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Abstract Background Andean orography has shaped the endemism of plant species in montane forests, creating a mosaic of habitats in small and isolated areas. Understanding these endemic species' genetic diversity patterns is crucial for their conservation. Phaedranassa cinerea (Amaryllidaceae), a species restricted to the western Andes of Ecuador, is listed as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN criteria. This study seeks to determine whether there is genetic structure among and within Phaedranassa cinerea populations, estimate the timing of their genetic divergence, and recommend conservation strategies based on these genetic structure findings. Results Using 13 microsatellites and a Bayesian approach, we analyzed the genetic differentiation of P. cinerea and possible diversification scenarios. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity of P. cinerea is lower than congeneric species. The Bayesian analysis identified two genetic groups, with no evidence of isolation by distance. Populations in the northwest of the Ecuadorean Andes have less allele richness compared to those in the southwest. Additionally, the species exhibits excess homozygosity and evidence of bottlenecks. Our Bayesian analysis suggests that the differentiation among populations was not older than 5,000 years and was as recent as 600 years ago for some of the populations. Based on the geographic distribution of the known populations, the species should be listed as endangered instead of vulnerable to extinction. Conclusions Phaedranassa cinerea shows lower genetic diversity than related species, with the most variation within populations. We identified two to four genetic groups, suggesting recent divergence along the ridges of the western Andes. The findings suggest that conservation efforts should focus on securing genetic exchange between populations to preserve the genetic diversity of P. cinerea.

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo principal hacer observable el enorme potencial analítico de un método insuficientemente explorado y/o explotado por las ciencias sociales: el método clínico crítico, desarrollado por Jean Piaget en sus investigaciones psicogenéticas del proceso cognitivo. Para ello, presentamos un breve repaso histórico de los factores genéticos presentes en la construcción del método, dando cuenta de los problemas de investigación a los cuales buscaba dar respuesta. Seguidamente, desarrollamos las características específicas que asume la entrevista clínica crítica, así como las virtudes analíticas que aporta sobre los métodos como la encuesta, la observación y los test. Para finalizar, abordaremos la pertinencia de su utilización en nuestra investigación en curso, presentando una serie de ejemplificaciones empíricas. The main aim of this article is to highlight the enormous analytical potential of a method insufficiently explored and/or exploited by the social sciences: the critical clinical method, developed by Jean Piaget in his psychogenetic investigations of the cognitive process. To this end, we present a brief historical review of the genetic factors present in the construction of the method, giving an account of the research problems to which, it sought to respond. Next, we develop the specific characteristics of the critical clinical interview, as well as the analytical virtues it offers in relation to other methods such as surveys, observation and tests. Finally, we will discuss the relevance of its use in our current research, presenting a series of empirical examples.

Traumatic brain injury is a global health crisis, causing significant death and disability worldwide. Neuroinflammation that follows traumatic brain injury has serious consequences for neuronal survival and cognitive impairments, with astrocytes involved in this response. Following traumatic brain injury, astrocytes rapidly become reactive, and astrogliosis propagates from the injury core to distant brain regions. Homeostatic astroglial proteins are downregulated near the traumatic brain injury core, while pro-inflammatory astroglial genes are overexpressed. This altered gene expression is considered a pathological remodeling of astrocytes that produces serious consequences for neuronal survival and cognitive recovery. In addition, glial scar formed by reactive astrocytes is initially necessary to limit immune cell infiltration, but in the long term impedes axonal reconnection and functional recovery. Current therapeutic strategies for traumatic brain injury are focused on preventing acute complications. Statins, cannabinoids, progesterone, beta-blockers, and cerebrolysin demonstrate neuroprotective benefits but most of them have not been studied in the context of astrocytes. In this review, we discuss the cell signaling pathways activated in reactive astrocytes following traumatic brain injury and we discuss some of the potential new strategies aimed to modulate astroglial responses in traumatic brain injury, especially using cell-targeted strategies with miRNAs or lncRNA, viral vectors, and repurposed drugs.

Abstract Understanding shell morphology is central to taxonomic and evolutionary studies of bivalves. When traditional systematic studies find limitations in the recognition and classification of taxa, geometric morphometrics methods become a tool to tackle these uncertainties. Taxonomic difficulties are frequently found in systematics studies of the generally homoplastic Pitarinae (Venereidae). Recent contributions have proposed that Neogene-Recent South American species traditionally assigned to Pitar sensu stricto showed a distinguishable morphology that allowed separating them from that genus, including them in Proteopitar. In this contribution, we perform two morphometric analyses: elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA) and 2D landmark analysis with the aim of evaluating the intra- and interspecific variation of these taxa from the Western Atlantic Ocean included in Pitar s.s. to evaluate its doubtful generic assignments. EFA results show a highly variable outline in Proteopitar patagonicus, superimposed in the morphospace of all other taxa. The three analyzed groups, Pitar, Proteopitar, and extant Western Atlantic Ocean species, are statistically differentiable in hinge morphologies (landmark analysis), as corroborated by the Discriminant Function Analysis. The latter taxa are also distributed in a restricted portion of morphospace in EFA and along with the recognition of additional morphological differences allow us to define the new genus Jasypitar.

Introduction: In kidney transplant (KT) recipients diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with an increased mortality and a poorer graft survival. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) have demonstrated cardiovascular and renal benefits in the general population. However, there is lacking evidence in KT recipients. Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor GLP1-RA in a cohort of KT recipients. Methods: Multicenter retrospective cohort study of KT patients with DM who started subcutaneous GLP1-RA in 3 hospitals in the province of Cádiz between February 2016 and July 2022. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, and weight at baseline and after 6 and 12 months were collected. We analyzed glycemic control, blood pressure, lipid profile, and doses and trough levels of tacrolimus. We document episodes of acute rejection (AR), de novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA), and adverse effects. Results: During this period, 96 KT with DM started treatment with GLP1-RA, of which 84 had a minimum follow-up of 6 months and 61 were followed for 12 months. A significant reduction was observed in proteinuria (−19.1 mg/g, p = 0.000; −46.6 mg/g, p = 0.000), weight (−3.6 kg, p = 0.000; −3.6 kg, p = 0.000), glycosylated hemoglobin (−0.7%, p = 0.000; −0.9%, p = 0.000), systolic blood pressure (−7.5 mmHg, p = 0.013; −7.3 mmHg, p = 0.004), total cholesterol (−11.5 mg/dL, p = 0.001; −15.6 mg/dl, p = 0.002) and LDL cholesterol (−9.2 mg/dl, p = 0.002; −16.8 mg/dl, p = 0.000) at 6 months and 1 year of follow-up. The eGFR remained stable and the dose and trough levels of tacrolimus did not change. No episodes of AR or development of dnDSA were observed during follow-up. Conclusions: GLP1-RA in KT patients can be a safe and effective option for the management of DM in KT. Resumen: Introducción: En los pacientes receptores de trasplante renal (TR) la diabetes mellitus (DM) se relaciona con una mayor mortalidad y menor supervivencia del injerto. Los agonistas del receptor del péptido 1 similar al glucagón (ar-GLP1) han demostrado beneficios cardiovasculares y renales en la población general. Sin embargo, su evidencia en pacientes TR es limitada. Objetivo: Analizar la eficacia y seguridad de los ar-GLP1 en una cohorte de pacientes TR. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo multicéntrico de los pacientes TR con DM que iniciaron ar-GLP1 de administración subcutánea en 3 hospitales de la provincia de Cádiz entre febrero de 2016 y julio de 2022. Se recogió filtrado glomerular estimado (FGe), proteinuria y peso al inicio del tratamiento y tras 6 y 12 meses. Analizamos control glucémico, tensión arterial, perfil lipídico y niveles valle y dosis de tacrolimus. Documentamos episodios de rechazo agudo (RA), anticuerpos donantes específicos de novo (DSAn) y efectos adversos. Resultados: En este periodo 96 TR con DM iniciaron tratamiento con ar-GLP1, de los cuales 84 cumplieron el seguimiento mínimo de 6 meses y 61 pacientes de 1 año. Se observó una reducción significativa de la proteinuria (−19.1 mg/g, p = 0.000; −46.6 mg/g, p = 0.000), peso (−3.6 kg, p = 0.000; −3.6 kg, p = 0.000), hemoglobina glicosilada (−0.7 %, p = 0.000; −0.9%, p = 0.000), tensión arterial sistólica (−7.5 mmHg, p = 0.013; −7.3 mmHg, p = 0.004), colesterol total (−11.5 mg/dL, p = 0.001; −15.6 mg/dl, p = 0.002) y LDL colesterol (− 9.2 mg/dl, p = 0.002; −16.8 mg/dl, p = 0.000) a los 6 meses y al año de seguimiento. El FGe se mantuvo estable y no se modificó ni la dosis ni los niveles valle de tacrolimus. No se objetivaron episodios de RA ni desarrollo de DSAn durante el seguimiento. Conclusiones: Los ar-GLP1 en pacientes TR demuestran que puede ser una opción segura y eficaz para el manejo de la DM en TR.

Abstract Spanish pear germplasm collections are crucial for preservation, research, and breeding efforts. However, genetic diversity and structure is unknown at national level. A coordinated national project analyzed 1251 accessions from 7 Spanish pear collections using an internationally recognized set of 14 SSRs to enhance the utilization of these collections. Key findings included the identification of 760 unique genotypes (490 diploids and 270 triploids). Notably, genotypes represented by a single accession accounted for 49% of the total, indicating high vulnerability of this material. Using a Bayesian clustering method revealed two main genetic groups, G1 containing most foreign cultivars and G2 retaining local Spanish cultivars, which were further divided into two other subgroups using a nested approach, revealing moderate but significant differentiation among them. The populations were renamed according to the origin of the reference samples assigned to each group as ‘South’ (G1.1), ‘Western Europe-1’ (G1.2), ‘Western Europe-2’ (G2.1) and ‘No-Pyrus communis’ (G2.2). The results led to the creation of a ‘generalist’ collection, aiming to maximize genetic diversity representativeness, starting with 68 genotypes but expanding to 111 to achieve better allele recovery. This core collection is a valuable resource for genetic studies and conservation, enhancing efforts to preserve pear biodiversity.

Objective: In Ecuador, data on molecular epidemiology, as well as circulating clones, are limited. Therefore, this study aims to know the population structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by identifying clones in clinical samples in Quito-Ecuador. Methods: A significant set (45) clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were selected, including multidrug and non-multidrug resistant isolates, which were assigned to sequence types (STs) and compared with their antibiotic susceptibility profile. The genetic diversity was assessed by applying the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme and the genetic relationships between different STs were corroborated by phylogenetic networks. Results: The MLST analysis identified 24 different STs and the most prevalent STs were ST-3750 and ST-253. The majority of the multidrug-resistance (MDR) isolates were included in ST-3750 and ST-253, also 3 singleton STs were identified as MDR isolates. The 21 different STs were found in non-multidrug resistance (non-MDR) isolates, and only 3 STs were found in more the one isolate. Conclusions: The population structure of clinical P. aeruginosa present in these isolates indicates a significant association between MDR isolates and the clonal types: all ST-3750 and ST-253 isolates were MDR. ST-3750 is a closely related strain to the clonal complex ST111 (CC111). ST-253 and ST111 are a group of successful high-risk clones widely distributed worldwide. The multiresistant isolates studied are grouped in the most prevalent STs found, and the susceptible isolates correspond mainly with singleton STs. Therefore, these high-risk clones and their association with MDR phenotypes are contributing to the spread of MDR in Quito, Ecuador.

Abstract Background: Cervical pain is one of the most common pathologies in physiotherapy consultations. Currently, there are countless techniques, protocols, and treatments ranging from conservative to invasive. The intervention includes orthopedic manual therapy techniques in patients who present the pathology. To date, several studies apply spinal manipulation as a treatment option for patients with neck pain; however, its effects on pain and disability are unknown. Methodology: A compilation, selection, and analysis of randomized clinical trials was carried out, and studies showed the effect of this technique on the type and origin of pain in patients with neck pain. Data extraction was formulated in tables, and the methodological quality was determined through the physiotherapy evidence database scale. Results: Thirty studies were included that were classified based on the type and origin of pain. In order to determine the effectiveness, it was applied as the only treatment technique or as part of a multimodal treatment. Conclusions: Spinal manipulation has a greater effect on pain and disability when considered as the only treatment technique in patients with acute pain. However, when applied as part of the multimodal protocol, it proves to be effective in chronic, radicular, mechanical, and nonspecific pain. The high heterogeneity of the studies is a limitation of our findings.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive genetic neuromuscular condition affecting spinal motor neurons. The underlying cause of SMA is deletions or mutations in the SMN gene. It is classified into five variants based on age and clinical manifestations of the patient. In this report, we present the case discovery of a four-month-old male patient with SMA type 1, presenting with generalized hypotonia and regression of acquired neurodevelopmental milestones. Our study aims to illustrate, through a case report, the clinical analysis, therapeutic interventions, and progression until the patient’s demise. This aims to share the challenges in managing such patients and the strategies employed in their care plan. By documenting this case, our goal is to contribute to the understanding of SMA type 1 and emphasize the ongoing need for learning effective care strategies.

IntroductionDue to the current climatic situation of the planet and the increase in concern for the environment, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) aims to be a model for the university community in terms of the preservation of the ecosystem and prevention of the environmental impact caused by daily tasks; thus, aligning itself with the goals of the 2030 Agenda. For this reason, a project has been launched to carry out the green transformation of the UPV toward a university that prioritizes sustainability in all its areas.MethodsAs part of this project, a survey was conducted using anonymous online questionnaires for the student population and employees. The study aimed to gauge the perception of sustainability and campus food supply and included items related to waste management and public awareness. A total of 800 students and 100 employees from the three UPV campuses (Vera, Alcoy, and Gandía) participated, ranging from 17 to 66 years old.ResultsAfter the statistical analysis of the results, significant differences were identified in most of the questions of the different thematic blocks and, in some cases, in terms of gender and age group. In general, good knowledge about sustainability was observed, although participation in initiatives organized by the university was low in both population groups. On the other hand, as the age of the participants increased, a greater adoption of sustainable behaviors was observed, especially in buying and recycling habits. Regarding the food supply on university campuses, the need to improve it to promote healthier and more sustainable options is highlighted. This work investigates ways to improve the menu choices offered in university settings to promote healthier and more sustainable habits. Additionally, the study aims to identify potential obstacles within the university environment that may hinder these efforts, raise awareness, and encourage more environmentally friendly behaviors.DiscussionThe proposed improvements include: (i) increasing the variety of plant-based options, (ii) sourcing food locally to reduce its carbon footprint, and (iii) implementing a waste management system that encourages recycling.

Water contamination by toxic metal ions has become a significant issue, requiring the development of effective ion detection methods. Traditional analytical techniques often involve toxic elements or complex devices. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as a promising alternative for optic ion detection due to their unique properties and compatibility with living organisms. This study focuses on synthesizing and functionalizing CQDs with various heteroatoms (N, S) to enhance their optical properties and ion selectivity. CQDs were synthesized using citric acid as the carbon source and modified with l-cysteine, ethylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine. The structural and optical properties of the CQDs were determined using several techniques, including FT-IR, TEM, UV–Vis, and Fluorescence Spectroscopy. The results indicate that doping with heteroatoms significantly alters the absorption and emission properties of CQDs. Particularly, nitrogen-doped CQDs (NCQDs) exhibited the highest absorption and emission intensities, making them ideal for sensor applications. The study also demonstrated that functionalization with sulfur could modulate emission frequencies, enhancing the detection capabilities for specific ions. Fluorescence quenching studies revealed that NCQDs and S-CQDs have a high selectivity for Hg²⁺ ions, attributed both electrostatic and covalent interactions formed between the CQDs and Hg²⁺. Computational studies supported these findings, showing that the interaction with Hg²⁺ significantly affects the energy gap of the CQDs, enhancing their sensitivity. This research contributes to the field of environmental monitoring by providing a practical solution for the detection of free metal ions in water through the development of advanced CQD-based sensors.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious global health problem that is ranked third among the leading causes of death worldwide. However, underdiagnosis remains common, especially in Spain. The CARABELA-COPD initiative aims to address these issues by optimizing processes across the diverse healthcare settings in Spain. Material and methods: CARABELA-COPD employs lean methodology and fosters partnership between scientific societies, industry, clinicians, and managers to improve COPD care. The methodology consists of 4 phases: Phase 1 involved experts analyzing COPD care models and unmet needs; Phase 2, validation and priorization of improvement areas in 7 pilot hospitals, selecting healthcare quality indicators (QIs) in a national meeting; Phase 3, cocreation and refinement of results from a regional perspective; and Phase 4 is ongoing, disseminating the results and implementing them locally. Results: Initial phases of the initiative have defined a generic patient journey for COPD management from a multidisciplinary approach, identified 7 improvement areas for optimal COPD care, developed 4 care models tailored to different settings, and established QIs that have been validated in national and regional meetings. Discussion: CARABELA-COPD is a novel practical approach to COPD management in Spain that acts as catalyst for a system transformation to boost overall system efficiency and enhance patient outcomes. It provides a clear framework for improvement, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. The ongoing implementation phase will require flexibility and constant evaluation to further enhance COPD care, ultimately improving patient quality of life and healthcare effectiveness. Resumen: Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es un problema de salud global grave y se sitúa como la tercera causa de muerte en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, su infradiagnóstico sigue siendo común, especialmente en España. La iniciativa CARABELA-EPOC tiene como objetivo abordar estos problemas mediante la optimización de los procesos asistenciales en los diversos entornos sanitarios en España. Material y métodos: CARABELA-EPOC emplea una metodología estructurada y eficiente que fomenta la colaboración entre sociedades científicas, industria, clínicos y gestores para mejorar la atención de las personas con EPOC. La metodología consta de cuatro fases: la fase 1 involucró a expertos que analizaron los modelos de atención en EPOC y las necesidades no cubiertas; la fase 2, implicó la validación y la priorización de áreas de mejora en siete hospitales piloto, seleccionando indicadores de calidad asistencial (IC) en una reunión nacional; la fase 3, co-creación y refinamiento de resultados desde una perspectiva regional, y la fase 4 está en curso, difundiendo los resultados e implementándolos a nivel local. Resultados: Las fases iniciales de la iniciativa han definido un recorrido genérico del paciente para el manejo de la EPOC desde un enfoque multidisciplinar, han identificado 7 áreas de mejora para una atención óptima de la EPOC, han desarrollado 4 modelos de atención adaptados a diferentes entornos, y han establecido IC que han sido validados en reuniones nacionales y regionales. Discusión: La iniciativa CARABELA-EPOC representa un enfoque innovador en la gestión de la EPOC en España, actuando como un catalizador para la transformación del sistema de salud, con el objetivo de incrementar su eficiencia y mejorar los resultados para los pacientes. Este proyecto proporciona un marco claro para la mejora continua, destacando la importancia de la colaboración y la comunicación interdisciplinarias. La fase de implementación, actualmente en curso, exigirá flexibilidad y una evaluación constante para seguir optimizando la atención de la EPOC, lo que finalmente se traducirá en una mejor calidad de vida para los pacientes y una mayor efectividad en la atención sanitaria.

En el contexto global, las organizaciones han experimentado un conjunto de transformaciones en sus modelos de gestión como una alternativa encaminada al mejoramiento de sus niveles de desempeño y competitividad en los mercados globalizados. Se transitó de un modelo burocrático hacia uno basado en la teoría del organicismo, bajo el cual se conciben las organizaciones como sistemas abiertos y flexibles, con capacidad de transformarse a través de la autopoiesis para adaptarse a los cambios del entorno. Contablemente la evaluación del riesgo que presentan estas organizaciones para el alcance de sus objetivos se realiza a través del control interno normado por medio del COSO y la NIA 315. Como objetivo se analizaron las debilidades de los lineamientos del control interno como instrumento de evaluación del riesgo que enfrentan las organizaciones, para el alcance de sus metas en el actual contexto socioeconómico. Metodológicamente el trabajo se desarrolló a partir de la revisión de literatura especializada en las líneas de investigación vinculadas con las organizaciones vivientes, así como de los lineamientos del COSO y la Norma de Auditoría 315. En las conclusiones del estudio se precisan las limitaciones del control interno para evaluar la gestión del riesgo en las organizaciones objeto de estudio.

El objetivo general del artículo es analizar las condiciones de producción de las estadísticas criminales en Argentina en la actualidad. Más específicamente, dar cuenta de la elaboración, publicación y accesibilidad de información sobre delitos en el Partido de General Pueyrredón durante el periodo 2007-2022. A partir de un recorrido por la totalidad de fuentes primarias como secundarias que presentan datos sobre delitos del Partido de General Pueyrredón, la intención es poder mostrar con qué producción de información pública contamos sobre procesos vinculados con la “cuestión criminal y la cuestión penal”, analizando no solo las fuentes, sino también la diversidad de construcción de los tipos de datos publicados, así como resaltar algunos elementos vinculados con la forma de construir y analizar dicha información.

El objetivo del artículo es explorar las dificultades del colectivo adolescente para articular sus tiempos cotidianos (escolares, extraescolares y de ocio personal y familiar), atendiendo a las variables género y curso. Se apoya en datos de un cuestionario construido en el marco de una investigación acción participativa con adolescentes del Ayuntamiento de Teo (A Coruña), iniciativa del proyecto de I+D+i CON_TIEMPOs (RTI2018-094764-B-I00). El muestreo no probabilístico incidental permitió alcanzar una muestra de 456 adolescentes de entre 12 y 18 años, estudiantes de secundaria obligatoria. Los resultados evidencian diferencias de género respecto de la cantidad y calidad de tiempo libre y ocio personal y familiar (menor en el caso de las chicas), así como un incremento de las dificultades para armonizar tiempos y tareas escolares con los tiempos de ocio a medida que se promociona a nivel académico. Se reivindica rebajar la presión temporal sobre este colectivo; también reorientar las políticas públicas para promover tiempos y espacios para el aprendizaje de la autogestión responsable de los tiempos libres y el acceso a un ocio valioso.

Aim: To describe the features of cortical oscillatory activity and neuronal synchronization by monitoring responses evoked by chirp-modulated tone (CMT) and look for relationships with cognition in healthy children. Methods: We recruited 23 healthy children, 1–18 years old, assessed their cognitive abilities and recorded the cortical oscillatory activity evoked by CMTs. We obtained descriptive statistics and looked for correlations with cognitive abilities. Results: In the low gamma band, the neuronal synchronization evoked by CMTs increased with age, reaching adult features by 12 years of age (rho = 0.5; p = 0.042). In the high gamma band, neuronal recruitment was greater at younger ages (rho = −0.55; p = 0.029). In four of the six under-6-year-old participants, there was no CMT-evoked response. We found that the greater a child's receptive vocabulary skills, the lower the frequency at which maximal neuronal recruitment occurred (rho = −0.65; p = 0.003). Interpretation: CMT-evoked cortical oscillatory activity is affected by degree of brain maturation and could be a potential biomarker of language-related disability. Our description of the cortical responses evoked by CMTs in healthy children is a step towards recognition of abnormal patterns and the possible use of this approach as a biomarker of brain disorders in children.

Introducción: la infección por parvovirus B19 (B19V) durante el embarazo puede transmitirse al feto y ocasionar complicaciones graves como hidropesía y muerte fetal. La preexistencia de IgG específica previene la transmisión vertical. La seroprevalencia en edad fértil es variable (50-70%) y depende de la región/circulación viral, además de factores como edad materna y exposición frecuente a niños. Objetivos: determinar seroprevalencia para B19V en embarazadas del Hospital Universitario de Maternidad y Neonatología (HUMN), analizar su asociación con factores predictores y describir los casos de infección por B19V. Métodos: estudio observacional, transversal. Se incluyeron pacientes atendidas en HUMN durante 2021-2022 y se registraron datos demográficos y clínicos compatibles. Se cuantificó IgG específica y se analizó su asociación con factores predictores mediante análisis bivariado (p

Objetivos: Identificar las similitudes con las que arriban los colegas sobre la formación en Odontología Legal, específicamente en el derecho a la salud como concepto. Métodos: El diseño fue exploratorio cualitativo, no experimental de corte transversal, con análisis de documentos, planes de estudio y legislación vigente nacional y latinoamericana relacionada con la regulación del ejercicio profesional desde la perspectiva de los derechos sanitarios y la responsabilidad profesional odontológica. Se realizó una selección de casos por interés teórico a partir del relevamiento de la documentación sobre la temática (leyes de ejercicio profesional de alcance nacional y planes de estudio) a través de material disponible públicamente, analizando bajo la Teoría Fundamentada de Datos. Este trabajo se enmarca en la etapa de calibración del grupo de investigación. Resultados: Sobre 37 de los 417 colegas reconocieron el concepto de Salud, el 95%. El concepto jurídico internacional de la Salud, el 89%, El reconocimiento del concepto consagrado en nuestra legislación, un 51%. El concepto de Derecho fue identificado, en el 41% de los casos, el de accesibilidad, un 46% y el concepto legal de reconocimiento de derechos cayó al 35%. Conclusiones: Realizado la valoración cualitativa de los datos, se planteó la disyuntiva de optimizar los recursos didácticos y la enseñanza de la legislación argentina enfocados en los conceptos aquí examinados, proyectándolos tanto en la práctica asistencial, como en situaciones de gestión de sistemas de salud, públicos y/o privados, dentro de las comunidades en que se desempeñen e integren.

Abstract Background Due to the significant increase in the prevalence of food-related diseases, the value that physicians place on nutritional advice may have implications for patient treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of the importance of nutritional intervention among physicians in the Universidad San Francisco de Quito’s (USFQ) healthcare system. Methods This cross-sectional study employed a telephone survey administered to a subset of all medical doctors (MDs) working in the healthcare system clinics of USFQ between 2021 and 2022. Study participants were recruited through voluntary response sample from a complete list of 253 MD. The single time questionnaire consisted of a 22-item validated survey in which attitudes, self-perceived capacity, and knowledge about nutrition ofmedical doctors were evaluated. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, two-sided t test, bivariate associations and linear and logistic regressions. Results 136 MDs completed the survey yielding a response rate of 54%. Our analysis grouped participants into clinical (CE) and non-clinical specialties, hereafter referred to as surgical MDs. While a higher percentage of physicians in CE are confident in their ability to provide examples of recommended food portions based on national or international guidelines, 1 in 10 do not know how to use and interpret BMI or waist circumference, and around 1 in 3 do not know how many calories there are in one gram of fat, protein, or carbohydrates, and their basic metabolic functions. Almost all survey participants believe MDs can have an impact on the eating behavior of a patient if time is used to discuss the problem, however, almost half of survey participants believe nutrition counseling is not an effective use of time. Conclusion It is important to explore the perceptions and self-confidence of physicians around nutrition related issues. Our results demonstrated that nearly 1 in 4 surgical MDs do not feel capable of recognizing nutritional risk in patients, which highlights the essentiality of physicians having an updated understanding of basic nutrition principles. Future research should examine how commonly MDs refer patients to nutritionists/dietitians, as well as strategies for improving physician knowledge on basic nutrition concepts.

Abstract Rotaxanes are mechanically interlocked molecules where a ring (macrocycle) is threaded onto a linear molecule (thread). The position of the macrocycle on different stations on the thread can be controlled in response to external stimuli, making rotaxanes applicable as molecular switches. Here we show that bistable rotaxanes based on the combination of a Zn(II) tetraphenylporphyrin photosensitizer, attached to the macrocycle, and a black-hole-quencher, attached to the thread, are capable of singlet oxygen production which can be switched on/off by the addition of base/acid. However, we found that only a sufficiently long linker between both stations on the thread enabled switchability, and that the direction of switching was inversed with regard to the original design. This unexpected behavior was attributed to intramolecular folding of the rotaxanes, as indicated by extensive theoretical calculations. This evidences the importance to take into account the conformational flexibility of large molecular structures when designing functional switchable systems.

Objective: Pediatric spondylodiscitis (PSD) is an uncommon condition, for which there are no specific international clinical guidelines. Factors related to complications have not been stablished. Our aim was to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of PSD, to analyze factors associated with complications and to evaluate adherence to the recommendations of the Spanish National Consensus Document (NCD) for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to acute osteoarticular infections. Material and methods: Ambispective, multicenter, national study of two PSD cohorts: historical (2008–2012) and prospective (2015–2020, after publication of NCD).Patients with diagnosis of PSD were included. Demographic, clinical, microbiological and radiological data were recorded. Factors related to the development of complications were analized by logistic regression. Comparisons between both cohorts were performed. Results: Ninety-eight PSD were included. In 84.7%, diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Microbiological isolation was obtained in 6.1%, with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus as the main etiologic agent. Complications occurred in 18.9%, the most frequent being soft tissue abscess. Of the 8.6% of patients with sequelae, persistent pain was the most common. Comparing cohorts, there was better adherence to NCD treatment recommendations in the prospective one (57.6% vs. 12.9%, p

Abstract Urologic pathology is rapidly evolving to adopt growing knowledge of molecular pathways involved in genitourinary neoplasm. Many prognostic and predictive biomarkers are under active research and some of them have been incorporated in clinical practice. In this review, we will discuss recent developments of Molecular Pathology of prostate, bladder and testicular tumors with special emphasis on prognostic and predictive biomarkers.

Abstract The deep-sea remains the biggest challenge to biodiversity exploration, and anthropogenic disturbances extend well into this realm, calling for urgent management strategies. One of the most diverse, productive, and vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea are sponge grounds. Currently, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is revolutionising the field of biodiversity monitoring, yet complex deep-sea benthic ecosystems remain challenging to assess even with these novel technologies. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of whole-community metabarcoding to characterise metazoan diversity in sponge grounds across the North Atlantic by leveraging the natural eDNA sampling properties of deep-sea sponges themselves. We sampled 97 sponge tissues from four species across four North-Atlantic biogeographic regions in the deep sea and screened them using the universal COI barcode region. We recovered unprecedented levels of taxonomic diversity per unit effort, especially across the phyla Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata and Porifera, with at least 406 metazoan species found in our study area. These assemblages identify strong spatial patterns in relation to both latitude and depth, and detect emblematic species currently employed as indicators for these vulnerable habitats. The remarkable performance of this approach in different species of sponges, in different biogeographic regions and across the whole animal kingdom, illustrates the vast potential of natural samplers as high-resolution biomonitoring solutions for highly diverse and vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems.

Este artículo analiza el rol del Estado en relación con el Programa Hogar y el sentido que las beneficiarias le otorgan. En un inicio concebido como un esquema de asistencia para suplir los problemas de acceso a gas de consumo doméstico mediante la entrega de bombonas en los hogares, el programa devino en una transferencia monetaria directa. Este mecanismo es insuficiente, dado que, en un contexto de escasez y ausencia de empleo formal, las jefas de hogar emplean el dinero para sufragar gastos de la canasta básica. La ineficiencia del Estado, junto con capacidades comunitarias-barriales menoscabadas para visibilizar problemas y hacer demandas, hace que el programa, en realidad, no produzca beneficiarias. En conclusión, el Estado argentino lleva a cabo prestaciones parciales que no cubren las necesidades de los hogares vulnerables; asimismo, la dinámica del Programa Hogar podría cumplir objetivos relevantes si examinase y ajustase su enfoque de derechos.

A taxonomic revision of the Tribe Aequipectini from the upper Burdigalian, Lower Miocene Pirabas Formation in Brazil) resulted in an identification of Leptopecten daideleus comb. nov., Perapecten tetristriatus and description of Iemanjavola monlafertei gen. et sp. nov. The genus Perapecten is re-validated, P. tetristriatus being the first fossil representative of the genus, extending it back to the Early Miocene of the western Atlantic Ocean and Middle Miocene–Pliocene Perapecten scabrellus from the Mediterranean Sea/Central Paratethys is included into Perapecten. We also reported the oldest record of Leptopecten, which along with Perapecten, seem to have originated in the Early Miocene tropical region of the western Atlantic Ocean. Leptopecten dispersed during the Middle or Late Miocene to the eastern Pacific through the Central American Seaway, while Perapecten spread across the North Atlantic into Europe via the Circumtropical Current and the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift.

On-site sanitation systems such as septic tanks are widely used for treating domestic wastewater in urban and rural areas which lack sewage systems. However, a large portion of these systems do not properly treat human excreta. A main challenge to improve this is the absence of comprehensive data regarding the usage, emptying and maintenance. In this study, records of septic tank desludging frequency during 2009–2022 and the sewerage coverage updated to 2022 were used to investigate their spatial and temporal utilisation, and the persistence of septic tank usage in areas with sewer networks and uncover the current state of Faecal Sludge Management in Cuenca, Ecuador. The spatial behaviour revealed that OSSs are still in use besides the presence of a sewer network. In 2022, there were 109 septic tanks in urban areas with 14.7% in sectors with sewerage service. In rural areas, 469 septic tanks were recorded with 7.8% situated in areas with sewer networks. Although there is no specialised infrastructure in place for the treatment and disposal of faecal sludge, the city has effectively managed it with the existing sanitation facilities. This assessment contributes to the formulation of a secure framework for a safely managed sanitation. HIGHLIGHTS Septic tanks are still in use in places where there is a sewage system (14.7% in urban areas and 7.8% in rural areas).; Urban districts, that are located close to the rural ones, have a septic tank/inhabitants ratio comparable to the rural districts.; A successful measure that promoted the end-user connection to the sewage system was the removal of the septic tank desludging subsidy.;

La Covitalidad integra varios rasgos y habilidades relacionados entre sí, generando un funcionamiento positivo en todas las áreas de la vida de la persona. Una mayor experiencia de covitalidad pudiera llevar a mejores indicadores escolares, a través de aumentar el compromiso escolar de los estudiantes, sin embargo, esta hipótesis requiere ser contrastada a través de la evidencia empírica. El estudio realizado tuvo como objetivo estimar el efecto mediador del compromiso escolar en la relación entre las diversas dimensiones de la covitalidad y el logro escolar, por medio de Path Analysis.

Este estudio aborda cómo las instituciones argentinas de educación superior integran la sostenibilidad en sus programas educativos, de modo alineado con la Agenda 2030 y la Ley 27621 de Educación Ambiental Integral. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo descriptivo transversal que incluyó a 132 instituciones, y se evaluó su oferta educativa en sostenibilidad. Los resultados revelan que el 54 % de ellas incorpora al menos una modalidad de enseñanza relacionada con la sostenibilidad, entre las que destacan las áreas de gestión ambiental y energías renovables. Sin embargo, existe una notable disparidad entre las provincias, con Buenos Aires, Santa Fe y Mendoza liderando en la oferta educativa, mientras que otras regiones presentan una oferta limitada. Además, se observa una mayor prevalencia de programas de grado y maestría en comparación con cursos, especializaciones, diplomaturas y doctorados. Las instituciones públicas tienen una mayor participación en la enseñanza de sostenibilidad que las privadas. El estudio concluye que, aunque hay un compromiso significativo con la sostenibilidad, es necesario implementar políticas y estrategias para mejorar la equidad regional y diversificar la oferta educativa. Se recomienda desarrollar normativas, guías prácticas y programas de capacitación, así como fomentar la colaboración entre instituciones y asegurar financiamiento adecuado para apoyar estas iniciativas.

Background & Aims: In patients with cirrhosis, acute decompensation (AD) correlates with a hyperinflammatory state driven by mitochondrial dysfunction, which is a significant factor in the progression toward acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Elevated circulating levels of acylcarnitine, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction, are predictors of mortality in ACLF patients. Our hypothesis posits that acylcarnitines not only act as biomarkers, but also actively exert detrimental effects on circulating immune cells. Methods: Plasma acylcarnitine levels were measured in 20 patients with AD cirrhosis and 10 healthy individuals. The effects of selected medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines on mitochondrial function were investigated in peripheral leucocytes from healthy donors by determining mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and mitochondrial respiration using the JC-1 dye and Agilent Seahorse XF technology. Changes regarding mitochondrial ultrastructure and redox systems were assessed by transmission electron microscopy and gene and protein expression analysis. Results: Plasma levels of several acylcarnitine species were significantly elevated in patients with AD cirrhosis compared with healthy individuals, alongside increased levels of inflammatory mediators (cytokines and chemokines). Notably, the long-chain acylcarnitine palmitoylcarnitine (C16:0-carnitine, 1.51-fold higher, p = 0.0059) impaired Δψm and reduced the spare respiratory capacity of peripheral mononuclear leucocytes. Additionally, C16:0-carnitine induced mitochondrial oxidative stress, suppressed the expression of the antioxidant gene HMOX1, and increased CXCL8 expression and IL-8 release. Etomoxir, which blocks acylcarnitine entry into the mitochondria, reversed the suppression of HMOX1. Similarly, trimetazidine, a fatty acid beta-oxidation inhibitor, prevented C16:0-carnitine-induced CXCL8 expression. Importantly, oxidative stress and Δψm impairment caused by C16:0-carnitine were less severe in the presence of albumin, a standard therapy for AD cirrhosis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that long-chain acylcarnitines induce mitochondrial injury in immune cells, thereby contributing to the development of immune dysfunction associated with cirrhosis. Impact and implications: Patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) display a systemic hyperinflammatory state and leukocyte mitochondrial dysfunction. We discovered that apart from being increased in the circulation of these patients, the long-chain palmitoylcarnitine is able to elicit cytokine secretion paired with mitochondrial dysfunction in leukocytes from healthy donors. In particular, we show that inhibiting the metabolism of palmitoylcarnitine could reverse these detrimental effects. Our findings underline the importance of immunometabolism as a treatment target in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis and ACLF.

Los testamentos otorgados por mujeres y varones en Buenos Aires durante el siglo XVIII permiten reconocer marcadas diferencias relativas a la distribución patrimonial, en las cuales se advierten correlaciones con la configuración de la sociedad virreinal con base en una distinción jurídicamente sancionada en términos estatutarios y étnicos. Sin embargo, y en contraposición a aquellas diferencias, las prácticas de endeudamiento parecen atravesar la totalidad del arco social conformado por testadores y testadoras: las declaraciones de deudas activas y pasivas pueden reconocerse en prácticamente todos los testamentos otorgados, dando cuenta de un fenómeno igualmente estructurante de la sociedad porteña de Antiguo Régimen. El análisis sobre los instrumentos, motivos, recurrencias y enlaces que configuraron dichas deudas permitirá comprender de qué manera las obligaciones derivadas del endeudamiento contribuyeron a integrar, de manera constitutivamente asimétrica y desigual, a una población como la de Buenos Aires durante un periodo clave de su consolidación económica: las décadas de 1770 y 1780. Las deudas declaradas en los testamentos solían constituir actos consumados en tiempos pretéritos de la vida del testador, cuando la muerte no necesariamente era vislumbrada en el corto plazo y el presunto juicio sobre el alma no acechaba necesariamente como principal constricción sobre la conducta. Y aún en momentos en los que la formulación del testamento se aproximaba, la vida cotidiana imponía la necesidad de apelar a prácticas de endeudamiento que también quedaban asentadas en la última voluntad. Se indagarán, por lo tanto, todas las declaraciones de deuda legadas en la documentación testamentaria, para establecer relaciones con la cultura material expresada en el patrimonio asimismo declarado en los testamentos. Para ello, este trabajo apela a un relevamiento sobre los testamentos otorgados por varones y mujeres ante las escribanías de registro en función en Buenos Aires durante dicho periodo, documentación que se encuentra preservada en el Archivo General de la Nación (República Argentina).

El éxito del tratamiento endodóntico depende en gran medida del uso adecuado de irrigantes para lograr una limpieza completa de los conductos radiculares. Los irrigantes deben cumplir con ciertos requisitos para ser utilizados en la práctica endodóntica, incluyendo tener una acción amplia contra los microorganismos, degradar los restos de tejido orgánico e inorgánico, bloquear las endotoxinas, ser seguros para los tejidos periodontales y no causar hipersensibilidad. Objetivo: Contrastar la diferencia entre el hipoclorito de sodio 5.25% y la clorhexidina al 0,12% como agente de irrigación bactericida en Endodoncia. Materiales y Métodos: investigación de enfoque transversal, tipo cuantitativa, cualitativa, exploratoria y documental, con una muestra de 20 piezas dentarias a las cuales se aplica las 2 sustancias irrigadoras. Resultados: estos sugieren que el hipoclorito de sodio es el irrigante más citotóxico, lo que puede desencadenar una reacción de dolor e inflamatoria inmediata. La clorhexidina también es un irrigante endodóntico comúnmente utilizado que se ha demostrado que tiene cierta citotoxicidad. En cambio, el ácido etilendiaminotetraacético (EDTA) y el ácido cítrico se consideran más biocompatibles y menos citotóxicos. Además, se encontró que algunos extractos naturales, como los de la planta de té verde, también pueden ser efectivos como irrigantes endodónticos y tener una menor citotoxicidad en comparación con los irrigantes químicos convencionales. Conclusión: Las dos soluciones irrigadoras tanto el NaCIO como el Gluconato de Clorhexidina, muestran efectos antimicrobianos significativos en la endodoncia. Ambas soluciones tienen la capacidad y eficacia de eliminar bacterias y otros microorganismos presentes en el sistema de conductos radiculares. .

En Europa las cooperativas de energía renovable están experimentando un renacimiento, especialmente en los Países Bajos, donde tienen una tradición consolidada. No existen artículos en castellano que demuestren una comparación de las cooperativas de energía renovable con las comunidades energéticas en el contexto neerlandés a pesar de existir una definición clara para ambas, lo que es fundamental para entender sus roles distintivos en la transición energética y optimizar las políticas de apoyo. Este artículo explora las dinámicas y características específicas de dichas cooperativas, así como los mecanismos de financiación pública a los que acceden. Mediante un análisis cualitativo de 184 casos, seleccionando veinte ejemplos representativos, se investiga cómo estas entidades se integran en el esquema de apoyo nacional. Se desvela que aún falta explorar en profundidad los requisitos específicos y características que deben cumplir estas cooperativas para beneficiarse de la financiación pública. Este estudio no sólo arroja luz sobre las prácticas actuales, sino que también ofrece valiosas lecciones para otros países europeos que buscan mejorar sus políticas y estrategias en materia de energía renovable. Esta investigación resulta de interés para empresarios y promotores de proyectos, proporcionando un marco para entender cómo acceder a subsidios y apoyos para la producción de energía renovable.

El presente estudio se centró en analizar la relación entre la recaudación del impuesto a la renta por actividad y la eficiencia del sistema tributario en Ecuador del 2020-2023. Se utilizaron enfoques analíticos y descriptivos que incluyeron un análisis de regresión simple para examinar la fluctuación de la recaudación, la evaluación de la eficiencia del sistema tributario mediante el indicador de eficiencia, y un análisis correlacional de Pearson con una significancia del 5%. Los resultados muestran que la recaudación del impuesto a la renta durante los periodos evaluados, no mostraron variaciones significativas, aspecto que se remarca en la eficiencia del sistema tributario, el cual demostró ser eficiente, manteniendo un cumplimiento de metas de recaudación por encima del 98%, adicional, no existe relación significativa (p>0,839) entre la recaudación y el nivel de eficiencia del sistema tributario, aludiendo la influencia de otros elementos en el desempeño de las metas de recaudación.

La sociedad se encuentra en la cuarta revolución industrial, caracterizada por la transformación digital y la interconexión de sistemas inteligentes. Este cambio ha impactado en diversos ámbitos, como lo económico, político, social y educativo, fusionando tecnologías y desdibujando las fronteras entre lo físico, lo digital y lo biológico. La pandemia de COVID-19 ha acelerado el proceso, dando paso a lo que se ha denominado “la nueva normalidad”. En el contexto argentino, este fenómeno está en una etapa incipiente, con una adopción parcial y limitada de tecnologías, especialmente en áreas comerciales y administrativas, en particular en PYMES. Para lograr una imagen completa del fenómeno, esta revisión exploratoria tiene como objetivo identificar y presentar la información empírica disponible sobre cuál es el impacto de la transformación digital en la gestión o modelos de negocios utilizados por empresas argentinas. Se realizó una revisión de alcance o scoping review, que nos permitió describir y mapear artículos publicados en revistas científicas, apoyado en un Diagrama PRISMA. Se concluye que los desafíos para iniciar procesos de transformación digital son múltiples, destacando la necesidad de cambios estructurales en las organizaciones, la formación digital de los trabajadores y profesionales, así como la promoción de la cultura de innovación.

Applying heat treatments using an autoclave and hot air sterilization can alter the proximal composition, technofunctional properties, and antinutrient content of Sacha inchi (P. volubilis) oil press cake. The autoclave and hot air treatments significantly reduced antinutrients compared to the control. The samples treated with autoclave and hot air sterilization exhibited a significant decrease in alkaloids, nitrates, tannins, saponins, and trypsin inhibitors compared to the control sample. However, the 20-min autoclave treatment did not significantly reduce the saponin antinutrients. Phytic acid significantly decreased in the 30-min hot air sample and autoclave 20-min/hot air treatments, respectively. On the other hand, the levels of antinutrients oxalate and thiocyanates did not significant difference between the control and hot air treatments. However, the autoclave treatment resulted in a significant reduction in oxalates. The study found that hydrotreatments at temperatures of 121 °C with humid heat - autoclave showed significant differences in protein content compared to the control sample, with content of 37.75 + 0.2 g/100g. Samples treated with an autoclave for 10, 20, and 30 min showed values of protein 53.19 + 0.28, 66.08 + 2.6, and 70.12 + 0.48 g/100g, respectively. Meanwhile, samples treated with dry heat showed significant differences with the sample treated for 10 min having a protein content of 60.21 + 6.80 g/100g. The techno-functional properties analyzed in the study demonstrated a significant decrease in hydrating properties such as water holding capacity (WHC), water retention capacity (WRC), and swelling capacity (SC) due to changes in the solubility of proteins for the two treatments and the oil holding capacity (OHC) property showed a significant increase. Finally, water's presence during hydrothermal treatments significantly reduces antinutrients, providing guidance for analyzing other study variables.

Introduction The clinical manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are different between genders. Though there are several screening questionnaires for OSA, their performance in females is not fully understood, as women have been historically underrepresented in research studies.

Abstract In the mouse embryo, the transition from the preimplantation to the postimplantation epiblast is governed by changes in the gene regulatory network (GRN) that lead to transcriptional, epigenetic, and functional changes. This transition can be faithfully recapitulated in vitro by the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs), that reside in naïve and formative states of pluripotency, respectively. However, the GRN that drives this conversion is not fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that the transcription factor OCT6 is a key driver of this process. Firstly, we show that Oct6 is not expressed in mESCs but is rapidly induced as cells exit the naïve pluripotent state. By deleting Oct6 in mESCs, we find that knockout cells fail to acquire the typical morphological changes associated with the formative state when induced to differentiate. Additionally, the key naïve pluripotency TFs Nanog, Klf2, Nr5a2, Prdm14, and Esrrb were expressed at higher levels than in wild-type cells, indicating an incomplete dismantling of the naïve pluripotency GRN. Conversely, premature expression of Oct6 in naïve cells triggered a rapid morphological transformation mirroring differentiation, that was accompanied by the upregulation of the endogenous Oct6 as well as the formative genes Sox3, Zic2/3, Foxp1, Dnmt3A and FGF5. Strikingly, we found that OCT6 represses Nanog in a bistable manner and that this regulation is at the transcriptional level. Moreover, our findings also reveal that Oct6 is repressed by NANOG. Collectively, our results establish OCT6 as a key TF in the dissolution of the naïve pluripotent state and support a model where Oct6 and Nanog form a double negative feedback loop which could act as an important toggle mediating the transition to the formative state.

Six Healthcare Workers' Hand Hygiene Privacy Codes (HW-HH-PCs), addressing data collected through an automated HH Monitoring Technology (HHMT), are validated. These HW-HH-PCs illustrate integrative augmentation with ISO 10001:2018 customer satisfaction and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 privacy management standards. A focus group of infection preventionists, managers and technology specialists from a Canadian hospital was conducted to verify the HW-HH-PCs' feasibility. An electronic survey and personal interviews with HWs from the hospital were then performed to evaluate the perceived importance of the three feasible and additional HW-HH-PCs. HWs recognized the feasible codes as important and reported feeling more comfortable with the automated HHMT if they were to be established. This paper may be the first to present empirical data about the feasibility and perceived importance of privacy-related codes that follow ISO 10001 and ISO/IEC 27701 guidelines.

Abstract The food and culinary heritage with medicinal uses are a fascinating field that combines history, culture, and health through food. Over the centuries, various cultures have developed knowledge and practices related to the use of specific ingredients and culinary preparations with medicinal properties. In the Pungalá parish in Ecuador, these generational knowledge and traditions form a valuable biocultural heritage that helps us understand the close relationship between food and traditional medicine. Through qualitative and documentary research, interviews and community workshops are conducted to gather information using different techniques. Among the findings regarding the food and culinary heritage of Pungalá are extinct culinary traditions, as well as important culinary techniques and processes that play a role in nutrition and medicine, valuing traditional and ancestral knowledge as part of their culture. The inventory includes 22 plants used in Andean medicine and 38 preparations, including beverages, porridges, stews, soups, and wrapped dishes that become an integral part of everyday routines, dietary habits, and festive traditions. It is concluded that this knowledge constitutes a valuable food and culinary heritage, and its biocultural is based on ancestral knowledge of the healing properties of local plants and foods, contributing to the health and identity of the community. Measures should be taken to preserve and promote this heritage in the face of current challenges.

Objective: We set out to evaluate the persistence of sulfachloropyridazine, oxytetracycline, and enrofloxacin in broiler chicken litter following therapeutic oral treatment and its association with the isolation of Escherichia coli resistant to these antimicrobials. Methods: Forty broiler chickens were raised under controlled conditions and divided into three experimental groups, each treated with a different antimicrobial, in addition to an untreated/control group. Litter samples were collected post treatment, analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS, and processed for the isolation of E. coli. The antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli was assessed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: Chemical analysis detected concentrations of antimicrobials throughout post treatment, reaching maxima of 42,910.14 μg kg−1, 92,712 μg kg−1, and 9567 μg kg−1 for sulfachloropyridazine, oxytetracycline plus 4-epi-oxytetracycline, and enrofloxacin plus ciprofloxacin, respectively. It was estimated that the concentrations of sulfachloropyridazine, oxytetracycline, and enrofloxacin would persist in broiler litter for 61, 244, and 514 days, respectively. A very strong association was observed between the presence of antimicrobial residues and the antimicrobial resistance of E. coli (p-value < 0.0001, and Cramer’s coefficient of 0.47), and an independence between the level of residue concentration and susceptibility (p-value 0.5262). Conclusions: The persistence of antimicrobial residues contributes to the selection of resistant bacteria, regardless of persistent antimicrobial concentrations. These findings highlight the need for stricter regulations on poultry litter management, including residue thresholds and resistance monitoring, to minimize environmental and public health risks. Proper treatment of poultry litter is essential to ensure its sustainable and safe re-use in agricultural systems.

Background/Objectives: This study presents a novel approach, based on a combination of radiomic feature extraction, data resampling techniques, and machine learning algorithms, for the detection of degraded bone structures in Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) images. This comprehensive approach, which addresses the critical aspects of the problem, distinguishes this work from previous studies, improving the performance achieved by the most similar studies. The primary aim is to provide clinicians with an accessible tool for quality bone assessment, which is currently limited. Methods: A dataset of 1531 spine DXA images was automatically segmented and labelled based on Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) values. Radiomic features were extracted using Pyradiomics, and various resampling techniques were employed to address class imbalance. Three machine learning classifiers (Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and XGBoost) were trained and evaluated using standard performance metrics. Results: The SVM classifier outperformed the other classifiers. The highest F-score of 97.5% was achieved using the Grey Level Dependence Matrix and Grey Level Run Length Matrix feature combination with SMOTEENN resampling, which proved to be the most effective resampling technique, while the undersampling method yielded the lowest performance. Conclusions: This research demonstrates the potential of radiomic texture features, resampling techniques, and machine learning methods for classifying DXA images into healthy or degraded bone structures, which potentially leads to improved clinical diagnosis and treatment.

This study focuses on the relationship between hotel sites (current and planned) and exposure to hurricanes in Cuba. The hypothesis focused on demonstrating that Cuban tourist areas have differing degrees of exposure to tropical cyclones according to the month. The results indicate that although the whole Cuban archipelago is exposed to hurricanes, the tourist regions in Cuba’s western provinces have a greater chance of being affected than those located in the center, east, and south. The tourism development that will take place by 2030 in Cuba includes significant hotel expansion in coastal areas that are highly exposed to hurricanes. Information on the risk of hurricanes in tourist regions provides information that could enable the creation of the organizational conditions needed to tackle these phenomena in the short to medium term and to refine spatial and tourism planning approaches in the long term.

Aronia, haskap, and goji berries are characterized by their high content of bioactive compounds and their beneficial health properties as well as their resistance to harsh agronomic conditions. In this work, cultivars of these species growing in a mountainous region of central-western Spain were characterized by analyzing physicochemical parameters and bioactive compounds. Goji fruits showed the highest total soluble solid content and the lowest acidity values. The sugar profile suggested that goji cultivars will have a higher sweetness due to higher fructose and glucose content. However, aronia cultivars will be the least sweet due to their high sorbitol content. The total organic acid content was much higher in aronia and haskap than in goji fruits, and the profile varied according to species. The total phenolic content was significantly higher in aronia fruits. A total of 15 phenolic compounds were detected, with anthocyanins being predominant in aronia and haskap berries; however, they were not detected in goji fruits. Nevertheless, carotenoid compounds were found in goji berries and not detected in aronia and haskap fruits. Aronia fruits showed the highest antioxidant capacity compared to haskap and goji fruits. The PCA analysis classified the samples to determine which parameters have the greatest influence.

Essential oils are investigated due to their biological activity, and the Amazon rainforest, with its rich biodiversity, is a promising source of therapeutic compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the essential oil from the leaves of Bixa orellana as an antifungal agent, thus contributing to the search for alternatives that can address the growing resistance to conventional antifungals. B. orellana leaves were collected in the Ecuadorian Amazon and their essential oil was obtained by steam distillation. Their chemical composition was analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and their antifungal activity against Candida albicans was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method (ATCC 10231), with nystatin as a positive control. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 60 compounds, the main ones being dihydroedulan (27.5%), β-caryophyllene (10.3%), nerolidol (7.21%), trans-β-bergamotene (5.73%), α-santalene (4.94%) and trans-α-bergamotene (4.26%). The essential oil showed moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans, producing an inhibition halo of 13 mm in diameter, which is 48% of the inhibition observed with nystatin (27 mm). The presence of sesquiterpenes, such as β-caryophyllene, known for its membrane-disrupting properties, probably contributes to the observed antifungal effects. The study highlights the potential of B. orellana essential oil as a natural antifungal agent; however, further research is required to evaluate its efficacy against a wider range of pathogenic fungi, its possible synergistic effects with conventional antifungals and its safety and efficacy in vivo.

En este trabajo abordamos las guías, manuales y decálogos para la cobertura de casos de violencia de género destinadas a periodistas, publicados en Argentina entre 2007 y 2021. Entendemos a estos documentos como producciones discursivas donde reconocemos huellas de disputa de sentidos para (re)significar la violencia de género. Como estrategia metodológica, desde una perspectiva sociodiscursiva, reconstruimos los contextos de producción de cada material, nos centramos en los topos discursivos que encontramos en la construcción del problema como social y en las recomendaciones. Concluimos que los manuales ofrecen herramientas generales para abordar la violencia de género en los medios de comunicación, donde se tensionan ciertos sentidos, por ejemplo, qué es la violencia y quiénes se encuentran en el par víctima-victimario. A su vez, reconocemos que entre el 2015 y 2020 se produce una multiplicación de agentes que prescriben estas formas correctas de hacer periodismo con perspectiva de género.

Los sistemas fluviales del Gran Chaco, América del Sur, constituyen un tipo de registro fluvial significativo para la cuenca de antepaís andina moderna. El mega-abanico fluvial del Salado-Juramento (MAFSJ), uno de los sistemas más grandes de Sudamérica, presenta características morfológicas y sedimentológicas distintivas. El MAFSJ, desarrollado por el desplazamiento del río Salado-Juramento hacia el sureste, presenta numerosos paleocauces en un patrón distributivo hacia el E desde su ápice en las Sierras Subandinas. En este trabajo se estudian atributos paleohidrológicos y la sedimentología de dos secciones ubicadas en paleocauces del área distal del MAFSJ, con el objetivo de generar información estratigráfica y sedimentológica de los rellenos de paleocauces que permita inferir su dinámica. De cada sucesión, se obtuvieron muestras de sedimentos para diferentes análisis: sedimentológicos (mineralogía y granulometría de sedimentos), y cronológicos. El cociente entre los atributos paleohidrológicos como la anchura del cauce-W y el espesor-T (W/T) presenta valores en un rango de 9,4 a 16,1 (media 12,75) para el área distal del MAFSJ. Estos valores indican cauces en cinta (ribbon channels). El relleno de los paleocauces estudiados está conformado por arenas muy finas a finas, con una mineralogía de arcillas y arenas consistente con los depósitos generados por el río Salado. Estos depósitos son cubiertos por niveles limo-arcillosos de carácter eólico. La geomorfología, los atributos paleohidrológicos, la sedimentología y los fechados numéricos, sugieren un paleodrenaje distributivo con cauces activos durante el MIS 3 (62–28 Ka AP). Se interpreta una fase de agradación fluvial durante el MIS 3, representada en gran parte por los rellenos de canales sinuosos que sugieren numerosos ríos divergentes en el área distal del MAFSJ. El sistema fluvial disminuye y domina la actividad eólica hacia el MIS 2, siendo cubierto por depósitos limo-arcillosos.

IntroductionPatients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and mental health disorders compared to the general population. Physical exercise might improve their brain health. The overall goal of the HEART-BRAIN randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to investigate the effects of different types of exercise on brain health outcomes in patients with CAD, and the underlying mechanisms.MethodsThis three-arm, single-blinded RCT will include 90 patients with CAD (50–75 years). Participants will be randomized into: (1) control group—usual care (n = 30), (2) aerobic high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (n = 30), or (3) HIIT combined with resistance exercise training (n = 30). The 12-week intervention includes 3 supervised sessions (45-min each) per week for the exercise groups. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The primary outcome is to determine changes in cerebral blood flow assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes include changes in brain vascularization, cognitive measures (i.e., general cognition, executive function and episodic memory), and cardiorespiratory fitness. Additional health-related outcomes, and several potential mediators and moderators will be investigated (i.e., brain structure and function, cardiovascular and brain-based biomarkers, hemodynamics, physical function, body composition, mental health, and lifestyle behavior).ConclusionThe HEART-BRAIN RCT will provide novel insights on how exercise can impact brain health in patients with CAD and the potential mechanisms explaining the heart-brain connection, such as changes in cerebral blood flow. The results may have important clinical implications by increasing the evidence on the effectiveness of exercise-based strategies to delay cognitive decline in this high-risk population.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [NCT06214624].

ObjectivesTo test the biological properties of a novel non-restorative treatment method for arresting dentin caries based on silver nanoclusters (AgNCls) synthesized in polymethacrylic acid (PMAA).MethodsSynthesis of AgNCls was performed by photoreduction of AgNO3 in PMAA with 355 nm/wavelength light. AgNCls/PMAA was characterized by absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy and optical and atomic force microscopy. The stability of the clusters in an aerated PMAA solution was evaluated by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay and antibacterial effect was determined for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and colony forming (CFU) of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus). 38% Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF) was used for the control groups.ResultsChemical and structural identity of the clusters did not change within 9 months; Cell viability of 92%–89% was found after 24–48 h respectively. MIC and MBC were determined from 1:16 and 1:8 dilutions, respectively. Log CFU counts of S. mutans, and L. acidophilus treated with AgNCls/PMAA (3.4 ppm of silver) were significantly lower than in the control groups and even lower than when the same bacterial strains were treated with SDF (15,525 ppm of silver).ConclusionsAgNCls/PMAA presented chemical stability, acceptable cytotoxicity, and a potential antibacterial effect for strains associated with caries lesions at very low concentrations of silver.

BackgroundE-cigarettes are often marketed as a less harmful alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. Despite their popularity, the evidence regarding their effects on human health remains unclear and is filled with complexities.ObjectivesThis systematic review aims to elucidate the direct effects of electronic cigarette use on human health, carefully distinguishing between the specific characteristics of the populations studied.MethodologyAdhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases without date restrictions, including articles in both Spanish and English. This approach enabled the identification and analysis of primary studies to understand the direct effect of electronic cigarettes on human health.ResultsA total of 33 studies were included that evaluated cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, weight and fertility effects. Only five studies analyzed e-cigarettes in healthy populations and seven studies compared healthy individuals against smokers. The effects evaluated on smokers or former tobacco smokers were apparently positive, however, among healthy individuals, increased heart rate, mean arterial pressure, oxidative stress, alteration of respiratory epithelial cells and increased airflow resistance were found.ConclusionSmokers or former smokers who switch to e-cigarettes may reduce their exposure to carcinogens and lower their risk of developing severe health issues associated with conventional smoking. However, in healthy individuals who have never smoked traditional cigarettes, the use of e-cigarettes introduces several cardiovascular and respiratory adverse effects. These findings suggest that while e-cigarettes can be a strategic harm reduction tool for smokers, they are not a safe option for non-smokers.