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The main objective of this article is to highlight the importance of training in digital tools at the university level to foster the development of innovative and efficient data analysis from a scientific perspective. In an increasingly digitised world, the acquisition of digital skills has become a fundamental requirement for success in various disciplines, especially in conducting academic studies and research. The implementation of Computer-Aided Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) software, such as the ATLAS.ti platform, for text analysis not only enriches the educational experience but also prepares students to excel in an ever-evolving digital environment and raise the quality of their research. We present here a practical example of textual analysis in ATLAS.ti that can serve as a reference guide for similar studies based on content analysis of interviews. Various qualitative and quantitative data analysis options and techniques are explored that allow researchers to identify patterns, trends and relationships in the texts analysed, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the topics under study by transcending traditional methods of text analysis.

Abstract The specificity of gene expression during development requires the insulation of regulatory domains to avoid inappropriate enhancer-gene interactions. In vertebrates, this insulator function is mostly attributed to clusters of CTCF sites located at topologically associating domain (TAD) boundaries. However, TAD boundaries allow some physical crosstalk across regulatory domains, which is at odds with the specific and precise expression of developmental genes. Here we show that developmental genes and nearby clusters of CTCF sites cooperatively foster the robust insulation of regulatory domains. By genetically dissecting a couple of representative loci in mouse embryonic stem cells, we show that CTCF sites prevent undesirable enhancer-gene contacts (i.e. physical insulation), while developmental genes preferentially contribute to regulatory insulation through non-structural mechanisms involving promoter competition rather than enhancer blocking. Overall, our work provides important insights into the insulation of regulatory domains, which in turn might help interpreting the pathological consequences of certain structural variants.

El cómic de autoras femeninas se ha incrementado a lo largo de los últimos años en el panorama español y, su desarrollo expresivo y visual, se ha visto impulsado gracias a las editoriales e imprentas especializadas en dar visibilidad y soporte a este tipo de publicaciones. Y es, en el mercado de cómic para adultos, donde han ganado en popularidad, evolucionando de la autoedición de fanzines alternativos con pequeñas tiradas, a ocupar los primeros puestos en las librerías españolas. Las redes sociales como Tik Tok e Instagram, han contribuido a su difusión e impacto entre un público juvenil e internacional. Partiendo de los escasos estudios académicos publicados sobre autoras de cómic contemporáneo español, se ha considerado realizar una investigación enfocada en la obra gráfica y trayectoria profesional de las autoras María Medem, Ana Galvañ, Marta Cartu y Miriam Muñoz. El estudio tiene como objetivo principal, el análisis comparativo de la obra gráfica de las autoras, así como de sus influencias estéticas y técnicas visuales utilizadas que demostrará, a modo de conclusión, el impacto e influencia en la narrativa gráfica española, en la actualidad.

Abstract Background Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is the most promising candidate to become the first migraine biomarker. However, literature shows clashing results and suggests a methodological source for such discrepancies. We aimed to investigate some of these methodological factors to evaluate the actual role of CGRP as biomarker. Methods Previous to the experimental part, we performed a literature review of articles measuring CGRP in migraine patients. Using our 399 bio-bank sera samples, we performed a series of experiments to test the validity of different ELISA kits employed, time of sample processing, long-term storage, sampling in rest or after moderate exercise. Analysis of in-house data was performed to analyse average levels of the peptide and the effect of sex and age. Results Literature review shows the high variability in terms of study design, determination methods, results and conclusions obtained by studies including CGRP determinations in migraine patients. CGRP measurements depends on the method and specific kit employed, also on the isoform detected, showing completely different ranges of concentrations. Alpha-CGRP and beta-CGRP had median with IQR levels of 37.5 (28.2–54.4) and 4.6 (2.4–6.4)pg/mL, respectively. CGRP content is preserved in serum within the 24 first hours when samples are stored at 4°C after clotting and immediate centrifugation. Storages at -80°C of more than 6 months result in a decrease in CGRP levels. Moderate exercise prior to blood extraction does not modulate the concentration of the peptide. Age positively correlates with beta-CGRP content and men have higher alpha-CGRP levels than women. Conclusions We present valuable information for CGRP measurements in serum. ELISA kit suitability should be tested prior to the experiments. Alpha and beta-CGRP levels should be analysed separately as they can show different behaviours even within the same condition. Samples can be processed in a 24-h window if they have been kept in 4°C and should not be stored for more than 6 months at -80°C before assayed. Patients do not need to rest before the blood extraction unless they have performed a high-endurance exercise. For comparative studies, sex and age should be accounted for as these parameters can impact CGRP concentrations. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Effective interventions for Multiple Sclerosis require timely treatment optimization which usually involves switching disease modifying therapies. The patterns of prescription and the reasons for changing treatment in people with MS, especially in low prevalence populations, are unknown. Objectives To describe the persistence, reasons of DMT switches and prescription patterns in a cohort of Colombian people with MS. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study including patients with confirmed MS with at least one visit at our centre. We estimated the overall incidence rate of medication changes and assessed the persistence on medication with Kaplan–Meier survival estimates for individual medications and according to efficacy and mode of administration. The factors associated with changing medications were assessed using adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models. The reasons for switching medication changes were described, and the prescription patterns were assessed using network analysis, with measures of centrality. Results Seven hundred one patients with MS were included. Mean age was 44.3 years, and 67.9% were female. Mean disease duration was 11.3 years and 84.5% had relapsing MS at onset, with median EDSS of 1.0. Treatment was started in 659 (94%) of the patients after a mean of 3 years after MS symptom onset. Among them, 39.5% maintained their initial DMT, 29.9% experienced a single DMT change, while 18.7% went through two, and 11.9% had three or more DMT changes until the final follow-up. The total number of treatment modifications reached 720, resulting in an incidence rate of 1.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.17) per patient per year The median time to change after the first DMT was 3.75 years, and was not different according to the mode of administration or efficacy classification. The main reasons for changing DMT were MS activity (relapses, 56.7%; MRI activity, 18.6%), followed by non-serious adverse events (15.3%) and disability (11.1%). Younger age at MS onset, care under our centre and insurer status were the main determinants of treatment change. Network analysis showed that interferons and fingolimod were the most influential DMTs. Conclusions A majority of patients switch medications, mostly due to disease activity, and in association with age and insurer status.

The demand for increasingly healthier food products requires challenges from food processors, to produce foods with better sensory properties, fortified with micronutrients and bioactive compounds of natural origin. This study addresses a novel formulation of osmosonicated orange peel snacks, impregnated with plant extracts during osmodehydration. Extracts of purple corn, camu-camu, lucuma, carob and prickly pear were used as hypertonic solution. Sucrose solution was used as control. Snacks exhibits adequate moisture values, important content of fibre and slightly reduction of proteins. Snacks with plant extracts had less content of carbohydrates than control. A preservation and/or reduced loss of bioactives compounds of the snacks was observed, being the ferulic acid, the main phenolic. The antioxidant activity was enhanced with the use of osmosonication and heat dehydration. Color changes were observed according to the different plant extracts used. The sensory quality exhibits a good acceptability for all snacks, mainly the snack impregned with lucuma extract.

Introducción: Existe poca información sobre la propagación vegetativa de tacaco (Sechium tacaco). Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la longitud del esqueje sobre la propagación asexual de tacaco. Métodos: El ensayo lo realizamos en Ujarrás, Cartago, Costa Rica. Utilizamos 36 esquejes de brotes secundarios, de tres longitudes diferentes (larga, mediana y corta; 12 esquejes de cada longitud). Tratamos los esquejes con 10 000ppm de AIB, y los mantuvimos bajo condiciones de invernadero durante 41 días. Luego los trasplantamos a bolsas plásticas, y los mantuvimos bajo casa sombra por 27 días. Evaluamos las siguientes variables: peso seco de raíz, peso seco de parte aérea, relación peso seco de parte aérea/peso seco de raíz, cambio de altura, cambio de número de nudos, cambio de número de brotes, y cambio de grosor de tallo. Resultados: No hallamos diferencias significativas entre tratamientos para ninguna de las variables evaluadas. Conclusión: La longitud del esqueje no influyó significativamente sobre la propagación vegetativa de tacaco.

Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto del factor genético sobre la propagación de tacaco (Sechium tacaco) por medio de esquejes. Materiales y métodos. El ensayo se desarrolló en Ujarrás, Cartago, Costa Rica. Se utilizaron esquejes de brotes secundarios de cuatro colectas de tacaco. Los esquejes fueron tratados con 11 667 ppm de ácido indol-3-butírico (AIB), y se mantuvieron bajo condiciones de invernadero durante 22 días. Las variables evaluadas fueron: porcentaje de enraizamiento (%), porcentaje de supervivencia (%), peso seco de raíces (mg/esqueje) y cambio de altura del esqueje (cm). El diseño experimental fue irrestricto al azar. Resultados. Se halló un efecto significativo del factor genético del esqueje de tacaco sobre el cambio de altura del esqueje a 22 días después de la siembra; las colectas 1 y 4 mostraron un valor significativamente superior (5.62-6.46 cm) con respecto a la colecta 2 (1.63 cm). Sin embargo, no se presentaron diferencias significativas entre colectas para el porcentaje de enraizamiento del esqueje, el peso seco de la raíz y el porcentaje de supervivencia del esqueje. Conclusión. El factor genético solamente influyó de manera significativa en el proceso de propagación vegetativa de tacaco mediante esquejes en el cambio de altura del esqueje, pero no sobre las otras variables evaluadas.

Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different inorganic compounds as electron donors for the capture of CO2 from a model cement flue gas CO2/O2/N2 (4.2:13.5:82.3% v/v) using a non‐photosynthetic microbial community. The inoculum obtained from a H2‐producing reactor was acclimated to CO2 consumption achieving 100% of CO2 removal after 45 days. Na2S, MnCl2, NaNO2, NH4Cl, Na2S2O3, and FeCl2 were used as energy source for CO2 fixation by the acclimated microbial community showing different efficiencies, being Na2S the best electron donor evaluated (100% of CO2 consumption) and FeCl2 the less effective (28% of CO2 consumption). In all treatments, acetate and propionate were the main endpoint metabolites. Moreover, scaling the process to a continuous laboratory biotrickling filter using Na2S as energy source showed a CO2 consumption of up to 77%. Analysis of the microbial community showed that Na2S and FeCl2 exerted a strong selection on the microbial members in the community showing significant differences (PERMANOVA, p = 0.0001) compared to the control and the other treatments. Results suggest that the CO2 fixing pathways used by the microbial community in all treatments were the 3‐hydroxypropionate‐4‐hydroxybutyrate cycle and the Wood‐Ljungdahl pathway.

ABSTRACTThe potato is a tuber with high global demand and importance in the human diet. It is used by food industries to manufacture processed products (French fries, chips, and purees), and consequently, significant quantities of potato peel are generated as a by-product. Potato peels are rich in compounds like anthocyanins, glycoalkaloids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. These bioactive compounds are associated with good health because they protect the body’s cells from oxidative processes and have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and anticancer properties. Hence, new methods to recover these compounds and their application to food matrices are being explored. This review aims to raise awareness of the value of potato peels as a source of different phenolic compounds and the need to recover them. The review highlights the most recent research on the use of this by-product in different foods to add value to the final composition or improve technological and nutritional properties.

El término intelectual ha quedado ligado a los opositores del orden político establecido. Sin embargo, existieron figuras de la cultura que participaron en el Estado liberal del siglo XIX español. En este artículo profundizaré en los vínculos entre cultura y política a través de los socios del Ateneo de Madrid.

El proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje ha sido abordado, durante las últimas décadas, desde un Modelo por Competencias. Estas deben desarrollarse en cada asignatura y desde la práctica. Las redes sociales resultan una alternativa factible que, con el profesorado como agente facilitador, puede ayudar al estudiantado a fomentar sus competencias. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el impacto del uso de la red social Facebook en el desarrollo de la competencia comunicativa en estudiantes universitarios dominicanos, en el área de las Ciencias Sociales. Se trabajó un estudio de caso, de campo, descriptivo y explicativo, con un enfoque mixto, transversal, durante el cuatrimestre de mayo-agosto 2022, bajo un diseño no experimental. La muestra fueron 81 estudiantes de asignaturas de Ciencias Sociales del Instituto de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña de República Dominicana. Los resultados obtenidos a través de la aplicación de un cuestionario y de una ficha de observación, concluyen que el estudiantado experimentó mejoras significativas en aspectos relacionados con la competencia comunicativa, como la ortografía, la organización y coherencia de sus ideas, y la adopción del hábito de revisar sus escritos antes de publicarlos en Facebook. Los 81 estudiantes participantes, evaluaron el uso de Facebook como una herramienta excelente y útil para el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, y destacaron su contribución a la mejora de la competencia comunicativa. Los resultados obtenidos respaldan los planteamientos de varios autores, acerca de la utilidad de la red social Facebook en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje por competencias.

Con el presente estudio se busca identificar si las características del director y su comportamiento directivo presentan relación con el tiempo de permanencia en el mercado de las mypes de Mineral de la Reforma, México. Con un enfoque cuantitativo correlacional transeccional, se aplicó de manera aleatoria a 871 directores de mypes de Mineral de la Reforma un cuestionario combinado con escala Likert de cinco puntos, que forma parte de los instrumentos de recopilación de datos diseñados para las investigaciones de la RELAYN 2023 (Peña y Aguilar, 2023). Se realizó una regresión multivariada para detectar la relación de los factores: (X1) comportamiento directivo, (X2) nivel de estudio, (X3) responsabilidad familiar y (X4) edad, con la variable (Y) de tiempo de vida de la empresa. Los resultados indican que esta relación en conjunto es débil; aunque las variables edad y nivel de estudios influyen pero de forma limitada. Como conclusión se evidencia la complejidad implícita para la permanencia de una empresa en el mercado y la necesidad de abordar otros múltiples factores no controlables. La insuficiencia de la teoría sobre gestión estratégica precisa mayor exploración sobre el perfil del director como factor de competitividad de su empresa.

En este artículo se presenta una investigación diacrónica centrada en analizar las formas de interacción vernáculas de las comunidades digitales en Twitch, a través de los chats de los canales de seis streamers hispanohablantes con mayor número de suscriptores —illojuan, ibai, auronplay, cristinini, staryuuki y rivers_gg—. La investigación ha seguido una lógica de diseño mixto, usando las técnicas de etnografía digital y el web scraping. Concretamente, se ha realizado un chat-scrapping de seis comunidades de streamers en Twitch y se ha creado una base de datos con un total de 1.650.309 mensajes. Se concluye que la afectividad es clave en la relación streamer-chatter/viewer y se encuentra fuertemente mediada por la monetización de la plataforma. Por su parte, es posible negar la "ruptura de la cuarta pared", pues el grado de interactividad del chat está sujeto a límites funcionales. En relación al género, las mujeres streamers logran construir entornos de chat con el doble de interactividad entre usuarios que sus colegas hombres. Por último, se concluye que el chat no está diseñado para ser leído, siendo sólo inteligible el eco de una conversación colectiva masiva, coordinada de manera espontánea por usuario unidos por vínculos débiles que constituyen un “chat colmena”.

Abstract Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., is a diploid warm‐season legume of critical importance as both food and fodder in sub‐Saharan Africa. This species is also grown in Northern Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and East to Southeast Asia. To capture the genomic diversity of domesticates of this important legume, de novo genome assemblies were produced for representatives of six subpopulations of cultivated cowpea identified previously from genotyping of several hundred diverse accessions. In the most complete assembly (IT97K‐499‐35), 26,026 core and 4963 noncore genes were identified, with 35,436 pan genes when considering all seven accessions. GO terms associated with response to stress and defense response were highly enriched among the noncore genes, while core genes were enriched in terms related to transcription factor activity, and transport and metabolic processes. Over 5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) relative to each assembly and over 40 structural variants >1 Mb in size were identified by comparing genomes. Vu10 was the chromosome with the highest frequency of SNPs, and Vu04 had the most structural variants. Noncore genes harbor a larger proportion of potentially disruptive variants than core genes, including missense, stop gain, and frameshift mutations; this suggests that noncore genes substantially contribute to diversity within domesticated cowpea.

Abstract Background and Study Aims Our aim was to determine the impact of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and Methods This prospective cohort study included individuals diagnosed with CRC between March 13, 2019 and June 20, 2021 across 21 Spanish hospitals. Two time periods were compared: prepandemic (from March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2020) and pandemic (from March 14, 2020 to June 20, 2021, lockdown period and 1 year after lockdown). Results We observed a 46.9% decrease in the number of CRC diagnoses (95% confidence interval (CI): 45.1%–48.7%) during the lockdown and 29.7% decrease (95% CI: 28.1%–31.4%) in the year after the lockdown. The proportion of patients diagnosed at stage I significantly decreased during the pandemic (21.7% vs. 19.0%; p = 0.025). Centers that applied universal preprocedure SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR testing experienced a higher reduction in the number of colonoscopies performed during the pandemic post‐lockdown (34.0% reduction; 95% CI: 33.6%–34.4% vs. 13.7; 95% CI: 13.4%–13.9%) and in the number of CRCs diagnosed (34.1% reduction; 95% CI: 31.4%–36.8% vs. 26.7%; 95% CI: 24.6%–28.8%). Curative treatment was received by 87.5% of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer prepandemic and 80.7% of patients during the pandemic post‐lockdown period (p = 0.002). Conclusions The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of diagnosed CRC cases and in the proportion of stage I CRC. The reduction in the number of colonoscopies and CRC diagnoses was higher in centers that applied universal SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR screening before colonoscopy. In addition, the COVID‐19 pandemic has affected curative treatment of rectal cancers.

Context: Statins reduce the risk of stroke and prevent cardiac events in people with atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus; and could affect the proliferation, migration, and survival of cancer cells. Aims: To review the most up-to-date and available scientific evidence on the allelic variants of SLCO1B1 and CYP3A4 associated with pharmacokinetic interactions and adverse reactions induced by simvastatin and atorvastatin used in Peru, and their clinical implications. Methods: The bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases. The keywords were: “statin”, “atorvastatin”, “simvastatin” in combination with “pharmacokinetics”, “pharmacogenetics”, “CYP3A4”, “SLCO1B1” or “drug interactions” considering the eligibility criteria defined by the PRISMA-2020 international statement. Results: Scientific evidence indicates a significant association between SLCO1B1 rs4149056 c.521T>C (521CC and 521TC) and increased plasma levels, area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of simvastatin, compared to wild-type SLCO1B1*1/*1 521TT (p0.05). Patients with SLCO1B1 521CC had a significantly higher risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis induced by simvastatin compared to TT (pC), CYP3A4*1/*22 and CYP3A4*3/*22 could be associated with an increase in the pharmacokinetic parameters and with an increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis induced by simvastatin, and not by atorvastatin.

Context: In 14 districts of the valley of Ica-Peru, Vitis vinifera L. plants are cultivated that produce grapes for consumption as table grapes and raisins (dried grapes); at the same time, for the production of wines and Piscos. Aims: To determine the levels of abamectin and emamectin in grapes of Vitis vinifera L from a district of the Valley of Ica-Peru. Methods: 30 lots (30 kg) of Moscatel grape variety V. vinifera L. were collected from six countryside (artisanal and organic cultivation) of the San Juan Bautista district. The extraction of abamectin (ABM) and emamectin benzoate (EMB) from the grapes was carried out with acetonitrile; it was quantified by means of Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The maximum permissible limit values (MRL) were established at 0.010 ppm for both insecticides. Results: The determined levels of abamectin and emamectin in grapes were 0.0012-0.015 ppm and 0.0013-0.013 ppm, respectively. Values higher than the maximum permissible limits of abamectin were found in batches A2 (0.0102 ppm), C1 (0.015 ppm), C5 (0.0113 ppm), and F2 (0.012 ppm); emamectin benzoate in lots B1 (0.0113 ppm), B4 (0.013 ppm) and C4 (0.012 ppm). Using the Shapiro-Wilk, Anderson Darling and Student’s t tests, it was found that the global means of the values of the two insecticides in grapes are lower than the MRL. According to the global analysis of variance, the means of the concentrations of both insecticides were not different between the six sampling zones (countryside). Conclusions: The insecticides abamectin and emamectin are below the maximum permissible limit values (0.010 ppm) in Moscatel grapes of Vitis vinifera L., so the residual effect would not have implications for human health.

Currently, there is a greater interest in using natural products in various chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. However, these investigations have not considered the components of grape seeds. In this context, the current study explored the in vitro antioxidant and in vivo hypoglycemic activity of biophenols and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from Vitis vinifera L. muscat and quebranta seeds from the Ica Valley, Peru. The total polyphenol content (TPC) of muscat (1.57±0.015 mg GAE/g) and quebranta (1.43±0.015 mg GAE/g) seeds was estimated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH• free radical assay for muscat and quebranta (IC50: 38.60±0.624 µg/mL and 42.83±0.306 µg/mL, respectively) and by FRAP 0.79±0.030 μg TEAC/g for muscat and 0.61±0.038 μg TEAC/g for quebranta. After inducing experimental hyperglycemia with alloxane in Rattus norvegicus strain Holtzman, treatment was carried out for 7 days and glucose levels were measured at 1, 2 and 4 hours. At a dose of 500 mg/kg, orally, of biophenols/PUFA from muscat and quebranta seeds, a hypoglycemic effect was observed; whose results were verified with the Shapiro-Wilk test (p-value > α = 0.05), Tukey’s multiple comparisons test (p-value 0.0001 < α = 0.05), Student’s T with p-value < α = 0.05 at 1 hour for days 1 to 6, and p-value 0.999 > α = 0.05 for 2 and 4 hours on day 7, indicates a small probability of difference; in ANOVA results the mean difference is significant (p-value 0.0001 < α 0.05). The Pearson analysis found a strong correlation [0.50 ≤ (0.9530–0.9827) < 1.0] between glibenclamide/biophenols-PUFA glucose levels. Current data show an in vitro antioxidant effect and hypoglycemic activity of the seeds of grapes of the muscat and quebranta varieties. Graphical abstract

The modulation of macrophage phenotype from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state holds therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory disease. We have previously shown that arginase-2 (Arg2), a mitochondrial enzyme, is a key regulator of the macrophage anti-inflammatory response. Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of Arg2 enhancement via target site blockers (TSBs) in human macrophages. TSBs are locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides that were specifically designed to protect specific microRNA recognition elements (MREs) in human ARG2 3′ UTR mRNA. TSBs targeting miR-155 (TSB-155) and miR-3202 (TSB-3202) MREs increased ARG2 expression in human monocyte-derived macrophages. This resulted in decreased gene expression and cytokine production of TNF-α and CCL2 and, for TSB-3202, in an increase in the anti-inflammatory macrophage marker, CD206. Proteomic analysis demonstrated that a network of pro-inflammatory responsive proteins was modulated by TSBs. In silico bioinformatic analysis predicted that TSB-3202 suppressed upstream pro-inflammatory regulators including STAT-1 while enhancing anti-inflammatory associated proteins. Proteomic data were validated by confirming increased levels of sequestosome-1 and decreased levels of phosphorylated STAT-1 and STAT-1 upon TSB treatment. In conclusion, upregulation of Arg2 by TSBs inhibits pro-inflammatory signaling and is a promising novel therapeutic strategy to modulate inflammatory signaling in human macrophages.

Vegetable oils and extracts have been used from ancient times for skin care. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate the physicochemical, organoleptic, and microbiological characteristics and the instrumental efficacy in vivo of a cosmetic formula named “ASC Cream”, containing sangre de grado resin extract (Croton lechleri) and vegetable oils obtained from moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa L.), goldenberry (Physalis peruviana), super sacha peanut (Plukenetia huayllabambana sp. nov.), and sacha peanut (Plukenetia volubilis L.). Instrumental efficacy, skin hydration and skin pH were tested in vivo in 24 healthy female volunteers between 40 and 65 years old, using non-invasive skin bioengineering equipment from Courage + Khazaka Electronics, both in the short term (30 min, 1 h and 3 h) and long term (14 and 28 days). The main findings were increased immediate hydration (132.4%) and long-term hydration (143.6%), showing a statistically significant average improvement (p < 0.05) without altering the skin pH. In conclusion, a balanced combination of the extract and oils significantly increases hydration levels while maintaining skin pH.

This manuscript reviews two decades of projects funded by the Kirkhouse Trust (KT), a charity registered in the UK. KT was established to improve the productivity of legume crops important in African countries and in India. KT’s requirements for support are: (1) the research must be conducted by national scientists in their home institution, either a publicly funded agricultural research institute or a university; (2) the projects need to include a molecular biology component, which to date has mostly comprised the use of molecular markers for the selection of one or more target traits in a crop improvement programme; (3) the projects funded are included in consortia, to foster the creation of scientific communities and the sharing of knowledge and breeding resources. This account relates to the key achievements and challenges, reflects on the lessons learned and outlines future research priorities.

Pronunciation is an essential aspect in the teaching of the English language, especially those aspects of pronunciation such as stress and vowel quality as they are crucial elements to ensure intelligibility in communication. The general objective of this study is to investigate whether the theoretical-practical instruction on pronunciation has a crucial impact on the vowel quality production of stressed and unstressed syllable in isolated words and in wider contexts, and therefore, in the improvement of intelligibility and of the oral production in general terms, in two groups of Spanish students of English (the control and the experimental group). More particularly, the study addresses the impact of formal instruction in pronunciation based on deduction in terms of rule formation from a cognitive perspective. The results indicate that the specific work implemented with the production of vowel quality in stressed and unstressed syllables have a significant impact on intelligibility.

Introducción. La tiña de la cabeza es una micosis que se presenta en el tejido queratinizado, afecta al cuero cabelludo y puede causar alopecia, prurito y descamación. Este tipo de micosis es más frecuente en niños de edad escolar, por lo que puede desencadenar un problema de salud pública. En Colombia, los principales agentes etiológicos reportados son los dermatofitos zoofílicos. Objetivo. En el presente estudio se buscó caracterizar un brote de tinea capitis en 32 niños de un colegio de la zona rural del departamento del Cauca. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo una investigación epidemiológica de campo en la que se aplicó una encuesta estructurada para caracterizar aspectos sociodemográficos y factores predisponentes para su ocurrencia. Se recolectaron muestras de escamas de cuero cabelludo y cabellos afectados para estudios micológicos. Finalmente, por medio de la Secretaría Departamental del Cauca y del hospital local, se manejó el brote de tinea capitis y se hicieron recomendaciones a los niños, los padres de familia y la población en general para prevenir estas micosis. Este estudio contó con el consentimiento informado verbal por parte de los padres de familia y los niños. Resultados. El agente etiológico aislado en el 63 % de las muestras recolectadas fue Trichophyton tonsurans y el principal factor predisponente para esta micosis fue compartir máquinas rasuradoras (87,5 %). El agente etiológico de este brote de tinea capitis no inflamatoria fue un dermatofito antropofílico.

Abstract The objective of this study was to optimize different vacuum drying conditions for cocoa pod husk and cocoa bean shell in order to enhance these by-products for commercial applications. To carry out the optimization, the response surface methodology was applied using a Box–Behnken experimental design with 15 experiments for which different conditions of temperature (X1), drying time (X2) and vacuum pressure (X3) were established. The response variables were the content of total polyphenols, the content of flavanols and the radical scavenging activity evaluated in the extracts of the different experiments. Temperature (50–70 °C), drying time (3–12 h) and vacuum pressure (50–150 mbar) were considered as independent variables. The main factors affecting the response variables were temperature, followed by vacuum pressure. For the content of polyphenols, the optimal response values predicted for the cocoa pod husk was 11.17 mg GAE/g with a confidence limit (95%) of 9.05 to 13.28 mg GAE/g (optimal conditions: 65 °C, 8 h and 75 mbar), while for the cocoa bean shell cocoa was 29.61 mg GAE/g with a confidence limit (95%) of 26.95 to 32.26 mg GAE/g (optimal conditions: 50 °C, 5 h and 100 mbar). Therefore, results of this study suggest a high content of phenolic compounds obtained from these by-products that show relevance as functional ingredients for application in the food, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder with a worldwide incidence of 20% and a treatment failure rate of 25–30%. The fluctuation in serum levels, efficacy and safety of antiepileptic drugs can be attributed to single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes encoding their respective proteins involved in drug metabolism. The present study attempted to evaluate the pharmacogenetic variants of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 associated with adverse reactions induced by antiepileptic drugs used in Peru. Few studies were found to significantly associate the CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, CYP2C19*2, and CYP2C19*3 single nucleotide polymorphisms with elevated serum levels of valproic acid and carbamazepine, and valproic acid induction of hyperammonemia, and adverse reactions cutaneous for carbamazepine. There is further evidence of a significant association of CYP2C9*2/CYP2C9*3 with severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and epidermal necrolysis (TEN) phenytoin-induced. CYP2C9*3 may be a pharmacogenetic biomarker for such a drug. It is proposed to reduce the dose of drugs for intermediate and poor metabolizers. No pharmacogenetic studies were found in patients with epilepsy in Peruvian populations. It is concluded that this review could help physicians in the prediction and prevention of adverse reactions induced by antiepileptic drugs, as well as to improve their pharmacotherapeutic results. It could also be used as scientific evidence to carry out pharmacogenetic and precision medicine studies in Peruvian patients with epilepsy, due to their tricontinental and Latin American ancestry.

The wellbeing of employee has become a challenge associated with working towards sustainable human resource management. This study, therefore, focuses on analyzing the role played by companies’ wellness practices as an important part of the social dimension of the “triple bottom line.” We hypothesize that these practices are linked to the employees’ perceived organizational support, and, simultaneously, to organizational performance, in addition to observing the mediating effects of job satisfaction and commitment. We tested the hypotheses by developing a questionnaire. The direct and mediating effects were analyzed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) structural equation technique. The results eventually obtained from 137 questionnaires provided evidence that wellness programs and perceived organizational support influence organizational performance, with mediating effects on job satisfaction and commitment. JEL Classification: L84, M12, M14

Recently, fish consumption has been increasing; subsequently, the number of by-products has also increased. However, generated residues are frequently discarded, and an appropriate management is necessary to properly use all fish by-products. Fishery by-products are well known for their content of bioactive compounds, such as unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, peptides, enzymes, gelatin, collagen, and chitin. Several studies have reported that fishery by-products could provide significant properties, including antioxidant, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiobesity. Consequently, fish discards are of considerable interest to different industrial sectors, including food, nutraceuticals, medical, and pharmacology. In the food industry, the interest in using fishery by-products is focused on hydrolysates as food additives, collagen and gelatin as protein sources, chitin and chitosan to form edible films to protect food during storage, and oils as a source of Omega-3 and useful as antioxidants. Although different studies reported good results with the use of these by-products, identifying new applications in the food sector, as well as industrial applications, remains necessary.

Brucella ovis causes non-zoonotic ovine brucellosis of worldwide distribution and is responsible for important economic losses mainly derived from male genital lesions and reproductive fails. Studies about the virulence mechanisms of this rough species (lacking lipopolysaccharide O-chains) are underrepresented when compared to the main zoonotic Brucella species that are smooth (with O-chains). Zinc intoxication constitutes a defense mechanism of the host against bacterial pathogens, which have developed efflux systems to counterbalance toxicity. In this study, we have characterized three potential B. ovis zinc exporters, including the ZntA ortholog previously studied in B. abortus. Despite an in-frame deletion removing 100 amino acids from B. ovis ZntA, the protein retained strong zinc efflux properties. Only indirect evidence suggested a higher exporter activity for B. abortus ZntA, which, together with differences in ZntR-mediated regulation of zntA expression between B. ovis and B. abortus, could contribute to explaining why the ΔzntR mutant of B. abortus is attenuated while that of B. ovis is virulent. Additionally, B. ovis ZntA was revealed as a powerful cadmium exporter contributing to cobalt, copper, and nickel detoxification, properties not previously described for the B. abortus ortholog. Deletion mutants for BOV_0501 and BOV_A1100, also identified as potential zinc exporters and pseudogenes in B. abortus, behaved as the B. ovis parental strain in all tests performed. However, their overexpression in the ΔzntA mutant allowed the detection of discrete zinc and cobalt efflux activity for BOV_0501 and BOV_A1100, respectively. Nevertheless, considering their low expression levels and the stronger activity of ZntA as a zinc and cobalt exporter, the biological role of BOV_0501 and BOV_A1100 is questionable. Results presented in this study evidence heterogeneity among pathogenic Brucellae regarding zinc export and, considering the virulence of B. ovis ΔzntA, suggest that host-mediated zinc intoxication is not a relevant mechanism to control B. ovis infection.

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota is a key player in the host metabolism. Some bacteria are able to ferment non-digestible compounds and produce short-chain fatty acids that the host can later transform and accumulate in tissue. In this study, we aimed to better understand the relationships between the microorganisms and the short-chain fatty acid composition of the rectal content, including the possible linkage with the fatty acid composition in backfat and muscle of the pig. We studied a Duroc × Iberian crossbred population, and we found significant correlations between different bacterial and archaeal genera and the fatty acid profile. The abundance of n-butyric acid in the rectal content was positively associated with Prevotella spp. and negatively associated with Akkermansia spp., while conversely, the abundance of acetic acid was negatively and positively associated with the levels of Prevotella spp. and Akkermansia spp., respectively. The most abundant genus, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, had a positive correlation with palmitic acid in muscle and negative correlations with stearic acid in backfat and oleic acid in muscle. These results suggest the possible role of Prevotella spp. and Akkermansia spp. as biomarkers for acetic and n-butyric acids, and the relationship of Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group with the lipid metabolism, building up the potential, although indirect, role of the microbiota in the modification of the backfat and muscle fatty acid composition of the host.IMPORTANCEThe vital role of the gut microbiota on its host metabolism makes it essential to know how its modulation is mirrored on the fatty acid composition of the host. Our findings suggest Prevotella spp. and Akkermansia spp. as potential biomarkers for the levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids and the possible influence of Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group in the backfat and muscle fatty acid composition of the pig.

ABSTRACT The emergence of Brucella infections in marine mammals is a growing concern. The present study reports two cases of systemic Brucella pinnipedialis infection detected in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) pair stranded together in the Cantabrian coast of Spain. Both animals showed systemic lesions associated with the Brucella infection, more severe in the younger dolphin, considered the likely offspring of the other individual. Real-time PCR, bacterial culture, and whole-genome sequencing were used to detect and characterize the Brucella strains involved in both dolphins. The phylogenetic analysis performed on the Brucella genomes retrieved revealed that the species involved was B. pinnipedialis (ST25). Both animals resulted seropositive in a commercial multispecies blocking ELISA but tested negative in the standard Rose Bengal test. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a systemic infection resulting in various lesions associated with Brucella pinnipedialis (ST25) in two bottlenose dolphins. It is also the initial isolation of Brucella in the milk of a non-pregnant or non-aborting female cetacean likely stranded with its offspring. These findings provide new insights into the epidemiology and clinical impact of B. pinnipedialis infection in cetaceans and underscore the importance of continued diagnostic surveillance to gain better understanding of brucellosis effects and transmission in marine mammal populations. IMPORTANCE Brucella spp. are zoonotic pathogens that can affect both terrestrial and marine mammals. Brucella ceti has been identified in various cetacean species, but only one sequence type (ST27) has been reported in humans. However, it is important to conduct surveillance studies to better understand the impact of marine Brucella species on marine mammals, a typically understudied host group. Here, we describe a systemic infection by two related strains of Brucella pinnipedialis (ST25) in a couple of live-stranded bottlenose dolphins, with more severe lesions in the younger animal. Furthermore, B. pinnipedialis was first detected in milk from a female cetacean that stranded with its offspring. Our study reveals novel insights into the epidemiology and pathological consequences of B. pinnipedialis infections in cetaceans, emphasizing the crucial importance of ongoing surveillance and accurate diagnosis to understand the impact of this pathogen on marine mammal populations.

AbstractNanoemulsions (NE) are lipid nanocarriers that can efficiently load hydrophobic active compounds, like palmitoyl-L-carnitine (pC), used here as model molecule. The use of design of experiments (DoE) approach is a useful tool to develop NEs with optimized properties, requiring less experiments compared to trial-and-error approach. In this work, NE were prepared by the solvent injection technique and DoE using a two-level fractional factorial design (FFD) as model was implemented for designing pC-loaded NE. NEs were fully characterized by a combination of techniques, studying its stability, scalability, pC entrapment and loading capacity and biodistribution, which was studied ex-vivo after injection of fluorescent NEs in mice. We selected the optimal composition for NE, named pC-NEU, after analysis of four variables using DoE. pC-NEU incorporated pC in a very efficient manner, with high entrapment efficiency (EE) and loading capacity. pC-NEU did not change its initial colloidal properties stored at 4 °C in water during 120 days, nor in buffers with different pH values (5.3 and 7.4) during 30 days. Moreover, the scalability process did not affect NE properties and stability profile. Finally, biodistribution study showed that pC-NEU formulation was predominantly concentrated in the liver, with minimal accumulation in spleen, stomach, and kidneys.

Context: In the Valley of Ica-Peru, the seeds of the fruit of Vitis vinifera L. (grape) are residues from the Pisco Industry, and due to their bioactive compounds, they can represent a new economic and sustainable activity for the population of the mentioned Valley. Aims: To characterize polyunsaturated fatty acids from the seeds of the fruit of Vitis vinifera L. (grape) from the Ica Valley, Peru and determine the antioxidant activity in vitro. Methods: The oil from five grape varieties (Quebranta, Moscatel, Torontel, Mollar, and Italia) was obtained by ethereal extraction with ultrasound. The profile of fatty acids was characterized by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The total polyphenolic content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity by two in vitro methods. Results: The values obtained from the 5 grape varieties are presented in a range: total polyphenolic content (TPC: 0.59-154 mg GAE/g); linoleic acid content (69.90-71.87%), oleic acid (18.35-19.90%) and others in a lower percentage (p>0.05). Antioxidant activity: DPPH IC50 38.30-48.43 µL; FRAP 0.49-0.77 μg TEAC/g. TPC/DPPH and TPC/FRAP were significantly different (p0.05). Conclusions: The oils from the seeds of the Vitis vinifera fruit (grapes) that are residues from the production of Pisco present physicochemical characteristics of oils of high nutritional value with a predominance of polyunsaturated fatty acids and potential antioxidant activity.

Background. Physalis peruviana L. fruit contains nutritional and bioactive compounds of immense importance to public health and represents a potential ingredient for the development of functional foods and beverages. Objective. This study aimed to determine the chemical and nutritional composition as well as the antioxidant capacity of the P. peruviana L. fruit grown in Peru in three areas of the Central Andean region. Material and methods. Proximal and physicochemical analyses and estimation of mineral content, vitamin C, total carotenoids, total polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] and 2, 2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS] assays) were performed using standardized methods. Results. The fruits were collected from three regions of the Peruvian Andes (Ancash, Cajamarca, and Cusco). The results showed that the content of potassium (306.54–327.60 mg/100 g) and iron (12.93–14.47 mg/kg) was prominent. The Physalis fruit had high levels of vitamin C (47.20–52.20 mg/100 g), total polyphenols (68.17–83.40 mg equivalents of gallic acid/100 g), and carotenoids (1.12–1.73 mg β-carotene/100 g). Higher values for antioxidant capacity were obtained with the ABTS method (896–1003.33 μmol Trolox/100 g) than with the DPPH method (290–309 μmol Trolox/100 g). Conclusions. This study confirms that the P. peruviana fruit has properties that could provide important health benefits and that it could be used for the development of functional foods and food supplement

More than one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur every day, and Trichomonas vaginalis is responsible for more than 156 million cases each year worldwide. Nevertheless, epidemiological studies of this parasite in Europe are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had in the diagnosis and epidemiology of trichomoniasis. All available data from January 2018 to December 2021 for T. vaginalis isolation on gynecologic patients attending a Spanish Tertiary Hospital were analyzed. Pre-pandemic results (2018–2019) were compared to pandemic results (2020–2021). The pre-pandemic T. vaginalis prevalence in women was 1.15% (95% Confidence Interval, CI: 0.94–1.41), and significantly decreased in 2020–2021 (0.77%, 95% CI: 0.57–1.03; p = 0.025). Demographic nor clinical characteristics of women diagnosed with trichomoniasis did not statistically differ between the periods, although an increase in chlamydia co-infected patients was observed in the latest (from 8% in 2018–2019 to 19% in 2020–2021). This study has detected a decrease in the diagnosis of trichomoniasis; however, this is probably due to the increase in the healthcare pressure triggered by the pandemic. More than 75% of the cases diagnosed in 2021 occurred in the second half, which suggests that special attention should be given to the evolution in the coming years once normality has been restored in hospitals. Moreover, these results warn of the lack of routine diagnosis of trichomoniasis during pregnancy and the absence of specific protocols for possible co-infections, which could become a strategy to reduce the growing trend of STIs, including T. vaginalis detection, as an interesting marker of sexual risk behaviors.

This study aims to characterise the prevalence of violence in intimate relationships among young university students and the internalisation of ambivalent sexism. The method used was a quantitative, descriptive study of Primary Education and Early Childhood Education groups in Andalusia, Spain. The final sample consisted of 848 participants. As a data collection tool, we used the VIREPA questionnaire and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. The results show that the most frequent forms of violence in young couples’ relationships are emotional, followed by physical and sexual violence, and emotional violence, followed by physical and psychological violence, with sexual aggression being slightly lower. Concerning the variable sex, although the averages are very close, women have higher averages in terms of emotional, physical, and psychological abuse; personal devaluation; and sexual abuse, while men have higher averages in terms of social and economic control. In addition, low levels of sexism were found to be ambivalent in the sample, with the results being highly differentiated by gender, with men having higher arithmetic means than women. This led us to design educational strategies that avoid inequalities between men and women and that contribute to the eradication of sexism and, consequently, the perpetration of violence.

En Costa Rica, la normativa de mayor empleo en materia de especificaciones para valorar la calidad de los agregados para concreto hidráulico, corresponde a la de la Sociedad Americana de Pruebas y Materiales (ASTM, por sus siglas en inglés), las cuales constituyen la base de las normas del Instituto de Normas Técnicas de Costa Rica (INTECO). Por ende, los requerimientos de graduación de los agregados que se sigue en el país provienen de la norma ASTM C33 Especificación normalizada para agregados para concreto (INTE C15:2014). Para el diseño de mezclas, esta norma proporciona especificaciones granulométricas para tamaños máximos nominales de 90 mm, 63 mm, 50 mm, 37,5 mm, 25 mm, 19 mm, 12,7 mm y 9,5 mm. No obstante, en estudios recientes, Hernández (2018) y Delgado (2018), utilizaron un agregado con tamaño máximo nominal de 16 mm en la elaboración de concreto hidráulico para obtener curvas estándar de desarrollo de resistencia para diferentes tipos de cemento portland que se comercializan en el país. En sus trabajos, tanto Hernández como Delgado, utilizaron agregado grueso de río y agregado grueso de tajo. Para cada caso se usó como referencia granulométrica las especificaciones para tamaños máximos nominales de 12,7 mm y 19 mm que proporciona la norma ASTM C33 (INTE C15:2014), dado que en esta norma no existen especificaciones para agregado de 16 mm. Fuentes productoras de agregados a nivel nacional están generando una cantidad importante de agregado de 16 mm, por lo que resultó de interés realizar un estudio experimental con muestras estadísticamente válidas, que permitan comprobar con un grado de certeza adecuado la validez de usar la granulometría que mejor se ajuste (tamaño máximo nominal: 12,7 mm o 19 mm) cuando se emplea agregado de 16 mm. Pero también, como parte del estudio, se generó una propuesta de límites granulométricos para un tamaño de 16 mm.

Abstract Aims The aim of this study was to synthesize the evidence on the effect of the current therapies over the pathophysiological and clinical characteristics of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods and results A systematic review and meta‐analysis of 41 studies identified from 1383 retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane was conducted. Therapies were grouped in pharmacological, invasive and physical exercise. Pharmacological agents had no effect on functional capacity measured by VO2max (1.11 mL/kg/min; 95% CI: −0.04, 2.25, P

Antecedentes: la esclerosis múltiple es una enfermedad multifactorial del sistema nervioso central; en ella, factores nutricionales podrían estar relacionados tanto positiva como negativamente con el curso de la enfermedad. Objetivo: describir aspectos nutricionales y alimentarios en los pacientes con esclerosis múltiple que pueden tener importancia en la etiología y progresión de la enfermedad. Materiales y métodos: búsqueda sistemática de estudios observacionales y experimentales en las bases de datos Scopus, Pubmed, Lilacs, Embase y SciELO entre enero del 2009 y agosto del 2020. Resultados: una dieta similar al patrón mediterráneo se relacionó con la disminución en la fatiga y menores tasas de recaída; bajos niveles séricos de B12, magnesio y vitamina K exhibieron latencias prolongadas de potenciales evocados visuales y somatosensoriales, peores puntuaciones en la escala de estado de discapacidad extendida y mayor prevalencia de lesiones del nervio óptico, respectivamente. Conclusión: las funciones antiinflamatorias, antioxidantes y reguladoras de los nutrientes, como los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados, el selenio, el zinc, el magnesio, la vitamina B12 y la vitamina K, contribuyen al manejo integral del paciente con esclerosis múltiple. Más estudios son requeridos para precisar la efectividad y el impacto de la intervención.

Context: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) allows personalizing the dose of valproic acid in patients with epilepsy to optimize drug therapy, minimize adverse effects and detect interactions. Aims: To determine valproic acid concentrations in serum samples from people with epilepsy and to analyze its clinical implications. Methods: Cloned donor enzyme immunoassay; descriptive, cross-sectional, non-randomized, convenience recruitment study of 57 voluntary patients with epilepsy (n = 39 male, 68.42%; n = 18 female, 31.58%) aged between 19 and 62 years. After three months of treatment with valproic acid, a single blood sample was collected from each volunteer at a minimal concentration. Results: Serum drug concentrations 51.30-100.10 mg/L (SD 5.94) and level/dose 2.17-5.31 (SD 1.14) were observed. Association was shown between the dose ratio/dose of valproic acid (R2 = 0.8693; p α = 0.05). Conclusions: Serum valproic acid concentrations are within the therapeutic range, and there is a significant inverse linear correlation between dose ratio/dose, which must be considered to personalize the dose and optimize the pharmacotherapeutic result.