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AbstractUnderstanding the emotional impact of climate change (CC), its education and communication processes on young people is essential to identify what motivates their engagement in climate action. We have analysed the emotional experiences of secondary school students in the south of Spain (N = 1,050) to develop a tool for exploring the emotional impact of CC, and its relationship to processes of climate education, communication and participation among young people. While there is no clear emotional bias towards CC in the overall sample, significant differences in these experiences depend on the variables listed above. Formal education (educational grade and curricular greening) tends to increase worry, powerlessness and fear, and decrease positive emotions. Frequently, the use of information sources, such as traditional media, specialised sources and social networks is associated with higher emotional intensity. Social networks are a powerful influencer, while traditional media and specialised sources present barriers to access. Participating in climate action (climate movements, climate strikes, environmental groups’ activities and school’s voluntary activities) has a clearly negative emotional footprint among the group studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probability density distribution is analyzed in a topological insulator (TI) slab of finite thickness, where the bulk and surface states are allowed to hybridize. By using an effective continuum Hamiltonian approach as a theoretical framework, the wave functions are analytically obtained for each state near the Γ$\Gamma$‐point. The results reveal that, under particular combinations of the hybridized bulk and surface states, the spatial symmetry of the electronic probability density with respect to the center of the slab can be spontaneously broken. This symmetry breaking arises as a combination of the parity of the solutions, their spin projection, and the material constants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Recent studies carried out in the permanent dentition revealed a wide range of terminal relationships between enamel and cement described by Choquet, characterized by not having a unique pattern around the tooth neck. This is little studied in the primary dentition. Objective. To know the frequency distribution of the cemento-enamel junction in the temporary dental organs. Methodology. In a study approved by the Research and Ethics Commission of the Faculty of Stomatology of the BUAP (registration 2019104) a probabilistic, non-random sample, stratified by sex, of 73 healthy dental organs was analyzed, with more than one third of root and any dental formula of children between three and five years of age. They were observed under an optical microscope at magnifications of 5, 10 and 20x, slices obtained with the wear technique. Microphotographs obtained with a camera integrated to the microscope were analyzed by an observer (k = .9102). Results. 180 sections were obtained from the calculated sample. The percentage distribution of the cases corresponds case 1, 41%; case 2 present in 13%; case 3, 38%; and case 4, eight percent. According to the anatomic faces, case 1 was more frequent in the mesio-vestibular face (37%), case 2 in the mesio-lingual/palatal (44%), case 3 in 35% of the mesio-vestibular faces, and case 4 in 72% of the mesio-vestibular faces. Discussion. The tissue relations between the enamel and cement of the temporary dentition present the four combinations reported by Choquet in a different frequency distribution with respect to the authors consulted. Interdigitations between cementum and enamel of the primary dentition were observed, as well as serendipiti; some sui generis characteristics in the underlying dentin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of the strongly correlated states in van der Waals heterostructures is one of the central topics in modern condensed matter physics. Among these, the rhombohedral trilayer graphene (RTG) occupies a prominent place since it hosts a variety of interaction-driven phases, with the metallic ones yielding exotic superconducting orders upon doping. Motivated by these experimental findings, we show within the framework of the low-energy Dirac theory that the optical conductivity can distinguish different candidates for a paramagnetic metallic ground state in this system. In particular, this observable shows a single peak in the fully gapped valence-bond state. On the other hand, the bond-current state features two pronounced peaks in the optical conductivity as the probing frequency increases. Finally, the rotational symmetry breaking charge-density wave exhibits a minimal conductivity with the value independent of the amplitude of the order parameter, which corresponds precisely to the splitting of the two cubic nodal points at the two valleys into two triplets of the band touching points featuring linearly dispersing quasiparticles. These features represent the smoking gun signatures of different candidate order parameters for the paramagnetic metallic ground state, which should motivate further experimental studies of the RTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper [R. Soto-Garrido and E. Muñoz, J. Phys. Condens. Matter 30, 195302 (2018)], we studied the electronic transport properties in Weyl semimetals (WSMs) submitted to the combined effects of torsional mechanical strain and magnetic field, showing that this configuration induces a node-polarization effect on the current that can be used to measure the torsion angle from transmission experiments. In this article, we extend our previous work to study thermoelectric transport in WSMs under torsional strain and an external magnetic field. Our analysis involves only the electronic contribution to the transport coefficients, and it is thus valid at low temperatures where the phonon contribution is negligible. We provide exact analytical expressions for the scattering cross section and the transmitted heat current, in order to calculate the thermal conductance and the Seebeck coefficient under this configuration. Our results suggest that thermoelectric transport coefficients in these materials can be engineered by appropriately tuning the magnitude of the magnetic field, torsional strain, and the applied bias or thermal gradient, leading to a potentially very high figure of merit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we consider a theoretical model for a type I Weyl semimetal, under the presence of a diluted uniform concentration of torsional dislocations. By means of a mathematical analysis for partial wave scattering (phase-shift) for the T-matrix, we obtain the corresponding retarded and advanced Green's functions that include the effects of multiple scattering events with the ensemble of randomly distributed dislocations. Combining this analysis with the Kubo formalism, and including vertex corrections, we calculate the electronic conductivity as a function of temperature and concentration of dislocations. We further evaluate our analytical formulas to predict the electrical conductivity of several transition metal monopnictides, i.e., TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the climatic conditions in central-southern Chile, there are high heating energy consumption and PM2.5 emissions. Among the alternatives to mitigate it, the Chilean government has implemented subsidies to improve the housings envelope and to replace firewood stoves by pellet stoves and air-to-air heat pumps. Accordingly, for evaluating the effectivity of above-mentioned initiatives, this study proposes to identify the optimal solutions that minimize the energy demand, the environmental impacts, and the global costs, for social housing using different insulation materials and heating systems in four Chilean cities located in central-southern Chile. Results reveal pellet stoves with lower environmental impacts but higher global costs, while heat pumps offer an intermediate solution that can be enhanced with a greener electricity grid, but the global costs are still too high. Firewood stoves could be optimal solution depending on optimization weighting factors. The study emphasizes prioritizing housing envelope improvements in energy policies, followed by heating system enhancements. Although replacing firewood poses challenges due to costs, it is crucial for Chile's 2050 decarbonization goal. This research provides valuable insights into the complexities and potential solutions for transitioning away from firewood in Chilean social housing. • Woodstove replaced by pellet stove or heat pump reduce environmental impact by 34–45 %. • Heat pumps present global costs 34 %–88 % higher than wood stoves. • To improve the housing envelope is the first recommended public policy. • Public policies must simultaneously subsidy initial and operational cost. • Trade-off: global cost vs. environmental impacts determines optimal approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability extent of hadron therapy for tumor treatment is currently limited by the lack of reliable online monitoring techniques. An active topic of investigation is the research of monitoring systems based on the detection of secondary radiation produced during treatment. MACACO, a multi-layer Compton camera based on LaBr3 scintillator crystals and SiPMs, is being developed at IFIC-Valencia for this purpose. This work reports the results obtained from measurements of a 150 MeV proton beam impinging on a PMMA target. A neural network trained on Monte Carlo simulations is used for event selection, increasing the signal to background ratio before image reconstruction. Images of the measured prompt gamma distributions are reconstructed by means of a spectral reconstruction code, through which the 4.439 MeV spectral line is resolved. Images of the emission distribution at this energy are reconstructed, allowing calculation of the distal fall-off and identification of target displacements of 3 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mexican territory of the Yucatan Peninsula has a tropical climate and harbors a wide variety of domestic, synanthropic, and wild animals, as well as disease vectors. To determine the distribution of recorded zoonotic diseases in the Yucatan Peninsula, scientific publications referring to these diseases in animals and containing geographic coordinates of disease occurrence, were studied. The epidemiological bulletins of the national government were also consulted to obtain information on zoonotic diseases reported in humans in the territory. The territory harbors a wide variety of tropical zoonotic pathogens, including Trypanosoma cruzi, Leptospira interrogans, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania mexicana, Dirofilaria immitis, and Rickettsia felis. A variety of domestic, synanthropic, and wild animals act as hosts or reservoirs in the transmission cycle of the zoonotic diseases in the Yucatan Peninsula, and some spillover into human populations has also been recorded. There are still zoonotic diseases that have rarely or never been reported in humans, but it is not clear whether this is because these diseases in humans are not common, there is a lack of viable transmission cycle or there is a lack of appropriate diagnosis. It is necessary to continue monitoring vectors, animal hosts, and humans to identify risk factors for zoonotic diseases in the Yucatan Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to evaluate the diversity in reptile communities in wetland landscapes located in the Mediterranean region. For this, the status of the reptile populations linked to different Mediterranean wetlands in relation to the different types of land use established in the nearby drainage basins (500 m around the wetlands perimeter) was determined. The different types of land use were determined together with the presence/absence, abundance and size class of the different reptile species. The results showed that areas with high anthropic pressure had a lower diversity of species, as well as a less balanced community structure, that could put at risk the effective recruitment and hence the maintenance of the reptile populations in these areas. The reasons behind the decline in the reptile community are similar to those put forward for explaining the decline in amphibians in the same area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Little literature has been reported about the forms that characterize caries lesions according to their destructive advancement of dental tissues, so it is necessary to describe the characteristics of the lesions in each of the stages of advancement and match them with the observations clinics, in such a way that the radiographic image is complemented, because the latter has serious limitations in incipient lesions. Objective. Describe the characteristics of caries lesions according to the progress of the destructive process of dental hard tissues. Methodology. In a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, prospective, heterodemic and single-center study, a sample of 30 specimens of donated temporary dental organs, preserved in formalin and cut at 1 mm thickness was analyzed to be observed under different types of microscope to describe the variables: caries lesion shape, penetration, color and characteristics of the lesions surface at each stage of advancement; according to the independent variable ICDAS caries diagnostic code. Results. The ICDAS 0 code does not present tissue alterations. ICDAS 1 presents superficial erosion; ICDAS 2 all enamel affected with loss of dentin tufts, has a cylindrical shape, dull white color; ICDAS 3 all demineralized enamel, cylindrical shape, greyish white; ICDAS 4 undermined enamel without dentin support with affected dentin tubules; ICDAS 5 total enamel loss; 40% affects deep dentin, brown conical shape; ICDAS 6 total destruction of enamel, totally affected dentin, 40% black color. Conclusions. Histological images complement the clinical appearance of caries lesions according to their progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applicability extent of hadron therapy for tumor treatment is currently limited by the lack of reliable online monitoring techniques. An active topic of investigation is the research of monitoring systems based on the detection of secondary radiation produced during treatment. MACACO, a multi-layer Compton camera based on LaBr3 scintillator crystals and SiPMs, is being developed at IFIC-Valencia for this purpose. This work reports the results obtained from measurements of a 150 MeV proton beam impinging on a PMMA target. A neural network trained on Monte Carlo simulations is used for event selection, increasing the signal to background ratio before image reconstruction. Images of the measured prompt gamma distributions are reconstructed by means of a spectral reconstruction code, through which the 4.439 MeV spectral line is resolved. Images of the emission distribution at this energy are reconstructed, allowing calculation of the distal fall-off and identification of target displacements of 3 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gauge theories with general covariance are particularly reluctant to quantization. We discuss the example of the Hamiltonian formulation of the relativistic point particle that, despite its apparent simplicity, is of crucial importance since a number of point particle systems can be cast into this form on a higher dimensional Rindler background, as recently pointed out by Hojman. It is shown that this system can be equipped with a hidden local, symmetry generating, constraint which on the one hand does not bother the classical evolution and on the other hand simplifies the realization of the path integral quantization. Even though the positive impact of the hidden symmetry is more evident in the Lagrangian version of the theory, it is still present through the suggested Hamiltonian constraint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Deep-ECG performs identification and verification with remarkable accuracy. • Deep-ECG is the first approach that uses deep CNNs for ECG biometrics. • Deep-ECG can quickly compare binary templates by computing their Hamming distance. • We propose a technique to enlarge ECG datasets for training deep CNNs. Electrocardiographic (ECG) signals have been successfully used to perform biometric recognition in a wide range of applications. However, ECG-based biometric systems are usually less accurate than technologies based on other physiological traits. To increase their performance, it is necessary to study novel approaches. Deep learning methods, like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), can automatically extract distinctive features, and have demonstrated their effectiveness for other biometric systems. In this paper, we present Deep-ECG, a CNN-based biometric approach for ECG signals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature that uses a CNN for ECG biometrics. Deep-ECG extracts significant features from one or more leads using a deep CNN and compares biometric templates by computing simple and fast distance functions, obtaining remarkable accuracy for identification, verification and periodic re-authentication. Furthermore, using a simple quantization procedure, Deep-ECG can obtain binary templates that can facilitate the use of ECG-based biometric systems in conjunction with cryptographic applications. We also propose a simple method to enlarge the training dataset of ECG samples, which can increase the performance of deep neural networks. We performed experiments on large sets of samples acquired in uncontrolled conditions, proving the accuracy and robustness ofDeep-ECG in non-ideal scenarios. Furthermore, we evaluated the performance of Deep-ECG for the PTB Diagnostic ECG Database, obtaining identification accuracy better or comparable to the best performing methods in the literature, also for signals with different characteristics with respect to the ones used to train the CNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. It is considered that in the temporomandibular joint of children, the glenoid cavity is almost flat with a low prominence of the anterior or temporal condyle that allows the anterior displacement of the jaw, so that the incisors cross over is smaller and it is considered that there is no Spee curve, and its analysis is lacking. Objective. To analyze the frequency and risk association of the presence of the Spee curve in each of the terminal planes and the overbite. Material and method. In a cross-sectional, prospective and analytical clinical epidemiological study, a heterodemic and multicentric probabilistic sample stratified by sex was analyzed, from 140 sets of temporary dentition models of the child population aged 3 to 5 years, without loss of proximal walls or cavitations for caries, as well as with fractured dental organs. Were analyzed the dependent variables Spee curve, terminal plane and overbite. Results. Were tested the hypothesis of dependence of the Spee curve with respect to the type of terminal plane (c2 = 7.104, p = 0.01, Gl = 1). The prevalence rate of the presence of the Spee curve was 43.47%. Its association with the straight terminal plane is RM = 3.96 and with the deep bite it is RM = 2.89. Conclusions. The curve of Spee is present in the deciduous dentition and responds to the need to compensate the condylar trajectory that promotes the maximum intercuspidization that allows protrusive de-occlusion thanks to the anterior and condylar guides that avoid excessive pressure in the posterior area, optimizes the incisive function during the cutting action and promotes the wear of cusps and incisal edges, which is why deep bites were not found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture practices have been widely proposed as the major cause of amphibian population decline. However, the majority of these results have been based on laboratory experiments. The present study was conducted to test the repercussion of wetland sediment provenance on amphibian larval development. Bufo bufo larvae were used in two different treatments in an outdoor experiment, the first one using sediment from one wetland surrounded by intensive agricultural practices, and the second using sediment with no record of agrochemical uses. A negative effect was observed in the agricultural treatment, from subcellular to individual level. The results showed that the sediment from agricultural practices watershed generates a reduction in survival. Furthermore, individuals that developed under this treatment showed a lower total length and a delay in the time necessary to complete metamorphosis; these features are connected with recruitment success. In the same way, biochemical analysis showed high values of lipid peroxidation in metamorphs developing in sediments from an agricultural area. Finally, the results obtained highlight the importance of considering the sediments, not only the water, as origin treatment, allowing us to understand the consequences on amphibian populations that inhabit areas affected by intensive agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower development causes modifications in hydrological patterns in rivers, altering aquatic ecosystems and the activities that are typically carried out there. To avoid direct alterations to rivers, it is necessary to maintain a minimum flow (ecological flow); however, it is also necessary to minimize effects on the natural functioning of the river, its ecosystem services and the activities that are engaged in there. The environmental flow, which incorporates morphological and human-use aspects, is defined based on this foundation. In this study, the environmental flow for a section of the Ñuble River is analysed and calculated, not only considering aspects such as hydrology and biota, but also including human activities that have traditionally taken place there (rafting and kayaking). SEA (2016) was used to calculate the environmental flow regime. Ecological and human components were analysed with CASIMIR software using information published in the SEA and obtained through interviews with river users. As a result, it was found that by following only the recommendations of SEA (2016), activities traditionally carried out in the river (tourism) will be altered. In addition, if the need for flows for tourism is included and quantified, the environmental flow should be greater than the flow estimated considering only regulations regarding hydrology and the functioning of the ichthyofauna present in the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Gross mode, the work climate has been studied as an area inherent in leadership. In the case of the one that is distinguished by its communication and vertical motivation, the work environment has been addressed as a determinant of flexibility in terms of conditions, salaries and benefits. In this regard, the objective of this paper has been to explore the dimensions of climate and labor flexibility in order to establish the dependency relationships between its indicators. Methodology. A non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational study was carried out with a non-probabilistic sample selection of 300 employees from central Mexico. Results and conclusions. The labor climate determines the flexibility, although the most recent literature warns that rather the climate mediates the relationship between the flexibility policies on staff turnover, the informal salary and the absence of benefits. Research lines are recommended concerning the incidence of leadership styles in the variables in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the non-equilibrium current, transport coefficients and thermoelectric performance of a nano-junction, composed by a quantum dot connected to a normal superconductor and a topological superconductor leads, respectively. We considered a one-dimensional topological superconductor, which hosts two Majorana fermion states at its edges. Our results show that the electric and thermal currents across the junction are highly mediated by multiple Andreev reflections between the quantum dot and the leads, thus leading to a strong nonlinear dependence of the current on the applied bias voltage. Remarkably, we find that our system reaches a sharp maximum of its thermoelectric efficiency at a finite bias, when an external magnetic field is imposed upon the junction. We propose that this feature can be used for accurate temperature sensing at the nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several Caucasian rock lizards of the genus Darevskia of hybrid origin are known to reproduce parthenogenetically. Local communities can be composed exclusively of parthenogens, though syntopy with bisexual members of the genus may occur. In some localities, reproduction between bisexual and parthenogenetic Darevskia has been previously reported based on lizard intermediate morphology and karyology (3n, 4n). However, the frequency of such heterospecific matings remains unknown. We indirectly quantified the reproductive interactions through the inspection of copulation marks in females in a mixed Darevskia community from Kuchak (Armenia) composed of two hybrid parthenogens (D. armeniaca and D. unisexualis), one bisexual species (D. valentini) and their putative backcrosses. A total of 139 adults were randomly collected and photographed. Females were later measured (SVL), inspected for inguinal marks and ranked from 0 (no scars) to 3 (= 3 scars). The lizard species and ploidy determination was ensured by a parallel microsatellite analysis. Sex-ratio in the community was extremely biased due to the high abundance of parthenogenetic females. All female types displayed copulation marks with frequencies varying from 80% in D. valentini to 64% in D. armeniaca. Remarkably, 7 out of 11 (64%) backcross females also showed marks. In the most abundant D. armeniaca, the prevalence and intensity of copulation marks increased with body size, just as predicted for polygynous female lacertids. These results indicate that copulation between parthenogenetic and bisexual species in Darevskia mixed communities is common and driven by sexual selection, thus reinforcing previous suggestions of reproductive interaction in syntopy. Evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to analyse factors related to conceptions and beliefs about expressivity in music among students and teachers. A questionnaire with 11 Likert-type items was developed covering the main factors included in the literature of teaching-learning of expressivity and emotion in music. Through exploratory factor analysis three factors were identified: expressive technique (ET), emotional expression (EE), and self-learning of expressivity (SLE) . Comparisons between teachers and students showed that teachers had significant higher scores in EE with no differences in ET or SLE, although the effect size for SLE was high. The three factors are proposed as a tool for the assessment of conceptions of expressivity and its learning in both teachers and advanced students ofmusic for teaching and research objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The cervical vestibule ridge is an anatomical feature of primary molars that lack a socket in the cervical region. It has the function of a structural element in the shape of a flying buttress located on the external part corresponding to the dental crown whose function is the distribution of occlusion loads. Objective. To describe the frequency distribution of the enamel-cement tissue relations of the vestibulocervical crest of primary molars and their behavior in the mechanics of occlusion forces in the area. Methodology. In an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, prospective study, a probabilistic, non-random sample, stratified by sex (n = 73), of healthy temporary dental organs with roots, of the child population of the state of Puebla was analyzed, aged between 3 and 5 years old. They were preserved in formalin and 36 sections of 0.5 mm thickness were obtained from the vestibulocervical crest area that were analyzed at magnifications of 5, 10 and 20x by an only one observer (k = .9102). Results. Forty-two percent of the sample was Choquet type 3 cases, 28% type 2 and 22% type 1 and 4, respectively. Little dentin damage was observed in the vestibulocervical area. Conclusions. The vestibulocervical crest is a transmitter of protective loads from thin, curved roots. The difference between modulus of elasticity and hardness is large, but the bulge of the enamel acts as a buttress for load distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether ecophysiological requirements are consistent with the environmental traits within the current ranges in a relictual lizard group, Algyroides, composed of four species with restricted and disjunctive distributions. We considered temperature, precipitation and their seasonal profiles, and focused on the preferred body temperature (Tp) and the evaporative water loss (EWL). The ranges of all four species differed in environmental traits. The two geographically more restricted species followed divergent patterns: A. moreoticus inhabits hot and climatically buffered areas, and A. marchi occupies cold seasonal environments. Tp and EWL also differed among species following a geographical grouping: A. nigropunctatus (Slovenia) and A. fitzingeri (Sardinia) selected for lower Tp and lost less water than the southern species A. moreoticus (Peloponnese) and A. marchi (Southern Spain). Tp and EWL were correlated at species level but not at individual level within species. Results suggest that the current distribution of Algyroides species partly reflects their ecophysiology, with water ecology taking precedence over thermal ecology as constraining factor. By unravelling the environmental factors limiting the distribution of species, ecophysiology may provide directions for conservation, predicting the degree of vulnerability to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three models for estimating the daily reference evapotranspiration ETo are evaluated in the agricultural zone of Chillán, Chile: Penman-Monteith FAO PMF, Prietsley-Taylor PT and Hargreaves-Samani HS. The daily ETo values estimated through these methodologies are compared with the daily values of ETo estimated from pan evaporation EToB data series obtained from meteorological stations of the Universidad de Concepción Campus Chillán and INIA Quilamapu, both located within Chillán's city limits. The comparison and analysis were performed with data covering a span of 13 years (1996 - 2008). Results indicate that the HS method systemically underestimates ETo values, particularly during dry periods. Moreover, differences between the three methods quantified with Root Mean Squared Error RMSE and Relative Differences RD computed for different time periods (1, 3, 7 and 30 days) suggest that the PT method fits better the observations, being more adequate for the agricultural area of Chillán - weekly averages yield RMSE of 1.01 mm/day and RD of 32.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of a quantum heat engine (QHEN) has been discussed in the literature, not only due to its intrinsic scientific interest, but also as an alternative to efficiently recover, on a nanoscale device, thermal energy in the form of useful work. The quantum character of a QHEN relies, for instance, on the fact that any of its intermediate states is determined by a density matrix operator. In particular, this matrix can represent a mixed state. For a classical heat engine, a theoretical upper bound for its efficiency is obtained by analyzing its quasi-static operation along a cycle drawn by a sequence of quasi-equilibrium states. A similar analysis can be carried out for a quantum engine, where quasi-static processes are driven by the evolution of ensemble-averaged observables, via variation of the corresponding operators or of the density matrix itself on a tunable physical parameter. We recently proposed two new conceptual designs for a magnetically-driven quantum engine, where the tunable parameter is the intensity of an external magnetic field. Along this article, we shall present the general quantum thermodynamics formalism developed in order to analyze this type of QHEN, and moreover, we shall apply it to describe the theoretical efficiency of two different practical implementations of this concept: an array of semiconductor quantum dots and an ensemble of graphene flakes submitted to mechanical tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, it has been documented that climatic variability influences hydrological processes; however, these influences, such as hydrologic dynamics, have not yet been incorporated into models, which have been assumed as stationary with regard to climatic conditions. In this study, the temporal variability of hydrological processes and their influence on the water balance of a mountainous and data-sparse catchment in Chile are observed and modeled through the comparison of a stationary (time-invariant parameters) and dynamic (time-variant parameters) model. Since conceptual models are the most adequate option for a data-scarce basin, a conceptual model integrated with the Monte Carlo Analysis Toolbox is used to perform the analyses. Simple analyses aimed at increasing the amount of information obtained from models were used. The General and Dynamic Identifiability Analyses were used to perform stationary and dynamic calibration strategies, respectively. As a result we concluded that the dynamic model is more robust than the stationary one. Additionally, DYNIA helped us to observe the temporal variability of hydrological processes. This analysis contributed to a better understanding of hydrological processes in a data-sparse Andean catchment and thus could potentially help reduce uncertainties in the outputs of hydrological models under scenarios of climate change and/or variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the issue of computational efficiency for Gauss-Newton ( GN) non-linear least-squares optimization in the context of image alignment. We introduce the Constant Jacobian Gauss-Newton ( CJGN) optimization, a GN scheme with constant Jacobian and Hessian matrices, and the equivalence and independence conditions as the necessary requirements that any function of residuals must satisfy to be optimized with this efficient approach. We prove that the Inverse Compositional ( IC) image alignment algorithm is an instance of a CJGN scheme and formally derive the compositional and extended brightness constancy assumptions as the necessary requirements that must be satisfied by any image alignment problem so it can be solved with an efficient compositional scheme. Moreover, in contradiction with previous results, we also prove that the forward and inverse compositional algorithms are not equivalent. They are equivalent, however, when the extended brightness constancy assumption is satisfied. To analyze the impact of the satisfaction of these requirements we introduce a new image alignment evaluation framework and the concepts of short- and wide-baseline Jacobian. In wide-baseline Jacobian problems the optimization will diverge if the requirements are not satisfied. However, with a good initialization, a short-baseline Jacobian problem may converge even if the requirements are not satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an alternative conceptual design for a graphene-based quantum engine, driven by a superposition of mechanical strain and an external magnetic field. Engineering of strain in a nanoscale graphene flake creates a gauge field with an associated uniform pseudomagnetic field. The strain-induced pseudomagnetic field can be combined with a real magnetic field, leading to the emergence of discrete relativistic Landau levels within the single-particle picture. The interlevel distance and hence their statistical population can be modulated by quasistatically tuning the magnetic field along a sequence of reversible transformations that constitute a quantum mechanical analog of the classical Otto cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different sets of parameters and conceptualizations of a basin can give equally good results in terms of predefined objective functions. Therefore, a need exists to tackle equifinality and quantify the uncertainty bands of a model. In this paper we use the concepts of equifinality, identifiability and uncertainty to propose a simple method aimed at constraining the equifinal parameters and reducing the uncertainty bands of model outputs, and obtaining physically possible and reasonable models. Additionally, the uncertainty of equifinal solutions is quantified to estimate the amount by which output uncertainty can be reduced by knowing how to discard most of the equifinal solutions of a model. As a study case, a conceptual model of the Chillán basin in Chile is carried out. From the study it is concluded that using identifiability analysis makes it possible to constrain equifinal solutions with reduced uncertainty and realistic models, resulting in a framework that can be recommended to practitioners, especially due to the simplicity of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power of social media in spreading the idea of wellbeing has already been addressed by several psychologists and scholars through the analysis of the vocabulary; however, the use of the human flourishing (HF) concept in such platforms has not yet been analyzed. This study addresses such a topic by analyzing more than 600 thousand Twitter messages posted by a community of users who associate themselves with HF and comparing them to more than 400 thousand messages in other Twitter lists. The study aims to identify the HF users' interests, the richness in their vocabulary, the feelings and emotions that they share, and the grammar used in their constructions. Such an analysis was conducted through text mining computational methods, including sentiment analysis, natural language processing (NLP), and topic modeling. The results revealed that although HF users employ average vocabulary diversity, they share more positive emotions, and a greater variety of emojis. They also tended to discuss different topics, from more spiritual and health-related subjects to more practical matters related to work and success. Finally, they generally wrote from an empathetic state of mind, caring about people's day-to-day feelings and about the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa is one of the main products consumed worldwide that is similar to coffee; a primary difference between coffee and cocoa is that cocoa is produced in developing countries and is consumed mainly in industrialized countries. Mexico was the country that made cocoa known to the world. The objective of the study was to analyze the competitiveness at the macroeconomic level of the Mexican cocoa product in the world during the period 2010–2021. A macroeconomic analysis was carried out using six indices: Balassa index, Vollrath Index, Additive Revealed Competitive Advantage Ratio, Trade Openness Index, Export and Import Index, and Self-Sufficiency Index. The industrialization of cocoa is the denaturation of the product, which is launched onto the market with little or no nutritional content, due to the alteration of the raw material with formulas based on vegetable fats, artificial colors, and flavors. For example, a commercial chocolate bar can have only 25–35% cocoa mass, semisweet chocolate bars can vary from 45 to 99% cocoa, while white chocolate bars only contain cocoa butter, milk, and sugar. These facts result in a decrease in the competitiveness of the product in the international market, in addition to the effects produced on its profitability for the producer—an increase in the cost of raw materials and a drop in real profits. These factors generate dependency on the international market for the production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance improvement tests of MACACO: a Compton telescope based on continuous crystals and SiPMs. Performance improvement tests of MACACO: A Compton telescope based on continuous crystals and SiPMs. [Extracted from the article]

Performance improvement tests of MACACO: a Compton telescope based on continuous crystals and SiPMs. Performance improvement tests of MACACO: A Compton telescope based on continuous crystals and SiPMs. [Extracted from the article]

Herein, we study electronic and thermoelectric transport in a type I Weyl semimetal nanojunction, with a torsional dislocation defect, in the presence of an external magnetic field parallel to the dislocation axis. The defect is modeled in a cylindrical geometry, as a combination of a gauge field accounting for torsional strain and a delta-potential barrier for the lattice mismatch effect. In the Landauer formalism, we find that due to the combination of strain and magnetic field, the electric current exhibits chiral valley-polarization, and the conductance displays the signature of Landau levels. We also compute the thermal transport coefficients, where a high thermopower and a large figure of merit are predicted for the junction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Gestational diabetes (GD) is a global health concern with significant implications for maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study investigates the association between early GD (eGD) diagnosis (<24 weeks), pharmacotherapy requirements and adverse neonatal outcomes.A cohort of 369 pregnant women underwent a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. Maternal variables, pharmacotherapy prescriptions and neonatal outcomes were analysed employing t‐tests, χ2 tests, and logistic regression. A p < .05 was considered significant.Early GD increased the odds of neonatal hypoglycaemia [odds ratio (OR): 18.57, p = .013] and respiratory distress syndrome (OR: 4.75, p = .034). Nutritional therapy prescription by an accredited nutritionist was the most common treatment in women diagnosed after 24 weeks, but those with eGD required more frequently specialized nutritional consulting + metformin to achieve glycaemic control (p = .027). eGD was associated with a higher requirement of nutritional therapy prescription + metformin (OR: 2.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.25‐4.09, p = .007) and with maternal hyperglycaemia during the post‐partum period at 2 h of the oral glucose tolerance test (OR: 1.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.02‐1.13, p = .024).Timely diagnosis and personalized treatment of GD are desirable because an earlier presentation is related to a higher risk of adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has been postulated as an underlying pathophysiologic mechanism of diabetic retinopathy (DR), the main cause of avoidable blindness in working-aged people. This review addressed the current daily clinical practice of DR and the role of antioxidants in this practice. A systematic review of the studies on antioxidant supplementation in DR patients was presented. Fifteen studies accomplished the inclusion criteria. The analysis of these studies concluded that antioxidant supplementation has a IIB level of recommendation in adult Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects without retinopathy or mild-to-moderate nonproliferative DR without diabetic macular oedema as a complementary therapy together with standard medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical sensors with high sensitivity that can be used under extreme conditions and can be miniaturized are of high interest in science and industry. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is an ideal candidate as a nanosensor due to the long coherence time of its electron spin and its optical accessibility. In this theoretical work, we propose the use of an NV center to detect electrochemical signals emerging from an electrolyte solution, thus obtaining a concentration sensor. For this purpose, we propose the use of the inhomogeneous dephasing rate of the electron spin of the NV center ( 1 / T 2 ★ ) as a signal. We show that for a range of mean ionic concentrations in the bulk of the electrolyte solution, the electric field fluctuations produced by the diffusional fluctuations in the local concentration of ions result in dephasing rates that can be inferred from free induction decay measurements. Moreover, we show that for a range of concentrations, the electric field generated at the position of the NV center can be used to estimate the concentration of ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the prevalence of Müllerian anomalies (MAs) in a cohort of infertile Mexican women candidates for infertility treatments (intrauterine insemination or IVF (In vitro fertilization) cycles). Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study on a cohort of consecutive women, who underwent hysteroscopy and laparoscopy as part of the basic infertility workup from 2002 to 2014, at our center. Our aim was to calculate the prevalence of MAs and each subtype. Results: A total of 4005 women were included in the study. The MA prevalence was 4.4% (95% CI; 3.8–5.1; n = 177). Among women with MAs, the prevalence of different MA types was: septate uterus 54.2% (n = 96), arcuate uterus 15.8% (n = 28), bicornuate uterus 10.7% (n = 19), unicornuate uterus 8.5% (n = 15), didelphys uterus 6.2% (n = 11) and hypoplasia/agenesis 3.4% (n = 6), unclassifiable 1.1% (n = 2). Women with MAs who achieved pregnancy were: 33.3% (n = 59). The MA associated with the highest pregnancy rate was septate uterus after hysteroscopic correction, at 38.5% (37/96). Conclusions: The prevalence of MAs among infertile Mexican women can be considered as low, but not negligible. The septate uterus is the most common MA in women with infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antepartum fetal surveillance (AFS) is essential for pregnant women with diabetes to mitigate the risk of stillbirth. However, there is still no universal consensus on the optimal testing method, testing frequency, and delivery timing. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the evidence concerning AFS and the most advantageous timing for delivery in both gestational and pregestational diabetes mellitus cases. This review's methodology involved an extensive literature search encompassing international diabetes guidelines and scientific databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The review process meticulously identified and utilized pertinent articles for analysis. Within the scope of this review, a thorough examination revealed five prominent international guidelines predominantly addressing gestational diabetes. These guidelines discuss the utility and timing of fetal well-being assessments and recommendations for optimal pregnancy resolution timing. However, the scarcity of clinical trials directly focused on this subject led to a reliance on observational studies as the basis for most recommendations. Glucose control, maternal comorbidities, and the medical management received are crucial in making decisions regarding AFS and determining the appropriate delivery timing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Age-adjusted rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are higher in men than in women. CVD risk-factor outcomes are underrecognized, underestimated, and undertreated in women because the clinical expressions in women differ from those of men. There are no universally accepted recommendations on what to do in women when the values of fasting glucose, blood pressure, and lipids are only slightly altered or at borderline values. We reported the positive effects on CVD risk markers using cacao by-products, showing that alternative approaches can be used to prevent cardiovascular disease in women. The objective was to evaluate the changes in lipoprotein subfractions induced by three months of treatment with an epicatechin-enriched cacao supplement. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study was developed to evaluate the effects of 3 months of treatment with an (−)-epicatechin-enriched cacao supplement on lipoprotein subfractions. Results: The usual screening workshop for postmenopausal women could be insufficient and misleading. Assessing the effect of a (−)-epicatechin-enriched cacao supplement employing a lipoprotein subfractionation profile analysis suggests a decrease in cardiovascular risk. Conclusions: A simple, low-cost, safe (−)-epicatechin-enriched cacao supplement product can improve the cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a stepwise construction of the path integral over relativistic orbits in Euclidean spacetime. It is shown that the apparent problems of this path integral, like the breakdown of the naive Chapman-Kolmogorov relation, can be solved by a careful analysis of the overcounting associated with local and global symmetries. Based on this, the direct calculation of the quantum propagator of the relativistic point particle in the path integral formulation results from a simple and purely geometric construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the problem of particle tunneling through a periodically driven ferromagnetic quantum barrier connected to two leads. The barrier is modeled by an impurity site representing a ferromagnetic layer or a quantum dot in a tight-binding Hamiltonian with a local magnetic field and an ac-driven potential, which is solved using the Floquet formalism. The repulsive interactions in the quantum barrier are also taken into account. Our results show that the time-periodic potential causes sharp resonances of perfect transmission and reflection, which can be tuned by the frequency, the driving strength, and the magnetic field. We demonstrate that a device based on this configuration could act as a highly tunable spin valve for spintronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. One of the main objectives of prosthodontics is the rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function and health of edentulous patients, including people with disabilities such as patients with Down's syndrome. These patients usually present both systemic compromises and dental anomalies, resulting in difficult oral care and a commitment to your oral health, so in the most severe cases, the placement of a total prosthesis is essential and of utmost importance to reestablish the functions of the stomatognathic apparatus, optimize chewing capacity, comfort, preservation of the alveolar bone and improve the psychosocial condition of the patient. Objective. Restoring function and aesthetics in a Down's syndrome patient by placing an analogically produced total denture in combination with digital workflow. Clinical case. The clinical case of a female patient with Down's syndrome is presented, 46 years old, with bimaxillary loss of dental organs. A total prosthesis is made by using the analogical method for taking physiological impressions, making the registration bases, threading and characterizing the prosthesis, in combination with the digital workflow for scanning the impressions, making the working models and milling the characterized prosthesis. Conclusion. Due to the complexity that a prosthetic treatment represents in a patient with some type of disability, the combination of CAD-CAM technology and the analogous method in the elaboration of a total denture improves the prognosis and increases the success, there is a better adjustment and retention of these, they are more durable and tend to a lower accumulation of dentobacterial plaque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]