action to the reproductive stage which is able to modify the stocks of population. The considered harvesting can also be negative to describe repopulation actions. The equilibrium points in steady-state and their stability properties as well as the extinction conditions and the boundedness, oscillation issues, and positivity of the solutions are also investigated.

The timing of Tiwanaku's collapse remains contested. Here we present a generational-scale chronology of Tiwanaku using Bayesian models of 102 radiocarbon dates, including 45 unpublished dates. This chronology tracks four community practices: residing short- vs. long-term, constructing monuments, discarding decorated ceramics, and leaving human burials. Tiwanaku was founded around AD 100 and around AD 600, it became the region's principal destination for migrants. It grew into one of the Andes' first cities and became famous for its decorated ceramics, carved monoliths, and large monuments. Our Bayesian models show that monument building ended ~AD 720 (the median of the ending boundary). Around ~AD 910, burials in tombs ceased as violent deaths began, which we document for the first time in this paper. Ritualized murders are limited to the century leading up to ~AD 1020. Our clearest proxy for social networks breaking down is a precise estimate for the end of permanent residence, ~AD 1010 (970-1050, 95%). This major inflection point was followed by visitors who used the same ceramics until ~AD 1040. Temporary camps lasted until roughly ~AD 1050. These four events suggest a rapid, city-wide collapse at ~AD 1010-1050, lasting just ~20 years (0-70 years, 95%). These results suggest a cascading breakdown of community practices and social networks that were physically anchored at Tiwanaku, though visitors continued to leave informal burials for centuries. This generation-scale chronology suggests that collapse 1) took place well before reduced precipitation, hence this was not a drought-induced societal change and 2) a few resilient communities sustained some traditions at other sites, hence the chronology for the site of Tiwanaku cannot be transposed to all sites with similar material culture.

ABSTRACTSex workers have been demonstrated to have increased vulnerabilities to HIV and a high population prevalence of the disease. Despite their increased risk, sex workers have been underrepresented in molecular epidemiology studies assessing HIV in Mesoamerica. This study aims to describe the sociodemographic characteristics and phylogenetic profile of HIV-1 within a cohort of HIV-positive female sex workers (FSW) situated at the Guatemala-Mexico border. HIV viral sequences were collected from a cohort of FSW ≥18 years of age from San Marcos, Guatemala (n = 6) and compared to viral sequences collected as part of the Mesoamerican Drug Resistance Monitoring Programme to assess HIV viral diversity in Mexico and Guatemala (n = 3956). All of the FSW sampled were determined to have genetically unrelated HIV infections, suggesting multiple introductions of the virus and/or the potential existence of populations not captured by current surveillance efforts. Many reported numerous vulnerabilities that may have heightened their risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV through sex work activities. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that national surveillance programmes may not fully capture the viral diversity among FSW and their clients within this region. Additional research is needed to fully capture HIV diversity and transmission in Mesoamerica, especially in the Guatemala-Mexico border region.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of deep learning (DL) techniques in improving the quality of diffusion MRI (dMRI) data in clinical applications. The study aims to determine whether the use of artificial intelligence (AI) methods in medical images may result in the loss of critical clinical information and/or the appearance of false information. To assess this, the focus was on the angular resolution of dMRI and a clinical trial was conducted on migraine, specifically between episodic and chronic migraine patients. The number of gradient directions had an impact on white matter analysis results, with statistically significant differences between groups being drastically reduced when using 21 gradient directions instead of the original 61. Fourteen teams from different institutions were tasked to use DL to enhance three diffusion metrics (FA, AD and MD) calculated from data acquired with 21 gradient directions and a b-value of 1000 s/mm2. The goal was to produce results that were comparable to those calculated from 61 gradient directions. The results were evaluated using both standard image quality metrics and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) to compare episodic and chronic migraine patients. The study results suggest that while most DL techniques improved the ability to detect statistical differences between groups, they also led to an increase in false positive. The results showed that there was a constant growth rate of false positives linearly proportional to the new true positives, which highlights the risk of generalization of AI-based tasks when assessing diverse clinical cohorts and training using data from a single group. The methods also showed divergent performance when replicating the original distribution of the data and some exhibited significant bias. In conclusion, extreme caution should be exercised when using AI methods for harmonization or synthesis in clinical studies when processing heterogeneous data in clinical studies, as important information may be altered, even when global metrics such as structural similarity or peak signal-to-noise ratio appear to suggest otherwise.

This paper considers a more general eventually time-varying Beverton–Holt equation for species evolution which can include a harvesting action and a penalty for overpopulation numbers. The harvesting action may be positive (typically consisting of hunting or fishing) or negative which refers to repopulation within the environment. One considers also a penalty of quadratic type on the overpopulation and the introduction of a term related to Allee effect to take account of small levels of population. The intrinsic growth rate is assumed either to exceed unity or to be under unity. In the second case, the extinction point is a locally stable attractor while the other positive equilibrium point is unstable contrarily to the commonly studied case of intrinsic growth rate exceeding unity where the above roles are inverted. This consequence implies that the extinction point is also globally asymptotically stable for any given finite initial condition. In the case when the eventual overpopulation is penalized with a sufficiently large coefficient which exceeds a prescribed threshold, to quantify such an excess, only a globally asymptotically stable extinction attractor is present and no other positive equilibrium points exist. In the case of a positive moderate quadratic evaluation term for such an overpopulation, one or two positive equilibrium points coexist with the extinction one. The smaller one is unstable contrarily to the extinction equilibrium which is locally asymptotically stable. If it exists a second largest positive equilibrium point, being distinct to the above-given one, then it can be unstable or locally stable depending on the parameterization. Also, some methods of monitoring the population evolution through control laws on the harvesting action are discussed.

Being compassionate and empathic while making rational decisions is expected from healthcare workers across different contexts. But the daily challenges that these workers face, aggravated by the recent COVID-19 crisis, can give rise to compassion and decision fatigue, which affects not only their ability to meet these expectations but has a significant negative impact on their wellbeing. Hence, it is vital to identify factors associated to their exhaustion. Here, we sought to describe levels of compassion and decision fatigue during the pandemic, and to identify factors related to these forms of exhaustion. We collected data using self-reported questionnaires to measure compassion fatigue, decision fatigue, and grit in five intervals from April to November, 2020 (N = 856). Our results showed a negative correlation between grit and compassion and decision fatigue. We also found that under the circumstances studied grit tends to be higher in technicians, nurses, other professionals (psychologists, social workers), and workers at the Emergency Room (ER), and lower in general practitioners. Compassion fatigue tend to be higher for technicians, whereas decision fatigue was lower for specialists, general practitioners, and technicians, and higher for those working at private hospitals.

Desmoid fibromatosis is a rare, aggressive borderline lesion arising from soft tissues. Treatment will depend on the structures that the tumor has involved. Surgery with negative margins is the recommended strategy as it can usually achieve disease control; however, the tumor's location sometimes does not allow it. Therefore, a combination of medical therapies along with strict surveillance is crucial. We present the case of a 6-month-old boy with a chest mass. After further evaluation, a rapidly growing mediastinal mass involving the sternum and costal cartilage was detected. Desmoid fibromatosis was the final diagnosis.

IntroductionPsoriasis is a chronic disease involving the skin, which significantly impacts the quality of life. Disease severity and treatment efficacy (i.e., response) are assessed through the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). A PASI 75 response, i.e., an improvement of at least 75% with respect to the baseline PASI score, has traditionally been used as a therapeutic benchmark in clinical trials. Therapeutic advances have made PASI 90 or PASI 100 responses possible in most patients treated with some biologics. A greater response may generate social value beyond clinical outcomes that would benefit both patients and society.MethodsA 1-year economic model was applied to estimate the impact of having a PASI 75, PASI 90, or PASI 100 response in four areas of analysis (quality of life, activities of daily living, work productivity, and out-of-pocket expenditures) and the social value of having a PASI 90 or PASI 100 response in comparison with a PASI 75 response. A mixed-methods approach based on the scientific literature, a focus group with patient, and an advisory committee with psoriasis stakeholders was used. The model included three different scenarios: having a PASI 90 vs a PASI 75 response; a PASI 100 vs a PASI 90 response; and a PASI 100 vs a PASI 75 response. A sensitivity analysis was included.ResultsThe annual economic impact per patient with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis having a PASI 75 response was estimated at Ł 6,139, mainly related to labour productivity losses and quality of life reductions. Having a PASI 90 or a PASI 100 response would reduce this impact to €3,956 or €1,353, respectively. Accordingly, the social value of having a PASI 90 instead of a PASI 75 response was estimated at €2,183, and €4,786 with a PASI 100 response.DiscussionA PASI 90 or PASI 100 response would have a lower economic impact and a greater social value than a PASI 75 response for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

The following study is a descriptive/correlational analysis of students’ perception of digital competence in teaching. It is based on the current needs of university students with regard to the digitization of teaching and learning processes. Knowing student satisfaction with teaching digital skills could be used to propose improvements in the quality of university education to the extent that it can channel the various socio-economic demands. The European Higher Education Area is not oblivious to this problem by creating a framework of ambitious objectives for member states where ICT and digital competence of teachers are a priority. The research is carried out at the University of Granada and takes as a reference the framework: Marco Común de Competencia Digital Docente. This Framework in the context of Spain is concerned with indicating which areas educators need to acquire a skill higher degree differentiating between the following levels of classification: basic, intermediate and advanced. A quantitative correlational study was carried out, and an online questionnaire/form was distributed to a random probability sample of 307 students at the University of Granada belonging to different faculties of education. According to the results obtained, the students unanimously share the opinion that, the lecturers at Granada University do not possess a sufficient level of experience or training to competently deliver course content in a purely digital format.

IntroductionIn the quest to improve the understanding of climate change impacts on elements of the atmospheric, physical, and life systems, scientists are challenged by the scarcity and uneven distribution of grounded data. Through their long history of interaction with the environment, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have developed complex knowledge systems that allow them to detect impacts of climate change in the local environment. The study protocol presented here is designed 1) to inventory climate change impacts on the atmospheric, physical, and life systems based on local knowledge and 2) to test hypotheses on the global spatial, socioeconomic, and demographic distribution of reported impacts. The protocol has been developed within the framework of a project aiming to bring insights from Indigenous and local knowledge systems to climate research (https://licci.eu).MethodsData collection uses a mixed-method approach and relies on the collaboration of a team of 50 trained partners working in sites where people's livelihood directly depend on nature. The data collection protocol consists of two steps. Step 1 includes the collection of secondary data (e.g., spatial and meteorological data) and site contextual information (e.g., village infrastructure, services). Step 1 also includes the use of 1) semi-structured interviews (n = 20-30/site) to document observations of environmental change and their drivers and 2) focus group discussions to identify consensus in the information gathered. Step 2 consist in the application of a household (n from 75 to 125) and individual survey (n from 125 to 175) using a standardized but locally adapted instrument. The survey includes information on 1) individual and household socio-demographic characteristics, 2) direct dependence on nature, 3) household's vulnerability, and 4) individual perceptions of climate change impacts. Survey data are entered in a specifically designed database.Expected resultsThis protocol allows the systematic documentation and analysis of the patterned distribution of local indicators of climate change impacts across climate types and livelihood activities. Data collected with this protocol helps fill important gaps on local climate change impacts research and can provide tangible outcomes for local people who will be able to better reflect on how climate change impacts them.

Purpose Treatment options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are commonly limited for patients with advanced age due to medical comorbidities and/or poor performance status. These patients may not be candidates for more aggressive chemotherapy regimens and/or surgical resection leaving few, if any, other effective treatments. Ablative stereotactic MRI-guided adaptive radiation therapy (A-SMART) is both efficacious and safe for PDAC and can achieve excellent long-term local control, however, the appropriateness of A-SMART for elderly patients with inoperable PDAC is not well understood. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of inoperable non-metastatic PDAC patients aged 75 years or older treated on the MRIdian Linac at 2 institutions. Clinical outcomes of interest included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and locoregional (LRC). Toxicity was graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, v5). Results A total of 49 patients were evaluated with a median age of 81 years (range, 75-91) and a median follow-up of 14 months from diagnosis. PDAC was classified as locally advanced (46.9%), borderline resectable (36.7%), or medically inoperable (16.3%). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was delivered to 84% of patients and all received A-SMART to a median 50 Gy (range, 40-50 Gy) in 5 fractions. 1 Year LRC, PFS, and OS were 88.9%, 53.8%, and 78.9%, respectively. Nine patients (18%) had resection after A-SMART and benefited from PFS improvement (26 vs 6 months, P = .01). ECOG PS

Nature has developed smart strategies to morph joint contact surfaces as a response to local mechanical stimuli. Hence, it is compelling to explore the advantages of mimicking these strategies to design mechanical pieces. Researchers and engineers have developed generative design strategies mostly focused on structural topological and shape optimization. However, these generative strategies are not well developed for joint contact surfaces, even though they are critical points in engineering structures and machinery. This work presents a computational tool for adaptive surface shaping in contact problems inspired by the morphogenesis of synovial joints. The algorithm follows the cartilage growth rules, in which the hydrostatic and shear octahedral stresses either promote or inhibit an isotropic expansion of the local domain. The implementation is based on the finite element method and it is freely available on GitHub. A parametric study was performed to tune the parameters of the algorithm and it was successfully tested for two elastic bodies in unilateral contact. It was evidenced that the cartilage growth rules adapted the geometry of the surfaces in such a way that the contact stresses got uniformly distributed. This study is a step forward in the scope of bio-inspired generative designs.

Purpose: Nearly all patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) eventually die of progressive cancer after exhausting treatment options. Although distant metastases (DMs) are a common cause of death, autopsy studies have shown that locoregional progression may be directly responsible for up to one-third of PDAC-related deaths. Ablative stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiation therapy (A-SMART) is a novel treatment strategy that appears to improve locoregional control compared with nonablative radiation therapy, potentially leading to improved overall survival. Methods and Materials: A single-institution retrospective analysis was performed of patients with nonmetastatic inoperable PDAC treated between 2018 to 2020 using the MRIdian Linac with induction chemotherapy, followed by 5-fraction A-SMART. We identified causes of death that occurred after A-SMART. Results: A total of 62 patients were evaluated, of whom 42 (67.7%) had died. The median follow-up time was 18.6 months from diagnosis and 11.0 months from A-SMART. Patients had locally advanced (72.6%), borderline resectable (22.6%), or resectable but medically inoperable PDAC (4.8%). All patients received induction chemotherapy, typically leucovorin calcium (folinic acid), fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, and oxaliplatin (69.4%) or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (24.2%). The median prescribed dose was 50 Gy (range, 40-50), corresponding to a median biologically effective dose of 100 Gy10. Post-SMART therapy included surgery (22.6%), irreversible electroporation (9.7%), and/or chemotherapy (51.6%). Death was attributed to locoregional progression, DMs, cancer-related cachexia/malnutrition, surgery/irreversible electroporation complications, other reasons not due to cancer progression, or unknown causes in 7.1%, 45.2%, 11.9%, 9.5%, 11.9%, and 14.3% of patients, respectively. Intra-abdominal metastases of the liver and peritoneum were responsible for 84.2% of deaths from DMs. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first contemporary evaluation of causes of death in patients with PDAC receiving dose-escalated radiation therapy. We demonstrated that the predominant cause of PDAC-related death was from liver and peritoneal metastases; therefore novel treatment strategies are indicated to address occult micrometastatic disease at these sites.

El complejo agroindustrial de primera transformación de carne bovina es relevante en laeconomía de la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina). La presente investigación propone unametodología para medir y evaluar el desempeño competitivo de las organizaciones y elcomplejo en general. Se desarrolló un índice con 9 (nueve) ejes y 64 indicadoresmultidimensionales, que surgen del análisis de los antecedentes y la identificación defactores claves que potencian o restringen la competitividad desde la gestión. El complejose encuentra conformado por 9 agroindustrias, muy diferentes entre sí, donde todasfueron entrevistadas y tomadas en cuenta para su análisis. Los principales resultadosplantean al complejo agroindustrial con un índice de desempeño competitivo de 20,3.Según los ejes de competitividad se pueden plantear tres clústers diferentes deagroindustrias. Las agroindustrias con mejor desempeño se encuentran habilitadas paraexportar, con mayor nivel de actividad y antigüedad. Los casos con menor desempeño secaracterizan por la falta de una mirada estratégica y operativa del negocio, insuficienciascomerciales y de innovación.

Abstract Background Many patients with bipolar I disorder do not respond to monotherapy treatment with mood-stabilizing medications, and combination regimens are commonly used in both inpatient and outpatient settings for the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. We studied whether combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy for the acute treatment of subjects with bipolar I disorder currently experiencing manic symptoms. The primary hypothesis was that combination treatments would be associated with greater reductions in symptoms of mania and hypomania than monotherapy alone. The secondary hypothesis was that combination therapies would be associated with lower depression levels than monotherapy alone. Last, a post-hoc exploratory aim was used to examine whether the effect of side effect severity on risk-of-dropout would be greater in combination therapies than in monotherapy alone. Results In this 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled ambulatory pilot trial, participants (n = 75) with bipolar I disorder were randomly assigned to: (1) monotherapy divalproex plus placebo (DVP + PBO), (2) combination therapy of divalproex plus blinded lithium (DVP + Li) or (3) divalproex plus blinded quetiapine (DVP + QTP). Combination therapies (vs. monotherapy) were not associated with improved symptoms of mania, hypomania or depression. The effect of side effect severity on study retention did not differ between combination therapies and monotherapy. However, the risk-of-dropout was significantly greater in the DVP + Li arm versus the DVP + PBO arm. Conclusions No longitudinal differences in mania, hypomania or depression were found between combination therapies and monotherapy. The effect of side effect severity on study retention did not differ between groups. Due to the small sample size and differential rates of attrition between treatment arms, results of this pilot trial must be interpreted with caution. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00183443

Los estudios biocinemáticos se emplean con fines clínicos, fisio-terápicos y en programas de reproducción. El objetivo de este estu-dio fue aportar información de estas variables para el caballo Criollo Argentino. Se estudiaron 8 yeguas de la raza Criollo Argentino. Les fueron colocados marcadores refractantes en sitios anatómicos pre-determinados. Se les hizo recorrer una distancia de 15 metros sobre césped guiadas de la mano.Los recorridos se repitieron tres veces por individuo y se registraron en video. Los fotogramas se introdujeron en el software ImageJ para medir los ángulos articulares, de inclinación escapular y pélvica, protracción y retracción y de extensión, flexión y amplitud angular de cada articulación de los miembros, a la vez que se estableció la longitud y número de zancadas por batida y la velocidad a la que recorrieron los 15 metros. Se realizó estadística descriptiva de las variables. Los caballos recorrieron la distancia en 22,99 seg a 4,08 m/seg para lo cual ejecutaron 5,69 zancadas con una longitud de batida de 2,66 m efectuada en 0,65 seg. Los ángulos de protracción y retracción fueron 22,63º y 6,8º; 9,06º y 22,03º para miembros torá-cico y pélvico. Los ángulos de inclinación escapular y pelviano fueron 73,19º- 60,79º (12,4º); y 33,11º-26,52º (6,58º). Los ángulos de exten-sión y flexión y amplitud angular fueron: hombro 128,07º-116,93º, 11,13º, codo 159,85º-144,60º, 15,52º; carpo 175,85º-172,18º, 3,66º, cadera 103,38º–86,19º, 17,18º; rodilla 138,57º-118,56º, 20,01º; tarso 153,79º–142,85º, 10,94º y nudos torácicos 159,68º-126,89º, 32,79º y pelviano 161,09º-129,68º, 31,41º. Los rangos de retracción-pro-tracción de los miembros contribuyen a conocer la sincronicidad de la retracción ipsilateral de la extremidad anterior y la protracción del miembro posterior en el trote. La ejecución del trote en el caballo Criollo Argentino requiere sincronización de extensiones y flexiones articulares cuyas variaciones mínimas y máximas fueron registradas.

Christopher Lietz et al. examined genome-wide methylation in patient cohorts of primary osteosarcoma. Their results suggest that genomic hypomethylation is predictive of response to standard chemotherapy, and provide further insight into clinical implications of methylation patterns.

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have made progress in creating and implementing public policies on family farming (FF) by developing their own concepts, which converge in the fact that the family labor force is the most important link. However, this also appears to be their weakness for the future, since the exodus from the countryside to the city is affecting work in this sector, andrestrictive policies in this regard could end up denying the resources needed for FF to achieve greater development. This document aims to review the existing policies, official figures, and regulations that have been created over the years to recognize and strengthen family farming (FF) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). To achieve our goals, we carried out a systematic search for technical documents (books, reports, and papers with official figures), policies, and legislation related to FF in LAC.Several countries have developed concepts to make policies focused on family farmers. Nonetheless, all converge in that the family workforce is the most critical link in this conceptualization. However, it also seems to be its Achilles’ heel for the future since the field-city exodus is affecting this sector, and restrictive policies could reduce the necessary resources for FF to achieve more significant development. Furthermore, the most significant challenges are found in conducting research on crops andanimal species that mainly affect FF, such as corn, beans, rice, cassava, vegetables, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and milk. Finally, efforts need to focus on studying changes in family composition, the quality of land, the role of family farmers as guardians of ancestral and native crops, excluding FF export crops. Unpaid women must not be forgotten as a vital part of FF because domestic and production units are closely related.

Recommender Systems have become one of the most important tools for streaming and marketplace systems in recent years. Their increased use has revealed clear bias and unfairness against minorities and underrepresented groups. This paper seeks the origin of these biases and unfairness. To this end, it analyzes the demographic characteristics of a gold standard dataset and its prediction performance when used in a multitude of Recommender Systems. In addition, this paper proposes Soft Matrix Factorization (SoftMF), which tries to balance the predictions of different types of users to reduce the present inequality. The experimental results show that those biases and unfairness are not introduced by the different recommendation models and that they come from the socio-psychological and demographic characteristics of the used dataset.

Digital competence stands as a pivotal element in educational training across all levels, notably within higher education and particularly within the realm of initial teacher training. As prospective educators, these individuals bear the crucial responsibility of championing digital competences and integrating them into their teaching curricula. However, for this integration to materialize effectively, it becomes imperative for them to establish a robust framework for digital competence training. The linchpin of this preparation lies in DigCompEdu. This study adopts a correlational approach with a retrospective ex-post-facto design aimed at scrutinizing the digital competences among future teachers within the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Granada. Notably, the research uncovers intriguing insights: self-perceived digital competence exhibits variations based on the gender of the students, with men tending to display a more positive self-assessment in contrast to findings suggesting otherwise. Diverse perspectives exist among authors, some advocating for correlation while others refute it. Conversely, factors such as the academic course or degree do not seem to exert significant influence. A critical revelation surfaces from the majority of students at the Faculty of Education: their self-assessed digital competence level hovers around B1, an assessment considered inadequate for effectively imparting knowledge to future generations. This deficiency persists partly due to the absence of dedicated spaces and training opportunities in this domain, as perceived by students. However, nuances emerge based on the degree pursued, highlighting disparities in perceptions regarding this aspect. Ultimately, this research underscores the urgency to enhance digital competence training within initial teacher education, advocating for a more comprehensive approach to bridge the gap between perceived competence and the actual proficiency required to navigate the digital landscape in education effectively.

Participation in the electricity market requires making commitments without knowing the real generation or electricity prices. This is problematic for renewable generators due to their fluctuating output. Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) integrated with renewable sources in a hybrid farm (HF) can alleviate imbalances and increase power system flexibility. However, the impact of battery degradation on long-term profitability must be taken into account when choosing the correct market participation strategy. This study evaluates the state-of-the-art on energy management systems (EMS) for HFs participating in day-ahead and intraday markets, incorporating both BESSs’ calendar and cycling degradation. Results suggest that efforts to attain additional profits in intraday markets can be detrimental, especially when the degradation effect is considered in the analysis. A new market participation strategy is proposed that aims to address the limitations of market overlapping and forecasting errors. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can enhance long-term benefits while also reducing battery degradation.

The pyrolysis of vegetable oil waste is an alternative way to convert biomass into high-quality second-generation biofuels, with social, economic and environmental sustainability. The present work deals with the pyrolysis of oleic acid as a model compound and an industrial vegetable oil residue on CuNiAl mixed oxide catalysts, derived from layered double hydroxides. Reactions of the oils pre-adsorbed on the catalysts (catalyst:oil mass ratio of 5:1) were performed at 550 °C on a micro-pyrolysis system and the analyses of volatile products were carried out online using GC/MS. Copper addition to NiAl catalysts increased the cracking of oleic acid. Increasing copper content also decreased the formation of aromatics and coke precursors, as well as oxygenated compounds. The CuNiAl catalyst with a Cu/Ni ratio of 0.4 showed strong catalytic activity in the conversion of an industrial vegetable oil residue with a high volume of free fatty acids produced. Compared to the non-catalytic reaction, the catalyst reduced the content of oxygenates and increased the content of hydrocarbons, particularly in the gasoline range (C5–C9). The CuNiAl oxide catalyst was able to convert vegetable oil residues into hydrocarbons in the range of gasoline, kerosene and diesel, and also linear alkylbenzenes as chemical precursors for surfactant production.