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Abstract We present the first determination of the topological susceptibility from lattice QCD in the presence of strong background magnetic fields. Our simulations employ 2+1 flavours of stout-improved staggered quarks with physical masses and cover a broad range of temperatures and magnetic field values. The results are extrapolated to the continuum limit using four different lattice spacings and an eigenvalue reweighting technique to reduce discretisation errors. For low temperatures, our calculations show an enhancement of the topological susceptibility due to the magnetic field, compatible with predictions from chiral perturbation theory. At high temperatures, we observe the impact of inverse magnetic catalysis on the susceptibility.

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP12(2024)228

ABSTRACT Global advances in reproductive biotechnology have allowed for the transfer of embryos from donor females with high genetic merit to recipients using the cryopreservation technique, which preserves an embryo of excellent quality and viability, thereby achieving a feasible pregnancy rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and viability of Holstein embryos that have been cryopreserved for more than 40 years under glycerol freezing. The embryos were transferred to the recipient heifers using a non-surgical method. Two 17-month-old Holstein heifers (360 kg live weights) which were clinically healthy and reproductively active were used as the recipients. Two bovine embryos of Grade 1 quality were thawed and evaluated for their morphology. Of the two embryo transfers, one pregnancy was achieved, resulting in the birth of a calf. Therefore, embryos frozen in liquid nitrogen and glycerol as a cryopreservative for more than 40 years maintained their quality and viability to produce a live calf.

In recent years, the growth of Internet of Things devices has increased the use of sustainable energy sources. An alternative technology is offered by triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) that can harvest green energy and convert it into electrical energy. Herein, we assessed three different nopal powder types that were used as triboelectric layers of eco-friendly and sustainable TENGs for renewable energy harvesting from environmental vibrations and powering electronic devices. These nanogenerators were fabricated using waste and recycled materials with a compact design for easy transportation and collocation on non-homogeneous surfaces of different vibration or motion sources. In addition, these TENGs have advantages such as high output performance, stable output voltage, lightweight, low-cost materials, and a simple fabrication process. These nanogenerators use the contact-separation mode between two triboelectric layers to convert the vibration energy into electrical energy. TENG with the best output performance is based on dehydrated nopal powder, generating an output power density of 2.145 mWm -2 with a load resistance of 39.97 MΩ under 3g acceleration and 25 Hz operating frequency. The proposed TENGs have stable output voltages during 22500 operating cycles. These nanogenerators can light 116 ultra-bright blue commercial LEDs and power a digital calculator. Also, the TENGs can be used as a chess clock connected to a mobile phone app for smart motion sensing. These nanogenerators can harvest renewable vibration energy and power electronic devices, sensors, and smart motion sensing., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Agustin L. Herrera-May reports financial support and administrative support were provided by Veracruzana University., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprises approximately 10% of all lung cancer cases. Tobacco is its main risk factor; however, occupation might play a role in this specific lung cancer subtype. The effect of occupation on SCLC risk has been hardly studied and therefore we aim to assess the role of occupation on the risk of SCLC. To do this, we designed a multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study. Cases consisted exclusively in SCLC patients and controls were recruited from patients having minor surgery at the participating hospitals. Face to face interviews emphasizing occupation and tobacco consumption were held and residential radon was also measured. Logistic regression models were adjusted with odds ratios with 95%CI as estimations of the effect. 423 cases and 905 controls were included. Smoking prevalence was higher in cases compared to controls. Those who worked in known-risk occupations for lung cancer showed an OR of 2.17 (95%CI 1.33; 3.52), with a similar risk when men were analysed separately. The results were adjusted by age, sex, smoking and indoor radon exposure. Those who worked in known-risk occupations and were moderate or heavy smokers had a SCLC risk of 12.19 (95%CI 5.68-26.38) compared with never or moderate smokers who had not worked in such occupations. Occupation is a relevant risk factor of SCLC, and it seems that its effect is boosted when tobacco smoking is present., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Mesopredators abundance is often limited by top-order predators and also by key food resources. However, the contribution of these bidirectional forces to structure carnivore community is still unclear. Here, we studied how the presence and absence of an apex predator which is currently recovering its former distribution range, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), determined the absolute abundance and fine-scale spatiotemporal avoidance mechanisms of two sympatric mesocarnivores (stone marten Martes foina and common genet Genetta genetta) with different dietary plasticity. We hypothesized that the lynx causes a mesopredator suppression and subordinate predators develop segregation strategies in respect to their trophic niche breadth. We placed 120 camera-traps in Southern Spain for 8 months in two consecutive years to estimate mesocarnivore abundances by using SCR Bayesian models, prey availability and assess spatio-temporal patterns. We found that the lynx reduced mesocarnivore abundance up to 10 times. Stone marten, a mesopredator with a broad food resources spectrum, showed a total spatial exclusion with the apex predator. Meanwhile, fine-scale avoidance mechanisms allowed the genet to persist in low density inside lynx territories, probably taking advantage of high availability of its preferred prey. Thus, the strength of these top-down and bottom-up effects was rather species-specific. Given the recent recovery of large carnivore populations worldwide, variation in suppression levels on different mesopredator species could modify ecosystem functions provided by the carnivore community in contrasting ways., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife species is limited. The high prevalences found in mustelid species such as free-ranging American minks ( Neovison vison ) and domestic ferrets ( Mustela putorius furo ) justify the study of this virus in the closely related autochthonous free-ranging European polecat ( Mustela putorius ). We analysed lung samples from 48 roadkilled polecats collected when the human infection reached its highest levels in Spain (2020-2021). We did not detect infections by SARS-CoV-2; however, surveillance in wild carnivores and particularly in mustelids is still warranted, due to their susceptibility to this virus., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023.)

Background: The relationship between the biochemical characteristics of follicular fluid (FF), oocyte quality and embryonic development has not yet been elucidated. We compared samples of FF with a normal metabolic profile against samples with metabolic abnormalities to identify potential predictive biomarkers of reproductive success., Objective: To analyze peptide activity in the FF of women undergoing in vitro fertilization using 3 samples of FF per individual., Materials and Methods: FF samples were obtained by ovum pick-up. Pathological samples were defined as samples of FF obtained from women with a gynecological condition or with infertility. A total of 30 women participated in this study. 3 samples of FF were obtained per individual (90 samples), but 8 samples were excluded because they were hemolyzed. The samples (n = 82 FF) included controls (n = 36, donors without fertility problems), women with endometriosis (n = 15), unexplained infertility (n = 19), and aged > 39 (n = 12). We assessed local encephalinergics: aminopeptidase-N (puromycin sensitive aminopeptidase and neutral endopeptidase; and components of the angiotensin system of the reproductive tract: prolyl-endopeptidase, APN, aspartate-aminopeptidase, and basic-aminopeptidase., Results: No differences were observed in peptide metabolism based on the presence or absence of oocytes in the FF. Women with endometriosis and aged > 39 yr showed alterations in puromycin sensitive aminopeptidase (p = 0.01), aminopeptidase-B (p = 0.01), aspartate-aminopeptidase (p < 0.001) and neutral endopeptidase (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: This study reveals alterations in the metabolism of enkephalin and angiotensin in pathological FF, which points to these components as potential diagnostic biomarkers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Rodríguez Gallego et al.)

The worldwide production of vanilla, a native orchid from Mexico, is greatly affected by stem and root rot disease (SRD), typically associated with Fusarium oxysporum fungi. We hypothesized that the presence of Fusarium species in vanilla is not sufficient for the plant to express symptoms of the disease. We described the taxonomic composition of endophytic microbiomes in symptomatic and asymptomatic vanilla plants using 16S and ITS rDNA metabarcoding, and ITS Sanger sequences generated from fungal isolates. We compared the bacterial and fungal diversity in vanilla plants from a long-term plantation, and from feral plants found near abandoned plantations that did not present SRD symptoms. No significant differences were found in the species richness of the bacterial and fungal microbiome among feral, or asymptomatic and symptomatic cultivated vanilla. However, significant differences were detected in both fungal and bacterial diversity from different organs in the same plant, with roots being more diverse than stems. We found that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, as well as the fungal families Nectriaceae and Xylariaceae, constitute the core of the vanilla microbiome that inhabits the root and stem of both cultivated and feral plants. Our work provides information on the microbial diversity associated to root and stem rot in vanilla and lays the groundwork for a better understanding of the role of the microbiome in vanilla fungal diseases., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Natural sources of green energy include sunshine, water, biomass, geothermal heat, and wind. These energies are alternate forms of electrical energy that do not rely on fossil fuels. Green energy is environmentally benign, as it avoids the generation of greenhouse gases and pollutants. Various systems and equipment have been utilized to gather natural energy. However, most technologies need a huge amount of infrastructure and expensive equipment in order to power electronic gadgets, smart sensors, and wearable devices. Nanogenerators have recently emerged as an alternative technique for collecting energy from both natural and artificial sources, with significant benefits such as light weight, low-cost production, simple operation, easy signal processing, and low-cost materials. These nanogenerators might power electronic components and wearable devices used in a variety of applications such as telecommunications, the medical sector, the military and automotive industries, and internet of things (IoT) devices. We describe new research on the performance of nanogenerators employing several green energy acquisition processes such as piezoelectric, electromagnetic, thermoelectric, and triboelectric. Furthermore, the materials, applications, challenges, and future prospects of several nanogenerators are discussed.

Introduction: Residential radon is considered the second cause of lung cancer and the first in never smokers. Nevertheless, there is little information regarding the association between elevated radon levels and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We aimed to assess the effect of residential radon exposure on the risk of SCLC in general population through a multicentric case-control study., Methods: A multicentric hospital-based case-control study was designed including 9 hospitals from Spain and Portugal, mostly including radon-prone areas. Indoor radon was measured using Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors at the Galician Radon Laboratory., Results: A total of 375 cases and 902 controls were included, with 24.5% of cases being women. The median number of years living in the measured dwelling was higher than 25 years for both cases and controls. There was a statistically significant association for those exposed to concentrations higher than the EPA action level of 148Bq/m 3 , with an Odds Ratio of 2.08 (95%CI: 1.03-4.39) compared to those exposed to concentrations lower than 50Bq/m 3 . When using a dose-response model with 100Bq/m 3 as a reference, it can be observed a linear effect for small cell lung cancer risk. Smokers exposed to higher radon concentrations pose a much higher risk of SCLC compared to smokers exposed to lower indoor radon concentrations., Conclusions: Radon exposure seems to increase the risk of small cell lung cancer with a linear dose-response pattern. Tobacco consumption may also produce an important effect modification for radon exposure., (Copyright © 2021 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Apex predators play key roles in food webs and their recovery can trigger trophic cascades in some ecosystems. Intra-guild competition can reduce the abundances of smaller predators and perceived predation risk can alter their foraging behaviour thereby limiting seed dispersal by frugivorous carnivores. However, little is known about how plant-frugivore mutualisms could be disturbed in the presence of larger predators. We evaluated the top-down effect of the regional superpredator, the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus, on the number of visits and fruits consumed by medium-sized frugivorous carnivores, as well as the foraging behaviour of identified individuals, by examining the consumption likelihood and the foraging time. We carried out a field experiment in which we placed Iberian pear Pyrus bourgaeana fruits beneath fruiting trees and monitored pear removal by frugivorous carnivores, both inside and outside lynx ranges. Using camera traps, we recorded the presence of the red fox Vulpes vulpes, the Eurasian badger Meles meles and the stone marten Martes foina, as well as the number of fruits they consumed and their time spent foraging. Red fox was the most frequent fruit consumer carnivore. We found there were fewer visits and less fruit consumed by foxes inside lynx ranges, but lynx presence did not seem to affect badgers. We did not observe any stone marten visits inside lynx territories. The foraging behaviour of red foxes was also altered inside lynx ranges whereby foxes were less efficient, consuming less fruit per unit of time and having shorter visits. Local availability of fruit resources, forest coverage and individual personality also were important variables to understand visitation and foraging in a landscape of fear. Our results show a potential trophic cascade from apex predators to primary producers. The presence of lynx can reduce frugivorous carnivore numbers and induce shifts in their feeding behaviour that may modify the seed dispersal patterns with likely consequences for the demography of many fleshy-fruited plant species. We conclude that knowledge of the ecological interactions making up trophic webs is an asset to design effective conservation strategies, particularly in rewilding programs., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Animal Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society.)

Background: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory disease, typically characterized by spiking fever, skin rash, and arthralgia or arthritis. Its conventional treatment includes NSAIDs and corticosteroids, and DMARDs as second-line therapy. Frequently, IL-1 inhibitors are also required, mainly in patients refractory to traditional therapy. Canakinumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds IL-1β with high affinity and specificity, making it appropriate for therapeutic purposes in AOSD., Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to identify and compile the current data on the efficacy and safety of canakinumab in the treatment of AOSD., Methods: Following the guidelines established by the PRISMA statement, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Cochrane Library for relevant literature up to March 2021. The inclusion criteria comprised: randomized controlled trials, pooled analyses, observational studies, case series, and case reports., Results: Seventeen studies published from 2012 to 2021 were evaluated; 11 of these correspond to case series or case reports, four observational studies, one placebo-controlled phase II trial, and one analysis of pooled systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis data. In general, out of a total of 99 patients, 68.7% of these presented a complete remission of the systemic and arthritic manifestations at the end of the observation period, while 16.2% of the patients showed a partial improvement of the symptoms and the remaining (15.1%) did not show clinical improvement or were excluded. Moreover, 210 adverse events were reported in 69 patients during canakinumab treatment, of which the majority correspond to respiratory tract infections, arthralgia, disease flares, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea, whereas the most common severe adverse events included macrophage activation syndrome and serious infections. Also, a corticosteroid-sparing effect was observed in a large percentage of patients., Conclusion: More studies with solid evidence are needed to support the efficacy of canakinumab in AOSD, although its use is encouraged by the increasing favorable results reported and the efficacy of other IL-1 inhibitors. It was also associated with an acceptable safety profile, similar to expected in IL-1 inhibitor therapy. However, future studies with well-defined endpoints are warranted to examine further the usefulness of canakinumab in AOSD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: COPD is a multifactorial disease which causes considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Previous studies assessing the possible relationship between indoor radon exposure and COPD have shown inconclusive results., Methods: A multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted in a Spanish radon-prone area. COPD cases were confirmed by spirometry and controls were selected due to trivial surgery or procedures not related to tobacco consumption. All participants had to have lived for at least 15 years in the same dwelling. Radon measurements were conducted individually in dwellings using alpha-track detectors. Results were obtained using multivariate logistic regression., Results: 189 cases and 747 controls took part. There was no significant association between residential radon concentrations and COPD onset with a OR of 1.12 (95%CI 0.41-3.06) for individuals exposed to more than 200Bq/m 3 compared to those exposed to less than 50Bq/m 3 . Heavy smokers seem to increase their COPD risk if exposed to higher radon concentrations vs those exposed to lower concentrations. There was a statistically significant synergy index between radon exposure and tobacco consumption, S-index 11.60 (95%CI 3.71-36.26). Indoor radon concentration was higher in never/light smokers with COPD compared to controls., Conclusions: No association between indoor radon and COPD has been observed. However, there might be some effect modification on the COPD risk in heavy smokers when high radon exposure is present. This is supported by the additive synergy observed. Also, a possible association between indoor radon and COPD onset in never and light smokers needs to be further studied., (Copyright © 2020 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lung cancer is a public health problem worldwide. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive histologic type, with a 5-year survival <10%. SCLC is closely associated with tobacco consumption and infrequent in never-smokers. We aim to describe SCLC characteristics in never-smokers recruited in a radon-prone area., Patients and Methods: We designed a multicentric case series where SCLC cases were recruited consecutively following histologic confirmation. Detailed information was obtained for indoor radon exposure, occupation and environmental tobacco smoke. We also collected different clinical characteristics such as extended or limited disease at diagnosis., Results: We recruited 32 never-smoking SCLC cases. Median age was 75 years and 87.5% were women; 47% had extended disease. Median radon concentration was 182 Bq/m 3 . There were no statistically significant differences in residential radon concentration neither regarding age at diagnosis nor regarding sex. The most frequent symptoms were constitutional syndrome (23.1%) and coughing (23.1%). As much as 63% of cases had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study (ECOG) status of 0-2. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 34.4% and 21.9%, respectively. The 2-year survival rate with a localized tumor was 26.7%, compared with 18.8% for extended disease., Conclusions: These results show, for the first time, that indoor radon might not be associated with SCLC characteristics at diagnosis in never-smokers, and also confirms the low survival of this aggressive type of lung cancer also for never-smokers., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors has declared no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This study sought to ascertain whether there might be an association between radon concentrations and age, gender, histologic type, and tumor stage at diagnosis., Materials and Methods: Lung cancer cases from different multicenter case-control studies were analyzed, and clinical data were retrieved from electronic health records and personal interviews. A radon device was placed in all dwellings of participants, and we then tested the existence of an association between residential radon and lung cancer characteristics at diagnosis., Results: Of the total of 829 lung cancer cases included, 56.7% were smokers or ex-smokers. There was no association between indoor radon concentrations and age, gender, histologic type or tumor stage at diagnosis. Median indoor radon concentrations increased with age at diagnosis for men, but not for women. When analyzing participants exposed to more than 1000 Bq/m 3 , a predominance of small cell lung cancer and a higher presence of advanced stages (IIIB and IV) were observed., Conclusions: There seems to be no association between radon and age, gender, histologic type or tumor stage at diagnosis. Higher radon exposure is more frequent in the case of small-cell lung cancer.

Background: COPD is a multifactorial disease which causes considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Previous studies assessing the possible relationship between indoor radon exposure and COPD have shown inconclusive results., Methods: A multicentric, hospital-based, case-control study was conducted in a Spanish radon-prone area. COPD cases were confirmed by spirometry and controls were selected due to trivial surgery or procedures not related to tobacco consumption. All participants had to have lived for at least 15 years in the same dwelling. Radon measurements were conducted individually in dwellings using alpha-track detectors. Results were obtained using multivariate logistic regression., Results: 189 cases and 747 controls took part. There was no significant association between residential radon concentrations and COPD onset with a OR of 1.12 (95%CI 0.41-3.06) for individuals exposed to more than 200Bq/m 3 compared to those exposed to less than 50Bq/m 3 . Heavy smokers seem to increase their COPD risk if exposed to higher radon concentrations vs those exposed to lower concentrations. There was a statistically significant synergy index between radon exposure and tobacco consumption, S-index 11.60 (95%CI 3.71-36.26). Indoor radon concentration was higher in never/light smokers with COPD compared to controls., Conclusions: No association between indoor radon and COPD has been observed. However, there might be some effect modification on the COPD risk in heavy smokers when high radon exposure is present. This is supported by the additive synergy observed. Also, a possible association between indoor radon and COPD onset in never and light smokers needs to be further studied., (Copyright © 2020 SEPAR. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: We aimed at investigating the prognostic role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in 2 independent cohorts of Latin American patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with chemoimmunotherapy., Patients and Methods: The learning cohort was composed of 274 patients and the validation cohort of 323 patients, for a total of 597 patients. An optimal NLR cutoff ≥ 4 was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis., Results: In multivariate models, NLR ≥ 4 was independently associated with lower odds for complete response to chemoimmunotherapy in the learning (odds ratio, 0.46; P = .006) and the validation cohort (odds ratio, 0.49; P = .01), and independently associated with worse survival in the learning (hazard ratio, 1.55; P = .04) and the validation cohort (hazard ratio, 1.80; P = .003)., Conclusions: The adverse prognostic value of NLR ≥ 4 was independent of the International Prognostic Index and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-International Prognostic Index score. Based on the results of this multi-institutional study, NLR ≥ 4 emerges as an adverse prognostic factor in Latin American patients with DLBCL treated with chemoimmunotherapy., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Carrying out a correct anatomical classification of lung cancer is crucial to take clinical and therapeutic decisions in each patient., Aim: TNM staging classification provides an accurate anatomical description about the extension of the disease; however, the anatomical burden of the disease is just one aspect that changes the prognosis., Relevance for Patients: TNM staging classification is a tool that predicts survival, but we must consider that TNM is just one of the factors that concern the prognosis. The impact of a factor over the prognosis is complex due to: It depends on the specific environment, the treatment strategy, among others, and our level of certainty makes difficult to include all the factors just in a group of stages. In some groups, there are difficulties to get large series due to the low frequency of cases and the small number of events (metastasis, locoregional recurrence). It does not allow to obtain evidence in a short period of time. On the other hand, in the next years, new markers will be incorporated in the coming years, which are going to be included in the new TNM classification. It could help to improve the classification giving more information about prognosis and risk of recurrence. All these aspects are being used by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) to develop a new prognosis model. This continues the evolution of TNM system, allows us to overcome the difficulties, and build a flexible framework enough to continue improving the individual prognosis of the patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright: © Whioce Publishing Pte. Ltd.)

Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a very heterogeneous disease that encompasses patients with resected, potentially resectable and unresectable tumours. To improve the prognostic capacity of the TNM classification, it has been agreed to divide stage III into sub-stages IIIA, IIIB and IIIC that have very different 5-year survival rates (36, 26 and 13%, respectively). Currently, it is considered that both staging and optimal treatment of stage III NSCLC requires the joint work of a multidisciplinary team of expert physicians within the tumour committee. To improve the care of patients with stage III NSCLC, different scientific societies involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease have agreed to issue a series of recommendations that can contribute to homogenise the management of this disease, and ultimately to improve patient care.

Background: Hñahñu (Otomi) farmers organize their experiences and ecological learning into a farmland system designed to grow food in areas of scarce water and low soil fertility. The purpose of this paper is to examine Hñahñu concepts and categories pertaining to the farming landscape and the ecological foundations underlying the system, its management implications, and categorial organization in Huitexcalco de Morelos, Mezquital Valley, Mexico., Methods: Native terms and their links to landscape were recorded and discussed in various workshops. Open interviews and field trips with local experts were used to explain soil and water management practices that allow Hñahñu farmers to maintain sustained yields throughout the year. We then used participatory mapping in order to explore the semantic relations of the terms with the space and its validity in the productive landscape., Results: We elicited 7 Hñahñu language terms related to landforms, 4 related to land use categories, and 17 related to their constituent components organized in two hierarchical levels. We found that mothe as a term of land usage was followed by mothee, ñut'athee, gadñhe, or muiñhe; these primarily refer to the topographic position of the parcel and the form of access to water for irrigation. Stone barriers and earth channels represent the functional structures that are most commonly used by Hñahñu farmers to retain soil and water. In the participatory mapping results, mothe muiñhe displayed a robust spatial link with the gullies. Identifying other landscape categories required a substantial understanding both of management practices of soil and water and forms of organization., Conclusions: This study revealed a complex system of knowledge that contributes to the continued proper management of the local landscape. The terms and their elicited meanings are key to understand the ways in which Hñahñu farmers conceptualize and relate the reality of their landscape and its cultural meanings. Scale and perception were found to have a determining role in defining their taxonomic organization, semantic structure, and relations in space.

A 52-year-old male patient, who underwent mitral replacement with a mechanical prosthesis as a child, sustained a cardiac arrest which was successfully resuscitated. Further investigation showed prosthesis malfunction with significant regurgitation in the context of multi-organ failure. In such a life-threatening condition, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was considered as a rescue procedure to achieve optimisation of clinical status to allow definitive surgical treatment. An unusual complete fracture of the prosthesis was subsequently identified as the cause of acute dysfunction.

Background: Black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a very common legume seed in Mexican diet. Flavonoids and crude extracts from different plants have been reported as effective agents for chemoprevention and cytotoxicity in several cancer cell lines. We investigated the effects of black bean hulls extract (BBE) and its flavonoid fraction (FF) on lymphoma cells., Methods: BBE and FF were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography. Viability and flow cytometry assays were carried out. Finally, a mouse model was generated to test the in vivo effect of both fractions., Results: Both BBE and FF inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent way. In addition, cells underwent apoptosis, and the cellular population at S-phase increased after exposure to these fractions. Furthermore, mice treated with BBE or FF increased the overall survival by 5 or 6 days, respectively, in comparison with a placebo group (p = 0.056)., Discussion: BBE and FF had cytotoxic action by driving OCI-Ly7 cells into apoptosis as well as blocking progression to G2/M phase. In addition, BBE and FF treatments were effective in xenograft models., (Copyright: © 2017 SecretarÍa de Salud.)

Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive histologic type of lung cancer, and accounts for approximately 10%-15% of all cases. Few studies have analyzed the effect of residential radon. Our aim is to determine the risk factors of SCLC., Methods: We designed a multicenter, hospital-based case-control study with the participation of 11 hospitals in 4 autonomous communities., Results: Results of the first 113 cases have been analyzed, 63 of which included residential radon measurements. Median age at diagnosis was 63 years; 11% of cases were younger than 50 years of age; 22% were women; 57% had extended disease; and 95% were smokers or former smokers. Median residential radon concentration was 128Bq/m 3 . Concentrations higher than 400Bq/m 3 were found in 8% of cases. The only remarkable difference by gender was the percentage of never smokers, which was higher in women compared to men (P<.001). Radon concentration was higher in patients with stageIV disease (non-significant difference) and in individuals diagnosed at 63 years of age or older (P=.032)., Conclusions: A high percentage of SCLC cases are diagnosed early and there is a predominance of disseminated disease at diagnosis. Residential radon seems to play an important role on the onset of this disease, with some cases having very high indoor radon concentrations., (Copyright © 2017 SEPAR. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study is analysing the impact of the systematic versus occasional videoconferencing discussion of patients with two respiratory referral units along 6 years of time over the efficiency of the in-person outpatient clinics of a thoracic surgery service., Method: Retrospective and comparative study of the evaluated patients through videoconferencing and in-person first visits during two equivalents periods of time: Group A (occasional discussion of cases) between 2008-2010 and Group B (weekly regular discussion) 2011-2013. Data were obtained from two prospective and electronic data bases. The number of cases discussed using e-consultation, in-person outpatient clinics evaluation and finally operated on under general anaesthesia in each period of time are presented. For efficiency criteria, the index: number of operated on cases/number of first visit outpatient clinic patients is created. Non-parametric Wilcoxon test is used for comparison., Results: The mean number of patients evaluated at the outpatient clinics/year on group A was 563 versus 464 on group B. The median number of cases discussed using videoconferencing/year was 42 for group A versus 136 for group B. The mean number of operated cases/first visit at the outpatient clinics was 0.7 versus 0.87 in group B (P=.04)., Conclusions: The systematic regular discussion of cases using videoconferencing has a positive impact on the efficacy of the outpatient clinics of a Thoracic Surgery Service measured in terms of operated cases/first outpatient clinics visit., (Copyright © 2016 SEPAR. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

A patient who underwent previous implantation of a mitral valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley Delrin (BSD) mitral valve prosthesis during infancy was admitted to our institution 43 years later after an episode of syncope and cardiac arrest. Under extreme hemodynamic instability, a mitral valve prosthetic dysfunction causing massive mitral regurgitation was identified. The patient underwent an emergent cardiac operation, and a complete disc fracture with partial disc migration was found. Exceptional cases of mechanical prosthetic heart valve fracture exist. We report the first case of complete transversal disc rupture of a BSD mitral valve prosthesis after the longest period of implantation ever reported in that position., (Copyright © 2016 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: Strategies are needed to reduce health care costs and improve patient care. The objective of our study was to analyze the safety of outpatient implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 401 consecutive patients who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator between 2007 and 2012. The rate of intervention-related complications was compared between 232 patients (58%) whose implantation was performed in the outpatient setting and 169 patients (42%) whose intervention was performed in the inpatient setting., Results: The mean age (standard deviation) of the patients was 62 (14) years; 336 (84%) were male. Outpatients had lower left ventricular ejection fraction and a higher percentage had an indication for primary prevention of sudden death, compared to inpatients. Only 21 outpatients (9%) required subsequent hospitalization. The rate of complications until the third month postimplantation was similar for outpatients (6.0%) and inpatients (5.3%); P = .763. In multivariate analysis, only previous anticoagulant therapy was related to the presence of complications (odds ratio = 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-7.4; P < .01), mainly due to an increased rate of pocket hematomas. Each outpatient implantation saved approximately €735., Conclusions: Outpatient implantation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators is safe and reduces costs. Close observation is recommended for patients receiving chronic anticoagulation therapy due to an increased risk of complications., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using the Amigo Remote Catheter System (RCS) in arrhythmia ablation procedures. Because Amigo allows the physician to operate all catheter function outside of the radiation field, operator exposure time was also evaluated. This is a nonrandomized, prospective clinical trial conducted at 1 site (identifier: NCT01834872). The study prospectively enrolled 50 consecutive patients (mean age 59 ± 15 years, 72% men) with any type of arrhythmia (23 atrial fibrillation ablation, 12 common atrial flutters, 10 patients with other supraventricular tachycardia, 4 ventricular tachycardia, and 1 patient with palpitations with no arrhythmia induced) referred for catheter ablation, in which we used RCS. Fifty matched ablation procedures (mean age 57 ± 14 years, 70% men) performed during the same time period, without RCS, were enrolled into the control group. Acute ablation success was 96% with RCS and 98% in the manual group. In only 2 cases, the physician switched to manual ablation (1 ventricular tachycardia and 1 accessory pathway) to complete the procedure. There were no complications related to the use of RCS. No differences were observed in total procedure time, total fluoroscopy time, or total radiofrequency delivery compared with the manual group. In procedures performed with RCS, the operator's fluoroscopy exposure time was reduced by 68 ± 16%. In conclusion, arrhythmia ablation with RCS is safe and feasible. Furthermore, it significantly reduces operator's exposure to radiation., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: The seventh edition of the TNM classification, together with undeniable advantages, has limitations. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Staging Committee has designed an international prospective study to improve this classification. A group of thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists was established in the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) Oncology area, and created a registry of new lung cancer (LC) cases to participate in this project. The aim of this paper is to describe the main characteristics of the patients included., Materials and Methods: Prospective, observational, multicentre, multiregional data collection (epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and, especially, anatomical extension) study, according to the IASLC protocol, to analyse its prognostic value., Results: Two thousand, four hundred and nineteen patients (83.6% men) from 28 hospitals were included. Ninety-six percent of the men and 54% of the women were smokers or ex-smokers. Chest/abdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed in over 90% and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scanning in 51.5% of cases. Among the 1035 patients who underwent surgery, 77% had early stages (ia to iib), and 61.6% of those treated using other methods had stage iv. Respiratory comorbidity was higher in men (47.9% versus 21.4%). The most common histological subtype was adenocarcinoma (34%), especially in non-smoking women (69.5%)., Conclusions: The proportion of women and adenocarcinomas, as well as those resected at an early stage, increased among LC cases in Spain., (Copyright © 2013 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Backgrounds: AUDIPOC is a nationwide clinical audit that describes the characteristics, interventions and outcomes of patients admitted to Spanish hospitals because of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD), assessing the compliance of these parameters with current international guidelines. The present study describes hospital resources, hospital factors related to case recruitment variability, patients' characteristics, and adherence to guidelines., Methodology/principal Findings: An organisational database was completed by all participant hospitals recording resources and organisation. Over an 8-week period 11,564 consecutive ECOPD admissions to 129 Spanish hospitals covering 70% of the Spanish population were prospectively identified. At hospital discharge, 5,178 patients (45% of eligible) were finally included, and thus constituted the audited population. Audited patients were reassessed 90 days after admission for survival and readmission rates. A wide variability was observed in relation to most variables, hospital adherence to guidelines, and readmissions and death. Median inpatient mortality was 5% (across-hospital range 0-35%). Among discharged patients, 37% required readmission (0-62%) and 6.5% died (0-35%). The overall mortality rate was 11.6% (0-50%). Hospital size and complexity and aspects related to hospital COPD awareness were significantly associated with case recruitment. Clinical management most often complied with diagnosis and treatment recommendations but rarely (<50%) addressed guidance on healthy life-styles., Conclusions/significance: The AUDIPOC study highlights the large across-hospital variability in resources and organization of hospitals, patient characteristics, process of care, and outcomes. The study also identifies resources and organizational characteristics associated with the admission of COPD cases, as well as aspects of daily clinical care amenable to improvement.

Several electrocardiographic variables are of prognostic value in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). From observations in 427 patients, we developed a new risk score (the ECG-RS) based on admission ECG findings that can be used to determine the likelihood of death or recurrent ischemia during hospitalization, which occurred in 36% of patients. Logistic regression analysis, which considered seven electrocardiographic variables and variables from the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score, identified the following significant predictors: corrected QT interval (QTc) > or =450 ms (odds ratio 4.2, P< .001), ST-segment depression >0.5 mm (odds ratio 2.7, P< .001), and left atrial enlargement (odds ratio 1.8, P =.005). After taking the odds ratios into consideration, we awarded 3 points for a QTc > or =450 ms, 2 points for ST-segment depression >0.5 mm, and 1 point for left atrial enlargement. When patients were divided into three groups on the basis of their ECG-RSs (i.e. < or =1, 2-3 and > or =4), the risk of death or recurrent ischemia was significantly different between the groups, at 11%, 27% and 58%, respectively (P< .001). In conclusion, the new ECG-RS provides a simple, rapid and accurate means of determining prognosis in patients with NSTEACS.

Plant establishment, presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other rhizospheric fungi were studied in mine wastes from Zimapan, Hidalgo state, Mexico, using a holistic approach. Two long-term afforested and three non-afforested mine tailings were included in this research. Fifty-six plant species belonging to 29 families were successfully established on the afforested sites, while unmanaged tailings had only a few native plant species colonizing the surrounding soils. Almost all plant roots collected were associated to AMF in these sites. The genus Glomus was the most abundant AMF species found in their rhizosphere; however, the Acaulospora genus was also observed. Other rhizospheric fungi were identified by 18S rDNA sequencing analysis. Their role in these substrates, i.e. biocontrol, pollutant- and organic matter-degradation, and aides that increase plant metal tolerance is discussed. Our results advance the understanding of fungal diversity in sites polluted with metals and present alternative plants for remediation use., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), the mechanisms and clinical implications of the acute changes in QT dispersion (QTd)., Methods: In this prospective study we included 216 patients admitted with a STEMI of <12 h of evolution. All were treated with PPCI. QTd was measured prior to PPCI and within 1 h after., Results: The ratio of QTd reduction after PPCI (QTd-R) - defined as [(QTd before PPCI - QTd after PPCI)/QTd before PPCI] x100 - was significantly correlated with the percentage of ST-segment elevation resolution (ST-R; p < 0.001). To determine the significance of the different values of QTd-R, we further subdivided our population into 3 groups according to the tertiles of QTd-R (<10, 11-49, > or =50%). Patients with longer QTd-R had higher percentages of ST-R: 32 +/- 43 for QTd-R <10% vs. 60 +/- 21 for 11-49% vs. 71 +/- 12 for > or =50% (p < 0.05). By logistic regression, patients with QTd-R > or =50% had a reduction of 75% in the adjusted frequency of death or severe heart failure during hospitalization (95% CI 13-73%, p = 0.03)., Conclusion: QTd-R after PPCI occurs early, is closely related to the restoration of reperfusion at the microvascular level and provides additional prognostic information., (Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

We demonstrate the experimental generation at optical frequencies of the lowest- and first-order Bessel beams with TE and TM polarizations in free space by means of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The polarization and angular momentum properties of these waves are analyzed and discussed.

Objective: To evaluate the potential contribution of "extrinsic" contamination of intravenous fluids in hospital bacteremia and infection., Design: Prospective cross-sectional survey of infusate contamination, December 1992 to December 1993., Setting: A pediatric department (1,500 admissions per year) in a general, urban teaching hospital, serving low-income patients. SAMPLES AND PATIENTS: Infusate samples (0.5 to 1.0 mL) from the injection port used by the staff were taken for cultures from all febrile or septic patients in hospital wards. At least four samples were taken each day; if no febrile or septic patients were available, other patients were sampled at convenience., Results: A 6.8% positive culture rate (87 contaminates in 1,277 infusates) was obtained, without significant differences among the wards. Gram-negative organisms were recovered from 56 samples (62.9%), mainly of the tribe Klebsielleae (56.1%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated in 30 samples (33.7%). There was no significant difference between the febrile-septic group and the asymptomatic group in the rate of infusate contamination (P = .59). In eight patients, the same organisms were recovered from infusate and blood culture. The overall bacteremia rate was 2.5 per 100 discharges., Conclusions: Compared to previous reports, higher infusate contamination rates and different organisms (mainly gram-negative) were observed. In hospitals of underdeveloped countries, nosocomial infection control frequently is disregarded. Infusate contamination may be common and could lead to gram-negative bacteremia. In such settings, it seems advisable to perform surveillance studies to identify infusate contamination, because a single infusate contamination could be a signal for an epidemic.

A series of factors and its possible influence on the prognosis of cancer of the vulva are analyzed. In the present study 71 patients were studied. We have been able to establish that the main prognosis factor of cancer of the vulva is, beyond doubt, the presence of lymph node metastasis, since in absence of lymph node affection due to the cancer, survival was 100%, after five years, in those patients having positive lymph nodes, survival was 92.5% after the first year, 82.5% after three years and 70% after five years.