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Abstract The sea urchin Diadema africanum is a macro-herbivore found in the rocky reef systems of the West African region and Macaronesian archipelagos. Over several decades, high densities of this species have generated marine barrens in certain areas at the Canary Islands. In contrast, more recently, during the last few years, the species has suffered mass mortality events that continue to the present day. In this study, we used 9,109 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and a fragment of a mitochondrial gene to evaluate the species’ population structure, effects of mass mortalities on its diversity, and potential local adaptation across the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde. Our research provides compelling evidence of low genomic diversity and homogeneity across the studied area for neutral markers, along with recent demographic fluctuations. The high connectivity among distant areas likely allows a rapid recovering of the populations from local mortality events. Interestingly, we also observed genomic sub-structure from 405 SNPs identified as candidate loci under selection for seawater temperature. The lack of divergence among distant sites and the low diversity found can be attributed to the species’ divergence from a small ancestral genomic pool, followed by a contemporary demographic expansion, and ongoinggene flow.

A pesar de que su influencia regional ha declinado con los años, Armenia sigue siendo un actor importante para las dinámicas en Eurasia sobre todo cuando se analiza desde la óptica del multilateralismo y las dinámicas de poder. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la crisis del multilateralismo en Eurasia a través de la comprensión del conflicto de Nagorno-Karabaj y como este puede generar no solo nuevos antagonismos como la intervención en baja escala de potencias occidentales o aumentar la influencia de ciertos actores como Azerbaiyán impulsado por el apoyo de Turquía, sino que también pueden aumentar las tensiones y rivalidades históricas que se han mantenido y, por ende, debilitar los procesos institucionales en la región. Para la consecución del objetivo planteado, se recurre a la metodología de estudio de caso, donde se analiza la particularidad de un fenómeno o evento desde múltiples perspectivas para lograr una comprensión detallada y explicar sus efectos. En una primera sección, el texto estudia el contexto histórico, así como la actual situación de Armenia desde los conceptos de eurasianismo, multilateralismo, multipolarismo y regionalismo. A través del análisis de la geopolítica de la región, así como de los hechos históricos más relevantes se permite al lector entender las dinámicas de poder que se desdoblan en Eurasia a través de la gestión de los recursos naturales y la implementación de políticas exteriores contrastantes y convergentes al mismo tiempo. La segunda sección revisa los principales elementos del conflicto de Nagorno-Karabaj y los efectos que las acciones de setiembre de 2023 tienen sobre la gobernanza de la región euroasiática, la forma en la que concluyó el conflicto ocasionó cambios en las dinámicas regionales y sus efectos continúan viéndose en las relaciones entre los países del área. Del mismo modo el resultado ha provocado un desplazamiento masivo de personas lo que supone nuevos retos para los estados involucrados, en un contexto ya de por sí tenso por los acontecimientos mundiales. Además, este segundo apartado, analiza otros conflictos latentes que amenazan la estabilidad de la zona. Como corolario, se estudia el panorama para Armenia y se esbozan posibles escenarios ante el cambio en la balanza de poder de las potencias regionales.

Colombia has experienced alarming rates of deforestation, posing a threat to forest biodiversity both inside and outside protected areas. Furthermore, a decline in ecological connectivity can potentially disrupt vital ecological processes such as pollination, gene flow, breeding, seed dispersal, among others. To address this issue at a national scale, it is crucial to identify and conserve a comprehensive network of ecological corridors.In this study, we identified high priority potential ecological corridors linking protected areas in Colombia. We categorized a representative set of 16 threatened mammal species into four ecological profiles. Then, we used Least Cost Path (LCP) analysis to model potential corridors between protected areas as those that minimized resistance for forest species dispersal. To prioritize conservation efforts, we applied the decrease in the Probability of Connectivity index (dPC) to identify corridors with the highest priority.Our findings emphasize the importance of preserving large forest patches within protected areas for species inhabiting lowland and sub-Andean forests. However, for species residing in Andean and high Andean forests, restoration measures (e.g., increasing forest cover) between protected areas are needed to enhance landscape permeability and facilitate their dispersal, thereby contributing to their conservation.Our results have practical implications for decision-makers involved in conservation efforts. These findings can aid in identifying conservation priorities for existing protected areas and their surrounding forest habitats in Colombia. Additionally, we provided expert-based resistance values for different forest mammals that can be further used in other large scale connectivity analyses, including other countries where these species inhabit.

Abstract The error of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and its consequences in predialysis are unknown. In this prospective multicentre study, 315 predialysis patients underwent measured GFR (mGFR) by the clearance of iohexol and eGFR by 52 formulas. Agreement between eGFR and mGFR was evaluated by concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), total deviation index (TDI) and coverage probability (CP). In a sub-analysis we assessed the impact of eGFR error on decision-making as (i) initiating dialysis, (ii) preparation for renal replacement therapy (RRT) and (iii) continuing clinical follow-up. For this sub-analysis, patients who started RRT due to clinical indications (uremia, fluid overload, etc.) were excluded. eGFR had scarce precision and accuracy in reflecting mGFR (average CCC 0.6, TDI 70% and cp 22%) both in creatinine- and cystatin-based formulas. Variations -larger than 10 ml/min- between mGFR and eGFR were frequent. The error of formulas would have suggested (a) premature preparation for RTT in 14% of stable patients evaluated by mGFR; (b) to continue clinical follow-up in 59% of subjects with indication for RTT preparation due to low GFRm and (c) to delay dialysis in all asymptomatic patients (n = 6) in whom RRT was indicated based on very low mGFR. The error of formulas in predialysis was frequent and large and may have consequences in clinical care.

Introduction: At present, new considerations have emerged concerning the risk factors related to the onset of diverticular disease of the colon, and the development of complications. An endoscopic classification that can predict degree of inflammation and prognosis has been described and validated. Objective: Deepen knowledge related to diverticular disease of the colon. Methods: Indexed scientific articles in Spanish and English, related to the topic: diverticular disease of the colon, published in the Pubmed, Scielo, Clinicalkey and Medline databases, were consulted, from 2014 to 2023. Development: The concept of diverticular disease of the colon has been modified, it is not limited to the existence of diverticula in the colon, but requires the presence of specific symptoms without any other demonstrable lesion. It can be classified as complicated and uncomplicated depending on whether or not there are macroscopic and radiological signs of inflammation. Risk factors are diverse and may be associated with complications. In pathophysiology, changes in the gut microbiota, enteric nervous system, and genetic factors are of greatest interest. By means of videocolonoscopy, it is possible to determine the degree of diverticular inflammation and the presence of complications by applying a score that allows prognosis to be established. Conclusions: The relationship between risk factors and the development of complications in diverticular disease of the colon, as well as the endoscopic classification of the degree of diverticular inflammation and complications, will serve to improve the quality of life of patients by reducing the frequency of complications and deciding on better therapeutic strategies.

Estudio exploratorio-descriptivo sobre un grupo de profesionales costarricenses en psicología acerca de sus actitudes hacia la aplicación de los principios psicológicos en la práctica odontológica. La muestra fue de 377 psicólogos (activos en el Colegio de Profesionales en Psicología de Costa Rica). A partir del cuestionario original diseñado por Gómez y Gómez (2007), el cual fue construido para estimar la necesidad de conformar programas universitarios que integren la psicología y la odontología, se aplicó una adaptación consistente en una encuesta de 10 preguntas autoadministradas de selección simple, la cual se efectuó en línea a través del sistema QuestionPro®. Se pudo evidenciar que existe una actitud positiva ante el enfoque interdisciplinario entre la Odontología y la Psicología; se demostró que un 74% de la muestra sostiene que los aspectos psicosociales son “Bastante importantes” en el marco de la atención odontológica. A pesar de ello, la mayoría (57%) de las personas consultadas indicó que no ha tenido ocasión de aplicar sus conocimientos y experiencia en psicología al contexto odontológico. Asimismo, un 72% de los participantes considera “Bastante importante” que los profesionales en Odontología reciban capacitación básica en el área psicológica para la prevención o contención de ciertos síntomas que puedan incidir en la salud mental. Por otra parte, el 80% de quienes respondieron la encuesta indicaron que las iniciativas interdisciplinarias de colaboración científica (investigación) y aplicada (ejercicio profesional) son “Bastante importantes” para producir beneficios tangibles en la prestación de servicios integrales a los pacientes y el bienestar del personal sanitario.

This paper analyses the origin, development and fall of the 'school voucher' system in Spain. It was called the Ley de Financiación de la Enseñanza Obligatoria (Compulsory Education Financing Law) (LFEO), and this reform represented the first attempt at an international level to establish a school voucher model for a whole country. This article attempts to explain the importance of the new ideas that emerged from the Economics of Education and International Organisation to understand the origin of the proposed LFEO. It also focuses on its development and the parliamentary debate of the law. Finally, it explains how other foreign ideas began to compete to establish models of equal opportunities in education different from the one proposed. The paper provides a valuable insight into how educational transfers take place, and the importance of the role that local actors can play in the development and, in this case, the failure of such transfers.

Biodegradable biopolymers from species of the animal kingdom or their byproducts are sustainable as ecological materials due to their abundant supply and compatibility with the environment. The research aims to obtain a biodegradable active material from chitosan, gelatin, and collagen from bocachico scales (Prochilodus magdalenae). Regarding the methodology, films were developed from gelatin, chitosan, and collagen from bocachico scales (Prochilodus magdalenae) at different concentrations using glycerol as a plasticizer and citric acid as a cross-linker. The films were obtained with the hydrated mass processed by compression molding and characterized according to humidity, water solubility, contact angle, mechanical properties, and structural properties. The results of the films showed a hydrophobic characteristic. First, the chitosan-collagen (CS/CO) films showed a yellowish color, while the gelatin-collagen (Gel/CO) films were transparent and less soluble than the gelatin-collagen (Gel/CO) films. Concerning mechanical properties, gelatin films showed higher stiffness and tensile strength than chitosan films. Furthermore, in the morphological analysis, more homogeneous chitosan films were obtained by increasing the concentration of citric acid. In general, chitosan, gelatin, and collagen extracted from the scales of the bocachico (Prochilodus magdalenae) are an alternative in the application of films in the food industry.

Autosomal polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic form of kidney failure, reflecting unmet needs in management. Prescription of the only approved treatment (tolvaptan) is limited to persons with rapidly progressing ADPKD. Rapid progression may be diagnosed by assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline, usually estimated (eGFR) from equations based on serum creatinine (eGFRcr) or cystatin-C (eGFRcys). We have assessed the concordance between eGFR decline and identification of rapid progression (rapid eGFR loss), and measured GFR (mGFR) declines (rapid mGFR loss) using iohexol clearance in 140 adults with ADPKD with ≥3 mGFR and eGFRcr assessments, of which 97 also had eGFRcys assessments. The agreement between mGFR and eGFR decline was poor: mean concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) between the method declines were low (0.661, range 0.628 to 0.713), and Bland and Altman limits of agreement between eGFR and mGFR declines were wide. CCC was lower for eGFRcys. From a practical point of view, creatinine-based formulas failed to detect rapid mGFR loss (−3 mL/min/y or faster) in around 37% of the cases. Moreover, formulas falsely indicated around 40% of the cases with moderate or stable decline as rapid progressors. The reliability of formulas in detecting real mGFR decline was lower in the non-rapid-progressors group with respect to that in rapid-progressor patients. The performance of eGFRcys and eGFRcr-cys equations was even worse. In conclusion, eGFR decline may misrepresent mGFR decline in ADPKD in a significant percentage of patients, potentially misclassifying them as progressors or non-progressors and impacting decisions of initiation of tolvaptan therapy.

Abstract The Atlantic-Mediterranean marine transition is characterised by strong oceanographic barriers and steep environmental gradients that generally result in connectivity breaks between populations from both basins and may lead to local adaptation. Here, we performed a population genomic study of the black brittle star, Ophiocomina nigra, covering most of its distribution range along the Atlantic-Mediterranean region. Interestingly, O. nigra is extremely variable in its coloration, with individuals ranging from black to yellow-orange, and different colour morphs inhabiting different depths and habitats. In this work, we used a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene and 2,374 genome-wide ddRADseq-derived SNPs to explore: (a) whether the different colour morphs of O. nigra represent different evolutionary units; (b) the disruptive effects of major oceanographic fronts on its population structure; and (c) genomic signals of local adaptation to divergent environments. Our results revealed exceptional population homogeneity, barely affected by oceanographic fronts, with no signals of local adaptation nor genetic differentiation between colour morphs. This remarkable panmixia likely results from a long pelagic larval duration, a large effective population size and recent demographic expansions. Our study unveils an extraordinary phenotypic plasticity in O. nigra, opening further research questions on the ecological and molecular mechanisms underpinning coloration in Ophiuroidea.

Abstract Background Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) beyond 12 months (late PTDM) is a severe complication after renal transplantation. Late PTDM develops mostly in subjects with prediabetes. Although exercise may have a potential role in preventing late PTDM, there are no previous data on the effect of exercise in patients with prediabetes. Material and Methods The design was a 12-month exploratory study to test the capacity of exercise in reverting prediabetes in order to prevent late-PTDM. The outcome was the reversibility of prediabetes, assessed every 3 months with oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). The protocol included an incremental plan of aerobic and/or strength training as well as an active plan for promoting adherence (telephone calls, digital technology, and visits). A priori, a sample size cannot be calculated which makes this an exploratory analysis. Based on previous studies, the spontaneous reversibility of prediabetes was 30% and the reversibility induced by exercise will account for another 30%, a total reversibility of 60% (p value

The native savannas of eastern Colombia cover about six percent of the Neotropical savannas. Within these 17 million hectares, the current composition of nonflying mammals evidenced colonization from Andean, Guyanese, and Amazonian speciation centers and endemism processes. Scientific knowledge of the mammal species in native savanna ecosystems in Colombia remains limited. We assessed (a) the species alpha and beta diversity of mammal assemblages and trophic guilds, (b) the influence of environmental predictors on mammal species diversity, and (c) the conservation status of species at both international and national levels. Our sampling included 213 camera trap stations with a total of 25.560 camera trap days. We reported 31 species from 19 families and 10 orders. The mammals best represented by the average relative abundance index (RAI) were Tayassu pecari (RAI = 0.83, n = 2.936) and Cuniculus paca (RAI = 0.33, n = 1.491), and the omnivore group was the most diverse trophic guild. The best-fitting generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS) (GAIC = 1305.3) indicated that the diversity of the mammal species detected at camera trap stations was influenced by environmental predictors, including (a) distance to the burned area (burned = p>3.6×10−9) and (b) distance to human infrastructure (built-up = p>5.05×10−7). Sixteen percent of the mammal species reported are classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while 22% are listed as threatened by Colombia. In addition, 58% fall into the categories of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We discussed the high plains native savannas as a diversity hotspot for Neotropical mammals. However, this important mammal’s habitat is currently under threat due to human infrastructure and the increasing frequency and intensity of forest fires.

Sófocles no contará con la versión española de sus siete tragedias conservadas hasta que la colección “Biblioteca Clásica” de la editorial Hernando la publica en versión de José Alemany Bolufer en 1921. Antes del siglo XIX solo podemos considerar traducción Edipo Tirano de Pedro Estala (1793). En el siglo XIX se publicaron en España tan solo tres obras del trágico griego: Edipo Rey (1878), vertida por Enric Franco al catalán; y, al castellano, Antígona (1883), por Antonio González Garbín, y Filoctetes (1886), por Ángel Lasso de la Vega. Tres tragedias vertidas por Pedro Montegón a finales del siglo XIX, conservadas en un manuscrito de la Real Academia de la Historia, dejarán de estar inéditas a finales del siglo XX (1992) con su publicación en Italia: Edipo Rey, Electra y Filoctetes. Finalmente, todavía se encuentran manuscritas en la Biblioteca Menéndez Pelayo de Santander tres tragedias sofocleas: Antigone, traducida por Graciliano Afonso; Edipo en Colona, por Emeterio Suaña y Castellet; y Ayante, con dos versiones (prosa y verso) por José Musso y Valiente. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar y comentar estos textos que nos proponemos recuperar en breve.

Marguerite Yourcenar escribió Fuegos (Feux, París: Grasset, 1936) a la edad de treinta y dos años. Esta obra es fruto de una crisis pasional y los sentimientos y circunstancias vividas por la autora se expresan a través de nueve narraciones líricas, separadas por una serie de fragmentos y sentencias que Yourcenar definió como “una cierta noción del amor”. Dos de estas narraciones tienen como protagonista a Aquiles: “Aquiles o la mentira” (“Achille ou le mensonge”) y “Patroclo o el destino” (“Patrocle ou le destin”). La primera recrea la estancia del héroe en la corte de Licomedes, cuando se ocultaba allí para no ir a la guerra de Troya. La segunda se sitúa precisamente en dicha guerra y se centra en el héroe tras la muerte de Patroclo. No es baladí que sea Aquiles el protagonista de dos de las nueve historias. En este trabajo analizaremos estas dos historias, especialmente las innovaciones míticas que realiza Yourcenar, así como los aforismos y sentencias que las acompañan, para relacionarlas con el contexto general en que fueron creadas, lo que nos permite vincular los sentimientos amorosos de Aquiles con los de la propia autora.

Purpose: After World War II, an educational modernization process gained ground worldwide. International organizations such as UNESCO began to play a key role in the creation, development and dissemination of a new educational vision in different countries. This article examines the origin and development of this modernization process under the dictatorship of Franco. More specifically, we will show how the adoption of this conception in Spain must be understood from the perspective of the interaction between UNESCO and Franco's regime, and how the policies of the dictatorship converged with the proposals suggested by this international organization. Our principal argument is that the educational policies carried out in Spain throughout the second half of the 20th century can be better understood when inserted into a transnational perspective in education. Design/methodology/approach: This article uses documents from archives that until now were unpublished or scarcely known. We have also analyzed materials published in the preeminent educational journals of the dictatorship, such as the "Revista de Educación," "Revista Española de Pedagogía," "Bordón" and "Vida escolar," as well as documents published by the Spanish Ministry of National Education. Findings: Franco's dictatorship built an educational narrative closely aligned with proposals put forward by UNESCO on educational planning after World War II. The educational policies created by the dictatorship were related to the new ideas that strove to link the educational system with economic and social development. Originality/value: This article is inspired by a transnational history of education perspective. On the one hand, it traces the origins of educational modernization under Franco's regime, which represented a technocratic vision of education that is best understood as a result of the impact that international organizations had in the second half of the 20th century. On the other hand, it follows the intensifying relationship between the dictatorship and the educational ideas launched by UNESCO. Both aspects are little known and studied in Spain.

Abstract Echocardiography has gained wide acceptance among intensive care physicians during the last 15 years. The lack of accredited formation, the long learning curve required and the excessive structural orientation of the present algorithms to evaluate hemodynamically unstable patients hampers its daily use in the intensive care unit. The aim of this article is to show 4 cases where the use of our simple algorithm based on VTI, was crucial. Subsequently, to explain the benefit of using the proposed algorithm with a more functional perspective, as a means for clinical decision-making. A simple algorithm based on left ventricle outflow tract velocity–time integral measurement for a functional hemodynamic monitoring on patients suffering hemodynamic shock or instability is proposed by Spanish Critical Care Ultrasound Network Group. This algorithm considers perfusion and congestion variables. Its simplicity might be useful for guiding physicians in their daily decision-making managing critically ill patients in hemodynamic shock.

El objetivo de este artículo es el análisis de las fuentes literarias del cómic Orfeo y Eurídice, entrega n.º 43 (publicado en julio de 1966) dentro de la colección mexicana “Joyas de la mitología”, con el propósito de comprobar la fiabilidad de esta publicación juvenil. Por ello, se revisan las particularidades de dicha colección y se compara la recreación de la historia mítica seleccionada con las fuentes literarias de la Antigüedad (Geórgicas de Virgilio y Metamorfosis de Ovidio). El resultado demuestra la pericia de los autores en la adaptación del mito grecolatino de Orfeo y Eurídice en formato cómic.

El propósito de esta investigación fue estudiar la contaminación de un ecosistema de manglar impactado con hidrocarburos, en el sector centro sur de Cayo Santa María, Jardines del Rey, Cuba. Para el estudio de los indicadores microbiológicos y fisicoquímicos fue diseñado un muestreo estratificado, donde se seleccionaron dos estratos y diez estaciones de muestreo, considerando los patrones de flujos de marea en pleamar y bajamar, así como el impacto perceptible de la contaminación. La determinación de las poblaciones de microorganismos heterótrofos totales (BHT) y degradadores de petróleo (BDP) en agua y sedimentos, se realizópor el método de conteo de colonias, expresadas como UFC·mL-1 o UFC·g-1 según la matriz de análisis. El contenido de hidrocarburos totales del petróleo (HTP) y sus fracciones fundamentales (SARA) fue determinado por el método gravimétrico. Se obtuvo un incremento significativo de BHT y BDP en sedimentos con respecto al agua, los niveles de BDP fueron bajos en ambas matrices, obteniéndose relaciones medias de BDP/BHT inferiores al 1 %. Los niveles medios de HTP en agua, superaron el límite máximo permisible establecido por la Norma Cubana NC 521: 2007 (5mg·L-1). Los altos valores de concentración de HTP y SARA registrados en sedimentos en la totalidad del área de estudio, permiten clasificarla cómo altamente contaminada; registrándose un incremento significativo en la zona de vertimiento con respecto al resto del área. El análisis de los indicadores microbiológicos y fisicoquímicos demostró que el área presenta una baja capacidad de autodepuración natural.

Abstract Background Insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction are manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) has been associated with such insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in the general population. Our purpose was to study whether ApoC3 is also related to the insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction that are present in patients with RA. Methods Three hundred thirty-eight non-diabetic patients with RA who had a glycemia lower than 110 mg/dl were recruited. Insulin, C-peptide, and ApoC3 were assessed. Insulin resistance and beta-cell function were calculated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA2) indices. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to study the relationship of ApoC3 with those molecules and indices adjusting for classic factors associated with insulin resistance that included glucocorticoids. Results ApoC3 was related to significant higher levels of circulating insulin (beta coef. 0.37 [95%CI 0.01–0.73] µU/ml, p = 0.044) and C-peptide (beta coef. 0.13 [95%CI 0.05–0.22] ng/ml, p = 0.003), and higher insulin resistance —HOMA2-IR— (beta coef. 0.05 [95%CI 0.00–0.09], p = 0.041) and beta-cell dysfunction —HOMA2-%B— (beta coef. 2.94 [95%CI 0.07–5.80], p = 0.044) indices. This was found after a fully multivariable analysis that included, among others, prednisone intake and the classic factors associated with carbohydrate metabolism such as triglycerides, waist circumference, and obesity. Conclusion ApoC3, insulin resistance, and beta-cell dysfunction are independently associated in patients RA.

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CV) and an altered lipid profile. High levels of apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) are associated with elevated triglyceride levels and an increased risk of CV. In the present study, we aimed to study circulating ApoC3 in patients with SLE and describe its relationship with the manifestations of the disease. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that included 186 patients with SLE. Disease-related data, CV comorbidity, full lipid profile, and serum levels of ApoC3 were assessed. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to study how ApoC3 was related to SLE features. Results Classic CV risk factors were significantly and strongly associated with circulating ApoC3. After a fully multivariable analysis that included classic CV risk factors and lipid profile molecules, SLICC damage (beta coef. 0.10 [95% CI 0.02–0.19] mg/dl, 0.020) and Katz severity (beta coef. 0.11 [95% CI 0.03–0.19] mg/dl, p = 0.011) indices and SLEDAI activity score (beta coef. 0.05 [95% CI 0.05–0.08] mg/dl, p = 0.004) were all independently associated with higher levels of circulating ApoC3. Conclusion Among SLE patients, disease activity, severity, and disease damage are independently associated with higher ApoC3 serum levels.

Implementing optimization strategies enhance resource conservation and pollution prevention of chemical processes. The above is a key factor to gear chemical process industry toward sustainability. Considering the above, this work presents, for the first-time, exergy loss as a decision-making objective into a process integration problem to reduce utility consumption (energy and water) of chemical processes. The methodology combines mathematical programming, superstructure formulation, and a 2-dimensional approach by integrating heat and water streams. A case study based on a magnetite nanoparticles production is presented to test the methodology. Different scenarios illustrated perspectives of including exergy loss as optimization objective; scenario 1 for cost optimization, scenario 2 for exergy optimization, and Scenario 3 for a combined 2-dimensional-optimization. Scenario 1 delivered the lowest total annualized cost (436,734.50 $USD/y) with an exergy loss of 2,519.76 MJ/h. Scenario 3 presented a more balanced performance with a total cost of 481,007.50 $USD/y and an exergy loss of 2,519.76 MJ/h. Scenario 2 showed the lowest exergy loss but with a poorer economic performance. The exergy variable provides a new way of optimizing chemical process at conceptual design level to reduce water and energy consumption.

Abstract Background Modulators of triglyceride metabolism include lipoprotein lipase (LPL), angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), and apolipoprotein C-3 (ApoC3). There is evidence on the influence of this triangle of molecules on an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CV) in the general population. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) present changes in lipid profiles and accelerated CV disease. In the present study, we set out to study whether the ANGPTL4, ApoC3, and LPL axis differs in subjects with RA compared to controls. In a further step, we investigated the relationship of this axis with subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA. Methods Cross-sectional study that included 569 individuals, 323 patients with RA and 246 age-matched controls. ANGPTL4, ApoC3 and LPL, and standard lipid profiles were analyzed in patients and controls. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaques were assessed in RA patients. A multivariable analysis was performed to assess whether the ANGPTL4, ApoC3, and LPL axis was altered in RA and to study its relationship with RA dyslipidemia and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Results Most lipid profile molecules did not differ between patients and controls. Despite this, and after fully multivariable analysis including CV risk factors, use of statins, and changes in the lipid profile caused by the disease itself, patients with RA showed higher serum levels of ANGPTL4 (beta coef. 295 [95% CI 213–376] ng/ml, p

PVC is widely used in packaging, electrical insulation, and medical devices due to its versatility owing to its resistance, incombustible and barrier properties as well as affordable cost. In the present study, bibliometric and co-occurrence analyses are proposed to identify trends, gaps, future directions, and challenges regarding process system engineering (PSE) applied to the production process of PVC using VOSviewer as a tool for analyzing the data obtained from SCOPUS. A mapping of different topics alluding to simulation of PVC production was provided to gain a better insight into the development of the topic and its progression. The findings indicate that the literature on this topic falls into five different clusters: modeling and simulation of PVC production, process control and optimization, and optimization strategies of the process. From a co-occurrence study we identified that mathematics and statistics applied to polymer chemistry, separation phenomena, and polymer production are the main areas of interest for further research. The trends suggest that Monte Carlo and numerical simulation can contribute to a deeper understanding of PVC’s properties and behavior. In addition, the focus on plastics and microplastics reflects concerns about the environmental impact. A bibliometric study evidenced that PSE provides the tools for improvement in PVC production processes by employing advanced process engineering techniques. Modelling and new algorithms for simulation methods of continuous polymerization processes are important to enhance accuracy and efficiency across various applications. The study also proposes a research agenda for future researchers working in the field of the use of PSE applied to the PVC production process.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that mediates pleiotropic functions in immune responses and inflammatory diseases. The literature lacks studies, with a clinical perspective, on the relationship between IL-6 serum levels and the characteristics of the disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present work, we aimed to analyze the association between circulating IL-6 and disease manifestations in a well-characterized series of patients with SLE. Serum IL-6 levels and disease activity (SLEDAI-2K), severity (Katz) and damage index (SLICC-DI), complete lipid profile, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis were evaluated in 284 patients with SLE. In addition, a complete characterization of the complement system was performed in samples from patients with SLE. A multivariate linear regression analysis was carried out to study the relationship between clinical and laboratory characteristics of the disease and IL-6 levels. Age (beta coef. 0.07 [95%CI 0.01–0.1] pg/mL, p = 0.014), C-reactive protein (beta coef. 0.21 [95%CI 0.16–0.25] pg/mL, p < 0.01), and male gender (beta coef. 2 [95%CI 0.3–0.5] pg/mL, p = 0.024), were positively associated with higher IL-6 levels in SLE patients. Most disease characteristics and damage and activity indices did not show significant relationships with IL-6. However, after multivariate analysis, IL-6 was associated with lower serum levels of HDL cholesterol (beta coef. −0.04 [95%CI −0.08–(−0.1)] pg/mL, p = 0.011), and apolipoprotein A1 (beta coef. −0.02 [95%CI −0.04–(−0.001)] pg/mL, p = 0.035). In contrast, the alternative complement cascade, C1inh, and C3a were all positively and independently associated with higher serum levels of IL-6. Moreover, stratification of the Systematic Coronary Risk Assessment 2 (SCORE2) results according to different categories of cardiovascular risk was associated with higher circulating serum IL-6 levels (beta coef. 0.2 [95%CI 0.02–0.4], pg/mL, p = 0.028). In conclusion, in a large series of SLE patients, IL-6 was not associated with disease-related features of SLE, including damage, severity, or activity indices. However, an association was found between serum IL-6 levels and circulating C3a and cardiovascular risk. Our study emphasizes the importance that IL-6 could have in cardiovascular disease and complement system disruption of SLE patients. Therapies targeting IL-6 could have a role in these two clinical manifestations of patients with SLE.

In this work, a safety assessment was carried out for the suspension polymerization method, known for the lack of studies about its sustainable performance and long history of chemical accidents. Therefore, a safety analysis was conducted using the inherent safety methodology to assess and determine the inherent risks of the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) suspension production process using computer-aided process engineering (CAPE). The indicators were calculated using data from safety databases and the specialized literature, considering downstream stages like vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) recovery, PVC purification and PVC drying. The obtained indicators revealed that the process has a negative performance regarding inherent safety, with a total inherent safety index of 30. The chemical inherent safety index had a value of 19, with the main chemical risk of the process being presented by the vinyl chloride monomer (with a value of 11), along with the risk of the exothermic reactions. The process safety index had a value of 15, highlighting the inventory as the primary concern of the process (with a value of 5), followed by the presence of unsafe equipment such as furnaces, burners, and dryers. The safety structure index had a score of 3, categorizing the process as probably risky, with the reaction and purification stages being more susceptible to accidents. Lastly, it is recommended to reduce the size of the process inventory and to substitute out unsafe process units.

This article analyses the concept of the state as represented in primary school social science textbooks in Spain during the transition to democracy. The analysis of textbooks during this period has tended to focus on the importance of National Catholicism (Nacionalcatolicismo) or the technocratic vision in the framing of their representations. This article points to how such representations should be viewed from a more complex perspective that lays the emphasis on how the dictatorship understood education within the context of the Cold War. The first part of the article analyses the explanations given by textbooks during the transition. The second part dissects the subsequent evolution of the representations. Lastly, we attempt to explain why these representations and changes came about.

Background: Prealbumin is a marker of malnutrition and inflammation. It has been associated with poor prognosis in cardiovascular disease, but less is known in stroke patients. Our objective was to evaluate the association of prealbumin levels at admission with prognosis in patients with stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Material & Methods: Retrospective study of a prospective database of consecutive patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Clinical, radiological and blood parameters including serum prealbumin, and prognostic variables such as respiratory infection, in-hospital mortality, and modified Rankin scale at 3 months were collected. Results: We included 319 patients between 2018-2019. Prealbumin levels were significantly lower in patients older than 80 years, women, patients with a prestroke Rankin score >2, glomerular filtrate rate 2), in-hospital mortality and 3-month mortality. In multivariate analysis, prealbumin was an independent risk factor associated with mortality at 3 months, OR 0.92 [0.86-0.98], p = 0.019. Conclusion: Lower prealbumin levels at admission behaved as independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. These results should be replicated in other cohorts.

In this study, inert dry bioadsorbents prepared from corn cob residues (CCR), cocoa husk (CH), plantain peels (PP), and cassava peels (CP) were used as adsorbents of heavy metal ions (Pb2+ and Ni2+) in single-batch adsorption experiments from synthetic aqueous solutions. The physicochemical properties of the bioadsorbents and the adsorption mechanisms were evaluated using different experimental techniques. The results showed that electrostatic attraction, cation exchange, and surface complexation were the main mechanisms involved in the adsorption of metals onto the evaluated bioadsorbents. The percentage removal of Pb2+ and Ni2+ increased with higher adsorbent dosage, with Pb2+ exhibiting greater biosorption capacity than Ni2+. The bioadsorbents showed promising potential for adsorbing Pb2+ with monolayer adsorption capacities of 699.267, 568.794, 101.535, and 116.820 mg/g when using PP, CCR, CH, and CP, respectively. For Ni2+, Langmuir’s parameter had values of 10.402, 26.984, 18.883, and 21.615, respectively, for PP, CCR, CH, and CP. Kinetics data fitted by the pseudo-second-order model revealed that the adsorption rate follows this order: CH > CP > CCR > PP for Pb2+, and CH > CCR > PP > CP for Ni2+. The adsorption mechanism was found to be controlled by ion exchange and precipitation. These findings suggest that the dry raw biomasses of corn cob residues, cocoa husk, cassava, and plantain peels can effectively remove lead and nickel, but further research is needed to explore their application in industrial-scale and continuous systems.