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Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Contributions to deposit insurance should be proportionate to the risk associated with the business model. • Cooperative and commercial banks are characterised by a different risk profile. • Cooperative banks generate lower losses associated with deposit insurance than commercial banks. • A one-size-fits-all approach to the funding regime of deposit insurance may not be equitable and may create additional burdens on cooperative banks. This paper analyses how the risk of commercial and cooperative banks may affect the European Deposit Guarantee Scheme (EDIS) to assess the appropriateness of a differentiated contribution regime. Evidence shows that these institutions have different objectives, ownership structures and operational approaches that impact their risk profile. As a result, a single regulatory approach may not be appropriate and may place an additional burden on cooperative banks. Using a simulation model and a sample of banks representing 81% of deposits in the Eurozone between 2018 and 2021, we analyse risk, deposit insurance losses and financial coverage needs. We find that cooperative banks are less risky, generate fewer losses and should provide fewer resources compared to commercial banks. These findings are important to achieve a more equitable and efficient funding policy in the future development of the EDIS as the third pillar to complete the Banking Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to describe a technique to restore both vertical and horizontal stability using an augmentation of the acromioclavicular ligament complex (ACLC) and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments with the combination of synthetic and biological support. Our technique introduces a modification in the surgical procedure for acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations; it provides the use of biological supplements not only during the repair of the CC ligaments but also when the ACLC is restored due to the use of a dermal patch as an augmentation allograft after the use of a horizontal cerclage. The main purpose of this technique is to replicate the anatomy and functionality of the native ligaments that stabilize the AC joint to improve both clinical and functional results. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SPMS represents a considerable negative impact on patients' HRQoL • Unfortunately, there is a lack of data about the impact of SPMS disability on HRQoL • DISCOVER study is an observational, retrospective study in clinical practice in Spain • DISCOVER study assess the impact of SPMS on participants' functional status and HRQoL • People with SPMS experience a high physical impact, fatigue and cognitive impairment People with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (pwSPMS) experience increasing disability, which impacts negatively on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our aims were to assess the impact of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) on functional status and HRQoL and describe the clinical profile in this population. DISCOVER is an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study with retrospective data collection in real-world clinical practice in Spain. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, functional and cognitive scales, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and direct healthcare, and non-healthcare and indirect costs were collected. A total of 297 evaluable pwSPMS with a EDSS score between 3-6.5 participated: 62.3 % were female and 18.9 % had active SPMS. At the study visit, 77 % of them presented an Expanded Disability Scale Score (EDSS) of 6–6.5. Nearly 40 % did not receive any disease-modifying treatment. Regarding the working situation, 61.6 % were inactive due to disability. PROs: 99.3 % showed mobility impairment in EuroQoL-5 Dimensions-5 Levels, and about 60 % reported physical impact on the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29. Fatigue was present in 76.1 %, and almost 40 % reported anxiety or depression. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test was used to assess cognitive impairment; 80 % of the patients were below the mean score. Participants who presented relapses two years before and had high EDSS scores had a more negative impact on HRQoL. PwSPMS with a negative impact on HRQoL presented a higher cost burden, primarily due to indirect costs. PwSPMS experience a negative impact on their HRQoL, with a high physical impact, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and a high burden of indirect costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a social-media context, brands need to understand how to frame their messages, so that a topic can be quickly recognized, promoting higher levels of user engagement. However, knowledge about the link between content type and its engagement is not sufficiently studied. We first explore hotel Firm-Generated Content (FGC) and its inherent themes using topic modelling; we then use an ad hoc metric to investigate the engagement levels associated with each topic; thirdly, we compare the relevance attached to the topics with their engagement levels. In total, 44,448 corporate tweets from 62 hotel brands were analyzed to identify 14 topics, one of which had not previously been uncovered. Notably, there was a positive correlation with engagement for content related to hotel management activities and, among smaller groups, to sustainability. The results will expand FGC-related investigation within the hotel sector and will be of interest to firms seeking effective communication strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease where even a single relapse can severely impact patient autonomy and quality of life. • Treatment decisions in NMOSD have become more complicated with the recent approval of therapies with different mechanisms of action, safety risk, and routes of administration. • Understanding neurologists' preferences for NMOSD treatment characteristics may be useful to improve the decision-making process in a context of a lack of standardised treatment guidelines. The treatment landscape for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has changed in recent years with the approval of therapies with different efficacy, safety and administration profiles. The aim of this study was to assess neurologists' preferences for different NMOSD treatment attributes using conjoint analysis (CA). We conducted an online, non-interventional, cross-sectional study in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Neurology. Our CA assessed five drugs' attributes: prevention of relapse, prevention of disability accumulation, safety risk, management during pregnancy, and route and frequency of administration. Participants were presented with eight hypothetical treatment scenarios to rank based on their preferences from the most preferred to the least. An ordinary least squares method was selected to estimate weighted preferences. A total of 104 neurologists were included. Mean age (standard deviation-SD) was 37.7 (10.3) years, 52.9 % were male, and median time (interquartile range) of experience managing NMOSD was 5.0 (2.9, 10.8) years. Neurologists placed the greatest importance on efficacy attributes, time to relapse (44.1 %) being the most important, followed by preventing disability accumulation (36.8 %). In contrast, route and frequency of administration (4.6 %) was the least important characteristic. Participants who prioritised efficacy attributes felt more comfortable in decision-making, had fewer past experiences of care-related regret and a lower attitude to risk taking than their counterparts. Neurologists' treatment preferences in NMOSD were mainly driven by efficacy attributes. These results may be useful to design policy decisions and treatment guidelines for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities should contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and promoting sustainable entrepreneurial intentions among students can help achieve this aim. Sport science students have strong entrepreneurial skills, making the sports sector a potential avenue for SDG contributions. However, there is a lack of research on the impact of sport in natural environments on sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing the relationship between physical-sports practice in nature and sustainable entrepreneurship among sport science students. The study comprised 555 sport science students, averaging 21.67 (SD = 3.88) years old. Results revealed that students who engaged in sports in natural environments scored significantly higher (p <.05) in all sustainable entrepreneurship variables. Additionally, the study found that physical-sports practice in nature played a mediating role between sustainability attitudes and sustainable entrepreneurial intentions among these students. This demonstrates the potential transfer of sustainable values and attitudes through nature-based sports. By leveraging the positive influence of physical-sports practice in natural environments, universities can foster the development of sustainable entrepreneurial mindsets among students. Therefore, the role of natural environments in higher education should be considered to favor a more sustainable management mentality in future graduates. [Display omitted] • Physical-activity practice in nature positively foster sustainable entrepreneurship variables. • Nature-based physical activity mediates sustainability attitudes and entrepreneurial intentions. • Increasing sport practice nature-based subjects could enhance sustainable management mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a simple generic model designed to predict membrane fouling in municipal wastewater (MWW) treatment. The work was conducted using data from a direct membrane filtration demo-system (middle/long-term filtration periods of about 35 – 124 days) to calibrate the model. Two influents were treated by the demo-system: raw pre-treated MWW and primary settler supernatant from a full-scale MWW treatment plant. A resistance-in-series mathematical model structure was proposed considering fouling due to two different mechanisms: persistent cake layer formation (from suspended material) and pore blocking (from soluble and colloidal compounds). The proposed model represented transmembrane pressure dynamics at different operating solids concentrations (around 1, 2.6, 6 and 11 gL−1) using 7 model parameters, achieving 7–28 mbar differences between the experimental data and model predictions in all cases (calculated as the root mean square error). The model was also able to match the results from two different influents (raw MWW and primary settler supernatant) by modifying 3 of the 7 parameters while low uncertainties were obtained in long-term filtrations, demonstrating its robustness. This model thus provides a good potential to generate reasonable membrane fouling predictions while its simple and open structure makes it easy to implement with complementary materials. Further research will be carried out to enhance the model's precision and validate its potential for optimizing filtration and fouling control processes. [Display omitted] • Irreversible fouling from direct sewage filtration was modeled. • Proper predictions are obtained under a simple structure (7 calibration parameters). • Solids (cake layer) and SMP (pore blocking) effects were considered simultaneously. • Two influents were modeled: raw sewage and the primary settler supernatant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sensitive and less laborious assays are needed to detect asymptomatic Leishmania among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Using SLA-stimulated plasma from SOT recipients living where an outbreak of Leishmania infantum occurred, we examined potential biomarkers to identify asymptomatic Leishmania infections.Methods: Concentrations of cytokines/chemokines in plasma from whole blood stimulated with specific Leishmania antigen (SLA) were compared against infection status as determined by a currently used cell proliferation assay.Results: Twenty-six percent (13/50) of the SOT recipients had a cell proliferation assay (CPA) indicating asymptomatic infection, and showed higher processed plasma C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10 or IP-10) concentrations than did non-infected subjects (median 2272.0 pg/ml [IQR 1570-2772] vs. 18.2 pg/ml [IQR 1-150.1]; p<0.0001). CXCL10 showed a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 95% compared to CPA. In addition, we demonstrated that the number of asymptomatic infections detected using CXCL10, decreased with distance from a park at the center of the mentioned outbreak.Conclusion: CXCL10 in plasma from SLA-stimulated blood could be a robust biomarker of asymptomatic L. infantum infection in solid organ transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients with rheumatic diseases show an adequate cellular immune response after SARS-COV-2 infection. • T-cell responses to SARS-COV-2 antigens were similar in the different diagnostic and therapeutic groups and comparable to non-rheumatic controls. In patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (RMD), the development of T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 may be impaired by either the immune disturbances associated with the disease, or by the effects of immunosuppressive therapies. We aimed at determining the magnitude of SARS-CoV-2-specific interferon (IFN)-γ-producing T-cell response after COVID-19 recovery in a cohort of patients with RMD on different immunosuppressive therapies. 53 adult patients with inflammatory or autoimmune RMD and 61 sex and age-matched non-RMD patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained and T-cell-IFN-γ antigen-specific responses against the S1 domain of the spike glycoprotein, the nucleoprotein (N) and the membrane (M) protein from SARS-CoV-2 were assessed by FluoroSpot assay. Patients with RMD and COVID-19 showed positive T-cells-IFN-γ responses to SARS-COV-2 antigens, in a similar proportion and magnitude as non-RMD patients at a median of 298 [151–316] and 165 [162–167] days after COVID-19 respectively. Among RMD patients 83%, 87% and 90%, and among non-RMD patients, 95%, 87% and 93% responded to S1, N and M protein respectively. Similar responses were observed in the different diagnostic and therapeutic groups, including conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), TNF-α inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors, rituximab, JAK inhibitors or other immunosuppressants. T-cell responses to the main SARS-CoV-2 antigens are present after COVID-19 recovery in most patients with RMD and are not impaired by immunosuppressive therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PCSK9 inhibitors reduce LDL-C by 58% in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. • Response was significantly higher when maximally tolerated statin therapy is used. • Most patients reach an LDL cholesterol goal according guidelines. • PCSK9 inhibitors are highly effective in FH patients in clinical practice setting. [Display omitted] PCSK9 inhibitors are a treatment option for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia not on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals despite the use of maximally tolerated high intensity-statins dose. To evaluate the efficacy of alirocumab and evolocumab in LDL-C reduction and targets attainment in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in clinical practice setting. SAFEHEART is an open, long-term prospective study of a cohort of subjects with molecular diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia. This study analyze subjects ≥ 20 years of age on stable lipid-lowering therapy, who received PCSK9 inhibitors during the period 2016 to January 2020. 433 patients (mean age 55 years, 53% male, 39% with cardiovascular disease) were included and followed-up for a median of 2.5 years (IQR 1.6–3.0). Median LDL-C level prior to PCSK9 inhibitors was 145 mg/dL (IQR 125–173). The addition of PCSK9 inhibitors (211 alirocumab, 222 evolocumab) reduced LDL-C by 58% (IQR 41–70) p <0.001, in men and women, achieving a median LDL-C level of 62 mg/dL (IQR 44–87) without differences between both PCSK9 inhibitors. Out of them 67% with and 80% without cardiovascular disease reached 2016 ESC/EAS LDL-C targets, and 46% very high risk and 50% high risk patients achieved 2019 ESC/EAS LDL-C goals. Independent predictor factors for attainment of 2019 ESC/EAS LDL-C goals were to be male, smoking and the use of statins with ezetimibe. Both inhibitors were well tolerated. PCSK9 inhibitors on top of maximum lipid-lowering treatment significantly reduced LDL-C levels in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and improved the achievement of LDL-C targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of Renin-Angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been questioned because both share a target receptor site.Methods: HOPE-COVID-19 (NCT04334291) is an international investigator-initiated registry. Patients are eligible when discharged after an in-hospital stay with COVID-19, dead or alive. Here, we analyze the impact of previous and continued in-hospital treatment with RASi in all-cause mortality and the development of in-stay complications.Results: We included 6503 patients, over 18 years, from Spain and Italy with data on their RASi status. Of those, 36.8% were receiving any RASi before admission. RASi patients were older, more frequently male, with more comorbidities and frailer. Their probability of death and ICU admission was higher. However, after adjustment, these differences disappeared. Regarding RASi in-hospital use, those who continued the treatment were younger, with balanced comorbidities but with less severe COVID19. Raw mortality and secondary events were less frequent in RASi. After adjustment, patients receiving RASi still presented significantly better outcomes, with less mortality, ICU admissions, respiratory insufficiency, need for mechanical ventilation or prone, sepsis, SIRS and renal failure (p<0.05 for all). However, we did not find differences regarding the hospital use of RASi and the development of heart failure.Conclusion: RASi historic use, at admission, is not related to an adjusted worse prognosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, although it points out a high-risk population. In this setting, the in-hospital prescription of RASi is associated with improved survival and fewer short-term complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Torque teno virus (TTV) is a highly prevalent non-pathogenic anellovirus whose plasma levels may be a biomarker of immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to assess whether specific immune-targeting with different biologic drugs may differentially modulate TTV viremia in arthritis patients. TTV DNA load was quantified by PCR in a cross-sectional sample of 79 patients with chronic arthritis on biologic therapy (abatacept, infliximab, rituximab or tocilizumab), 31 patients treated with conventional DMARDs (methotrexate and/or leflunomide), and 54 healthy individuals. Longitudinal changes in TTV load were analysed in a second group of 59 patients at baseline and 4-months after biologic therapy. Correlations between clinical or biological characteristics of recruited patients and TTV viremia were also analysed. In the cross-sectional study, TTV load was significantly higher in patients who received abatacept, infliximab or tocilizumab compared to healthy individuals. Patients treated with rituximab or conventional DMARDs showed TTV loads similar to healthy controls. In the longitudinal study, an increase in the TTV load was observed after anti-TNF, tocilizumab, abatacept and rituximab, but not after secukinumab therapy. Correlations between TTV load and clinical variables such as disease duration, concomitant glucocorticoid or DMARDs therapy, lymphocytes or previous infections were not found. A non-significant trend towards higher TTV load was observed in therapy responders. Patients with chronic arthritis on biologic but not on conventional DMARD or anti-IL17 therapy have increased TTV viremia. This observation provides a basis to prospectively explore the potential value of TTV load as a potential pharmacodynamic biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Children and adolescent participation in sport has increased in recent years. Synchronized swimming requires correct muscle balance in the shoulder complex. The purpose of this study was to establish isokinetic strength profiles and peak torque ratios of shoulder internal and external rotator muscles in a female high-level synchronized swimming team. Twenty-six adolescent female high-level synchronized swimmers, aged 12–14, participated in this study. Maximal bilateral shoulder concentric external and internal rotation force was measured at 60°/s (5 repetitions) and 180°/s (15 repetitions). The isokinetic concentric strength generated by the internal rotator muscles was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than by the external rotators in both limbs and at both velocities. Significant bilateral differences in the external rotation (ER):internal rotation (IR) strength ratio were noted at 60°/s. Isokinetic assessment is essential in sports medicine, since it is the only test capable of diagnosing any shoulder strength deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable bioenergy production relies on thoroughly understanding each country's biomass resources. Among North African countries, Tunisia possesses significant biomass potential. However, the country has not fully harnessed this potential for sustainable bioenergy production due to a limited awareness and recognition of its biomass resources. This article examines the biomass potential of three of Tunisia's most important agri-food value chains: olive oil, date palm, and almonds. First, the amount of cultivated area, average annual production, high-producing governorates, harvest time, irrigation method, and their production methods are evaluated. Then, the biomass potential for bioenergy of each waste and byproduct produced is assessed and reported according to their production rate, production value, and production season. Following, the components of these wastes are introduced and analyzed via proximate and ultimate analyses. Finally, the bioenergy potential of produced biomass is estimated. The results showed that among the three studied agri-food value chains, olive oil wastes and byproducts have the greatest potential for bioenergy production at 82 %, and only 10–12 % of the total olive oil production waste in the milling stage is used as biomass fuel for bioenergy. Furthermore, olive tree pruning (1.43–2 t/ha/year), date palm fruit (7.2–29.5 t/ha/year), and almond hulls (∼0.76 t/ha/year) have the greatest biomass potential for bioenergy, but their potential is largely ignored by traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioregions in the pelagic ecosystem are frequently established on the basis of remotely sensed properties of the sea surface, such as sea surface temperature or sea surface chlorophyll concentration. Those works dealing with the regionalization of the marine ecosystem by means of the use of properties of the water column are less frequent, and even less those that obtain the data from periodic in situ monitoring programs, which are scarce. In this work we use time series of micro, nano and pico-phytoplanktonic abundances in the upper 100 m of the continental shelves of the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea from the projects STOCA and RADMED (southern coast of Spain, Western Mediterranean). The use of times series allows us to estimate the median phytoplanktonic abundances of several phytoplanktonic groups along the water column. These statistics differ substantially from those abundances obtained for one particular campaign, reflecting the large seasonal and inter-annual variability of phytoplanktonic communities. These median profiles, estimated for the four seasons of the year and for several phytoplanktonic groups characterize each of the locations sampled in the aforementioned monitoring programs and are used for establishing the similarity between them. Then, these locations are grouped using a cluster analysis. Using some simulations from numerical experiments we determine which metrics and methods of analysis are the more suitable ones for the regionalization of the area of study. A bootstrap method is also used to determine which differences among bioregions can be considered as statistically significant. Despite the existence of a fast current that connects the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea, our results show that the outer part of the Gulf of Cadiz shelf, and that of the Alboran Sea, can be considered as two differentiated bioregions. The latter region shows a higher productivity with a higher abundance of large cells such as diatoms, and the dominance of Synechococcus bacteria over Prochlorococcus ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are susceptible to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The incidence of refractoriness to antivirals, with or without resistance, is unclear. The purpose of this review was to describe the epidemiology of refractory CMV infection in Spain to understand the current unmet needs. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and MEDES were searched systematically for relevant articles. We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies published during the period from January 1990 to June 2021. From 212 screened records, we selected 19 papers including 1973 transplant recipients. Refractory infection ranged from 3 to 10% in studies with SOT recipients. The incidence of CMV resistance ranged from 1% to 36% in these patients. The incidence of CMV refractory infection in HSCT recipients ranged from 11 to 50%, while values for resistant infection ranged from 0% to 21%. The wide range of definitions and values observed does not allow us to establish the true incidence of refractory CMV infection with or without resistances in SOT and HSCT patients in Spain. This review highlights the gap between clinical practice and clinical trials' definitions which needed to be updated to be easier followed in current clinical practice. • Cytomegalovirus infection is one of the most common complications in patients who are recipients of a transplant. • Refractory cytomegalovirus infection remains a challenging clinical concern with significant unmet medical needs. • The incidence of refractory cytomegalovirus infection in Spain is unclear to understand the current unmet needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic properties of low-cost ceramic aluminosilicate polymers (geopolymers) containing metakaolin and different amounts of magnetic mining waste, up to 75% w/w, were investigated for the degradation of the antibiotic drug trimethoprim (TMP) in water in the presence of ozone. In the presence of the geopolymers, the removal of TMP increased by up to 11% to reach 71% conversion, while its mineralization increased by 4% to reach 40%. Moreover, the catalyst also decreased the steady-state ozone saturation level of the solution. Reactive species (ROS) trapping experiments demonstrated that superoxide (O 2 •–) had the most significant impact on the removal rate (55% decrease), followed by singlet oxygen (1O 2) (30% decrease). The 20 intermediate reaction products identified by mass spectroscopy was consistent with a four-branch reaction mechanism by superoxide attack on the TMP molecule including i) the methylene bridge rupture, ii) the oxidation of the diaminopyrimidine amine with further hydroxylation and carbonylation, iii) the hydroxylation of diaminopyrimidine amines and iv) 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene demethylation. XRF, FTIR, ss-NMR and XPS analyses of the geopolymers before and after the reaction also demonstrated the robustness of the geopolymers catalysts during the ozonation reaction. Overall, this study demonstrates that inexpensive geopolymers produced from mining waste could be used in catalytic ozonation reactions for water decontamination. [Display omitted] • Geopolymers with high magnetic mining waste levels were applied as catalysts. • Catalytic ozonation with these geopolymers attained 71% removal of Trimethoprim in 1 h. • A complex mechanistic route for trimethoprim degradation was proposed. • Chemical analyses showed that the as-prepared geopolymers were stable against ozone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meaningful contribution to the evaluation of heterogeneous public investments is described in this article. The proposed methodology provides a step towards sustainable urban planning in which decisions are taken according to clear, consistent and transparent criteria assisted by the MIVES multi-criteria analysis framework. The MIVES methodology combines multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) and multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT), incorporating the value function (VF) concept and assigning weights through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). First, a homogenization coefficient is calculated to develop the Prioritization Index for Heterogeneous Urban Investments (PIHUI), so that non-homogenous alternatives may be comparable. This coefficient measures the need of society to invest in each public project through the consideration of its contribution to the regional balance, the scope of its investment, the evaluation of the current situation and the values of the city. Then, the MIVES multi-criteria framework is used to evaluate the degree to which each investment would contribute to sustainable development. Different economic, environmental and social aspects were considered through a decision framework, constructed with the three aforementioned requirements, five criteria and eight indicators. The case study conducted for the Ecology, Urban Planning and Mobility Area of Barcelona municipal council is presented in this article, showing how this method performs accurate, consistent, and repeatable evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface biofilm inhibition is still currently a considerable challenge. Among other organisms, Staphylococcus aureus is notable for its ability to form a strong biofilm with proved resistance to chemotherapy. Contamination of high-touch surfaces with S. aureus biofilm not only promotes disease spread but also generates tremendous health-associated costs. Therefore, development of new bactericidal and antiadhesive surface coatings is a priority. Considering that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as promising antibacterial agents, we originally report here the synthesis of a multi-active silver-containing nanoscaled MOF composite as a potential surface coating against S. aureus biofilm owing to a triple effect: intrinsic bactericide activity of the MOF, biocidal character of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and photoactivity after UVA irradiation. AgNPs were successfully entrapped within the benchmarked nanoscaled porous photoactive titanium(IV) aminoterephthalate MIL-125(Ti)NH 2 using a simple and efficient impregnation-reduction method. After complete characterization of the composite thin film, its antibacterial and anti-adherent properties were fully evaluated. After UVA irradiation, the composite coating exhibited relevant bacterial inhibition and detachment, improved ligand-to-cluster charge transfer, and steady controlled delivery of Ag+. These promising results establish the potential of this composite as an active coating for biofilm treatment on high-touch surfaces (e.g. , surgical devices, door knobs, and rail bars). Surface contamination due to bacterial biofilm formation is still a demanding issue, as it causes severe disease spread. One possible solution is the development of antifouling and antibacterial surface coatings. In this work, we originally propose the use of photoactive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for biofilm treatment. The novelty of this work relies on the following: i) the treatment of strongly contaminated surfaces, as previous studies with MOFs have exclusively addressed biofilm prevention; ii) this pioneering work reports both antiadherent effect, which removes the biofilm, and bacterial inhibition; iii) our original successful strategy has never been proposed thus far, involving the multi-active combination of 1) intrinsic antibacterial effect of a photoactive titanium-based nanoMOF, 2) immobilization of biocide silver nanoparticles, and 3) improved anti-bioadherent effect upon irradiation of the composite coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of low ozone dosage to minimize the problems caused by filamentous foaming was evaluated in two bioreactors of an urban wastewater treatment plant. Filamentous and nitrifying bacteria, as well as protist and metazoa, were monitored throughout a one-year period by FISH and conventional microscopy to examine the effects of ozone application on these specific groups of microorganisms. Multivariate data analysis was used to determine if the ozone dosage was a key factor determining the low carbon and nitrogen removal efficiencies observed throughout the study period, as well as to evaluate its impact on the biological communities monitored. The results of this study suggested that ozonation did not significantly affect the COD removal efficiency, although it had a moderate effect on ammonia removal efficiency. Filamentous bacteria were the community most influenced by ozone (24.9% of the variance explained by ozone loading rate), whilst protist and metazoa were less affected (11.9% of the variance explained). Conversely, ozone loading rate was not a factor in determining the nitrifying bacterial community abundance and composition, although this environmental variable was correlated with ammonia removal efficiency. The results of this study suggest that different filamentous morphotypes were selectively affected by ozone. Image 1 • Different morphotypes present different responses to ozone treatment. • Low ozone dosages were the main factor influencing low ammonia and nitrogen removal performances in a full-scale WWTP. • Ozone was not a factor determining the structure of nitrifying bacterial community. • Protozoan and metazoan community was significantly affected by ozone treatment. The results of our study suggest that the structure of microbial communities significantly changed with ozone addition and different filamentous morphotypes are selectively affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of an upper body compression garment (UBCG) on thermoregulatory responses during cycling in a controlled laboratory thermoneutral environment (~23°C). A secondary aim was to determine the cardiovascular and perceptual responses when wearing the garment. Sixteen untrained participants (age: 21.3 ± 5.7 years; peak oxygen consumption (VO 2peak): 50.88 ± 8.00 mL/min/kg; mean ± SD) performed 2 cycling trials in a thermoneutral environment (~23°C) wearing either UBCG or control (Con) garment. Testing consisted of a 5-min rest on a cycle ergometer, followed by 4 bouts of cycling for 14-min at ~50%VO 2peak , with 1-min rest between each bout. At the end of these bouts there was 10-min of passive recovery. During the entire protocol rectal temperature (T rec), skin temperature (T skin), mean body temperature (T body), and heat storage (HS) were measured. Heart rate (HR), VO 2 , pH, hematocrit (Hct), plasma electrolytes, weight loss (W loss), and perceptual responses were also measured. There were no significant differences between garments for T skin , HS, HR, VO 2 , pH, Hct, plasma electrolyte concentration, W loss , and perceptual responses during the trial. T rec did not differ between garment conditions during rest, exercise, or recovery although a greater reduction in T rec wearing UBCG (p = 0.01) was observed during recovery. Lower T body during recovery was found when wearing UBCG (36.82°C ± 0.30°C vs. 36.99°C ± 0.24°C). Wearing a UBCG did not benefit thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and perceptual responses during exercise although it was found to lower T body during recovery, which suggests that it could be used as a recovery tool after exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Aims: To assess the impact of obesity and being overweight on sickness absence (SA) as a function of healthy/unhealthy metabolic phenotype.Methods and Results: A total of 173 120 healthy workers who underwent a routine check-up, consisting of a structured interview, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure and fasting blood analysis, were included as the study sample (67.1% males; 49.2% manual workers; mean age 40.6 ± 21.9 years). Workers were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) and metabolic phenotype. A metabolically unhealthy phenotype was defined as the presence of three or more of the following criteria: glycaemia ≥110 mg/dL or previously diagnosed type I/II diabetes or treatment for diabetes; triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL or lipid-lowering therapy; HDL <40/50 mg/dL M/F; blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or previously diagnosed hypertension or antihypertensive therapy; waist circumference >102/88 cm M/F. A one-year follow-up was conducted to evaluate the incidence of work-related and non-work-related SA (WRSA/NWRSA). The association of BMI with SA was tested using Poisson regression (standard error correction), segmenting on the basis of metabolic phenotype. The overall percentages of workers who were overweight, obese and/or had a metabolically unhealthy phenotype were 37.7%, 16.3% and 8.8%, respectively. BMI was associated with increased incidence of NWRSA in both phenotypes. It was also associated with WRSA in subjects with a BMI in the range of 35-39.99 kg/m2 and in metabolically healthy individuals. WRSA was lower in subjects with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 and among metabolically unhealthy individuals.Conclusion: Obesity is associated with health problems that have a significant impact on SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A new specific methodology to prioritize buildings for public services is presented. • Sustainability is the basis of the Sustainable Building index (Bs). • Bs is compared with other two methodologies. • Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to establish the weight of the indicators. Abstract A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methodology is presented in this paper that is used to analyse and to assess public-service building projects for the promotion of smart sustainable cities. Its main purpose is to compare different types of projects (hospitals, schools, museums, etc.) and to prioritize the investments that present the most favourable global results. The methodology, known as MIVES, constructs a model that assists decision-making on the basis of consistent and transparent criteria. It incorporates the value function concept that attaches a value to different types of variables for the purpose of arriving at a final value in relation to pre-defined criteria. In this study, the model is based on the three basic pillars of sustainability (economy, environment, and society) presented in a triple-layer decision tree. Its application to four urban projects, presented as examples, showed encouraging results with a wide range of values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Rural and urban villages differed in the factors that influence people life satisfaction. • A rural–urban gradient was found regarding how people perceive the importance of ecosystems services. • Perception of local ecological knowledge and Kichwa language explained the rural–urban duality. • Expansion of urban lifestyles is altering the Kichwa worldview of human-nature relationships. Abstract Understanding sociocultural perceptions about human-nature relationships is essential to promote collective responses for sustainable ecosystem management. This study explores the sociocultural factors that influence subjective well-being (measured by life satisfaction) and how ecosystem services are perceived in an area inhabited by the Kichwa people, for whom the ancient notion of Good Living (Sumak Kawsay) is active. We carried out 482 surveys in five villages along a rural–urban gradient in the province of Imbabura (Ecuador). Rural and urban people differed in their subjective valuations of well-being components and the sociocultural factors that most influence life satisfaction. We also detected changes along the rural–urban gradient regarding how these sociocultural and subjective well-being factors explain the degree of importance that local people attribute to different ecosystems services provided by high Andean ecosystems. Formal education, the perception of local ecological knowledge, and the use of the Kichwa language were identified as important sociocultural factors that explain the observed differences. Finally, we discuss the risks of the ongoing expansion of urban lifestyles for the conservation of Andean social-ecological systems, highlighting the importance of maintaining traditional practices and beliefs associated with the Kichwa culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A biostratigraphic and geochemical study (C and O isotopes) of one of the most complete Valanginian sections of the External Zones of the Betic Cordillera (Cehegín composite section), together with its correlation with other European basins, is presented in this contribution. Ammonites and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy provide a detailed framework to correlate the Cehegín section with reference sections of the Vocontian, Lombardy and Umbria-Marche basins. The carbon isotope profile of the Cehegín section has been subdivided in four segments, C-Va1 to C-Va4, following the same pattern described from the Vocontian basin. The C-Va2 segment, representing the main carbon isotope excursion (CIE sensu stricto), spans from δ13C values of 0.09–0.11‰ in the upper part of the Karakaschiceras inostranzewi ammonite Subzone (NK3A Subzone of calcareous nannofossils) to 2.67‰ in the upper part of the Karakaschiceras pronecostatum Subzone (NK3B Subzone of calcareous nannofossils). The C-Va3 segment corresponds to an isotopic plateau of the δ13C profile, with values oscillating around 2.39‰, in which the maximum (2.68‰), considered as the upper boundary, was recorded within the upper part of the Olcostephanus nicklesi Subzone, being almost coeval with the last record of the calcareous nannofossil Tubodiscus verenae. The C-Va1 and C-Va4 segments represent, respectively, the pre-CIE δ13C lower values (oscillating around 1‰) and the post-CIE slight decreasing trend (2.60‰–2‰). After considering the different proposals among authors as to which part of the carbon isotope profile should be identified as the Weissert episode, a return to the original definition (interval from minimum to climax of δ13C values) is proposed. That includes, in the Cehegín composite section, the C-Va2 and C-Va3 segments. Segment C-Va2 shows in the Cehegín section a rapid change of δ13C towards higher values (CIE), with an amplitude of 2.57‰, higher than that found in marine carbonates of various Valanginian sections and drills. The biostratigraphic data show that the onset of the Weissert episode is practically synchronous in the Subbetic and in the Vocontian basin, but apparently a little earlier than the onset of that episode in the Lombardy and Umbria-Marche basins, although correlation problems cannot be dismissed. Oxygen isotope values are probably affected by the addition of cement during burial diagenesis. They range from −2.91‰ to 1.19‰, and the δ18O curve shows an initially decreasing trend (minimum in the upper part of the Saynoceras verrucosum Subzone) followed by a segment of nearly stable values, which fluctuate ∼2‰ throughout the rest of the section. Highlights • A Valanginian (p.p.) biostratigraphic framework for the Subbetic Cehegín section. • The Tethyan ammonite and calcareous nannofossil zonations were successfully applied. • Biogeographic/palaeoceanographic constraints hindered nannofossil correlations. • The δ13C detailed profile of the Cehegín section records the Weissert event. • The Cehegín C-isotope curve correlates well with those from other European sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper presents a comparative study of first-line disease-modifying treatments (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) in a real-world setting, which is valuable as no head-to-head studies are currently available. • The primary outcome of the study is the median time to discontinuation of any DMT, and the results show that there is no significant difference in persistence between teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, and injectable drugs. While there is no significant difference in persistence between DMT, there is a trend towards favoring oral DMT over injectable drugs. • The most frequent reason for discontinuation differs within groups, with lack of efficacy being the primary reason for teriflunomide, and adverse effects being the primary reason for dimethyl fumarate and injectable drugs. • A trend towards early treatment and lower EDSS scores was observed after 2018, particularly in the teriflunomide group, suggesting a shift towards more aggressive and proactive MS management. disease-modifying treatments (DMT) for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) have expanded in recent years making the shared-decision process challenging. Moreover, no head-to-head studies are available within the first-line options. Our aim is to compare therapeutic persistence within first-line DMT: teriflunomide (TER), dimethyl fumarate (DMF), and injectable drugs (INJ) in a real-world setting. Retrospective observational study analyzing diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) who started DMT between January 2015 and April 2022 (TER=117, DMF=117, INJ=123). Clinical, radiological, and demographic variables were collected. The primary outcome was the median time to discontinuation of any DMT. Dropout was defined as discontinuation for 6 months for any reason. Of the total of 357 patients, 155 withdraw with a median time-to-discontinuation of 1.427 years (IQR 2.410). The discontinuation rate was higher in the injectable group, 49.6%; compared to teriflunomide 40.2%, and dimethyl fumarate 39.8% (p = 0.201). The most frequent reason of discontinuation differs within groups (lack of efficacy in TER, 63.8%, and adverse effects in DMF and INJ (40.4% and 40.9% respectively). No difference in persistence was observed between DMT (p = 0.30). After 2018 there has been a tendency to treat in a quick and early manner (lower EDSS; relapse rate and number of naïve patients), statistically significant for TER (p = 0.005, p = 0.010, and p = 0.045). Our study demonstrated no differences in persistence between the actual first-line DMT in a real-world setting, although a trend to favor oral-DMT was seen. Reasons for discontinuation differs within groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Nonoperative management of proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) is the most common treatment, but its functional outcome may improve with early mobilization. In frail osteoporotic patients, quick recovery of prefracture independency is mandatory. This study assessed fracture displacement in PHFs managed with conservative treatment after early mobilization and a home-based self-exercise program. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the radiologic displacement of fracture fragments of PHFs treated conservatively with early mobilization and a home-based self-exercise program. Results Included were 99 patients with 26 one-part, 32 two-part, 32 three-part, and 9 four-part PHFs managed conservatively, followed by early mobilization and a home-based self-exercise program. In the x-ray examinations, the head displaced from varus into valgus 55° ± 23° to 42° ± 22°, in the normal range of anatomic values. The medial hinge displaced from medial to the diaphysis (+1 ± 6 mm) to lateral to the head (−0.6 ± 6 mm). The greater tuberosity displaced cranially from −1 ± 7 mm to 2 ± 5 mm. The Constant score at the 1-year follow-up was 79.69 ± 16.3. Discussion and conclusions The home-based self-exercise program for conservative treatment of PHFs displaces the head-diaphysis angle and the medial hinge toward anatomic reduction, but there is a risk of greater tuberosity cranial displacement. Functional results are fairly good, allowing frail patients to keep on with their independency and life style. Because a large number of patients might need further physiotherapy, the quality of the home-based self-exercises should be supervised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen Los receptores de un trasplante de órgano sólido (TOS) tienen un riesgo significativo de desarrollar infecciones fúngicas invasivas (IFI). El tratamiento es difícil debido a las potenciales interacciones existentes entre los antifúngicos y los inmunosupresores, así como por el riesgo de hepatotoxicidad y de daño renal asociados al uso del voriconazol y de la anfotericina B, respectivamente. El isavuconazol es un nuevo antifúngico triazólico con excelente biodisponibilidad oral, farmacocinética predecible y lineal, buena tolerancia y escasos efectos adversos que ha sido aprobado para el tratamiento de la aspergilosis invasiva (AI) y de la mucormicosis. Se ha revisado la experiencia existente con el uso del isavuconazol en pacientes con TOS. De acuerdo con los estudios publicados, y a pesar de que existe una importante variabilidad entre pacientes y entre los distintos tipos de TOS, el isavuconazol presenta una significativa menor interacción con el tacrolimus y es menos hepatotóxico que el voriconazol. El isavuconazol puede ser una alternativa al voriconazol para reducir de forma significativa los efectos secundarios asociados al tratamiento de la IFI en el TOS. Sería de gran interés la realización de futuros ensayos clínicos con este antifúngico tanto para el tratamiento como para la profilaxis de la IFI en estos pacientes. Abstract S olid organ transplant (SOT) recipients have a high risk for developing invasive fungal infections (IFI). Treatment is difficult due to the interaction between the antifungal and immunosuppressant drugs, as well as the risk of hepatotoxicity and kidney failure associated with voriconazole and amphotericin B, respectively. Isavuconazole is a new antifungal triazole agent with excellent oral bioavailability, predictable and linear pharmacokinetics, good tolerance and low adverse effects. It has been approved for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. A review is presented of the reported experience in the use of isavuconazole in SOT. According to the published studies, isavuconazole has a significantly lower risk of interaction with tacrolimus, and is less hepatotoxic than voriconazole. Nevertheless, there is a significant variability between patients, and between each type of SOT. Isavuconazole reduces the side effects associated with the treatment of IFI in SOT. It would be of great interest the implementation of future clinical trials with isavuconazole for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of IFI in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatologia (English Edition) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction The effect of surgery for metastases in patients with esophagogastric cancer is unknown, given the lack of randomized clinical trials; likewise, the criteria for selecting eligible patients remain to be determined. Methods This registry evaluates the results of patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach, distal esophagus, or gastro-esophageal junction from 32 centers. To assess selection criteria and prognostic factors, a state arrival extended Markov proportional hazards (PH) model was used. Results 1792 subjects were analyzed, 5% of whom (n = 92) underwent surgery for metastasis. The most common surgeries were peritoneal (29%), hepatic (24%), and distant lymph nodes (11%). Subjects chosen for metastasectomy had higher survival rates, HR 0.34 (95% CI, 0.06–0.80, p = 0.021). Patients who underwent surgery had a mOS since metastasectomy of 16.7 months (95% CI, 12.5–22.4). The 1- and 3-year relapse rates following R0 resection were 58% and 65%, respectively. Median time since R0 metastasectomy until relapse was 8.4 months (95% CI, 7.6–23.7). The 3-year OS after surgery was 30.6% (95% CI, 19.3–40.4). Duration of chemotherapy prior to surgery (months) increased mortality (HR 1.04 [95% CI, 1.01–1.07]), p = 0.009. The only significant interaction involved the use of anti-HER2 therapy. Conclusion The AGAMENON registry suggests that subjects with limited metastatic disease, selected on a clinical basis, can benefit from early surgeries. Prospective trials are needed to confirm these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a serious medical issue in many countries around the World, but it remains largely neglected in terms of research investment for developing new control and treatment measures. No vaccines exist for human use, and the chemotherapeutic agents currently used are scanty. Furthermore, for some drugs, resistance and treatment failure are increasing to alarming levels. The aim of this work was to identify genomic and trancriptomic alterations associated with experimental resistance against the common drugs used against VL: trivalent antimony (Sb III , S line), amphotericin B (AmB, A line), miltefosine (MIL, M line) and paromomycin (PMM, P line). A total of 1006 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in the S line, 379 in the A line, 146 in the M line, and 129 in the P line. Also, changes in ploidy of chromosomes and amplification/deletion of particular regions were observed in the resistant lines regarding the parental one. A series of genes were identified as possible drivers of the resistance phenotype and were validated in both promastigotes and amastigotes from Leishmania donovani , Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major species. Remarkably, a deletion of the gene LinJ.36.2510 (coding for 24-sterol methyltransferase, SMT) was found to be associated with AmB-resistance in the A line. In the P line, a dramatic overexpression of the transcripts LinJ.27.T1940 and LinJ.27.T1950 that results from a massive amplification of the collinear genes was suggested as one of the mechanisms of PMM resistance. This conclusion was reinforced after transfection experiments in which significant PMM-resistance was generated in WT parasites over-expressing either gene LinJ.27.1940 (coding for a D-lactate dehydrogenase-like protein, D-LDH) or gene LinJ.27.1950 (coding for an aminotransferase of branched-chain amino acids, BCAT). This work allowed to identify new drivers, like SMT, the deletion of which being associated with resistance to AmB, and the tandem D-LDH-BCAT, the amplification of which being related to PMM resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatologia (English Edition) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The cross-ethnic effect (in the literature, usually termed the cross-race effect) is defined as the greater difficulty in recognizing faces of other ethnicities compared with faces of one’s own. The aims of the present research were: 1) to test the hypothesis that the cross-ethnic effect is due to lack of contact with the other ethnicity. 2) to study possible differences in the perceptual mechanisms employed in face recognition as a function of the contact degree between ethnicities, which may be the basis of the cross-ethnic effect. We compared two ethnic groups with a high degree of contact, but different identities and cultural values: Andalusian Gypsies and Andalusian Caucasians. Both groups had to recognize a set of East Asian, Caucasian, and Gypsy faces while eye movements were monitored. In accordance with the contact hypothesis, our results revealed no differences between Gypsies and Caucasians observers in face recognition success. However, East Asian faces were more poorly recognized than Gypsies and Caucasian faces by both observer groups. With respect to the perceptual strategies, despite achieving similar face recognition performance, Caucasian and Gypsy observers employed different visual exploration strategies. Gypsies focused their attention on the eyes, while Caucasians fixated more on the nose than Gypsies. Our results support the contact hypothesis as an explanation for the cross-ethnic effect, and show how cultural factors imply differences in perceptual strategies even between close ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatologia (English Edition) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are especially at risk of developing infections by multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), as they are frequently exposed to antibiotics and the healthcare setting, and are regulary subject to invasive procedures. Nevertheless, no recommendations concerning prevention and treatment are available. A panel of experts revised the available evidence; this document summarizes their recommendations: (1) it is important to characterize the isolate's phenotypic and genotypic resistance profile; (2) overall, donor colonization should not constitute a contraindication to transplantation, although active infected kidney and lung grafts should be avoided; (3) recipient colonization is associated with an increased risk of infection, but is not a contraindication to transplantation; (4) different surgical prophylaxis regimens are not recommended for patients colonized with carbapenem-resistant GNB; (5) timely detection of carriers, contact isolation precautions, hand hygiene compliance and antibiotic control policies are important preventive measures; (6) there is not sufficient data to recommend intestinal decolonization; (7) colonized lung transplant recipients could benefit from prophylactic inhaled antibiotics, specially for Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; (8) colonized SOT recipients should receive an empirical treatment which includes active antibiotics, and directed therapy should be adjusted according to susceptibility study results and the severity of the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel Fitbit data statistical study based on Entropy for detection of SARS-CoV-2. • Applicable to diverse sectors of general population. • Can contribute as criterion for the application of PCR and IgG tests. • Can be adapted to reinfection, vaccine and virus mutation follow-up studies. • Provides an innovative general health profile. We present a statistical study of heart rate, step cadence, and sleep stage registers of health care workers in the Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga" (HGM), monitored continuously and non-invasively during the COVID-19 contingency from May to October 2020, using the Fitbit Charge 3® Smartwatch device. The HGM-COVID cohort consisted of 115 participants assigned to areas of COVID-19 exposure. We introduce a novel biomarker for an opportune signal for the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the Shannon Entropy of the Discrete Generalized Beta Distribution fit of rank ordered smartwatch registers. Our statistical test indicated infection for 94% of patients confirmed by positive polymer chain reaction (PCR+) test, 47% before the test, and 47% in coincidence. These results required innovative data preprocessing for the definition of a new biomarker index. The statistical method parameters are data-driven, confidence estimates were calibrated based on sensitivity tests using appropriately derived surrogate data as a benchmark. Our surrogate tests can also provide a benchmark for comparing results from other anomaly detection methods (ADMs). Biomarker comparison of the negative Immunoglobulin G Antibody (IgG-) subgroup with the PCR+ subgroup showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01, effect size = 1.44). The distribution of the uninfected population had a lower median and less dispersion than the PCR+ population. A retrospective study of our results confirmed that the biomarker index provides an early warning of the likelihood of COVID-19, even several days before the onset of symptoms or the PCR+ test request. The method can be calibrated for the analysis of different SARS-CoV-2 strains, the effect of vaccination, and previous infections. Furthermore, our biomarker screening could be implemented to provide general health profiles for other population sectors based on physiological signals from smartwatch wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of constitutive equations calibrated from data collected from adequate testing has been implemented successfully into standard solvers for successfully addressing a variety of problems encountered in SBES (simulation based engineering sciences). However, the complexity remains constantly increasing due to the more and more fine models being considered as well as the use of engineered materials. Data-Driven simulation constitutes a potential change of paradigm in SBES. Standard simulation in classical mechanics is based on the use of two very different types of equations. The first one, of axiomatic character, is related to balance laws (momentum, mass, energy...), whereas the second one consists of models that scientists have extracted from collected, natural or synthetic data. Data-driven simulation consists of directly linking data to computers in order to perform numerical simulations. These simulations will use universal laws while minimizing the need of explicit, often phenomenological, models. This work revisits our former work on data-driven computational linear and nonlinear elasticity and the rationale is extended for addressing computational inelasticity (viscoelastoplasticity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial communities were thoroughly characterized in a mesophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and a thermophilic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), which were both treating recalcitrant microalgal biomass dominated by Scenedesmus . 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis was performed when the AnMBR achieved 70% algal biodegradation and revealed high microbial diversity, probably due to the high solid retention time (SRT) of the AnMBR configuration. The bacterial community consisted of Chloroflexi (27.9%), WWE1 (19.0%) and Proteobacteria (15.4%) as the major phyla, followed by Spirochaetes (7.7%), Bacteroidetes (5.9%) and Firmicutes (3.6%). These phyla are known to exhibit proteolytic and cellulolytic capabilities required to degrade the Scenedesmus cell-wall. Methanosaeta was the most abundant methanogen detected in the AnMBR suggesting that methane was mainly produced by the acetoclastic pathway. In comparison, the thermophilic CSTR achieved 32.6% algal biodegradation, and its bacterial community had fewer Operational Taxonomic Units (977 OTUs) than the AnMBR (1396 OTUs), as is generally observed for high temperature biogas reactors. However, phyla with high hydrolytic potential were detected such as Firmicutes (34.6%) and the candidate taxon EM3 (38.7%) in the thermophilic CSTR. Although the functional metabolism of EM3 in anaerobic digesters is unknown, the high abundance of EM3 suggests that this taxon plays an important role in the thermophilic, anaerobic degradation of Scenedesmus . The abundant syntrophic bacteria and the detection of hydrogenotrophic methanogens in the thermophilic CSTR suggest that the hydrogenotrophic pathway was the dominant pathway for methane production in this reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]