3D bioprinting, like 3D printing, is a process that builds structures by depositing material layer by layer. In the specific case of bioprinting, these layers are composed of a biocompatible material together with living cells, allowing the creation of three-dimensional structures that recreate functional tissues and organs. Bioprinting cell-laden structures is complicated by the high rate of cell damage and stress that occurs during the process, caused by the high pressures and stresses to which they are subjected. To minimise damage during the process, it is important to study and optimise certain bioprinting conditions beforehand and to analyse how they affect the cells by means of computational simulations. In this review, both quantitative and qualitative data are collected to improve the nozzle geometry through computational simulation studies. Optimal ranges for nozzle diameter (0.2-1mm) and length (8-10mm; 300-900μm) have been defined, and recommendations for improving nozzle performance during bioprinting, such as the provision of an inner angle of 20-30°, an inner EDTA coating and a shear stress of less than 10kPa, have been gathered. Finally, based on the data collected, a design of experiments is proposed to obtain an optimal bioprinting configuration for a particular bioink.

Modern imaging strategies are paramount to studying living systems such as cells, bacteria, and fungi and their response to pathogens, toxicants, and nanomaterials as modulated by exposure and environmental factors. The need to understand the processes and mechanisms of damage, healing and cell survivability of living systems continues to motivate the development of alternative imaging strategies. Of particular interest is the use of label-free techniques that minimize interference of biological processes by foreign marking substances and reduce intense light exposure and potential photo-toxicity effects. This review focus on the potential synergic capabilities of atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a well-developed and robust imaging strategy with demonstrated applications to unravel intimate details in biomedical applications, with the label-free, fast, and enduring Holotomographic Microscopy (HT) strategy. We first review the operating principles that form the basis for the complementary details provided by these techniques regarding the surface and internal information provided by HT and AFM is essential and complimentary for the development of several biomedical areas studying the interaction mechanisms of nanomaterials with living organisms. First, AFM can provide superb resolution on surface morphology and biomechanical characterization. Second, the quantitative phase capabilities of HT enable superb modeling and quantification of the volume, surface area, protein content, and mass density of the main components of cells and microorganisms, including morphology of cells in microbiological systems. These capabilities result from directly quantifying refractive index changes without requiring fluorescent markers or chemicals. As such, HT is ideally suited for long-term monitoring of living organisms in conditions close to their natural settings. We present a case-based review of the principal uses of both techniques and their essential contributions to nanomedicine and nanotoxicology, emphasizing cancer and infectious disease control. The synergic impact of the sequential use of these complementary strategies provides a clear drive for adopting these techniques as interdependent fundamental tools.

The study investigated the changes that occurred in the Mexican power sector pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions on energy sustainability goals. The study is based on the variability of the installed capacity, consumption, generation, and demand of the National Electric System (SEN), covering the period from 2017 to 2021. The data were collected from the Development of the National Electric System (PRODESEN), the Ministry of Energy, the National Energy Balance, and the government's official website. The results indicated that in-stalled capacity and generation increased by 22.83% and 27.86%, respectively, despite the pan-demic. This growth was attributed to clean energy, mainly photovoltaic solar and wind sources. Another finding is that the gross domestic product (GDP), consumption, and demand were seri-ously affected by COVID-19. They had a fall of 8.2%, 2.2%, and 4.4%, respectively, which trans-lates into a significant economic lag and a slowdown in energy self-sufficiency and the Mexican Energy Transition (TEM). Moreover, the objective of generating 35% and 40% of electrical ener-gy through clean energy will be achieved by 2031 and 2035, instead of 2021 and 2035, respec-tively.

(+)-epi-Epoformin (1), is a fungal cyclohexene epoxide isolated together with diplopimarane and sphaeropsidins A and C, a nor-ent-pimarane and two pimaranes, from the culture filtrates of Diplodia quercivora, a fungal pathogen for cork oak in Sardinia, Italy. Compound 1 possesses a plethora of biological activities including: antifungal, zootoxic and phytotoxic activity. The last activity and the peculiar structural feature of 1 suggested to carry out a structure activity relationship study, preparing eight key hemisynthetic derivatives and their phytotoxicity was assayed. The complete spectroscopic characterization and the activity in the etiolated wheat coleoptile bioassay of all the compounds is reported. Most of the compounds inhibited growth and some of them had comparable or higher activity than the natural product and the reference herbicide Logran. As regards the structure-activity relationship, the carbonyl proved to be essential for their activity of 1, as well as the conjugated double bond, while the epoxide could be altered with no significant loss.

Hydrotherapy, including the use of therapeutic showers and bathtubs, has been studied for its potential benefits in labor pain management. Previous research has indicated that hydrotherapy can alleviate pain, but comparative studies between therapeutic showers and bathtubs are scarce. Objective: This study aims to compare the effects of therapeutic showers and bathtubs on pain perception, labor duration, use of epi-dural analgesia, and maternal and neonatal outcomes during labor. Methods: A total of 124 pregnant women were included in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: those who used a thera-peutic shower and those who used a bathtub during labor. Pain levels were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Labor duration, use of epidural analgesia, types of delivery, maternal outcomes (postpartum hemorrhage, perineal status, maternal hypotension, fever, and breastfeeding), and neonatal outcomes (APGAR scores, fetal heart rate, complications, and neonatal unit admissions) were recorded and analyzed. Results: Both the therapeutic shower and the bathtub effectively reduced pain perception, with the bathtub showing a greater reduction in VAS scores. The therapeutic shower group experienced a signifi-cantly shorter labor duration compared to the bathtub group. The majority of participants in both groups did not require epidural analgesia, with no significant differences between the groups. There were no sig-nificant differences in the types of delivery. Maternal outcomes indicated a lower incidence of perineal tears and episiotomies in the therapeutic shower group. Neonatal outcomes, including APGAR scores and fetal heart rate, were similar between the groups, with no significant differences in complications or neo-natal unit admissions. Conclusions: Both therapeutic showers and bathtubs are effective for pain relief during labor, with the bathtub showing a higher reduction in pain intensity. The therapeutic shower is as-sociated with a shorter labor duration and a lower incidence of perineal tears and episiotomies. Both meth-ods are safe for neonatal well-being, making hydrotherapy a viable non-pharmacological option for pain management in labor. However, the therapeutic shower may offer additional benefits in terms of labor du-ration and maternal outcomes.

We prove that a diffeological space is diffeomorphic to the categorical join of any generating family of plots.

This is a paper of Political Economy and Economic Policies into the European Green Deal framework to improve the Recovery Plan post-COVID-19. This paper is focused on the green jobs opportunity for Europe, especially for Spain. It is offered a systematization of concepts and calculations in the issue (attending the international institutions and forums proposals) to harmonize the recovery plans, to apply them beyond the energy sector and to align public and private sector, as well other key stakeholders in achieving this goal. The obtained outcome gives the creation of around 350.000 new green jobs and the necessity of a new workforce reskilled. This result makes necessary to coordinate sectoral plans by the policymakers in which all the involved entities might express their needs and views on the best education approach to renewables sector and green jobs.

The historical and cultural use of food as a remedy for diseases is evident in societies, such as using Hibiscus sabdariffa to address conditions like hypertension and high blood glucose. The natural biocompounds in this plant, including Delphinidin-3-Sambubioside (DS3), Quercetin (QRC), and Hibiscus Acid (HA), have been linked to various health benefits. Despite individual attention, molecular targets for these compounds remain unclear. In this study, in-silico analysis employed bioinformatic tools; including Swiss Target Prediction, ShinnyGo 0.77, KEGG, and Stringdb, to identify molecular targets, pathways, and hub genes. A PubMed literature search complemented the results. DS3 demonstrated potential modifications in genes related to nitrogen and glucose metabolism, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation, particularly affecting the PI3K-AKT pathway. QRC displayed interconnected targets across multiple pathways, with overlap with DS3 and a focus on cancer-related pathways. HA showed distinct targets, particularly associated with nervous system-related pathways. These findings highlight the need for targeted research on the molecular effects of DS3, QRC, and HA, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic pathways.

This paper formulates a new strategy for participatory forest management consisting of encouraging public participation as long as it increases empathy among participants. The strategy requires the homogeneous representation of the opinion of a participant (i.e. to determine how they assess a forest plan and identify the best one). Utility assessments are prepared for participants through pair-comparisons between meaningful points in the territory and from value functions based on forest indicators. The best plan is designed by applying combinatorial optimization algorithms to the utility of a participant. The calculating of empathy -of one participant relative to another - is based on the equivalence of their respective utilities when the current forest plan is modified. This involves calculating the opinions that are due to systematic changes in the collective plan for those participants that each participant supposes will affect the utility of the other participants. Calculating empathy also requires knowing the interactions among participants, which have been incorporated through agent-based simulation models. Application of the above methodology has confirmed the association between increases in empathy and convergence of opinions in different scenarios: well and medium-informed participants and with and without interaction among them, which verifies the proposed strategy. In addition, this strategy is easily integrated into available information systems and its outcomes show advantages over current participatory applications.

The influence of hafnium metal (Hf) and sulfate ions (SO₄^-2) on the acidic properties of SiO₂ mesopores synthesized by a non-hydrothermal method was studied using the following characterization techniques; TG-DTG, XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, EDS, FTIR, n-butylamine titration, FTIR-pyridine, and alcohol dehydration. The incorporation of 3.6% mol of Hf during the silicate synthesis step caused the characteristic structural arrangement of MCM-41 to collapse. However, an increase in the acid strength of the catalyst of up to 315 mV was observed, with Brönsted and Lewis-type acid sites being mostly present therein. Furthermore, the acidity of Hf- and (SO₄^-2) -modified SiO₂ in the dehydration of ethanol and methanol was evaluated, resulting in a selectivity towards ethylene and dimethyl ether, respectively. Acid solids have enormous potential to produce important compounds for the chemical industry using alternative routes other than petrochemical processes. They also represent a significant advance for biorefineries.

This paper constitutes a first advance in the paleoenvironmental study of a small group of peatland ecosystems, of reduced size, located in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula (Puebla de Don Rodrigo, Ciudad Real, Spain). It represents a singular enclave, because these ecosystems are home to the southern-most peatlands in Europe, located at the lowest altitude in Spain, and are unique to the region of Castilla-La Mancha. They form ecosystems similar to the peat bogs of northern Europe, but in a Mediterranean climate. The analysis is followed of sample collection and data collection from documentary, textual, and cartographic sources drawn up since the 16th century up until the present day. The scientific analyses that were performed and the documentation that was consulted point to the hypothesis that these peatlands are the result of a long process of historical modification of the landscape in which anthropogenic activity has played a leading role, triggering a series of processes on the hillslopes that are culminating in the exhumation of the waterlogged areas, thereby establishing a recent genesis of these ecosystems.

Lathyrane-type diterpenes have a wide range of biological activities. Among them, euphoboetirane A (1) exerts neurogenesis-promoting activity. In order to increase the structural diversity of this type of lathyranes to explore their potential use in neurodegenerative disorders, the biotransformation of 1 by Streptomyces puniceus BC-5GB.11 has been investigated. The strain BC-5GB.11, isolated from surface sediments collected from the intertidal zone of the inner Bay of Cadiz, was identified as Streptomyces puniceus, as determined by phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence. Biotransformation of 1 by BC-5GB.11 afforded five products (3-7), all of them reported here for the first time. The main biotransformation pathways involved regioselective oxidation at non-activated carbons (3-5) and isomerization of the D^12,13 double bond (6). In addition, a cyclopropane-rearranged compound was found (7). The structures of all compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic studies.

: The cytotoxic effect of four extracts obtained from the wild plant and two from a culture of Ag-eratina pichinchensis calluses on cell lines: prostate carcinoma, cervical cancer, hepatocellular car-cinoma, human hepatoma, lung cancer and cellular keratinocytes was evaluated; the extracts were obtained with ethyl acetate and methanol, leaves and stems were used from the wild plant. The results of the cytotoxic evaluation showed that only the ethyl acetate extract obtained from the callus culture showed an effect on the cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) with an IC50 of 94.79 ± 2.0 µg/mL. The purification of this extract allowed obtaining a benzofuran type compound as the main product, which was identified as 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. The cytotoxic evaluation of this compound showed an important effect against the HeLa cell line with an IC50 of 23.86 ± 2. .5µg/mL. These results contribute to the development of alternatives for the production of com-pounds for the treatment of cancer.

In the context of multiple repurposing of rural spaces, tourism represents a path for development, with the potential to revitalize these areas. The conservation and restoration of heritage, and its promotion through tourism, can become an opportunity for local development, in which a range of stakeholders fulfil different roles in the carrying out of the processes involved. The aim of the study was to analyse the process and results of channelling heritagisation through tourism in Mértola (Baixo Alentejo, Portugal). A series of interviews with the chief stakeholders in the process was conducted, from which the contexts and conceptualisations of development were determined. On the basis of secondary data (statistics), an analysis of the impacts of the process of heritagisation and the development of tourism was undertaken. The objectives of this study consisted in determining: a) the importance of the process of heritagisation in Mértola; b) the viability of the project, given the cost and lack of comprehensive conservation, in creating a unified whole; d) the performance of, and power relationships between, the various stakeholders; e) the limited participation of locals due to disaffection with the project; f) the correlation between heritage, rural tourism and local development.

Background: Caffeine is an ergogenic aid that still needs to be investigated in female sports per-formance. Methods: Eight semi-professional female volleyball (Heigth=1.63±0.08 m; Weigth= 66.67 ± 4,.74 kg) players voluntarily participated in this study. A randomised crossover design was carried out. Players went through the caffeine and placebo condition. In the caffeine condi-tion, participants consumed 5 mg/kg of caffeine. The evaluations were performed over two weeks of training. In both conditions, the countermovement jump test, repeated jumps for 15s and hand-grip were performed. Change of direction was assessed using the 505 test. Well-being was also assessed by a wellness questionnaire. A repeated measures Anova and correlation analysis were performed. Results: The repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a main effect of supplementation (F (1.7) = 8.41, p = 0.02, η2 = 0.54) across the training week on physical performance. Besides, there was a positive effect on perceived fatigue (F (1.7) = 7.29, p = 0.03, η2 = 0.51). Conclusions: Caf-feine improved performance and fatigue parameters over one week of training.

The availability of new self-sensing cement-based strain sensors allows the development of dense sensor networks for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of reinforced concrete structures. These sensors are fabricated by doping cement-matrix materials with conductive fillers, such as Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs), and can be embedded into structural elements made of reinforced concrete prior to casting. The strain sensing principle is based on the multifunctional composites outputting a measurable change in their electrical properties when subjected to a deformation. Previous work by the authors was devoted to material fabrication, modeling and applications in SHM. In this paper, we investigate the behavior of several sensors fabricated with and without aggregates and with different MWCNTs content. The strain sensitivity of the sensors, in terms of fractional change in electrical resistivity for unit strain, as well as their linearity are investigated through experimental testing under both static and dynamically varying compressive loadings. Moreover, the responses of the sensors when subjected to destructive compressive tests are evaluated. Overall, the presented results contribute to improving the scientific knowledge on the behavior of smart concrete sensors and to furthering their understanding for SHM applications.

This paper presents the design and implementation of a remote supervision and control system for a gunpowder drum filling plant. The use of technologies such as SCADA (Ignition), IoT (Node-RED), ERP (Odoo) and digital twins (Factory I/O) to achieve remote monitoring and operation of the plant is described. The solution allows full control of the production process from any location through customized graphical interfaces. The challenges encountered in integrating multiple systems and platforms are discussed, along with the security measures implemented within the Azure cloud environment. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of 4.0 technologies in automating and digitizing critical industrial processes. This research will lay the groundwork for the adoption of these approaches in companies seeking greater efficiency, traceability and safety in their operations. The experience gained allows us to successfully face the digital transformation in modern manufacturing.

Local Productive Systems (hereinafter LPS) based on agro-food industries constitute alternative models of development in peripheral rural areas that are subject to internal and external dynamics and processes. The main objective of the research is to investigate the processes and their consequences on four SPLs based on the Iberian Pig Transformation Industry (hereinafter LPS-IPTI) in SW Spain: Fregenal de la Sierra, Higuera la Real, Cumbres Mayores and Jabugo. Using secondary data, a comparison is made between 2002 and 2020 to establish the changes, causes and consequences on the LPS-IPTI studied. The results obtained indicate (1) business and territorial concentration of LPS-IPTI; (2) productive and territorial specialisation in standardised products and quality products; (3) simplification of industrial processes; (4) loss of employment, especially female; (5) external control of companies in the sector which, accordingly, results in the loss of prominence of local actors in favour of foreign companies, reduced social capital and the progressive loss of ownership of the LPS.

Asthma is a significant public health concern. This study identified the provinces with the highest morbidity and mortality rates due to asthma among the working-age population (15-69 years) in the Republic of Ecuador. The secondary objective was to explain the possible differences attribut-able to occupational exposure. This nationwide ecological and exploratory study was conducted in 24 provinces between 2016 and 2019. Government databases were used as sources of infor-mation. Standardized rates were calculated for codes the J45 and J46. The hospitalization mor-bidity rate for asthma decreased from 6.51 to 5.76 cases per 100,000 working-age population, and the mortality rate has consistently been low and stable from 0.14 to 0.15 deaths per 100,000 working-age population. Geographic differences between the provinces were evident. The risk of hospitalization and death due to asthma was higher in the Pacific coast (five provinces) and the Andean region (two provinces). The high rates observed in provinces with greater agricultural and industrial development could be the main determinants of national heterogeneity and could act as occupational risk factors. The contribution of occupational hazards in each province should be examined in depth through ad hoc studies. These findings provide valuable information for creating public policies aimed at promoting and safeguarding the respiratory health of the popu-lation, particularly that of workers.

Herbicide resistance is an evolutionary process that affects entire agricultural regions' yield and productivity. The high number of farms and the diversity of weed management can generate hot selection spots along regions. Resistant biotypes can present a diversity of mechanisms of resistance and resistance factors depending on selective conditions inside the farm; this situation is similar to predicts by the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution. In Mexico, the agricultural region of Bajio has been affected by herbicide resistance for 25 years. To date, Avena fatua L. is one of the most abundant and problematic weed species. The objective of this study was to determine the mechanism of resistance of biotypes with failures in the weed control in 70 wheat and barley crop fields in Bajio, Mexico. The results showed that 70% of farms have biotypes with TSR, the most common mutations where Trp – 1999 – Cys, Asp – 2078 – Gly, Ile – 2041 – Asn, such mutations confer cross-resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides. Metabolomic fingerprinting showed four different metabolic expression patterns. The results confirmed that in the Bajio exist multiple selection sites for both resistance mechanisms, which proves that this area can be considered as a geographic mosaic of resistance.

Over the last decades, microalgal biomass has gained a significant role in the development of different high-end (nutraceuticals, colorants, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals) and low-end products (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) due to rapid growth and high carbon fixing efficiency. Therefore, microalgae are considered a useful and sustainable resource to attain energy security while reducing our current reliance on fossil fuels. From the technologies available for obtaining biofuels using microalgae biomass, thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, HTL, gasification) have proven to be processed with higher viability, because they use all biomass. However, because of the complexity of the biomass (lipids, carbohydrates , and proteins), the obtained biofuels from direct thermochemical conversion have large amounts of heteroatoms (oxygen, nitrogen , and sulfur). As a solution, catalyst-based processes have emerged as a sustainable solution for the increase in biocrude production. This paper's objective is to present a comprehensive review of recent developments on catalyst mediated conversion of algal biomass. Special attention will be given to operating conditions, strains evaluated, and challenges for the optimal yield of algal-based biofuels through pyrolysis and HTL.

Over the last decades, microalgal biomass has gained a significant role in the development of different high-end (nutraceuticals, colorants, food supplements, and pharmaceuticals) and low-end products (biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas) due to rapid growth and high carbon fixing efficiency. Therefore, microalgae are considered a useful and sustainable resource to attain energy security while reducing our current reliance on fossil fuels. From the technologies available for obtaining biofuels using microalgae biomass, thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, HTL, gasification) have proven to be processed with higher viability, because they use all biomass. However, the biocrudes obtained from direct thermochemical conversion have substantial quantities of heteroatoms (oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur) due to the complexity of the biomass's content of chemical components (lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins). As a solution, catalyst-based processes have emerged as a sustainable solution for the increase in biocrude production. This paper's objective is to present a comprehensive review of recent developments on catalyst mediated conversion of algal biomass. Special attention will be given to operating conditions, strains evaluated, and challenges for the optimal yield of algal-based biofuels through pyrolysis and HTL.

This paper introduces the implementation of a genetic programming (GP)-based procedure to the automatic design and tuning of process controllers. The proposed approach makes a significant contribution to the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in control engineering. Unlike other controller design methods, the GP-based program handles the entire design in the time domain, including differential operations like derivatives and integrals, without the need for intermediate inverse Laplace transformation. This approach not only simplifies the design process but also ensures that all generated controllers are implementable in physical systems. Furthermore, GP’s functions set includes various mathematical operations beyond basic arithmetic operators, such as trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic operators. The performance and validity of the resulting controllers generated by the proposed GP-based approach are evaluated by verifying whether the generator can replicate the structure and performance of those produced by traditional controller design methods and, in some cases, achieve even better results. As a result, the GP-based approach presents a promising solution for automating the controller design process and addressing control problems in various engineering applications.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and the second cause of cancer specific death in women from high-income countries. More than 70% of all breast cancer are hormone receptor-positive BC, and elevated estrogen circulating in blood has been proved to be a strong risk for BC development. This is due to its contribution to enhance proliferation of cancerous cells, angiogenesis and metastasis stimulation and therapy resistance. The estrogen (E) metabolism–gut microbiome axis is functional with underlying individual variations in E levels. It is reasonable that the estrobolome (bacterial genes whose products are capable of metabolizing E) could contribute to the risk of hormone-driven malignancies including BC and may serve as a potential biomarker and target. Gut microbial β -glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes have been suggested to be involved in the estrobolome. Furthermore, bacterial GUS enzymes within the gastrointestinal tract have been postulated to contribute to hormone breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the recent knowledge about the role of GUS enzyme in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. We focus on the role of GUS in (i)-the microbioma and estrogen metabolism, (ii) diet, estrobolome, and the BC development, (iii) other activities of the bacterial β-glucuronidase, and (iv) the new molecular target for BC therapeutic application.

Galectin-3 is considered a cancer biomarker and bioindicator of fibrosis and cardiac remodeling, and, therefore, it is desirable to develop convenient methods for its detection. Herein, an approach based on the development of multivalent electrochemical probes with high galectin-3 sensing abilities is reported. The probes consist of multivalent presentations of lactose–ferrocene conjugates scaffolded on poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers and gold nanoparticles. Such multivalent lactose–ferrocene conjugates are synthesized by coupling of azidomethylferrocene-lactose building blocks on alkyne-functionalized PAMAM, for the case of the glycodendrimers, and to disulfide‐functionalized linkers that are then used for the surface modification of citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles. The binding and sensing abilities towards galectin 3 of both ferrocene-containing lactose dendrimers and gold nanoparticles have been evaluated by means of isothermal titration calorimetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and differential pulse voltammetry. The highest sensitivity by electrochemical methods to galectin-3 was shown by lactosylferrocenylated gold nanoparticles, which are able to detect the lectin in nanomolar concentrations.

The IDS serves as a security system that maintains constant surveillance over network traffic and host systems in order to identify any security breaches or potentially concerning activities. Recently. the rise in cyber-attacks has driven the necessity for the development of automated and intelligent network intrusion detection systems. These systems are designed to learn the typical patterns of network traffic, allowing them to identify any deviations from normal behaviour, which can be classified as anomalous or malicious. Machine learning methods are widely used to exhibit a satisfactory effectiveness in detecting malicious payloads in the network traffic. While the volume of the data generated from IDS is increasing exponentially results in the emergence of substantial security risks, it highlighted the imperative to strengthen network security. The performance of traditional machine learning methods depends on the dataset and the data balance distribution in it. while most of IDS datasets suffer from unbalancing, this limits the performance of the machine learning method used in the system and results in missed detections and false alarms in the conventional IDSs. To address this issue, this paper presents a new model-based Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) called TDCGAN to enhance the detection rate of less of minor class in the dataset while maintaining efficiency. The proposed model consists of one generator and three discriminators with an election layer at the end of architecture. The UGR’16 data set is used for evaluation purposes. In order to demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed model, various machine learning algorithms have been utilized for comparison. The experimental findings have determined that TDCGAN presents an efficient resolution for addressing imbalanced intrusion detection and surpasses the performance of other oversampling machine learning methods.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell-based therapies have achieved substantial successes against B-cell malignancies, what has led to a growing scientific and clinical interest on extending their use to solid cancers. However, results for solid tumours have been limited up to now, in part due to the immuno-suppressive tumour microenvironment, that is able to inactivate CAR-T cell clones. In this paper we put forward a mathematical model describing the competition of CAR-T and tumour cells, accounting for their immunosuppressive capabilities. Using the mathematical model, we show that the use of large numbers of CAR-T cells targeting the solid tumour antigens could overcome the cancer immunosuppressive potential. To achieve such high levels of CAR-T cells we propose and study computationaly, the manufacture and injection of CAR-T cells targeting two antigens: CD19 and a tumour-associated antigen. We study in-silico the resulting dynamics of the disease after the injection of this product and find that the expansion of the CAR-T cell population in the blood and lymphopoietic organs could lead to the massive generation of an army of CAR-T cells targetting the solid tumour, and potentially overcoming its inmune suppression capabilities. That strategy could benefit from the combination with PD-1 inhibitors and of low tumour loads. Our computational results provide a theoretical support for the treatment of different types of solid tumours using T-cells engineered with combination treatments of dual CARs with on- and off-tumour activity and anti-PD1 drugs after completion of classical cytoreductive treatments.

Predictive numerical models in the study of ground-borne vibrations generated by railway sys-tems have traditionally relied on the segmented approach of subsystems. In this approach, loads are individually applied, and the cumulative effect of rolling stock is obtained through superposi-tion. While this method serves to mitigate computational costs, it may not fully capture the com-plex interactions involved in ground-borne vibrations. Recent advancements in computational and software tools have enabled the development of more sophisticated vibrational pollution models. These advanced models encompass the entire dynamic system, from the rolling stock to the terrain, allowing for continuous simulations with a defined time step. Furthermore, the incorporation of computational contact tools between various ele-ments not only ensures temporal accuracy but also extends the analysis to the frequency domain. This paper explores the evolution of predictive numerical models in the context of ground-borne vibrations generated by trains on ballasted tracks. It highlights the shift from segmented models to continuous simulations, demonstrating the progressive advancement towards more comprehen-sive and accurate representations of railway-induced and generated vibrations in the track sur-roundings as an additional way of evaluate sustainability of infrastructures. In particular, this development of a numerical model from its inception aimed to expand upon ex-isting emission - prediction models by enriching the data with frequency-domain information. This approach has been driven by the aspiration to bridge the gap between numerical predictions and measured signals, striving for a higher level of accuracy in our obtained results. This model can predict the impact of a high-speed rail (HSR) vehicle passing on its own track. It possesses sufficient information in both the time and frequency domains to precisely characterize vibrations. This initiative marks a pivotal advancement, enabling us to more effectively capture the intricacies of ground-borne vibrations and their impact on the surrounding environment due to a deeper comprehension of the occurrences in the frequency domain, there's a heightened ca-pability to accurately characterize vibrations.

Background: The relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and both physical fitness (PF) and physical activity (PA) level has been analysed in several studies. The aim of this research was to describe, compare and analyse the level of PF and PA in schoolchildren aged 6-13 in the Region of Murcia, according to adherence to the MD. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 370 schoolchildren (44.9% girls) aged 6-13 (8.7±1.8) from six primary schools in the Region of Murcia (Spain). Results: Only 25.9% of the schoolchildren had optimal adherence to the MD. Regarding the scores of the different PF tests in MD groups, only statistically significant differences were found for CRF (p=0.048) in boys. PA level, showed statistically significant differences in both boys (p=0.040) and girls (p=0.016). A positive relationship was found between the KIDMED index and CRF (ρ=.127), standing broad jump (ρ=.133) and PA level (ρ=.235). A higher probability of having a greater CRF (OR=1.17; CI95%=1.02–1.34) and PA level (OR=7.84; CI95%=2.84–21.60) was found in High MD group. Conclusion: These results suggest that an optimal adherence to the MD is associated with higher CRF and PA level in the selected schoolchildren.

Polystyrene as a thin film on arbitrary substrates or pellets form defective graphene films or powders that can be dispersed in water and organic solvents. The materials were characterized by visible absorption, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron and atomic force microscopy and electrochemistry. Raman spectra of these materials show the presence of the expected 2D, G and D peaks at 2750, 1590 and 1350 cm^-1, respectively. The relative intensity of the G vs. the D peak is taken as a quantitative indicator of the density of defects in the G layer.

Since its adoption in September 2015, the 2030 Agenda has laid the foundations for a model of shared prosperity for a sustainable world. We are going through a complicated pandemic that shows profound inequalities affecting our economies, health, and quality of life. For this reason, our aim in this work is to make known the state of the art of scientific research related to inequality, poverty, and climate change and to propose lines of improvement that can contribute to achieving 3 of the 17 SDGs (End poverty-SDG 1-, Reduce inequality-SDG 10-, and Climate action -SDG 13-), proposed in the 2030 Agenda. To do so, we have used a systematic literature review methodology. The results show that poverty, inequality and climate change is a subject that has been little studied and articulated by researchers, with significant differences between the different areas studied. Topics related to sustainability and economics are those with the highest number of publications (51.7%). The rest are distributed among the 12 existing departments. Another relevant finding is that the effects of climate change are more pressing for more vulnerable populations, including impoverished women from rural areas and children from underdeveloped countries. This is a gender and social inequality that has been little addressed in climate change studies. Food security and energy poverty is another under-exploited aspect in this area. According to the results obtained in this work, we consider that the circular economy could improve these indicators, constituting a line of future research. Thus, one of its main objectives is to eliminate negative externalities, specifically existing social inequalities within the current linear economy model.

Self-perceived health is an important indicator of occupational health. This research explores the relationship between poor self-perceived health and exposure to psychosocial risk factors, taking into account potential socio-demographic, occupational and employment determinants. Using data from the First Survey of Occupational Safety and Health Conditions covering 1049 salaried workers in Guayaquil, Ecuador descriptive and stratified binary logistic regression analyses (Odds Ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals) were carried out. No significant relationship was found between exposure to psychosocial risk factors and the probability of presenting poor self-perceived health by socio-demographic, occupational and employment characteristics. Occupational exposure factors to psychosocial risks are predictors of self-perceived ill health and are related to the variables analyzed; the most frequently expressed factors among the respondents were Cognitive Demands (DGOG) and Job Insecurity (IL). The results have implications in terms of designing effective workplace interventions pursuant of ensuring the health and wellbeing of employee.

Dioscorea remotiflora, a perennial climbing herbaceous plant wild and native to México, bears tubers of important ethnobotanical and nutritional value. However, the information for its production and use is precarious. The objective of this research was to characterize the adaptation habitats of D. remotiflora in order to determine its ecological descriptors and current distribution, as well as to model its potential distribution. A comprehensive database encompassing 481 geo-referenced accessions was assembled. Using the Agroclimatic Information System for México and Central America (SIAMEXCA), 42 environmental variables were formulated. The MaxEnt model within the Kuenm R-package was employed to predict the species distribution. The findings reveal a greater presence of D. remotiflora in harsh environments, characterized by arid to semi-arid conditions, poor soils, and hot climates with long dry periods. The plant's nutritional and medicinal attributes, combined with its ecological adaptability, suggest its viability within evolving regional cropping systems under the influence of climate change. Niche modeling revealed that seven key variables determine the geographical distribution of D. remotiflora: precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, November-April solar radiation, annual mean relative humidity, annual moisture availability index, and May-October mean temperature. Favorable regions for D. remotiflora coincide with its current presence sites, while other suitable areas, such as the Yucatan Peninsula, Northeast region, and Gulf of México, offer potential expansion opportunities for the species distribution. The characterization obtained for D. remotiflora, together with the description of its edaphic and climatic adaptation habitats, will enable an efficient design of strategies for its use and conservation in the near future.

This article addresses the emergence of a niche for sustainable agricultural production in the province of García Rovira, Colombia. It examines the intervention of the Colombian planning regime, which implements agendas for sustainable territorial development. However, these agendas are not adequately aligned with provincial realities, resulting in a productive decline. From a multi-level perspective, a niche of production linked to the landscape is identified, highlighting sustainable practices and innovation. The study seeks to understand how planning influences the emergence of such niches and what factors boost their transition to sustainability. Through a mixed methodology, growing sectors are highlighted, and the profiles of the producers involved are outlined. The main conclusion is that the planned intervention is inefficient, as the niche of sustainable production emerges without its clear influence. Therefore, it is proposed to re-evaluate planning using alternative analysis frameworks to detect emerging productive dynamics, serving as a basis for future plans.

PEM fuel cell is a technology successfully used in the production of energy from hydrogen, allowing the use of hydrogen as an energy vector. It is scalable for stationary and mobile applications. However, the technology demands more research. An important research topic is fault diagnosis and condition monitoring to improve the life and the efficiency and to reduce the operation costs of PEMFC devices. Consequently, there is a need of physical models that let deep analysis. These models must be accurate enough to represent the PEMFC behavior and to allow the identification of different internal signals of a PEM fuel cell. This work presents a PEM fuel cell model that uses the output temperature in a closed loop, so it can represent the thermal and the electrical behavior. The model is used to represent a NEXA Ballard 1.2 kW; therefore it is necessary to fit the coefficients to represent the real behavior. Five optimization algorithms were tested to fit the model, three of them were taken from literature and two were proposed. Finally, the model with the parameters identified was validated with real.

The influence of humic aggregates in water solution upon the chemical stability under basic conditions of different substrates has been reviewed. The kinetic behavior of each substrate has been modelized in terms of micellar pseudophase model.

With the growing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the face of the pandemic events caused by SARS-COV-2, the opportunity arises for the development of materials with characteristics such as antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal activity, etc. The use of polymeric nanocomposites based on polyester/copper offers an alternative of great interest due to the versatility of the raw material and the high efficiency of copper as an antimicrobial additive. In this study, textile fibers prototypes with different Cu nanoparticles (CuNP) content were produced using melt-spinning to obtain bi-component multifilament fibers, and melt-blowing to obtain non-woven fabrics. The prototypes were tested against different pathogenic microorganisms such as S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans. It was shown that bi-component fibers offer more excellent protection against pathogens, while non-woven fabric only shows activity against E. coli. It was possible to identify that the CuNP were confined exclusively in the outer cover of the bi-component fibers, using different analytical techniques, which may be associated with the increase in antimicrobial activity, compared to the fibers present in the non-woven fabric, even when they present the same CuNP content.

Although there are extensive literature reports on the use of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) based homogeneous assays for detection of biomolecules, very few experimental description and procedures involving their preparation are described. In this study, AuNPs conjugated to Bovine Serum Albumin or Envelope protein from Dengue II were developed as a homogeneous immunoassay for antibody detection. We report here optimization of key parameters to prepare an immunoassay like conjugation protein concentration, centrifugation time, electrolyte addition and assay temperature. We determined that saturating protein concentrations improved AuNPs surface coverage and uniformity of the assay and addition of sodium chloride improved sensitivity of the antibody detection method and assay stability. Furthermore, we showed that dynamic light scattering can be used to monitor changes in gold nanoparticles in the preparation and detection steps. Additionally, numerical simulations of the plasmonic optical response of AuNPs were carried out to scan for size-dependent response of the AuNPs. The AuNPs homogeneous immunoassay developed was further used in the detection of antibodies in vitro to detect Dengue virus infection.

The state of Oaxaca, Mexico obtained the “Pluma” designation of origin in 2022 and has stood out for the production of specialty coffee. Within its process, roasting is one of the stages that contributes to the physical, chemical and sensory quality of the coffee bean. Therefore, the microstructure and elemental chemical composition of special medium-roasted Coffea arabica L beans from six locations with this denomination were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The average values of roughness Rz (25.93±2.69-34.18±1.15 and 13.85±1.66-21.85±6.63) and Ra (5.20±0.47- 8.27±0.82 and 6.55±0.94-11.53±1.65) were obtained at 400 and 2000x, respectively. The roasted Coffea arabica L. beans from MAP and HUA are the ones with the greatest roughness and both are located at a lower altitude compared to the rest. PLU and PTO roasted beans showed the highest physical and structural integrity. In all grains, 6C (66.48-81.14%), 8O (18.86-28.69%) and only 20Ca (4.5%) were found on the outside. This research constitutes a standard of authenticity and microstructural and elemental quality of Coffea arabica L. beans with designation of origin "Pluma".

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between levels of leisure-time sports and physical activity and the stages of change in high school students with goal orientations. Methods: The sample consisted of 2168 students randomly selected to participate in a longitudinal study in Costa Rica (423), Mexico (408) and Spain (1337), with 1052 being boys, 1037 girls and 79 who did not specify sex, aged between 11 and 16 years old (M = 12.49, SD = .81). We used a questionnaire to ask students about their leisure-time sports and physical activity, about stages of change and to measure achievement goals. Results: The results show that students are more active in Costa Rica, most of them being in the stage of active change. Conclusions: We found significant differences in achievement goals in all three countries, which shows that students in active stages have higher values than those in the inactive stage.

Yellow pitahaya is a tropical fruit that has gained popularity in recent years. Natural elicitors are compounds that can stimulate the resistance and quality of fruits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of natural elicitors: methyl salicylate (MeSa), methyl jasmonate (JaMe), salicylic acid (SA) and oxalic acid (OA) at concentrations of 0.1 mM (SaMe and JaMe) and 5 mM (SA and OA), applied to the yellow pitahaya fruits, under greenhouse conditions. After full blossom, 4 applications were made with a frequency of 15 days. At time of harvest and after storage, the following variables were evaluated: firmness (whole fruit), total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), phenolics and carotenoids (in the pulp), while phenolics, carotenoids, macronutrients and micronutrients were determined in the peel. The results showed that JaMe presented a delay of the ripening process, according to TSS, TA, firmness, and total phenolic compounds results, while MeSa advanced the fruit maturation. Regarding the alternative use of the peel as by-product, the application of natural elicitors significantly increased the content of polyphenols, carotenoids, macronutrients and micronutrients in the peel, which can be used as a bioactive compound in the food industry. In conclusion, the results indicate that natural elicitors can be an alternative to improve the quality and shelf life of yellow pitahaya fruits.

The aim of this paper is to explore the watertightness behaviour for high pressure applications using Multijetfusion technology and polyamide 12 as a material. It reports an efficient solution for manufacturing functional prototypes and final parts for water pressure applications. It provides manufacturing rules to engineers in the pressurized product development process up to 10 MPa of nominal pressure. The research findings show manufacturers the possibility of using additive manufacturing as an alternative to traditional manufacturing. Water leakage was studied using different printing orientations and wall thickness for a range of pressure values. An industrial ball valve was printed and validated with the ISO 9393 standard also meeting tolerance requirements. This paper is a pioneering approach to the additive manufacturing of high performance fluid handling components. This approach solves the problem of leakage caused by porosity in additive manufacturing technologies

The behaviour of oxidized and non-oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the adsorption of lanthanum(III) from aqueous solutions is described. Metal uptake is studied as a function of several variables such as the stirring speed of the system, pH of the aqueous solution and metal and nanomaterial concentrations. The experimental results are fitted to various kinetics and isotherm models, being the rate law fitted to the film diffusion and particle diffusion models, when the non-oxidized and the oxidized nanomaterials are used to remove lanthanum from the solution, respectively. Sulphuric acid solutions seem to be appropriate to recover the metal from La-loaded nanomaterials.

Purpose: The rapid development of technological innovations is causing major transformations in organisations. These changes are facilitating the transition of organisations from traditional to digital cultures and are influencing the positioning and even the survival of many of them. Higher Education Institutions are no exception. This article aims to understand the main factors that facilitate and drive this transformation from the point of view of their external stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach - Due to the complexity of the study, the case study method has been used as an appropriate methodology. Findings - As the results of the study show, the use of new agile methodologies, the development of continuous improvement processes, the automation of tasks with the use of new technologies, data-driven decision making, and the management of new digital talent are enablers. Research limitations/implications - Further research could conduct similar analyses with other stakeholders, to achieve a complete management model. Practical implications - The case study allows researchers to learn from practitioners and business leaders, while providing a theoretical model that can help other managers in the process of transforming their organisations. Originality/value - The main contribution of this study has been to apply the study to a specific Higher Education Institution.

The Stirling engine is a simple type of external-combustion engine with an external combustion engine based on cyclic compression and expansion of gas at different temperature levels. It has high efficiency; low vibration levels, simple structure and can run on any combustible fuels. It has been the object of numerous studies. This paper presents an analysis of a Stirling engine model GENOA 03 for electric power generation, of 3 KW of nominal power with pressurized air as working fluid, currently under development. To improve its performance and ensure a good operational reliability, it is necessary to carry out a modelling of the engine in all its operating range. This requires complex numerical models that simulate the behaviour of any element of the engine in a cycle. Two typologies of thermodynamic models are developed in this work: isothermal and adiabatic. The main benefits and shortcomings of each model are mentioned. The geometry and conditions of the engine have been adapted through the Matlab ® tool, in order to obtain the operative conditions of the cooler that you want to replace, as well as an approximation to the expected behaviour.

The current work shows the optimization in the preparation of nanosized titanium carbide (TiC) in-situ through mechanical alloying (MA). Metallic titanium (Ti) powders, along with two carbon sources, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and stearic acid (SA), were used to reduce the particle size using a high-energy Spex800 mill. The combined use of 2 wt % of these carbon sources and n-heptane as a liquid process control agent (PCA) proved crucial in generating nanoscale powder composites through a simple and scalable synthesis process within a 4-hour timeframe. The use of 20 wt % of both carbon sources was compared to determine the ability of CNTs to form carbides and the decomposition of PCAs during mechanical milling. The result reveals structures like nanoblocks and nanolumps with and important size reduction. The structure and morphology of the composites and starting materials were evaluated through x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Maslinic acid (MA) is a natural triterpene from Olea europaea whose pharmacological functions have been showed. The objective of this study was to examine MA effect on cell viability (by MTT assay), reactive oxygen species (ROS levels, by flow cytometry) and key anti-oxidant enzyme activities (by spectrophotometry) in murine skin melanoma (B16F10) cells compared to healthy cells (A10). MA induced cytotoxic effects in cancer cells (IC50 42 µM) whereas no effect was found in A10 cells treated with MA (up to 210 µM). In order to produce a stress situation in cells, 0.15 mM of H2O2 were added. Under stressful conditions, MA protected both cell lines against oxidative damage, decreasing intracellular ROS, being higher in B16F10 than in A10 cells. The treatment with H2O2 and without MA produced different responses in anti-oxidant enzymes activities depending on cell line. In A10 cells, all enzymes were up-regulated, but in B16F10 cells only superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase increased their activities. MA restored the enzyme activities to similar levels than control group in both cell lines, highlighting that in A10 cells the highest MA doses induced values lower than control. Overall, these findings demonstrate the great anti-oxidant capacity of MA.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent a new model of social robots for home care of dependent persons. In this regard, this article introduces a study on people’s feeling of safety and comfort while watching the monitoring trajectory of a quadrotor dedicated to determining their condition. Three main parameters are evaluated: the relative monitoring altitude, the monitoring velocity and the shape of the monitoring path around the person (ellipsoidal or circular). For this purpose, a new trajectory generator based on a state machine, which is successfully implemented and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink®, is described. The study is carried out with 37 participants using a virtual reality (VR) platform based on two modules, UAV Simulator and VR Visualiser, both communicating through the MQTT protocol. The participants’ preferences have been a high relative monitoring altitude, a high monitoring velocity and a circular path. These choices are a starting point for the design of trustworthy socially assistive UAVs flying in real homes.

The distribution of Mexican Magnolia species´ occur under restricted climatic conditions. As many other tree species from the tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF), Magnolia species appear to be sensitive to drought. Through the use of dendrochronological techniques, this study aims to determine the climate influence on the vessel traits of M. vovidesii and M. schiedeana which are endangered tree species that are endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental in eastern Mexico. Because most of the tree species in TMCFs are sensitive to climate fluctuations, it is necessary to investigate the differences in the climatic adaptability of the vessel architecture of these trees. This could allow us to further understand the potential peril of climate change on TMCFs. We compared vessel frequency, length and diameter in drought and non–drought years in two Mexican Magnolia species. We used tree–rings width and vessel traits to assess the drought effects on Magnolias’ diffuse–porous wood back to the year 1929. We obtained independent chronologies for M. vovidesii with a span of 75 years (1941–2016), while for M. schiedeana we obtained a span of 319 years (1697–2016). We found that temperature and precipitation are strongly associated with differences in tree–ring width (TRW) between drought and non–drought years. Our results showed anatomical differences in vessel trait response between these two Magnolia species to climatic variation. We suggest that our approach of combining dendroclimatic and anatomical techniques is a powerful tool to analyse anatomic wood plasticity to climatic variation in Magnolia species.

The objective of this study is to determine the type of governance of the four main agricultural value chains in Tamaulipas, northeast of Mexico. For the preparation of this research used a qualitative design, using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to a sample of representatives of the four selected chains. The results showed that in all the studied networks, control and coordination capacity is limited by the influence that has a link on the rest of the chain. In all cases, was that the industrial link is who leads the chains and exert control over the rest of the links. The results showed that, when the industrial link is located close geographically to the rest of the links (chains of rice and sugar cane), the chains showed a hierarchical type, where the industrial exercised dominion over the rest of the links and captures most of the income. On the other hand, in chains where control is exercised by links that are outside the territory (chains of soybeans and sorghum), they function as captive chains, putting the rest of the chain to its influence and control.

Concrete consumption greatly exceeds the use of any other material in engineering. This is due to its good properties as construction material and the availability of its components. Nevertheless, the present worldwide construction increase and the high-energy consumption for cement production means a high environmental impact. On the other hand, one of the main problem in iron and steel industry is waste generation and by-products that must be properly processed or reused to promote the environmental sustainability. One of these by-products are blast furnace slag. Cement substitution by slag strategy achieves two goals, raw materials consumption reduction and waste management. In the present work, four different concrete mixtures are evaluated. 25% cement is substituted by different blast furnace slag. Tests are made to evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of each mixture. Depending on the origin, characteristics and treatment of the slag, concrete properties change. Certain mixtures provide proper concrete properties. Stainless steel slag produces a fluent mortar that reduces the water consumption whit a slight mechanical strength loss. Mixture with electric arc slag furnace properties are better to the reference concrete (without slag) when slag is treated similarly to the cement.

The aim of this work was to describe the physiological limitations induced under drought conditions in young sweet orange trees, including the crop capability to recuperate its physiological status once re-watering, and after a water withholding. The trial was conducted during two consecutive months (July and August) in two-years old sweet orange trees. Three irrigation treatments were arranged: A full irrigation treatment; (FI); a low-frequency deficit-irrigation treatment (LFDI); and a sustained-deficit irrigation (SDI) treatment. The obtained results showed that for Stem values below -1.5 MPa, significant decreases in gas exchange rates, evidencing diffusive limitations to drought stress. Additionally, there was evidence of increased osmolyte synthesis, compatible as a defensive response to prevent oxidative damage. Likewise, the isohydric behaviour observed also resulted in significant decreases in gs even for moderate stress situations. In addition, it was observed that in the LFDI treatment, the stress levels reached caused a significant increase in the levels of Pro and MDA, which were not equal to those detected in FI during the recovery periods, which leads us to assume that potential values below -1.8 MPa would be causing significant oxidative damage with no capacity for subsequent recovery, and probably affecting the final yield.

Podiatric surgeons routinely use electrosurgical devices to cut and coagulate tissue during surgical procedures. Although advances in technology have made electrosurgery increasingly safer for patients and personnel, its use is still poorly understood by those using it and the hazards associated with its use still exist presently. Human error, direct or indirect transfer of electricity to a conductive device, or device malfunction can cause serious adverse events, including burns, electrical shocks, and or fires. Here, we report a rare case of a 43-year-old man who suffered severe burns during hallux valgus surgery. The surgeon and the nursing staff did not notice any injuries during the surgical intervention. This case highlights the need to implement tools to help health professionals improve patient safety during surgery. Based on the case herein reported, a specific checklist was implemented to prevent adverse events related to electrosurgery in our podiatric unit to reduce the risk of electrosurgical complications.

The synthesis and characterization of the multicomponent crystals formed by 2,2’-thiodiacetic acid (H2tda) and 2,6-diaminopurine (Hdap) or N9-(2-hydroxyethyl)adenine (9heade) are reported. The crystals are in the salt rather than cocrystal form, as witnessed by single crystal X-ray diffractometry where a structural analysis revealed their ionic nature, confirming the proton transfer from the 2,2’-thiodiacetic acid to the basic groups of the coformers. The new multicomponent crystals have molecular formulas [(H9heade+)(Htda)] (1) and [(H2dap+)2(tda2)]·2H2O (2), and were also characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis as well as thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) analyses. In the crystal packing the ions interact with each other via O–H···N, O–H···O. N–H···O and N–H···N hydrogen bonds generating cyclic hydrogen bonded motifs with graph-set notation of R22(16), R22(10), R32(10), R33(10), R22(9), R32(8) and R42(8), to form different supramolecular homo- and hetero-synthons. In addition, in the crystal packing of 2, pairs of diaminopurinium ions display an strong anti-parallel ,-stacking interaction, with short inter-centroids and interplanar distances (3.39 and 3.24 Å respectively) and fairly tight angle (17.5°). These assemblies have been further analyzed energetically by using DFT calculations, MEP surface analysis and QTAIM characterization.

Evaluation of the usefulness of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in the short-term follow-up of patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia and to explore the association of findings with clinical prognostic markers. Prospective study included 20 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia between November 2020 and March 2021. Clinical and laboratory test findings were gathered at admission, 48-72h post-admission, and 2-3 months post-discharge. [18F]FDG-PET/CT and respiratory function tests were performed at 2-3 months post-discharge. Lung volumes (TLC), spirometry (FVC, FEV1), lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and respiratory muscle strength were measured. PET/CT images were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively interpreted. Volumetric [18F]FDG-PET/CT results were correlated with laboratory test and respiratory parameters. Eleven [18F]FDG-PET/CT (55%) were positive. The main finding was hypermetabolic lymphade-nopathy in the mediastinum (90.9%). SUVpeak of the target mediastinum lesion was correlated with neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. Eleven (55%) patients had impaired respiratory function, most frequently a reduced DLCO (35%). SUVpeak was positively correlated with %predict-ed-DLCO values. Pulmonary TLG was negatively correlated with %predicted-DLCO and TLC values. In the short-term follow-up of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, [18F]FDG-PET/CT findings revealed significant detectable inflammation in lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes that correlated with pulmonary function impairment in more than half of the patients.

Nanocrystalline silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) is a multipurpose material with its varied application in solar cells as a transparent front contact, intermediate reflector, back reflector layer and even tunnel layer for passivating contacts, owing to easy tailoring of its optical properties. In this work, we systematically investigate the influence of gas mixture (SiH4, CO2, PH3 and H2), RF power and process pressure on the optical, structural and passivation properties of thin n-type nc-SiOx:H films prepared in an industrial, high throughput, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor. We provide a detailed description of the n-type nc-SiOx:H material develop-ment using various characterization techniques (SEM, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, and spectro-scopic ellipsometry) with a focus on the relationship between the material properties and the pas-sivation they provide to n-type c-Si wafers characterized by their effective carrier lifetime (τeff). Further, we also outline the parameters to be kept in mind while developing different n-type nc-SiOx:H layers for different solar cell applications. We report a tunable optical gap (1.8 – 2.3 eV) for our n-type nc-SiOx:H films as well as excellent passivation properties with τeff up to 3.5 ms (iVoc ~ 715 mV) before annealing. Oxygen content plays an important role in determining the crystallinity and hence passivation quality of the deposited nanocrystalline silicon oxide films.

Grapevine Trunk Diseases (GTDs) are caused by a wide variety of phytopathogenic fungal species that compromise grapevine productivity and wine quality. Each year they lead to major economic losses. Most GTD treatments currently available on the market are chemical-based and environ-mentally harmful. Given that one of the goals proposed by the European Green Deal is to develop sustainable agriculture which does not harm the environment, reduces pesticide use, and pro-motes rural area economies, an alternative to those treatments may be the use of elicitors such as oligosaccharides from fungal organisms. Indeed, many studies have confirmed that oligosaccha-rides play important roles in activating plants' innate immunity. Mannans are one possible type of such oligosaccharides. The present work analysed Vitis vinifera L. (cv. Tempranillo and cv. Airén) leaves and grapes to evaluate their physiological and molecular response to GTDs and how this response might be conditioned using different concentrations of mannans as elicitors. It was found that mannan addition to diseased vines was more positive for the leaves than for the grapes. In general, mannans increased the expression levels of chalcone synthase (CHS1, CHS3), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in healthy leaves of both varieties. In diseased leaves, CHS3 and PAL decreased in both varieties, while CHS1 and PPO increased in Tempranillo but not in Airén. In the grapes, the expression pat-terns of the genes studied varied greatly due to the development of the disease. The mannan treatment seemed to reduce the oxidative stress caused by GTDs, although this response depend-ed on the variety and on the plant's phytosanitary status.

This work is part of an ongoing research project to develop an unmanned flying social robot to monitor dependants at home in order to detect the person’s state and bring the necessary assistance. In this sense, this paper focuses on the description of a virtual reality (VR) simulation platform for the monitoring process of an avatar in a virtual home by a rotatory-wing autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This platform is based on a distributed architecture composed of three modules communicated through the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol: the UAV Simulator implemented in MATLAB/Simulink, the VR Visualiser developed in Unity, and the new emotion recognition (ER) System developed in Python. Using a face detection algorithm and a convolutional neural network (CNN), the ER System is able to detect the person’s face in the image captured by the UAV’s on-board camera and classify the emotion among seven possible ones (surprise, fear, happiness, sadness, disgust, anger or neutral expression). The experimental results demonstrate the correct integration of this new computer vision module within the VR platform, as well as the good performance of the designed CNN, with around 85% in the F1-score, a mean of the precision and recall of the model. The developed emotion detection system can be used in the future implementation of the assistance UAV that monitors dependent people in a real environment, since the methodology used is valid for images of real people.

The reaction between 5-acetylbarbituric acid and 4-dimethylthiosemicarbazide or 4-hexamethyleneiminyl thiosemicarbazide produces 5-acetylbarbituric-4-dimethylthiosemicarbazone (H2AcbDM) and 5-acetylbarbituric-4N-hexamethyleneiminyl thiosemicarbazone (H2Acbhexim). Eight new complexes with different cooper (II) salts have been prepared and characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductance, UV–vis, ESI-HRMS, FT-IR, magnetic moment, EPR and cyclic voltammetry. In addition, three-dimensional molecular structures of [Cu(HAcbDM)(H2O)2](NO3)·H2O (3a), [Cu(HAcbDM)(H2O)2]ClO4 (4), and [Cu(HAcbHexim)Cl] (6) were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, and was carried out an analysis of their supramolecular structure. The H-bonded assemblies were further studied energetically using DFT calculations, MEP surface and QTAIM analyses. In these complexes, the thiosemicarbazone coordinates to the metal ion in an ONS-tridentate manner, in the O-enolate/S-thione form. The electrochemical behavior of the thiosemicarbazones and their copper(II) complexes has been investigated at room temperature using the cyclic voltammetry technique in DMFA. The Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox system was found to be consistent with the quasi-reversible diffusion-controlled process.

Understanding biological mechanisms that regulate emergence of viral diseases, in particular those events engaging cross-species pathogens spillover, are becoming increasingly important in Virology. Species barrier jumping has been extensively studied in animal viruses, and the critical role of a suitable intermediate host in animal viruses-generated human pandemics is highly topical. However, studies on host jumping involving plant viruses have been focused on shifting intra-species, leaving aside the putative role of “bridge hosts” in facilitating interspecies crossing. Here, we take advantage of several VPg mutants, derived from a chimeric construct of the potyvirus Plum pox virus (PPV), analysing its differential behaviour in three herbaceous species. Our results showed that two VPg mutations in a Nicotiana clevelandii-adapted virus, emerged during adaptation to the bridge-host Arabidopsis thaliana, drastically prompted partial adaptation to Chenopodium foetidum. Although, both changes are expected to facilitate productive interactions with eIF(iso)4E, polymorphims detected in PPV VPg and the three eIF(iso)4E studied, extrapolated to a recent VPg:eIF4E structural model, suggested that two adaptation ways can be operating. Remarkably, we found that VPg mutations driving host-range expansion in two non-related species, not only are not associated with cost trade-off constraints in the original host, but also improve fitness on it.

One source of kaolinite-rich wastes is from mine tailings and the generation of enormous volumes of mine tailings waste is standard practice in this industry. These volumes of waste are, at present, dumped, provoking significant environmental impact and transforming the environment. The impact of storing coal waste requires the study of eco-innovative solutions for the assessment of waste types. The present investigation has the objective of expanding the knowledge on the behavior of new siliceous-aluminum minerals with pozzolanic activity, of added value in the manufacture of similar cements. Four samples were characterized to determine their chemical, morphological and mineralogical composition. The samples were subjected to different thermal activation conditions for the transformation of an inert waste into a material with cementitious properties. XRD analysis have confirmed the total transformation of kaolinite into metakaolinite. The results have shown that after the activation process, the coal refuse presented good pozzolanic activity, meaning that it may be used as a pozzolanic addition in industrial cements, thereby removing high levels of contaminated waste from the environment. In subsequent investigations, research work will continue with the replication of cements with this pozzolanic addition for use in the manufacture of sleepers and slab track railway system.

Reactions in water between the Cu2(µ-EGTA) chelate (EGTA = ethylene-bis(oxyethyleneimino)tetraacetate(4-) ion) and 2,6-diaminopurine (Hdap) in molar ratios 1:1 and 1:2 yield only blue crystals of the ternary compound [Cu4(μ-EGTA)2(μ-H(N3)dap)2(H2O)2]·7H2O (1) that has been studied by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, various physical methods (thermal stability, spectral and magnetic properties), as well as DFT theoretical calculations. In the crystal, uncoordinated water is disordered. The tetranuclear complex molecule also has some irrelevant disorder in an EGTA-ethylene moiety. In the complex molecule, both bridging organic molecules act as binucleating ligands. There are two distorted five- (type 4+1) and two six- (type 4+1+1) Cu(II) centres. Each half EGTA acts as a tripodal tetradentate Cu(II) chelator, with mer-NO2+O(ether, distal) conformation. Hdap exhibits the tautomer H(N3)dap, with the dissociable H-atom on its less basic N-heterocyclic atom. These features favour the efficient cooperation between Cu-N7 or Cu-N9 bonds with appropriate O-EGTA atoms, as N6-H···O or N3-H···O interligand interactions respectively. Bridging role of both organics determines the tetranuclear dimensionality of the complex in 1. In this crystal, such molecules associate in zig-zag chains, built by alternating ,-interactions between the five- or six-atom rings of Hdap ligands of adjacent molecules. DFT theoretical calculations (using two different theoretical models and characterized by the quantum theory of “atoms in molecules”) reveal the importance of these ,-interactions between Hdap ligands, as well as that corresponding to the referred hydrogen bonds in the contributed tetranuclear molecule.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 10-week online high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition and aerobic performance in physically sedentary women. A parallel two-group, longitudinal (pre, post) design was used with physical tests performed before (preintervention) and after (postintervention) the 10-week intervention period. A total of for-ty-eight healthy and physically sedentary women were recruited to participate in this study. Par-ticipants were distributed in two groups: The experimental group (EG) with 24 women (n = 24, age 21.21 ± 2.15 years, weight 61.16 ± 8.94 kg, height 163.96 ± 4.87 cm, body mass index body weight 22.69 ± 2.49 kg/m2), and the control group (CG) with another 24 women (n = 24, age 20.50 ± 1.29 years, weight 62.0 ± 6.65 kg, height 163.92 ± 4 .89 cm, body mass index 23.04 ± 1.74 kg/m2). The EG performed an online HIIT program for 10 weeks, while CG continued with their daily life routines. The repeated measures ANCOVA indicated a significant effect in the within-group analysis for weight (p=0.001; d=-0.96), demonstrating a significant decrease in the Experimental Group (EG) while the Control Group (CG) did not show a significant decrease in body mass in-dex (p=0.15; d=-0.11). Regarding maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) values, the EG exhibited a significant improvement (p=0.001; d=-1.07), whereas the CG did not demonstrate a significant improvement (p=0.08; d=-0.37). A new within-group analysis with power output (W) revealed that EG significantly improved (p=0.01; d=-0.96), while CG did not show a significant improve-ment in power output (W/kg) (p=0.20; d=-0.11). Lastly, the within-group analysis with Load re-vealed that EG significantly improved (p=0.001; d=-0.50), while CG did not show a significant improvement in Load (p=0.10.; d=-0.10). The present study showed that 10 weeks of HIIT in an online environment during the Covid-19 lockdown significantly improved maximum oxygen consumption, and caused weight loss and a significant decrease in body mass index in physically sedentary women. These results suggest HIIT may be used as a time-efficient strategy to improve body composition and cardio-respiratory fitness in sedentary women.

A large diversity of epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs and histones modifications, are known to be capable of regulating gene expression without altering DNA sequence itself. In particular, miR-1 is considered the first essential microRNA in cardiac development. In this study, miR-1 potential role in early cardiac chamber differentiation is analyzed through specific signaling pathways. For this, we performed in chick embryos functional experiments by means of miR-1 microinjections into the posterior cardiac precursors -of both primitive endocardial tubes- committed to sinoatrial region fates. Subsequently, embryos were subjected to whole mount in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR analysis. As a relevant nov-elty, our results revealed that miR-1 increases Tbx5, Gata4 and AMHC1, while this microRNA diminishes Mef2c expression, during early differentiation of cardiac sinoatrial region. Further-more, we observed in this developmental context that miR-1 upregulates CRABPII and RARß, and downregulates CRABPI, which are three crucial factors in retinoic acid signaling pathway. Interestingly, we also noticed that miR-1 directly interacts with HDAC4 and Calmodulin, as well as with Erk2/MAPK1, which are three key factors actively involved in Mef2c regulation. Our study shows, for the first time, a key role of miR-1 as an epigenetic regulator in early differenti-ation of cardiac sinoatrial region through orchestrating opposite actions between retinoic acid and Mef2c, fundamental to properly assign cardiac cells to their respective heart chambers. A better understanding of those molecular mechanisms modulated by miR-1 will definitely help in fields applied to therapy and cardiac regeneration and repair.

Background: Boronic acids form di-ester bonds with cis-hydroxyl groups in carbohydrates. The formation of these adducts could impair the physical and chemical properties of the precursors, even their biological activity. Methods: Two carbohydrate-derivatives from D-fructose and D-arabinose and phenylboronic acid were synthesized in a straightforward one-step procedure and chemically characterized by spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction crystallography. Also, an acute toxicity test was performed to determine their Lethal Dose50 (LD50) by using the Lorke’s method. Results: Analytical chemistry assays confirmed adducts by the generation of the diester bonds with a β-D-pyranose of carbohydrates, including signals corresponding to the formation of new bonds, like the stretching of B-O bonds. The NMR spectra yielded information about the stereoselectivity in the synthesis reaction by the finding of just one signal in the range for the anomeric carbon in the 13C NMR spectra of both adducts. The acute toxicity tests showed that LD50 value for both compounds is 1265 mg/kg, while Effective Dose 50 for sedation is 531 mg/kg. However, differences were in the onset and lapse of sedation. Conclusions: These adducts are bioactive and highly safe agents. Further biological evaluation is desirable to explore medical purposes.

A multilevel factorial design of 23 with 12 experiments was developed for the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul bagasse. The studied parameters were acid type (H2SO4 and HCl), acid concentration (60 and 65 wt% for H2SO4, 2 and 8N for HCl) temperature (40 and 60°C for H2SO4, 50 and 90°C for HCl), and hydrolysis time (40, 55 and 70 min for H2SO4, 30, 115 and 200 min for HCl). The obtained CNC were physical and chemically characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XDR) techniques. The size and morphology of A. tequilana CNC strongly depend on the acid type and hydrolysis parameters. The shortest CNC were obtained with H2SO4 (65 wt%, 40 °C, and 70 min) had a length of 137 ± 68 nm, width 33 ± 7 nm, and height 9.1 nm, whereas the shortest CNC obtained with HCl (2 N, 50 °C and 30 min) had a length of 216 ± 73 nm, width 69 ± 17 nm, and height 8.9 nm. CNC prepared from H2SO4 resulted shorter and thinner than those obtained with HCl. The total sulfate groups content in CNC obtained with H2SO4 increase with time agree to CSG=aebt, and increases with temperature and acid concentration.

In this paper we address one of the most important topics in the field of Social Networks Analysis: the community detection problem with additional information. That additional information is modeled by a fuzzy measure that represents the possibility of polarization. Particularly, we are interested in dealing with the problem of taking into account the Polarization of nodes in the community detection problem. Adding this type of information to the community detection problem makes it more realistic, as a community is more probably to be defined if the corresponding elements are willing to maintain a peaceful dialogue. The polarization capacity is modeled by a fuzzy measure based on the JDJpol measure of polarization related to two poles. We also present an efficient algorithm for finding groups whose elements are no polarized. Hereafter, we work in a real case. It is a network obtained from Twitter, concerning the political position against the Spanish government taken by several influential users. We analyze how the partitions obtained change when some additional information related to how polarized that society is, is added to the problem.

We calculate energies of shallow donors confined in a rolled-up quantum well in the presence of the electric field by solving numerically the Schrödinger equation in natural curvilinear coordinates. It is found that the curves of density of states (DOS) are very sensitive to the variation of the donor position, the geometry of the spiral and the applied electric field value. Novel results for dependencies of donor’s dipole moment and its polarizability on the electric field strength and its orientation, for different donor positions are presented. Also, we found that anisotropic Stark effect of the first order provides in this structure a dependency of the polarizability on the external electric field in a spike-like shape, giving rise to a sharp variation of the dipole moment.

This research demonstrates the optimization and production of biochar from barley husk (BH), corn cob (CC), and Agave salmiana leaves (AL) via pyrolysis in a muffle furnace. Taguchi experimental design (L9) was applied to conduct the experiments at different levels by altering four operating parameters. Carbonization temperature (300–500 ºC), carbonization time (30–90 min), precursor mass (2–5 g) and N₂ flow rate (100–200 cc/min) were the variables examined in this study. The effect of the parameters on the biochar yield was investigated, and the important parameters were identified employing analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum conditions for maximum biochar yield were: carbonization temperature of 400 ºC, carbonization time of 30 min, precursor mass of 2 g, and N₂ flow rate of 150 cc/min. The biochars produced under optimum conditions was characterized physically and chemically. Biochar yields of 19.75% for corn cob (CCB), 32.88% for barley husk (BHB), and 31.14% for agave leaves (ALB) were obtained.

Biomass is a promising alternative and renewable energy source that can be transformed into other value-added products such as activated carbon. In this research, barley husk, corn cob and Agave salmiana leaves were characterized to determine their chemical composition and morphology to evaluate their potentiality as precursors of activated carbons. Based on the main composition results obtained, the biomass samples have suitable chemical and physical characteristics to be considered as good precursors of activated carbons, such as carbon contents greater than 40%, ash content less than 10%, moisture content less than 30%, high volatile contents with values from 75 to 80% and a porous and fibrous morphology. The results indicate that the main compositions in the biomass were cellulose and lignin. The cellulose content was more than lignin (15–26%) for the residues selected. Specifically, a-cellulose contents with values from 52% to 79%, β-cellulose contents of 13–44%, γ-cellulose contents less than 11%, and holocellulose contents of 82–83% were determined. The thermal decomposition for the biomass samples proceeded with five stages attributed to the evaporation of some volatile compounds (70–150 ºC), to the degradation of hemicellulose (180–230 ºC), to the cellulose volatilization (250–350 ºC), to the lignin decomposition (380–550 ºC), and to the degradation of complex polymers and inorganic salts, respectively. The stage corresponding to the cellulose decomposition showed rapid mass decreased in the three residues. This results show that the cellulose and lignin content is another important parameter to evaluate the pyrolysis characteristics of a good precursor of activated carbon.

The main purpose of the study was to study the effects of a specific rowing ergometer training program on the athletic performance of young adolescents (n=56; 11.73 ± 1.4 years old) com-pared to a workout based on general strength training. Eight-week training program was im-plemented, with four sessions per week and two-hours per session. Sample was divided in two groups: a control group (CG) that performed circuit training with exercises aimed at building general strength and an experimental group (EG) who focused on specifically training on a rowing ergometer (rowing machine). The data obtained in a rowing meter test over the compe-tition distance were analyzed to obtain the average power attained (W) at the beginning of the training, at the middle (4 weeks), at the end of the training (8 weeks) and one year after the ex-perimentation. The results show that, although both forms of training improve the average W obtained in both categories, the EG subjects (+29.94W) obtained better averages in all phases of the study compared to the CG (+5.88W). Furthermore, this increase was greater in male rowers (+ 34.06W) than in female rowers (+24.54W). These results reveal that a specific rower rowing ergometer training program has a significant effect than a general strength program and these effects can even be observed a year after the intervention.

Although first described in the final decade of the 19th century, the axis responsible for atrioventricular conduction has long been the source of multiple controversies. Some of these continue to reverberate. When first described by His, for example, many doubted the existence of the bundle we now name in his honour, while Kent suggested that multiple pathways crossed the atrioventricular junctions in the normal heart. It was Tawara who clarified the situation, although many of his key definitions have not universally been accepted. In key studies in the third decade of the 20th century, Mahaim then suggested the presence of ubiquitous connections that provided "paraspecific" pathways for atrioventricular conduction. In this review, we show the validity of these original investigations, based on our own experience with a large number of datasets from human hearts prepared by serial histological sectioning. Using our own reconstructions, we show how the atrioventricular conduction axis can be placed back within the heart. We emphasise that newly emerging techniques will be key in providing the resolution to map cellular detail to the gross evidence provided by the serial sections

Background: Different investigations have shown an association between the eating behavior of children and adolescents, and their nutritional status. The objective is to identify eating behavior patterns associated with nutritional status diagnosed by anthropometry in a sample of Spanish schoolchildren. Methods: A cross-sectional study in 283 Spanish schoolchildren (6 to 16 years old). Methods: The sample was assessed anthropometrically by Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (%BF). Eating behavior was analyzed using the CEBQ "Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire" answered by parents or guardians. Results: A positive association was found between excess weight, abdominal obesity, high adiposity, lower scores in anti-intake subscales and higher scores in pro-intake subscales. These were mainly associated with lower satiety response, higher food intake, higher food enjoyment, higher eating speed, and emotional overeating. Conclusion: Our results support the usefulness of the CEBQ as an easy-to-use tool to identify eating behaviors associated with the development of childhood and adolescent obesity. Its use in future research could help to understand behavioral phenotypes in schoolchildren and guide nutrition education and obesity prevention initiatives

Power semiconductor devices are essential from the operation point of view, size, efficiency and cost, these components are used in a myriad of applications, providing features that make them an important part of the system in which they are operating. This document analyzes and compares the basic structure, properties, design aspects, as well as temperature performance, stability and switching losses, present in devices on silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and new generation devices fabricated in gallium nitride (GaN) applied in renewable energy systems. The main objective is determinate the viability of the new generation components, which present a superior performance in view of an increase in efficiency, conductivity, decreases in switching losses, lower resistances and parasitic capacitances as well as higher operating frequency range. Therefore demonstrating the GaN components are a strong and viable candidate to solve some of the problems present in renewable energy systems.

Commonly, professors, students and researchers from universities around the world use software distributed under a license agreement for computer simulation purposes, which requires a computer with considerable hardware capabilities. Consequently, this implies a high cost to conduct simulations that require implementing numerical methods in all areas of engineering, particularly in the field of robotics and nonlinear control. This paper presents the design and results analysis of a low-cost and open-source frugal computer simulation tool with applications to robotic nonlinear control, for instance, for numerical simulations of manipulator robot control based on dynamic models. Using a single board minicomputer with with reduced computing power, Raspberry Pi, together with free software, GNU-Octave, trajectory tracking control simulations in the joint space of a Selective Conformal Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) are achieved by solving a system of nonlinear differential equations, represented in matrix form, which includes the control law and the system model. The results of the proposed alternative are compared by running the same simulation code on a laptop computer using MATLAB and GNU Octave, which show minimal deviations and reasonable time complexity. Moreover, considering the frugality curve calculated for this approach, in addition to the low acquisition cost of the simulation software tool, it would allow the creation of a simulation laboratory in some universities with budgetary constraints for educational and research purposes.

The diverse socio-economic and environmental impacts that the set-up of a new photovoltaic installation has must be weighed carefully in order to reach the best possible solution. Among the different photovoltaic systems there are several classification criteria, depending on the technology, application and the size of the modules that define them. The size (installed nominal capacity) stands out as an impartial and critical measure in the decision making process. In this article we use a multi-criteria decision making method to analyse the responses of five experts to a detailed questionnaire in which several different criteria are correlated with various photovoltaic installation sizes. The limitation associated to the low number of experts is addressed with a robustness and sensitivity analysis. With this study we seek first, to apply and demonstrate the feasibility of a methodology which combines technical information with multi-criteria decision making methods, and second, to obtain a clear result oriented that increases the benefits of a forthcoming photovoltaic installation of modules in distributed generation adding up to 1GW total peak power in standard conditions. We observe a consistent result in which smaller photovoltaic modules are the ideal solution that maximises the socio-economic benefits of any installation. If a decision has to be taken about the type of photovoltaic plant to be installed, the conclusion is clear: given a certain size, small, easily scalable installations are the best solution for stake-holders, for the inhabitants, and for the environment.

The aim of this study was to describe the trend of traffic accident mortality and social inequalities in Ecuador for the period 2011-2020, distributed by year, gender, age group, geographic location, and type of accident, alongside social disparities. An ecological approach was used to evaluate traffic accident mortality data. The average traffic accident mortality rate in the country during this period was 19.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, with rates being significantly higher in males (31.3) than in females (7.2). The highest mortality rate was recorded in 2011, predominantly impacting the 60 and older age group, the Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province, and the Amazon region. The study also noted a declining trend in these rates over the years, with an Annual Percentage Variation of -1.2%. A notable finding was the decrease in traffic accident mortality inequality based on per capita income in 2019, compared to 2011, which rose by 247.7%, whereas the inequality based on illiteracy rates decreased by 18.9% from 2014 to 2019. These findings highlight the significant decrease in traffic accident mortality rates across Ecuador, though marked disparities remain evident across different genders, age groups, and provinces.

This research paper presents a new test based on a novel approach for identifying clustered graphical passwords within the Passpoints scenario. Graphical authentication methods serve as a viable alternative to the conventional alphanumeric password-based authentication method, which is susceptible to known weaknesses arising from user-generated passwords of this nature. The test proposed in this study is based on estimating the distributions of the perimeter of the convex hull. This perimeter is calculated based on the points users select as passwords within an image measuring 1920 × 1080 pixels. The test is formulated once the optimal theoretical distributions that fit the data are identified. Evaluating the proposed test’s effectiveness involves estimating type I and II errors. In this study, we compare the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed test with existing tests from the literature that can detect this type of pattern in Passpoints graphic passwords. Our findings indicate that the new test demonstrates a significant improvement in effectiveness compared to previously published tests. Furthermore, the joint application of the two tests also shows improvement. Depending on the significance level determined by the user or system, the enhancement results in a higher detection rate of clustered passwords, ranging from 0.1% to 8% compared to the most effective previous methods. This improvement leads to a decrease in the estimated probability of committing a type II error. In terms of efficiency, the proposed test outperforms several previous tests; however, it falls short of being the most efficient. It can be concluded that the newly developed test demonstrates the highest effectiveness and the second-highest efficiency level compared to other tests available in the existing literature for the same purpose.

This study carried out a qualitative and descriptive relational approach that combined Documentary Analysis and elements of the Analytical Method to investigate the phenomenon of bilingualism in Tuluá, Colombia. The aim of this study was to diagnose the promotion of bilingualism by proposing a series of recommendations to strengthen the educational and linguistic policies. The data was processed through matrices and analyzed in the light of the theoretical references to enable a historical account of the programs or strategies that have been implemented for the promotion of bilingualism. The findings of this study are crucial in developing suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of bilingualism. By identifying strengths, weaknesses, and patterns in the historical framework and modern performance indicators, the research offers valuable contributions to the current discourse on bilingual education policies in Tuluá, Colombia.

Power Electronic development determines introduction of nonlinear devices in Electric Power Systems. Introduction of nonlinear devices increase current harmonics in Transmission and Distribution Power Systems. Distribution transformers and feeders increase power losses and their nominal parameters are reduced. Present work introduces a procedure to evaluate maximum permissible load in single phase distribution transformers with massive introduction of a new type of nonlinear load which changes daily demand graphs.

Clusterin (CLU) protein is involved in various pathophysiological processes including carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In recent years, the role of the secretory isoform has been demonstrated in tumor cells, where it inhibits apoptosis and favors the acquisition of resistance to conventional treatments used to treat cancer. To determine the possible therapeutic potential of inhibiting this protein, numerous studies have been carried out in this field. In this paper, we show the existing knowledge on the inhibition of this protein in different types of cancer and discuss the importance it could have in the development of new therapies directed against this pathology.

Andean blueberries are wild berries grown and consumed in Ecuador which contain high values of bioactive compounds, mainly anthocyanins, with powerful antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile and contents of (poly)phenols and carotenoids in Andean blueberry by HPLC-DAD-MSn and determine a wide range of its biological activities. The antioxidant capacity of this fruit was evaluated in vitro by three different methods and in vivo using the zebrafish animal model, also the toxicity effect was determined by the zebrafish embryogenesis test. Besides, the antimicrobial activity and the capacity of Andean blueberry to produce hemagglutination in blood cells were evaluated. Finally, the bioaccessibility of (poly)phenols and related antioxidant capacity were determined in the different phases of an in vitro digestion. The global results indicated no toxicity of Andean blueberry, weakly bacteriostatic activity, and high contents of anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity, which were partially bioaccesible in vitro (~ 50 % at the final intestinal step), contributing to the knowledge of its health benefits for consumers and its potential use in the food and pharmaceutical industry as functional ingredient.

Spinal cord injury is a traumatic injury that causes a catastrophic state in patients due to neuronal deficits, loss of motor and sensory function, and this is due to secondary deleterious events subsequent to mechanical damage that expands the death of neural cells beyond the initial trauma. One of the most important events is inflammation, which activates molecules like pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) that provoke a toxic environment, inhibiting axonal growth and exacerbating CNS damage. As there is no effective treatment, one of the strategies developed is neuroprotection to preserve healthy neural tissue and reduce neuroinflammation. Some of the neuroprotective treatments that have been practiced are the use of cell therapy, the administration of peptides and molecules or supplements that have been shown to favor an anti-inflammatory environment, and help to preserve the cells and tissues surrounding the injured area, favoring axonal growth and improving locomotor function. In this review we will explain some of these strategies used in different animal models of spinal cord injury, their activity as modulators of the immune system and the benefits they have shown.

Background and Objectives: The techniques directed to the cranial field in osteopathy are the most questioned due to the lack of scientific evidence. In osteopathic practice, manual palpation is essential and, therefore, measuring reliability is fundamental. The objective of study is to assess the reliability and validity of osteopathic treatment depending on experience. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of reliability and validity was conducted. For measurements, a strain gauge was placed on the sphenobasilar synchondrosis of the skull base, and three maneuvers (lateral compression, anteroposterior compression and compression maneuver of the mastoids) were repeated 25 times each by osteopaths with different time of experience (5-10 years, 1-5 years, <1 year). Measurement averages were computed for each of the three maneuvers to verify the average effect of each group in comparison to that of the Gold Standard (GS) (>10 years of experience). Data were analyzed to check for inter- and intra-observer reliability using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: Reliability and validity in 5-10 experience of observer 1 and observer 2 in the tree maneuvers was excellent (p<0.001) against GS. Poor or enough reproducibility and concordance were observed in osteopaths with less experience. Conclusion: Experience of osteopaths determines the efficacy of cranial maneuvers in osteopathic treatment for patients’ rehabilitation.

Brushless Synchronous Machines (BSM) are replacing conventional synchronous machines with static excitation in generation facilities due to the absence of sparking and lower maintenance. However, this excitation system makes challenging measuring electric parameters in the rotor. This fact highly difficult the detection of ground faults, which are the most common type of electrical fault in electric machines. In this paper, a ground fault detection method for BSM is proposed. It is based on an inductive AC/DC rotating current sensor installed in the shaft. In case of a ground fault in the rotating parts of the BSM, a fault current will flow through the rotor’s sensor, inducing voltage in its stator. Analyzing the frequency components of the induced voltage the detection of a ground fault in the rotating elements is possible. The ground faults detection method proposed covers the whole rotor and discern between DC and AC sides. To corroborate the detection method, experimental tests have been performed using a prototype of this sensor connected to laboratory synchronous machines achieving satisfactory results.

In the present work, we report on a 3D MOF of {[Pb5(3-OH)(3-NO3)3(6-pmdc)3·H2O}n formula (pmdc = pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate) synthesized by an oven-heated solvent-free procedure. The large connectivity afforded by the three ligands in their coordination to lead(II) ions grows cubic building units characterized by a central Pb atom with an unusual coordination index of 12 and six pmdc ligands occupying the faces. These cubic units are linked one another giving rise to a quite condensed structure that represents an unprecedented topology showing the (4.62)6(43)2(45.610)3(45.68.82)6(46.69)6(612.83) point symbol. The crystalline material has been characterized by routine physico-chemical techniques to confirm its purity and its thermal behaviour has been also studied by thermogravimetric and thermodiffractometric analyses. The solid presents greenish blue photoluminescent emission based on pmdc ligands, as revealed time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, by that is substantially more intense than in free H2pmdc ligand according to its improved quantum yield. The emissive capacity of the material is further analysed according to decreasing temperature of the polycrystalline sample, finding that sizeable long-lasting phosphorescence is present.

Dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging has broadened the potential of CT imaging by offering multiple postprocessing datasets with a single acquisition at more than one energy level. DECT shows profound capabilities to improve diagnosis based on its superior material differentiation and its quantitative value. However, the potential of dual energy imaging remains relatively untapped, possibly due to its intricate workflow and intrinsic technical limitations of DECT. Knowing the clinical advantages of dual-energy imaging and recognizing its limitations and pitfalls is neces-sary for an appropriate clinical use. The aims of this paper are to review physical and technical basis of DECT acquisition and analysis, to discuss advantages and limitations of DECT in dif-ferent clinical scenarios, to review technical constraints in material labeling and quantification, and to evaluate cutting-edge applications of DECT imaging, including artificial intelligence, qualitative and quantitative imaging biomarkers, and DECT-derived radiomics and radioge-nomics

Soot combustion experiments with 5%O2/He were conducted using model soot, and four distinct compositions of CexPr1-xO2-δ oxides were prepared, varying nominal cerium com-positions (x=0, 0.2, 0.3, and 1). The catalyst samples were comprehensively characterized using techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, HR-TEM, N2 adsorption at −196 °C, XPS, O2-TPD, H2-TPR, and work function measurements. The Pr-rich compositions, rang-ing from Ce0.3Pr0.7O2-δ to PrO2-δ, resulted in a significant increase in the total evolved O2 amounts and enhanced catalyst reducibility. However, a decrease in textural properties of the catalysts was noted, being particularly important for the pure praseodymia under the synthesis route conducted. The catalytic activity was investigated under two contact modes of mixing between soot and catalyst: loose and tight. The results revealed that the catalytic performance is associated with the surface contact in tight contact mode and with the combination of surface/subsurface/bulk oxygen mobility and the BET surface ar-ea in loose contact mode. Notably, the T10 and T50 parameters were achieved at much lower temperatures than the uncatalyzed soot combustion, even under loose contact conditions. Specifically, the 50% conversion was achieved at 511℃ and 538℃ for Ce0.3Pr0.7O2 and Ce0.2Pr0.8O2, respectively. While no direct correlation between catalytic activity and work function was observed a significant relationship emerges between work function values and the formation of oxy-gen vacancies, whatever the conditions used for these measurements. On the other hand, the ability to generate a high population of oxygen vacancies at low temperatures, rather than the direct activation of gas-phase O2, influences the catalytic performance of Pr-doped ceria catalysts, highlighting the importance of surface/subsurface oxygen vacancy generation, which was the parameter which showed better correlation with the catalytic activity, whatever the soot conversion value or the mode of contact considered.

Microalgal harvesting is one of the most challenging processes in the development of algal research and development. Several methods, such as centrifugation, flocculation, and filtration, are available at the laboratory scale. However, the requirement of expensive pieces of equipment and the possibility of biomass contamination are recurring gaps that hinder the development of microalgae I+D in different parts of the world. Recently, the electroflotation has been proved as a suitable method for the harvesting of different species of microalgae and cyanobacteria. To this day, there are no companies that sell laboratory-scale electroflotation equipment; this is mainly due to the gap in the knowledge on which factors (time, mixing rate, number of electrodes, and others) will affect the efficiency of concentration without reducing the biomass quality. This paper aims to build an innovative low-cost electroflotation system under 300 USD with cheap and resistant materials. To achieve our goal, we test the interaction of three variables (time, mixing rate, and amount of electrodes) were evaluated. Results showed that an efficiency closer to 100% could be achieved under 20 minutes using >10 electrodes and 150 rpm. We hope this innovative approach can be used by different researchers to improve our knowledge of the concentration and harvesting of algae and cyanobacteria.

(1) Background: Grapes and their associated by-products (as grape pomace, GP) stand out for their polyphenol content, which makes them a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity. The aim of this research was to determine if the inclusion of 50 g/kg of GP in the diet of hens could enrich egg with antioxidants and to study its effect on internal and external egg quality parameters. (2) Methods: A trial was conducted with two genetic lines of hens, which were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 50 g/kg of GP. Performance, internal and external egg quality, and egg yolk content of vitamins E and A, and gallic acid were determined; (3) Results: In eggs laid by hens fed GP diet, Haugh units and yolk colour score were enhanced, and eggshell became thinner, but without affecting the breaking strength. No dietary effect was observed on vitamin contents in yolk. Higher gallic acid content was observed in yolk of eggs laid by hens fed the GP diet, suggesting that some dietary phenolic compounds could be transferred to the eggs. Hen genetics influenced egg weight, albumen Haugh units, shell thickness and α- and γ-tocopherol concentration in yolks; (4) Conclusions: Dietary inclusion of GP improved the internal quality of eggs, enriching yolks with a phenolic compound, but reduced shell thickness.

QPEs (Quantitative Precipitation Estimates) obtained from remote sensing or ground-based radars could complement or even be an alternative to rain gauge readings. However, to be used in operational applications, a validation process has to be carried out, usually by comparing their estimates with those of a rain gauges network. In this paper, the accuracy of two QPEs are evaluated for three extreme precipitation events in the last decade in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The first QPE is PERSIANN-CCS, a satellite-based QPE. The second is a meteorological radar with Doppler capabilities that works in the C band. Pixel-to-point comparisons are made between the values offered by the QPEs and those obtained by two networks of rain gauges. The results obtained indicate that both QPEs were well below the rain gauge values, especially in extreme rainfall time slots. There seems to be a weak linear association between the value of the discrepancies and the precipitation value of the QPEs. It does not seem that radar is more accurate than PERSIANN-CCS, despite its larger spatial resolution and its commonly higher effectiveness. The main conclusion is that neither PERSIANN-CCS nor radar, without empirical calibration, are acceptable QPEs for the real-time monitoring of meteorological extremes in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Substances that can modify the androgen receptor pathway in humans and animals are entering the environment and food chain with the proven ability to disrupt hormonal systems and leading to toxicity and adverse effects on reproduction, brain development, and prostate cancer, among others. State-of-the-art databases with experimental data of human, chimp, and rat effects by chemicals have been used to build machine learning classifiers and regressors and evaluate these on independent sets. Different featurizations, algorithms, and protein structures lead to dif- ferent results, with deep neural networks (DNNs) on user-defined physicochemically-relevant features developed for this work outperforming graph convolutional, random forest, and large featurizations. The results show that these user-provided structure-, ligand-, and statistically-based features and specific DNNs provided the best results as determined by AUC (0.87), MCC (0.47), and other metrics and by their interpretability and chemical meaning of the descriptors/features. In addition, the same features in the DNN method performed better than in a multivariate logistic model: validation MCC = 0.468 and training MCC = 0.868 for the present work compared to evalu- ation set MCC = 0.2036 and training set MCC = 0.5364 for the multivariate logistic regression on the full, unbalanced set. Techniques of this type may improve AR and toxicity description and predic- tion, improving assessment and design of compounds. Source code and data are available at https://github.com/AlfonsoTGarcia-Sosa/ML

Stipa tenacissima (S. tenacissima), or esparto, is a perennial tussock grass that coexists with Pinus halepensis (P. halepensis) in semi-arid mediterranean woodlands. This research was carried out to explore diurnal transpiration at leaf level in esparto grass under different levels of pine-esparto competition and in contrasting environmental conditions of soil water. The measurements were spanned from the summer 2020 to spring 2021. The relationship between transpiration and competence was conducted in open and closed P. halepensis stands and taken into account the type of leave (green, senescent) and the maturity of the esparto grass. We observed a higher control of transpiration in green leaves, and correlations between transpiration and soil water were noted exclusively in this type of leaf. Our results substantiated a significant impact of pine competitors on transpiration of esparto grass, particularly during seasons characterized by high water-demand scenarios: the summer drought period and the commencement of the growing and flowering period (spring). Furthermore, our findings confirmed a greater response to transpiration in mature bushes compared to young ones under severe water stress, denoting higher adaptation to drought as esparto ages. Our results may have important implications for the dynamics and management of these semi-arid mixed woodlands, as well as the planning of reforestation programs aimed at restoring esparto grass steppes.

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are a special kind of parallel manipulator which use cables to control the position and orientation of the mobile platform or end-effector. The usage of cables instead of rigid links offer some advantages over their conventional rigid counterparts. As cables can only pull, but not push, the number of cables (n) required to command the end-effector is always n+1. This configuration is known as fully-constrained and it is the most extended configuration for CDPRs. Although CDPRs have many advantages, such as their ability to cover large working areas, one of their main problems is that their working area (workspace) is limited in comparison to its frame area (planar case), or frame volume (spatial case), due to the minimum and maximum allowed tensions. Depending of these tensions values the workspace can be notoriously decreased. In order to tackle this problem, lots of works focus on solving kinematics or dynamics problems for cable sagging, i.e., they take into account sagging when modelling the robot kinematic and include these poses inside the usable robot workspace. Taking into account phenomenons like this increases the mathematical complexity of the problem, and much more complex techniques are required. On the other hand, the lack of workspace problem can be tackled by adding active or passive elements to the robot design. In this sense, this paper proposes two mechanical modifications: to add passive carriages to the robot frame and to use a single cable loop to command the end-effector position and orientation. This work presents the kinematic, static and dynamic models of the novel design and shows the gain of workspace for a planar case while taking into account different parameters of the robot.

The aim of this paper is to establish a valid procedure for better understanding all the phenomena associated with the high-speed machining of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) composites. Both rectangular and circular specimens were machined at high speeds (up to 50 m/min) in order to understand what occurred for all values of fiber orientation angles during machining operations. An innovative testing methodology was proposed and studied to investigate the phenomenon of burr formation and thus understand how to avoid it during machining operations. To this end, the forces arising during the machining process and the roughness of the resulting surface, were carefully studied and correlated with the cutting angle. Additionally, the cutting surface and chip morphology formed during cutting tests were examined using a high-speed camera. Close correlations are found between the variations of the cutting forces' signals and the trends of the roughness and the morphology of the machined surface.

Tourism is the main economic sector in the Balearic Islands (Spain) and hotel housekeepers (HHs) are a large occupational group, in which stress is becoming a major issue. This study aims at exploring in-depth factors perceived as stressors by HHs and key-informants, and their effects on work-life balance (WLB). A qualitative design with phenomenological approach was used, conducting six focus groups with 34 HHs and 10 individual interviews with key-informants. Results were analyzed adopting the job demands-resources model and a gender perspective. High demands –e.g work overload, time pressure, physical burden...-, lack of enough resources and little control –derived from role conflict, unexpected events...- were the most important factors explaining HHs’ stress. Additionally, this imbalance was perceived as leading to health problems –mainly musculoskeletal disorders-. Working schedule was mentioned as a facilitator to WLB, whereas an imbalance between job demands and resources led to work-home conflict –preventing them from enjoying leisure time-. Multiple roles at work and at home increased their stress. HHs experienced their job as invisible and unrecognised. Regarding practical implications, our recommendations for hotel organization include reducing workload and increasing resources, which would improve the job demands-resource balance, diminish negative mental and physical outcomes and improve WLB.

Endophytic insect pathogenic fungi have a multifunctional lifestyle; in addition to its well-known function as biocontrol agents, it may also help plants respond to other biotic and abiotic stresses, such as iron (Fe) deficiency. This study explores M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain attributes for Fe acquisition. Firstly, direct attributes include siderophore exudation (in vitro assay) and Fe content in shoots and in the substrate (in vivo assay) were evaluated for three strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium bruneum. The M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain showed a great ability to exudate iron siderophores (58.4% surface siderophores exudation) and provided higher Fe content in both dry matter and substrate compared to the control and was therefore selected for further research to unravel the possible induction of Fe deficiency responses, Ferric Reductase Activity (FRA), and relative expression of Fe acquisition genes by qRT-PCR in melon and cucumber plants.. In addi-tion, root priming by M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain elicited Fe deficiency responses at transcriptional level. Our results show an early up-regulation (24, 48 or 72 h post inoculation) of the Fe acquisition genes FRO1, FRO2, IRT1, HA1, and FIT as well as the FRA. These results highlight the mechanisms involved in the Fe acquisition as mediated by IPF M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain.

The increasing availability of longitudinal data (repeated numerical observations of same units at different times) requires the development of flexible techniques to automatically detect common errors in such data. Besides obvious and easily identifiable cases, such as missing or out-of-range data, large longitudinal dataset often present problems not easily traceable by the techniques used for generic datasets. In particular, elusive and baffling problems are i) inversion of one or more values from one unit to another; ii) anomalous jumps in the series of values, iii) errors in the timing of the values due to a recalculation operated by the data providers to compensate previous errors. This work proposes a statistical-mathematical approach based on a system of indicators that is able to capture the complexity of the described problems by working at the formal level, regardless of the specific meaning of the data. The proposed approach identifies suspect erroneous data and is applicable in a variety of contexts. We implement this approach in a relevant database of European Higher Education institutions (ETER) by analyzing Total academic staff, that is one of the most important variables, used in empirical analysis as proxy of size and also considered by policy makers at European level.

Surgical neurolysis is a procedure designed to liberate an injured nerve from scar tissue or adjacent structure, thereby facilitating nerve regeneration in cases of brachial plexus neuropathy (BPN). This study presents a case series of patients diagnosed with BPN who underwent surgical neurolysis. The primary focus was on the clinical assessment of recovery using the British Medical Research Council motor grading scale (BMRC). Additionally, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze motor recovery outcomes related to surgical neurolysis for BPN. 18 patients with BPN who underwent surgical neurolysis where included. The results experienced a notable increase of 58% in muscle strength as assessed by the BMRC. The average preoperative state of 2.17±1.15 improved significantly to a postoperative condition of 3.44±1.34 (p = 0.003, d= 0.913) The systematic review identified 2298 articles which were selected for qualitative analysis, demonstrated that surgical neurolysis was associated with favorable motor recovery outcomes in 75.82% of the patients. Both the case series and the literature review reveal significant motor recovery following surgical neurolysis. It is crucial to conduct well-designed, adequately powered, randomized, and blinded clinical trials. Such studies will provide robust evidence to support or refute the utility of this approach in motor recovery.

The human-readable simplicity with which the CSV format was devised, together with the absence of a standard that strictly defines this format, has allowed the proliferation of several variants in the dialects with which these files are written. The latter has meant that the exchange of information between data management systems, or between countries and regions, requires human intervention during the data mining and cleansing process. This has led to the development of various computational tools that aim to accurately determine the dialects of CSV files, in order to avoid data loss at data loading stage in a given system. However, the dialect detection is a complex problem and current systems have limitations or make assumptions that need to be improved and/or extended. This paper proposes a method for determining CSV file dialects through table uniformity, a statistical approach based on table consistency and records dispersion measurement along with the detection of data type over each field. The new method has a 100\% accuracy on a dataset with 148 CSV files composed of samples coming from a data load testing framework and some others added as verification of the parsing routines. In tests on truly messy data, the proposed solution outperforms the state-of-the-art tool by achieving an improvement of about 10\% in the accuracy with which dialects are detected. Furthermore, the proposed method is accurate enough to determine dialects by reading only ten records, requiring more data to disambiguate those cases where the first records do not contain the necessary information to conclude with a dialect determination.