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IntroductionCentral nervous system (CNS) tumors are the second most prevalent malignant neoplasms in childhood, with surgical resection as the primary therapeutic approach. The immediate postoperative period following CNS tumor resection requires intensive care to mitigate complications associated with high morbidity and mortality. ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study is to comprehensively describe the postoperative complications observed in pediatric patients who underwent primary CNS tumor resection and were subsequently admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Hospital Universitario Fundación Valle del Lili in Colombia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional observational analysis of pediatric patients who underwent surgery for CNS tumors and were admitted to our PICU from January 2011 to December 2021. Clinical, histopathologic, and postoperative complication data were collected. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed using measures of dispersion and central tendency with a 95% confidence interval.ResultsA total of 114 patients were included, of whom 55.3% were male. The median PICU stay was 4 days (2–7). The most common tumor type was embryonal (25.4%), followed by low-grade glioma (20.1%) and high-grade glioma (14.9%). Mechanical ventilation was required in 24.5% of patients, with a median extubation time of 3 days (2–9). In the immediate postoperative period, 6.14% of patients experienced CNS hemorrhage and 3.5% experienced intracranial hypertension. Common complications included motor deficits, facial paralysis, and sensory deficits. The mortality rate was 3.5%.ConclusionThis study describes the postoperative complications, clinical challenges, and interventions observed in pediatric patients after CNS tumor resection in a resource-limited country. Our findings emphasize the importance of tailored interventions and multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize clinical outcomes. Future data comparison from centers sharing similar characteristics will play a crucial role in identifying best practices and enhancing outcomes globally.

This work aims to identify the attitudes of researchers who have received a rejection of articles in the editorial process of scientific journals, emphasizing the rejection of articles and the forms of communication of this verdict. A mixed, exploratory, cross-sectional design study was carried out. The population consisted of Spanish-speaking researchers who had submitted articles to scientific journals and had at least one article rejection in their professional careers. The sampling was non-probabilistic, of the accidental type, reaching a total of 92 informants. A mixed questionnaire was applied, validated by experts, and based on a pilot test. The results show the occurrence of justified and unjustified rejections, acceptance of justified and argued rejection, and feelings such as frustration, disappointment, incomprehension, and anger when there are unjustified rejections or reports with derogatory expressions that have not been filtered by the editors; experienced researchers who, in spite of unjustified rejections persevere until publication, as opposed to the few abandonments, due to anger, disappointment, and loss of self-esteem. We conclude by considering rejection as a didactic instance, as long as there is timely and well-argued information from the editors of a journal; editorial management is improved through transparent, informed, and timely processes.Este trabajo tiene como objetivo identificar las actitudes de investigadores que han recibido rechazo de artículos en el proceso editorial de revistas científicas, con énfasis en el rechazo de los artículos y las formas de comunicación que se hacen de ese veredicto. Se realizó un estudio de carácter mixto, de tipo exploratorio, con diseño transeccional. La población estuvo constituida por investigadores de habla hispana que hubiesen postulado artículos a revistas científicas, teniendo, por lo menos en su trayectoria profesional, un rechazo de artículo. El muestreo fue no probabilístico, de tipo accidental, llegando a un total de 92 informantes. Se aplicó un cuestionario de tipo mixto validado por expertos y a partir de prueba piloto. Los resultados muestran la ocurrencia de rechazos justificados y no justificados; aceptación del rechazo justificado y argumentado, y sentimientos como frustración, decepción, incomprensión, enojo, cuando se producen rechazos injustificados o informes con expresiones despectivas que no han sido filtradas por los editores; investigadores con experiencia que, a pesar de rechazos injustificados perseveran hasta publicar, en contraposición a los pocos abandonos, debido al enojo, decepción y merma de la autoestima. Se concluye considerando el rechazo como una instancia didáctica, siempre y cuando exista información oportuna y argumentada por parte de los editores de una revista; la gestión editorial se mejora a partir de procesos transparentes, informados y oportunos.

Abstract Taxonomic classification is crucial in identifying organisms within diverse microbial communities when using metagenomics shotgun sequencing. While second-generation Illumina sequencing still dominates, third-generation nanopore sequencing promises improved classification through longer reads. However, extensive benchmarking studies on nanopore data are lacking. We systematically evaluated performance of bacterial taxonomic classification for metagenomics nanopore sequencing data for several commonly used classifiers, using standardized reference sequence databases, on the largest collection of publicly available data for defined mock communities thus far (nine samples), representing different research domains and application scopes. Our results categorize classifiers into three categories: low precision/high recall; medium precision/medium recall, and high precision/medium recall. Most fall into the first group, although precision can be improved without excessively penalizing recall with suitable abundance filtering. No definitive ‘best’ classifier emerges, and classifier selection depends on application scope and practical requirements. Although few classifiers designed for long reads exist, they generally exhibit better performance. Our comprehensive benchmarking provides concrete recommendations, supported by publicly available code for reassessment and fine-tuning by other scientists.

Aquatic microbial communities are well known to rapidly respond to environmental changes, and to harbor the highest taxonomic and genetic diversity among biological communities. Nevertheless, they remain under-utilized as bioindicators of contamination. Here we applied indicator value analysis (IndVal) to aquatic microbial communities to identify indicators of anthropogenic pressure by emerging contaminants at basin scale. For that, we defined categories of impact according to the Aquatic Quality Index (AQI) based on previous determinations of emerging contaminants (ECs) along an anthropogenic impact gradient. Indicator value analysis (IndVal) was conducted to identify amplicon sequence variants (ASVs; analogous to species in other fields of ecology) associated with each category.It was possible to find combinations of ASV indicators for all impact categories defined by the AQI. Microbial indicators exhibited a high capacity to predict the group membership of the samples within each AQI category and to correctly assign the samples to the appropriate category, employing leave-one-out cross-validation (100 % correctly assigned for streams and coastal sea and 94% for lagoons).This is the first report of emerging contamination indicators based on microbial communities. These results reaffirm the capacity of microbial communities to rapidly adjust their taxonomic composition in response to environmental changes. Therefore, these microscopic entities are promising for the application of environmental management measures and the approximation presented here contributes to the advancement of tools dedicated to monitoring aquatic ecosystems, and the application of more stringent standards for water quality than what is currently implemented.

Several studies have investigated the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2, focusing particularly on the systemic humoral immune response and the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. IgA antibodies play a crucial role in protecting against respiratory viral infections but have also been associated with the pathophysiology of COVID-19. We performed a prospective study of 169 COVID-19 patients – 50 with critical/severe (ICU), 47 with moderate (Non-ICU), and 72 with asymptomatic COVID-19 – to explore the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found that the early systemic IgA response strongly induced in patients with severe disease did not block IgG neutralization functions and activated FcRs more effectively than IgG. However, even if SIgA levels were high, mucosal IgA antibodies could not control the infection effectively in patients with severe disease. Our findings highlight the complexity of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 exhibiting high systemic levels of IgA with strong neutralizing capacity in severe cases, together with higher levels of IgA-FcR activation than in asymptomatic patients. They also suggest the need for further research to fully understand the role of IgA and its structural alterations in mucosal tissues in cases of severe disease and the impact of these antibodies on disease progression.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue obtener información sobre la alteración que se produce en la microbiota vaginal, así como las complicaciones obstétricas que se pudieran generar en mujeres embarazadas. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de artículos que fueron publicados entre los años 2019 y 2024 los cuales contienen información relevante y actualizada del tema, utilizando base de datos como Google Scholar, Elsevier, Medigraphic, PubMed, Scopus, así como el uso operadores boleanos AND, OR, NOT, para generar mejores resultados centrados en el impacto del microbioma vaginal en la salud obstétrica. Los resultados indican que su alteración varía dependiendo de diferentes factores ya que existen un desequilibrio y el aumento del pH vaginal lo cual favorece a la proliferación de bacterias anaeróbicas, generando el desarrollo de vaginosis bacteriana relacionada con diferentes complicaciones que pueden afectar en diferentes etapas de la vida y en el caso de mujeres gestantes puede producir abortos espontáneos o partos prematuros, donde el uso de antibióticos y los cambios hormonales son factores que contribuyen a su alteración. En conclusión, es necesario mantener el equilibrio tanto en mujeres gestantes como no gestantes ya que aportaría en la prevención de diferentes infecciones y complicaciones a lo largo de la vida.

Using pure hydrogen (H2) or mixtures of H2 and natural gas in gas-fired power plants represents a viable route to decarbonize electric power generation. This study models a system designed to cool the air at the compressor inlet to 8.8 °C, achieve a flue gas oxygen percentage of 11.46 %, and produce 44.4 MW with a fuel mix ranging from 0 to 100 % H2 operating in tropical climates, where temperatures exceed 30 °C and relative humidity exceeds 80 %. The analysis is based on energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic balance to obtain performance indicators that characterize plant operations. The results show that with 100 % H2, the PCI increases by 144 % compared to 100 % natural gas. Furthermore, the energy analysis indicates that for every 10 % volume increase in the H2 fuel mix, the CO2 concentration decreased by 34 kg/m³, the NOx concentration increased by 1 kg/m³, the dew point temperature increased by 0.5 °C, the energy efficiency improved by 4.5 percentage points, the heat rate decreased by 7 %, and the specific fuel consumption decreased by 8.5 %. Furthermore, the total exergy destruction increased by 14.83 %, and the total exergy efficiency decreased by 2.7 percentage points. The exergoeconomic analysis shows that the specific cost of electric energy per GJ decreases by 10 % for H2 contents higher than 80 % by volume. This work demonstrates that generating energy from gas turbine power plants with lower CO2 equivalent emissions is possible. On the other hand, the effects of moisture content in exhaust gases and NOX are known due to the greater presence of H2 and higher temperature combustion.

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an irreversible progressive CNS pathology characterized by the loss of myelin (i.e. demyelination). The lack of myelin is followed by a progressive neurodegeneration triggering symptoms as diverse as fatigue, motor, locomotor and sensory impairments and/or bladder, cardiac and respiratory dysfunction. Even though there are more than fourteen approved treatments for reducing MS progression, there are still no cure for the disease. Thus, MS research is a very active field and therefore we count with different experimental animal models for studying mechanisms of demyelination and myelin repair, however, we still lack a preclinical MS model assembling demyelination mechanisms with relevant clinical-like signs. Results Here, by inducing the simultaneous demyelination of both callosal and cerebellar white matter fibers by the double-site injection of lysolecithin (LPC), we were able to reproduce CNS demyelination, astrocyte recruitment and increases levels of proinflammatory cytokines levels along with motor, locomotor and urinary impairment, as well as cardiac and respiratory dysfunction, in the same animal model. Single site LPC-injections either in corpus callosum or cerebellum only, fails in to reproduce such a complete range of MS-like signs. Conclusion We here report that the double-site LPC injections treatment evoke a complex MS-like mice model. We hope that this experimental approach will help to deepen our knowledge about the mechanisms of demyelinated diseases such as MS.

Abstract Live-Attenuated Vaccines (LAVs) stimulate robust mucosal and cellular responses and have the potential to protect against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), the main etiologic agents of viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children. We inserted the RSV-F gene into an HMPV-based LAV (Metavac®) we previously validated for the protection of mice against HMPV challenge, and rescued a replicative recombinant virus (Metavac®-RSV), exposing both RSV- and HMPV-F proteins at the virion surface and expressing them in reconstructed human airway epithelium models. When administered to BALB/c mice by the intranasal route, bivalent Metavac®-RSV demonstrated its capacity to replicate with reduced lung inflammatory score and to protect against both RSV and lethal HMPV challenges in vaccinated mice while inducing strong IgG and broad RSV and HMPV neutralizing antibody responses. Altogether, our results showed the versatility of the Metavac® platform and suggested that Metavac®-RSV is a promising mucosal bivalent LAV candidate to prevent pneumovirus-induced diseases.

Abstract When a measurement of a physical quantity is reported, the total uncertainty is usually decomposed into statistical and systematic uncertainties. This decomposition is not only useful for understanding the contributions to the total uncertainty, but is also required to propagate these contributions in subsequent analyses, such as combinations or interpretation fits including results from other measurements or experiments. In profile likelihood fits, widely applied in high-energy physics analyses, contributions of systematic uncertainties are routinely quantified using “impacts,” which are not adequate for such applications. We discuss the difference between impacts and actual uncertainty components, and establish methods to determine the latter in a wide range of statistical models.

Resumen Este artículo analiza la relación entre el drill como género musical y el protagonismo que tienen en él las franjas más desafiliadas de los jóvenes de origen inmigrante. Nos servimos de las herramientas teóricas de Abdelmalek Sayad para pensar: de un lado, el estrechamiento de las posibilidades vitales de los hijos e hijas de la migración; y de otro, entender el drill como una estrategia subversiva contra los procesos de estigmatización que experimentan los jóvenes de origen migrante que residen en barrios segregados. Para ello analizamos la propuesta musical de Key 21, uno de los mayores exponentes del drill, residente en una zona de trabajadores jornaleros de la agricultura intensiva en el sur de España. El análisis de las canciones de Key 21 muestra las estrategias de los jóvenes hijos de la migración para transformar el estigma en emblema de la propia identidad y de la identidad de sus barrios.

We report a straightforward and efficient synthesis of 4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl benzenesulfonate (3a) and 8-iodo-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl benzenesulfonate (3b) in good yields through an O-sulfonylation reaction of 7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-ones 1a and 1b with benzenesulfonyl chloride 2 mediated by triethylamine in dichloromethane at ambient temperature. The aryl sulfonyl esters were characterized using spectroscopic, spectrometric, and thermal analyses.

Background Calcium intake is below recommendations in several parts of the world. Improving calcium intake has benefits not only for bone health but also helps to prevent pregnancy hypertension disorders. Calcium concentration of tap water is usually low The aim of the present study was to determine the maximum amount of calcium that can be added to tap water while complying with drinking water Argentine regulations. Methods Tap water samples were collected from the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Physicochemical properties and saturation index were measured. Different incremental concentrations of calcium chloride were added to the experimental aliquots. Results Baseline water had a mean calcium concentration of 22.00 ± 2.54 mg/L, water hardness of 89.9 ± 6.4 mg/L CaCO3, and a saturation index of -1.50 ± 0.11. After the addition of 0.4554 ± 0.0071 g of salt, water hard-ness reached 355.0 ± 7.1 mg/L CaCO3, a calcium concentration of 140.50 ± 2.12 mg/L, and a saturation index -0.53 ± 0.02. Conclusions This study shows that at laboratory level it is feasible to increase calcium concentration of drinking water by adding calcium chloride while complying with national standards. Calcium concentration of drinking tap water could be evaluated and minimum calcium concentration of tap water regulated so as to improve calcium intake in populations with low calcium intake.

Abstract Introduction This study assesses the accuracy of neutrophil activation markers, including neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and calprotectin, as biomarkers of disease activity in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We also analyse the relationship between NETs and various types of therapies as well as their association with autoimmunity. Methods Observational cross-sectional study of patients with RA receiving treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or Janus kinase inhibitors (JAK-inhibitors) for at least 3 months. Plasma calprotectin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test kit and NETs by measuring their remnants in plasma (neutrophil elastase-DNA and histone-DNA complexes). We also assessed clinical disease activity, joint ultrasound findings and autoantibody status [reumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPAs) and anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP)]. Associations between neutrophilic biomarkers and clinical or ultrasound scores were sought using correlation analysis. The discriminatory capacity of both neutrophilic biomarkers to detect ultrasound synovitis was analysed through receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results One hundred fourteen patients were included. Two control groups were included to compare NET levels. The active control group consisted of 15 patients. The second control group consisted of 30 healthy subjects. Plasma NET levels did not correlate with clinical disease status, regardless of the clinic index analysed or the biological therapy administered. No significant correlation was observed between NET remnants and ultrasound synovitis. There was no correlation between plasma NET and autoantibodies. In contrast, plasma calprotectin positively correlated with clinical parameters (swollen joint count [SJC] rho = 0.49; P 0.50; P

Abstract Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent cancer in children, and despite considerable progress in treatment outcomes, relapses still pose significant risks of mortality and long-term complications. To address this challenge, we employed a supervised machine learning technique, specifically random survival forests, to predict the risk of relapse and mortality using array-based DNA methylation data from a cohort of 763 pediatric ALL patients treated in Nordic countries. The relapse risk predictor (RRP) was constructed based on 16 CpG sites, demonstrating c-indexes of 0.667 and 0.677 in the training and test sets, respectively. The mortality risk predictor (MRP), comprising 53 CpG sites, exhibited c-indexes of 0.751 and 0.754 in the training and test sets, respectively. To validate the prognostic value of the predictors, we further analyzed two independent cohorts of Canadian (n = 42) and Nordic (n = 384) ALL patients. The external validation confirmed our findings, with the RRP achieving a c-index of 0.667 in the Canadian cohort, and the RRP and MRP achieving c-indexes of 0.529 and 0.621, respectively, in an independent Nordic cohort. The precision of the RRP and MRP models improved when incorporating traditional risk group data, underscoring the potential for synergistic integration of clinical prognostic factors. The MRP model also enabled the definition of a risk group with high rates of relapse and mortality. Our results demonstrate the potential of DNA methylation as a prognostic factor and a tool to refine risk stratification in pediatric ALL. This may lead to personalized treatment strategies based on epigenetic profiling.

This essay examines Luis Martín-Santos’ second novel, Time of Destruction, unfinished at the time of his accidental death in 1964, in connection with James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). To date, Marisol Morales-Ladrón remains the only scholar who has dealt extensively with both texts (2005: 162-182), a sharp contrast to the numerous studies that have discussed the traces of Joyce’s Ulysses in Martín-Santos’ first novel, Time of Silence (1962). The publication, in 2022, of Mauricio Jalón’s new edition of Martín-Santos’ Time of Destruction, one with significant textual amendments to the first edition (1975), provides an ideal opportunity to expand the scholarship on this scarcely researched topic. The first section of this essay offers a brief discussion of the new edition of Martín-Santos’ novel and reconsiders it in relation to Joyce’s work. The second section proposes a reading of A Portrait and Time of Destruction in light of the tension that exists between the narrators and the two main fictional figures in these novels, Stephen Dedalus and Agustín. The final section considers both novels in relation to Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy of history and morality.

Introduction: Mental fatigue is a key factor in soccer that can affect physical performance. Mental fatigue protocols based on the Stroop test used in soccer involve extensive time, ranging from 10 to 30 min. Offering a protocol with a shorter duration that is more applicable in ecological situations seems to be an exciting challenge. Objective: To analyze the effects of a mental fatigue induction protocol (2 min Stroop test in its incongruent mode) on decision-making, response time, and technical execution accuracy in soccer players. Methods: A total of 18 semi-elite soccer male players, 25.83 (4.71) years from a Spanish soccer team, participated in this cross-sectional study. The 2 min incongruent Stroop test was used like mental fatigue protocol, followed by a specific analytical soccer task. The Wilcoxon signed-rank and Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the statistical differences. Results: A significant increase in participants’ response time after the fatigue protocol (p < 0.001; r = 0.878) was observed. Regarding the variables of correct decision (p = 0.457; r = 0.031) and technical execution accuracy (p = 1; r < 0.001), no significant differences were found. Additionally, no differences were observed between the first and second attempts of the 2 min incongruent Stroop test, in terms of execution accuracy, errors, or total words. Conclusions: The 2 min Stroop incongruent task may induce some degree of mental fatigue, leading to slower response time during certain technical tasks in semi-elite soccer players. However, this Stroop task was insufficient to promote significant changes in the accuracy of technical execution and the effectiveness of decision-making.

Accurate laboratory diagnosis of gastroenteritis is important to ensure that patients receive appropriate treatment and proper isolation precautions. This study evaluated the performance of the QIAGEN QIAstat-Dx gastrointestinal panel (QGP) in comparison to the bioMerieux BioFire FilmArray gastrointestinal panel (BGP) for the detection of gastrointestinal pathogens in 110 pediatric patients being evaluated for gastroenteritis at our hospital. We compared 23 different bacterial, viral, and parasite enteropathogens detected by the QGP against the BGP. The overall positive percent agreement (PPA) for all compared targets was 96.2% and the overall negative percent agreement (NPA) for all compared targets was 99.7%. Our study shows that QIAstat-Dx QGP provides comparable results to the BioFire BGP in our pediatric population. Additionally, the PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value reported by the QGP is potentially a helpful tool in estimating the load of the detected pathogen in stool samples.

La optimización desempeña un papel crucial en la planificación y operación de los sistemas de gestión de energía, reduciendo costos y evitando pérdidas en su generación, disminuyendo, además, las emisiones de carbono. Lo anterior se da teniendo en cuenta el equilibrio entre oferta y demanda y el aprovechamiento de los recursos energéticos distribuidos (DER, por sus siglas en inglés). Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo proponer un esquema generalizado de comunidad energética, donde los generadores que componen una microrred suplen la demanda de esta o de las microrredes vecinas. Es de considerar que cada generador de energía tiene una función de costos asociada a esta, y existe una penalización, o costo de transmisión, cuando un DER, ubicado en una microrred definida, envía energía a la microrred vecina. Con el fin de abordar las restricciones, se propuso, como metodología de solución, un enfoque basado en juegos poblacionales, en conjunto con la técnica de relajación lagrangiana. Los resultados obtenidos fueron la aplicación del modelo y método de solución en tres diferentes escenarios. Además, se comparó el desempeño de la solución propuesta con la respuesta de un método de optimización convencional, logrando despachos similares y errores mínimos en comparación con la técnica tradicional. La investigación demostró que la combinación de conceptos de juegos poblacionales y técnicas de relajación lagrangiana permiten asumir restricciones que son de difícil manejo para la dinámica de replicadores. Finalmente, se concluye que el modelo es una buena herramienta para abordar problemas de gestión de energía que implican cumplir con la demanda por región en un escenario peer to peer.

El presente trabajo tuvo como propósito analizar el impacto de adicionar, al entrenamiento regular, ejercicios resistidos-asistidos con bandas elásticas, sobre la velocidad de lanzamiento en handball. Dieciocho jugadores masculinos de la máxima categoría de competición del Uruguay, fueron divididos en forma pareada en un grupo experimental y un grupo control. Previo y posterior a la intervención, se evaluó la velocidad de lanzamiento clásico en apoyo desde 7m, y desde 9m con tres pasos previos de carrera, utilizando un radar. La intervención se llevó a cabo durante el período competitivo, y tuvo una duración de seis semanas a razón de tres sesiones semanales, durante las cuales ambos grupos realizaron su entrenamiento habitual. Adicionalmente, el grupo experimental incluyó luego de cada entrenamiento ejercicios de lanzamientos resistidos-asistidos con bandas elásticas TheraBand de color azul. Los mismos consistieron en cuatro series de seis repeticiones de lanzamientos en apoyo desde 9m de la portería. Ambos grupos percibieron la intensidad de las sesiones de entrenamiento como moderadas o intensas, según escala de Borg. Luego de la intervención, ambos grupos mejoraron el rendimiento en la velocidad de lanzamiento desde las dos distancias (p < 0,05). Se observó una tendencia hacia una mayor mejora en el grupo experimental; aunque ésta no logró significancia estadística (p < 0,05). El uso de ejercicios de lanzamiento con bandas elásticas, como adición al entrenamiento de fuerza tradicional, podría redundar beneficios para la mejora de la velocidad de lanzamiento. En sujetos muy entrenados, podrían ser necesarios estímulos mayores para lograr resultados significativos.

El Functional Movement Screen (FMS®) constituye una batería de test para identificar problemas de estabilidad y movilidad, y una guía para orientar el entrenamiento. El propósito de la presente investigación fue evaluar y comparar mediante el FMS® el nivel de aptitud funcional del movimiento de jugadores de fútbol varones juveniles de diferentes categorías (sub-13, n = 21; sub-14, n = 35; sub-15, n = 16; sub-17, n = 19) del departamento de Maldonado, Uruguay. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre las categorías en cuanto al rendimiento obtenido en cada una de las pruebas (p > 0,05), siendo la media del puntaje total del FMS® de 16,4 ± 0,8 puntos (inferior a lo considerado deseable). Este hallazgo sugiere que, a medida que aumenta la edad y el nivel de competición de los deportistas, no se corrigen sus déficits de movilidad y estabilidad. Se aconseja que los profesionales a cargo de la evaluación física y motriz de futbolistas juveniles incorporen herramientas como el FMS®, ya que aportan información valiosa para estimar la aptitud funcional de los mismos. A partir de esto, se recomienda programar entrenamientos teniendo en consideración el desarrollo de los patrones fundamentales de movimiento, preparando a los jugadores para habilidades deportivas específicas.

Esta investigación propone desarrollar una metodología basada en el algoritmo de optimización de mapeo media varianza (MVMO) para reducir las pérdidas de potencia activa del sistema de subtransmisión de la Empresa Eléctrica Quito (EEQ), determinando el mejor punto de operación del sistema, considerando el estado de tap’s de los transformadores, los bancos de capacitores y del aporte de reactivos de las centrales de generación con las que cuenta actualmente la EEQ. Los mismos que al operar de una manera adecuada llevan a reducir el valor de las pérdidas de potencia activa en la red, mejorando así las condiciones operativas del Sistema Eléctrico de Potencia de la EEQ.

En este texto se apuntan, desde una cierta pretensión de manejar las herramientas del autoanálisis sociológico, unas pinceladas reflexivas del proceso de producción de una tesis doctoral sobre los trabajadores agrarios del campo murciano realizada hace casi 30 años. Ello se hace con la voluntad de extraer algunas enseñanzas por si las mismas pudieran servir y contribuir a animar a los jóvenes investigadores que están iniciando una tesis doctoral.

Maintaining heritage buildings requires a delicate balance between preserving their history and implementing modern construction practices. Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) is a technology that has made significant strides in preserving and efficiently managing cultural and architectural structures. HBIM enables the documentation of historic buildings and improves decision-making throughout the life cycle of such assets. However, despite the progress made in this field, more studies that comprehensively analyze the current state of knowledge and the specific trends driving the adoption of HBIM in this context need to be conducted. Therefore, this study aims to examine the adoption of HBIM and its interaction with complementary technologies in heritage buildings through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. The research method consisted of five main stages: (1) scope definition, (2) selection of bibliometric data analysis techniques, (3) data collection, (4) execution of bibliometric analysis, and (5) evidence analysis and synthesis. The analysis was conducted on 433 documents published between 2008 and 2023 concerning the adoption of HBIM in heritage buildings. The results show impressive progress in HBIM, revealing the utilization of advanced technologies in data collection to create detailed models. Notably, significant developments have been made in restoring structures that focus on sustainability. Techniques such as photogrammetry, laser applications, and 3D modeling are being incorporated. These findings provide valuable information on the advancements, patterns, and emerging technologies in HBIM for preserving and maintaining historic buildings. Researchers can utilize this information to shape future research with an up-to-date and international perspective.

Este artículo pretende analizar cómo a través del periodismo narrativo y ambiental, Eliane Brum, autora de La Amazonía. Viaje al centro del mundo, ha hecho una defensa del mayor bosque tropical del planeta. La cronista brasileña apuesta por devolver al periodismo su carácter de denuncia y hacer que sus textos se conviertan en una forma de memoria. El libro está escrito desde adentro y con un enfoque en el que plantea que no se puede entender la crisis actual sin saber que está atravesada por cuestiones de raza, especie, clase y género.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a gram-negative oral pathogen associated with chronic periodontitis. Previous studies have linked poor oral health and periodontitis with oral cancer. Severe cases of periodontal disease can result in advanced periodontitis, leading to tissue degradation, tooth loss, and may also correlate with higher gastric cancer (GC) risk. In fact, tooth loss is associated with an elevated risk of cancer. However, the clinical evidence for this association remains inconclusive. Periodontitis is also characterized by chronic inflammation and upregulation of members of the Programmed Death 1/PD1 Ligand 1 (PD1/PDL1) axis that leads to an immunosuppressive state. Given that chronic inflammation and immunosuppression are conditions that facilitate cancer progression and carcinogenesis, we hypothesize that oral P. gingivalis and/or its virulence factors serve as a mechanistic link between oral health and gastric carcinogenesis/GC progression. We also discuss the potential impact of P. gingivalis’ virulence factors (gingipains, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and fimbriae) on inflammation and the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in GC which are part of the current standard of care for advanced stage patients.

Adoptive T cellular immunotherapies have emerged as relevant approaches for treating cancer patients who have relapsed or become refractory (R/R) to traditional cancer treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has improved survival in various hematological malignancies. However, significant limitations still impede the widespread adoption of these therapies in most cancers. To advance in this field, six research groups have created the “NEXT Generation CART MAD Consortium” (NEXT CART) in Madrid’s Community, which aims to develop novel cell-based immunotherapies for R/R and poor prognosis cancers. At NEXT CART, various basic and translational research groups and hospitals in Madrid concur to share and synergize their basic expertise in immunotherapy, gene therapy, and immunological synapse, and clinical expertise in pediatric and adult oncology. NEXT CART goal is to develop new cell engineering approaches and treatments for R/R adult and pediatric neoplasms to evaluate in multicenter clinical trials. Here, we discuss the current limitations of T cell-based therapies and introduce our perspective on future developments. Advancement opportunities include developing allogeneic products, optimizing CAR signaling domains, combining cellular immunotherapies, multi-targeting strategies, and improving tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)/T cell receptor (TCR) therapy. Furthermore, basic studies aim to identify novel tumor targets, tumor molecules in the tumor microenvironment that impact CAR efficacy, and strategies to enhance the efficiency of the immunological synapse between immune and tumor cells. Our perspective of current cellular immunotherapy underscores the potential of these treatments while acknowledging the existing hurdles that demand innovative solutions to develop their potential for cancer treatment fully.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters synthesized as a carbon and energy reserve material by a wide number of bacteria. These polymers are characterized by their thermoplastic properties similar to those of plastics derived from the petrochemical industry, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. PHAs are widely used in the medical field and have the potential to be used in other applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Among PHAs, P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers are thermo-elastomeric polyesters that are typically soft and flexible with low to no crystallinity, which can expand the range of applications of these bioplastics. Several bacterial species, such as Cupriavidus necator, Azotobacter vinelandii, Halomonas sp. and Bacillus megaterium, have been successfully used for P(3HB-co-3HV) production, both in batch and fed-batch cultures using different low-cost substrates, such as vegetable and fruit waste. Nevertheless, in recent years, several fermentation strategies using other microbial models, such as methanotrophic bacterial strains as well as halophilic bacteria, have been developed in order to improve PHA production in cultivation conditions that are easily implemented on a large scale. This review aims to summarize the recent trends in the production and recovery of PHA copolymers by fermentation, including different cultivation modalities, low-cost raw materials, as well as downstream strategies that have recently been developed with the purpose of producing copolymers, such as P(3HB-co-3HV), with suitable mechanical properties for applications in the biomedical field.

La pandemia produjo un shock (Grinberg, Verón y Bussi, 2020) que la población no había experimentado, al menos en el curso del siglo XXI y que instaló, entre otros aspectos, la incertidumbre respecto del porvenir y el temor al contacto humano. En ese mientras tanto del desarrollo de la pandemia, la prescripción fue quedarse en casa y la digitalización se transformó en el elemento clave de cualquier tipo de interacción. En algún sentido el cambio de la modalidad de comunicación, o sea, la virtualización de los intercambios entre los hablantes que separa la comunicación de la corporeidad, cambió la forma del propio mensaje, y redefinió el vínculo pedagógico, con el aumento en algunos casos de la inestabilidad de la cultura profesional de ser/hacer docencia en este escenario. Esto no es menor, porque en todas las áreas (empresariales, de gobierno, de ocio, educativas, etcétera) el shock fue redireccionado hacia la virtualización de las acciones. En nuestro caso especial de la educación, para evitar la propagación del virus por COVID19, se planteó el cierre total de las instituciones educativas en todos sus niveles y modalidades. En la Provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina (Región Patagónica) ese proceso de cierre institucional, en el marco de lo que se denominó Aislamiento Social Preventivo y Obligatorio (ASPO), se extendió por casi 16 (dieciséis) meses, a partir de Marzo del año 2020. La foto inicial de la vida escolar en tiempos de pandemia se conformó con elementos ya existentes, la aparición de otros y la emergencia de algunas novedades que vinieron a profundizar situaciones preexistentes. Sin embargo, la foto inicial es impactante ante el cierre de las escuelas, ya no se podían compartir espacios y tiempos con otros/as y cundió el pánico de ser potenciales agentes de contagio. La escuela, ese espacio-tiempo donde circulamos en con-juntos/as, donde aprendemos-enseñamos, producimos saberes y la cultura transmite, quedó cerrada y vacía. Es aquí, donde concentramos la problematización en este escrito, pues las puertas cerradas y las escuelas vacías, no implicó el cese de los procesos de escolarización. En este sentido, proponemos que en escenario de pandemia, la educación en casa involucró articular esfuerzos institucionales, personales y familiares para sostener el vínculo pedagógico y con el conocimiento. Este informe presenta resultados de investigación en torno a los efectos de la pandemia en la escolaridad, específicamente, respecto de las características de la educación en casa desde la perspectiva de estudiantes y docentes. Con gran acento en la sincronía, recuperamos las vivencias y sentires de enseñar y aprender en tiempos de pandemia y virtualización compulsiva.

Research in the field of Artificial Intelligence applied to emotions in the educational context has experienced significant growth in recent years. However, despite the field’s profound implications for the educational community, the social impact of this scientific production on digital social media remains unclear. To address this question, the present research has been proposed, aiming to analyze the social impact of scientific production on the use of Artificial Intelligence for emotions in the educational context. For this purpose, a sample of 243 scientific publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science has been selected, from which a second sample of 6,094 social impact records has been extracted from Altmetric, Crossref, and PlumX databases. A dual analysis has been conducted using specially designed software: on one hand, the scientific sample has been analyzed from a bibliometric perspective, and on the other hand, the social impact records have been studied. Comparative analysis based on the two dimensions, scientific and social, has focused on the evolution of scientific production with its corresponding social impact, sources, impact, and content analysis. The results indicate that scientific publications have had a high social impact (with an average of 25.08 social impact records per publication), with a significant increase in research interest starting from 2019, likely driven by the emotional implications of measures taken to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a lack of alignment has been identified between articles with the highest scientific impact and those with the highest social impact, as well as a lack of alignment in the most commonly used terms from both scientific and social perspectives, a significant variability in the lag in months for scientific research to make an impact on social media, and the fact that the social impact of the research did not emerge from the interest of Twitter users unaffiliated with the research, but rather from the authors, publishers, or scientific institutions. The proposed comparative methodology can be applied to any field of study, making it a useful tool given that current trends in accreditation agencies propose the analysis of the repercussion of scientific research in social media.

En el fútbol juvenil, el entrenamiento sistemático de fuerza puede mejorar significativamente el rendimiento. Con frecuencia, este tipo de entrenamiento se lleva a cabo durante el período preparatorio y se interrumpe o reduce su énfasis en el período competitivo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de tres mesociclos consecutivos de entrenamiento combinado de fuerza (levantamiento de pesas y pliometría en los dos primeros, pliometría y cambios de dirección en el tercero) para lograr mejoras continuas en el rendimiento de sprint, salto vertical y cambios de dirección en jugadores de fútbol juvenil masculino. Dieciocho jugadores de fútbol, con una edad de 14,1 ± 0,3 años y sin experiencia previa en entrenamiento estructurado de fuerza, fueron los sujetos del estudio. Antes y después de cada mesociclo, se evaluó a los deportistas en salto con contramovimiento (CMJ), sprint de 5m, sprint de 10m, sprint de 15m, sprint de 20m y cambio de dirección (test 505). Además, se evaluó el rendimiento en ejercicios específicos utilizados en cada mesociclo, que incluyeron sentadilla, sentadilla búlgara, empuje de cadera unilateral y bilateral, y saltos horizontales unilaterales y bilaterales (simples y múltiples). Se observaron mejoras en el rendimiento en los tres mesociclos para todas las variables analizadas (p ≤ 0,05), excepto para el CMJ (p > 0,05) en el último mesociclo. Dado que las mejoras de rendimiento se lograron con magnitudes de carga relativamente bajas, en comparación con las reportadas en intervenciones similares en esta población, se infiere que esta estrategia tiene el potencial de generar mejoras sostenidas a lo largo de todo el año de entrenamiento en futbolistas jóvenes sin experiencia previa en entrenamiento de fuerza.

This work introduces a novel computational approach based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction of the solution space in optimisation problems with known linear interdependencies among solution variables. By creating synthetic datasets with deliberately engineered properties and applying PCA, the solution space’s remapping significantly reduces its dimensionality, leading to faster computation and more robust convergence in optimisation processes. We demonstrate this method by integrating it with a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for solving the optimal director distribution in liquid crystal (LC) devices, specifically addressing 2D and complex 3D spatial light modulator (SLM) structures such as twisted nematic liquid crystals (TN-LC) and parallel-aligned liquid crystal on silicon (PA-LCoS), respectively. The phase profiles obtained from the director vector distributions for horizontal and vertical high-frequency binary phase gratings closely match the theoretical values derived from minimising the traditional elastic Frank–Oseen functional via Euler–Lagrange equations. Beyond this specific application, our method offers a general framework for reducing computational complexity in optimisation problems by directly reducing the dimensionality of the solution space. This approach is applicable across various optimisation scenarios with well-known linear interdependencies among solution variables, enabling significant reductions in computational costs and improvements in robustness and convergence.

The diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in the pediatric population is complicated by the high prevalence of asymptomatic colonization, particularly in infants. Many laboratory diagnostic methods are available, but there continues to be controversy over the optimal laboratory testing approach to diagnose CDI in children. We evaluated commonly used C. difficile diagnostic commercial tests in our pediatric hospital population at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar. Between June and December 2023, 374 consecutive stool samples from pediatric patients aged 0–18 years old were tested using: Techlab C. diff Quik Chek Complete, Cepheid GeneXpert C. difficile, QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel, and culture using CHROMagar C. difficile. The results of these tests as standalone methods or in four different testing algorithms were compared to a composite reference method on the basis of turnaround time, ease of use, cost, and performance characteristics including specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. Our study showed variability in test performance of the different available assays in diagnosing CDI. In our population, a testing algorithm starting with Cepheid GeneXpert C. difficile PCR assay or QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal panel as a screening test followed by toxin immunoassay for positive samples using the Techlab C. diff Quik Chek Complete kit showed the best performance (100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value) when combined with clinical review of the patient to assess risk factors for CDI, clinical presentation, and alternative causes of diarrhea.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are life-threatening infections for which a timely initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy is critical. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) directly performed on positive blood culture broths can help initiate targeted antibiotic therapy sooner than the standard AST performed on colonies isolated on solid media after overnight incubation. Faster antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results can improve clinical outcomes, and reduce broad-spectrum antimicrobial consumption and healthcare-associated costs in sepsis. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of a direct AST inoculation method on the BD Phoenix M50 system using serum separator tubes to harvest bacteria from positive pediatric blood culture bottles. Direct AST was performed on 132 monomicrobial pediatric blood culture bottles that were positive for Enterobacterales (65; 49.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (46; 34.8%), and non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (21; 16%). Overall, the categorical and essential agreements between the direct method and standard method were 99.6% and 99.8%, respectively. Very major, major, and minor error rates were 0.1%, 0.09%, and 0.20% respectively. Direct AST performed on pediatric blood culture bottles using BD Phoenix M50 can quickly provide accurate susceptibility information to guide antimicrobial therapy in patients with BSI.

Introducción: Los implantes semiconstreñidos en la artroplastia total de rodilla están indicados cuando hay compromiso de la estabilidad de la rodilla, ya sea en cirugías primarias o de revisión. Materiales y Métodos: Se evaluó a 43 pacientes tratados con implantes de constricción condilar varo-valgo, en una misma institución, por el mismo equipo quirúrgico, entre 2015 y 2022. Resultados: Los resultados en las escalas de función WOMAC, KSS y Oxford fueron buenos/muy buenos. Los puntajes fueron menores en pacientes >75 años, si utilizaban asistencia para caminar y si tenían enfermedades previas (estadísticamente significativo). El 86% no tuvo dolor, el 91% estaba satisfecho y el 11% sufrió complicaciones. No hubo infecciones, ni cirugías de revisión. Conclusiones: Respetando las indicaciones y la técnica quirúrgica, las artroplastias totales de rodilla semiconstreñidas con constricción condilar varo-valgo logran buenos resultados a corto y mediano plazo, con una tasa baja de complicaciones, sin diferencias estadísticas en la función entre las cirugías primarias y de revisión.

Abstract The skeletal muscle contraction is determined by cross-bridge formation between the myosin heads and the actin active sites. When the muscle contracts, it shortens, increasing its longitudinal shear elastic modulus ( $${\mu }_{L}$$ μ L ). Structurally, skeletal muscle can be considered analogous to the molecular receptors that form receptor–ligand complexes and exhibit specific ligand-binding dynamics. In this context, this work aims to apply elastography and the ligand-binding framework to approach the possible intrinsic mechanisms behind muscle synergism. Based on the short-range stiffness principle and the acoustic–elasticity theory, we define the coefficient $$C$$ C , which is directly related to the fraction saturation of molecular receptors and links the relative longitudinal deformation of the muscle to its $${\mu }_{L}$$ μ L . We show that such a coefficient can be obtained directly from $${\mu }_{L}$$ μ L estimates, thus calculating it for the biceps brachii, brachioradialis, and brachialis muscles during isometric elbow flexion torque (τ) ramps. The resulting $$C\left(\tau \right)$$ C τ curves were analyzed by conventional characterization methods of receptor–ligand systems to study the dynamical behavior of each muscle. The results showed that, depending on muscle, $$C\left(\tau \right)$$ C τ exhibits typical ligand-binding dynamics during joint torque production. Therefore, the above indicates that these different behaviors describe the longitudinal shortening pattern of each muscle during load sharing. As a plausible interpretation, we suggested that this could be related to the binding kinetics of the cross-bridges during their synergistic action as torque increases. Likewise, it shows that elastography could be useful to assess contractile processes at different scales related to the change in the mechanical properties of skeletal muscle.

Abstract Background The first COVID-19 lockdown decreed in Spain by the government resulted in a significant disruption in the daily lives of youth that may have affected their mental health. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influenced youth mental health during this period. Methods: Between March and May 2020, a sample of 1205 youths (age range 18–24 years) from across Spain completed a questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic, mental health, loneliness, coping with humour and healthy habits. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. Results The proposed model showed good fit values, and significant variables explained 37% of mental health. loneliness, coping humour, healthy and unhealthy habits, and gender significantly predicted youth mental health. Conclusions The consequences of the pandemic and confinement derived from COVID-19 seemed to be especially severe for youth, increasing their mental health vulnerability. It is recommended that evaluating the long-term effects of confinement on this population, the mental health needs they may have and the support resources that would help meet them in situations of isolation, paying special attention to females.

La utilización de enmiendas en suelos agrícolas es una práctica habitual en la agricultura, contribuyendo al mejoramiento de las características físicas, químicas y biológicas de los suelos. En este sentido el uso de biocarbón (BC) o carbono pirogénico, ha ganado popularidad en las últimas décadas ya que contribuye a la sustentabilidad de los agroecosistemas mediante la reutilización de residuos intraprediales, mejorando algunos parámetros del suelo, aumentando los rendimientos de los cultivos y contribuyendo al secuestro de carbono atmosférico. El proceso de producción de BC, llamado pirólisis, consiste en la descomposición térmica de residuos orgánicos, como la biomasa vegetal, en ausencia de oxígeno, dando como resultado la formación de un material carbonoso que puede ser utilizado en diferentes aplicaciones agrícolas. Una de las principales ventajas del BC es su capacidad para mejorar la calidad del suelo; al incorporarse al suelo, retiene humedad y nutrientes, manteniendo un ambiente favorable para el crecimiento de los cultivos. Además, el BC mejora la estructura del suelo, aumentando su capacidad de retención de agua y mejorando la aireación, favoreciendo el desarrollo de las raíces. Además de mejorar los suelos agrícolas, el BC tiene un impacto positivo en el medio ambiente. Durante el proceso de pirólisis, se produce una liberación de gases, incluyendo dióxido de carbono (CO2). Sin embargo, debido a la naturaleza de la pirólisis, parte del carbono se retiene en forma de BC, pudiendo permanecer en el suelo durante largos períodos sin degradarse, lo que contribuye al secuestro de carbono y a mitigar el cambio climático. La aplicación de BC en la agricultura puede ser una estrategia efectiva para lograr una agricultura sostenible y amigable con el medio ambiente. Al mejorar la calidad del suelo, se puede aumentar la productividad de los cultivos, reducir la necesidad de fertilizantes químicos y disminuir la erosión del suelo. Además, el secuestro de carbono mediante el uso de BC ayudaría a reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y contribuiría a la mitigación del cambio climático. En resumen, el BC es una estrategia prometedora para la mejora de los suelos agrícolas y el secuestro de carbono, convirtiéndolo en una opción atractiva para la agricultura sostenible. Sin embargo, es importante tener en cuenta que la aplicación de BC debe realizarse de manera adecuada, considerando factores como la dosis, la calidad del BC y las características del suelo, para maximizar sus beneficios en los agroecosistemas.

La industria de la salmonicultura en Chile reporta un constante crecimiento y se posiciona como un exponente mundial en la producción de salmónidos. Dentro de este sistema productivo se generan residuos en forma de lodos constituido por las heces y el alimento no digerido. Así, el contenido de materia orgánica y nutrientes de estos residuos hacen posible un enfoque hacia la economía circular y su revalorización a través del proceso de compostaje para la obtención de enmiendas para suelos agrícolas. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los aspectos fisicoquímicos y bioquímicos del proceso de compostaje de lodos de salmonicultura para la generación de un enmendador orgánico para suelos de interés agrícola. El compostaje se realizó en composteras de eje rotatorio de 200 L durante 120 días con monitoreo de temperatura y humedad. La transformación de la materia orgánica se evaluó mediante técnicas de termogravimetría (TGA y DrTGA) y espectroscopía (UV-Vis, IR y fluorescencia). Durante el proceso fue relacionada la transformación de fracciones de fósforo con parámetros bioquímicos como la actividad enzimática (Fluoresceína diacetato - FDA, β-glucosidasa y fosfatasas), la producción de ácidos orgánicos y la sucesión de las comunidades microbianas. A su vez, el compost terminado se analizó a través de metodologías TMECC (Test method for the examination of composting and compost) y un ensayo de germinación en rabanito (Raphanus sativus). Los resultados muestran que durante la fase termofílica la pila de compostaje alcanzó temperaturas >55 °C, favoreciendo la eliminación de patógenos y disminuyendo la viabilidad de semillas de malezas. El compost maduro mostró un alto contenido de fósforo (59,0±3,1 g kg-1) y materia orgánica (67,1±0,4%). La transformación de la materia orgánica reportó aumentos en la síntesis de sustancias húmicas y la condensación de grupos aromáticos polares. Los análisis enzimáticos muestran una alta actividad microbiana hacia el final del compostaje (36.62±1.48 µg F g-1 h-1) y una actividad predominante de la fosfatasa alcalina (147,97±7,00 µg p NP g-1 h-1). Esto, sumado a la presencia de ácidos orgánicos (ácido oxálico, málico y cítrico) y la presencia de microorganismos solubilizadores de fosfatos (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Candida, Aspergillus y Penicillium) fueron asociados al aumento de la fracción lábil de P y el P biomásico. Finalmente, esta investigación se posiciona como un primer reporte a la valorización de residuos del sector acuícola en Chile a través del compostaje para la generación de enmiendas fosforadas con alto contenido de materia orgánica y actividad metabólica.

Key Clinical Message Streptococcus gordonii‐associated endocarditis is a rare occurrence, raising diagnostic challenges, and is often associated with considerable morbidity. However, vigilance can prevent devastating consequences. Abstract Streptococcus gordonii‐associated endocarditis is rarely reported but often associated with considerable morbidity. We describe three cases of infective endocarditis caused by S. gordonii during a four‐week period in 2023, and the use of whole‐genome sequencing to determine whether these isolates were genetically related. The available literature was reviewed.

La escuela austriaca, basada en el individualismo metodológico, se conecta con el emprendimiento debido a la función empresarial que desarrollan los seres humanos con sus propios medios, o con capital de terceros. Por consiguiente, este artículo analiza los métodos y elementos del emprendimiento con el fin de dar una perspectiva diferente sobre la empresarialidad basado en capacidades de las personas con relación a su entorno, dado que se evidenció que no hay suficientes investigaciones sobre el tema. Se empleó la metodología de investigación descriptiva, con un enfoque cualitativo, haciendo una revisión documental en las bases de datos más representativas; posteriormente se determinaron un conjunto de procedimientos interpretados a partir de la praxeología y el individualismo metodológico, al igual que unos principios como la innovación, valor subjetivo, espíritu empresarial, cataláctica, acción humana, siendo las bases para la creación de una idea de negocio exitosa.

Ramularia leaf spot (RLS) is primarily managed by foliar fungicide spraying, which can result in residues in the grain. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the risks these residues pose to consumers. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of fungicide management used for RLS control and their fungicide residues in barley grain. Four different alternatives of fungicide mixtures: fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole; pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole + chlorothalonil; prothioconazole + trifloxystrobin, and isopyrazam + azoxystrobin, in three spray timings: GS33, GS47 and GS33+GS47, were evaluated in five field experiments. An untreated and a fully protected treatment were included. Fungicide residues, disease severity, control efficacy, area under the disease progress curve, and plump grain yield were calculated. All fungicide strategies adhered to food safety, complying with the Maximum Residue Limits established by Codex and the European Union. Effectiveness varied based on RLS development, application time, and number of applications. Fungicide treatments applied at GS33+GS47 were the most effective as the highest severity levels were observed at the stage after GS47 under the conditions studied. Plump grain yield only showed minimal differences in the late epidemic. The study emphasized the low risk of fungicide presence in grains, favoring efficacy when selecting RLS management options. Any changes in management or regulations should be carefully reviewed to maintain findings. The research underscored the compatibility of recommended fungicide treatments with food safety standards, highlighting the balance between disease control efficacy and consumer safety.

IntroductionTobacco use has significant health consequences in Latin America, and while studies have examined the overall impact, the gender-specific effects have not been thoroughly researched. Understanding these differences is crucial for effective tobacco control policies. The objective of this study was to explore the differences in tobacco-attributable disease and economic burden between men and women in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru.MethodsWe used a previously validated economic model to quantify the impact of tobacco-related illnesses, including morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, productivity losses, informal care expenses, and DALYs, by gender and age. We utilized data from national surveys, records, studies, and expert opinions to populate the model.ResultsIn 2020, there were 351,000 smoking-attributable deaths. Men accounted for 69% and women 31%. Ecuador and Mexico had the highest male-to-female death ratio, while Peru and Chile had the smallest disparities. 2.3 million tobacco-related disease events occurred, with 65% in men and 35% in women. Ecuador and Mexico had higher disease rates among men, while Peru had a more balanced ratio. Regarding DALYs, men lost 6.3 million due to tobacco, while women lost 3.3 million, primarily from COPD, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Brazil and Mexico had the highest DALY losses for both genders. Costa Rica had a lower male-to-female tobacco use prevalence ratio but ranked second in deaths, disease events, and DALYs attributed to tobacco. Colombia had a unique pattern with a male-to-female death ratio of 2.08 but a higher ratio for disease events. The health systems spent $22.8 billion to treat tobacco-attributable diseases, with a male-to-female cost ratio 2.15. Ecuador showed the greatest gender cost difference, while Peru had the lowest. Productivity loss due to tobacco was $16.2 billion, with Ecuador and Mexico exhibiting the highest gender disparities and Peru the lowest. Informal care costs amounted to $10.8 billion, with men incurring higher costs in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Mexico.DiscussionTobacco causes significant health and economic burdens in Latin America, with gender-based differences. There is a need for gender-disaggregated data to improve tobacco control policies.

Astrocytes play a pivotal role in maintaining brain homeostasis. Recent research has highlighted the significance of palmitic acid (PA) in triggering pro-inflammatory pathways contributing to neurotoxicity. Furthermore, Genomic-scale metabolic models and control theory have revealed that metabolic switches (MSs) are metabolic pathway regulators by potentially exacerbating neurotoxicity, thereby offering promising therapeutic targets. Herein, we characterized these enzymatic MSs in silico as potential therapeutic targets, employing protein–protein and drug–protein interaction networks alongside structural characterization techniques. Our findings indicate that five MSs (P00558, P04406, Q08426, P09110, and O76062) were functionally linked to nervous system drug targets and may be indirectly regulated by specific neurological drugs, some of which exhibit polypharmacological potential (e.g., Trifluperidol, Trifluoperazine, Disulfiram, and Haloperidol). Furthermore, four MSs (P00558, P04406, Q08426, and P09110) feature ligand-binding or allosteric cavities with druggable potential. Our results advocate for a focused exploration of P00558 (phosphoglycerate kinase 1), P04406 (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), Q08426 (peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme, enoyl-CoA hydratase, and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase), P09110 (peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase), and O76062 (Delta(14)-sterol reductase) as promising targets for the development or repurposing of pharmacological compounds, which could have the potential to modulate lipotoxic-altered metabolic pathways, offering new avenues for the treatment of related human diseases such as neurological diseases.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between Venezuelan migration and urban growth in Colombia from 2018 to 2021. The study employs remote sensing data and social network metrics to uncover migration patterns and their impact on urban expansion. The methodology consists of three stages. Firstly, nighttime satellite imagery is used to analyze year-over-year urban growth in Colombia. Secondly, social network data estimates Venezuelan migration, overcoming challenges of underreporting and informal border crossings. Lastly, an econometric analysis explores the quantitative link between Venezuelan migration and urban growth, integrating socioeconomic variables to address endogeneity. The findings reveal the complex interplay of Venezuelan migration, socioeconomic factors, and urban growth. The study outlines remote sensing analysis, introducing the Anthropogenic Footprint Expansion Index (AFEI) to quantify urban growth. Facebook API data estimates migration trends and explores socioeconomic impacts on urban expansion. The analysis uncovers migration, poverty, aging, and urban population proportion as key factors affecting Colombia's urban landscape. Furthermore, the research underscores how Venezuelan migration affected short-term urban expansion pre- and post-COVID-19. Migration had a notable effect before the pandemic, but this influence waned afterward. The study highlights migration's short-term nature and emphasizes age demographics' role in medium-term dynamics.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by a progressive deterioration of neuronal function, leading to motor and cognitive damage in patients. Astrocytes are essential for maintaining brain homeostasis, and their functional impairment is increasingly recognized as central to the etiology of various NDs. Such impairment can be induced by toxic insults with palmitic acid (PA), a common fatty acid, that disrupts autophagy, increases reactive oxygen species, and triggers inflammation. Although the effects of PA on astrocytes have been addressed, most aspects of the dynamics of this fatty acid remain unknown. Additionally, there is still no model that satisfactorily explains how astroglia goes from being neuroprotective to neurotoxic. Current incomplete knowledge needs to be improved by the growing field of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which is proven to be related to NDs, where the complexity of the interactions among these molecules and how they control other RNA expressions need to be addressed. In the present study, we present an extensive competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network using transcriptomic data from normal human astrocyte (NHA) cells exposed to PA lipotoxic conditions and experimentally validated data on ncRNA interaction. The obtained network contains 7 lncRNA transcripts, 38 miRNAs, and 239 mRNAs that showed enrichment in ND-related processes, such as fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis, FoxO and TGF-β signaling pathways, prion diseases, apoptosis, and immune-related pathways. In addition, the transcriptomic profile was used to propose 22 potential key controllers lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axes in ND mechanisms. The relevance of five of these axes was corroborated by the miRNA expression data obtained in other studies. MEG3 (ENST00000398461)/hsa-let-7d-5p/ATF6B axis showed importance in Parkinson’s and late Alzheimer’s diseases, while AC092687.3/hsa-let-7e-5p/[SREBF2, FNIP1, PMAIP1] and SDCBP2-AS1 (ENST00000446423)/hsa-miR-101-3p/MAPK6 axes are probably related to Alzheimer’s disease development and pathology. The presented network and axes will help to understand the PA-induced mechanisms in astrocytes, leading to protection or injury in the CNS under lipotoxic conditions as part of the intricated cellular regulation influencing the pathology of different NDs. Furthermore, the five corroborated axes could be considered study targets for new pharmacologic treatments or as possible diagnostic molecules, contributing to improving the quality of life of millions worldwide.

Resumen: La incidencia y el riesgo global de las infecciones de dispositivos de electroestimulación cardiaca (DEC) ha aumentado de manera exponencial en los últimos años con el incremento de implantes sobre una población más envejecida, que presenta más comorbilidades. La identificación de estas infecciones continúa siendo un reto por su amplia variabilidad de presentación clínica y complejidad del proceso diagnóstico. Hasta ahora, el uso de la ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE) ha sido la técnica diagnóstica de elección. Sin embargo, la reciente incorporación de la tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computarizada con 18F-Fluorodesoxiglucosa ([18F]FDG-PET/TC) ha supuesto un notable avance en este campo. La combinación de ambas técnicas permite incrementar considerablemente el diagnóstico de la afectación endovascular e intracardiaca y optimizar, por tanto, el posterior manejo terapéutico de estas infecciones. En esta revisión, presentamos un enfoque basado en las últimas evidencias publicadas en la literatura para el diagnóstico de la infección de DEC. Abstract: The incidence of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections has increased remarkably in recent years, with the higher implantation rate in an older population with more comorbidities. Diagnosing CIED infection is challenging due to the wide variability of clinical presentation and the complexity of the diagnostic process. To date, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been the key in the diagnostic algorithm process. However, the recent introduction of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F] FDG-PET/CT) has brought notable progress in this field, especially in local CIED infections. Nevertheless, combining both techniques increase the diagnosis yield on endovascular and intracardiac-lead systemic infections. In this review, we present an approach based on the latest evidence published in the literature to diagnose CIED infection.

Abstract Background Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) prevalence is increasing in low- and middle-income countries along with high levels of obesity which vary according to socioeconomic and contextual characteristics. We aim to estimate the prevalence of T2DM and obesity in men and women in a hard-to-reach rural area in northern Ecuador considering socio-demographic characteristics. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study based on a population-based survey in the Eloy Alfaro health district of Esmeraldas between October 2020 and January 2022. We collected sociodemographic information and risk factors for non-communicable diseases with an adapted version of the STEPS survey, performed oral glucose tolerance tests, biochemistry and took physical measurements. We estimated the prevalence of T2DM, obesity, and calculated Odds Ratios (OR) with confidence intervals by logistic regression in Stata v.15. Results The overall prevalence of T2DM was 6.8% (CI95%: 4.9–8.7), markedly higher among women compared to men (10.4%, CI95% 7.3–13.4%, compared 2.0%, CI95% 0.4–3.7% respectively). The risk of having T2DM in women was 5 times higher than in men adjusting for age, ethnicity, employment, household earnings and obesity (OR: 5.03; 95%CI: 1.68–15.01). Regarding age, the risk of T2DM increased by 6% per year (adjusted OR: 1.06; 95%CI: 1.03–1.08). Obesity prevalence was 30.8% (CI95%: 27.3–34.3), in women was nearly three times higher than in men (43.2% CI95%: 38.2–48.2, compared to 14.7% prevalence, CI95%: 10.6–18.8). Indigenous women had a lower prevalence of obesity compared with the Afro-Ecuadorian women (OR: 0.05; 95%CI: 0.02–0.18) after adjusting for age, employment status, household earnings and setting. Conclusion We found alarming differences between the prevalence of T2DM and obesity in women and men that may be explained by gender roles, exacerbated in the rural context. Health promotion measures with a gender perspective should be adapted according to the characteristics of isolated rural contexts.

Introducción: El aprendizaje basado en proyectos en una estrategia de enseñanza que promueve el aprendizaje experiencial y situado en los estudiantes. Objetivo: La presente investigación tiene como objetivo conocer cuál es la percepción de los estudiantes frente a la implementación del Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos (ABP) en la asignatura de Estrategias de Operaciones de la Universidad del Norte en el periodo 2020-03. Metodología: para tal fin se implementó un método de investigación cuantitativa a 65 estudiantes utilizando como herramienta un formulario con preguntas tanto abiertas como cerradas tipo Likert donde se busca indagar sobre su grado de satisfacción y posición frente a diversos aspectos referentes a la asignatura. Resultados: Los resultados demuestran un grado alto de satisfacción de los estudiantes frente a la metodología de clase en línea como también frente al ejercicio de simulación de empresa enmarcado en el ABP de manera en que encuentran el ejercicio útil para el aprendizaje de la asignatura y las temáticas relacionadas. Conclusión: Se puede concluir que los cambios y mejoras tuvieron un efecto positivo en las variables estudiadas, específicamente en satisfacción con la experiencia de aprendizaje y la motivación.