Search

Human activity recognition is a critical task for various applications across healthcare, sports, security, gaming, and other fields. This paper presents BodyFlow, a comprehensive library that seamlessly integrates human pose estimation and multiple-person estimation and tracking, along with activity recognition modules. BodyFlow enables users to effortlessly identify common activities and 2D/3D body joints from input sources such as videos, image sets, or webcams. Additionally, the library can simultaneously process inertial sensor data, offering users the flexibility to choose their preferred input, thus facilitating multimodal human activity recognition. BodyFlow incorporates state-of-the-art algorithms for 2D and 3D pose estimation and three distinct models for human activity recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who become refractory to three or more lines of therapy (RRMM patients) have few valid therapeutic alternatives. Among them, drugs directed against the BCMA antigen expressed in plasma cells are very appealing. Belantamab-mafodotin (belamaf) is the first antibody-drug conjugate against BCMA ready for clinical use. In this paper, we report the Spanish experience of belamaf monotherapy in 156 patients with RRMM. The overall response rate was 41.8%, with 39.8% of patients achieving a partial response or better. Median progression-free survival was 3.61 months, but interestingly, it increased to 14.47 months in patients achieving a minimal response or better. Treatment was well tolerated, ocular events being the most reported toxicity (87.9%; grade ≥ 3, 33.7%), but only two patients discontinued treatment due to side effects. Overall, our results confirm the safety and efficacy of belamaf in this poor prognosis subset of patients. Belantamab-mafodotin (belamaf) is a novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting B-cell maturation antigen that showed anti-myeloma activity in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). We performed an observational, retrospective, and multicenter study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of single-agent belamaf in 156 Spanish patients with RRMM. The median number of prior therapy lines was 5 (range, 1–10), and 88% of patients were triple-class refractory. Median follow-up was 10.9 months (range, 1–28.6). The overall response rate was 41.8% (≥CR 13.5%, VGPR 9%, PR 17.3%, MR 2%). The median progression-free survival was 3.61 months (95% CI, 2.1–5.1) and 14.47 months (95% CI, 7.91–21.04) in patients achieving at least MR (p < 0.001). Median overall survival in the entire cohort and in patients with MR or better was 11.05 months (95% CI, 8.7–13.3) and 23.35 (NA-NA) months, respectively (p < 0.001). Corneal events (87.9%; grade ≥ 3, 33.7%) were the most commonly adverse events, while thrombocytopenia and infections occurred in 15.4% and 15% of patients, respectively. Two (1.3%) patients discontinued treatment permanently due to ocular toxicity. Belamaf showed a noticeably anti-myeloma activity in this real-life series of patients, particularly among those achieving MR or better. The safety profile was manageable and consistent with prior studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uruguay has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in Latin America. The National Cancer Registry of Uruguay, which has been in operation since 1992, provides epidemiological information on incidence and mortality at the country level. Objective: The objective of this article is to update the incidence and mortality figures by reporting the information for the period 2013-2017. Methods: All incident cases of invasive neoplasias except non melanoma of the skin and all cancer deaths occurred in from 2013 to 2017 were analyzed. Age standardized rates were calculated by the direct method, using the world standard population. Complementary, incidence (2002-2017) and mortality (1990-2017) trends were studied for the leading sites. Results: Among females, the most common cancers are breast, colon and rectum, lung, cervix and thyroid. The most frequent cancers in males are prostate, lung, colon and rectum, bladder and kidney. Lung, prostate and colorectal cancer are the leading causes of cancer death in males while breast cancer is the first cause of cancer death among females. Conclusions: Although cancer mortality has declined monotonously since 1990, cancer control is a challenge for Uruguay, wherein breast, lung and prostate cancer have very high incidence while the country must still make an effort to reduce other cancers that are very common in economically less favored countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of measurable residual disease (MRD) in bone marrow has proven of prognostic relevance in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Nevertheless, and unlike other hematologic malignancies, the use of MRD results to make clinical decisions in MM has been underexplored to date. In this retrospective study, we present the results from a multinational and multicenter series of 400 patients with MRD monitoring during front-line therapy with the aim of exploring how clinical decisions made based on those MRD results affected outcomes. As expected, achievement of MRD negativity at any point was associated with improved PFS versus persistent MRD positivity (median PFS 104 vs. 45 months, p < 0.0001). In addition, however, 67 out of 400 patients underwent a clinical decision (treatment discontinuation, intensification or initiation of a new therapy) based on MRD results. Those patients in whom a treatment change was made showed a prolonged PFS in comparison with those 333 patients in which MRD results were not acted upon (respectively, mPFS 104 vs. 62 months, p = 0.005). In patients who achieved MRD negativity during maintenance (n = 186) on at least one occasion, stopping therapy in 24 patients vs. continuing in 162 did not alter PFS (mPFS 120 months vs. 82 months, p = 0.1). Most importantly, however, in patients with a positive MRD during maintenance (n = 214), a clinical decision (either intensification or change of therapy) (n = 43) resulted in better PFS compared to patients in whom no adjustment was made (n = 171) (mPFS NA vs. 39 months, p = 0.02). Interestingly, there were no significant differences when MRD was assessed by flow cytometry or by next-generation sequencing. Herein, we find that MRD is useful in guiding clinical decisions during initial therapy and has a positive impact on PFS in MM patients. This potentially opens a new dimension for the use of MRD in MM, but this role still remains to be confirmed in prospective, randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this essay is, from a theoretical approach between two Jewish philosophers, Vilém Flusser and Walter Benjamin, postulate the translation as a theory of knowledge. In both thinkers, the theory of language complements the theory of translation, constituting an epistemological strategy that does not separate convention and expression, method and content. Knowing is to give up the integrality and objectivity of the world, while the challenge of the knowing subject is to forge a form that does not abandon materiality. This factuality may be that one of the word itself, since literature, as well as the sciences, establish themselves discursively. In addition to key concepts in the theories of Flusser and Benjamin, such as translation, language, reality and allegory, the essay also resorts, mainly, to João Guimarães Rosa, Octavio Paz and Eduardo Viveiros de Castro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A UV light-induced thiol–ene coupling reaction (TEC) between half-antibodies (hIgG) and vinyl functionalized glass surfaces was run for biosensing in the microarray format. The accomplished performance improved that obtained with whole antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the importance of the method in educational research. The method is necessary for achieving the aims of research. We present methodological complementarity and complexity and the firm correspondence between them as principles of educational research since science and research are, without any question, primarily based on the method. The field of education is an area of reality that can be known in various ways and that requires a global approach that might not be limited to knowledge of education as this provides only a partial position. Depending on the type of educational problems under consideration, knowledge of education will be required and the form of knowledge that is most appropriate to the object of study will be applied as it corresponds to the proper use of methodological complementarity as a principle of pedagogical research. The text concludes with a reflection on our situation as educators and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: The results suggest that auditory input is not neutral in motor skills and the complex interaction between them is generated in the earlier stages of childhood development. Objective The assessment of gait performance in pre-lingual deaf children with cochlear implant (CI). Methods: Gait velocity (GV), using a 10-meter test, was measured by means of three inertial sensors in 10 pre-lingual cochlear implant users (CIU) (10–16 years old) in three sensory conditions: (1) cochlear implant turned on with environmental noise (EN), (2) cochlear implant turned on with EN and with cognitive dual task (DT), and (3) CI turned off (CI-OFF). GV with EN and DT was assessed in a normal hearing control group (CG) (n = 14). Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon Signed ranked test were used for significance validation. Results: (1) GV in CG was lower in DT than with EN (p =.019). (2) GV was faster in CG with EN compared with the three conditions in CIU (EN, p =.006; DT, p =.0001; CI-OFF, p =.03). (3) CIU had slower GV walking with EN (p =.037) and with DT (p =.022). (4) Dividing the CIU sample by age, the acoustic information generates a slower gait for those implanted after 3 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the development of music bands fronted by women during the Spanish democratic Transition -a period characterized by the emergence of youth cultures- and how these bands were to a large extent stimulated by the effervescence of what came to be known as the punk movement. The aesthetics of punk is inspired by the artistic avant-garde of the early twentieth century, and it can also be read as a process of mimetic representation of certain iconic "fallen stars". This study aims to explore how this legitimation takes place and how the visual culture itself and its diffusion through certain means of communication fosters a change in the visual perception, with the incorporation into postmodernity of certain marginal dis- courses that emerge out of the very process of sociocultural liberalization that was taking place in Spain at the time. However, the iconographic elements used by the urban subcultures and adopted by female punks in Spain gain strength not only by their visual impact but also by the attitude that they convey. The role of women within this type of mediated subversion will be decisive in a country where identity policies have not yet been legitimized and where a new social context is being articulated, laying the foundations of the feminist attitude. From this point of view, the rebellious attitude adopted by the punk movement will not only imply a strategy of disruption in face of the then-prevailing conventions in the systems of visual repre- sentation, but it will also imply a radical change in the formation of feminist discourse as the basis of integration in contemporary society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable forest management has been approached on many occasions by defining and subsequently measuring a set of initially accepted indicators. This methodology permits the aggregation of multiple goods and services with heterogeneous characteristics into forest management. However, the calculation of these indicators has usually been static. When we find ourselves in situations in which there is a need to make long-term evaluations of the effects of possible scenarios affecting forest management, a procedure has to be set up to define and aggregate the different indicators over time, as well as to integrate the preferences of the stakeholders involved in management. This study shows a goal programming-based methodology, which permits to select the best management alternative in 6 climate change scenarios when different indicators are aggregated over 100 years in a mountain forest in Central Spain. The results revealed the predominance of one management alternative (no management) when the preferences of the stakeholders were aggregated. However, when the preferential weights corresponding to some stakeholders were included separately, the solution may notably vary, especially in the case of forest owners. It was concluded that the methodology proposed allows a dynamic aggregation of diverse sustainable forest management in addition to presenting a great flexibility at the moment of selecting various solutions proposed by the goal programming model, and the preferences of the different stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propositional and associative processes have been proposed to explain human associative learning. Our main objective in this study was to evaluate whether propositional knowledge may gain control over behavior even under high time-pressure conditions, as suggested by propositional single-process models. In the experiment reported, different groups of participants had to learn a series of cue-outcome relationships on a trial-by-trial basis under different time pressure conditions. Later, a simple verbal instruction indicated that one of the cues had reversed its contingency (informed condition). The other cue had also changed its contingency, though in an unanticipated way (uninformed condition) whilst other contingencies did not change (no-change condition). The results showed that, in the absence of instructions, interference (i.e., uninformed vs. no-change effect) was greater in the high time than in the low time-pressure group. This result indicates that those responses which were previously relevant are more difficult to inhibit when there is little time to respond. However, time pressure had no detectable effect on the use of the verbal instruction, since an equivalent instruction advantage (i.e., uninformed vs. informed effect) was obtained in both time pressure groups. These results reveal that propositional knowledge can override those cue-outcome relationships that were learnt trial-by-trial even under conditions of high cognitive demand. This pattern of results is consistent with a propositional single-process model of associative learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the interference emission levels of domestic induction heating appliances, which are tested out by the triple-loop antenna proposed by Van Veen and Vergerboet, are analyzed to estimate the measured values from numerical simulations. The purpose of this study is to propose an alternative method to evaluate the emission level of consumer goods in the early stages of the development procedure, prior to perform measurement in a prototype. The constitutive parts of the system have been separately analyzed and modeled, including the equipment under test. Three different blocks have been considered: the inductor heating system, the magnetic coupling between the electromagnetic fields of the system and the output levels of sensor antennas, and, finally, the processing performed by the electromagnetic interference receiver. The description given in this paper provides interference levels at frequencies ranging from the operational switching frequency of the apparatus, typically few tens of kilohertz, to about 1 MHz. Finally, the proposed analysis is verified by comparison of the numerical estimated emission levels and test measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of a chiral thioxanthone catalyst (10 mol %) the title compounds underwent a clean intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition with electron-deficient olefins at λ = 419 nm. The reactions not only proceeded with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity but also delivered the respective cyclobutane products with significant enantiomeric excess (up to 95% ee). Key to the success of the reactions is a two-point hydrogen bonding between quinolone and catalyst enabling efficient energy transfer and high enantioface differentiation. Preliminary work indicated that solar irradiation can be used for this process and that the substrate scope can be further expanded to isoquinolones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focused on developing optical coatings for decorative applications that remain transparent in the radiofrequency range. To achieve this, a combination of dielectric material (silicon-aluminum nitride, SiAlNx) and low-electrical-conductivity semiconductor material (germanium) was utilized. Germanium plays a crucial role in providing absorption in the visible spectrum, facilitating the design of coatings with various aesthetic appearances, while allowing for control over their transmittance. The optical properties of thin germanium layers were thoroughly characterized and leveraged to create multilayer designs with diverse aesthetic features. Different multilayer structures were designed, fabricated, and optically characterized, resulting in coatings with metallic gray, black, or various colors in reflection, while retaining the ability to transmit visible light for illumination and signaling applications. Finally, the radiofrequency attenuation of the developed coatings was measured, revealing negligible attenuation; this is in stark contrast to the metallic coatings used for decorative purposes, which can attenuate by up to 30 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case study of a pregnant woman from The Gambia who developed Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) in the United States. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient's cultural beliefs and seeking effective communication in healthcare. It also explores the challenges in diagnosing and treating WE, as well as the potential long-term effects of the condition. The article briefly mentions other neurologic conditions that should be considered in the differential diagnosis for altered mental status in pregnancy. Ultimately, the patient had a successful delivery and a healthy baby. [Extracted from the article]

The theoretical analysis and design of an infrared (IR) thermometry system for temperature measurement in domestic induction hobs is presented together with the results of its implementation. The system includes an InGaAs PIN photodiode and a preamplifier which detects the IR radiation emitted from the bottom of the cookware and the glass–ceramic top. The analysis includes an algorithm to discount the contribution of the glass-ceramic material from the total signal. The proposed system has been designed for frying temperature measurements (140 ^\circ\C–180 ^\circ\C) and tested in the cooking range from 120 ^ \circ\C to 200 ^\circ\C for cookware made of different materials. Finally, the measurement temperature errors were around 20 ^\circ\C for almost any emissivity of the cookware. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thioxanthone 1, which was synthesized in a concise fashion from methyl thiosalicylate, exhibits a significant absorption in the visible light region. It allows for an efficient enantioselective catalysis of intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions presumably by triplet energy transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thioxanthone 1, which was synthesized in a concise fashion from methyl thiosalicylate, exhibits a significant absorption in the visible light region. It allows for an efficient enantioselective catalysis of intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions presumably by triplet energy transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a precise real-time temperature control system based on infrared (IR) thermometry for domestic induction cooking is presented. The temperature in the vessel constitutes the control variable of the closed-loop power control system implemented in a commercial induction cooker. A proportional-integral controller is applied to establish the output power level in order to reach the target temperature. An optical system and a signal conditioning circuit have been implemented. For the signal processing a microprocessor with 12-bit ADC and a sampling rate of 1 Ksps has been used. The analysis of the contributions to the infrared radiation permits the definition of a procedure to estimate the temperature of the vessel with a maximum temperature error of 5 °C in the range between 60 and 250 °C for a known cookware emissivity. A simple and necessary calibration procedure with a black-body sample is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encapsulation within transport proteins strongly reduces the photooxidation rate of (S)- and (R)-2-(9-anthracenyl)propanoic acid (1) and results in a significant stereodifferentiation. The most remarkable effects are observed within human serum albumin (HSA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results from a open-ended Project-Based-Learning (PBL) experience in the context of engnieering. The methodological design followed aims to emulate the real-world environment, minimizing common PBL shortcomings such as the rejection of the students and the material requirements from the institution. The results obtained along three academic years show that our methodology improves the engineering skills required by future professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: This study showed that a population with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo related to mild head trauma (BPPVAT) was younger and more frequently presented with bilateral canalithiasis than another population with idiopathic etiology (IBPPV). In both groups, females presented a higher risk of BPPV. Objective: To compare the clinical features of a population with BPPVAT and another with IBBPV. Methods: We carried out statistical analysis of a population of 51 subjects with BPPVAT and another of 325 subjects with IBPPV, comparing age, gender, recurrence of symptoms, associated chronic dizziness (CD), and clinical presentation. Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Student's t test, Mann--Whitney test, 95% binomial confidence interval for proportions, chi-squared, and Fisher's test were used as statistical tools. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered in all cases. Results: The population affected with BPPVAT was younger and bilateral canalithiasis was also more frequent. No differences were found in gender distribution, semicircular canals involved in the symptoms, recurrence after repositioning maneuvers, or associated CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New applications of the photochemically generated iminyl radicals ring closure onto phenyl, thiophenyl, and pyridinyl rings are presented. The influence on the reactivity of different substituent throughout the acyloxime structure is discussed. Some observed effects are interpreted from computational studies. This reaction provides a new, simple, and straightforward method for the preparation of several polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds and it has been applied to the synthesis of some natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new photochemical method for the preparation of quinazolines (2) through irradiation of [2-(methyleneamino)phenyl]methanone oximes (1) is reported. The photoreaction has been studied in depth by experimental, theoretical and photochemical methods. A six-electron electrocyclic ring closure mechanism, followed by water loss, is proposed and rationalized to explain the formation of quinazolines (2). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of Nafion–clay nanocomposite membranes were synthesized and characterized. To minimize any adverse effects on ionic conductivity the clay nanoparticles were H+ exchanged prior to mixing with Nafion. Well-dispersed, mechanically robust, free-standing nanocomposite membranes were prepared by casting from a water suspension at 180°C under pressure. SAXS profiles reveal a preferential orientation of Nafion aggregates parallel to the membrane surface, or normal plane. This preferred orientation is induced by the platy nature of the clay nanoparticles, which tend to align parallel to the surface of the membrane. The nanocomposite membranes show dramatically reduced methanol permeability, while maintaining high levels of proton conductivity. The hybrid films are much stiffer and can withstand much higher temperatures compared to pure Nafion. The superior thermomechanical, electrochemical and barrier properties of the nanocomposite membranes are of significant interest for direct methanol fuel cell applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The irradiation of acyloximes was studied by theoretical methods. CASPT2/6-31G*//CASSCF/6-31G* calculations, using an active space of 14 electrons in 11 orbitals, indicate that S2 should be the spectroscopic state, and its relaxation leads directly to N-O bond breakage due to coupling between the imine π* and the σ* N-O orbitals. Subsequent calculations at the B3PW91/6-31+G* level suggest that the resulting iminyl radicals are able to cyclize to the five- or six-membered ring, depending on the presence of a phenyl group as a spacer, a process that has been verified experimentally. The photochemical aspects of the more common five-membered ring formation, such as excited-state quenching, quantum yield, excited-state sensitizers, laser flash photolysis experiments, Stern-Volmer plot, and luminescence measurements, were investigated. These studies indicate that singlet and triplet excited states undergo the same reaction. Emission lifetimes of ca. τ = 10.6 μs for compound 11 are suggestive of triplet parentage, while no fluorescence was detected, in agreement with the computed MEP energy profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the frequency-dependent resistance in Litz-wire planar windings for domestic induction heating appliances is analyzed. For these inductors, in which the size is not an essential constraint, an analytical model is developed based on the superposition of different loss effects in the wire. Eddy current losses, including conduction losses and proximity-effect losses, both internal and external, were considered and modeled. The magnetic field necessary to evaluate the external proximity losses is as well analytically calculated considering the complete winding and load properties. To verify this model and its limitations, several inductors with different wires and numbers of turns were constructed and results with both non-loaded and loaded inductors are compared with theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racism is the expression of a relationship in which a domination demonstrates itself through all human relations. It takes on different forms, evolves continuously, and whatever variables it uses, it always reaches the same conclusion: that it is impossible for people of different cultures to coexist. Intercultural education, the very germ and yeast of coexistence, promotes a set of core principles that are vital in the fight against racism and discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elaborates on the role of motivation in education. Theories of motivation; Motivation and learning; Permissions; Motivation from age zero to three years; Educator and permissions.

The SMOG formula is widely used to determine how easy written health education materials are to read and comprehend. This study was conducted to assess whether the SMOG formula, originally developed and tested in English, was also valid for texts written in Spanish and French. Readability scores from a sample of passages written in Spanish, English, and French were analyzed. Study results showed that the SMOG formula seemed to be consistent in measuring readability in the three languages. However, SMOG scores varied from language to language. Two hypotheses are being laid out to explain these results. First, the SMOG equation is system atically biased for texts in Spanish or French. Second, English is more readable than French, and French is more readable than Spanish. Under the assumption of a systematic bias in the SMOG formula, the so-called SOL formulas are presented here to convert SMOG scores between Spanish, English, and French. In addition, a new scale for grading reading difficulty is proposed based on SMOG scores obtained from classical literature. This is important to the extent that it will provide Spanish speaking and French speaking health communicators with a readability formula for preparing written materials appropriate to the level of comprehension of specific target audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow makes a great contribution to the hydrological cycle in cold regions. The parameter to characterize available the water from the snow cover is the well-known snow water equivalent (SWE). This paper presents a near-surface-based radar for determining the SWE from the measured complex spectral reflectance of the snowpack. The method is based in a stepped-frequency continuous wave radar (SFCW), implemented in a coherent software defined radio (SDR), in the range from 150 MHz to 6 GHz. An electromagnetic model to solve the electromagnetic reflectance of a snowpack, including the frequency and wetness dependence of the complex relative dielectric permittivity of snow layers, is shown. Using the previous model, an approximated method to calculate the SWE is proposed. The results are presented and compared with those provided by a cosmic-ray neutron SWE gauge over the 2019–2020 winter in the experimental AEMet Formigal-Sarrios test site. This experimental field is located in the Spanish Pyrenees at an elevation of 1800 m a.s.l. The results suggest the viability of the approximate method. Finally, the feasibility of an auxiliary snow height measurement sensor based on a 120 GHz frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar sensor, is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A framework for lipid process design in a Circular Economy model was developed. • The case study addressed was the production of ω-3 concentrates from waste fish oil. • The multiobjective optimization problem includes intensified process options • The resulting MINLP is solved with lexicographic, ε-constraint and LCA approaches. • The optimal process configuration counterbalances the three sustainability dimensions. Fish oil is a nutritious product, mainly due its omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) content that is attractive for its health benefits. Fish oil is discarded as a waste in many seafood industries, due to the lack of recovery processes to refine the oil in a lucrative and sustainable manner. This work tackles this by proposing a framework to integrate the economic, environmental and social aspects with the process design decisions of a crude fish oil refinery. The application of the framework is highlighted through production of ω-3 PUFA concentrates from waste oil of a tuna processing plant in Mexico. This is addressed by formulation and solution of a multi-objective optimization problem including intensified processing options in a superstructure. The resulting Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programing problem is solved with lexicographic and ε-constraint methods. The solutions in the form of a Pareto front are subject to benchmarking with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The optimal configuration consists of an intensified process with an LCA score of 458.94 and the donation 12.64 % of the ω-3 production to local communities without compromising the process profitability. Waste fish oil valorization is proven significant to achieve a circular economy model for the seafood industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia and cognitive decline (CD) are prevalent in aging populations, impacting functionality and quality of life. The early detection of these diseases is challenging, often relying on in-person screening, which is difficult to implement regularly. This study aims to develop artificial intelligence algorithms based on gait analysis, integrating sensor and computer vision (CV) data, to detect sarcopenia and CD. Methods: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted involving 42 individuals aged 60 years or older. Participants were classified as having sarcopenia if they met the criteria established by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People and as having CD if their score in the Mini-Mental State Examination was ≤24 points. Gait patterns were assessed at usual walking speeds using sensors attached to the feet and lumbar region, and CV data were captured using a camera. Several key variables related to gait dynamics were extracted. Finally, machine learning models were developed using these variables to predict sarcopenia and CD. Results: Models based on sensor data, CV data, and a combination of both technologies achieved high predictive accuracy, particularly for CD. The best model for CD achieved an F1-score of 0.914, with a 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity. The combined technologies model for sarcopenia also demonstrated high performance, yielding an F1-score of 0.748 with a 100% sensitivity and 83% specificity. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that gait analysis through sensor and CV fusion can effectively screen for sarcopenia and CD. The multimodal approach enhances model accuracy, potentially supporting early disease detection and intervention in home settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developments in sensing, actuation, and algorithms, both in terms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data treatment, have open up a wide range of possibilities for improving the quality of the production systems in diverse industrial fields. The present paper describes the automatizing process performed in a production line for high-quality bearings. The actuation considered new sensing elements at the machine level and the treatment of the information, fusing the different sources in order to detect quality defects in the grinding process (waviness, burns) and monitoring the state of the tool. At a supervision level, an AI model has been developed for monitoring the complete line and compensating deviations in the dimension of the final assembly. The project also contemplated the hardware architecture for improving the data acquisition and communication among the machines and databases, the data treatment units, and the human interfaces. The resulting system gives feedback to the operator when deviations or potential errors are detected so that the quality issues are recognized and can be amended in advance, thereby reducing the quality cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining multiple biomarkers to provide predictive models with a greater discriminatory ability is a discipline that has received attention in recent years. Choosing the probability threshold that corresponds to the highest combined marker accuracy is key in disease diagnosis. The Youden index is a statistical metric that provides an appropriate synthetic index for diagnostic accuracy and a good criterion for choosing a cut-off point to dichotomize a biomarker. In this study, we present a new stepwise algorithm for linearly combining continuous biomarkers to maximize the Youden index. To investigate the performance of our algorithm, we analyzed a wide range of simulated scenarios and compared its performance with that of five other linear combination methods in the literature (a stepwise approach introduced by Yin and Tian, the min-max approach, logistic regression, a parametric approach under multivariate normality and a non-parametric kernel smoothing approach). The obtained results show that our proposed stepwise approach showed similar results to other algorithms in normal simulated scenarios and outperforms all other algorithms in non-normal simulated scenarios. In scenarios of biomarkers with the same means and a different covariance matrix for the diseased and non-diseased population, the min-max approach outperforms the rest. The methods were also applied on two real datasets (to discriminate Duchenne muscular dystrophy and prostate cancer), whose results also showed a higher predictive ability in our algorithm in the prostate cancer database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses model temporal transferability using airborne laser scanning (ALS) data acquired over two different dates. Seven forest attributes (i.e. stand density, basal area, squared mean diameter, dominant diameter, tree dominant height, timber volume, and total tree biomass) were estimated using an area-based approach in Mediterranean Aleppo pine forests. Low-density ALS data were acquired in 2011 and 2016 while 147 forest inventory plots were measured in 2013, 2014, and 2016. Single-tree growth models were used to generate concomitant field data for 2011 and 2016. A comparison of five selection techniques and five regression methods were performed to regress field observations against ALS metrics. The selection of the best regression models fitted for each stand attribute, and separately for both 2011 and 2016, was performed following an indirect approach. Model performance and temporal transferability were analyzed by extrapolating the best fitted models from 2011 to 2016 and inversely from 2016 to 2011 using the direct approach. Non-parametric support vector machine with radial kernel was the best regression method with average relative % root mean square error differences of 2.13% for 2011 models and 1.58% for 2016 ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare two different blastocyst biopsy protocols.Design: Retrospective single-center cohort study.Settings: Private in vitro fertilization center.Patient(s): The study included 1,670 frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).Intervention: None.Main Outcome Measure(s): Survival rate (SR) after thawing, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing implantation rate (IR), and live birth rate (LBR).Result(s): Eight hundred thirty-five FETs with PGT-A cycles including only embryos biopsied in the sequential blastocyst hatching and biopsy protocol paired with the ablation of one-fourth of the zona pellucida (ZP) were matched with 835 FETs with PGT-A cycles including only embryos biopsied in the day 3 prehatching protocol by female age (±1 year), number of embryos transferred, use of gestational carrier or egg donor, and day of blastocyst transfer. Only FETs with euploid blastocysts graded no lower than 4BB were included, and cycles with fewer than five oocytes were excluded. SR after thawing, CPR, ongoing IR, and LBR were significantly higher in the FET cycles with the embryos biopsied in the sequential hatching and biopsy protocol. Four cases of monozygotic twin pregnancies were reported with the day 3 prehatching protocol and none with the sequential hatching and biopsy protocol.Conclusion(s): Our results show, for the first time, that using different blastocyst biopsy protocols can affect clinical outcomes. Because the study was retrospective, our findings should be validated in a prospective trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Despite a lack of standardization and some open questions, a growing body of evidence supports the use of frailty to optimize the clinical management of patients with hematological malignancies. Several scores have been applied particularly to multiple myeloma, an entity that shares many characteristics with AL amyloidosis, both being frequently associated. To date, no study has focused on frailty in patients with AL amyloidosis. We aimed to define a practical evaluation of frailty and estimate its impact in survival in patients with systemic AL amyloidosis. Systemic AL amyloidosis is a challenging disease for which many patients are considered frail in daily clinical practice. However, no study has so far addressed frailty and its impact on the outcome of these patients. We built a simple score to predict mortality based on three frailty-associated variables: age, ECOG performance status (<2 vs. ≥2) and NT-proBNP (<8500 vs. ≥8500 ng/L). Four-hundred and sixteen consecutive newly diagnosed patients diagnosed at ten sites from the Spanish Myeloma Group were eligible for the study. The score was developed in a derivation cohort from a referral center, and it was externally validated in a multicenter cohort. Multivariate analysis showed that the three variables were independent predictors of survival. The score was able to discriminate four groups of patients in terms of overall survival and early mortality in both cohorts. Comorbidity was also analyzed with the Charlson comorbidity index, but it did not reach statistical significance in the model. A nomogram was created to easily estimate the mortality risk of each patient at each time point. This score is a simple, robust, and efficient approach to dynamically assess frailty-dependent mortality both at diagnosis and throughout follow-up. The optimal treatment for frail AL amyloidosis patients remains to be determined but we suggest that the estimation of frailty-associated risk could complement current staging systems, adding value in clinical decision-making in this complex scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uruguay is the south American country which has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates. The National Cancer Registry collects data on cancer cases nationwide since 1989 and has reached high quality standards in the last decades. This is the first report on incidence trends. Methods: Data from the National Cancer Registry of all new cases of invasive cancer from twelve sites diagnosed in 2002-2015 was analyzed. Age-standardized rates were calculated. Trends of incidence rates were analyzed using joinpoint regression models. Results: For both, men and women, incidence rates trends for all cancer sites, colo-rectal and bladder cancer remained stable. Esophageal and gastric cancers descended while thyroid and kidney cancer incidence increased. In men lung cancer decreased; testicular cancer increased, and prostate cancer increased at the beginning of the period and decreased in the final years. In women, lung cancer increased, breast cancer remained stable and cervical cancer presented a significant decline from 2005 to 2010 and reached a plateau since then. Conclusion: Cancer incidence dynamics are complex and affected not only by Public Health policies such as tobacco control, vaccination and screening programs, but also by environmental and life style changes and the attitude of the medical community towards the application of diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The aim of this paper is to analyze cancer incidence time trends in the country and provide possible explanations to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title reaction with electron-deficient olefins proceeds with excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity and is applicable to isoquinolones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses a methodological proposal for the delimitation of territorial areas applying a quasi-experimental strategy, comparing areas where projects have been developed based in urban regeneration called "experimental areas" with similar ones without any project, called "equivalent areas". This methodology is a necessary previous step to analyze the effect of programs about urban regeneration, which will allow subsequently to compare the evolution of similar pairs among themselves (experimental and equivalent areas). Firstly, we explain the underlying objective of delimitation in these territorial areas. Secondly, the methodology used to select the equivalent areas is described. Thirdly, the results are presented, it means, the delimitation of experimental and equivalent areas. Finally, through means of specific statistical procedures, analysis of variance or ANOVA of a factor, the obtained results are validated. The work is focused on Andalusian cities with a population over 100.000 inhabitants in which urban regeneration projects have been implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first chiral photocatalyst capable of processing visible light for a highly enantioselective photochemical reaction is synthesized from methyl thiosallicylate in a concise fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate) (PLA/PBSA) blends are found promising for film packaging applications because of their flexibility, resistance, and compostability. Industrially extruded granules and films based on PLA and containing different amounts of PBSA are reprocessed through mini‐extrusion, to simulate recycling, and tested in terms of their melt flow rate as a function of PBSA content. Moreover, pure PLA commercial granules and the film produced extruding the PLA/PBSA 60/40 blend are reprocessed several times by injection molding and characterized in terms of melt flow rate, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and color as a function of injection molding cycles. The variation in melt fluidity and thermo‐mechanical properties is negligible up to 3 injection molding cycles for both pure PLA granules and PLA/PBSA blend. In the case of blend the change in color (yellowing and darkening) is more evident and slight local compositional change in injection molded items can be evidenced as well as a slight decrease in PBS crystallinity as a function of injection molding cycles. Nevertheless, in applications where these aspects are not critical, these materials can be recycled by extrusion or injection molding before being composted, thus prolonging their life cycle and storing carbon in them as longer as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

JAXA's upcoming MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission will deliver a small rover to Phobos, to explore its surface complementary to the MMX orbiter and the sample return lander. On board this rover is a Raman spectrometer, the RAX Instrument (RAman Spectrometer for MMX), a payload to science. RAX has been designed for being capable to analyze the mineral composition of the Phobos' surface, in order to help reveal the nature and distribution of materials on the surface and ultimately the origin and evolution of the moon. Attached to MMX spacecraft, with direct view from the RAX instrument, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) target will be placed for on‐ground and during cruise, spectral instrument performances verification, before the MMX rover is released and dropped to the Phobos surface for developing its scientific tasks. A novel deuterated PET material was proposed as verification target (VT) to check the spectral instrument performances. INTA‐CAB developed, manufactured and qualified for the MMX‐RAX space mission, 13 mm diameter and 2‐mm thick pellets of this material, which incorporates two relevant improvement characteristics: reduction in fluorescence and additional Raman bands with regard to ordinary PET used with this purpose. The material was selected as RAX VT and delivered to DLR for performance tests and later integration into the MMX rover together with the RAX flight model. The RAX VT will be critical to check the instrument performances during the several months cruise phase after launch and just before its landing on Phobos surface. This paper reports the development and characterization of the deuterated PET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the frequency, predictors, and evolution of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients with CNS relapse and introduced a novel method for studying BCR-ABL1 protein variants in cDNA from bone marrow (BM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) blast cells. A total of 128 patients were analyzed in two PETHEMA clinical trials. All achieved complete remission after imatinib treatment. Of these, 30 (23%) experienced a relapse after achieving complete remission, and 13 (10%) had an isolated CNS relapse or combined CNS and BM relapses. We compared the characteristics of patients with and without CNS relapse and further analyzed CSF and BM samples from two of the 13 patients with CNS relapse. In both patients, classical sequencing analysis of the kinase domain of BCR-ABL1 from the cDNA of CSF blasts revealed the pathogenic variant p.L387M. We also performed ultra-deep next-generation sequencing (NGS) in three samples from one of the relapsed patients. We did not find the mutation in the BM sample, but we did find it in CSF blasts with 45% of reads at the time of relapse. These data demonstrate the feasibility of detecting BCR-ABL1 mutations in CSF blasts by NGS and highlight the importance of monitoring clonal evolution over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (MoAB) therapy has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma. However, not all patients sustain durable responses. We aimed to describe the natural history of patients relapsed or refractory (R/R) to CD38 MoAB therapy. We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 81 patients with multiple myeloma who progressed after treatment with daratumumab. Our cohort was heavily pretreated, with a median of two lines prior to daratumumab and only 17 patients received daratumumab as a first line. A total of 38.2% had received a previous autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and 61.7% had received both an immunomodulatory drug (IMID) and a proteasome inhibitor (PI). The median overall survival (OS) was 21 months for the global cohort but it decreased to 14 months for triple-class refractory patients and 5 months for penta-refractory patients. Most of the patients (83.9%) received treatment after daratumumab progression, in many cases with second generation IMID or PI, but seven patients were treated with anti-BCMA therapy and three patients received CART therapy within a clinical trial. In conclusion, patients R/R to daratumumab represent an unmet clinical need with poor prognosis and in need of incorporation of new treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]