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This work was supported by the Estonian Research Council grants MOBTTP135 , PRG803 , MOBTT5 , MOBJD323 and MOBTT86 , and by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund CoE program TK133 “The Dark Side of the Universe.” J.C.C. is supported by the STFC under grant ST/P001246/1 , and A.D. is also supported by the Junta de Andalucía through the Talentia Senior program as well as by A-FQM-211-UGR18 , P18-FR-4314 with ERDF., The new measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment released by the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab sets strong constraints on the properties of many new particles. Using an effective field theory approach to the interactions of higher-spin fields, we evaluate the contribution of an electrically neutral and colour singlet spin-3/2 fermion to (g−2)μ and derive the corresponding constraints on its mass and couplings. These constraints are then compared with the ones on spin-1/2 fermions, such as the vector-like leptons that are predicted by various extensions of the Standard Model, the excited leptons which appear in composite models, as well as the charginos and neutralinos of supersymmetric theories. Unlike these new spin-1/2 fermions, the spin-3/2 particles generate only small contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment unless the effective new physics scale is very close to the electroweak scale., Science and Technology Facilities Council ST/P001246/1, European Commission, Eesti Teadusagentuur MOBJD323, MOBTT86, MOBTTP135, PRG803, European Regional Development Fund TK133, Junta de Andalucía A-FQM-211-UGR18, P18-FR-4314

Supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R21ES029681; R01ES030691, R01ES029944, R01ES030364, R21ES028903, and P30ES007048, to L.C.; R01ES030691, R01ES030364, R21ES028903, and P30ES007048, to R.M.; R01ES030691, R01ES029944, R01ES030364, and P30ES007048, to D.V.C.; R01ES030691, R01ES029944, R01ES030364, and R21ES028903, to D.V.; R01ES030364, to N.S.; and P30ES007048, to E.G), the National Institutes of Health (P01CA196569 and R01CA140561, to D.V.C.; P30DK048522, to N.S.), the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) (MS16/00128, to M.C.), and the Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion fellowship (IJC2018-035394-I, to L.M.), awarded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad. The Human Early Life Exposome project was supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013, under grant 30833). INMA data collections were supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERESP, and the Generalitat de Catalunya-CIRIT. The KANC cohort was supported by the Lithuanian Agency for Science Innovation and Technology (31V-77). For a full list of funding that supported the EDEN cohort, see https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyv151. The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study was supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Education and Research. The Rhea cohort was supported by European projects; the Greek Ministry of Health (Program of Prevention of Obesity and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Preschool Children, in Heraklion district, Crete, Greece), 2011-2014; and Rhea Plus: Primary Prevention Program of Environmental Risk Factors for Reproductive Health, and Child Health: 2012-2015. The BiB cohort was supported by a Wellcome Trust infrastructure grant (WT101597MA). R.R.C.M. and J.W. received funding from the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration for Yorkshire and Humber. The CRG/UPF Proteomics Unit is part of the Spanish Infrastructure for Omics Technologies (ICTS OmicsTech) and a member of the ProteoRed PRB3 consortium, which is supported by grant PT17/0019 of the PE I + D+i 2013-2016 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and European Regional Development Fund. This study was further supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2013-2017 (SEV-2012-0208), and Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2017SGR595).

Many projects, conducted at multiple levels and sought solutions to the socio-economic and socio-cultural issues of the society, take place within the framework of the European Union Structural Funds; such as, European regional development fund (ERDF), European social fund (ESF), Cohesion fund (CF), European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD) and European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF). The purpose of this study is to examine the EU structural funds, triple helix (i.e. government-university-industry collaboration), potential financial assistance and research grants that many foreign scientists working in research institutions require as a necessity to conduct research projects. Thus, it is quite crucial to make an optimal use of these financial instruments by taking into account eligibility criteria, thematic areas and determinants expressed in project calls of the European Commission. At this point, collaborative actions and productive activities in a network of stakeholders that consists of a large set of actors interacting within the scale of innovation system and ranging from government institutions and democratic mass organisations to universities and research institutions can be particularly effective for solving remaining social matters by taking into account multilevel governance perspective and civilian / humanitarian approach. Furthermore, dealing with societal problems also means tackling with social inequality, discrimination, extremist / exaggerated populism and nationalism, unbalanced distribution of wealth and so forth. There is a huge gap between civic participation and migrant inclusiveness in South Eastern European Countries (SEECs). This investigation claimed that foreign scientists play a catalyst role as impartial observers within universities, civil society organisations, voluntary philanthropic institutions and epistemic networks. In particular, cultural richness, neutrality, naivety and varying mentalities of foreign scientists enforce their affiliated research institutions in terms of multiculturalism, multiethnicity and cosmopolitanism. It can be asserted that the scientific contributions of foreign scientists strengthen significantly the triple helix model by means of using EU structural funds in SEECs. Essentially, the strategic importance of internationalisation and regionalisation were emphasised due to the existence of a competitive ecosystem in the acquisition of EU structural funds. Globalisation and internationalisation of education and research standards are quite crucial for the development of research and education system. Global standardisation and accreditation ensure an opportunity to maintain a higher level of quality for education and research. The EU motto (i.e. united in diversity) is very much appropriate for shaping the mission and vision of universities and research centres in SEECs. However, there are many obstacles towards this social and institutional change. For instance, scientific disputes and quarrels should not turn into an ideological positioning or political partisanship. In this context, proliferation and support of foreign scientists within SEECs may facilitate to attain the objectives of universities and research institutions and gaining global standardisation and accreditation through collaborating with key stakeholders. Moreover, well-educated foreign scientists who were graduated from remarkable Western universities are not threats for SEECs; conversely, they ought to be seen as a great opportunity for acquisition of various research grants and financial instruments and in fact they can directly contribute to the development of a specific area. Insularity, ethnocentrism, citizenship-based identity, high level civic-orientation, societal exclusiveness, unethical attitudes, and disconformity in common moral values are likely to have negative influences on components of triple helix model and the synergy and allegiance of foreign scientists to their affiliated research institutions. Likewise, the diversification and optimal academic engagement in universities can be boost by involving foreign scientists in various joint research actions, learning and experimental processes, voluntary or participatory activities and scientific events. The originality of this study is that this investigation highlights to what extent foreign scientists affect the management of financial instruments and research grants that are used in SEECs. A particular attention was drawn to the common interests of government bodies, universities and corporations. This study implies that government bodies, universities and corporations in SEECs ought to collaborate with foreign scientists who have a full expertise and capability of conducting investigations in frame of EU structural funds framework. In this study, case study research, document analysis and normative approach were applied methodologically.

The EU and the Member States have been forced in recent years to take a stronger position against the growing trend of tax fraud, tax evasion, and tax avoidance. The EU legislative and non-legislative acts in this area have resulted from political attitudes, economic intentions, proposals, and compromises reached between the individual Member States, on the one hand, and the EU, on the other, in their effort to combat fraudulent behaviour in the taxation area. The fight against fraudulent behaviour in the taxation area, be it tax fraud, tax evasion or tax avoidance, has become a real global challenge not only for the EU and its Member States but also for the entire world. These are different forms and methods for misusing tax systems both within the EU and abroad. This paper is part of the project: “Electronic methods for detecting unusual business transactions in the business environment” (ITMS code: 313022W057), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and also the project “VEGA1 / 0194/19 — Research on process-oriented financial management with a focus on to detect tax evasion in international trade”.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the complete set of proteins involved in transport of lactic acid across the cell membrane has not been determined. In this study we aimed to identify transport proteins not previously described to be involved in lactic acid transport via a combination of directed evolution, whole-genome resequencing and reverse engineering. Evolution of a strain lacking all known lactic acid transporters on lactate led to the discovery of mutated Ato2 and Ato3 as two novel lactic acid transport proteins. When compared to previously identified S. cerevisiae genes involved in lactic acid transport, expression of ATO3T284C was able to facilitate the highest growth rate (0.15 ± 0.01 h-1) on this carbon source. A comparison between (evolved) sequences and 3D models of the transport proteins showed that most of the identified mutations resulted in a widening of the narrowest hydrophobic constriction of the anion channel. We hypothesize that this observation, sometimes in combination with an increased binding affinity of lactic acid to the sites adjacent to this constriction, are responsible for the improved lactic acid transport in the evolved proteins., BE-Basic R&D Program, which was granted an FES subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I); the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2019 funded by Portuguese funds through the FCT I.P.; the projects: PTDC/BIAMIC/5184/2014, funded by national funds through the Fundac¸ao para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) I.P.; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE 2020–Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizac¸ao (POCI); EcoAgriFood: Innova- ˜ tive green products and processes to promote AgriFood BioEconomy [grant number NORTE-01–0145-FEDER-000 009]; Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); and UMINHO/BD/25/2016 PhD grant by the Norte2020 [grant number NORTE-08–5369-FSE000 060] and a FEBS Short-Term Fellowship to MSS

Supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (Grant No. DPI2017-85343-P).

Business accelerators play a key role in the initial critical stages of assessment of commercial viability, offering mentorship provision of funding and protection of intellectual property (IP) for product development and refinement. However, little is known about the decision-making criteria and detailed analysis of the underlying criteria and interdependencies between the key factors used by accelerator organizations to fund start-ups. This article focuses on the decision-making criteria utilized by a leading £21M accelerator program, largely funded by the European Regional Development Fund for initial stage funding and IP protection for product and innovation commercialization. We incorporate a multimethodological interpretive-based approach based on Day's “Real-Win-Worth” framework to develop the interrelationships and ranking between the factors. The results highlight the significance and weighting attached to the factors associated with the technical competency of the proposer and evidence of demand existing for the product. We propose a new framework that models the key factor interrelationships offering additional insight to accelerator-based decision making.

BAGS script and associated README file can be consulted at: https://github.com/tadeu95/BAGs. To run BAGS remotely, please use https://bags.vm.ntnu.no, https://tadeu-apps.shinyapps.io/bags or any additional link available at https://github.com/tadeu95/BAGS). All the Appendixes can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2rbnzs7kx., Biodiversity studies greatly benefit from molecular tools, such as DNA metabarcoding, which provides an effective identification tool in biomonitoring and conservation programmes. The accuracy of species-level assignment, and consequent taxonomic coverage, relies on comprehensive DNA barcode reference libraries. The role of these libraries is to support species identification, but accidental errors in the generation of the barcodes may compromise their accuracy. Here, we present an R-based application, Barcode, Audit & Grade System (BAGS) (https://github.com/tadeu95/BAGS), that performs automated auditing and annotation of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences libraries, for a given taxonomic group of animals, available in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). This is followed by implementing a qualitative ranking system that assigns one of five grades (A to E) to each species in the reference library, according to the attributes of the data and congruency of species names with sequences clustered in barcode index numbers (BINs). Our goal is to allow researchers to obtain the most useful and reliable data, highlighting and segregating records according to their congruency. Different tests were performed to perceive its usefulness and limitations. BAGS fulfils a significant gap in the current landscape of DNA barcoding research tools by quickly screening reference libraries to gauge the congruence status of data and facilitate the triage of ambiguous data for posterior review. Thereby, BAGS has the potential to become a valuable addition in forthcoming DNA metabarcoding studies, in the long term contributing to globally improve the quality and reliability of the public reference libraries., FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(PTDC/BIA‐BMA/29754/2017). European Regional Development Fund, Grant/Award Number: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000032; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number: PTDC/BIA-BMA/29754/2017

Pd-catalyzed allylic C-H activation of simple olefins allows an easy entry to seven-membered N,O-heterocycles such as 1,4-benzoxazepines (1,4-BZOs), 1,4-benzodiazepinones (1,4-BZDs) and 1,4-oxazepanes in good to excellent yields. Straightforward derivatizations of the olefinated 1,4-BZO shows the synthetic utility of this methodology. We acknowledge financial support from MINECO (project CTQ2017-87939R and ORFEO-CINQA network RED2018-102387-T), the Xunta de Galicia (project ED431C 2018/04 and Centro singular de investigación de Galicia accreditation 2019-2022, ED431G 2019/03) and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund – RDF). A.V.-R. thanks Xunta de Galicia for a predoctoral fellowship (ED481A-2018/34, 2018-2021) SI

Background: Dating Violence (DV) is a public health problem that is on the rise. In this paper, we aim to analyse different factors associated with DV victimization among female and male adolescents in Spain, considering socioeconomic circumstances, sexual orientation and the presence of different attitudes and experiences related to violence. Methods: Cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of 640 ever-partnered adolescents aged 13 to 17 at schools in the cities of Alicante (n = 359, 50.1% girls) and Terrassa (n = 281, 51.9%) in the context of an educational intervention to promote healthy relationships. We calculated the prevalence of different forms of DV (physical, sexual and control and fear) and carried out multivariate regression models by sex. Results: 5.5% of girls and 8.7% of boys declared having suffered lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, while 22% of girls and 20.5% of boys reported control and/or fear victimization. The likelihood of DV was higher among migrants and those with foreign-born parents (aPR girls = 2.1 CI95%: 1.1-3.9; aPR boys = 1.9: CI95%: 1.0-3.6); prior experiences of abuse (aPR girls = 1.6; CI95%: 1.0-2.6; aPR boys = 1.7; CI95%: 1.1-2.6); and those who showed higher levels of machismo (aPR girls = 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1; aPR boys = 1.0; CI95%: 1.0-1.1). In girls, DV increased among those who reported lesbian/bisexual orientation and poor relationship with teachers. Conclusions: DV is socially patterned and increases among LGB adolescents (especially in the case of girls), migrants, and those with foreign-born parents, and adolescents who reported prior experiences of violence in childhood. Future DV prevention programs should consider social inequalities in the likelihood of DV and by reinforcing adolescents' abilities to recognize social support sources and reject machismo and violence. The project was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the Carlos III Institute (Ref. PI18/00590 and PI18/00544) in 2019 and 2021. This study has also been conducted within the grant received from Instituto de Salud Carlos III & FEDER of which VP is recipient of Predoctora Contract for Training in Health Research (PFIS) grant from European Social Found (FSE) (FI19/00201). Sí

The search of compounds emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) has been accelerated owing to their use in biomedical and telecommunications applications. In this regard, nanographenes (NGs) are attractive materials adequate for integration with other technologies, which have recently demonstrated amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing across the visible spectrum. Here, the optical and ASE properties of four-zigzag edged NGs of the [m,n]peri-acenoacene family are reported, whose size is increased through conjugation extension by varying n (from 3 to 5) while keeping m = 2. Results show that such 1D conjugation extension method is more efficient in terms of shifting the photoluminescence (PL) to the infrared (PL at 710 nm in the larger compound, PP-Ar) than through 2D conjugation extension as in previously reported NGs (PL at 676 nm with the largest compound FZ3, with n = 3 and m = 4). Additionally, PP-Ar shows dual-ASE (at 726 and 787 nm), whose origin is elucidated through Raman and transient absorption spectroscopies. These compounds’ potential for red and NIR lasing is demonstrated through the fabrication of distributed feedback lasers with top-layer resonators. This study paves the way towards the development of stable low-cost all-plastic NIR lasers. The authors acknowledge financial support from the “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” of Spain, European Regional Development Fund and European Social Funds (MAT2015-66586-R, PDI2019-106114GB-I00, BES-2016-077681, PGC2018-098533-B-100 and RED2018-102815-T). J.C. thanks the Junta de Andalucía of Spain (UMA18FEDERJA057). The authors also thank the Research Central Services (SCAI) of the University of Málaga. F.G. acknowledges the Spanish Government for an FPI grant. G.M.P. thanks Fondazione Cariplo (grant no 2018-0979) for the financial support. J.W. acknowledges the “Agency for Science, Technology and Research of Singapore” for financial support from A*STAR AME grant (A20E5c0089). A.M.R. and F.S. have received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. [816313]).

The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the International Space Station (ISS) provides optical radiances and images of lightning flashes in several spectral bands. This work presents a lightning flash simultaneously observed from space by ASIM, the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) and the Lightning Imaging Sensor on the International Space Station (ISS-LIS); and from ground by the Colombia-Lightning Mapping Array (Colombia-LMA). Volumetric weather radar provides reflectivity data to help to interpret the effects of the cloud particles on the observed optical features. We found that surges in radiance in the band at 777.4 nm appear to be related mostly with lightning processes involving currents as well with branching of lightning leaders with new leader development. In cloud areas with reflectivity 7 km, these have been imaged by ASIM and GLM. But in the region with reflectivity

Internetwork (IN) magnetic fields are highly dynamic, short-lived magnetic structures that populate the interior of supergranular cells. Since they emerge all over the Sun, these small-scale fields bring a substantial amount of flux, and therefore energy, to the solar surface. Because of this, IN fields are crucial for understanding the quiet Sun (QS) magnetism. However, they are weak and produce very small polarization signals, which is the reason why their properties and impact on the energetics and dynamics of the solar atmosphere are poorly known. Here we use coordinated, high-resolution, multiwavelength observations obtained with the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) to follow the evolution of IN magnetic loops as they emerge into the photosphere and reach the chromosphere and transition region. We studied in this paper three flux emergence events having total unsigned magnetic fluxes of 1.9 × 1018, 2.5 × 1018, and 5.3 × 1018 Mx. The footpoints of the emerging IN bipoles are clearly seen to appear in the photosphere and to rise up through the solar atmosphere, as observed in Fe I 6173 A and Mg I b2 5173 A magnetograms, respectively. For the first time, our polarimetric measurements taken in the chromospheric Ca II 8542 A line provide direct observational evidence that IN fields are capable of reaching the chromosphere. Moreover, using IRIS data, we study the effects of these weak fields on the heating of the chromosphere and transition region. © 2021 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved., IRIS is a NASA Small Explorer Mission developed and operated by LMSAL with mission operations executed at NASA Ames Research Center and major contributions to downlink communications funded by the ESA and the Norwegian Space Centre. M.G., B.D.P., and A.S.D. are supported by NASA contract NNG09FA40C (IRIS). The work of L.B.R. and S.E.P. was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia and Competitividad through grants ESP201347349-C6-1-R and ESP2016-77548-C5-1-R, including a percentage from European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) funds. L.B.R. acknowledges financial support from the State Agency for Research of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion through project RTI2018-096886-B-C5 (including FEDER funds) and through the "Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa" award to the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (SEV-2017-0709). The Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope is operated on the island of La Palma by the Institute for Solar Physics of Stockholm University in the Spanish Observatory del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias. The Institute for Solar Physics is supported by a grant for research infrastructures of national importance from the Swedish Research Council (registration No. 2017-00625). This research has made use of NASA's Astrophysics Data System.

This study was carried out at the Biomass and Bioenergy Research Infrastructure (BBRI)- LISBOA-01–0145-FEDER-022059, supported by Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (PORTUGAL2020), by Lisbon Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa 2020) and by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Norte 2020) under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01–0145 FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 and BIOVINO project (0688_BIOVINO_6_E) funded by INTERREG Espana - Portugal and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Sara L. Baptista (SFRH/BD/132717) thanks FCT for the doctoral fellowship.

With 5,300 species, the Cryptocephalinae is the fourth largest subfamily of the megadiverse Chrysomelidae beetles. This subfamily currently merges groups that were traditionally considered subfamilies of their own, including the fulcidacines, clytrines and cryptocephalines, and it is believed to be sister to the Lamprosomatinae, forming a natural group characterized by immature stages developing within the protection of a solid case of organic matter known as scatoshell. However, hypotheses on the higher-level systematics of this diverse group and the recognition of its closest relatives have been numerous and none of them tested with phylogenetic approaches, save for an unpublished study based on morphology. In this work, we provide the first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for a large dataset of Cryptocephalinae (167 species, 66 genera) based on the analysis of five gene fragments, including up to 3,488 aligned nucleotide positions of the mitochondrial DNA cox1 and rrnS, and the nuclearly encoded LSU, elongation factor 1-alpha and polyadenylate binding protein 1. The phylogeny confirms the sister-group relationship between Cryptocephalinae and Lamprosomatinae and identifies the Eumolpinae as the sister to this assemblage. Moreover, it partly refutes the current system for Cryptocephalinae giving support to five tribes in the subfamily: Fulcidacini and Clytrini, matching the current system, Pachybrachini separated from Cryptocephalini, and a new subantarctic tribe, Mylassini trib. n., divergent from the other lineages. Among Clytrini, data support inclusion of Ischyopachina within New World Babiina, which together with New World Megalostomina would be sister to Old World Clytrina. In Cryptocephalini, after exclusion of pachybrachines, four subtribes are distinguished, of which only Stylosomina matches the current system. Otherwise, the current Monachulina are dismantled into three clades deserving subtribal status, one of which, former New World Monachulina genera, is unambiguously transferred to Cryptocephalina. A molecular clock calibrated using paleontological and biogeographic information places the origin of the subfamily in the Early Cretaceous and the split of the main evolutionary lineages temporally and geographically congruent with the fragmentation of major Gondwanan territories., This work was funded by the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation with Grant No. CGL2017-83324-P, also with the contribution of funds from the European Regional Development Fund, 1 INTRODUCTION 2 MATERIAL AND METHODS 2.1 Sampling 2.2 Phylogenetic marker selection and laboratory procedures 2.3 Sequence editing and preparation of phylogenetic matrices 2.4 Phylogenetic inference 2.5 Topology tests 2.6 Molecular clock analyses 3 RESULTS 3.1 Molecular dataset available for analysis 3.2 Phylogenetic relationships of Cryptocephalinae with other subfamilies 3.3 Molecular phylogeny of the Cryptocephalinae 3.4 Validation of monophyly hypotheses 3.5 Inferred ages of relevant clades 4 DISCUSSION 4.1 Phylogenetic support of Cryptocephalinae and their relatives 4.2 Higher-level systematics of the Cryptocephalinae 4.3 The tribes of Cryptocephalinae 4.3.1 Mylassini, a new tribe of Cryptocephalinae 4.3.2 Fulcidacini 4.3.3 Pachybrachini 4.3.4 Clytrini 4.3.5 Cryptocephalini 4.4 The evolution of the Cryptocephalinae ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Malaria is an infectious disease, highly prevalent in world regions with lacking healthcare conditions. Nowadays, malaria diagnostic methods in these endemic regions are mainly based on microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests by immunochromatographic assays. Here, it is presented an optical diagnostic method, based on reflectance spectrophotometry, through hemozoin (Hz) quantification, towards an innovative non-invasive malaria diagnostic device. Therefore, a set of optical filters, with high transmittance and low full width at half maximum (FWHM) at specific wavelengths, is designed for being integrated in the device. These allow the full reconstruction of the optical reflectance spectrum, able to distinguish between healthy and infected samples, with a detection limit up to 12.5 parasites/μl of red blood cells. This work presents the design, performance simulation, and optimization of 16 highly selective narrow band-pass optical filters, based on multilayer stacks of SiO2/TiO2 thin films. The optical properties of the thin films layer materials, in particular the refractive indexes, are the main focus in this study. Three different reflective indexes were evaluated and the results showed that, for all the simulated conditions, each filter is sensitive to a single wavelength with a FWHM < 25 nm and peak transmittance intensity > 90%, but slight variations were observed for the different refractive indexes. The simulation results proved that these 16 optical filters designs are extremely sensitive to the material properties, although they are the best option regarding the required optical response, assuring feasibility and being adequate for the fabrication process., This work was supported by Project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-028178 funded by NORTE 2020 Portugal Regional Operational Program under PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement through the European Regional Development Fund and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP. V. Baptista thanks FCT for the SFRH/BD/145427/2019 grant. Maria Isabel Veiga thanks FCT for her contract funding provided through DL 57/2016 (CRP).

The authors have been supported byMEC-Feder grantMTM2017-84851-C2-1-P, Junta de Andalucía grant A-FQM-441-UGR18, MSCA GHAIA, and Research Unit MNat UCE-PP2017-3. This research was also funded by the Consejería de economía, conocimiento, empresas y universidad and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6109/UGR., We consider an asymmetric left-invariant norm ∥⋅∥K in the first Heisenberg group H1 induced by a convex body K⊂R2 containing the origin in its interior. Associated to ∥⋅∥K there is a perimeter functional, that coincides with the classical sub-Riemannian perimeter in case K is the closed unit disk centered at the origin of R2. Under the assumption that K has C2 boundary with strictly positive geodesic curvature we compute the first variation formula of perimeter for sets with C2 boundary. The localization of the variational formula in the non-singular part of the boundary, composed of the points where the tangent plane is not horizontal, allows us to define a mean curvature function HK out of the singular set. In the case of non-vanishing mean curvature, the condition that HK be constant implies that the non-singular portion of the boundary is foliated by horizontal liftings of translations of ∂K dilated by a factor of 1HK. Based on this we can define a sphere SK with constant mean curvature 1 by considering the union of all horizontal liftings of ∂K starting from (0,0,0) until they meet again in a point of the vertical axis. We give some geometric properties of this sphere and, moreover, we prove that, up to non-homogeneous dilations and left-translations, they are the only solutions of the sub-Finsler isoperimetric problem in a restricted class of sets., MEC-Feder grantMTM2017-84851-C2-1-P, Junta de Andalucía grant A-FQM-441-UGR18, MSCA GHAIA, Research Unit MNat UCE-PP2017-3, Consejería de economía, conocimiento, empresas y universidad and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6109/UGR

Novosphingobium sp. HR1a is a good biodegrader of PAHs and aromatic compounds, and also a good colonizer of rhizospheric environments. It was previously demonstrated that this microbe is able to co-metabolize nutrients existing in root exudates together with the PAHs. We have revealed here that PahT, a regulator of the IclR-family, regulates the central carbon fluxes favouring the degradation of PAHs and mono-aromatic compounds, the ethanol and acetate metabolism and the uptake, phosphorylation and further degradation of mono- and oligo-saccharides through a phosphoenolpyruvate transferase system (PTS). As final products of these fluxes, pyruvate and acetyl-CoA are obtained. The pahT gene is located within a genomic region containing two putative transposons that carry all the genes for PAH catabolism; PahT also regulates these genes. Furthermore, encoded in this genomic region, there are genes that are involved in the recycling of phosphoenolpyruvate, from the obtained pyruvate, which is the motor molecule involved in the saccharide uptake by the PTS system. The co-metabolism of PAHs with different carbon sources, together with the activation of the thiosulfate utilization and an alternative cytochrome oxidase system, also regulated by PahT, represents an advantage for Novosphingobium sp. HR1a to survive in rhizospheric environments., This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund FEDER and a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grant No. BIO2017-85994-P). We thank Angela Tate for improving the use of English in the manuscript.

[EN] Taking into account the public health importance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) control in the future, it is mandatory to assess the effect of the vaccination campaigns on the control of HPV spread and the associated diseases using reliable mathematical models. We propose a computational random network model with the aim of studying the transmission dynamics of HPV infections. This model reflects the herd immunity effect in the heterosexual network more accurately than the classical models. We perform a sensitivity analysis of the sexual behavior changes consisting of increasing the number of men who have sex with men (MSM), increasing the frequency of the intercourses and increasing the number of sexual partners. We find that large changes in the sexual behavior, in some extent, only have minor effects on the decline of the HPV infections in women and men in the current vaccination campaign in Spain (vaccination of young girls with a coverage of 70%). Therefore, the current vaccination program in Spain is robust for the heterosexuals. However, we cannot say the same for MSM, where they do not benefit by the herd immunity effect of the vaccination of girls, and consequently, the circulation of the virus among them remains unchanged. A consequence of the present study is that the effect of other external factors that may affect the transmission dynamics of the HPV, for instance, the tourism or the immigration, does not influence the protection provided by the current Spanish vaccination program., Operational Program of the [European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)/European Social Fund (ESF)] of the Valencian Community 2014-2020, Grant/Award Number: GJIDI/2018/A/010 and GJIDI/2018/A/009; Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO), Grant/Award Number: MTM2017-89664-P

A method to produce hybrid organotitanias, both as thin films and suspensions, showing excellent photocatalyic activity in the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous solutions under visible light irradiation is disclosed. This method is based on the in situ incorporation of an amino acid, l-tyrosine, during the synthesis of the titanias owing to its coordination and co-condensation with the titania precursor under acidic conditions. This methodology allows the fine -tuning of their crystalline structure, size, and shape by simply varying the pH of the synthesis gel, leading to anatase nanoparticles of ≈5 nm and surface areas of ≈200 m2 g−1 at pH = 2.2, while highly crystalline rutile nanorods are formed at pH = 0. The incorporation of l-tyrosine to both anatase nanoparticles and rutile nanorods enables these materials to absorb light in the visible range due to both the decrease in their band gap, as compared to the reference materials, and the presence of additional absorption edges at wavelengths higher than 400 nm. Consequently, the photocatalytic activity of both hybrid anatase nanoparticles and rutile nanorods exhibits a 120% enhanced photocatalytic efficiency, as compared to that of l-Tyr-free titanias and the commercial P25, which confirms their potential application in water remediation. This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia en Innovación of Spain (MICINN) and Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI)/European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (projects CTQ2015-74494-JIN and RTI2018-099504-B-C21/A-C22). N.L. and E.S. also thank the Universidad de Alicante (Spain) through the “Programa de Retención de Talento” (ref. UATALENTO16-03 and 17-05, respectively).

[ES] Hoy en día, los virus de las plantas no sólo se perciben como patógenos, sino que también son capaces de establecer una asociación beneficiosa con sus huéspedes y colaborar desde un punto de vista biotecnológico. El virus, como vector, puede ser una herramienta para introducir genes heterólogos en la planta, que se procesarán junto con la información viral y producirán valiosas proteínas recombinantes, metabolitos o nanopartículas. Los vectores virales también son capaces de interferir con la maquinaria de silenciamiento de la planta dando prioridad a los genes virales. Los potyvirus son virus de ARN de plantas, que codifican principalmente una poliproteína con unas diez proteínas maduras con diferentes funciones, de las cuales las responsables de la supresión del silenciamiento son la proteína componente auxiliar (HC-Pro) y la proteína viral ligada al genoma (VPg). En la primera parte de este trabajo, utilizamos un aislado suave del virus del mosaico de la sandía (WMV; género Potyvirus, familia Potyviridae) para construir un vector para el silenciamiento génico inducido por virus (VIGS) en plantas de melón. Utilizando este virus como vector, expresamos un fragmento de ARNm de la Fitoeno desaturasa (PDS) de melón en las modalidades sentido, antisentido y horquilla para investigar el efecto de la construcción viral en el silenciamiento génico. Los resultados mostraron una expresión estable del fragmento de secuencia insertado en la planta en ambas orientaciones, sentido y antisentido, mientras que en la modalidad de horquilla el inserto se perdió pronto. Sin embargo, las tres construcciones indujeron el silenciamiento del gen PDS endógeno. Se confirmó la utilidad del WMV para el análisis genético inverso en melón expresando un fragmento de la subunidad I de la quelatasa de magnesio (CHLI). En general, nuestros resultados apoyaron que el vector WMV es útil para aplicar la tecnología VIGS en melón y, posiblemente, en otras cucurbitáceas. En la segunda parte de este trabajo, con el objetivo de fortificar las frutas comestibles con metabolitos promotores de la salud, se utilizó un vector de ARN viral derivado del virus del mosaico amarillo del calabacín (ZYMV; género Potyvirus, familia Potyviridae) para expresar una fitoeno sintasa bacteriana (crtB) en los frutos del calabacín (Cucurbita pepo L.). Esta enzima cataliza el primer paso de la biosíntesis de carotenoides. La expresión de la crtB mediada por el ZYMV dio lugar a la sobreacumulación de una serie de metabolitos de carotenoides y tocoferoles, concretamente α- y β-caroteno (provitamina A), luteína y fitoeno, así como α- y γ-tocoferol (vitamina E), tanto en la piel como en la pulpa del calabacín. Este resultado ilustra cómo se pueden enriquecer metabólicamente las frutas comestibles utilizando vectores virales sin modificar el genoma de la planta., [CA] A dia de hui, els virus de les plantes no sols es perceben com a patògens, sinó que també són capaços d'establir una associació beneficiosa amb els seus hostes i col·laborar des d'un punt de vista biotecnològic. El virus, com a vector, pot ser una eina per a introduir gens heteròlegs en la planta, que es processaran juntament amb la informació viral i produiran valuoses proteïnes recombinants, metabòlits o nanopartícules. Els vectors virals també són capaços d'interferir amb la maquinària de silenciament de la planta donant prioritat als gens virals. Els potyvirus són virus d'ARN de plantes, que codifiquen principalment una poliproteïna d'unes deu proteïnes madures amb diferents funcions, de les quals les responsables de la supressió del silenciament són la proteïna component auxiliar (HC-Pro) i la proteïna viral lligada al genoma (VPg). En la primera part d'aquest treball, utilitzem un aïllat suau del virus del mosaic del meló d'Alger (WMV; gènere Potyvirus, família Potyviridae) per a construir un vector per al silenciament gènic induït per virus (VIGS) en plantes de meló. Utilitzant aquest virus com a vector, expressem un fragment d'ARNm de la Fitoeno desaturasa (PDS) del meló en les modalitats de sentit, antisentit i forqueta per a investigar l'efecte de la construcció viral en el silenciament gènic. Els resultats van mostrar una expressió estable del fragment de seqüència inserit en la planta en totes dues orientacions, sentit i antisentit, mentre que en la modalitat de forqueta l'inserit es va perdre prompte. No obstant això, les tres construccions van induir el silenciament del gen PDS endogen. Es va confirmar la utilitat de la WMV per a l'anàlisi genètica inversa en meló expressant un fragment de la Subunitat I de la quelatasa de magnesi (CHLI). En general, els nostres resultats van secundar que el vector WMV és útil per a aplicar la tecnologia VIGS en meló i, possiblement, en altres cucurbitáceas. En la segona part d'aquest treball, amb l'objectiu de fortificar les fruites comestibles amb metabòlits promotors de la salut, es va utilitzar un vector d'ARN viral derivat del virus del mosaic groc de la carabasseta (ZYMV; gènere Potyvirus, família Potyviridae) per a expressar una fitoeno sintasa bacteriana (crtB) en els fruits de la carabasseta (Cucurbita pepo L.). Aquest enzim catalitza el primer pas compromés de la biosíntesi de carotenoides. L'expressió de la crtB mediada pel ZYMV va donar lloc a la sobreacumulación d'una sèrie de metabòlits de carotenoides i tocoferoles, concretament α- i β caroté (provitamina A), luteïna i fitoeno, així com α- i γ--tocoferol (vitamina E), tant en la pell com en la polpa de la carabasseta. Aquest resultat il·lustra com es poden enriquir metabólicamente les fruites comestibles utilitzant vectors virals sense modificar el genoma de la planta., [EN] Nowadays, plant viruses are not only perceived as pathogens, but also able to build a beneficial partnership with their hosts and co-work together from a biotechnological view. The virus, as a vector, can be a tool to introduce heterologous genes into the plant, which will process together with the viral information and produce valuable recombinant proteins, metabolites or nanoparticles. Viral vectors are also able to interfere with plant silencing machinery giving priority to the viral genes. Potyviruses are plant RNA viruses, mainly encoding a polyprotein of about ten mature proteins with different functions, from which the responsible of silencing suppression are helper-component proteinase (HC-Pro) and the viral protein genome-linked (VPg). In the first part of this work, we used a mild isolate of Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV; genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) to build a vector for virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) in melon plants. Using this virus as a vector, we expressed a fragment of melon Phytoene desaturase (PDS) mRNA in sense, antisense, and hairpin modalities to investigate the effect of the viral construct on gene silencing. The results showed a stable expression of the inserted sequence fragment in the plant in both sense and antisense orientations, whereas in the hairpin modality the insert was soon lost. Yet, all three constructs induced silencing of the endogenous PDS gene. The usefulness of the WMV for reverse genetic analysis in melon was confirmed expressing a fragment of Magnesium chelatase subunit I (CHLI). Overall, our results supported that the WMV vector is useful to apply the VIGS technology in melon and, possibly, other cucurbits. In the second part of this work, with the aim to fortify edible fruits with health promoting metabolites, a viral RNA vector derived from Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV; genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) was used to express a bacterial phytoene synthase (crtB) in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) fruits. This enzyme catalyzes the first committed step of carotenoid biosynthesis. The crtB expression mediated by ZYMV resulted in the overaccumulation of a range of carotenoids and tocopherols metabolites, namely α- and ß-carotene (pro-vitamin A), lutein and phytoene, as well as α- and γ-tocopherol (vitamin E), in both zucchini rind and flesh. This result illustrates how edible fruits can be metabolically fortified using viral vectors without plant genome modification., This research was supported by grants BIO2017-83184-R, AGL2017-85563-C2-1-R and RTA2017-00061-C03-03 from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain), through Agencia Estatal de Investigación (cofinanced European Regional Development Fund).

Most video analytics applications rely on object detectors to localize objects in frames. However, when real-time is a requirement, running the detector at all the frames is usually not possible. This is somewhat circumvented by instantiating visual object trackers between detector calls, but this does not scale with the number of objects. To tackle this problem, we present SiamMT, a new deep learning multiple visual object tracking solution that applies single-object tracking principles to multiple arbitrary objects in real-time. To achieve this, SiamMT reuses feature computations, implements a novel crop-and-resize operator, and defines a new and efficient pairwise similarity operator. SiamMT naturally scales up to several dozens of targets, reaching 25 fps with 122 simultaneous objects for VGA videos, or up to 100 simultaneous objects in HD720 video. SiamMT has been validated on five large real-time benchmarks, achieving leading performance against current state-of-the-art trackers This research was partially funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [grant numbers PID2020-112623GB-I00, RTI2018-097088-B-C32], and the Galician Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidade [grant numbers ED431C 2018/29, ED431C 2017/69, accreditation 2016–2019, ED431G/08]. These grants are co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Lorenzo Vaquero is supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Universidades under the FPU national plan (FPU18/03174) SI

[ES] La inspección visual es un parámetro de calidad que describe tanto el aspecto externo como la estructura interna en los productos derivados de cereales. El análisis digital de imagen (ADI) es una herramienta ampliamente utilizada en diversos campos para procesar y analizar los objetos que observamos visualmente. Sin embargo, a pesar de su potencial, ha sido escasamente explotado en el ámbito de alimentos. La estructura de la miga de los productos derivados de cereales es uno de los parámetros característicos del pan y en este contexto es fundamental realizar el seguimiento de los cambios estructurales que se producen durante el proceso o debido a las modificaciones en la formulación. Por ello, el objetivo principal de la presente tesis doctoral fue definir la interrelación entre la estructura y parámetros de calidad de masas y productos horneados, así como extender la utilidad del ADI y su uso para optimizar los procesos y las formulaciones en productos horneados. Para ello, en primer lugar, se establecieron las condiciones óptimas de captura y se estudió la forma de mejorar la detección de bordes. Posteriormente se evaluó el potencial del análisis de imagen para cuantificar los cambios estructurales ocurridos en la formación de geles de almidón en un analizador rápido de fuerza. Seguidamente, se estudió el impacto en la estructura de la adición o sustitución de distintos ingredientes o aditivos en panes con y sin gluten. Y finalmente se investigaron las posibles correlaciones entre los resultados obtenidos de la caracterización tecnológica (perfil de textura, estructura de la miga, humedad) frente a la percepción sensorial (propiedades del bolo, masticación y deglución). El ADI permitió cuantificar las diferentes estructuras obtenidas con los distintos almidones. Además, el estudio reveló las diferencias en el tiempo necesario para formar una estructura homogénea y bien distribuida, que fue dependiente del origen del almidón. La modificación de la formulación de panes con o sin gluten requirió de la adaptación del proceso y permitió obtener diferentes estructuras atendiendo a los ingredientes /aditivos estudiados. El ADI resultó ser una herramienta eficaz para detectar y cuantificar los cambios originados a nivel estructural, en masa y producto final. Además, los cambios cuantificados mediante ADI obtuvieron correlaciones estadísticamente significativas con varios de los parámetros estudiados de percepción sensorial, como son la adhesividad del bolo y el tiempo total para masticar y deglutir una muestra. Por lo tanto, el ADI resultó una herramienta suficientemente específica y no destructiva, que permitió caracterizar el impacto del cambio de la formulación en la distribución alveolar de panes con y sin gluten. Existiendo relación entre este y los parámetros utilizados habitualmente en la caracterización de productos derivados de cereales, así como con la percepción sensorial., [CA] La inspecció visual és un paràmetre de qualitat que descriu tant l'aspecte extern com l'estructura interna en els productes derivats de cereals. L'anàlisi digital d'imatge (ADI) és una eina àmpliament utilitzada en diversos camps per a processar i analitzar els objectes que observem visualment. No obstant això, malgrat el seu potencial, ha sigut escassament explotat en l'àmbit d'aliments. L'estructura de la molla dels productes derivats de cereals és un dels paràmetres característics del pa i en aquest context és fonamental realitzar el seguiment dels canvis estructurals que es produeixen durant el procés o a causa de les modificacions en la formulació. Per això, l'objectiu principal de la present tesi doctoral va ser definir la interrelació entre l'estructura i paràmetres de qualitat dels diferents tipus de masses i productes enfornats, així com estendre la utilitat de l'ADI i el seu ús per a optimitzar els processos i les formulacions en productes enfornats. Per a això, en primer lloc, es van establir les condicions òptimes de captura i es va estudiar la manera de millorar la detecció de les vores. Posteriorment es va avaluar el potencial de l'anàlisi d'imatge per a quantificar els canvis estructurals ocorreguts en la formació de gels de midó en un analitzador ràpid de força. Seguidament, es va estudiar l'impacte en l'estructura de l'addició o substitució de diferents ingredients o additius en pans amb glútens i sense glútens. I finalment es van investigar les possibles correlacions entre els resultats obtinguts de la caracterització tecnològica (perfil de textura, estructura de la molla, humitat) enfront de la percepció sensorial (propietats del bol, masticació i deglució). L'ADI va permetre quantificar les diferents estructures obtingudes amb els diferents midons. A més, l'estudi va revelar les diferències en el temps necessari per a formar una estructura homogènia i ben distribuïda, que fou dependent de l'origen del midó. La modificació de la formulació de pans amb gluten o sense va requerir de l'adaptació del procés i va permetre obtindre diferents estructures atesos els ingredients /additius estudiats. L'ADI va resultar ser una eina eficaç per a detectar i quantificar els canvis originats a l'entorn estructural, en massa i producte final. A més, els canvis quantificats mitjançant ADI van obtindre correlacions estadísticament significatives amb els diversos paràmetres estudiats de percepció sensorial, com són l'adhesivitat del bol i el temps total per a mastegar i deglutir una mostra. Per tant, l'ADI va resultar una eina prou específica i no destructiva, que va permetre caracteritzar l'impacte del canvi de la formulació en la distribució alveolar de pans amb glutens i sense. Tot i existint relació entre aquest i els paràmetres utilitzats habitualment en la caracterització de productes derivats de cereals, així com amb la percepció sensorial., [EN] Visual inspection is a quality parameter that describes both the external appearance as the internal structure in cereal-based products. Digital image analysis (DIA) is a tool widely used in several fields to process and analyse objects visually observed by the human eye. However, despite of its potential, it has been barely explored for food analysis purposes. Crumb structure in cereal-derived products is one of the most characteristic parameters in bread. Due to this, following up the structural changes caused by the process or by the formulation changes, is of fundamental importance. For that reason, the main target of this thesis was the definition of the relationship between the structure and the quality parameters of dough and baked products. Moreover, extending the DIA utility and its use to improve process and mixes in baked products represented other main objective of this work. To do that, first, the optimal capture conditions were established and the way to improve the edge detection was studied. Afterwards, image analysis was evaluated to quantify the structural changes that happened during the starch gels formation in a fast force analyser. Then, the impact on the structure by adding or replacing different ingredients or additives in gluten-free breads was studied. Finally, the possible correlations between the results obtained from technological characterization (texture profile, crumb structure, moisture content) versus sensory perception (bolus properties, chewing and swallowing) were also investigated. DIA allowed the quantification of the different structures obtained from different starches. In addition, the study revealed the differences in time needed to form a homogeneous and well-distributed structure, which was dependent on the origin of the starch. Formulation modification in bread with or without gluten required a process adjustment that allowed to obtain different structures depending on the ingredients / additives studied. DIA has been proved to be an effective tool for detecting and quantify changes originated at the structural, dough and final product levels. In addition, the changes quantified by DIA obtained statistically significant correlations with several parameters studied for the sensory perception, such as bolus adhesion and total time to chew and swallow the sample. Therefore, DIA was a sufficiently specific and non-destructive tool, which allowed to characterize the impact of the formulation change on the bread cell distribution with and without gluten. There being a relationship between this, and the parameters usually used in cereal products characterization, as well as sensory perception., Authors acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Projects AGL2011-23802 and AGL2014-52928-C2-1-R), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and Generalitat Valenciana (Projects Prometeo 2012/064 and Prometeo 2017/189), the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RTI2018-095919-B-C21), and the European Regional Development Fund. This work is based upon the work from COST Action 18101 SOURDOMICS – Sourdough biotechnology network towards novel, healthier and sustainable food and bioprocesses, the European Regional Development Fund and the joint project between research group from IATA-CSIC and the research groups of Nutriomics and CIDPRO from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento, Grant/Award Number: A-HUM-164-UGR18; Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, Grant/Award Number: DPI2015-64571-R; Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Grant/Award Number: Ramon y Cajal program; Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; Junta de Andalucia; FEDER (European Regional Development Fund)., Indigo blue is a natural organic color from the Indigofera tinctoria plant. It is insoluble in water and does not require mordant to fix the color; therefore, due to its nature it can be considered as a pigment or dye. The identification of indigo in cultural heritage is very difficult due to the complexity of its chemical formula and the changes that it can undergo in certain conservation and exposition conditions. For this reason, characterization of possible degradation, transformation, and reaction processes is essential for its identification. In this study, multispectral imaging has been used for the first time as noninvasive technique to characterize the aging state of indigo blue using samples aged in a controlled climate chamber under extreme conditions of humidity, temperature, and light. The technique has proven to be very promising for this application, together with classification techniques based on machine learning approaches., FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento A-HUM-164-UGR18, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain DPI2015-64571-R, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Junta de Andalucia, European Commission

This work has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the project “RD16/001/0010” (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund) “Investing in your future”) and Spanish MINECO/AEI/FEDER (SAF2017-83702-R).

The energy allocation problem in a massive access setting under iterative successive interference cancellation (SIC) is undertaken in this work. The classic one-iteration SIC still has room for improvement when the channel coding schemes adopted are non-error free. In this work, we investigate a satellite return link in which transmitters employ the same physical layer and transmission protocol: a given encoder, and spreading-based nonorthogonal multiple access. Leveraging iterative SIC, the gateway is endowed with strong interference suppression potential to deal with many uncoordinated transmissions. We elaborate on the interplay between energy and reliability for all users by designing an energy allocation with minimum energy expenditure when the iterative SIC receiver performs two decoding attempts per user. We resort to the user-asymptotic regime to address the randomness in the multi-feature system model of two-iteration SIC, which has turned the analysis into a deterministic one. We formulate our final design as a vector optimization aided by tools from the calculus of variations. We show the competitive performance achieved by the designed allocation, specially under encoders associated with short-length codes. We also assess our analysis by simulating a low-level SIC implementation. Work supported in part by Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI, Spain) and by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through project RODIN (PID2019-105717RB-C22), and in part by the Catalan administration (AGAUR) under Grant 2017 SGR 578 and Fellowship 2020FI B2 00062.

Nations across the globe are immersed in a technological revolution—intensified by the need to respond to COVID-19 issues. In order to be critical and responsible citizens in the current media ecosystem, it is important that students acquire and develop certain skills when consuming and producing information for and when communicating through the media. This is a major challenge that educational systems worldwide have to face. Hence, new curricula in media education to guide future teachers towards the successful acquisition of new media skills have been proposed. The aims of this work are to conduct a theoretical approach to this worldwide technological and media evolution in the past decade, to make an indepth comparison between the Curriculum for teachers on media and information literacy published by the UNESCO (2011) and the publication of the new AlfaMed Curriculum for the training of teachers in media education (2021). This framework starts by providing an extensive analysis of the key elements of both curricula and of their corresponding modules, establishing, thus, a constructive comparison while updating them, according to the needs, changes, and realities that have taken place regarding digital literacy in the past decade. Finally, the chapter concludes with the detailing of the challenges and with proposals for teacher training in media and information literacy. This work is framed under the development of the framework of Alfamed (Euro-American inter-university research network on media literacy for citizenship), with the support of the R+D Project: “Youtubers and Instagrammers: Media Competence in Emerging Prosumers” (RTI2018-093303-B- I00), financed by the State Research Agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Also, some results are derived from the project: The construction of digital identity in older adults. Designing personalised learning trajectories in blended learning scenarios. Reference: PIC2-2020-18, from the University of Salamanca.

OBJECTIVE: There is high prevalence of cigarette smoking in individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) prior to psychosis onset. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of previous tobacco use with or without cannabis on first psychotic experiences in FEP and the impact of this use on age of onset of symptoms, including prodromes. METHODS: Retrospective analyses from the naturalistic, longitudinal, multicentre, "Phenotype-Genotype and Environmental Interaction. Application of a Predictive Model in First Psychotic Episodes (PEPs)" Study. The authors analysed sociodemographic/clinical data of 284 FEP patients and 231 matched healthy controls, and evaluated first psychotic experiences of patients using the Symptom Onset in Schizophrenia Inventory. RESULTS: FEP patients had significantly higher prevalence of tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use than controls. The FEP group with tobacco use only prior to onset (N=56) had more sleep disturbances (42.9% vs 18.8%, P=0.003) and lower prevalence of negative symptoms, specifically social withdrawal (33.9% vs 58%, P=0.007) than FEP with no substance use (N=70), as well as lower prevalence of ideas of reference (80.4% vs 92.4%, P=0.015), perceptual abnormalities (46.4% vs 67.4%, P=0.006), hallucinations (55.4% vs 71.5%, P=0.029), and disorganised thinking (41.1% vs 61.1%, P=0.010) than FEP group with previous tobacco and cannabis use (N=144). FEP patients with cannabis and tobacco use had lower age at first prodromal or psychotic symptom (mean=23.73years [SD=5.09]) versus those with tobacco use only (mean=26.21 [SD=4.80]) (P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The use of tobacco alone was not related to earlier age of onset of a first psychotic experience, but the clinical profile of FEP patients is different depending on previous tobacco use with or without cannabis. This study received economic support from the Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Competitiveness, the Carlos III Health Care Insti-tute (Grant Number PI11/00325, PI14/00612), the European Regional Development Fund, the European Union, “Una manera de hacer Europa/ A Way of Shaping Europe”, and CIBERSAM.

Lipids are widely distributed in nature and are one of the most important components of natural foods, synthetic compounds, and emulsions. To date, there is a strong social demand in the industrial sector for the use of sustainable products with a minimal environmental impact. Depending on their origin and composition, lipids can be employed as a plausible alternative as biodegradable lubricants in order to reduce the use of conventional mineral oil lubricants and mitigate their environmental impact. This perspective provides an overview of the advantages and constrains of vegetal oils under different lubrication regimes and the tribochemical reactions that can take place. Also, the different factors and pathways that influence their oxidation, the key role of moisture, and the changes of physical properties under pressure and temperature are reviewed. Special emphasis is devoted to the oxidation instability of fatty acids and vegetal oils and the physical and chemical approaches to improve oxidative and thermal stability are described in detail.

We acknowledge the Spanish Ministry and Agencia Estatal de investigacion (AEI) through grant no. FIS2017-84256-P (European Regional Development Fund), as well as the Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion Universidad, Junta de Andalucia and European Regional Development Fund, Ref. A-FQM-175-UGR18 and SOMM17/6105/UGR for financial support., It has been recently discovered that the measles virus can damage pre-existing immunological memory, destroying B lymphocytes and reducing the diversity of non-specific B cells of the infected host. In particular, this implies that previously acquired immunization from vaccination or direct exposition to other pathogens could be partially erased in a phenomenon named ‘immune amnesia’, whose effects can become particularly worrisome given the actual rise of anti-vaccination movements. Here, we present the first attempt to incorporate immune amnesia into standard models of epidemic spreading by proposing a simple model for the spreading of two concurrent pathogens causing measles and another generic disease. Different analyses confirm that immune amnesia can have important consequences for epidemic spreading, significantly altering the vaccination coverage required to reach herd immunity. We also uncover the existence of novel propagating and endemic phases induced by immune amnesia. Finally, we discuss the meaning and consequences of our results and their relation with, e.g. immunization strategies, together with the possibility that explosive types of transitions may emerge, making immune-amnesia effects particularly dramatic. This work opens the door to further developments and analyses of immune-amnesia effects, contributing also to the theory of interacting epidemics on complex networks., Spanish Government, Agencia Estatal de investigacion (AEI) FIS2017-84256-P, Junta de Andalucia, European Commission A-FQM-175-UGR18 SOMM17/6105/UGR

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex disease linked with several chronic diseases. We aimed at identifying genetic variants associated with NAFLD and evaluate their functional consequences. We performed a genome-wide meta-analysis of four cohorts of electronic health record-documented NAFLD in participants of European ancestry (8434 cases and 770,180 controls). We identified five potential susceptibility loci for NAFLD (located at or near GCKR, TR1B1, MAU2/TM6SF2, APOE, and PNPLA3). We also report a potentially causal effect of lower LPL expression in adipose tissue on NAFLD susceptibility and an effect of the FTO genotype on NAFLD that is likely explained by obesity. Positive genetic correlations between NAFLD and cardiometabolic diseases and risk factors such as body fat accumulation/distribution, lipoprotein-lipid levels, insulin resistance and coronary artery disease and negative genetic correlations with parental lifespan, socio-economic status and acetoacetate levels were observed. Altogether, this large GWAS meta-analysis revealed new insights into the genetic architecture of NAFLD. Funding: Part of this study was supported by the European Union through the European Regional Development fund. The work of Estonian Genome Center, Univ. of Tartu has been supported by the European Regional Development Fund and grants No. GENTRANSMED (2014-2020.4.01.15-0012), MOBERA5 (Norface Network project no 462.16.107) and 2014-2020.4.01.16-0125. This study was also funded by the European Union through Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant no 810645 and through the European Regional Development Fund project no. MOBEC008 and Estonian Research Council Grant PUT1660. Ethical Approval: This study and the use of data from 4119 cases and 190,120 controls was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Tartu (Approval number 288/M-18).

Ancient ceramics recovered after a long burial period have probably undergone several alterations and contaminations, introducing a chemical variability, affecting the ceramic’s natural variability. That is, the chemical and the mineralogical compositions of the ceramic pastes after their deposition will not be the same as they originally were. Therefore, it is known that the alteration and contamination processes, and the discrimination of some elements, should be considered when studying the ceramics to avoid incorrect interpretations about their provenance, technology and the use of the artefact, as well as its proper preservation. In the present work, the authors performed an experimental approach in order to study the alterations and contaminations that occurred in 60 ceramic cylinders buried in two different underwater environments. Once the pieces were taken out from the water environments, they were characterized by a multi-analytical approach. For this purpose, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS) and Raman spectroscopy were used. Newly formed minerals of different forms have been identified, with different crystallization grades. Some examples are the needles, flakes, sponges and long and short prisms composed of several elements such as Ca, F, S and O. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the European Regional Development Fund (MINECO/AEI/ERDF, UE), grant number CERANOR-2 (HAR2017-84219-P).

Project PGC2018- 095704-B-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competition and from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)

This study was supported by grant CGL2016-77503-R from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), cofounded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union (EU), and the RNM-369 research group of the regional government of Andalusia. The authors also thank the State Harbors (Ministry of Public Services, Government of Spain) for providing the sea temperature dataset. One of the authors conducted this work as part of the activities of the Aarhus University Centre for Water Technology, WATEC. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA., The temperature distribution in coastal aquifers is determined by the effect of different heat sources: surface water recharge, sea infiltration, and geothermal heat. In previous studies, the signal generated in groundwater by each source was individually studied, and in the case of geothermal heat, it was often not considered. This research is the first in considering all possible sources of heat in a coastal aquifer simultaneously by using a combination of field data and numerical modeling to present a reference model based on the characteristics of a real aquifer. The position of the freshwater-saltwater interface (FSI) and its effect on temperature distribution have been modeled considering variable-density flow, coupled heat and solute transport. This study broadens the theoretical knowledge of temperature distribution in coastal aquifers based on a sensitivity analysis of hydraulic and thermic parameters. Furthermore, a case study (the Motril-Salobreña aquifer) was modeled with field data calibration to test the applicability to real aquifers. The new insights gained through this study provide integrated knowledge of the temperature distribution in coastal areas and establish the basis for future research using heat as a tracer in seaside aquifers., Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) CGL2016-77503-R, Junta de Andalucia RNM-369, Universidad de Granada/CBUA

Introduction This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and rapid renal function decline and to identify indices associated with this decline among adults attending a diabetes center in Northern Europe. Research design and methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 4606 patients who attended a diabetes center in Ireland between June 2012 and December 2016. Definition/staging of chronic kidney disease used the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 classification based on data from the most recently attended appointment. Relevant longitudinal trends and variabilities were derived from serial records prior to index visit. Rapid renal function decline was defined based on per cent and absolute rates of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) change. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the relationships between explanatory variables and per cent eGFR change. Results 42.0% (total), 23.4% (type 1 diabetes), 47.9% (type 2 diabetes) and 32.6% (other diabetes) had DKD. Rapid decline based on per cent change was more frequent in type 2 than in type 1 diabetes (32.8% vs 14.0%, p

The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown significantly in popularity, accompanied by increased capacity and lower cost of communications, and overwhelming development of technologies. At the same time, big data and realtime data analysis have taken on great importance and have been accompanied by unprecedented interest in sharing data among citizens, public administrations and other organisms, giving rise to what is known as the Collaborative Internet of Things. This growth in data and infrastructure must be accompanied by a software architecture that allows its exploitation. Although there are various proposals focused on the exploitation of the IoT at edge, fog and/or cloud levels, it is not easy to find a software solution that exploits the three tiers together, taking maximum advantage not only of the analysis of contextual and situational data at each tier, but also of two-way communications between adjacent ones. In this paper, we propose an architecture that solves these deficiencies by proposing novel technologies which are appropriate for managing the resources of each tier: edge, fog and cloud. In addition, the fact that two-way communications along the three tiers of the architecture is allowed considerably enriches the contextual and situational information in each layer, and substantially assists decision making in real time. The paper illustrates the proposed software architecture through a case study of respiratory disease surveillance in hospitals. As a result, the proposed architecture permits efficient communications between the different tiers responding to the needs of these types of IoT scenarios., This work was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under project FAME [RTI2018-093608-B-C33] and excellence network RCIS [RED2018-102654-T]. We also thank Carlos Llamas Jaén for his support with the setting up of the performance evaluation tests.

This study addresses a research gap by focusing on incubatees located in a UK university-based incubator. INNOSPACE provided the case study for this book and falls between a non-profit incubator and an academic incubator on the continuum developed by Allen and McCluskey (1990). The overall aim was to help university students and graduates start new businesses with a view to creating jobs and enhancing the local economy. The set-up funding for INNOSPACE was provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Manchester Metropolitan University Business School (MMUBS), and the Centre for Enterprise (CfE). A large office space provided by MMUBS was under-utilised before INNOSPACE was established. During the first operational year, management charged incubatees a rent well below market price. Before the ERDF funding was due to run out, the management team was thinking of ways of sustaining INNOSPACE financially. After funding the first year, the University agreed to continue to provide the office facilities but insisted that the management team had to be supported through rental income. Consequently, a tiered rent system was introduced depending on the facilities incubatees wanted (or could afford) to access. The rental packages ranged from postal address only with no other administrative support, hot-desking, a dedicated desk, and a dedicated office on a different floor (rent depending on size of office). Because of the benefits provided to incubatees and the increasing number of tenants, it was possible to increase the overall rent substantially and the incubator became partially financially self-sustaining financially and independent of MMUBS and the CfE. INNOSPACE fits with Todorovic and Moenter’s (2010: 28) definition of a university incubator:INNOSPACE regularly had student visitors from MMUBS and other University departments who had studied or were studying subjects related to entrepreneurship or small firms. Some incubatees offered work experience to students. For example, Jamie Bettles (Sect. 10.6) saw the on-campus location as a platform for collaboration and recruitment (including opportunities for placements, internships, student-led consultancy projects, and part-time and full-time employment). In a sense, the incubator complemented existing educational programmes. The University and the CfE promoted INNOSPACE to students and encouraged them to turn their ideas into real businesses. Hence, MMU students had the opportunity to test out their ideas before or after graduation. When setting up and running INNOSPACE, academics and managers from various MMU Faculties, who were interested in supporting entrepreneurship, were invited to join the Steering Group, which we discuss in more detail below. In addition, most of the business advisors were associated with business support organisations such as Blue Orchid and Winning Pitch, which exposed incubatees to mentors with long experience of supporting new businesses.

The spectral overlap between stimulated emission (SE) and absorption from dark states (i.e. charges and triplets) especially in the near-infrared (NIR), represents one of the most effective gain loss channel in organic semiconductors. Recently, bottom-up synthesis of atomically precise graphene nanostructures, or nanographenes (NGs), has opened a new route for the development of environmentally and chemically stable materials with optical gain properties. However, also in this case, the interplay between gain and absorption losses has hindered the attainment of efficient lasing action in the NIR. Here, we demonstrate that the introduction of two fluoranthene imide groups to the NG core leads to a more red-shifted emission than the precursor NG molecule (685 vs. 615 nm) and also with a larger Stokes (45 nm vs. 2 nm, 1026 cm-1 vs. 53 cm-1, respectively). Photophysical results indicate that, besides the minimisation of ground state absorption losses, such substitution permits to suppress the detrimental excited state absorption in the NIR, which likely arises from a dark state with charge-transfer character. This has enabled NIR lasing (720 nm) from all-solution processed distributed feedback devices with one order of magnitude lower thresholds than those of previously reported NIR-emitting NGs. This study represents an advance in the field of NGs and, in general, organic semiconductors photonics, towards the development of cheap and stable NIR lasers. G.M.P. thanks Fondazione Cariplo for financial support (grant n° 2018-0979). R.M.M., P.G.B., J.M.V., J.A.Q. and M.A.D.G. acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and European Social Funds (ESF; grant n° MAT2015-66586-R and FPI fellowship BES-2016-077681). Q.C., K.M. and A.N. are grateful for the financial support by the Max Planck Society and the ANR-DFG NLE Grant GRANAO by DFG 431450789. K.M. acknowledges a fellowship from Gutenberg Research College, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. R.K. and A.N. appreciate the support by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Y.I. and A.N acknowledge financial support from the Japan Society of Promotion Science Program for Advancing Strategic International Networks to Accelerate the Circulation of Talented Researchers.

M.A.M. acknowledges the Spanish Ministry and Agencia Estatal de investigacion (AEI) through Grant FIS2017-84256-P (European Regional Development Fund), as well as the Consejera de Conocimiento, Investigacin Universidad, Junta de Andaluca, and European Regional Development Fund, Ref. A-FQM-175-UGR18 and SOMM17/6105/UGR for financial support. V.B and R.B. acknowledge funding from the INFN BIOPHYS project. We also thank Cariparma for their support through the TEACH IN PARMA project. We thank S. di Santo, G. Barrios, D. Pazo, and J. Zierenberg for very valuable discussions and comments., The human cortex is never at rest but in a state of sparse and noisy neural activity that can be detected at broadly diverse resolution scales. It has been conjectured that such a state is best described as a critical dynamical process-whose nature is still not fully understood-where scale-free avalanches of activity emerge at the edge of a phase transition. In particular, some works suggest that this is most likely a synchronization transition, separating synchronous from asynchronous phases. Here, by investigating a simplified model of coupled excitable oscillators describing the cortex dynamics at a mesoscopic level, we investigate the possible nature of such a synchronization phase transition. Within our modeling approach we conclude that-in order to reproduce all key empirical observations, such as scale-free avalanches and bistability, on which fundamental functional advantages rely-the transition to collective oscillatory behavior needs to be of an unconventional hybrid type, with mixed features of type-I and type-II excitability, opening the possibility for a particularly rich dynamical repertoire., Spanish Ministry and Agencia Estatal de investigacion (AEI) FIS2017-84256-P, Consejera de Conocimiento, Investigacin Universidad, Junta de Andaluca, European Commission A-FQM-175-UGR18 SOMM17/6105/UGR, INFN BIOPHYS project, Cariparma through the TEACH IN PARMA project

Within the United Nations Sustainable Development 2030 agenda, sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sector needs sea water quality monitoring. This is a very demanding and expensive task which results in the sea being largely undersampled. MaDCrow is a research and development project supported by the European Regional Development Fund, that involves citizens as data collectors while aiming to improve public environmental awareness and participation in scientific research. Its goal is to create an innovative technological infrastructure for real-time acquisition, integration and access of data, thus generating knowledge on sea water quality and marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Trieste. Data acquisition is based on an autonomous and removable device, developed within the project, that can be deployed on any small size sailing boat, recreational vessel, or fishing boat. The device holds low-cost sensors to measure pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity and the hardware and software to acquire, georeference and transmit the environmental data without interfering with the activities of the boats. In this work we analyze the use, capabilities and advantages of low-cost sensors but also their limitations, comparing, with a special focus on pH, their performances with those of the traditional ones. Applying the paradigm in a highly anthropized area such as the Gulf of Trieste, which is characterized also by a very high spatial and temporal variability of environments, we point out that this new approach allows to monitor sea water quality and highlight local anomalies with a resolution and spatial and temporal coverage that was not achievable with previous procedures, but yet at very low costs. Once received, data are then processed and submitted to a mediation flow that contextualizes and disseminates them for public use on a website. The final products have been customized to reach stakeholders such as tourists, fishermen and policy makers. The availability of information understandable to everyone, while fostering environmental awareness, stimulates, at the same time, involvement and participation of citizen scientists in the initiative. In the future, while committing to enlarge the number of participants, we will extend the analysis also toward other types of sensors.

In transfusion centres, blood components are divided and stored following specific guidelines. The storage temperature and time vary among the blood cells but all of them release extracellular vesicles (EVs) under blood bank conditions. The clinical impact of such vesicles in blood components for transfusion is an object of debate, but should be considered and is being investigated. In this context, proteomics is an excellent tool to study the cargo and composition of EVs derived from red blood cells and platelets, since such vesicles are enriched in lipids and proteins. The development of quantitative mass spectrometry techniques and the evolution of bioinformatics have allowed the identification of novel EVs biomarkers for different diseases. In this context, the application of high coverage proteomic tools to the analysis of EVs in the transfusion medicine field would provide information about storage lesions and possible transfusion adverse reactions. This viewpoint article approaches the potential of proteomics to investigate the impact of EVs in blood bank transfusion components, especially red blood cells and platelets The authors acknowledge support given by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [grant no. PID2019-108727RB-I00], co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Financial support from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia (Centro Singular de investigación de Galicia accreditation 2019–2022; predoctoral grant 2018 Call) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is also gratefully acknowledged SI

Funding: I.E. has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 825835 (BovReg), Secretaria de Universidades e Investigacion del Departamento de Economia y Conocimiento de la Generalidad de Cataluna, 2017 SGR 447 (SGR), Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) and FEDER under Project BFU2017-88264-P (Plan Estatal). I.E. also acknowledges the following CRG funding sources: support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MEIC) to the EMBL partnership, Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, the CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Ellipses are among the most frequently used geometric models in visual pattern recognition and digital image analysis. This work aims to combine the outputs of an ensemble of ellipse fitting methods, so that the deleterious effect of suboptimal fits is alleviated. Therefore, the accuracy of the combined ellipse fit is higher than the accuracy of the individual methods. Three characterizations of the ellipse have been considered by different researchers: algebraic, geometric, and natural. In this paper, the natural characterization has been employed in our method due to its superior performance. Furthermore, five ellipse fitting methods have been chosen to be combined by the proposed consensus method. The experiments include comparisons of our proposal with the original methods and additional ones. Several tests with synthetic and bitmap image datasets demonstrate its great potential with noisy data and the presence of occlusion. The proposed consensus algorithm is the only one that ranks among the first positions for all the tests that were carried out. This demonstrates the suitability of our proposal for practical applications with high occlusion or noise. This work is partially supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain [grant numbers TIN2016-75097-P and PPIT.UMA.B1.2017]. It is also partially supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain [grant number RTI2018-094645-B-I00], project name Automated detection with low-cost hardware of unusual activities in video sequences. It is also partially supported by the Autonomous Government of Andalusia (Spain) under project UMA18-FEDERJA-084, project name Detection of anomalous behavior agents by deep learning in low-cost video surveillance intelligent systems. All of them include funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The authors thankfully acknowledge the computer resources, technical expertise and assistance provided by the SCBI (Supercomputing and Bioinformatics) center of the University of Málaga. They also gratefully acknowledge the support of NVIDIA Corporation with the donation of two Titan X GPUs. The authors acknowledge the funding from the Universidad de Málaga. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA.

The nonmeat ingredients (NMI) used in the manufacturing of traditional dry-cured sausages (DCS) are red pepper paste, garlic paste, salt, and water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of NMI and pig natural casings, concerning phys-icochemical and microbiological parameters. The NMI used in the two manufacturing units (A and B) were characterized and the microbiological control of salt and water was performed. Unit B NMI were more stable and of better quality, namely garlic paste (aW A-0.946/B-0.842; moisture A-69.28%/B-60.30%). No psychrotrophic mi-croorganisms, molds, or yeasts were detected in both units. Unit B casings are of better quality (aW B-0.745/A-0.939) with significantly less psychrotrophic microor-ganisms (2.02 log cfu/g) and yeasts in unit B (1.9 log cfu/g). Higher microbiological counts were obtained for salt in unit A. This is the first comprehensive study on the quality and safety of NMI, and pig natural casings used in DCS manufacturing., his work was supported by project PDR2020-1.0.1-FEADER-031373, funded by national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/MCTES and co-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by project UIDB/05183/2020 (MED) financed by national funds through FCT.

Online alcohol screening may be helpful in preventing alcohol use disorders. We assessed psychometric properties of an online version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) among Spanish university students. We used a longitudinal online survey (the UNIVERSAL project) of first-year students (18-24 years old) in five universities, including the AUDIT, as part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative. A reappraisal interview was carried out with the Timeline Followback (TLFB) for alcohol consumption categories and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for alcohol use disorder. Reliability, construct validity and diagnostic accuracy were assessed. Results: 287 students (75% women) completed the MINI, of whom 242 also completed the TLFB. AUDIT's Cronbach's alpha was 0.82. The confirmatory factor analysis for the one-factor solution of the AUDIT showed a good fit to the data. Significant AUDIT score differences were observed by TLFB categories and by MINI disorders. Areas under the curve (AUC) were very large for dependence (AUC = 0.96) and adequate for consumption categories (AUC > 0.7). AUDIT cut-off points of 6/8 (women/men) for moderate-risk drinking and 13 for alcohol dependence showed sensitivity/specificity of 76.2%/78.9% and 56%/97.5%, respectively. The online version of the AUDIT is useful for detecting alcohol consumption categories and alcohol dependence in Spanish university students., This research was funded by Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III FEDER (PI13/00343); Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social, Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas PNSD (exp.2015I015); and from the DIUE of the Generalitat de Catalunya (2017SGR452). L. Ballester was supported by an FPU grant (FPU15/05728); M. J. Blasco was supported by a Rio Hortega grant (ISCIII, CM14/00125); P. Castellvi was supported by a Sara Borrell grant (ISCIII, CD12/00440), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Commission, the University of Jaen, Spain (R08/06/2018) and the Instituto de Estudios Giennenses; and P. Mortier was supported by a Sara Borrell grant (ISCIII, CD18/00049).

Atmospheric factors, such as clouds, wind, dust, or aerosols, play an important role in the power generation of photovoltaic (PV) plants. Among these factors, soiling has been revealed as one of the most relevant causes diminishing the PV yield, mainly in arid zones or deserts. The effect of soiling on the PV performance can be analyzed by means of I–V curves measured simultaneously on two PV panels: one soiled and the other clean. To this end, two I–V tracers, or one I–V tracer along with a multiplexer, are needed. Unfortunately, these options are usually expensive, and only one I–V tracer is typically available at the site of interest. In this work, the design of a low-cost multiplexer is described. The multiplexer is controlled by a low-cost single-board microcontroller manufactured by ArduinoTM, and is capable of managing several pairs of PV panels almost simultaneously. The multiplexer can be installed outdoors, in contrast to many commercial I–V tracers or multiplexers. This advantage allows the soiling effect to be monitored on two PV panels, by means of I–V indoor tracers. I–V curves measured by the low-cost multiplexer are also presented, and preliminary results are analyzed, This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness “PVCastSOIL” project No ENE2017-83790-C3-1-2-3-R, in collaboration with the European Regional Development Fund

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by a large number and variety of symptoms, including affective/emotional (persistent sadness, anhedonia, anxiety, agitation, guilt feelings, hopelessness, etc.), somatic (tiredness, loss of energy, sleep disturbances, reduced/increased appetite, weight gain/loss etc.) and cognitive symptoms (slowness of thinking, concentration difficulties, etc.). Overall, this suggests the presence of derangements of nerve transmission in different areas/circuits involved in the control of these disturbed brain functions., Supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, SAF2015–68346-P MINECO/FEDER, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund “A way to build Europe”. Supported also by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) and by CERCA Programme from the Generalitat de Catalunya. I also would like to thank the support of the Secretaria d'Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Economia i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2017SGR717).

The restrictions imposed to the production of high-global warming potential refrigerant gases have boosted the search of novel separation processes for the selective recovery of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFO) from exhausted refrigerant mixtures. Membrane materials functionalized with ionic liquids can offer an effective techno-economical response to the challenging separation of HFC/HFO blends. In this work, we provide for the first time a thorough characterization of the gas solubility and permeation properties of three of the most relevant compounds for the future of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, that is, difluoromethane (HFC-R32), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-R134a), and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-R1234yf), through composite ionic liquid-polymer membranes (CILPMs) that were prepared combining the Pebax 1657 copolymer with several ILs, [C2mim][SCN], [C2mim][BF4], [C2mim][OTf], and [C2mim][Tf2N], varying the IL content in the range of 20?60 wt %. The CILPMs with the best separation performance and mechanical stability against feed pressure were those with 40 wt % of [C2mim][BF4] and [C2mim][SCN]. For the 40 wt % [C2mim][BF4] CILPM, the addition of IL promoted the permeability of the smallest molecules R32 and R134a and reduced the permeability of the largest molecule R1234yf, which resulted in 120 and 75% selectivity enhancement relative to that of the pristine polymer for R32/R1234yf and R134a/R1234yf mixtures, respectively. Finally, this CILPM was stable in the separation of two commercial HFC/HFO refrigerant blends (R513A and R454B) over a wide pressure range (up to 12 bar). These results indicate that CILPMs can be used for separating azeotropic and near-azeotropic exhausted HFC/HFO mixtures, which could stimulate the recovery and reuse of their components and thus avoid their emissions and pull down the demand for virgin refrigerants. Authors fully acknowledge the financial support received from Project KET4F-Gas-SOE2/P1/P0823, which is cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund within the framework of Interreg Sudoe Programme, and project PID2019-105827RB-I00—Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain. F.P. acknowledges the postdoctoral fellowship (FJCI-2017-32884 Juan de la Cierva Formación) awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

In recent years, the interest in the study of seas and oceans has dramatically increased as they are considered of primary importance for forecasting catastrophic events or for supporting blue economy, as well as the marine tourism, improving the tourist reception or enhancing any marine-related activity. This led to the development of IT platforms that allow to monitor the marine environment and provide a number of services to different kinds of final users, whether they are private individuals interested in the status of the seas, or companies whose business depends on the marine environmental monitoring. The main limitations of current platforms are due to such a difference between free trials, which often focus only on specific aspects of deep waters, and subscriptions, which provide analyzes whose reliability is generally not proportional to the costs. This paper presents SmartWave, a project funded by Regione Sicilia (European Regional Development Fund), that aims to develop a novel IT platform to observe and predict phenomena that characterize the marine environment, while also providing the consumer with a unified portal to collect, access and analyze marine-related information. To achieve this goal, one of the main challenges of this project is to aggregate and standardize heterogeneous data from multiple sources in order to offer very accurate information to private or business consumers.

Orange thyme (Thymus fragrantissimus) is becoming widely used in food as a condiment and herbal tea, nevertheless its chemical composition and potential bioactivities are largely unknown. Thus the objective of this work is to obtain a detailed phytochemical profile of T. fragrantissimus by exhaustive ethanolic extraction and by aqueous decoction mimicking its consumption. Extracts showed high content in rosmarinic acid, luteolin-O-hexuronide and eriodictyol-O-hexuronide; these were the main phenolic compounds present in orange thyme accounting for 85% of the total phenolic compounds. Orange thyme extracts presented high scavenging activity against nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. Both extracts presented significant inhibitory effect of tyrosinase activity and moderate anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. Both extracts showed a good in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and a weak anti-proliferative/cytotoxic activity against Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines supporting its safe use. Orange thyme is a very good source of bioactive compounds with potential use in different food and nutraceutical industries., This research was supported by INTERACT project–“Integrative Research in Environment, Agro-Chains and Technology”, no. NORTE 01-0145-FEDER-000017, in its line of research entitled ISAC, co financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through NORTE 2020 (North Regional Operational Program 2014/ 2020). By funds from the Portuguese Science and Technology Founda tion (FCT), Ministry of Science and Education (FCT/MEC) through na tional funds, and co-financed by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI, under the projects UIDB/04033/2020 (CITAB) and UIDB/00616/2020 and UIDP/ 00616/2020 (CQ-VR). The authors would like to thank the grants from INTERACT project: BI/UTAD/INTERACT/ISAC/203/2016 to L.F and BIM/UTAD/30/2018 to C.M.G., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion