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In this work, we present ArchaeoPyDating, a new version of the archaeo_dating Matlab software used for archaeomagnetic dating. This updated version introduces a transition from the original Matlab code to Python, enabling the software to be presented as an online tool. By offering a web‐based interface, ArchaeoPyDating eliminates the need for licenses, program installations, or programming expertise, making it widely accessible to users through various devices and browsers. This enhanced accessibility holds great potential for popularizing the archaeomagnetic dating method. This study presents both the new online version of the tool and a Python module that encompasses all the essential classes and functions required for conducting archaeomagnetic dating in a command‐line environment, which can be useful for advanced users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the open- and closed-loop DC–DC converter operation within a DC coupling multilevel inverter architecture to obtain an infinite-level stepped sinusoidal voltage. Adding a cascade controller to the DC–DC converter should reduce the settling time and increase the number of levels in the output voltage waveform; it could decrease the speed error and phase shift concerning the sinusoidal reference signal. The proposed methodology consists of implementing an experimental multilevel inverter with DC coupling through a single-phase bridge inverter energized from a BUCK converter. Trigger signals for the two converters are obtained from a control circuit based in an ATMEGA644P microcontroller to explore its capabilities in power electronics applications. A digital controller is also implemented to evaluate the operation of the BUCK converter in open and closed loop and observe its influence in the stepped sinusoidal output voltage. The evaluation is performed to energize a resistive load with common output voltage in multilevel inverters, i.e., 3, 5, 7, 11, and infinity levels. Results show that during the design stage, fast dynamic elements, like the storage capacitor, can be used to obtain a minimum THD because the settling time is sufficiently fast, the speed error remains small, and there is no need for a controller. A digital controller requires processing time, and although in theory it can reduce the settling time to a minimum, the processor introduces latency in the control signals generation, producing the opposite effect. Controller complexity of the digital controller must be considered because it increases processing time and influences the efficiency of the closed-loop operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After its introduction in the ICD-10-CM in 2016, sarcopenia is a condition widely considered to be a medical disease with important consequences for the elderly. Considering its high prevalence in older adults and its detrimental effects on health, it is essential to identify its risk factors to inform targeted interventions. Methods: Taking data from wave 2 of the ELSA, using ML-based methods, this study investigates which factors are significantly associated with sarcopenia. The Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance algorithm has been used to allow for an optimal set of features that could predict the dependent variable. Such a feature is the input of a ML-based prediction model, trained and validated to predict the risk of developing or not developing a disease. Results: The presented methods are suitable to identify the risk of acquired sarcopenia. Age and other relevant features related with dementia and musculoskeletal conditions agree with previous knowledge about sarcopenia. The present classifier has an excellent performance since the "true positive rate" is 0.81 and the low "false positive rate" is 0.26. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of sarcopenia in elderly people, with age and the presence of dementia and musculoskeletal conditions being strong predictors. The new proposed approach paves the path to test the prediction of the incidence of sarcopenia in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conditions (i.e., climatic variation) can strongly influence the cost and benefits of reproductive traits. Yet there is still no consensus on whether changing environmental conditions strengthen or relax sexual selection. Evidence from the literature suggests that highly variable environments can limit mate choice and investment in sexual traits, hence relaxing sexual selection pressures. Here, we tested this hypothesis using the nuptial gift-giving spider Paratrechalea ornata , in which males can either wrap nutritive (fresh prey) or worthless (prey leftovers) items in silk. We examined changes in males' sexual trait and female choice among six populations living under different climatic conditions. We found that large variation in precipitation limits female choice, potentially favoring the spread of deceptive worthless gifts. In populations under highly variable conditions and with the highest frequencies of worthless gifts (70%), males offering such gifts acquire longer mating durations than those offering nutritive gifts. In contrast, in populations with less variable conditions and the lowest frequencies of worthless gift (36%), females shortened mating duration to males offering worthless gifts. Our findings are consistent with the prediction that highly variable environmental conditions relax sexual selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy is a problem in current obstetrics, although mortality due to this disease has decreased, as well as its morbidity since the existing diagnostic means allow an early diagnosis, its incidence is still increasing. Objective: To determine the factors related to the ectopic pregnancy. Methods: A descriptive-cross-sectional-retrospective study was carried out on all the patients who attended Tamara Bunke Bíder Northern Maternal Hospital in Santiago de Cuba city, operated on due to ectopic pregnancy, during twenty-five years (1991-2015). The analysis was constituted by a total of 1999 patients, with the selection criterion given by their pathologic confirmation, resulting in a total of 1866 cases. Among the variables studied, the risk factors related to this disease were considered, as well as the elements that were used for the diagnosis. Results: The incidence of the ectopic pregnancy in our environment is 1 out of 37 childbirths, prevailing as risk factors: the 25- 29 age group (32.3 %), nulliparity and primiparity (30,2 % and 32,5 %) respectively, the history of pelvic inflammatory disease (43.8 %), vaginal infections (24.8 %) and the use of intra-uterine device (49.8 %). Most of the cases were presented with classic symptoms of the disease, reason why the majority diagnosis on admission was right and the auxiliary methods most used were the Douglas cul-de-sac puncture (42.3 %), alone or combined with ultrasonography and laparoscopy. Conclusions: There was a prevalence of the risk factors described. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is still high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections represent a growing public health problem, mainly stemming from two phenomena. Firstly, certain diseases (e.g., AIDS and COVID-19) have emerged that weaken the immune system, leaving patients susceptible to opportunistic pathogens. Secondly, an increasing number of pathogenic fungi are developing multi-drug resistance. Consequently, there is a need for new antifungal drugs with novel therapeutic targets, such as type I and II DNA topoisomerase enzymes of fungal organisms. This contribution summarizes the available information in the literature on the biology, topology, structural characteristics, and genes of topoisomerase (Topo) I and II enzymes in humans, two other mammals, and 29 fungi (including Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes). The evidence of these enzymes as alternative targets for antifungal therapy is presented, as is a broad spectrum of Topo I and II inhibitors. Research has revealed the genes responsible for encoding the Topo I and II enzymes of fungal organisms and the amino acid residues and nucleotide residues at the active sites of the enzymes that are involved in the binding mode of topoisomerase inhibitors. Such residues are highly conserved. According to molecular docking studies, antifungal Topo I and II inhibitors have good affinity for the active site of the respective enzymes. The evidence presented in the current review supports the proposal of the suitability of Topo I and II enzymes as molecular targets for new antifungal drugs, which may be used in the future in combined therapies for the treatment of infections caused by fungal organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is, based on the epistemological distinction of the notions of representations and social imaginaries, to explain how the Catholic religious imaginary that coexists since the return of democracy in the Argentine magazines Cabildo, Criterio and Nueva Tierra is verified. For this, a corpus was built consisting of its editorials in the period in which the three were published. At the same time, in the period that extends from 1987 to 2011, the years in which a change of ownership of the Executive Branch in Argentina occurred, although not necessarily through an electoral process: 1989, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2011. The methodological approach that guides the research is discourse analysis. Two categories of analysis are identified: the social representations of the discursive tradition, on the one hand, and of the Argentine Church, on the other. That is, what magisterial documents they cite and consider legitimate, and what links they establish with the ecclesial institution, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a well-known imaging technology for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of several diseases. Most PET scanners use a Ring-Shaped Detector Configuration (RSDC), which helps obtain homogeneous image quality but are restricted to an invariable Field-of-View (FOV), scarce spatial resolution, and low sensitivity. Alternatively, few PET systems use Open Detector Configurations (ODC) to permit an accessible FOV adaptable to different target sizes, thus optimizing sensitivity. Yet, to compensate the lack of angular coverage in ODC-PET, developing a detector with high-timing performance is mandatory to enable Time-of-Flight (TOF) techniques during reconstruction. The main goal of this work is to provide a proof of concept PET scanner appropriate for constructing the new generation of ODC-PET suitable for biopsy guidance and clinical intervention during acquisition. The designed detector has to be compact and robust, and its requirements in terms of performance are spatial and time resolutions < 2 mm and < 200 ps, respectively. Methods: The present work includes a simulation study of an ODC-PET based on 2-panels with variable distance. The image quality (IQ) and Derenzo phantoms have been simulated and evaluated. The phantom simulations have also been performed using a ring-shaped PET for comparison purposes of the ODC approach with conventional systems. Then, an experimental evaluation of a prototype detector that has been designed following the simulation results is presented. This study focused on tuning the ASIC parameters and evaluating the scintillator surface treatment (ESR and TiO2), and configuration that yields the best Coincidence Time Resolution (CTR). Moreover, the scalability of the prototype to a module of 64 × 64mm2 and its preliminary evaluation regarding pixel identification are provided. Results: The simulation results reported sensitivity (%) values at the center of the FOV of 1.96, 1.63, and 1.18 for panel distances of 200, 250, and 300 mm, respectively. The IQ reconstructed image reported good uniformity (87%) and optimal CRC values, and the Derenzo phantom reconstruction suggests a system resolution of 1.6–2 mm. The experimental results demonstrate that using TiO2 coating yielded better detector performance than ESR. Acquired data was filtered by applying an energy window of ± 30% at the photopeak level. After filtering, best CTR of 230 ± 2 ps was achieved for an 8 × 8 LYSO pixel block with 2 × 2 × 12mm3 each. The detector performance remained constant after scaling-up the prototype to a module of 64 × 64mm2, and the flood map demonstrates the module's capabilities to distinguish the small pixels; thus, a spatial resolution < 2 mm (pixel size) is achieved. Conclusions: The simulated results of this biplanar scanner show high performance in terms of image quality and sensitivity. These results are comparable to state-of-the-art PET technology and, demonstrate that including TOF information minimizes the image artifacts due to the lack of angular projections. The experimental results concluded that using TiO2 coating provide the best performance. The results suggest that this scanner may be suitable for organ study, breast, prostate, or cardiac applications, with good uniformity and CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a prevalent condition causing significant distress and healthcare costs globally. Despite various treatments, effective management remains challenging. Pilates, recognized for its focus on core strength and postural alignment, has emerged as a promising intervention. This study investigates the impact of mind–body in Pilates for directing participants on CNSLBP outcomes. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 67 participants, aged 18 to 65 years, suffering from CNSLBP. They were allocated into two groups: Pilates with mind–body cueing (n = 34) and Pilates without cueing (n = 33). Both groups underwent 60 min sessions twice weekly for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), functional disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia), and adherence (percentage of sessions attended). Statistical significance was determined through repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in pain reduction, functional ability, and kinesiophobia. However, the mind–body group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in kinesiophobia compared to the non-cueing group (p = 0.048), indicating the potential additional benefit of mind–body cueing in managing movement-related fear in CNSLBP. Conclusions: This study underscores the effectiveness of an 8-week Pilates intervention in managing CNSLBP, highlighting the added value of mind–body cueing in reducing fear of movement. These findings suggest incorporating mind–body cueing in Pilates could enhance the therapeutic benefits, particularly for patients with high levels of movement-related fear, potentially improving long-term adherence to physical activity and rehabilitation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the Templar documentary legacy in Navarra, largely unpublished, raises various challenges for reconstructing and interpreting the texts’ internal logic and intertextuality. This article offers a critical review and analysis of these documents, focusing on the reasons for their creation and the significance of their use and dissemination by the Order. Furthermore, beyond the materiality of manuscripts and formal typologies, the different layers influencing their production —actors, contexts, and intentionality— will be examined. Through this, we gain deeper insight into the representational system crafted by the Templars, aimed not only at consolidating their patrimonial development but also at shaping and projecting their institutional image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Presentation. The archives of the Templar and Hospitaller orders in medieval Iberia. Reconstructions and institutional memories" analyzes the formation of the archives of the Templar and Hospitaller orders in the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula. It highlights the importance of these archives in the military expansion and Christian occupation of conquered lands, as well as in the social and religious changes of the time. It addresses the reconstruction of the archives and the function of documents in institutional representation in specific political and social contexts. [Extracted from the article]

The study focused on analyzing female entrepreneurship and labor inequalities in Ecuador, a case study of women from the Warmi Ametsak "Woman's Dreams" WASMU Foundation in the city of Ibarra. The type of research was classified as a cross-sectional and descriptive study; a quantitative approach was used, collecting many demographic, entrepreneurship and working conditions data through a census that included surveys of 90 women. The findings revealed that, despite having similar educational levels, these women face significant employment and economic limitations, earning less than the minimum wage and a considerable number of them working independently under unstable conditions. Additionally, the research highlighted the influence of housing type on health circumstances and the magnitude between lack of child care services and limited labor participation. It is concluded that there is a disconnection between education and real economic opportunities and there are structural barriers that limit the female economic empowerment of the vulnerable sectors to which non-profit foundations offer support. The problem of mothers who leave their children alone at home while they work is also highlighted, evidencing a critical lack of support for child care, the urgent need to implement policies that offer accessible and safe child care services to allow mothers participate fully in the workforce without compromising the safety and well-being of their minor children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patella ferruginea , an endemic marine mollusc of the western Mediterranean, faces a severe threat due to historical overexploitation, habitat loss and habitat vulnerability. This specie forms reproductive populations on sheltered dikes within Alboran Sea ports, presenting a persistent management challenge. Investigating both recruitment rates and preferences in artificial habitats, as well as early life stages, is crucial for its conservation. Three experiments, focusing on recruits under 25 mm, were conducted, with two exclusively in Ceuta's port in the Strait of Gibraltar. The first study explored intra-annual recruitment variations across three sites with different elevations (up, down) and inclinations (horizontal, vertical), utilizing fixed quadrats. Quadrats (20 × 20 cm) were surveyed for recruitment in March, April, May, July, October and December 2017. The second experiment, with similar factors, spanned 2017–2019, studying recruitment variations in March, May and July. The third examined the phoresy phenomenon—recruitment over conspecific shells—by comparing Ceuta and Melilla populations. Results revealed higher recruitment rates and smaller recruits in the lower midlittoral zone, followed by postrecruitment migration upwards. No discernible differences emerged regarding the slope or location for phoresy. This study highlights the potential of P. ferruginea recruitment data as an indicator of harbour health, acknowledging the influence of external factors on recruitment success. Long-term monitoring of recruitment patterns, alongside other ecological indicators, is crucial for informing sustainable management of P. ferruginea in port environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the didactics of experimental sciences is interested in scientific culture and scientific literacy--beyond their differences and conceptual relationships--because they have strategic purposes in science education. In response, this study identifies and categorizes elements that currently hinder the teaching of scientific culture and scientific literacy in experimental sciences. The PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews was applied to search the Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and SciELO databases using strategic keywords, as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria. This search retrieved 12 articles that underwent thematic content analysis using Atlas.ti software. Based on this analysis, hindering elements were identified and classified into methodological, epistemological, and socio-cultural. The most common category was methodological, a trend that indicates that science education is more interested in practical and experiential problems. It is concluded that the problem of developing scientific culture and scientific literacy in school settings is mainly associated with practical, phenomenological, cognitive, and disciplinary aspects related to a deficit-based approach, which supports traditional views and models of scientific culture and scientific literacy. These aspects coincide with the predominance of a traditional approach to teaching experimental sciences. As a result, teachers should receive epistemology and didactics training that addresses teaching in a more comprehensive manner based on emerging didactic approaches that respond to their context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces an innovative design method for public lighting systems that surpasses the limitations of conventional approaches, which rely on predefined lamp characteristics and spatial arrangements. By employing a linear additive model to solve a multi-criteria decision model, our study proposes an optimal design methodology considering several key aspects, including the distance between lamps, their type, power, and light distribution. The goal is to achieve optimal illumination that enhances visibility on public roads for drivers and pedestrians while simultaneously minimizing glare and installation costs and maximizing energy efficiency. The proposed methodology is implemented through an algorithm developed in MATLAB R2023b, with results validated through simulations in DIALux evo 12.0. This information is used to construct a decision matrix, assessed using the CRITIC method across 180 different scenarios within a specific case study. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of multi-criteria decision-making as a tool for significantly improving the planning and design of lighting in public illumination systems, allowing for selecting the optimal combination of parameters that ensure the best lighting conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some have attempted to rethink the subject of technology from the perspective of Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy, there hast not yet been a direct dialogue with the transhumanist position. In this paper, we propose a new approach, understood as a criticism, from the thought of Kierkegaard to transhumanism and its concept of singularity. We, first, analyze the way in which transhumanists understand the concept of singularity and what its limitations are; then, with the help of Kierkegaard's philosophy, we argue that the only possible and real singularity is the human person as a primordial relationship, source of anguish and freedom, sin and love, and spirit. We also argue that this relationship cannot be reproduced by any artificial creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites are materials of special interest for the development of flexible electronic, optical, and mechanical devices in applications such as transparent conductive electrodes and flexible electronic sensors. These materials take advantage of the electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties of a polymeric matrix, especially in force sensors, as well as the properties of a conductive filler such as silver nanowires (AgNWs). In this work, the fabrication of a force sensor using AgNWs synthesized via the polyol chemical technique is presented. The nanowires were deposited via drop-casting in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form the active (electrode) and resistive (nanocomposite) sensor films, with both films separated by a cellulose acetate substrate. The dimensions of the resulting sensor are 35 mm × 40 mm × 0.1 mm. The sensor shows an applied force ranging from 0 to 3.92 N, with a sensitivity of 0.039 N. The sensor stand-off resistance, exceeding 50 MΩ, indicates a good ability to detect changes in applied force without an external force. Additionally, studies revealed a response time of 10 ms, stabilization of 9 s, and a degree of hysteresis of 1.9%. The voltage response of the sensor under flexion at an angle of 85° was measured, demonstrating its functionality over a prolonged period. The fabricated sensor can be used in applications that require measuring pressure on irregular surfaces or systems with limited space, such as for estimating movement in robot joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic management and short-term consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are well known. However, COVID-19 post-acute sequelae are less known and represent a public health problem worldwide. Patients with COVID-19 who present post-acute sequelae may display immune dysregulation, a procoagulant state, and persistent microvascular endotheliopathy that could trigger microvascular thrombosis. These elements have also been implicated in the physiopathology of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a frequent sequela in post-COVID-19 patients. These mechanisms, directly associated with post-acute sequelae, might determine the thrombotic consequences of COVID-19 and the need for early anticoagulation therapy. In this context, heparin has several potential benefits, including immunomodulatory, anticoagulant, antiviral, pro-endothelial, and vascular effects, that could be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19 post-acute sequelae. In this article, we review the evidence surrounding the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and the potential benefits of the use of heparin, with a special focus on the treatment of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate the multifractal properties of eye movement dynamics of children with infantile nystagmus, particularly the fluctuations of its velocity. The eye movements of three children and one adult with infantile nystagmus were evaluated in a simple task in comparison with 28 children with no ocular pathologies. Four indices emerge from the analysis: the classical Hurst exponent, the singularity strength corresponding to the maximum of the singularity spectrum, the asymmetry of the singularity spectrum, and the multifractal strength, each of which characterizes a particular aspect of eye movement dynamics. Our findings indicate that, when compared to children with no ocular pathologies, patients with infantile nystagmus present lower values of all indices. Except for the multifractal strength, the difference in the remaining indices is statistically significant. To test whether the characterization of patients with infantile nystagmus in terms of multifractality indices allows them to be distinguished from children without ocular pathologies, we performed an unsupervised clustering analysis and classified the subjects using supervised clustering techniques. The results indicate that these indices do, indeed, distinctively characterize the eye movements of patients with infantile nystagmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opposing forces of gene flow and isolation are two major processes shaping genetic diversity. Understanding how these vary across space and time is necessary to identify the environmental features that promote diversification. The detection of considerable geographic structure in taxa from the arid Nearctic has prompted research into the drivers of isolation in the region. Several geographic features have been proposed as barriers to gene flow, including the Colorado River, Western Continental Divide (WCD), and a hypothetical Mid-Peninsular Seaway in Baja California. However, recent studies suggest that the role of barriers in genetic differentiation may have been overestimated when compared to other mechanisms of divergence. In this study, we infer historical and spatial patterns of connectivity and isolation in Desert Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus magister) and Baja Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus zosteromus), which together form a species complex composed of parapatric lineages with wide distributions in arid western North America. Our analyses incorporate mitochondrial sequences, genomic-scale data, and past and present climatic data to evaluate the nature and strength of barriers to gene flow in the region. Our approach relies on estimates of migration under the multispecies coalescent to understand the history of lineage divergence in the face of gene flow. Results show that the S. magister complex is geographically structured, but we also detect instances of gene flow. The WCD is a strong barrier to gene flow, while the Colorado River is more permeable. Analyses yield conflicting results for the catalyst of differentiation of peninsular lineages in S. zosteromus. Our study shows how large-scale genomic data for thoroughly sampled species can shed new light on biogeography. Furthermore, our approach highlights the need for the combined analysis of multiple sources of evidence to adequately characterize the drivers of divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Comallo volcanic sedimentary Complex in the western North Patagonian Region begins with the development and collapse of Plinian-type eruptive columns of rhyolitic and dacitic composition associated to vent at approximately 192 Ma. Synchronous deposits are originating in alluvial and lagoon environments. The ƐHf(t) values obtained in zircon grains indicate possible derivation by melting Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic crust. Upwards in the sequence appears basaltic and andesitic lava flows, as well as pyroclastic deposits produced during the eruptions. This volcanism is related to sustained pyroclastic fountains with a U-Pb zircon age of 185 Ma. The volcanic rocks were possibly derived from Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic crust affected by juvenile magmas in volcanic-arc environments. Chemical and isotopic variations are mainly due to changes in the local and regional tectonic conditions, the thickness of the continental crust, as well as the dip and age of the subducted oceanic crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a special issue of the magazine "Artificial Intelligence" that focuses on ethics and law in artificial intelligence. The problems and opportunities related to this field are discussed, highlighting the importance of legal and ethical regulation to protect fundamental rights. The ethical and legal principles that apply to artificial intelligence and robotics are mentioned, as well as the importance of privacy and data protection. Topics such as the legal status of robots and intellectual property in generative AI are also addressed. The article invites readers to reflect and formulate new questions about these topics. [Extracted from the article]

The greenhouse gas emissions and global energy consumption associated with construction materials can be greatly reduced by incorporating phase change materials into buildings. These materials can absorb and release energy during a phase transition, thus reducing the energy consumption while achieving human thermal comfort. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the miscibility of both linear and branched polyethylene with two types of paraffin (octadecane and hexatriacontane) at two different temperatures. The results showed that blending was better at high temperatures for both polymers, and branched polyethylene was more miscible with both paraffins than linear polyethylene was. Hexatriacontane exhibited better blending characteristics. From the molecular dynamics results, we concluded that linear polyethylene/paraffin blends were more suitable as phase change materials in buildings than branched polyethylene/paraffin blends, as they were miscible at high temperatures but separated into two phases at ambient temperature. The optimal blends were subsequently incorporated into a cement model to study their influence on the mechanical properties of this construction material. The introduction of the blends into the cement model deteriorated its mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arroyo Verde epithermal deposit, in the North Patagonia region of Argentina, is located within the Lower Chon Aike volcanism and is developed between 192.6 ± 2.5 Ma (mineralization host rock) and 189.5 ± 2.6 Ma (overlying lava). Marifil volcanic complex is the host rock for these veins, veinlets and breccias. This particular small deposit has developed low to intermediate sulphidation characteristics, with gangue mineral textures associated with several ore minerals. Electron probe microanalysis determines electrum, silver minerals such as acanthite, and tetrahedrite, related Ag-Cu minerals like jalpaite, mckinstryite, stromeyerite, and base metals like chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena and pyrite. Fluid inclusions in quartz of two out of five events indicate that these Low Jurassic veins were formed due to subtle boiling and dilution mechanisms and by low-salinity (3.4 wt.% to 6.7 wt.% NaCl Eq) magmatic-hydrothermal fluid at 225 to 310 °C. The fluid inclusion measurements that indicate boiling (Event 3) were plotted, and based on this data, we interpret that the Arroyo Verde deposit has been eroded between 550 and 700 m. This particular character has not been previously recorded for other sectors of the eastern north Patagonian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development of an optimal and predictive energy management system (EMS) for a microgrid with a high photovoltaic (PV) power contribution. The EMS utilizes a predictive long-short-term memory (LSTM) neural network trained on real PV power and consumption data. Optimal EMS decisions focus on managing the state of charge (SoC) of the battery energy storage system (BESS) within defined limits and determining the optimal power contributions from the microgrid components. The simulation utilizes MATLAB R2023a to solve a mixed-integer optimization problem and HOMER Pro 3.14 to simulate the microgrid. The EMS solves this optimization problem for the current sampling time  (t)  and the immediate sampling time  (t + 1) , which implies a prediction of one hour in advance. An upper-layer decision algorithm determines the operating state of the BESS, that is, to charge or discharge the batteries. An economic and technical impact analysis of our approach compared to two EMSs based on a pure economic optimization approach and a peak-shaving algorithm reveals superior BESS integration, achieving 59% in demand satisfaction without compromising the life of the equipment, avoiding inexpedient power delivery, and preventing significant increases in operating costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of chemical and biological additives in the methane hydrates formation and dissociation processes is of relevance for the development of gas-transport and gas-storage systems. The effect of sodium surfactin, rhamnolipids, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the methane hydrate formation process was assessed in this work at different temperatures and a fixed pressure of 50 bar. The studied parameters were induction time, methane uptake, period to reach 90 percent of the consumed gas, water-to-hydrate conversion, and formation rate. Concentrations for sodium surfactin were 3, 150, 750, 1500, 2000, and 2500 ppm, while rhamnolipids and SDS solutions were analyzed at 1500, 2000, and 2500 ppm. Performance testing of these additives was carried out by means of the isochoric–isothermal method. The experimental setup consisted of an isochoric three-cell array with 300 mL of capacity and magnetic stirring. According to the results, the sodium surfactin promoted the methane hydrate formation since the kinetics were higher and the water-to-hydrate conversion averaged 24.3%; meanwhile, the gas uptake increased as concentration was rising, and the induction time was reduced even at a temperature of 276.15 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exquisite capabilities of liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers make them ideal to search for weakly interacting particles in Beyond the Standard Model scenarios. Given their location at CERN the ProtoDUNE detectors may be exposed to a flux of such particles, produced in the collisions of 400 GeV protons (extracted from the Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator) on a target. Here we point out the interesting possibilities that such a setup offers to search for both long-lived unstable particles (Heavy Neutral Leptons, axion-like particles, etc) and stable particles (e.g. light dark matter, or millicharged particles). Our results show that, under conservative assumptions regarding the expected luminosity, this setup has the potential to improve over present bounds for some of the scenarios considered. This could be done within a short timescale, using facilities that are already in place at CERN, and without interfering with the experimental program in the North Area at CERN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larval period in anurans is highly plastic. Even though larval period length and larval size have been the most studied characteristics showing intraspecific variability, other features such as morphology, behavior, food preferences and physiology have also been described as plastic. Metamorphic changes are triggered by thyroid and interrenal hormones, and environmental signals modulate the onset of metamorphosis via the hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis. The South American bufonid toad Rhinella arenarum from nearby Buenos Aires City has a larval period of 30–120 days under the same environmental conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate life‐history traits in tadpoles from different localities and potential morphological differences among tadpoles with different larval period length. For this purpose, we reared under natural conditions tadpoles from two different localities nearby Buenos Aires City and in three different years measured their size at the end of metamorphosis and recorded their larval period length. The external appearance, histo‐morphology and morphometry of the skin and kidney/interrenal complex were studied in metamorphs with short and long larval periods (SLP and LLP, respectively). We observed a larval period lasting 30–120 days in tadpoles from different localities or years. SLP metamorphs were smaller, darker, had less protruding eyes without eyelids, a thinner epidermis and fewer skin glands than LLP metamorphs. The secretion of skin glands from SLP tadpoles had acidic glycoconjugates. Kidney size was similar between LLP and SLP metamorphs, but the former had an adult‐like histomorphology. Interrenal gland in LLP early and late climax tadpoles had cells with a high nucleus/cell diameter ratio, a sign of highly active steroidogenic cells. Overall, these results show that intraspecific variability in size, skin and interrenal gland development is associated with differences in larval period length. Distinct skin gland number and secretion, along with distinct interrenal histology at late climax, could have physiological consequences in the post‐metamorphic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida glabrata and Candida albicans, the most frequently isolated candidiasis species in the world, have developed mechanisms of resistance to treatment with azoles. Among the clinically used antifungal drugs are statins and other compounds that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), resulting in decreased growth and ergosterol levels in yeasts. Ergosterol is a key element for the formation of the yeast cell membrane. However, statins often cause DNA damage to yeast cells, facilitating mutation and drug resistance. The aim of the current contribution was to synthesize seven series of compounds as inhibitors of the HMGR enzyme of Candida ssp., and to evaluate their effect on cellular growth, ergosterol synthesis and generation of petite mutants of C. glabrata and C. albicans. Compared to the reference drugs (fluconazole and simvastatin), some HMGR inhibitors caused lower growth and ergosterol synthesis in the yeast species and generated fewer petite mutants. Moreover, heterologous expression was achieved in Pichia pastoris, and compounds 1a, 1b, 6g and 7a inhibited the activity of recombinant CgHMGR and showed better binding energy values than for α-asarone and simvastatin. Thus, we believe these are good candidates for future antifungal drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertain systems are those wherein some variability is observed, meaning that different observations of the system will produce different measurements. Studying such systems demands the use of statistical methods over multiple measurements, which allows overcoming the uncertainty, based on the premise that a single measurement is not representative of the system's behavior.In such cases, the current multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) method cannot offer confident conclusions. This work presents multi-signal MFDFA (MS-MFDFA), a novel methodology for accurately characterizing uncertain systems using the MFDFA algorithm, which enables overcoming the uncertainty of the system by simultaneously considering a large set of signals. As a case study, we consider the problem of characterizing software (Sw) consumption. The difficulty of the problem mainly comes from the complexity of the interactions between Sw and hardware (Hw), as well as from the high uncertainty level of the consumption measurements, which are affected by concurrent Sw services, the Hw, and external factors such as ambient temperature. We apply MS-MFDFA to generate a signature of the Sw consumption profile, regardless of the execution time, the consumption levels, and uncertainty. Multiple consumption signals (or time series) are built from different Sw runs, obtaining a high frequency sampling of the instant input current for each of them while running the Sw. A benchmark of eight Sw programs for analysis is also proposed. Moreover, a fully functional application to automatically perform MS-MFDFA analysis has been made freely available. The results showed that the proposed methodology is a suitable approximation for the multifractal analysis of a large number of time series obtained from uncertain systems. Moreover, analysis of the multifractal properties showed that this approach was able to differentiate between the eight Sw programs studied, showing differences in the temporal scaling range where multifractal behavior is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mediaeval historiographical memory of the Crusades in the Kingdom of Navarre is unique precisely because two of its monarchs, the Counts of Champagne—Theobald I and II—actively participated in the Crusader campaigns during 1239–1241 and in 1270, respectively. Despite the importance of the Crusades which, starting from the early twelfth century, also encompassed the connection of this kingdom with Jerusalem's paradigms of the warrior and religious pilgrimage, it can be asserted that there are scarcely any traces of narrative communication in Navarre about the Crusades, either politically or ideologically. This paper analyses the question of documentation and communication about the Crusades from the study of the chronicles of the Kingdom of Navarre in the Late Middle Ages. The purpose is to identify the characteristics and keys of the texts, dissimilar to the welcoming impact of the Crusades in Hispanic and European political, cultural and religious spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads and highways are often managed by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). However, these systems lack the level of detail that Building Information Modelling (BIM) can bring to an infrastructure management system. BMGIS integration allows the management of information from both infrastructure and environmental points of view. This provides an overview of the infrastructure, facilitating decision-making process throughout its complete life cycle. This article shows a semi-automated process to generate the hybrid BIM-GIS model of Madrid Calle30. The model together with an external database was uploaded to an intelligent management platform that allows visualising the available documentation, assisting management, and bringing the ring-road closer to a digital twin of the infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Levantine Iron Age anomaly (LIAA) is a regional short-decadal geomagnetic strength field variation located at the Levantine region characterized by high intensities with maximum virtual axial dipole moments around 190 ZAm2. It has been constrained by archeomagnetic data coming from Eastern Europe and Western Asia between 1050 and 700 BC. The LIAA can be related to a fast and spatially localized geomagnetic positive anomaly (spike) at the Earth's surface. In this study, we model the LIAA by using a Fisher–von Mises function that fits the most recent archeomagnetic intensity database in the region. A spherical harmonic analysis is implemented for this spike function to perturb a base model in order to build a global reconstruction (perturbed-model) that reproduces the spatial and temporal characteristics of the LIAA. Our results show the importance of harmonic degrees from n = 3–4 to n = 20 to reconstruct the anomaly extension suggested by the database. Two maxima linked with the LIAA are reproduced by our global perturbed-model at the Levantine region at 950 BC and 750 BC. A third maxima in intensity around 500 BC is also observed, affecting the whole Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on judicial decision-making on constitutional courts have shown that the judges’ ideology is a good predictor of their judicial behavior. However, it remains unclear to what extent this finding is generalizable to courts of cassation without constitutional control powers and integrated by career judges, who arrive at the court after decades working within the judiciary and who have been characterized as source of legal formalism and political neutrality within the court. To study this puzzle, the article analyzes 10 years of votes on split decisions by the Chilean Supreme Court’s Public Law Chamber (N=14.135), where both career and non-career judges participate. The study applies an IRT model to identify the ideal points of each judge, as a latent variable that represent the propensity of judges to vote with the rest of judges, in non-unanimous cases. Against the myth of the ideological neutrality of career judges, the results show that career judges are divided in distinguishable poles in the ideological cleavage of the Court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a Schrödinger random operator where the potential is in terms of a continuous semimartingale. Our model is a generalization of the well-known case where the potential is the white-noise. Our approach is to analyze the random operator by means of its bilinear form. This allows us to construct an inverse operator using an explicit Green kernel. To characterize such homogeneous solutions we use certain stochastic equations in terms of stochastic integrals with respect to the semimartingale. An important tool that we use is the multi-dimensional Itô formula. Also, one important corollary of our results is that the operator has a discrete spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth's magnetic field originated in the fluid core, the so-called core field, is the dominant contribution to the geomagnetic field. Since ancient times, the core geomagnetic field has been used primarily for geographical orientation and navigation by means of compasses. Nowadays, thanks to the large amount of geomagnetic data available, core field models can be developed on a global or regional scale. Global models resolve large-scale geomagnetic field features, while regional models can resolve greater detail over a particular region. The spherical harmonic cap analysis is a widely used technique for regional-scale modelling of the geomagnetic field. In this work we have developed a regional model of the core field and its secular variation between 2014.5 and 2020.5 over the Iberian Peninsula, based on data from Swarm satellites, geomagnetic observatories and repeat stations. Its performance has been validated by comparing the fit to the available geomagnetic data using the regional model and the global models IGRF and CHAOS over the whole spatio-temporal range studied. In order to optimise the model, a detailed study of its input parameters has been carried out, showing that not all parameters have an equal influence on the modelling. This new model reproduces the input data with a root mean square error of 2.9 nT, improving the outcome of global models on this region. The results of this work will allow the Spanish Instituto Geográfico Nacional to produce the magnetic cartography of Iberia and the Balearic Islands in 2020.0, which for the first time will be based on a regional core field model, replacing the polynomial variation method used in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a comprehensive scan of the parameter space of a general singlet scalar extension of the Standard Model to identify the regions which can lead to a strong first-order phase transition, as required by the electroweak baryogenesis mechanism. We find that taking into account bubble nucleation is a fundamental constraint on the parameter space and present a conservative and fast estimate for it so as to enable efficient parameter space scanning. The allowed regions turn out to be already significantly probed by constraints on the scalar mixing from Higgs signal strength measurements. We also consider the addition of new neutrino singlet fields with Yukawa couplings to both scalars and forming heavy (pseudo)-Dirac pairs, as in the linear or inverse Seesaw mechanisms for neutrino mass generation. We find that their inclusion does not alter the allowed parameter space from early universe phenomenology in a significant way. Conversely, there are allowed regions of the parameter space where the presence of the neutrino singlets would remarkably modify the collider phenomenology, yielding interesting new signatures in Higgs and singlet scalar decays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deceptive alternative mating tactics are commonly maintained at low frequencies within populations because males using them are less competitive and acquire lower fitness than those using dominant tactics. However, the successful invasion of a male deceptive tactic is plausible if deception carries no fitness cost to females. Among populations of the gift-giving spider Paratrechalea ornata, males very often offer females a deceptive worthless gift, rather than a nutritive gift. We tested the degree to which deceptive worthless gifts can occur in natural populations living under divergent environmental conditions (moderate and stressful). We examined the plasticity of morphological and behavioral traits and analyzed the fitness of females in relation to the gift type, also examining the paternity acquired by males offering either gift type. Results: We demonstrated that worthless gifts can become dominant under highly stressful environmental conditions (84–100%). Individuals in such environment reach smaller sizes than those in moderate conditions. We suggest that the size reduction probably favors low metabolic demands in both sexes and may reduce the costs associated with receiving deceptive worthless gifts for females. In contrast, males living under moderate conditions varied the use of the deceptive tactic (0–95%), and worthless gifts negatively influenced female fecundity. Furthermore, male size, rather than gift content, positively impacted paternity success in the moderate but not in the stressful environment. Conclusions: Overall, this is the first empirical evidence that a reversible deceptive tactic can become dominant when the environment becomes harsh and mate choice becomes limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades, most EU countries have profoundly reshaped their public research funding systems by shifting from traditional institutional block-funding towards more project-based mechanisms. The main rationale underlying this evolution builds on the assumption that project funding would foster research performance through the introduction of competitive allocation mechanisms. In contrast with the general increase of project funding, evidence is mixed regarding a positive effect of competitive funding mechanisms on research performance, as some studies find a positive impact, other a negative one or no impact. Differences also appear across studies regarding research actors, funding streams, and research outputs considered. This article integrates these different approaches through a multilevel design gathering funding inputs for 10 countries and 148 universities between 2011 and 2019 and assesses their impact on the quantity and quality of publications. Results highlight no impact of national and university-level competitive funding mechanisms on universities highly cited publications and no clear effect on the quantity of publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the synthesis of human milk oligosaccharides, particularly fucooligosaccharides, has been investigated. These oligosaccharides provide protection against gastrointestinal diseases for newborns, among other functionalities. α-L-fucosidase from Thermotoga maritima of GH29 family has been reported to produce fucooligosaccharides by means of a transfucosylation reaction. However, the interaction between acceptor and donor substrates, and the enzyme has been little studied. For that reason, and due to the importance of fucooligosaccharides, the present study proposes a theoretical synthesis route employing α-L-fucosidase from T. maritima, lactose as acceptor substrate and pNP-fucose as fucosyl donor. A molecular docking study was carried out using crystallographic structure of α-L-fucosidase from Protein Data Bank. By simulating the theoretical synthesis with T. maritima fucosidase, it was observed that lactose interacts with the enzyme in regions other than the active site. However, it is approaching the active site when the fucose is in the position to form the enzyme-substrate complex. This finding may explain the transfucosylation yield documented in the literature when the proportion of fucosyl acceptor substrate increases concerning that of the donor substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Projects "Enrolla2 Generation X Security Perceptions and Risk Attitudes in individuals belonging to the Generation X linked to the use of affective-sexual computer applications (CIPI / 20/091)" and "The management of desire in times of COVID (CIPI / 20/159) "had as their respective objectives, to study the perception of security, its incidence in the level of victimization and the risks to the health of individuals in affective-sexual applications; and to know the motivations that have led them to use affective-sexual apps during lockdown. Different levels of security were observed in the apps, depending on the treatment of user data, the existence of harassing attitudes and the emergence of a digital drug market. Legally, it is understood as necessary to improve the protection of users, potential victims of crime - individually identified - and, likewise, encourage the culture of prevention or compliance with respect to the companies that own said platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically addresses the recent irruption of intersectionality in the psychoanalytic field. By establishing a parallelism between Marx and Freud, it shows their intersectional sensibility. However, it also points out how both start from the intersection and then explain it via a determining structure: a structure presented by Marx as capitalist, colonial, and patriarchal. At the same time, in Freud, it is revealed as overdetermined by each subject's story and oedipal configuration. It is observed how this structural level tends to go unnoticed in Max Belkin's work and other current proposals of intersectional psychoanalysis. Alternatively, the article evokes Mexican Santiago Ramírez's old psychoanalysis and reflects on how structure could produce the intersection. This reflection allows us to reconsider the colonial aspect of the Freudian heritage in Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the research on rural youth has focused on the material conditions that cause their migration to cities, but it has not tended to address sociocultural dimensions, such as those concerning leisure and what might condition the processes of migration among young people. The aim of this study is to contrast the discourse and representations that young people have regarding leisure with the festive practices that they carry out in Spanish villages. The fieldwork consisted of 13 discussion groups and 38 in‐depth interviews (N = 118), with participants aged between 15 and 24 years. The results show that: (1) young people construct their idea of partying through dominant, dichotomous and unequal rural–urban representations, demonstrating the presence of traditional stereotypes around rurality; (2) the village becomes desirable as a place for partying at specific times of the year, such as local festivals; (3) the practices of rural youth call into question this normative imaginary, as is also shown by their adaptation, belonging and agency in the construction and management of leisure. Getting rid of stereotypes about rurality and creating positive thinking about the leisure possibilities in villages can lead young people to see it as a space for opportunities and personal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neodymium (Nd) is a key rare earth element (REE) needed for the future of incoming technologies including road transport and power generation. Hereby, a sustainable adsorbent material for recovering Nd from the aqueous phase using a residue from the saccharification process is presented. Banana rachis (BR) was treated with cellulases and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to produce fermentable sugars prior to applying the final residue (BR–PEG) as an adsorbent material. BR–PEG was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compositional analysis, pH of zero charge (pHpzc), Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A surface response experimental design was used for obtaining the optimized adsorption conditions in terms of the pH of the aqueous phase and the particle size. With the optimal conditions, equilibrium isotherms, kinetics and adsorption–desorption cycles were performed. The optimal pH and particle size were 4.5 and 209.19 μm, respectively. BR–PEG presented equilibrium kinetics after 20 min and maximum adsorption capacities of 44.11 mg/g. In terms of reusage, BR–PEG can be efficiently reused for five adsorption–desorption cycles. BR–PEG was demonstrated to be a low-cost bioresourced alternative for recovering Nd by adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the phenotype of DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs. Methods: Descriptive study, withdrawn from the review of the records of patients with DRESS syndrome, identified in the interconsultation of the Department of Research in Immunogenetics and Allergy, of the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) Ismael Cosío Villegas, among 2014 and 2020. Frequency analysis was performed. The associations between biomarkers and latency are calculated with the χ² test and log-rank, and the evaluation of the change in the biomarkers with the Wilcoxon test. The value of p < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. For data analysis, the SPSS v.21 program was obtained. Results: 15 patients were identified; represented by 0.02% of total cases treated in the Department for so-meimmuno-allergic condition (15/7052); the main symptomatology were: rash (100%), eosinophilia (93%), fever (80%), adenomegaly (60%), kidney damage (40%), liver damage (33%), and latency of 21 days. Liver damage was associated with prolonged latency (p = 0.02). After treatment, the total levels of eosinophils (p < 0.001) and liver and kidney biomarkers (p < 0.04) decreased. DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs is not associated with the number of drugs prescribed or with the pattern of resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Conclusion: DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs is an atypical clinical reaction, similar to other types of DRESS syndrome that respond favorably to systemic corticosteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public diplomacy, despite its numerous and varied definitions, is essentially a communications process. By engaging the academic literature of public diplomacy with Lasswell's model of communication and Braddock's rearticulation of his model, this paper proposes an integrated framework that allows for the systematization of public diplomacy research. The framework is composed of the independent variable of context, which influences a set of dependent variables: the actors, publics, messages, objectives and tools of public diplomacy. Accordingly, this paper argues that public diplomacy research has been traditionally approached from an agent-centric perspective, and despite its obvious significance, the influence of context has been understudied. In order to test the utility of the model, the paper applies it to the case study of the European Union's public diplomacy during two different settings. First, it will expose the main characteristics of the EU's public diplomacy during times of globalization, where the EU's public diplomacy was characterized by its normativity. Subsequently, the current context of deglobalization and de-europeanization will be introduced and analyzed through the following research question: what happens to the EU's public diplomacy when the founding myth upon which it is constructed is under threat? By altering the context, one can easily see an emerging but clear transformation of the characteristics of the EU's public diplomacy. By analyzing official, policy, and legal documents, and engaging with the academic literature on the topic, the paper concludes that the main objective of the EU's public diplomacy in a changing world should be to provide for ontological security through (emotional) strategic metanarratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of sintering Portland cement clinker powders by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) has been studied. Different SPSed compacts have been successfully obtained by this technique. The compacts have been characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction, InfraRed spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman Microscopy and Vickers hardness. It is worth noting the finding that slight mineralogical variations in the starting compositions may induce dramatic changes, both in the final mineralogical composition and in the morphology, which can affect the properties of the SPSed compacts. Thus, we find that SPS allows artificial garnets to be obtained in the laboratory by applying pressures as low as 50 MPa, while they are materials that would require much higher pressures in natural environments (2–10 GPa). According to the Selsing model, it has been calculated that the material itself acts as a pressure amplifier at the micrometric level by a factor of 40–200 times. A new model describing the formation of garnets considering the emergence of two transitory eutectic liquids has been explained to justify this phenomenon. This result opens the door to looking for compositions for specific applications with high added value in the field (i.e. high hardness), mainly in the manufacturing of high-pressure (GPa) phases by applying relatively low pressures (MPa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]