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Introducción: existe una fuerte asociación entre la migraña y los trastornos del estado de ánimo, que podría derivar en mayor discapacidad y peor pronóstico para estos pacientes. Objetivo: evaluar el impacto de la sintomatología de ansiedad y depresión sobre el grado de discapacidad en pacientes con migraña. Materiales y Métodos: se seleccionaron 50 personas con migraña (25 con aura y 25 sin aura) y 25 controles sanos pareados por edad y sexo. Se midieron los síntomas de depresión y ansiedad utilizando las escalas de Zung. En los pacientes con migraña se midió el grado de discapacidad utilizando el Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). La asociación entre la puntuación de las escalas de Zung y HIT-6 se analizó empleando una regresión linear. Resultados: el diagnóstico de migraña se relacionó significativamente con mayores puntuaciones en la escala de depresión (39,2±10 vs. 31,9±6,8, p=0,002) y ansiedad (36,7±10,2 vs. 28,5±6,7, p=0,0001) de Zung. En los pacientes con migraña, se encontró una asociación significativa entre la puntuación de las escalas de sintomatología depresiva (OR, 3,53; IC95%, 1,33-5,72, p=0,002) y de ansiedad (OR, 3,47; IC95%, 1,33-5,61, p=0,002) con el grado de discapacidad (HIT-6). Dichas asociaciones se mantuvieron luego de ajustarlas por edad, sexo y la frecuencia de episodios de migraña. Conclusiones: la migraña se encuentra relacionada con una mayor presencia de sintomatología de ansiedad y depresión. Esta asociación tiene un impacto negativo sobre la funcionalidad de las personas con esta patología.

Introduction/ObjectivesThis study aims to describe the procedure and effectiveness of the four-vertex technique for correcting urethral prolapse in women.Methods and Materialsincludes a retrospective case series of 17 patients who underwent surgery for urethral prolapse. Two study groups were distinguished based on the presence or absence of pelvic heaviness symptoms. The variables were analyzed, including age, BMI, concomitant diseases, obstetric and gynecological history, time from diagnosis to surgery, and outcomes of treatment.ResultsAll patients were postmenopausal, with a mean age at the time of the intervention of 70.41 years, with no differences between groups. Mean BMI was 23.67 kg/m2, higher in the group with a sensation of vaginal heaviness (p = 0.027). Mean time elapsed between diagnosis and operation was 231.58 days, with no differences between groups. Mean childbirth count was 2.29. The most frequent causes for consultation were urethrorrhagia (33.33%) and a bulging sensation (33.33%). After the intervention, 14 patients (82.35%) were asymptomatic, two (11.76%) had dysuria, and one (5.88%) had urinary urgency. Ten patients had pre-surgical urinary incontinence, which was resolved in nine patients. 17.46% subsequently presented pelvic organ prolapse. In three women there was secondary impairment of sexual activity.ConclusionThe four-vertex technique was effective in resolving symptoms in most patients. However, some patients experienced dysuria, urinary urgency, and pelvic organ prolapse after surgery. Urinary incontinence improved in most patients, but a few required additional treatments with suburethral tape. The study also identified associations between variables and the presence of cystocele, consultation for a bulging sensation, and bleeding from urethral prolapse. Overall, this study sheds light on the challenges and outcomes of surgical treatment for urethral prolapse and provides valuable insights for future research in this area.

Las tendencias de gestión de conocimiento en emprendimientos sociales precisan la revisión sobre las formas de liderazgo en los territorios, a fin de caracterizar habilidades y aptitudes idóneas que den lugar a una cultura organizacional, las cuales relacionen el valor social con la efectiva solución de las necesidades en las comunidades. Por ende, el campo de investigación sobre emprendimientos sociales encuentra en los factores organizacionales un horizonte de compresión favorable. El objetivo del trabajo radica en evaluar el avance de la producción científica sobre la gestión del conocimiento en relación con dichas empresas híbridas durante los años 1995 y 2021. Como metodología, fueron revisadas tendencias en investigación, para lo cual se empleó un estudio bibliométrico y cienciométrico, con una muestra de 157 documentos recuperados de la base de datos Scopus. A partir de las leyes de Lotka, Pareto y De Solla Price, fueron desarrollados indicadores de cantidad, calidad e historia. Los resultados establecen como ámbitos de futuras investigaciones: la articulación de herramientas de la industria 4.0 y 5.0, la integración global de ecosistemas de emprendimiento, el incremento de inclusión y la diversidad, además del empoderamiento y posicionamiento en el entorno de las diversas comunidades identificadas como gestoras de soluciones a sus problemáticas particulares.

El cuerpo femenino se ha visto permeado por diferentes ideas y discursos que han designado cómo debe ser y verse; llevando incluso a que se le destinen modelos para moverse, expresarse y comportarse. En la actualidad, el cuerpo femenino es atravesado por la influencia y la normativa de los medios de comunicación, la familia, la sociedad, la cultura, la economía, la política, y el contexto educativo no debe desconocerlo. Por esto, resulta necesario fijarse en la manera en que dichos discursos se disponen en lo educativo, llevando a un interés por conocer la interpretación de las estudiantes sobre aquello que dicen de ellas o que refieren de sus compañeras, de acuerdo con las relaciones interpersonales que establecen y como éstas en ocasiones se ven influenciadas por discursos socioculturales enfocados en el hombre y en una idea mercantil de la belleza. Lo anterior permite interrogarse como sociedad respecto a la forma en la que se han venido transmitiendo prototipos de belleza, de cuerpo femenino y diferentes modelos de movimiento, comportamiento y expresión con los que éste debe cumplir e incluso sobre aquellas atribuciones que se le han asignado como delicadeza, ternura, y sumisión; ya que estas expresiones e ideales afectan la autopercepción, la autoestima y la relación que las mujeres tienen con su propio cuerpo, y en ciertos casos no concuerda con los deseos, las aspiraciones y las posibilidades reales de las mujeres. Para esta investigación se tuvo como objetivo principal describir las percepciones que tienen del cuerpo femenino las estudiantes del grado 9 de la Institución Educativa La Piedad y sus afectaciones en el acto educativo para el año académico 2021, en la ciudad de Medellín; dejando como resultado la descripción de sentimientos de intimidación en las estudiantes por miradas y comentarios relacionados con la forma en cómo se arreglan, se comportan o se maquillan, observándose así discursos estereotipados sobre la feminidad.

Abstract Introduction Lung microbiome dysbiosis affects the immune system balance and promotes lung inflammation. We aimed to characterize and compare the lung bacteriome composition and the cytokine profile in women with normal lung function exposed to risk factors for chronic lung diseases (tobacco smoking and biomass‐burning smoke exposure). Methods We included women with biomass‐burning smoke exposure (BE, n = 11) and current smokers women (TS, n = 10). The bacteriome composition was performed in induced sputum, sequencing the 16 rRNA gene. Cytokine levels were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay multiplex assay in the supernatant of induced sputum. For quantitative variables, we used medians and minimum and maxim values. For the amplicon sequence variants (ASV) differential abundance testing between groups. Results At the taxa level, the phylum Proteobacteria was found in a higher proportion in the TS group concerning BE (p = .045); however, after the false discovery rate adjustment, this difference was not retained (p = .288). We found a higher concentration of IL‐1β in the TS group than in the BE group (248.6 vs. 177.9 pg/mL, p = .010). Women with high biomass‐burning smoke exposure in an hour per day had a positive correlation with the abundance of Bacteroidota (ρ = 0.71, p = .014) and Fusobacteriota (ρ = 0.73, p = .011). FEV1/FVC had a positive correlation with an abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Fusobacteria (ρ = 0.74, p = .009, ρ = 0.85, p = .001, and ρ = 0.83, p = .001, respectively). In tobacco smoking, women had a positive correlation (ρ = 0.77, p = .009) between cigarettes per day and Firmicutes' abundance. Conclusion Compared to biomass‐burning smoke‐exposed women, current smokers have poor lung function and high levels of IL‐1β in sputum. Women with biomass‐burning smoke exposure present an increased abundance of Bacteroidota and Fusobacteriota.

The limpet (Patella ferruginea), endemic to the western Mediterranean, is the most endangered intertidal mollusk listed in the Habitats Directive (EU). The translocation methodology of this species is a scientific challenge faced by those port infrastructures – where there are established breeding subpopulations - that may be subject to emergency works, restoration, or extension of breakwaters. This study presents the results of an innovative two-phase pilot project (P1A/B and P2), involving the legally authorized translocation of individuals of this species obtained in three relocation experiments in the Marina of Puerto José Banús (Málaga) in July 2021 (phase 1: P1A and B) and May 2022 (phase 2: P2) (study period: July 2021-October 2022). The specimens translocated in both phases were from the same port except for those of P1B, which came from the Marbella Marina as an exceptional case. These translocations were undertaken on concrete breakwater tetrapod units. We show that the somewhat forced, slow and unregulated extraction of specimens to be translocated during the first experiment of the P1A pilot project was the main cause of mortality, as it generated an important exhaustion of the fixation musculature, which resulted in a low survival (66%) after the first month of transfer, whereas during the same period of time. In the subsequent experiments (where the problem was methodologically corrected, a fast extraction technique -less than 5 seconds-, regulated and without injuries), in P1B was 100%, in P2 with cage was 93.3%, and, in P2 without cage it was 83.3%, which reflected an improvement in translocation methodology. The results of this research are compared according to the descriptors of success and failure of each protocol in order to observe the differences and thus enable their replicability.

Abstract Background Old age is one of the most important risk factors for severe COVID-19. Few studies have analyzed changes in the clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 among older adults before the availability of vaccines. This work analyzes differences in clinical features and mortality in unvaccinated very old adults during the first and successive COVID-19 waves in Spain. Methods This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study analyzes unvaccinated patients ≥ 80 years hospitalized for COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry). Patients were classified according to whether they were admitted in the first wave (March 1-June 30, 2020) or successive waves (July 1-December 31, 2020). The endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality, expressed as the case fatality rate (CFR). Results Of the 21,461 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 5,953 (27.7%) were ≥ 80 years (mean age [IQR]: 85.6 [82.3–89.2] years). Of them, 4,545 (76.3%) were admitted during the first wave and 1,408 (23.7%) during successive waves. Patients hospitalized in successive waves were older, had a greater Charlson Comorbidity Index and dependency, less cough and fever, and met fewer severity criteria at admission (qSOFA index, PO2/FiO2 ratio, inflammatory parameters). Significant differences were observed in treatments used in the first (greater use of antimalarials, lopinavir, and macrolides) and successive waves (greater use of corticosteroids, tocilizumab and remdesivir). In-hospital complications, especially acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia, were less frequent in patients hospitalized in successive waves, except for heart failure. The CFR was significantly higher in the first wave (44.1% vs. 33.3%; -10.8%; p

Introducción: la sarcopenia puede presentarse en las enfermedades de larga evolución como la insuficiencia renal crónica. Su detección permite aplicar medidas terapéuticas específicas para evitar complicaciones. Objetivo: describir la frecuencia de sarcopenia en pacientes adultos con insuficiencia renal crónica del Hospital Nacional y Hospital Militar en 2021. Metodología: se aplicó un diseño estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal. Se incluyeron a varones y mujeres, mayores de edad, portadores de insuficiencia renal crónica de los hospitales mencionados. La presencia de sarcopenia se evaluó con medidas antropométricas, la fuerza de presión palmar y la funcionalidad determinada con el cuestionario EuroQol-5D. Se midieron también variables demográficas y clínicas. Se reclutó un grupo control de sujetos jóvenes sanos para obtener parámetros antropométricos comparativos. La investigación fue aprobada por el Comité de Ética de la Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Resultados: se incluyeron 119 pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica, siendo 62 varones con edad media 56 ± 15 años y 57 mujeres con edad media 61 ± 16 años. Se reclutaron 150 sujetos sanos, siendo 51 varones con edad media 26 ± 5 años y 99 mujeres con edad media 25 ± 5 años. La etiología predominante de la insuficiencia renal crónica fue la combinación de hipertensión arterial y diabetes mellitus (45,4%). Al medir las medidas antropométricas, la fuerza de presión palmar y la funcionalidad se confirmó sarcopenia en 38,66% de los pacientes. Comparando variables demográficas y clínicas entre los diferentes grados de sarcopenia, sólo la edad resultó mayor en los sujetos con sarcopenia severa. Conclusión: en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica la sarcopenia se confirmó en 38,66%.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common glioma subtype, with a median survival of 15 months after diagnosis. Current treatments have limited therapeutic efficacy; thus, more effective approaches are needed. The glioblastoma tumoural mass is characterised by a small cellular subpopulation – glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) – that has been held responsible for glioblastoma initiation, cell invasion, proliferation, relapse and resistance to chemo‐ and radiotherapy. Targeted therapies against GSCs are crucial, as is understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern the GSCs. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signalling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are known to govern and regulate cancer stem cell biology. Among the differentially expressed genes regulated by TGFβ in a transcriptomic analysis of two different patient‐derived GSCs, we found NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) as one of the top upregulated genes. Interestingly, when patient tissues were analysed, NOX4 expression was found to be higher in GSCs versus differentiated cells. A functional analysis of the role of NOX4 downstream of TGFβ in several patient‐derived GSCs showed that TGFβ does indeed induce NOX4 expression and increases ROS production in a NOX4‐dependent manner. NOX4 downstream of TGFβ regulates GSC proliferation, and NOX4 expression is necessary for TGFβ‐induced expression of stem cell markers and of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (NRF2), which in turn controls the cell’s antioxidant and metabolic responses. Interestingly, overexpression of NOX4 recapitulates the effects induced by TGFβ in GSCs: enhanced proliferation, stemness and NRF2 expression. In conclusion, this work functionally establishes NOX4 as a key mediator of GSC biology.

Introducción: la cromoblastomicosis es una micosis subcutánea, crónica, causada por un grupo de hongos dematiáceos; Fonsecaea pedrosoi es de los agentes etiológicos más frecuentes, está presente en climas tropicales, de abundante vegetación. El diagnóstico se basa en tres pilares fundamentales: el clínico-epidemiológico, el de Anatomía Patológica y el microbiológico. Objetivo: describir el diagnóstico etiológico y las variables epidemiológicas de interés de la enfermedad en la Provincia de Villa Clara durante el período de 2003 a 2018. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, transversal en una población de 47 pacientes. Como medida de resumen se utilizaron las frecuencias absolutas y relativas y para la exploración espaciotemporal la técnica de Kulldorff. Resultados: del total de pacientes al 19% se le realizaron estudios micológicos en los que se aislaron las especies Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Cladophialophora carrionii y Phialophora verrucosa. En el Municipio de Manicaragua se identificó un conglomerado espacial verdadero de alta tasa de incidencia. Fue 2,12 veces más frecuente en hombres que en mujeres. Conclusiones: en la provincia no existe integración clínica, anatomopatológica y microbiológica para el diagnóstico de la cromoblastomicosis; al menos tres agentes etiológicos conocidos, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Cladophialophora carrionii y Phialophora verrucosa, fueron causa de la enfermedad durante el período estudiado. El Municipio montañoso de Manicaragua constituye un área geográfica de alto riesgo en la provincia. El sexo más afectado por la enfermedad fue el masculino.

Abstract Background Very positive effects have been described in the application of pain neuroscience education (PNE) to chronic pain and migraine. However, there are few data on the applicability of this therapeutic approach in actual clinical practice in a primary care (PC) setting. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy in fibromyalgia (FM) of an intervention based on PNE and exercise compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Methods Pragmatic nonrandomised controlled trial set in 5 healthcare centres and one physiotherapy centre in PC. Fifty-three women with FM (2010 American College of Rheumatology Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia) were studied, 35 in the intervention group (IG) and 18 in the control group (CG). The women in the IG were interviewed individually and then received 6 weekly sessions plus one review session (1 month later): those in the CG received their TAU. The subject assignation to the CG or the IG was determined according to their availability to attend the sessions. They all filled in several questionnaires (prior to and 1 year after the intervention) to evaluate the impact of FM in their daily lives, catastrophism, anxiety and depression, severity and impact of pain in daily personal performance and functional capacity. Results The reductions (improvements) in the scores of all tests (baseline-final) were greater in the IG (p

The purpose of this work is to present useful recommendations for the use of [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging in radiotherapy planning and monitoring under different versions of EARL accreditation for harmonization of PET devices. A proof-of-concept experiment designed on an anthropomorphic phantom was carried out to establish the most suitable interpolation methods of the PET images in the different steps of the planning procedure. Based on PET/CT images obtained by using these optimal interpolations for the old EARL accreditation (EARL1) and for the new one (EARL2), the treatment plannings of representative actual clinical cases were calculated, and the clinical implications of the resulting differences were analyzed. As expected, EARL2 provided smaller volumes with higher resolution than EARL1. The increase in the size of the reconstructed volumes with EARL1 accreditation caused high doses in the organs at risk and in the regions adjacent to the target volumes. EARL2 accreditation allowed an improvement in the accuracy of the PET imaging precision, allowing more personalized radiotherapy. This work provides recommendations for those centers that intend to benefit from the new accreditation, EARL2, and can help build confidence of those that must continue working under the EARL1 accreditation.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria produce different pore forming toxins with insecticidal activity, including Cry and Vip3 proteins. While both Cry and Vip3 cause insect death by forming pores in susceptible lepidopteran larval midgut cells, their mechanisms of action differ. The Vip3Aa protoxin adopts a tetramer-structure, where each monomer has five distinct domains. Upon proteolytic activation, the Vip3 tetramer undergoes a large conformational change forming a syringe like structure that is ready for membrane insertion and pore formation. Here we show that Vip3Aa protoxin had low binding to Spodoptera frugiperda brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) unlike the activated toxin that bound specifically in a concentration dependent way, suggesting that a structural change upon Vip3Aa proteolytic activation is required for efficient receptor binding. Consistently, the Vip3Aa protoxin showed no toxicity to Sf9 cells compared to the activated toxin. In contrast, Cry1Fa protoxin and its activated toxin, were both highly toxic to Sf9 cells. To identify the region of Vip3 involved in binding to BBMV proteins, different overlapping peptides from Vip3Aa covering domains III, IV and V were expressed, and binding analysis were performed against BBMV, showing that domain III is the primary binding domain. Additionally, domains III, IV and V amino acid residues that become exposed upon activation of Vip3Aa were identified. Mutagenesis of these exposed residues revealed three amino acids (K385, K526 and V529) located in two structural adjacent loops, domain III loop β5-β6 and loop α11-β16 that connects domains III and IV, that are crucial for binding to the midguts of S. frugiperda larvae and for toxicity. Our results demonstrate that proteolytic activation of Vip3Aa exposes a receptor binding region essential for its toxicity. Author summary: To exert toxicity, Vip3 tetrameric protoxins are activated by larval gut proteases facilitating the formation of lytic pores that destroy the midgut epithelium cells killing the susceptible larvae. Here, we demonstrate that the proteolytic activation of Vip3Aa protoxin is necessary for triggering receptor binding. Binding analysis of Vip3Aa protoxin and activated toxin to S. frugiperda midguts and toxicity assays against Sf9 cells, confirmed that proteolytic activation is necessary for an efficient binding to the insect midgut membranes and for toxicity. The analysis of residues from domains III, IV and V, that become exposed after Vip3Aa activation by proteolysis, allowed us to identify a structural binding epitope which plays an important role in receptor binding and toxicity. Our results indicate that the structural change that Vip3Aa undergoes after activation by larval midgut proteases, besides being important for membrane insertion and pore formation, also triggers receptor binding important for toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the working conditions of highly educated mobile workers in five major European Union (EU) markets. The study uses the overeducation indicator, analyzing its transformation over the period 2005–2016. Using annual data from the European Union Labour Force Survey, the results reveal very different conditions between home country nationals and mobile workers from newer (enlargement)—EU-13—and older—EU-15—member states from the perspective of successful economic and social integration. The EU enlargement process has not completely removed the penalty for educated workers from EU-13 countries, but it has significantly reduced it, as has the premium received by mobile workers from other EU-15 member states, thus leading to their better integration and greater equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) coexists with coronary artery disease (CAD) in approximately 50% of patients. The preferred treatment is combined surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) along with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has emerged as a viable alternative. This study sought to compare the outcomes of PCI + TAVR vs CABG + SAVR. This national multicenter retrospective study in Spain involved patients with severe AS and CAD treated between 2018 and 2021. Patients underwent either PCI + TAVR or CABG + SAVR and were compared. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and stroke at 1 year. Propensity score analysis was performed to mitigate baseline differences. Of the 1,342 included patients, 625 (46.6%) underwent PCI + TAVR, and 713 (53.1%) underwent CABG + SAVR. Patients in the percutaneous arm were older (age 81.6 ± 5.8 years vs 72.1 ± 7 years; P < 0.001), had a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (40.6% vs 14.9%; P < 0.001), and had higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores (4.3% [interquartile range (Q1-Q3): 2.8-6.4] vs 2.2% [Q1-Q3: 1.4-3.3]; P < 0.001). Technical success rates were 96% for PCI + TAVR and 98.4% for CABG + SAVR (P = 0.008), with similar periprocedural mortality (0.8% vs 0.7%; P = 0.999). However, the mortality + stroke rate at 30 days was higher in the CABG + SAVR group compared with PCI + TAVR, both in the unmatched (12.2% vs 4.7%; P = 0.005) and matched cohorts (8.8% vs 4.5%; P = 0.002), persisting at the 1-year follow-up. Despite a lower baseline risk, CABG + SAVR in patients with severe AS and CAD was associated with a higher rate of death and stroke compared with PCI + TAVR, highlighting the necessity for a large, randomized analysis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansion of the Spanish tourism industry since the 1950´s was based on a low-priced sun and beach model and replacement of traditional rail trips by a road and air transport model preferred by European tourists. In this article, we explore the diverging roles of rail and air transport as key elements of tourism logistics when demand began to expand, requiring a means of transport that guaranteed speed and economy. The Spanish tourism strategy during this period was accompanied by a technological revolution in air transport which authorities used to provide the infrastructure required, contributing to a resolution of the bottlenecks inherent in the traditional model and driving the tourism boom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts a Critical Femininities approach to examine the under-theorised domain of sexual norms on dating apps, with a focus on the self-representations of Spanish heterosexual women on Tinder. Through an analysis of three hundred profiles, this research investigates the gendered dynamics influencing these women’s portrayals of themselves in the digital dating context. Combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the findings reveal patterns in women’s online-mediated intimacies and sexual subjectivities, highlighting the pervasive influence of femmephobia in this space. Empirical data underscore how these dynamics operate, providing insight into the extent to which hegemonic gender beliefs and regulatory norms shape digital femininities. Moreover, a discursive examination of the ways these Spanish women construct their gendered and sexual identities on Tinder offers a critical view of the constraints and possibilities they face within this specific socio-cultural framework. This study’s focus on linguistic and representational strategies in digital self-presentation deepens our understanding of how normative gender expectations continue to shape social and sexual interactions in contemporary online spaces. In so doing, this research contributes to broader discussions in Gender Studies and linguistics, illustrating how femininity is performed, policed, and navigated in digital dating environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae has had a huge environmental impact on marine biodiversity, fisheries, GHG emissions and public health along much of the Iberian Peninsula and islands coastline. Due to the enormous amount of algae biomass that is expelled to the beaches where it slowly rots, some circular economy business initiatives, such as composting, are emerging. In the present study, we compared the quality of compost obtained from earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta), cockroaches (Eublaberus sp.), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). Batches fed with 100% organic kitchen waste (control group) were compared with batches fed with 50% algae and 50% kitchen waste (treatment group). Our results show that the most sensitive species (D. veneta and T. molitor) to R. okamurae toxins compost adequately. The C/N ratio, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total organic matter (TOM), C, K, K2O, Mg, MgO, N, P, P2O5, B, Cu, Ni and Zn of the compost obtained were determined. A high quality compost was obtained in which only the EC values are slightly elevated. Particularly good was the compost obtained with H. illucens and Eublaberus sp. This quality is in agreement with previous research on the mass balance of composting. Therefore, both species offer, in the field of circular economy, encouraging prospects for the development of composting enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: At the beginning of the pandemic, the identification of transmission chains was biased towards more closely monitored sectors, such as healthcare and sociosanitary centers. Objective: The objective of our research is to describe the impact of the pandemic on the Spanish non-healthcare workers measured through health-related workplace absences. Methods: A descriptive study of the cases of COVID-19-related temporary disability (TD) between February 15th and September 17th, 2020, was carried out. TD quarantine/infection ratios were calculated for every economic sector of activity. Rates of COVID-19 TDs per 100,000 affiliated workers were obtained, by gender, age, economic activity of the company or occupation of the worker. Results: A total of 1,126,755 TDs were recorded, 45.4% in women. The overall TD rates were 5,465 quarantines and 1,878 illnesses per 100,000 women, and 4,883 quarantines and 1,690 illnesses per 100,000 men. The highest incidence rates of TD due to illness were observed in younger age groups, under 30. The median TD quarantine/infection ratio was 2.6 (Interquartile range [IQR] 1.5–3.9), and Postal and Courier activities had the highest value: 4.7 quarantines per case (IQR: 3.75–6.12). The TD rates were higher in female workers in most sectors of activity and occupations compared to men in the same sectors and with the same occupations. The results show the uneven impact of COVID-19 by occupation, with a higher rates in less qualified occupations (unskilled workers and laborers) versus the first categories of the table (directors, managers, technicians, and professionals). Conclusions: The results confirmed the high impact of COVID-19 on Spanish non-healthcare workers and it's inequalities. They also confirmed the potential use of TDs as an alternative source for epidemiological, public health surveillance and early warning of new emerging infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The anodic reactivity of UO2 and UO2 doped with Gd2O3 was investigated by electrochemical methods in slightly alkaline conditions in the presence of silicate and calcium. At the end of the experiments, the electrodes were analysed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine the oxidation state of the uranium on the surface. The experiments showed that the increase in gadolinia doping level led to a reduction in the reactivity of UO2, this effect being more marked at the highest doping level studied (10 wt.% Gd2O3). This behaviour could be attributed to the formation of dopant-vacancy clusters (GdIII-Ov), which could limit the accommodation of excess O2− into the UO2 lattice. In addition, the presence of Ca2+ and SiO32− decreased the anodic dissolution of UO2. In summary, the Gd2O3 doping in presence of silicate and calcium was found to strongly decrease the oxidative dissolution of UO2, which is a beneficial situation regarding the long-term management of spent nuclear fuel in a repository.

Background: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) virtual angioplasty with pre-PCI residual QFR showed better results compared with an angiographic approach to assess post-PCI functional results. However, correlation with pre-PCI residual QFR and post-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR) is lacking. Methods: A multicenter prospective study including consecutive patients with angiographically 50–90% coronary lesions and positive QFR results. All patients were evaluated with QFR, hyperemic and non-hyperemic pressure ratios (NHPR) before and after the index PCI. Pre-PCI residual QFR (virtual angioplasty) was calculated and compared with post-PCI fractional flow reserve (FFR), QFR and NHPR. Results: A total of 84 patients with 92 treated coronary lesions were included, with a mean age of 65.5 ± 10.9 years and 59% of single vessel lesions being the left anterior descending artery in 69%. The mean vessel diameter was 2.82 ± 0.41 mm. Procedural success was achieved in all cases, with a mean number of implanted stents of 1.17 ± 0.46. The baseline QFR value was 0.69 ± 0.12 and baseline FFR and NHPR were 0.73 ± 0.08 and 0.82 ± 0.11, respectively. Mean post-PCI FFR increased to 0.87 ± 0.05 whereas residual QFR had been estimated as 0.95 ± 0.05, showing poor correlation with post-PCI FFR (0.163; 95% CI:0.078–0.386) and low diagnostic accuracy (30.9%, 95% CI:20–43%). Conclusions: In this analysis, the results of QFR-based virtual angioplasty did not seem to accurately correlate with post-PCI FFR.

This paper focuses on the experimental characterization of the polarization behavior of light backscattered through fog. A polarimetric orthogonal state contrast imager and an active, purely polarized white illuminator system are used to evaluate both linear and circular polarization signals. The experiments are carried out in a macro-scale fog chamber under controlled artificial fog conditions. We explore the effect of backscattering in each imaging channel, and the persistence of both polarization signals as a function of meteorological visibility. We confirm the presence of the polarization memory effect with circularly polarized light, and, as a consequence, the maintenance of helicity in backscattering. Moreover, the circular cross-polarized channel is found to be the imaging channel less affected by fog backscattering. These results are useful and should be taken into account when considering active polarimetric imaging techniques for outdoor applications under foggy conditions.

GroEL is a chaperonin that helps other proteins fold correctly. However, alternative activities, such as acting as an insect toxin, have also been discovered. This work evaluates the chaperonin and insecticidal activity of different GroEL proteins from entomopathogenic nematodes on G. mellonella. The ability to synergize with the ExoA toxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also investigated. The GroELXn protein showed the highest insecticidal activity among the different GroELs. In addition, it was able to significantly activate the phenoloxidase system of the target insects. This could tell us about the mechanism by which it exerts its toxicity on insects. GroEL proteins can enhance the toxic activity of the ExoA toxin, which could be related to its chaperonin activity. However, there is a significant difference in the synergistic effect that is more related to its alternative activity as an insecticidal toxin.

We studied the magnetostriction coefficients, λs, Curie temperature, Tc, and their dependence on annealing conditions in Fe47Ni27Si11B13C2 and Co67Fe3.9Ni1.5B11.5Si14.5Mo1.6 amorphous glass-coated microwires with rather different character of hysteresis loops. A positive λs ≈ 20 × 10−6 is observed in as-prepared Fe47Ni27Si11B13C2, while low and negative λs ≈ −0.3 × 10−6 is obtained for Co67Fe3.9Ni1.5B11.5Si14.5Mo1.6 microwire. Annealing affects the magnetostriction coefficients and Curie temperatures, Tc, of both Fe47Ni27Si11B13C2 and Co67Fe3.9Ni1.5B11.5Si14.5Mo1.6 glass-coated microwires in a similar way. Observed dependencies of hysteresis loops, λs and Tc on annealing conditions are discussed in terms of superposition of internal stresses relaxation and structural relaxation of studied microwires. We observed linear λs dependence on applied stress, σ, in both studied microwires. A decrease in the magnetostriction coefficient upon applied stress is observed for Co-rich microwires with low and negative magnetostriction coefficient. On the contrary, for Fe-Ni-rich microwires with a positive magnetostriction coefficient, an increase in the magnetostriction coefficient with applied stress is observed. The observed results are discussed considering the internal stresses relaxation and short range atomic rearrangements induced by annealing on hysteresis loops, magnetostriction coefficients and Curie temperatures of studied microwires.