Search

Gamification has emerged in recent years as an application of game mechanics to improve learning processes through increased motivation and engagement. Civil engineering is a suitable field for gamification because it encompasses a variety of areas involving both management and fieldwork tasks. To gain insight into the use of gamified approaches in civil engineering, this study developed a scoping review of the publications released during this century in this field. A data analysis using text mining and statistical techniques suggested that gamification has great potential to support educational and training civil engineering practices. The results identify construction safety and project management as the two most suitable areas for gamification, due to their implications in terms of human factors and economic impacts. Simulation games and virtual reality were found to be the most recurrent gamified approaches, due to their capacity to emulate complex situations inherent in real projects and construction works.

Conflict of interest: No Introduction and Objectives: The term “recompensation” of cirrhosis was proposed in the latest BAVENO VII, underlying dynamic events and prognosis in cirrhosis. However, there is uncertainty regarding its prognosis in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with first line systemic therapies (1L). We aimed to compare post-1L survival between compensated (CC), decompensated (DC), and recompensated (RC) cirrhosis. Patients / Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective Latin-American cohort study including advanced HCC patients with cirrhosis who received any 1L was conducted from 2018 to 2024. Three groups were defined: CC (had never presented decompensation); DC (presenting any decompensated event associated with portal hypertension at time of 1L), and RC group (prior history of any decompensation event at HCC diagnosis who were compensated at time of 1L). Survival since date of 1L was compared using Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results and Discussion: Overall, 306 patients received 1L, including sorafenib 60.5%, atezolizumab + bevacizumab 29.7%, lenvatinib 9.1%, and nivo/pembrolizumab 0.6%. Of these, 83.3% presented cirrhosis. Median 1L treatment duration was 5.1 months with a median overall survival since 1L of 16.0 months (range 12.9-18.3). Significant differences were observed between CC (n=167), DC (n=31) and RC (n=42) groups (Table). In the RC group, median time from decompensation to recompensation was 12.0 months (range 1.9-25.9); being ascites the most frequent event (78.6%). DC group presented decreased post-1L survival [median 8.6 months vs 17.2 months in CC [adjusted HR 1.9 (95% CI 1.05-3.5); P=0.03], while no significant survival difference was observed between RC and CC [median survival 12.5 months; aHR 1.3 (95% CI 0.81-2.1); P=0.28] (Figure). Lower access to second line therapy was observed in DC group. Conclusions: Patients with cirrhosis and advanced HCC who achieve recompensation may benefit from systemic therapies. This demands an observation period of follow up before precluding 1L in decompensated cirrhosis.

Conflict of interest: No Introduction and Objectives: With the advent of new therapeutic options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at intermediate stage of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC), regional real-world data regarding prognostic survival factors are significant. The aim of this study was to evaluate pre and post-prognostic survival variables after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Patients / Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia, including HCC patients at BCLC B or C stages who were treated with TACE from 2018 to 2024. The effect on survival since date of first TACE was evaluated through Cox proportional hazard survival analysis. Harrell´s c-statistic index for model discrimination was estimated through somers-d. Results and Discussion: Overall, 625 patients were included, of which 41.3% (n=258) received TACE (Table 1), and 4.6% (n=29) selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). The median number of TACEs procedures was 2 (range 1-3); 54.5% conventional TACE, and 44.7% with drug-eluting beads. Median follow-up since first TACE was 17.7 months, with a median overall survival of 27.3 months (range 21.9-35.1). Radiological objective response rates (ORR) after first and last TACEs were 49.2% (95% CI 42.9-55.5%), and 29.0% (95% CI 22.6-36.1%), with significantly better post TACE survival [HR of 0.48 (95% CI 0.29-0.78); P=0.003]. The pre-TACE prognostic model showed liver decompensation was an independent variable associated with increased post TACE mortality was [HR 2.0 (CI 1.28-3.12)], adjusted for performance status, and the HAP score. Pre and post-TACE model showed that the effect of liver decompensation was adjusted [HR 1.7 (CI 0.98-2.8); P=0.06], when ORR after last TACE was achieved and included in this model [HR 0.48 (CI 0.29-0.79); P=0.004], with a c-statistic index of 0.66 (95% CI 0.60-0.72). Conclusions: Radiological response after sequential TACE might reduce the negative effect of liver decompensation on post-TACE survival. However, cautious TACE stopping rules should be considered.

Conflict of interest: No Introduction and Objectives: Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of first line systemic immune therapies for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have recruited a lower proportion of patients with cirrhosis. In this group of patients, immune related adverse events (irAEs) may lead to decreased prognostic outcomes. The aim of this study was describe the incidence rate of irAEs and its impact on survival. Patients / Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective Latin-American cohort study was conducted including HCC patients who received A+B since its regional approval, either as first or sub-sequent systemic lines, to March 15, 2024. Overall survival since A+B, and survival since date of irAE was compared between patients developing and not developing irAEs (date since A+B), through Cox proportional hazard analysis (Harrell's c-index). Results and Discussion: Overall, 99 patients treated with A+B were included (n=8 received it as second line post sorafenib), 82.3% presented cirrhosis. The median treatment duration was 6 months [number of cycles 5 (range 3-11.5)], with a median overall survival of 17.0 months (range 12.6-19.8). Over a median follow-up of 7.7 months (range 4.5-17.2), the irAE incidence rate was 2.1 cases per 100 persons-months [cumulative incidence 18.1% (95% CI 11.1-27.2%); n=18]. Median time to irAE was 2.3 months (range 1.4-4.8), most frequently hepatitis (n=6), thyroiditis (n=5), and 8/18 required steroids (Table). Follow-up and treatment duration times were similar regardless irAEs occurrence. On multivariable Cox regression model, AFP values before A+B >400ng/ml [HR 2.9 (95% CI 1.1-7.6)], adjusted for HCC diffuse intrahepatic pattern was associated with irAE development (c-statistic 0.66). Patients developing irAEs presented decreased overall and post-irAE survival [median 2.9 months vs 18.5 months; HR 6.2 (95% CI 2.7-14.2); P

Laser guide stars in astronomical adaptive optics systems have the focus anisoplanatism problem, especially for telescopes larger than 4 m in diameter. The Projected Pupil Plane Pattern (PPPP) offers an alternative solution by projecting a collimated laser beam across the telescope’s entire pupil. One significant challenge is dealing with gain-related issues, necessitating the use of two beam profiles obtained simultaneously from two different distances from the telescope pupil. In this work, we explore the integration of a convolutional neural network (CNN) with experimental data emulating PPPP. We investigate how CNNs can significantly simplify the PPPP design by enabling operation with a single beam profile. These results permit the development of the PPPP concept to use a single beam profile without distance-gain degeneracy. In this work, it is shown that a 10% residual error can be achieved for test data randomly chosen over the SNR range of 4 to 12.

Invasive Coronary Angiography (ICA) images are considered the gold standard for assessing the state of the coronary arteries. Deep learning classification methods are widely used and well-developed in different areas where medical imaging evaluation has an essential impact due to the development of computer-aided diagnosis systems that can support physicians in their clinical procedures. In this paper, a new performance analysis of deep learning methods for binary ICA classification with different lesion degrees is reported. To reach this goal, an annotated dataset of ICA images containing the ground truth, the location of lesions, and seven possible severity degrees ranging between 0% and 100% was employed. The ICA images were divided into “lesion” or “non-lesion” patches. We aim to study how binary classification performance is affected by the different lesion degrees considered in the positive class. Therefore, five Convolutional Neural Network architectures – DenseNet-201, MobileNet-V2, NasNet-Mobile, ResNet-18, and ResNet-50 – were trained with different input images where different lesion degree ranges were gradually incorporated until considering the seven lesion degrees. Besides, four types of experiments with and without data augmentation were designed, whose F-measure and Area Under Curve (AUC) were computed. Reported results achieved an F-measure and AUC of 92.7% and 98.1%, respectively. However, lesion classification is highly affected by the degree of the lesion intended to be classified, with 15% less accuracy when < 99% lesion patches are present.

El objetivo es analizar la dinámica socio espacial de las distintas zonas que empiezan a concentrar diversos proyectos de construcción de edificios verticales para uso de vivienda, que generan efectos adversos que afectan la morfología espacial y el entorno urbano adyacente. La metodología se basó en el análisis de indicadores de rezago social por áreas geoestadísticas básicas (AGEB) de la ciudad, concentración de actividades terciarias y expansión de la mancha urbana. Dentro de las principales conclusiones apuntan a que el valor del suelo mediante el mercado inmobiliario es un elemento determinante para generar desigualdad y segregación residencial. Provocando alteraciones en el entorno urbano, situación presente en la mayoría de las grandes ciudades que buscan incorporarse a los mercados globales, así como a dar respuesta a la demanda de nuevos tipos de vivienda.

Resumen: Actualmente existe controversia con respecto a la necesidad de extracción de electrodos abandonados o no funcionantes, sin infección y que no están suponiendo un riesgo evidente para el paciente.Esta situación puede presentarse en pacientes en los que, bien por disfunción de algún electrodo o por la necesidad de actualizar un dispositivo anterior, es necesario implantar nuevos electrodos. En estos casos ¿qué es lo más indicado, extracción o abandono de los electrodos previos? También en pacientes mayores, frágiles o con poca expectativa de esperanza de vida es frecuente replantearse la necesidad de someter al paciente al potencial riesgo de un procedimiento de extracción de electrodos abandonados.Aunque son varios los argumentos que suelen aludirse a la hora de inclinarnos hacia una postura más o menos conservadora en estas situaciones, cuando analizamos la evidencia publicada, es frecuente encontrar estudios con resultados contrapuestos en torno a estos argumentos. No obstante, el progresivo aumento de los procedimientos de extracción durante los últimos años, los avances técnicos producidos en este terreno y los buenos resultados conseguidos deberían favorecer una tendencia cada vez más favorable hacia la indicación de extracción en estos casos. Abstract: There is currently controversy regarding the need to remove abandoned or non-functioning electrodes, without infection and that are not posing an obvious risk to the patient.This situation can occur in patients in whom, either due to dysfunction of an electrode or the need to update a previous device, it is necessary to implant new electrodes. What is the most indicated, extraction or abandonment of the previous electrodes? Similarly, in elderly, frail patients or those with short life expectancy, it is common to rethink the need to subject the patient to the potential risks of the extraction procedure.There are several arguments that can be used when leaning towards a more or less conservative position in these situations. However, when we analyze the published evidence, it is common to find studies with conflicting results regarding these arguments. However, the progressive increase in extraction procedures, the technical advances produced in this field and the good results achieved should favor an increasingly favorable trend towards the indication of extraction in these cases.

La salud sexual y reproductiva, que incluye la unión y el embarazo adolescente, es un fenómeno multidimensional y multisectorial en el cual concluyen diversos factores, que operan o se expresan de manera desigual entre los grupos socioeconómicos. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la relación entre el descenso de la fecundidad adolescente y la desigualdad social y territorial en cinco ciudades latinoamericanas. Se utilizó para ello la explotación de los censos de población para las rondas censales de 1990, 2000, 2010 y 2020 por medio de indicadores de polaridad, correlación y tasas específicas. El principal hallazgo del estudio es que la desigualdad social de la unión y la maternidad entre adolescentes aumentó en todas las ciudades, tanto por la menor caída entre las adolescentes de estratos pobres, como por el mayor descenso entre las adolescentes de estratos acomodados.

Introduction and Objectives: With the advent of new therapeutic options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for intermediate or advanced stages of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC), regional real-world data regarding prognostic survival factors are of significant importance. Patients and Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in Latin America including BCLC B or C patients since 15th May 2018. We report here the second interim analysis focusing on prognostic variables and causes of treatment discontinuation. Cox proportional hazard survival analysis was performed, estimating hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Overall, 390 patients were included, 55.1% and 44.9% were BCLC B and C at the time of study enrollment. Cirrhosis was present in 89.5% of the cohort. Among the BCLC-B group, 42.3% were treated with TACE with a median survival since the first session of 41.9 months. Liver decompensation before TACE was independently associated with increased mortality [HR 3.22 (CI 1.64;6.33); P

IntroductionTeacher self-efficacy is understood as the set of beliefs regarding teachers’ ability to exercise their role and have a positive effect on the learning of their students. Although this concept has been widely discussed in scientific literature; however, evaluating new instruments for its measurement is still necessary. This study develops and analyzes evidence of validity, factorial invariance, and reliability of a one-dimensional scale of self-efficacy for teaching among Peruvian university professors, comprised by 10 items.MethodsA total of 529 university professors (men: 67.9%) participated, aged between 30 and 60 years. The Workload Scale and The Social Support at Work Scale were used for to evaluate convergent validity.ResultsThe results revealed a satisfactory one-dimensional structure, invariant according to sex and age, and adequate internal consistency. Finally, expected associations were found with measures of workload and social support at work.DiscussionIn conclusion, the scale developed is a valid and reliable unidimensional measure to evaluate the level of perceived self-efficacy specific to teaching in Peruvian university professors.

ABSTRACT Soil attributes can provide indicators for the management and conservation of natural and agrarian ecosystems. This study was carried out before the rupture of the Córrego do Feijão dam and aimed to evaluate and quantify the stocks of carbon, nitrogen and the C/N ratio in soils around the Paraopeba-MG river basin in five regions corresponding to the high, middle, and low river course, considering three usage factors: forest, pasture, and Shrubbery forest, correlating them with the chemical and physical properties of the soil, aiming at the interpretation of past use, to obtain management and conservation strategies for ecosystems. The results indicate a significant variation in carbon and nitrogen stocks with an increase in the 20-40 cm layer. Concerning the type of use, the forest system was the most efficient in accumulating carbon. About to site, the regions of Brumadinho and Fortuna de Minas showed similarities in the incorporation of carbon in the soil, differing from the regions of Jeceaba, Florestal, and Três Marias. There was a close correlation between stocks and the chemical and physical properties of the soil, making it possible to assess the quality of the soils in the study regions in terms of structure and fertility.

Background: There is an incomplete understanding of the predictors of morbidity and mortality in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This study sought to identify key risk factors for all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization among patients with severe TR. Methods: Patients with severe TR were identified from 2 centers, Oregon Health & Science University and Abrazo Health, from January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Patients with any concomitant severe valvular diseases or prior valvular intervention were excluded. Multivariable regression was utilized to identify demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic variables independently associated with all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization. Results: 435 patients with severe TR were followed for a median of 2.8 years. The mean age of the population was 66.9 ± 18.5 years and 58% were female. All-cause mortality was identified in 20.5% of the population. Of the cohort, 35.4% of patients were hospitalized for HF. Isolated tricuspid valve intervention was performed in 2.5% of patients. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality included history of solid tumor (odds ratio [OR] 6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1-19.1, p = 0.001), history of peripheral artery disease (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2-9.4, p = 0.013), and elevated international normalized ratio in the absence of anticoagulation (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.2, p = 0.008). Predictors of HF hospitalization included history of diabetes mellitus (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.0, p = 0.014) and history of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (OR 5.7, 95% CI 2.9-11.7, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Severe untreated TR is associated with high mortality and frequent HF hospitalizations. Understanding predictors of these outcomes is important to identify patients who may benefit from early tricuspid valve intervention to help improve outcomes in this patient population.

Introduction and Objectives: Previously published regional real-world results of overall survival (OS) in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B and C patients demanded a prospective cohort study nested in a systematic and continuous medical educational networking group. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the treatment decisions in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within BCLC B and C stages. Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study, conducted in different Latin American centers from Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, started on 15th May 2018 (delayed recruitment during COVID locked-down period). Patients within BCLC B or C stages were included. Survival, tumor progression and patterns of treatment suspension were evaluated. Results: At this second interim analysis (projected final analysis March 2023), 390 HCC BCLC-B or C patients were included (n=15 excluded); mean age 65 years, 75.6% males and 89.5% cirrhotic. Median OS since HCC diagnosis was 27.2 months. Among BCLC-B patients, the most frequent therapy was transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, 42.3%); 51.8% using drug-eluting beads and 47.4% conventional TACE; with a median OS since 1st TACE of 41.9 months. Similar radiological responses after 1st TACE were observed between both modalities. Overall, 48.2% of the cohort received systemic therapy for HCC (n=188), 23.7% still on BCLC-B stage. The most frequent systemic treatments were Sorafenib (74.5%), atezolizumab bevacizumab (17.5%), and lenvatinib (12.2%), with a median OS since systemic therapy of 15.7 months. Lenvatinib or atezolizumab bevacizumab was used as the second line following sorafenib in 5 and 3 patients, respectively. The most common causes of systemic treatment discontinuation were tumor progression and liver function deterioration (15% to 36.4%). Patterns of tumor progression were not specifically associated with prognosis or treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: Liver function deterioration occurs in a third of patients following systemic therapies. The complexity of treatment decisions underly the need for a multidisciplinary team and the role of hepatologists.

Cardiovascular diseases represent a major burden worldwide, and clinical trials are critical to define treatment improvements. Since various conflicts of interest (COIs) may influence trials at multiple levels, cardiovascular research represents a paradigmatic example to analyze their effects and manage them effectively to re-establish the centrality of evidence-based medicine.Despite the manifest role of industry, COIs may differently affect both sponsored and non-sponsored studies in many ways. COIs influence may start from the research question, data collection and adjudication, up to result reporting, including the spin phenomenon. Outcomes and endpoints (especially composite) choice and definitions also represent potential sources for COIs interference. Since large randomized controlled trials significantly influence international guidelines, thus impacting also clinical practice, their critical assessment for COIs is mandatory. Despite specific protocols aimed to mitigate COI influence, even scientific societies and guideline panels may not be totally free from COIs, negatively affecting their accountability and trustworthiness.Shared rules, awareness of COI mechanisms and transparency with external data access may help promoting evidence-based research and mitigate COIs impact. Managing COIs effectively should preserve public trust in the cardiovascular profession without compromising the positive relationships between investigators and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We validate a deep learning model predicting comorbidities from frontal chest radiographs (CXRs) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and compare the model’s performance with hierarchical condition category (HCC) and mortality outcomes in COVID-19. The model was trained and tested on 14,121 ambulatory frontal CXRs from 2010 to 2019 at a single institution, modeling select comorbidities using the value-based Medicare Advantage HCC Risk Adjustment Model. Sex, age, HCC codes, and risk adjustment factor (RAF) score were used. The model was validated on frontal CXRs from 413 ambulatory patients with COVID-19 (internal cohort) and on initial frontal CXRs from 487 COVID-19 hospitalized patients (external cohort). The discriminatory ability of the model was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves compared to the HCC data from electronic health records, and predicted age and RAF score were compared using correlation coefficient and absolute mean error. The model predictions were used as covariables in logistic regression models to evaluate the prediction of mortality in the external cohort. Predicted comorbidities from frontal CXRs, including diabetes with chronic complications, obesity, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, vascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had a total area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.85–0.86). The ROC AUC of predicted mortality for the model was 0.84 (95% CI,0.79–0.88) for the combined cohorts. This model using only frontal CXRs predicted select comorbidities and RAF score in both internal ambulatory and external hospitalized COVID-19 cohorts and was discriminatory of mortality, supporting its potential use in clinical decision making. Author summary Artificial Intelligence algorithms in Radiology can be used not only on standard imaging data like chest radiographs to predict diagnoses but can also incorporate other data. We wanted to find out if we could combine administrative and demographic data with chest radiographs to predict common comorbidities and mortality. Our deep learning algorithm was able to predict diabetes with chronic complications, obesity, congestive heart failure, arrythmias, vascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The deep learning algorithm was also able to predict an administrative metric (RAF score) used in value-based Medicare Advantage plans. We used these predictions as biomarkers to predict mortality with a second statistical model using logistic regression in COVID-19 patients both in and out of the hospital. The degree of discrimination both the deep learning algorithm and statistical model provide would be considered ‘good’ by most, and certainly much better than chance alone. It was measured at 0.85 (95% CI: 0.85–0.86) by the area under the ROC curve method for the artificial intelligence algorithm, and 0.84 (95% CI:0.79–0.88) by the same method for the statistical mortality prediction model.

In this work we implement a COVID-19 infection detection system based on chest X-ray images with uncertainty estimation. Uncertainty estimation is vital for safe usage of computer aided diagnosis tools in medical applications. Model estimations with high uncertainty should be carefully analyzed by a trained radiologist. We aim to improve uncertainty estimations using unlabelled data through the MixMatch semi-supervised framework. We test popular uncertainty estimation approaches, comprising Softmax scores, Monte-Carlo dropout and deterministic uncertainty quantification. To compare the reliability of the uncertainty estimates, we propose the usage of the Jensen-Shannon distance between the uncertainty distributions of correct and incorrect estimations. This metric is statistically relevant, unlike most previously used metrics, which often ignore the distribution of the uncertainty estimations. Our test results show a significant improvement in uncertainty estimates when using unlabelled data. The best results are obtained with the use of the Monte Carlo dropout method.

Rockfall events are one of the most frequent types of mass wasting in mountainous areas, causing service and traffic disruption, as well as infrastructure and human damage. Hence, having accurate tools to model these hazards becomes crucial to prevent fatalities, especially in a context of climate change whereby the effects of these phenomena might be exacerbated. Under this premise, this article concerned the development of a framework for assessing rockfall hazard in mountainous areas. First, a set of factors expected to favor rockfalls were processed and aggregated using spatial analysis tools, yielding a series of hazard maps with which to fit observed data through statistical modeling. The validation process was undertaken with the support of a database containing the number of rocks removed from a mountainous road section located in Cantabria, northern Spain. The results achieved, which demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed approach to reproduce rockfall hazard using frequency data, highlighted the primary role played by factors such as slope, runoff threshold, and precipitation to explain the occurrence of these events. The effects of climate change were considerably influenced by the fluctuations in the projections of precipitation, which limited the variations in the spatial distribution and magnitude of rockfall hazard.

Clonally transmissible cancers are tumour lineages that are transmitted between individuals via the transfer of living cancer cells. In marine bivalves, leukaemia-like transmissible cancers, called hemic neoplasia (HN), have demonstrated the ability to infect individuals from different species. We performed whole-genome sequencing in eight warty venus clams that were diagnosed with HN, from two sampling points located more than 1000 nautical miles away in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Coasts of Spain. Mitochondrial genome sequencing analysis from neoplastic animals revealed the coexistence of haplotypes from two different clam species. Phylogenies estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear markers confirmed this leukaemia originated in striped venus clams and later transmitted to clams of the species warty venus, in which it survives as a contagious cancer. The analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences supports all studied tumours belong to a single neoplastic lineage that spreads in the Seas of Southern Europe.

Frédéric Engel (1981:24), el pionero de los estudios del Precerámico en el Perú, argumentó que la distribución de los sitios arqueológicos durante el Holoceno temprano fue determinada por “la capacidad de las lomas” –oasis estacionales producidos por la humedad oceánica que están presentes a lo largo de la costa del Perú– una proposición que aún se encuentra en debate. Nosotros evaluaremos las ideas de Engel basándonos en datos de sitios arqueológicos del Precerámico Medio (hasta 4500 años cal AP) ubicados dentro y cerca de las lomas de la costa sur del Perú.

This study evaluated the influence of rearing system (cultured vs. wild rearing systems), and fish sex on carcass and flesh traits of A. rivulatus, raised in Ecuador. Three hundred mature specimens from A. rivulatus were captured, 150 from each origin. Slaughter yield and dress-out resulted similar for both rearing system, and average fillet yield for cultured fish was significantly higher than for wild fish, while cooking loss was significantly lower. Dress-out was significantly higher in females. Significant differences were found in wet percentage, ash, fat and protein content in both rearing systems, but only wet percentage was significantly affected by sex. Palmitic, oleic and arachidonic acids had the maximum percentage of saturated (SFA) and mono/poly unsaturated (MUFA/ PUFA) fatty acids, respectively. In cultured and wild fish, differentiations were also found in PUFA/SFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), atherogenicity (IA), and thrombogenicity (IT) indices, along with P, K, Mg, Cu and Fe. Sex and rearing system significantly influenced most of the analyzed characteristics of carcass and flesh of A. rivulatus. Fillet high yield and its proximate composition categorize A. rivulatus as a suitable food. These results provide valuable nutritional information about native species for consumers in Ecuador. Highlights: • The rearing system (cultured vs. wild rearing systems), and fish sex affect the carcass and flesh traits of A. rivulatus. • Fillet high yield and its proximate composition categorize A. rivulatus as a suitable food. • The proximate composition of fillet from cultured A. rivulatus is more adequate than those of wild A. rivulatus. • The cultured A. rivulatus contains higher n-3 and n-6 PUFA percentages and adequate n-3/n-6 ratio.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent marine neurotoxin that occurs in several Australian phyla, including pufferfish, toadfish, gobies, and the blue-ringed octopus. These animals are partially immune, and TTX is known to bioaccumulate and subject to trophic transfer. As such, it could be more ubiquitously distributed in animals than is currently known. Flatworms of the order Polycladida are commonly occurring invertebrates in intertidal ecosystems and are especially diverse in Australian waters. While TTX has been identified in polyclads from Japan and New Zealand, Australian species have yet to be tested. In this study, several eastern Australian polyclad flatworm species from the suborders Cotylea and Acotylea were tested for TTX and analogs by HILIC-HRMS to understand the distribution of this toxin within these suborders. Herein, we report the detection of TTX and some known analogs in polyclad species, one of which is a pest to shellfish aquaculture. We also report, for the first time, the application of MALDI mass spectrometry imaging utilized to map TTX spatially within the intestinal system of polyclads. The identification of TTX and its analogs in Australian flatworms illustrates a broader range of toxic flatworms and highlights that analogs are important to consider when studying the distributions of toxins in animals.

Abstract Background Low-carbon technologies must be widely adopted at a large scale to address climate change and enhance access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. The uptake of those technologies is often supported by specific policies developed at a national or regional level and those policies, like the technologies themselves, can diffuse from one place to another. This paper sheds some light on this ‘policy transfer’ and investigates the dynamics, the actors and the processes involved. We illustrate what happens when renewable energy support policies in one country inspire renewable support policies in another country using three case studies in Peru, Thailand and Uganda as examples. Results Using an adapted version of the policy transfer framework first elaborated by Dolowitz and Marsh (Polit Stud 44:343–57, 1996; Governance 13:5–23, 2000), we describe the policy transfer process in the three case study countries according to several criteria. We find that policy transfer is not a straightforward process where a ‘borrower’ country simply adopts policies from a ‘lender’ country, but instead a complex process where many actors - national and international – interact to shape the outcome of the process. And while experiences particularly in the EU as well as international developments have influenced the policy transfer in case study countries significantly, domestic issues also play a key role in shaping the transferred policies and in adapting them to local contexts. Moreover, the policy transfer process is not an one-off event, but a continuous process where iterative learning helps the policies to evolve over time. Conclusions Policy transfer is a complex matter, involving many stakeholders during a continuous process over time. The Dolowitz and Marsh framework proved useful to analyse policy transfer and the actors involved although questions for further research remain. For instance, against what kind of criteria should the ‘success’ of a policy transfer be measured? Moreover, while comparing three illustrative case studies is a first, useful step, having a larger set of case studies and data might enhance our understanding of the details of the processes involved even further.

La acuicultura favorece la soberanía alimentaria en Ecuador, mantiene sus medios de vida y potencia el incremento de los ingresos de la unidad familiar. La especie de agua dulce Cichlasoma festae representa una importante especie de gran uso local. En este estudio nuestro objetivo fue modelizar el crecimiento de alevines de Cichlasoma festae producidos en sistemas intensivos con tecnología Biofloc. El estudio duró 90 días y se llevó a cabo en la Finca experimental “La María”, en la Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ). Se situaron 15 jaulas dentro de un estanque circular de hormigón armado con Biofloc y se introdujeron 300 alevines de C. festae con un peso de 4,9 g. Quincenalmente, se midieron en 75 alevines de C. festae los parámetros biométricos individuales de longitud total, peso y altura. Diariamente se midieron los parámetros fisicoquímicos del agua de Biofloc (pH, temperatura, oxígeno, nitrógeno amoniacal total y sólidos en suspensión). El crecimiento se determinó utilizando modelos de regresión y en una segunda etapa se ajustó el peso al modelo seleccionado de mejor ajuste que fue: Log-Y Raíz Cuadrada-X que explica el 98,3% de la variabilidad en Peso. Con este estudio podemos concluir que la tecnología Biofloc podría ser una alternativa para la producción intensiva de especies nativas. En investigaciones futuras será necesario avanzar en el conocimiento de las condiciones del Biofloc propias para cada especie, biomasa de cultivo, estrategias de aireación para cada una de las etapas de crecimiento y así potenciar y optimizar los cultivos.