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Virtual simulations in science classes are not used as often as might be expected if we consider the demonstrated improvement in students’ conceptual learning, the development of their skills, and their acquisition of positive emotions. This makes it necessary to identify teachers’ attitudes and perceptions to the use of these tools. The aim of this work is to construct and validate an instrument for measuring the attitudes of secondary education teachers towards the use of virtual simulations in STEM fields. Based on an in-depth theoretical review, we developed an initial questionnaire that was subjected to a process of expert validation and a pilot study. A questionnaire comprising 27 items was obtained, which was applied to 783 secondary school teachers in Spain. After carrying out confirmatory factor analysis, a scale comprising five factors was obtained. The psychometric analyses displayed satisfactory fit indices that prove the discriminant and convergent validity of the model. The result is a useful instrument for determining the principal factors that discourage teachers from habitually using simulations. This enables the design of training proposals that take teachers’ prior attitudes into account.

La formación del profesorado y la innovación en el ámbito académico son procesos básicos para la mejora de la calidad de la educación. En este trabajo se presenta una experiencia didáctica innovadora para el alumnado del Máster Universitario en Formación del Profesorado en Educación Secundaria y Bachillerato, de una universidad online, en la especialidad de matemáticas. La innovación educativa surge tras la detección de dificultades en la asimilación de los contenidos impartidos en la asignatura de Innovación Docente e Iniciación a la Investigación Educativa por parte del alumnado participante. La experiencia consiste en una interacción simultánea real (online) entre el alumnado del Máster de la especialidad de matemáticas y el alumnado de Bachillerato de un centro público de Educación Secundaria, de España, mientras estos reciben clases en su centro de manera presencial. La metodología didáctica utilizada en esta experiencia se basa en los principios del Aula Invertida y, en todo momento, se ha compartido con el alumnado del Máster el material necesario para su comprensión y asimilación. Para analizar esta experiencia se ha utilizado un cuestionario de recogida de información antes y después de la experiencia, una encuesta de satisfacción y un focus group. Los resultados indican que el alumnado del Máster online considera muy necesaria esta experiencia, ya que favorece la percepción del entorno al que deben adaptarse y, además, la visualización de casos reales aporta una visión significativa que completa y complementa la formación teórica recibida.

Virtual simulations are a very useful educational resource to improve the teaching of chemistry. Their use makes it possible to facilitate the comprehension of concepts, promotes the development of scientific competences and even improves student attitudes toward chemistry. However, it is important to point out that a simulation by itself is not enough to improve student learning. Methodological design is a crucial aspect in order for its classroom use to be significant. Simulations must form part of an instructional sequence that promotes said learning, and thus the role of the instructor is key. This work conducts a systematic review with the aim of analyzing how to apply the use of simulations in the teaching of chemistry in secondary schools, delving deeper into the way in which simulations are used from a methodological perspective, in order to improve the learning processes and results. In this sense, it was found that there is an improvement in learning on both the level of content comprehension and in scientific competences. Guided research is also identified as the most effective methodology for the application of simulations in the classroom. With a look to the future, it is suggested that there is a need to conduct research on the continued use of simulations in the classroom, as well as their characteristics and the instructional methods used.

Flexoelectricity, inherent in all materials, offers a promising alternative to piezoelectricity for nanoscale actuation and sensing. However, its widespread application faces significant challenges: differentiating flexoelectric effects from those of piezoelectricity and other phenomena, verifying its universality across all material structures and thicknesses, and establishing a comprehensive database of flexoelectric coefficients across different materials. This work introduces a groundbreaking methodology that accurately isolates flexoelectricity from piezoelectric, electrostrictive, and electrostatic effects, with a detection threshold extending below 1 fC/m. The robustness of this method is demonstrated through its application to amorphous hafnium oxide, successfully measuring a flexoelectric coefficient of 105 ± 10 pC/m. This measurement signifies the first measurement of flexoelectricity in hafnia, as well as in any amorphous material. In addition, the study compiles a list of published flexoelectric coefficients, revealing an important insight. The relationship between the flexoelectric coefficient and the material’s relative permittivity is better approximated by a quadratic proportionality. This challenges the traditional linear assumption proposed in Kogan’s work and opens new avenues for future research in flexoelectric materials.

Abstract Key message Nested plot designs with concentric plots with increasing radii and size threshold underestimate tree species richness with respect to full census sampling with no tree size restrictions. Regeneration emerged as the most relevant pool for tree species richness estimation. Context Nested or concentric plot designs, where trees are sampled according to their size and position, are common in National Forest Inventories (NFI) to reduce the sampling effort. However, this could bias the estimation of tree diversity such as species richness. Aims The main goal of this study is to quantify the effect of the nested plot designs with increasing radii and diameter at breast height threshold on the number of tree species as well as to provide values for mean tree species richness per plot at the forest-type level using the Spanish NFI. Methods We compared tree species richness according to the Spanish NFI nested plot design (radii ranging from 5 to 25 m with increasing minimum threshold in dbh from 7.5 to 42.5 cm as well as the regeneration compartment) with the richness estimate based on a full census (without restrictions in the location or size) in the Spanish NFI 25 m radius plot. Results Our results confirmed the underestimation of tree species richness (around 32.5%) when using the nested design. The species omitted in the nested design sampling are often subordinates, typically with small diameters. Regeneration emerged as the main pool for tree species richness estimation. This pattern holds across the main forest types, indicating that it is a generalized rather than regional or local phenomenon. Conclusion We strongly recommend using full census data for assessing tree species richness whenever available, as relying solely on nested designs can significantly underestimate tree species richness.

Abstract Background Hyperthyroidism in humans is associated with a hypercoagulable state and an increased risk of thromboembolism. Objective To evaluate hemostatic variables in hyperthyroid and euthyroid cats with the hypothesis that hyperthyroid cats will have evidence of altered hemostasis consistent with a potential hypercoagulable state. Animals Client‐owned hyperthyroid (n = 16) and euthyroid (n = 15) cats over 8 years of age. Methods Prospective observational study. Hyperthyroid and euthyroid cats were enrolled. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), whole‐blood platelet impedance aggregometry (WBPIA) and a point‐of‐care viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM‐Vet) were performed immediately after minimally traumatic venipuncture under sedation. Results Hyperthyroid cats had significantly higher values for variables as assessed by VCM‐Vet: A10 (34 [17‐47] vs 25 [17‐38], P = .003); A20 (39.5 [23‐55] vs 31 [21‐45], P = .003); and MCF (41 [24‐58] vs 35 [22‐49], P = .03). Hyperthyroid cats had significantly different values versus the euthyroid cohort as assessed by different ROTEM channels: increased A10, INTEM (61.5 [39‐75] vs 54 [23‐66], P = .007) and FIBTEM (18 [10‐35] vs 13 [2‐27], P = .01); increased A20, INTEM (68 [45‐78] vs 61 [30‐70], P = .006) and FIBTEM (17 [10‐34] vs 11 [2‐25], P = .002); increased MCF, EXTEM (72 [65‐81] vs 69 [34‐78], P = .04), INTEM (70 [45‐85] vs 62 [35‐71], P = .01) and FIBTEM (18 [13‐37] vs 14 [3‐27], P = .02); increased alpha angle, EXTEM (80 [68‐85] vs 76 [41‐84], P = .01); shortened CT, EXTEM (52.5 [29‐73] vs 60 [52‐92], P = .003) and FIBTEM (52.5 [16‐75] vs 65 [53‐165], P = .001); and decreased ML, FIBTEM (20 [1‐36] vs 33 [19‐59], P

The [Formula: see text] controller is present in at least 90% of industrial applications due to its simplicity and robustness to control linear and non-linear systems. Its main drawbacks include difficulty in achieving proper gains tuning for complex systems and lack of adaptability attributed to its fixed gains when system dynamics change. Despite the emergence of promising controllers like Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Sliding Modes, or Genetic Algorithms, diverse research efforts focus on using these to improve the [Formula: see text] rather than replacing it, aiming for either ideal fixed gains or adaptive gains. Nevertheless, while some require system models, training data, rules establishment, extensive iterations, and demanding computational resources, the [Formula: see text] and the novel [Formula: see text] controller do not. The new seesaw algorithms propose alternative behaviours based on the current error and its derivative, which are dynamic parameters that change over time. These behaviours can be inserted into the [Formula: see text] to imbue it with adaptive characteristics, achieving adaptive [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) controllers with faster signal rise and stabilization times, reduction of the maximum peak, and less error accumulation compared to conventional [Formula: see text].

La cordillera de los Andes es la cadena montañosa más larga del mundo, influye directamente en el territorio en aspectos como el clima, las comunicaciones o las relaciones sociales, y ha sido representada en múltiples ocasiones en producciones audiovisuales. En el artículo se indaga el papel que tiene la geografía en el desarrollo de las narraciones cinematográficas que tienen como marco la cordillera de los Andes, al dar a conocer imaginarios geográficos que se proyectan a través del cine. La investigación es de naturaleza analítico-descriptiva, con una metodología cuantitativa y la utilización de la técnica de la observación científica. Se seleccionaron un total de veintiún filmaciones en las que los Andes son protagonistas, y se analizaron los fenómenos geográficos existentes en este espacio geográfico. Los resultados muestran la existencia de numerosos rodajes en los que la trama se desarrolla en los Andes y el espectador puede contemplar fenómenos geográficos tanto físicos (el cambio climático o los conflictos ambientales) como humanos (las actividades económicas o el urbanismo). La relevancia de este estudio recae en que hasta la fecha no se ha realizado ninguna pesquisa acerca de la geografía de la cordillera vista a través del cine. Asimismo, este trabajo puede abrir nuevas investigaciones semejantes para otros espacios geográficos.

Introduction While it is well recognised that aging is a heterogeneous process, our understanding of the determinants of biological aging and its heterogeneity remains unclear. The San Diego Nathan Shock Center (SD-NSC) Clinical Cohort aims to establish a resource of biospecimens and extensive donor clinical data such as physical, cognitive and sensory function to support other studies that aim to explore the heterogeneity of normal human aging and its biological underpinnings.Methods and analysis The SD-NSC Clinical Cohort is composed of 80 individuals across the adult human lifespan. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria are implemented to minimise extrinsic factors that may impede the study of normal aging. Across three visits, participants undergo extensive phenotyping for collection of physical performance, body composition, cognitive function, sensory ability, mental health and haematological data. During these visits, we also collected biospecimens including plasma, platelets, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fibroblasts for banking and future studies on aging.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval from the UC San Diego School of Medicine Institutional Review Board (IRB #201 141 SHOCK Center Clinical Cohort, PI: Molina) was obtained on 11 November 2020. Written informed consent is obtained from all participants after objectives and procedures of the study have been fully explained. Congruent with the goal of establishing a core resource, biological samples and clinical data are made available to the research community through the SD-NSC.

Abstract The synthesis of lanthanide‐based organometallic sandwich compounds is very appealing regarding their potential for single‐molecule magnetism. Here, it is exploited by on‐surface synthesis to design unprecedented lanthanide‐directed organometallic sandwich complexes on Au(111). The reported compounds consist of Dy or Er atoms sandwiched between partially deprotonated hexahydroxybenzene molecules, thus introducing a distinct family of homoleptic organometallic sandwiches based on six‐membered ring ligands. Their structural, electronic, and magnetic properties are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray linear and circular magnetic dichroism, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, complemented by density functional theory‐based calculations. Both lanthanide complexes self‐assemble in close‐packed islands featuring a hexagonal lattice. It is unveiled that, despite exhibiting analogous self‐assembly, the erbium‐based species is magnetically isotropic, whereas the dysprosium‐based compound features an in‐plane magnetization.

National as well as international requirements have led to an increased need to quantify deadwood stocks in forest ecosystems given their important role not only in terms of carbon storage and regulation of the carbon cycle but also as biodiversity refugia. However, differences in definitions and field monitoring as well as gaps in existing data on deadwood mean that comparisons among countries and retrospective analyses are difficult. In this research, we propose two potential approaches to solve the most common gaps in forest deadwood monitoring. First, we develop bridging functions capable of converting deadwood measurements with a specific reference diameter to 7.5 cm (minimum diameter value in Spain) and 10.0 cm (the most common minimum value for international statistics) diameters for the main forest types while also addressing the effect of raising the minimum measurable size on the quantification of deadwood. Furthermore, we aim to calculate the ratios between the amount of standing deadwood, the most common indicator monitored in National Forest Inventories, and the entire deadwood pool as a proxy for estimating complete deadwood stocks when data are not available. For this objective, we use information obtained from the Spanish National Forest Inventory, linear models and 10-fold cross-validation. We estimate the percentage of deadwood omitted when the minimum deadwood size is increased for the main eight forest types in Spain as well as for the entire country, using two different approaches. The ratio between the amount of standing deadwood and the entire deadwood pool ranged between 0.14 and 0.45 depending on the forest type. The lowest values of this ratio were found in Open woodlands and the largest in Mediterranean conifers. The validation statistics (R2 ranging from 0.82 in Evergreen broadleaves to 0.97 in Macaronesian broadleaves) indicate that the bridging functions we propose are robust and accurate. However, the ratios between the amount of standing deadwood and the entire deadwood pool performed poorer (R2 ranging from 0.26 in Macaronesian conifers to 0.65 in Macaronesian broadleaves) and led to an overestimation of the total stocks. Our results are of value not only for the purposes of comparison and harmonization but also for the implementation of new forest monitoring systems.

Abstract Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) encompass a diverse group of hematologic disorders driven by mutations in JAK2, CALR, or MPL. The prevailing working model explaining how these driver mutations induce different disease phenotypes is based on the decisive influence of the cellular microenvironment and the acquisition of additional mutations. Here, we report increased levels of chromatin segregation errors in hematopoietic cells stably expressing CALRdel52 or JAK2V617F mutations. Our investigations employing murine 32DMPL and human erythroleukemic TF-1MPL cells demonstrate a link between CALRdel52 or JAK2V617F expression and a compromised spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), a phenomenon contributing to error-prone mitosis. This defective SAC is associated with imbalances in the recruitment of SAC factors to mitotic kinetochores upon CALRdel52 or JAK2V617F expression. We show that JAK2 mutant CD34 + MPN patient-derived cells exhibit reduced expression of the master mitotic regulators PLK1, aurora kinase B, and PP2A catalytic subunit. Furthermore, the expression profile of mitotic regulators in CD34 + patient-derived cells allows to faithfully distinguish patients from healthy controls, as well as to differentiate primary and secondary myelofibrosis from essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera. Altogether, our data suggest alterations in mitotic regulation as a potential driver in the pathogenesis in MPN.

Formic acid (FA) is a notable fuel product due to its atom economy, low activation energy, and applications in flow cells and hydrogen storage. While metal catalysts are typically used, selectivity remains a challenge. Here, an enzymatic catalyst is employed to selectively convert CO2 to FA as formate. This study documents the development of a computational model to examine the conversion of CO2 to formate under a wide range of conditions. The model examines the electrochemical reduction of a charge carrier, ethyl viologen (EV), and its subsequent use in an enzymatic catalyst to convert CO2 and protons in solution to formate. The model was first developed for a small-scale batch reactor, then later expanded to a dual-cell flow system, where the reduction of EV and production of formate are kept in separated cells, and flow rate is introduced as an additional variable parameter. While no studies have directly used all parameters addressed in the computations presented here, many of the conditions selected align with what has previously been used in experiments, and similar production rates and efficiencies are obtained. The most challenging parameters to study were charge carrier concentration and applied voltage, which showed optimal ranges in the cases studied for the batch and flow cell. While the study gives guidance toward which conditions would be favored experimentally to increase production rate and efficiency experimental studies should nonetheless be run at suggested optimal conditions to better adapt parameters made in both models.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths are a public health crisis. One contributing factor is stigma towards people who use opioids. We developed and conducted a public-facing, half-day educational event designed to challenge misperceptions about OUD from a contemporary neuroscience perspective. Participants engaged with three different resources on the neurobiology of addiction, and, at the end of the event, they rated its effectiveness. We also collected and compared pre- and post-event composite OUD stigma scales. Participants rated our approach and the overall event as highly effective. Additionally, OUD stigma scores were lower immediately following the event, and this decrease was primarily driven by decreased internalized stigma. Here, we demonstrate an effective proof-of-concept that an accessible, public-facing, neuroscience education event may reduce OUD stigma in the community.

Abstract Optical camera communication is foreseen to have an essential role in future systems requiring wireless communication capability. In this regard, high‐spectral‐resolution cameras, such as multispectral (MS) cameras, present specific characteristics that can be exploited to provide new features to optical camera communication links. Using the MS cameras' features to take advantage of the light‐emitting diode (LED) behaviour in a novel communication scheme is focussed. Notably, LED spectral response curves are different when their temperature changes. Therefore, these differences can be detected based on the MS cameras' spectral resolution. Thus, more than one communication channel can be attained using the same LED device since the camera can distinguish the different LED spectral signatures. This new approach is analysed in this work, including some equalisation techniques applied to the channel matrix in the receiver to improve the extraction of the transmitted signal reducing the inter‐channel interference. For the specific MS camera employed in the experiments, up to two distinct channels could be obtained with the same transmitter at different temperatures, getting a bit error rate below the forward error correction limit. However, obtaining satisfactory results is highly dependent on the variation that temperature causes in the spectral signatures of the LEDs, so further experiments are recommended in future work with different devices.

The need for biodegradable bone graft biomaterials in orthopedic surgeries is more often each day due to the promotion of natural tissue regeneration. One option is calcium phosphate cements (CPC), that are also osseconductors. However, their low mechanical properties restrict their application to low mechanical requirement areas of the body. The CPC mechanical resistance depends on the entanglement grade of the calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA), one option to improve it is trough incorporation of nucleating agents (e.g., stoichiometrically hydroxyapatite). This work proposes the use of a biodegradable nucleating agent, as it is Type B carbonated Hydroxyapatite (CHA-B), to improve the CPC performance. It was formulated compositions of alpha tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) with variations on the amount of CHA-B (0–5–10–15 wt.%). The compression resistance was evaluated and results indicated that 5% CHA-B increases the strength (7.8%) and the elastic modulus (6.16%), while the other additions diminished such values. Besides, the effect on the setting time, the in vitro degradation and in the physicochemical properties was determined through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Resumen: La necesidad de biomateriales de relleno óseo biodegradables en cirugías ortopédicas es cada vez mayor, ya que promueven la regeneración natural del tejido. Una opción son los cementos de fosfato de calcio (CPC), que además son osteoconductores. Sin embargo, sus bajas propiedades mecánicas limitan su aplicación a zonas del cuerpo de baja exigencia mecánica. La resistencia mecánica de los CPC depende del grado de entrecruzamiento de los cristales formados de hidroxiapatita deficiente en calcio (CDHA), una opción de aumentarla es mediante la incorporación de agentes nucleantes (e.g. hidroxiapatita estequiométrica). Este trabajo propone el uso de un agente nucleante biodegradable, como lo es la Hidroxiapatita carbonatada tipo B (CHA-B), para mejorar el desempeño de los CPC. Se formularon composiciones de fosfato tricálcico alfa (α-TCP) con variaciones en la cantidad de CHA-B (0-5-10-15 wt.%). Se evaluó la resistencia a la compresión determinando que la adicción de 5% de CHA-B aumenta el esfuerzo (7,8%) y el módulo de elasticidad (6,16%), mientras que las demás adicciones disminuyeron dichos valores. Igualmente, se determinó el efecto en el tiempo de fraguado, en la degradación in vitro y en las propiedades fisicoquímicas mediante las técnicas de microscopía electrónica de barrido, difracción de rayos x y espectroscopía infrarroja.

The territory is configured as a space that is limited, occupied, and used by different actors. From these, diverse relationships of complementation and reciprocity but also conflict and confrontation are generated in the form of complex systems, making the territory a “system of systems” (Lurås, 2016; Jackson & Keys, 2019). It evokes the concept of intersectionality, as it is used to designate the perception of power relations, putting in doubt the existence of empowerment of certain less favored actors. Systemic design is a practical-methodological-theoretical field where systems and design thinking and practice converge to address the complexity of citizen participation as the relationships of various elements, having multiple foci, considering these elements as human or non-human from a territorial point of view. Service design proposes that the actors of the ecosystem are considered “users” and “co-producers” of the service since all of them interact with the DRA at some level. Through co-production and co-creation techniques, around 30 community citizen online workshops and 16 participatory webinars were carried out. The objective of these workshops, in addition to contributing to the elaboration and adjustment of the diagnosis and Design of the Regional Development Strategy (ERD) of Los Lagos, Chile, seeks to generate social innovation. The use of databases and various media made it possible to design workshops in remote mode, which achieved effective participation of more than 2,000 people.

Han pasado ciento diez años desde que un turista excepcional —y políglota— presenciara tres curiosas escenas mientras gozaba de la Semana Santa de Sevilla en 1913.

BackgroundThe learning process in clinical placements for health care students is a multifaceted endeavor that engages numerous actors and stakeholders, including students, clinical tutors, link teachers, and academic assessors. Successfully navigating this complex process requires the implementation of tasks and mentorships that are synchronized with educational and clinical processes, seamlessly embedded within their respective contexts. Given the escalating number of students and the rising demand for health care services from the general population, it becomes imperative to develop additional tools that support the learning process. These tools aim to simplify day-to-day clinical practice, allowing a concentrated focus on value-based activities. This paper introduces a project funded by the European Commission that involves 5 European countries. The project’s objective is to comprehensively outline the entire process of development and ultimately implement mobile technology in practice placements. The project tackles the existing gap by constructing tailored mobile apps designed for students, teachers, tutors, and supervisors within each participating organization. This approach leverages practice-based learning, mobile technology, and technology adoption to enhance the overall educational experience. ObjectiveThis study aims to introduce mobile technology in clinical practice placements with the goal of facilitating and enhancing practice-based learning. The objective is to improve the overall effectiveness of the process for all stakeholders involved. MethodsThe “4D in the Digitalization of Learning in Practice Placement” (4D Project) will use a mixed methods research design, encompassing 3 distinct study phases: phase 1 (preliminary research), which incorporates focus groups and a scoping review, to define the problem, identify necessities, and analyze contextual factors; phase 2 (collaborative app development), which involves researchers and prospective users working together to cocreate and co-design tailored apps; and phase 3, which involves feasibility testing of these mobile apps within practice settings. ResultsThe study’s potential impact will primarily focus on improving communication and interaction processes, fostering connections among stakeholders in practice placements, and enhancing the assessment of training needs. The literature review and focus groups will play a crucial role in identifying barriers, facilitators, and factors supporting the integration of mobile technology in clinical education. The cocreation process of mobile learning apps will reveal the core values and needs of various stakeholders, including students, teachers, and health care professionals. This process also involves adapting and using mobile apps to meet the specific requirements of practice placements. A pilot study aimed at validating the app will test and assess mobile technology in practice placements. The study will determine results related to usability and design, learning outcomes, student engagement, communication among stakeholders, user behavior, potential issues, and compliance with regulations. ConclusionsHealth care education, encompassing disciplines such as medicine, nursing, midwifery, and others, confronts evolving challenges in clinical training. Essential to addressing these challenges is bridging the gap between health care institutions and academic settings. The introduction of a new digital tool holds promise for empowering health students and mentors in effectively navigating the intricacies of the learning process. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/53284

The global increase in observed forest dieback, characterized by the death of tree foliage, heralds widespread decline in forest ecosystems. This degradation causes significant changes to ecosystem services and functions, including habitat provision and carbon sequestration, which can be difficult to detect using traditional monitoring techniques, highlighting the need for large-scale and high-frequency monitoring. Contemporary developments in the instruments and methods to gather and process data at large scales mean this monitoring is now possible. In particular, the advancement of low-cost drone technology and deep learning on consumer-level hardware provide new opportunities. Here, we use an approach based on deep learning and vegetation indices to assess crown dieback from RGB aerial data without the need for expensive instrumentation such as LiDAR. We use an iterative approach to match crown footprints predicted by deep learning with field-based inventory data from a Mediterranean ecosystem exhibiting drought-induced dieback, and compare expert field-based crown dieback estimation with vegetation index-based estimates. We obtain high overall segmentation accuracy (mAP: 0.519) without the need for additional technical development of the underlying Mask R-CNN model, underscoring the potential of these approaches for non-expert use and proving their applicability to real-world conservation. We also find that color-coordinate based estimates of dieback correlate well with expert field-based estimation. Substituting ground truth for Mask R-CNN model predictions showed negligible impact on dieback estimates, indicating robustness. Our findings demonstrate the potential of automated data collection and processing, including the application of deep learning, to improve the coverage, speed, and cost of forest dieback monitoring.

Mitosis is the process by which eukaryotic cells divide to produce two similar daughter cells with identical genetic material. Research into the process of mitosis is therefore of critical importance both for the basic understanding of cell biology and for the clinical approach to manifold pathologies resulting from its malfunctioning, including cancer. In this paper, we propose an approach to study mitotic progression automatically using deep learning. We used neural networks to predict different mitosis stages. We extracted video sequences of cells undergoing division and trained a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to extract image features. The use of RNN enabled better extraction of features. The RNN-based approach gave better performance compared to classifier based feature extraction methods which do not use time information. Evaluation of precision, recall, and F-score indicates the superiority of the proposed model compared to the baseline. To study the loss in performance due to confusion between adjacent classes, we plotted the confusion matrix as well. In addition, we visualized the feature space to understand why RNNs are better at classifying the mitosis stages than other classifier models, which indicated the formation of strong clusters for the different classes, clearly confirming the advantage of the proposed RNN-based approach.

Fishing in the Mazarrón Bay has been practiced since prehistoric times. This was one of the basic pillars of the area’s economy; however, due to the development of tourism, this maritime activity has been pushed into the background. The changes in the fishermen’s way of fishing in the last decades of the 20th century, as a consequence of the proliferation of boats with greater extractive capacity, have meant that much of the fishing gear has fallen into disuse. The main objective of this research is the compilation of information on their use and the available tools of this heritage in order to preserve their history. In order to do so, the archives of the Mazarrón Fishermen’s Guild were consulted and interviews were conducted with local fishermen over 80 years of age, who fished with devices that are no longer in use today. The results show that it is possible to promote them as tourist attractions, with the aim of raising awareness of the fishing identity and the environment in which it is practiced, in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Abstract Key message This paper proposes a methodology that could be considered as a base for a harmonized protocol for stem-quality reporting in Europe while conducting National Forest Inventories, in order to cost-efficiently obtain a visual wood quality proxy. The importance of the variables selected, the limitations identified, and some improvements to the methodology are suggested. Forest areas with better wood quality, which in turn it would be useful for breeding programs, can be easily detected. Context The establishment of harmonized standards or indicators that allow us to determine the quality of the wood present in a forest prior to its exploitation has long been demanded by the European forestry sector, although agreed methodologies for the evaluation of wood quality in standing trees, which is one of the sector’s most urgent requirements, have not, as yet, been implemented. Aims To develop a protocol that visually characterizes wood quality on standing trees in a cost-effective way for the National Forest Inventory (NFI). After some improvements, it can be considered as a base for a European harmonized protocol. Methods In this article, we analyze the implementation, in the NFI, of a visual wood-quality assessment methodology in forests of Central Spain based on the different European standards as well as on research papers addressing this issue. Results The silvicultural practices employed are of the utmost importance to obtain the best wood quality, regardless of the species. Several areas with higher wood quality were identified as well as areas most affected by specific pests in the studied region. The impact of the variables measured (e.g., branchiness, crookedness, maximum branch diameter) is discussed. Conclusion It is feasible to estimate a proxy for wood quality on standing trees in the NFI. Furthermore, after studying the inventory data provided, several enhancements are proposed, not only to improve wood-quality estimates but also to optimize fieldwork costs. Harmonizing NFIs to assess and map European standing wood quality can be achieved.

Despite the large number of existing varieties of Vitis vinifera L., only few occupy a large niche in today’s highly globalized wine market. The increasing consumer demand for diversified products, as well as the changing climatic conditions, make establishing a process of varietal diversification essential to achieve both challenges. It is for this reason that the study of minority varieties, which have a higher level of adaptation to each area of origin, is of particular interest. With the main objective of achieving an in-depth knowledge of minority varieties in Spain, the national research project ‘Valorization of Minority Grapevine Varieties for their Potential for Wine Diversification and Resilience to Climate Change’ (MINORVIN), has been proposed. Within this extensive project, the present study describes the aroma profiles of 60 single-variety wines, corresponding with 44 different varieties, with 12 of these varieties being studied at the same time in several Spanish regions. Volatile compounds were determined through three consecutive vintages using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Compounds were grouped into major compounds, including alcohols, C6 compounds, esters, acetates, acids, carbonyl compounds, and other type of compounds, and minor compounds, including lactones, terpenes, and C13-norisoprenoids, according to their concentration in the wines being analyzed. Among this last group of compounds, lactones were quantitatively the most abundant, followed by terpenes. This study reflects that minority variety wines show distinctive aromatic profiles, supporting the importance of valuing and promoting the autochthonous minority grapevine varieties for the Spanish winemaking industry.

BackgroundThe high failure rate of innovation projects motivates us to understand the perceptions about resistances and barriers of the main stakeholders to improving success rates. ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the readiness for change in the implementation of a 3D printing project in a Catalan tertiary hospital prior to its implementation. MethodsWe used a web-based, voluntary, and anonymous survey using the Normalization Measurement Development questionnaire (NoMAD) to gather views and perceptions from a selected group of health care professionals at Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital. ResultsIn this study, 58 professionals, including heads of service (n=30, 51%), doctors (n=18, 31%), nurses (n=7, 12%), and support staff (n=3, 5%), responded to the questionnaire. All groups saw the value of the project and were willing to enroll and support it. Respondents reported the highest scores (out of 5) in cognitive participation (mean 4.45, SD 0.04), coherence (mean 3.72, SD 0.13), and reflective monitoring (mean 3.80, SD 0.25). The weakest score was in collective action (mean 3.52, SD 0.12). There were no statistically significant differences in scores among professions in the survey. ConclusionsThe 3D printing project implementation should pay attention to preparing, defining, sharing, and supporting the operational work involved in its use and implementation. It should also understand, assess, and communicate the ways in which the new set of practices can affect the users and others around them. We suggest that health officers and politicians consider this experience as a solid ground toward the development of a more efficient health innovation system and as a catalyst for transformation.

In Mediterranean vineyards, high temperatures and scarce water resources affect the quantity and quality of harvests. Crop forcing (F) is a novel approach that consists of inducing the bud burst of buds developed during the current season in order to modify the phenology of the vine and shift berry ripening to a period of moderate temperatures. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of F on cv. Tempranillo grapes in the semi-arid conditions of Extremadura (Spain) under different water regimes. A field experiment was carried out from 2017 to 2019 in a vineyard of cv. Tempranillo with three pruning treatments: winter pruning only (NF) and two F treatments, in which, in addition to winter pruning, forced pruning was carried out at two different phenological stages, after flowering (F1) and after fruit set (F2). These treatments were subjected to two watering regimes: irrigation covering the vines' water requirements (I) and deficit irrigation (DI) with moderate water stress during the pre-harvest period. The average delay in harvest of the F treatments compared to NF was 32 and 56 days in F1 and F2, respectively, with a decrease in the average temperature during ripening (veraison to harvest). Yield was lower in F1 and F2 than in NF regardless of water regime, although yield levels were more stable between seasons in these treatments. Titratable acidity, malic acid content, total polyphenol content and total anthocyanin content increased in the F treatments, and the combined application of F and DI improved grape composition but also resulted in a higher yield penalty.

La competencia digital docente y su perfeccionamiento cobran un papel destacado en el contexto educativo actual. En las áreas STEM, uno de los principales recursos digitales para promover eficazmente el conocimiento de las ciencias y desarrollar habilidades de indagación son las simulaciones virtuales, cobrando gran importancia el papel del docente en su uso eficiente en el aula. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la percecpción de la competencia digital docente en el uso de simulaciones virtuales, así como analizar posibles diferencias frente a variables sociodemográficas, de uso y de formación. Se ha realizado un estudio cuantitativo mediante análisis descriptivo, correlacional y asociativo, con 500 docentes de áreas STEM de Educación Secundaria. Los resultados apuntan a una autopercepción media en las diferentes dimensiones de la competencia. No se obtienen diferencias significativas en genero, edad, años de experiencia docente, ni formación recibida, pero sí respecto al área de conocimiento en la que imparte clase, a la frecuencia de uso de esta tecnología en sus clases y a la necesidad de formación percibida. Se concluye que existe una necesidad de formación importante en el uso de simulaciones virtuales, destacando principalmente la formación en la búsqueda y selección de simulaciones adecuadas.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive steroid molecules secreted by the adrenal gland and regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. GCs present a circadian release pattern under normal conditions; they increase their release under stress conditions. Their mechanism of action can be via the receptor-independent or receptor-dependent pathway. The receptor-dependent pathway translocates to the nucleus, where the ligand-receptor complex binds to specific sequences in the DNA to modulate the transcription of specific genes. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its endogenous ligand cortisol (CORT) in humans, and corticosterone in rodents or its exogenous ligand, dexamethasone (DEX), have been extensively studied in breast cancer. Its clinical utility in oncology has mainly focused on using DEX as an antiemetic to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In this review, we compile the results reported in the literature in recent years, highlighting current trends and unresolved controversies in this field. Specifically, in breast cancer, GR is considered a marker of poor prognosis, and a therapeutic target for the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype, and efforts are being made to develop better GR antagonists with fewer side effects. It is necessary to know the type of breast cancer to differentiate the treatment for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, ER-negative, and TNBC, to implement therapies that include the use of GCs.

Wilson’s disease (WD) is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism associated with mutations in ATP7B gene. We have shown that the administration of an adeno-associated vector (AAV) encoding a mini version of human ATP7B (VTX-801) provides long-term correction of copper metabolism in a murine WD model. In preparation of a future clinical trial, we have evaluated by positron emission tomography (PET) the value of 64Cu biodistribution, excretion pattern, and blood kinetics as pharmacodynamic biomarkers of VTX-801 effects. Six-week-old WD mice were injected intravenously with increasing doses of VTX-801 and 3 weeks or 3 months later with [64Cu]CuCl2. Untreated WD and wild-type (WT) mice were included as controls. Control WD mice showed increased hepatic 64Cu retention, reduced fecal excretion of the radiotracer, and altered 64Cu blood kinetics (BK) compared with WT mice. VTX-801 treatment in WD mice resulted in a significant reduction of hepatic 64Cu accumulation, the restoration of fecal 64Cu excretion, and the correction of 64Cu BK. This study showed that VTX-801 restores physiological copper metabolism in WD mice, confirming the mechanism of action of VTX-801, and demonstrated the translational potential of [64Cu]CuCl2-PET to explore VTX-801 pharmacodynamics in a minimally invasive and sensitive manner in WD patients.

La investigación indaga en la celebración de las mesas rituales de adivinación y los ritos de curación de maleficios y enfermedades en los Andes centrales a mediados del siglo XVIII. Se realiza un análisis del proceso de fe entre 1762 y 1773 contra Lorenza Vilches, natural de Yauyos, dedicada a la curandería, la labranza y la adivinación, y las denuncias por brujo contra Juan Santos Reyes, labrador y natural de la villa de Cajamarca, entre 1730 y 1736. Ambos casos permiten aproximarnos al estudio de las prácticas religiosas andinas a través de las experiencias de mediación realizadas por especialistas rituales, que pusieron en comunicación el mundo visible de las personas, el de las fuerzas tutelares y la influencia de los paisajes sagrados en la organización del mundo social. La investigación avanza en el estudio del culto a las wak’as, con particular énfasis en las estéticas rituales que se desarrollaron en el culto al Sol, a los diablos y sus naturalezas cambiantes y recíprocas.

White wine pomace, a by-product from winemaking, was stabilized after the application of thermal blanching (with the aim of deactivating the polyphenoloxidase enzyme), milling, and processing by hydrostatic high-pressure treatment (with the aim of reducing initial microbial loads while preserving phenolic compounds content). The valorized pomace (VP) ingredient was added at different proportions to pork burgers (0.5%, 1%, and 3% w/w) to improve their preservation, and the effect was compared to those produced by sulfites and with a control (without sulfites or VP). Burgers were vacuum-packed and refrigerated for 7 days. Microbiological, color, oxidation, and sensory parameters were analyzed. Neither sulfites nor VP reduced the microbial development of most microorganism groups evaluated (p > 0.05); however, both prevented coliform growth during storage (p < 0.01). The use of sulfites prevented the discoloration of burgers during storage, while VP had no effect (p < 0.001). On the contrary, VP limited lipid and protein oxidation development during storage (p > 0.05), while sulfites had no effect. Therefore, the use of VP from white wine production could have an antioxidant effect but a limited antimicrobial or color-protective effect for the preservation of pork burgers.

Many studies assess the suitability of fiber-reinforced polymer composites in additive manufacturing. However, the influence of the fiber length distribution on the mechanical and functional properties of printed parts using these technologies has not been addressed so far. Hence, in this work we compare different composites based on Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) and carbon fiber (CF) suitable for large format additive manufacturing (LFAM) technologies based on fused granular fabrication (FGF). We study in detail the influence of the CF size on the processing and final properties of these materials. Better reinforcements were achieved with longer CF, reaching Young’s modulus and tensile strength values of 7500 MPa and 75 MPa, respectively, for printed specimens. However, the longer CF also worsened the interlayer adhesion of ASA to a greater extent. The composites also exhibited electrical properties characteristic of electrostatic dissipative (ESD) materials (105–1010 Ω/sq) and low coefficients of thermal expansion below 15 µm/m·°C. These properties are governed by the CF length distribution, so this variable may be used to tune these values. These composites are promising candidates for the design of elements with enhanced mechanical and functional properties for ESD protection elements or molds, so the products can be manufactured on demand.

En los últimos años, la incorporación de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) en las escuelas ha tenido un impacto rotundo para el profesorado de educación primaria porque ha implicado el desarrollo de habilidades digitales y el uso de los dispositivos y programas computacionales aparejado con el ejercicio didáctico, los procesos de enseñanza y de aprendizaje, y las condiciones pedagógicas, estructurales y administrativas de cada centro escolar. En la presente investigación se describen las experiencias docentes vinculadas con el uso de las tecnologías, su relación con el discurso institucional y su práctica pedagógica. El enfoque metodológico es cualitativo y el tipo de estudio es exploratorio. Las personas participantes fueron elegidas bajo un muestreo por conveniencia por la facilidad de acceso y la disponibilidad del profesorado; la muestra quedó conformada por cuatro docentes: dos de quinto y dos de sexto grado de escuelas públicas de la Ciudad de México. Las técnicas de recolección de datos fueron la entrevista, la observación y el análisis documental. Los instrumentos fueron una guía de entrevista y un registro de observación. Los resultados muestran que, en general, los programas y propuestas de inclusión de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación ponen el énfasis en las herramientas tecnológicas, en el aula de clase y en la práctica docente; sin embargo, se deja de lado la pedagogía, las relaciones sociales, la organización de las escuelas y la evaluación de los aprendizajes. En conclusión, es necesario repensar el papel de la educación y su relación con el uso de la tecnología para facilitar los aprendizajes esperados de cada nivel educativo y lograr trascender la inercia de las prácticas pedagógicas, organizacionales e impactar el complejo sistema educativo mexicano con el propósito de que es posible vehicular del espacio físico al virtual.

One of the effects of climate change in warm areas is the asynchrony between the dates of the technological and the phenolic maturity of grapes. This is important because the quality and color stability of red wines are directly related to the content and distribution of phenolic compounds. A novel alternative that has been proposed to delay grape ripening and make it coincide with a seasonal period more favorable for the formation of phenolic compounds is crop forcing. This consists of severe green pruning after flowering, when the buds of the following year have already differentiated. In this way, the buds formed during the same season are forced to sprout, initiating a new delayed cycle. The aim of the present work is to study the effect on the phenolic composition and color of wines elaborated from vines fully irrigated (C), grown using conventional non-forcing (NF) and forcing (F) techniques (C-NF and C-F), and wines from vines subjected to regulated irrigation (RI), grown using NF and F techniques (RI-NF and RI-F). The trial was carried out in an experimental vineyard of the Tempranillo variety located in a semi-arid area (Badajoz, Spain) in the 2017–2019 seasons. The wines (four by treatment) were elaborated and stabilized according to the classic methodologies for red wine. All wines had the same alcohol content, and malolactic fermentation was not carried out in any of them. Anthocyanin profiles were analyzed by HPLC, and total polyphenolic content, anthocyanin content, catechin content, the contribution to color due to co-pigmented anthocyanins, and various chromatic parameters were also determined. Although a significant effect of year was found for almost all the parameters analyzed, a general increasing trend in F wines was found for most of them. The anthocyanin profile of F wines was found to differ from that of C wines, especially in delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, and peonidin content. These results indicate that by using the forcing technique it was possible to increase the polyphenolic content by ensuring that the synthesis and accumulation of these substances occurred at more suitable temperatures.

Desde la implementación de las primeras ciclorrutas en Bogotá, Colombia, a inicios de la década del 2000, la bicicleta se convirtió progresivamente en una alternativa de movilidad frente al transporte masivo. Si bien los corredores viales son, a menudo, un escenario de conflicto y de caos, estos también son lugares de expresión que dejan ver las formas de vida en la ciudad allí donde ocurren los desplazamientos. Este artículo de reflexión busca hacer la revisión de algunas expresiones videográficas que narran la ciudad desde los recorridos en bicicleta que se publican en YouTube. Estas creaciones construyen valores y representaciones de ciudad desde la creatividad, el juego y la lúdica; y, a su vez, demuestran apropiaciones narrativas y afectivas del espacio urbano en prácticas de movilidad convencionales e institucionalizadas, o disruptivas y transgresoras del espacio público.

Through a review of the literature on infrastructure, a study of international experiences, expert knowledge, and the elaboration of a Territorial Infrastructure Support Index (ISIT), this paper provides a comparative analysis of the development conditions -- regarding infrastructure and services -- for the location of productive economic activities, at the regional and provincial level in Chile. The results show contrasts between regions and within them, revealing the state of the current situation for each of the six dimensions: Water, Energy, Telecommunications, Roads, Logistics, and Resilience, as well as for their synthetic indicator ISIT. The results of the ISIT have been contrasted with the recent definitions made by the Government of Chile regarding the definition of lag zones, finding important coincidences at the provincial level that allow validating the ISIT as a tool for the analysis of gaps in infrastructure and equipment for development of economic and productive activities in Chile.

Objective/Context: Citizen support for democracy is in question. In the Latin American case, after having increased at the beginning of the 21st century, indicators of support for democracy showed marked decline throughout the last decade. This is particularly evident in the Andean countries, where recent setbacks in the legitimacy of democratic institutions have been accompanied by problematic electoral processes that were deeply questioned by their citizens. Methodology: Using recent data from two of the main sources of comparative public opinion available for Latin America—AmericasBarometer and the World Values Survey— this work focuses on indicators of citizen support for democracy in four countries of the Andean region (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru), investigating the effect of government approval on the evaluation of democracy. The study uses a methodological design that recognizes different levels of support for democracy, to discuss the hypothesis that effects should be different between the levels analyzed. Conclusions: The results show that more concrete levels of support for democracy are more strongly influenced by individual political positions, while the values that sustain democracy are not affected at a statistically significant level. Originality: The methodology allows identifying the multidimensionality of citizen support for democracy and how this support depends on different factors according to the studied level. The conclusions evidence the existence of dynamics common to different societies in relation to democracy.

Although liposarcoma is the most prevalent soft tissue sarcoma in adults, head and neck liposarcomas are rare and account for less than 5% of all liposarcomas. The primary orbital location is even more exceptional, with fewer than 100 cases documented in the medical literature. Given the scarcity of cases of orbital liposarcoma and the limited familiarity of physicians and pathologists with this pathology, there is an increased risk of non-diagnosis or misdiagnosis, which may lead to inappropriate patient management. To address these challenges, we present a case of primary orbital myxoid liposarcoma and subsequently discuss the primary findings of this case based on the evidence documented in the medical literature. This comprehensive text is designed to serve as a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and pathologists, with the goal of promoting both clinical suspicion and accurate diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition in future cases.

To the memory of Jordi Marsal

BackgroundAn outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in young people from Catalonia (Spain) who travelled to Menorca (Spain) in summer 2021. This outbreak appeared when governments relaxed Covid-19 preventive measures: the mask usage and the opening of nightlife. It was related to a super-disseminating mass event: Sant Joan festivities in Ciutadella. The aim of this article is to describe an outbreak of COVID-19 in young people aged 17-19 years from Catalonia travelling to Menorca.MethodsThis is an observational study of a COVID-19 outbreak. The study population comprised Catalonian youth aged 17-19 years who travelled to Menorca from 15 June to 10 July. Epidemiological descriptive indicators were obtained. Descriptive and geographical statistics were carried out. Bivariate Moran's I test was used to identify spatial autocorrelation between the place of residence and deprivation. The outbreak control method was based on identifying and stopping chains of transmission by implementing the test-trace-isolate-quarantine (TTIQ) strategy.ResultsWe identified 515 confirmed cases infected in Menorca, 296 (57.5%) in girls and 219 (42.5%) in boys, with a total of 2,280 close contacts. Of them, 245 (10.7%) were confirmed as cases. The cases were diagnosed between 15 June and 10 July. None of the persons with confirmed infection died or required hospitalisation. The attack rate was 27.2%. There was an inverse relationship between deprivation and number of confirmed cases (pDiscussionThe outbreak is related with young people from socioeconomic favoured areas who travelled to Menorca in summer 2021. Failure to comply with preventive measures in binge-drinking events and during holidays may have favoured SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The interauthority coordination and establishment of a clear line of leadership allowed continuous communication between institutions, which were key to managing this complex COVID-19 outbreak.

Among the material extrusion technologies of additive manufacturing, fused granular fabrication is playing a bigger role in the industry. The increase in the size of printers demands extrusion systems with higher deposition rates that facilitate printing larger parts in shorter times with a need for cost reduction. This cost reduction in fused granular fabrication systems is due to the utilisation of pellets as the material source for the prints, such as pellets that are the most common way of distributing polymeric materials in industry and do not need the usual previous transformation into filaments. Most of the polymers in the industry can be found in the shape of pellets, so the opportunities for developing new materials beside the traditional filaments found in the market are expanding. In this research, a novel composite material has been developed based on the blending of commercial thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and cork particles obtained from industrial waste at different concentrations. These materials have been processed at a laboratory scale, and their mechanical, thermal and rheological properties have been studied. Despite a 53.52% reduction in the maximum stress on the x-axis, an 81.82% decrease in the values obtained with specimens oriented on the z-axis and a shortage in the deformation values, the results reveal a remarkable weight reduction leading to 21.31% when compared to the TPU of the blends,. These results may open a path to further explore these blends and find suitable applications in industry as proposed.

El medio natural y la evolución histórica, junto a diferentes culturas y religiones, han modelado unos conjuntos urbanos únicos y muy diversos en África. Aunque dicho continente continúa siendo el menos urbanizado del mundo, sus ciudades están sometidas a procesos de macrocefalia y se ven impulsadas por un acelerado ritmo de crecimiento. El análisis se centra en un extenso número de películas filmadas que posibilitan abordar un estudio que ofrezca reflexiones teóricas sobre las relaciones entre ficción audiovisual y las áreas urbanas en dicho continente con la finalidad de conocer que espacios se representan, cuáles son sus características y que imaginarios urbanos proyecta la ciudad africana. Desde un punto de vista metodológico se emplea un enfoque amplio, relacionado con la Geografía del Paisaje y la Geografía Cultural y se acota el estudio a las filmaciones de las últimas décadas. Entre los resultados se puede destacar la existencia de nuevas referencias visuales y nuevas claves interpretativas que permiten caracterizar los paisajes urbanos actuales de África.

Downy mildew is one of the most destructive diseases affecting grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.). Caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola (Berk. and Curt.) Berl. and de Toni, it can appear anywhere where vines are cultivated. It is habitually controlled by the application of phytosanitary agents (copper-based or systemic) at different stages of the vine growth cycle. This, however, is costly, can lead to reduced yields, has a considerable environmental impact, and its overuse close to harvest can cause fermentation problems. All grapevines are susceptible to this disease, although the degree of susceptibility differs between varieties. Market demands and European legislation on viticulture and the use of phytosanitary agents (art. 14 of Directive 128/2009/EC) now make it important to know the sensitivity of all available varieties, including minority varieties. Such knowledge allows for a more appropriate use of phytosanitary agents, fosters the commercial use of these varieties and thus increases the offer of wines associated with different terroirs, and helps identify material for use in crop improvement programmes via crossing or genetic transformation, etc. Over 2020–2021, the susceptibility to P. viticola of 63 minority vine varieties from different regions of Spain was examined in the laboratory using the leaf disc technique. Some 87% of these varieties were highly susceptible and 11% moderately susceptible; just 2% showed low susceptibility. The least susceptible of all was the variety Morate (Madrid, IMIDRA). Those showing intermediate susceptibility included the varieties Sanguina (Castilla la Mancha, IVICAM), Planta Mula (Comunidad Valenciana, ITVE), Rayada Melonera (Madrid, IMIDRA), Zamarrica (Galicia, EVEGA), Cariñena Roja (Cataluña, INCAVI), Mandrègue (Aragón, DGA) and Bastardo Blanco (Extremadura, CICYTEX). The highly susceptible varieties could be differentiated into three subgroups depending on sporulation severity and density.

Titanium implantation success may be compromised by Staphylococcus aureus surface colonization and posterior infection. To avoid this issue, different strategies have been investigated to promote an antibacterial character to titanium. In this work, two antibacterial agents (silver nanoparticles and a multifunctional antimicrobial peptide) were used to coat titanium surfaces. The modulation of the nanoparticle (≈32.1 ± 9.4 nm) density on titanium could be optimized, and a sequential functionalization with both agents was achieved through a two-step functionalization method by means of surface silanization. The antibacterial character of the coating agents was assessed individually as well as combined. The results have shown that a reduction in bacteria after 4 h of incubation can be achieved on all the coated surfaces. After 24 h of incubation, however, the individual antimicrobial peptide coating was more effective than the silver nanoparticles or their combination against Staphylococcus aureus. All tested coatings were non-cytotoxic for eukaryotic cells.

Abstract We compute the contributions of dimension six two-quark operators to the non-leptonic decay width of heavy hadrons due to the flavor changing bottom-to-up-quark transition in the heavy quark expansion. Analytical expressions for the Darwin term ρ D and the spin-orbit term ρ LS are obtained with leading order accuracy.

La impresión 3D de biomateriales es una tecnología de gran auge para la fabricación de injertos aptos para la reparación de defectos óseos con geometrías complejas. Los cementos de fosfato de calcio (CFC) son biocerámicos empleados en la medicina ortopédica debido a su similitud con la fase mineral del hueso, la capacidad para ser moldeados como una pasta y endurecer in situ. La impresión 3D de CFC potencializaría su aplicación al permitir cirugías reconstructivas de defectos con geometrías complejas, sin embargo, una limitante es la baja inyectabilidad de los CFC debido a la separación de fases que ocurre durante la inyección de la pasta. En este trabajo se ha estudiado la implementación de un polímero termosensible como el Poloxámero 407 para generar una tinta inyectable. Dicha tinta ha sido formulada para contener 5 % de hidroxiapatita carbonatada tipo B como agente nucleante biocompatible y biodegradable. Se evaluaron adiciones de soluciones acuosas de Poloxámero 407 al 0 %, 20 % y 40 % en peso como fase gel a una relación líquido/polvo de 0,75 mL/g. Se determinó el coeficiente de inyectabilidad, la cohesión de las tintas y se caracterizó la resistencia a la compresión de los cementos empleando análisis Weibull, determinado que la adición de polímero disminuye las propiedades mecánicas de los CFC en un 52,68 % y 81,23 %, respectivamente, en relación con el CFC de control (0%), atribuido a una menor densificación del cemento. Se concluyó que las adiciones del Poloxámero 407 no interfieren en la precipitación de hidroxiapatita deficiente en calcio ni en la degradación in vitro de los cementos y favorece el comportamiento de la tinta para su posible implementación en impresión 3D.

This systematic review aims to analyze studies on the extent of injuries in rink hockey athletes. Quality of the reported information was also analyzed. A literature search was performed from January 1992 until August 2020 using the main databases The search terms were: “rink hockey” or the synonym “roller hockey” and “injur*”.A total of 11 studies were considered eligible and included. Of these, nine were cross-sectional or descriptive. All samples were non-random, and only one study used a standardized consensus classification of injuries.Muscle strains were the most frequent injuries and lower limbs the most affected body regions. Moreover, overuse was the most common cause, and injury severity was primarily moderate. Injury burden was not reported, and the incidence rate ranged from 3.23–9.7 injuries/1000 h.We conclude that the quality of the reports has room for improvement in terms of study design, outcome, epidemiology measures, and investigation of injury characteristics.

Alpha tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) is a ceramic widely used in cements for orthopedic and dentistry applications, which is synthesized by solid-state reactions occurred at high temperature, being highly relevant the control of the cooling rate in order to avoid the formation of secondary phases as beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). From the above, the effect of TCP cooled at three different rates on the properties of the derived calcium phosphate cements was studied. The results show that a low cooling rate of 10 °C/min is enough to avoid the formation of the beta phase. Additionally, remarkable differences among the final calcium phosphate cements derived from the differently cooled TCP ceramics in terms of compressive mechanical resistance, final phases and chemical bonds, were not evidenced. Resumen: El fosfato tricálcico alfa (α-TCP) es un cerámico ampliamente utilizado en cementos para aplicaciones ortopédicas y odontológicas, el cual es sintetizado por reacciones de estado sólido que ocurren a alta temperatura, donde es de alta importancia el control de la velocidad de enfriamiento para evitar la formación de fases secundarias como el fosfato tricálcico beta (β-TCP). De lo anterior, fue estudiado el efecto del TCP enfriado a tres velocidades distintas sobre las propiedades de los cementos de fosfato de calcio derivados. Los resultados muestran que una velocidad de enfriamiento de 10 °C/min es suficiente para evitar la formación de la fase beta. Adicionalmente, no se evidenciaron notorias diferencias entre los cementos de fosfato de calcio finales derivados de cada TCP enfriado diferentemente en términos de resistencia mecánica a la compresión, fases finales y enlaces químicos.