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Nanotomography with hard X-rays is a widely used technique for high-resolution imaging, providing insights into the structure and composition of various materials. In recent years, tomographic approaches based on simultaneous illuminations of the same sample region from different angles by multiple beams have been developed at micrometre image resolution. Transferring these techniques to the nanoscale is challenging due to the loss in photon flux by focusing the X-ray beam. We present an approach for multi-beam nanotomography using a dual-beam Fresnel zone plate (dFZP) in a near-field holography setup. The dFZP generates two nano-focused beams that overlap in the sample plane, enabling the simultaneous acquisition of two projections from slightly different angles. This first proof-of-principle implementation of the dual-beam setup allows for the efficient removal of ring artifacts and noise using machine-learning approaches. The results open new possibilities for full-field multi-beam nanotomography and pave the way for future advancements in fast holotomography and artifact-reduction techniques.

Existe en Colombia un aval constitucional para llevar a cabo la muerte digna. Sin embargo, a pesar de que fue desarrollado por varias resoluciones expedidas por el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social (Minsalud), su práctica puede ser compleja debido a la intervención de diversos actores frente a los cuales puede incluso darse una colisión de derechos. En este artículo se plantean preguntas como: ¿qué hacer cuando se solicita la práctica de un procedimiento eutanásico y entran en conflicto derechos fundamentales de los actores involucrados?, ¿es clara, completa, precisa y efectiva la regulación frente al tema?, ¿los actores que intervienen en estos conflictos como prestadores de servicios, pacientes, médicos, ven sus derechos en conflicto en el procedimiento eutanásico en Colombia? Para dar respuestas a estos interrogantes, se abordó un estudio de los conceptos de derecho a la muerte digna, objeción de conciencia, eutanasia activa y pasiva, suicidio asistido y homicidio por piedad, así como la prueba de razonabilidad y principio de proporcionalidad, en aras de dar respuesta a estos interrogantes.

La gestión empresarial exitosa se refiere a la rentabilidad organizacional, sin descuidar otros aspectos importantes, como lo social y ambiental. Este tipo de gestión se logra con el desarrollo de habilidades, que permiten establecer relaciones duraderas y rentables con los distintos grupos de interés. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar la gestión de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (GRSE) en el sector de los medios de comunicación en Manabí, Ecuador. A partir de ese referente, y con la aplicación de técnicas de encuestas procesadas estadísticamente, se analizó si las entidades vinculadas con los medios de comunicación ofrecen información sobre la gestión socialmente responsable que realizan. Los resultados establecieron que no hay un procedimiento estandarizado para medir la GRSE. Sin embargo, es relevante ya que, además de su gestión rentable, en su carácter de comunicación pública, constituye un elemento básico de la vida económica, política y social.

The complex electronic structure of metallic ferromagnets is determined by a balance between exchange interaction, electron hopping leading to band formation, and local Coulomb repulsion. By combining high energy and temporal resolution in femtosecond time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with ab initio time-dependent density functional theory we analyze the electronic structure in fcc Ni on the time scale of these interactions in a pump-probe experiment. We distinguish transient broadening and energy shifts in the absorption spectra, which we demonstrate to be captured by electron repopulation respectively correlation-induced modifications of the electronic structure, requiring to take the local Coulomb interaction into account.

Abstract Introduction The management of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) of the lower limb is challenging, and evidence-based recommendations are lacking. The present clinical investigation characterized the pathogens diagnosed in patients who underwent revision surgery for PJI of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods The present study follows the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). The institutional databases of the RWTH University Medical Centre of Aachen, Germany, were accessed. The OPS (operation and procedure codes) 5–823 and 5–821 and the ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) codes T84.5, T84.7 or T84.8 were used. All patients with PJI of a previous THA and TKA who underwent revision surgery were retrieved and included for analysis. Results Data from 346 patients were collected (181 THAs and 165 TKAs). 44% (152 of 346 patients) were women. Overall, the mean age at operation was 67.8 years, and the mean BMI was 29.2 kg/m2. The mean hospitalization length was 23.5 days. 38% (132 of 346) of patients presented a recurrent infection. Conclusion PJI remain a frequent cause for revisions after total hip and knee arthroplasty. Preoperative synovial fluid aspiration was positive in 37%, intraoperative microbiology was positive in 85%, and bacteraemia was present in 17% of patients. Septic shock was the major cause of in-hospital mortality. The most common cultured pathogens were Staph. epidermidis, Staph. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA). An improved understanding of PJI pathogens is important to plan treatment strategies and guide the choice of empirical antibiotic regimens in patients presenting with septic THAs and TKAs. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Achromatic doublets are combinations of two individual lenses designed to focus different wavelengths of light in the same position. Apochromatic optics are improved versions of the achromatic schemes which extend the wavelength range significantly. Both achromatic and apochromatic optics are well-established for visible light. However, X-ray achromatic lenses did not exist until very recently, and X-ray apochromatic lenses have never been experimentally demonstrated. Here, we create an X-ray apochromatic lens system using an appropriate combination of a Fresnel zone plate and a diverging compound refractive lens with a tuned separation distance. The energy-dependent performance of this apochromat was characterized at photon energies between 6.5 and 13.0 keV by ptychographic reconstruction of the focal spot and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy of a resolution test sample. The apochromat delivered a reconstructed focal spot size of 940 × 740 nm2. The apochromatic combination shows a four-fold improvement in the chromatic aberration correction range compared to an achromatic doublet configuration. Thus, apochromatic X-ray optics have the potential to increase the focal spot intensity for a wide variety of X-ray applications.

La incorporación de los dispositivos de anclaje temporal (TAD) por sus siglas en inglés, en el tratamiento ortodóntico han revolucionado la mecánica de cierre de espacios por deslizamiento y/o fricción, ya que mejora por completo el anclaje y el control dentario tridimensional, además los TAD se han convertido en un dispositivo de anclaje absoluto-temporal muy utilizado debido a diversas ventajas tales como su bajo costo, la facilidad de colocación y extracción del mismo, posible carga inmediata, reducción de tiempo en el tratamiento y posible colocación en la mayoría de las áreas del hueso alveolar; sin embargo, se definen diversas mecánicas que buscan explicar el movimiento dentario llegando a veces a la contradicción de conceptos. Se seleccionó literatura mediante una búsqueda en las bases de datos electrónicas: Pubmed, Lilacs, Google Academic, Elsevier y Proquest. La búsqueda de la información se realizó desde enero del año 2013 a enero del año 2023 incluyendo todos los idiomas. Luego de la evaluación de los árbolos de búsqueda se consideraron 521 artículos, posteriormente se aplicaron los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, obteniendose 14 artículos que cumplen con los parámetros para la realización de esta revisión. La literatura disponible reveló que el uso de TAD y una adecuada e inteligente selección en la mecánica de cierre de espacios, acortaría 6 meses aproximadamente en el tiempo de tratamiento de ortodoncia para el manejo de cualquier maloclusión. Palabras clave: Cierre de espacio, ortodoncia, mini-implantes, DKL. ABSTRACT The incorporation of temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in orthodontic treatment has revolutionized the mechanics of space closure by sliding and/or friction, since it completely improves anchorage and three-dimensional dental control. TADs have also become a widely used absolute-temporary anchorage device due to several advantages such as their low cost, ease of placement and removal, possible immediate loading, reduction of treatment time and possible placement in most areas of the alveolar bone; However, different mechanics are defined that seek to explain tooth movement, sometimes leading to a contradiction of concepts. Literature was selected through a search in the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Lilacs, Google Academic, Elsevier and Proquest. The information search was performed from January 2013 to January 2023 including all languages. After the evaluation of the search trees, 521 articles were considered, then the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in 14 articles that meet the parameters for this review. The available literature revealed that the use of TAD and an adequate and intelligent selection of space closure mechanics would shorten the orthodontic treatment time by approximately 6 months for the management of any malocclusion. Keywords: Space closure, orthodontics, mini-implants, DKL.

El anclaje esquelético dentro del campo de la Ortodoncia se ha vuelto indispensable en los últimos años, mismo que permite mayores oportunidades en la mecánica del tratamiento; sin embargo, son diversas las consideraciones radiográficas que se han publicado para el posicionamiento de minitornillos en los maxilares, esto se debería a diversos criterios y métodos que usan los investigadores, además, existen diversas tendencias radiográficas que permitirían establecer el punto de inserción ideal para la colocación de los miniimplantes. La literatura se seleccionó mediante una búsqueda en las bases de datos electrónicas: Pubmed, Google Academic, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Web of Science y Cochrane, ésta se restringió a artículos con inclusión de todos los idiomas y publicados sin límite de temporalidad. Se obtuvieron 286 artículos acerca del tema, posterioremente luego de aplicar los filtros de inclusión y exclusión se obtuvieron y revisaron 16 artículos para el desarrollo de la presente revisión. La literatura disponible reveló que las tomografías son el gold estándar en comparación con las radiografías periapicales, oclusales y panorámicas para la evaluación y diagnóstico de la colocación de los miniimplantes. Sin embargo, si no se cuenta con tomografía de dosis bajas, lo ideal entonces sería la colocación del minitornillo siguiendo la anatomía ósea/dentaria y posteriormente la toma de una única imagen radiográfica periapical o panorámica posterior a la colocación de un minitornillo, misma que permita observar posibles lesiones por la maniobra realizada. Palabras clave: Miniimplantes, tomografía, radiografía dental. ABSTRACT Skeletal anchorage within the field of orthodontics has become indispensable in recent years, as it allows greater opportunities in the mechanics of treatment; however, there are various radiographic considerations that have been published for the positioning of mini-screws in the maxillae, this is due to the different criteria and methods used by researchers, and there are also different radiographic trends that would allow the ideal insertion point for the placement of mini-implants to be established. The literature was selected through a search of the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Google Academic, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Web of Science and Cochrane, restricted to articles including all languages and published with no time limit. A total of 286 articles on the topic were obtained, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion filters, 16 articles were obtained and reviewed for the development of the present review. The available literature revealed that CT scans are the gold standard compared to periapical, occlusal and panoramic radiographs for the evaluation and diagnosis of mini-implant placement. However, if low-dose CT scans are not available, then the ideal would be to place the mini-screw following the bone/dental anatomy and then take a single periapical or panoramic radiographic image after mini-screw placement to observe possible lesions from the manoeuvre performed. Keywords: Miniscrew, scans, dental radiography.

Femtosecond transient soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a very promising technique that can be employed at X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) to investigate out-of-equilibrium dynamics for material and energy research. Here, a dedicated setup for soft X-rays available at the Spectroscopy and Coherent Scattering (SCS) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (European XFEL) is presented. It consists of a beam-splitting off-axis zone plate (BOZ) used in transmission to create three copies of the incoming beam, which are used to measure the transmitted intensity through the excited and unexcited sample, as well as to monitor the incoming intensity. Since these three intensity signals are detected shot by shot and simultaneously, this setup allows normalized shot-by-shot analysis of the transmission. For photon detection, an imaging detector capable of recording up to 800 images at 4.5 MHz frame rate during the FEL burst is employed, and allows a photon-shot-noise-limited sensitivity to be approached. The setup and its capabilities are reviewed as well as the online and offline analysis tools provided to users.

Full-field X-ray nanoimaging is a widely used tool in a broad range of scientific areas. In particular, for low-absorbing biological or medical samples, phase contrast methods have to be considered. Three well established phase contrast methods at the nanoscale are transmission X-ray microscopy with Zernike phase contrast, near-field holography and near-field ptychography. The high spatial resolution, however, often comes with the drawback of a lower signal-to-noise ratio and significantly longer scan times, compared with microimaging. In order to tackle these challenges a single-photon-counting detector has been implemented at the nanoimaging endstation of the beamline P05 at PETRA III (DESY, Hamburg) operated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. Thanks to the long sample-to-detector distance available, spatial resolutions of below 100 nm were reached in all three presented nanoimaging techniques. This work shows that a single-photon-counting detector in combination with a long sample-to-detector distance allows one to increase the time resolution for in situ nanoimaging, while keeping a high signal-to-noise level.

RESUMEN El vólvulo total de intestino medio es una complicación infrecuente que pueden sufrir algunos pacientes con anomalías de rotación intestinal. Afecta la totalidad del intestino que está irrigada por la arteria mesentérica superior, causa obstrucción intestinal y se presenta generalmente en pacientes mayores de 15 años. La presentación y el diagnóstico del cuadro clínico en adolescentes y adultos puede ser inespecífica, por lo cual el objetivo del presente trabajo es describir una modalidad de obstrucción intestinal infrecuente denominada vólvulo total de intestino medio mediante la presentación de un caso. Se trata de un adolescente con antecedentes de dolor abdominal tipo cólico de más de 5 años de evolución. Al momento de la atención se quejó de dolor intenso, localizado en epigastrio e hipocondrio derecho, acompañado de vómitos. Al examen físico presentó ruidos hidroaéreos aumentados en tono y frecuencia. En la tomografía computarizada de abdomen se visualizó el signo del «remolino». Se realizó el abordaje inicial por vía laparoscópica, pero las características del vólvulo no permitieron continuar con el procedimiento, por lo que se realizó la conversión a cirugía abierta y se utilizó el procedimiento Ladd convencional. La paciente evolucionó favorablemente y fue dada de alta a los 7 días del acto quirúrgico. Palabras clave: vólvulo intestinal, obstrucción intestinal, malrotación intestinal

Free-electron lasers provide bright, ultrashort, and monochromatic x-ray pulses, enabling novel spectroscopic measurements not only with femtosecond temporal resolution: The high fluence of their x-ray pulses can also easily enter the regime of the non-linear x-ray–matter interaction. Entering this regime necessitates a rigorous analysis and reliable prediction of the relevant non-linear processes for future experiment designs. Here, we show non-linear changes in the L 3-edge absorption of metallic nickel thin films, measured with fluences up to 60 J/cm2. We present a simple but predictive rate model that quantitatively describes spectral changes based on the evolution of electronic populations within the pulse duration. Despite its simplicity, the model reaches good agreement with experimental results over more than three orders of magnitude in fluence, while providing a straightforward understanding of the interplay of physical processes driving the non-linear changes. Our findings provide important insights for the design and evaluation of future high-fluence free-electron laser experiments and contribute to the understanding of non-linear electron dynamics in x-ray absorption processes in solids at the femtosecond timescale.

Abstract Introduction Arthroscopic labral procedures are frequently undertaken in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The role of arthroscopic femoral neck osteoplasty is well established, but less is known about labral procedures. This study evaluates the midterm efficacy and feasibility of arthroscopic osteoplasty with concomitant labral debridement for cam impingement in active adults. Methods The present study was conducted according to the STROBE Statement. All 108 patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for cam type FAI combined with labral debridement were considered. Axial and anteroposterior plain radiographs of the pelvis were obtained preoperatively to identify the cam deformity and assess the presence of osteoarthritis, the lateral centre-edge angle, and the alpha angle. The ROM (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and intra/extra rotation) was evaluated. The following PROMs were administered: visual analogic scale (VAS), Tegner Activity Scale, non-arthritic hip score (NAHS), the international Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) overall score, and related subscales: symptoms and functional limitations, sports and recreational activities, job-related concerns, and social, emotional, and lifestyle concerns. Results At a mean of 2.0 ± 1.1 months, all 108 patients returned to their daily activities with no limitation. At a mean of 2.6 ± 1.4 months, all 108 patients were able to return to sport with no limitation. At 11.9 ± 2.1-month follow-up, no differences were reported in the range of motion compared to baseline: flexion (P = 0.3), extension (P = 0.09), abduction (P = 0.1), adduction (P = 0.3), internal rotation (P = 0.4), and external rotation (P = 0.6). At 72.8 ± 21.7-month follow-up, the mean VAS score was 1.7 ± 3.0, Tegner Activity Scale 3.5 ± 1.4, NAHS 92.1 ± 21.5, iHOT33 83.3 ± 27.2. At a mean of 21.7 ± 15.5 months following the index procedure, 14 of 108 patients had undergone total hip arthroplasty. No further revisions or complications were reported. Conclusion Arthroscopic femoral neck osteoplasty with concomitant labral debridement for cam type of FAI in active adults yields the reliable results, with a rate of progression to total hip arthroplasty of 13% (14 of 108) at 3-year follow-up. All patients returned to their daily activities with no limitation 2 months postoperatively. Within 3 months, all patients returned to sport with no limitations. No complication related to the index procedure was reported, and no further arthroscopic procedures were necessary.

Abstract Autologous matrix induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) is a bone marrow stimulating technique used for the surgical management of chondral defects of the talus. The present study evaluated the clinical outcomes and imaging of AMIC as revision procedure for failed AMIC surgery for osteochondral defects of the talus. Forty-eight patients with symptomatic osteochondral defects who received a revision AMIC were evaluated after a minimum of two years follow-up. Patients with previous procedures rather than AMIC, those who required additional surgical procedures (e.g. ligament repair or deformity correction), or those who had evidence of kissing, bilateral, or multiple lesions were excluded. Outcome parameters included the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS), Tegner Activity Scale, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), and the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score. All patients were followed by an assessor who was not involved in the clinical management. 27 patients were enrolled in the present study. The mean age of the patient was 34.9 ± 3.1 years, and the mean BMI 27.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2. The mean defect surface area was 2.8 ± 1.9 cm2. The mean follow-up was 44.3 ± 21.4 months. The mean hospital length of stay was 4.4 ± 1.4 days. At final follow-up, the mean VAS score was 4.1 ± 3.1, the mean Tegner 3.5 ± 1.6, the mean AOFAS 58.8 ± 20.6. The preoperative MOCART score was 22.1 ± 13.7 points, the postoperative MOCART score was 42.3 ± 27.9 points (+ 20.2%; P = 0.04), respectively. 30% (8 of 27 patients) experienced persistent pain and underwent a further chondral procedure. Concluding, AMIC could be a viable option as revision procedure for failed AMIC in recurrent symptomatic osteochondral defects of the talus. The PROMs indicated that patients were moderately satisfied with the procedure, and the MOCART score demonstrated a significant improvement from baseline to the last follow-up. A deeper understanding in prognostic factors and patient selection is critical to prevent failures.

Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt, is one of the most devastating bacterial diseases worldwide. In potatoes and many other commercial species such as tomato, banana, plantain, and eggplant, among others, there is a lack of efficient strategies to control this pathogen. Therefore, using resistant cultivars might be the best strategy to prevent this disease. However, breeding for bacterial wilt resistance is challenging since latent infections pose a significant limitation when evaluating resistance to this disease in plant germplasm. Part of the diversity of potato genetic resources is maintained in the Colombian Central Collection (CCC) of potatoes, Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (Agrosavia). With its 2069 accessions, the CCC is a good source for plant breeding programs. As a first attempt to identify bacterial wilt resistant/tolerant potato sources, 11 commercially available potato varieties were evaluated, representing Andigena and Phureja materials from the CCC. To this end, plants were drench-inoculated with R. solanacearum. This strain was able to cause severe disease in six of the 11 accessions tested. Thus, five highly R. solanacearum-resistant accessions were identified. These results represent a preliminary assessment for identifying bacterial wilt resistance sources that will contribute to establishing a potato breeding program to face this devasting pathogen before it arrives 70 Colombia.

Cervical cancer is primarily caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and remains a significant public health concern, particularly in Latin American regions. This comprehensive narrative review addresses the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, focusing on Latin American women. It explores molecular and immunological aspects of HPV infection, its role in cervical cancer development, and the epidemiology in this region, highlighting the prevalence and diversity of HPV genotypes. The impact of vaccination initiatives on cervical cancer rates in Latin America is critically evaluated. The advent of HPV vaccines has presented a significant tool in combating the burden of this malignancy, with notable successes observed in various countries, the latter due to their impact on immune responses. The review synthesizes current knowledge, emphasizes the importance of continued research and strategies for cervical cancer prevention, and underscores the need for ongoing efforts in this field.

Abstract Materials with insulator-metal transitions promise advanced functionalities for future information technology. Patterning on the microscale is key for miniaturized functional devices, but material properties may vary spatially across microstructures. Characterization of these miniaturized devices requires electronic structure probes with sufficient spatial resolution to understand the influence of structure size and shape on functional properties. The present study demonstrates the use of imaging soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy with a spatial resolution better than 2 $$\upmu$$ μ m to study the insulator-metal transition in vanadium dioxide thin-film microstructures. This novel technique reveals that the transition temperature for the conversion from insulating to metallic vanadium dioxide is lowered by 1.2 K ± 0.4 K close to the structure edges compared to the center. Facilitated strain release during the phase transition is discussed as origin of the observed behavior. The experimental approach enables a detailed understanding of how the electronic properties of quantum materials depend on their patterning at the micrometer scale.

Finite element analysis is used to estimate the displacements and forces present in each element of a structure. This type of analysis is time consuming in pre-processing, processing, and post-processing. It also incurs considerable computational costs. A simplified methodology is therefore required to reduce design time considerably. The research involved the development and application of an experimental methodology and a simulation, using Ansys Research software’s LS-DYNA module, in which loads are applied in accordance with the ANSI/TIA 222-G standard used in the telecommunications industry. The matrix method was applied, obtaining results for nodal displacement that were compared with the results of physical tests and a metamodel, showing a variation range of 8.44%. In addition, it was shown that a metamodel can be used during the pre-design stage, significantly reducing the time required for analysis.

Abstract Imaging large areas of a sample non-destructively and with high resolution is of great interest for both science and industry. For scanning coherent X-ray diffraction microscopy, i. e., ptychography, the achievable scan area at a given spatial resolution is limited by the coherent photon flux of modern X-ray sources. Multibeam X-ray ptychography can improve the scanning speed by scanning the sample with several parallel mutually incoherent beams, e. g., generated by illuminating multiple focusing optics in parallel by a partially coherent beam. The main difficulty with this scheme is the robust separation of the superimposed signals from the different beams, especially when the beams and the illuminated sample areas are quite similar. We overcome this difficulty by encoding each of the probing beams with its own X-ray phase plate. This helps the algorithm to robustly reconstruct the multibeam data. We compare the coded multibeam scans to uncoded multibeam and single beam scans, demonstrating the enhanced performance on a microchip sample with regular and repeating structures.

X-ray diffractive and refractive optical elements suffer from chromatic aberrations, limiting high-resolution X-ray microscopes mainly to bright synchrotron sources. Here, the authors experimentally realise an achromatic X-ray lens by combing a focusing diffractive Fresnel zone plate and a defocusing refractive lens.

The objective of this systematic review was to identify and classify, from the available literature, non-conventional feed ingredients from terrestrial plants, animals, algae, and fungi which have been evaluated for their potential use for tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) production. For this purpose, 795 papers published in the Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2011 and 2021 were analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Data on the growth rate (GR) and effects on weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR); digestibility; fatty acid profile (FAP) of the fish carcass; and the survival rate (SR) were compiled in databases and summary tables. The results were refined according to different criteria, obtaining 144 documents that were pertinent for an in-depth analysis. From those, we found that 50.7% evaluated terrestrial plants, 22.2% animals, 13.9% algae, 9% fungi, and the remaining, combinations of some of the above categories. From the summarized results we concluded that most of the non-conventional sources analyzed have a positive potential impact as alternatives for producing tilapia. Survival was the most evaluated parameter, while digestibility was the least evaluated parameter.

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to public health, and the search for new antibacterial therapies is a current research priority. The aim of this in silico study was to test nine new fluoroquinolones previously designed with potential leishmanicidal activity against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, all of which are considered by the World Health Organization to resistant pathogens of global concern, through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using wild-type (WT) and mutant-type (MT) DNA gyrases as biological targets. Our results showed that compound 9FQ had the best binding energy with the active site of E. coli in both molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Compound 9FQ interacted with residues of quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) in GyrA and GyrB chains, which are important to enzyme activity and through which it could block DNA replication. In addition to compound 9FQ, compound 1FQ also showed a good affinity for DNA gyrase. Thus, these newly designed molecules could have antibacterial activity against Gram-negative microorganisms. These findings represent a promising starting point for further investigation through in vitro assays, which can validate the hypothesis and potentially facilitate the development of novel antibiotic drugs.

Abstract Background Cutaneous melanoma exhibits heterogeneous metastatic patterns and prognosis. In this regard, liver metastasis, which is detected in ~ 10–20% of stage 4 patients, came to the fore of melanoma research, as it recently evolved as decisive indicator of treatment resistance to immune checkpoint inhibition. Methods Hepatic metastases were induced by intrasplenic injection of five different murine melanoma cell lines. The efficiencies of hepatic colonization, morphologic patterns, gene expression profiles and degree of vascularization were analyzed and Sorafenib was applied as anti-angiogenic treatment. Results WT31 melanoma showed the highest efficiency of hepatic colonization, while intermediate efficiencies were observed for B16F10 and RET, and low efficiencies for D4M and HCmel12. RNAseq-based gene expression profiles of high and intermediate metastatic melanomas in comparison to low metastatic melanomas indicated that this efficiency predominantly associates with gene clusters involved in cell migration and angiogenesis. Indeed, heterogeneous vascularization patterns were found in the five models. Although the degree of vascularization of WT31 and B16F10 metastases differed, both showed a strong response to Sorafenib with a successful abrogation of the vascularization. Conclusion Our data indicate that molecular heterogeneity of melanomas can be associated with phenotypic and prognostic features of hepatic metastasis paving the way for organ-specific anti-angiogenic therapeutic approaches.

Full-field transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) is a very potent high-resolution X-ray imaging technique. However, it is challenging to achieve fast acquisitions because of the limited efficiency of the optics. Using a broader energy bandwidth, for example using a multilayer monochromator, directly increases the flux in the experiment. The advantage of more counts needs to be weighed against a deterioration in achievable resolution because focusing optics show chromatic aberrations. This study presents theoretical considerations of how much the resolution is affected by an increase in bandwidth as well as measurements at different energy bandwidths (ΔE/E = 0.013%, 0.27%, 0.63%) and the impact on achievable resolution. It is shown that using a multilayer monochromator instead of a classical silicon double-crystal monochromator can increase the flux by an order of magnitude with only a limited effect on the resolution.

BackgroundNeglected indigenous groups and underserved rural populations in Latin America are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to poor health infrastructure and limited access to SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. The Andean region in Ecuador includes a large number of isolated rural mestizo and indigenous communities living under poverty conditions.ObjectiveWe herein present a retrospective analysis of the surveillance SARS-CoV-2 testing in community-dwelling populations from four provinces in the Ecuadorian Andes, carried out during the first weeks after the national lockdown was lifted in June 2020.ResultsA total number of 1,021 people were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR, resulting in an overall high infection rate of 26.2% (268/1,021, 95% CI: 23.6–29%), which was over 50% in several communities. Interestingly, community-dwelling super spreaders with viral loads over 108 copies/mL represented 7.46% (20/268, 95% CI: 4.8–11.1%) of the SARS-CoV-2 infected population.ConclusionThese results support that COVID-19 community transmission in rural communities from the Andean region was happening at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador and point out the weakness of the COVID-19 control program. Community-dwelling individuals in neglected rural and indigenous communities should be considered for a successful control and surveillance program in future pandemics in low- and middle-income countries.

Niche crosstalk with Haematopoietic cells underlies normal haematopoiesis and myeloid disorders. Here the authors report a Stabilin2-Cre driver mouse with Cre-activity restricted to bone marrow sinusoidal endothelial cells, and that Stabilin2-Cre driven overactivation of b-catenin leads to erythroid differentiation defects and anaemia.

El presente trabajo de investigación es una aproximación sobre las particularidades que tienen la gestión de la responsabilidad social empresarial (GRSE) del sector de los medios de comunicación, en el que reside el impacto positivo que estas tienen con la sociedad, el medio ambiente y en lo económico. El objetivo del presente artículo es destacar las particularidades y beneficios de desarrollar indicadores por procesos y grupo de interés en los medios de comunicación para medir e informar la gestión. En la investigación se realizó un estudio descriptivo, ya que se analizaron los diferentes componentes del fenómeno objeto de estudio, y la recolección de datos se efectuó a través del instrumento análisis de contenido.

Background: One of the constraints in containing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador is limited testing capacity, especially in high-risk populations such as people living in humanitarian shelters. Objectives: The “United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees” office in Ecuador in collaboration with “Universidad de Las Américas” performed surveillance screening at shelters for women victims of gender-based violence. They had been granted access to RT-qPCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis since July 2020, a few weeks after the general population lockdown was lifted. Results: From 411 people tested, 52 tests were SARS-CoV-2 positive, yielding an overall high attack rate of 12.65%. Moreover, COVID-19 outbreaks were found in nine of 11 shelters that were included in the study. While attacks rates varied among shelters, no association was found with occupancy. Conclusion: This study is key to clarifying the epidemiological situation in this highly vulnerable population in Latin America. It highlights the importance of mass testing beyond the symptomatic population to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

BackgroundNeglected ethnic minorities from underserved rural populations in Latin America are highly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to poor health infrastructure and limited access to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis. Esmeraldas is a mainly rural province of the Coastal Region of Ecuador characterized by a high presence of Afro-Ecuadorian population living under poverty conditions.ObjectiveWe herein present a retrospective analysis of the surveillance SARS-CoV-2 testing in community-dwelling population from Esmeraldas carried out by our university laboratory in collaboration with regional health authorities during the first week of October 2020, in a region where no public SARS-CoV-2 detection laboratory was available at that time.ResultsA total number of 1,259 people were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by Reverse Transcription quantitative Polimerasa Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), resulting in an overall infection rate of 7.7% (97/1259, 95% CI: [6.32–9.35%]) for SARS-CoV-2, up to 12.1% in some communities. Interestingly, community-dwelling super spreaders with viral loads over 108 copies/ml represented 6.2% of the SARS-CoV-2-infected population. Furthermore, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG serological tests were applied to the same study group, yielding an overall seroprevalence of 11.68% (95% CI: [9.98–13.62%]) but as high as 24.47% at some communities.ConclusionThese results support active COVID-19 community transmission in Esmeraldas province during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has been shown for other rural communities in the Ecuadorian Coastal Region.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that Silicon Carbide (SiC) membranes can be used in quantum sensing and MEMS applications. One of the important steps for the production of such membranes is the removal of the substrate material in order to form membranes of micron or submicron thicknesses confining the active regions of fabricated devices to the high quality, doped controlled, epitaxial layers. Moreover, optical components such as Fabry-Pérot cavities and photonic crystals require membranes with smooth surfaces with roughnesses down to the nanometer scale. We report on the development of doping-selective electrochemical processes for the etching of SiC and investigate the creation of such membranes, including the path towards thinner and smoother layers for improved performance. We demonstrate that the resulting roughness of membranes is substantially reduced by novel lithographic patterning and ion beam etching (IBE) procedures to RMS values down to 6 nm.

Se estudió por métodos teóricos la naturaleza de las principales interacciones intermoleculares, a partir del análisis de archivos de información cristalográfica (CIF) de moléculas pseudohalogenadas CCl2FSCN*, CCl3SCN*, ClC(O)SCN*, FC(O)NCS*, FC(O)SCN*. Se estudió por el método de Hirshfeld, la contribución de las principales interacciones intermoleculares (gráficos 2D huellas dactilares) y las energías de interacción. Por otra parte, se realizó el análisis AIM, NCI, Laplaciano de la densidad electrónica y mapas de potencial electrostático, analizando varios parámetros fisicoquímicos como la lagraniana G(r), energía potencial virial V(r), Laplaciana, Hamiltoniano de la energía cinética H(r) y el operador , que permitieron clarificar el carácter y tipo de interacción intermolecular, complementando con el análisis NBO. Para las moléculas CCl2FC(O)NCS, CCl2FC(O)SCN, CCl3C(O)NCS, CCl3C(O)SCN, ClC(O)NCS, ClSCN y FSCN no se disponía de información cristalográfica (CIF), por lo tanto, se realizó una evaluación mediante análisis AIM, NCI, Laplaciano y mapas de potencial electrostático. Se utilizó software como Gaussian16W, MultiWfn, Crystal Explorer, Mercury, VMD y WinGx. Se evidenció interacciones N…S (calcógena), Cl…F (halógena) y N…Cl (halógeno) tipo agujero sigma presentes en las moléculas de tipo XC(O)SCN y XSCN (CCl2FSCN*, CCl3SCN*, ClC(O)SCN*, FC(O)NCS* y FC(O)SCN*) estudiadas desde los archivos CIF. Por otra parte, en el análisis de los mapas de potencial electrostático y el comportamiento del Laplaciano de densidad electrónica en los átomos, sin estructura cristalina (CIF), ClSCN evidencia disminución de la densidad electrónica en el átomo de cloro, por lo tanto, muestra potencial para formar interacciones N…Cl (halógeno), mientras que FSCN, CCl2FCOSCN y CCl3COSCN sugieren la probabilidad de interacciones N…S (calcógenas).

Introduction: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) viruses are zoonotic pathogens affecting humans, particularly equines. These neuroarboviruses compromise the central nervous system and can be fatal in different hosts. Both have significantly influenced Colombia; however, few studies analyse its behaviour, and none develop maps using geographic information systems to characterise it. Objective: To describe the temporal-spatial distribution of those viruses in Colombia between 2008 and 2019. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study, based on weekly reports by municipalities of the ICA, of the surveillance of both arboviruses in equines, in Colombia, from 2008 to 2019. The data were converted into databases in Microsoft Access 365®, and multiple epidemiological maps were generated with the Kosmo RC1®3.0 software coupled to shape files of all municipalities in the country. Results: In the study period, 96 cases of EEE and 70 of VEE were reported, with 58% of EEE cases occurring in 2016 and 20% of EEV cases in 2013. The most affected municipalities for EEE corresponded to the department of Casanare: Yopal (20), Aguazul (16), and Tauramena (10). In total, 40 municipalities in the country reported ≥1 case of EEE. Conclusions: The maps allow a quick appreciation of groups of neighbouring municipalities in different departments (1° political division) and regions of the country affected by those viruses, which helps consider the expansion of the disease associated with mobility and transport of equines between other municipalities, also including international borders, such as is the case with Venezuela. In that country, especially for EEV, municipalities in the department of Cesar are bordering and at risk for that arboviral infection. there is a high risk of equine encephalitis outbreaks, especially for VEE. This poses a risk also, for municipalities in the department of Cesar, bordering with Venezuela.

El presente artículo analiza las consecuencias que trae para el sistema de salud colombiano el cambio de la variable sexo en el documento de identidad de una persona transgénero, quien puede identificarse legalmente con un sexo, pero conservar la biología de otro. A partir de una investigación de tipo documental y exploratoria, fue posible concluir que para el sistema es importante la identidad biológica de las personas, ya que se utiliza para realizar gestión de riesgo en salud, y se usa para calcular los ingresos en capitación para las entidades promotoras de salud, por lo cual se recomienda tener esta variable en cuenta en el sistema.

BackgroundAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers and first-responders, such as police officers, were in charge of trying to contain a disease that was unknown at that time. The lack of information and the tremendous need to contain new outbreaks put police officers at higher risk.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted to describe SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among Police Special Forces Officers in Quito, Ecuador. In this study, 163 community-dwelling police officers from elite divisions voluntarily participated in our SARS-CoV-2 detection program using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR).ResultsA total of 20 out of 163 police officers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, yielding an infection rate of 12.3%. Within this cohort, 10% (2/20) of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals were potentially super spreaders with viral loads over 108 copies/ul. About 85% of the SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals were asymptomatic and 15% reported mild symptoms related to COVID-19.ConclusionsWe found a high SARS-CoV-2 infection rate within the special forces police officers that, beyond a high health risk for themselves, their families, and coworkers. Our results point out the need for permanent SARS-CoV-2 testing among asymptomatic essential workers and first-responders to avoid local outbreaks and to prevent work-place absenteeism among police special units.

Air transports several pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), which can produce cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Thus, it is a challenge to control pollutant emissions before releasing them to the environment. Until now, filtration has been the most efficient processes for removing PM. Therefore, the electrospinning procedure has been applied to obtain membranes with a high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop. This review addressed the synthesis of polymers that are used for fabricating high-performance membranes by electrospinning to remove air pollutants. Then, the most influential parameters to produce electrospun membranes are indicated. The main results show that electrospun membranes are an excellent alternative to having air filters due to the versatility of the process, the capacity for controlling the fiber diameter, porosity, high filtration efficiency and low-pressure drop.

el propósito de esta investigación radica en determinar el rol unificador entre estado de naturaleza y Estado civil de la representación desarrollado en el capítulo XVI del Leviatán. La representación es un momento de transición entre estado natural y Estado civil: donde lo simbólico toma el lugar de la racionalidad práctica y se sedimenta como lo real para los hombres. Es por la capacidad de crear personas artificiales que los hombres pueden atribuir libremente predicados a cosas que no los tienen realmente y, además de donar su cuerpo físico, pueden crear la persona del Estado, el Leviatán; asumir la soberanía y la sujeción y recrear la subjetividad humana políticamente.

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland and multiple non-pituitary sites, vital in several physiological processes such as lactation, pregnancy, cell growth, and differentiation. However, PRL is nowadays known to have a strong implication in oncogenic processes, making it essential to delve into the mechanisms governing these actions. PRL and its receptor (PRLR) activate a series of effects such as survival, cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to treatment, being highly relevant in developing certain types of cancer. Because women produce high levels of PRL, its influence in gynecological cancers is herein reviewed. It is interesting that, other than the 23 kDa PRL, whose mechanism of action is endocrine, other variants of PRL have been observed to be produced by tumoral tissue, acting in a paracrine/autocrine manner. Because many components, including PRL, surround the microenvironment, it is interesting to understand the hormone’s modulation in cancer cells. This work aims to review the most important findings regarding the PRL/PRLR axis in cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers and its molecular mechanisms to support carcinogenesis.

Autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) has been advocated for the management of talar osteochondral lesions (OCLs). This systematic review, which was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, investigated the clinical and imaging efficacy and safety of the AMIC technique in the management of OCLs of the talus. Only studies investigating AMIC for talar chondral defects that were published in peer-reviewed journals were considered. In September 2022, the following databases were accessed: PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase. Data on the visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), Tegner activity scale, and Foot Function Index (FFI) were retrieved. To evaluate the morphological MRI findings, data obtained from the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) scores were evaluated. Data on hypertrophy, failures, and revision surgeries were also collected. Data from 778 patients (39% women, 61% men) were collected. The mean length of the follow-up was 37.4 ± 16.1 months. The mean age of the patients was 36.4 ± 5.1 years, and the mean BMI was 26.1 ± 1.6 kg/m2. The mean defect size was 2.1 ± 1.9 cm2. Following the AMIC technique, patients demonstrated an improved VAS (p < 0.001), AOFAS (p < 0.001), and FFI (p = 0.02) score. The MOCART score also improved from the baseline (p = 0.03). No difference was observed in the Tegner score (p = 0.08). No graft delamination and hypertrophy were reported in 353 patients. 7.8% (44 of 564) of patients required revision surgeries, and 6.2% (32 of 515) of patients were considered failures. The AMIC technique could be effective in improving symptoms and the function of chondral defects of the talus.

Se reporta un paciente pediátrico con diagnóstico de hiperglicinemia no cetósica (HNC), enfermedad neurometabólica poco frecuente ocasionada por una deficiencia en el sistema de segmentación de la glicina, codificada por los genes GLDC, GCSH, AMT y GCSL que conduce a niveles elevados de glicina en la sinapsis generando un efecto agonista prolongado en los receptores N-metil-D-aspartato (NMDA). Se asocia con hipotonía, convulsiones y trastornos de la deglución, los cuales dependerán de la edad de presentación. Se revisa la literatura actual para el abordaje perioperatorio.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer in less developed countries and the second leading cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. The 99% of CC patients are infected with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), being HPV16 and HPV18 infection the most frequent. Even though HPV is considered to be a necessary factor for the development of CC, it is not enough, as it requires the participation of other factors such as the hormonal ones. Several studies have demonstrated the requirement of estrogen and its receptors (ERα, ERβ, and GPER) in the precursor lesions progress towards CC. Also, prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) have been associated with CC. The molecular mechanisms underlying the cooperation of these hormones with the viral oncoproteins are not well elucidated. For this reason, this study focused on analyzing the contribution of 17β-estradiol (E2), PRL, and HPV on the expression and localization of hormone receptors, as well as to evaluate whether these hormones may promote greater expression of HPV oncogenes and contribute to tumor progression. Methods qPCR was used to evaluate the effect of E2 and PRL on the expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins in HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells lines. HaCaT cells were transduced with the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 from HPV 16 and 18. ERα, ERβ, GPER, and PRLR expression and localization were evaluated by qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results E2 and PRL induce E6/E7 oncogenes expression in HeLa and SiHa cells. E6 and E7 oncogenes of HPV16/18 significantly increased the protein expression of ERα, GPER, and PRLR. ERβ was positively regulated only by E6 oncogenes of HPV16/18. Besides, some of these oncogenes modify the location of PRLR toward cytoplasm, and ERα, ERβ, and GPER mainly to the nucleus. Conclusion Our studies suggest that the mutual regulation between E2, PRL, and HPV oncogenes could cooperate with the carcinogenesis process in CC.

En este artículo se analizan “El dios bueno” y “Betún y sangre”, los primeros cuentos de una serie que Rubén Darío quiso compilar con el nombre de “Cuentos nuevos”, pero que jamás llegó a hacerlo. El título del volumen hipotético adquiere interés investigativo, pues se infiere que el escritor tenía razones para distanciarse de lo que hizo en Azul… Nuestra propuesta es que, en el caso de los cuentos “El dios bueno” y “Betún y sangre”, aparece el elemento político-social como movilizador de los acontecimientos, de allí que sea fundamental estudiar las relaciones de poder. La aparición de lo político tiene explicación en el propio contexto de publicación de las obras, puesto que fueron escritas mientras Darío trabajaba como cronista de guerra; el estilo de ese género textual, Darío lo utiliza recogiendo procedimientos de verosimilitud en el seno de las descripciones, que detallan pormenorizadamente lugares reales.

This paper reports on light yield enhancement of terbium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide based scintillator screens achieved by coating their substrates with thin layers of a high density and high atomic number material. For this purpose, iridium was chosen and layers of various thicknesses were applied by atomic layer deposition (ALD). We assessed newly developed scintillator screens for neutron absorption, light yield and spatial resolution and compared them to previously used non-iridium-coated scintillator screens. The addition of the iridium layer resulted in 65 % light yield enhancement in comparison to uncoated scintillator screens while the spatial resolution and absorption power remained unchanged.Highlights • 65 % light yield enhancement of the scintillator light output with preservation of the spatial resolution • Use of atomic layer deposition for nanoengineering of the neutron sensitive scintillator screens Method name: Neutron imaging detection, Keywords: atomic layer deposition, gadolinium oxysulfide, iridium, neutron imaging, neutron microscope, scintillator screen

Los mecanismos metacognitivos son un componente esencial de los procesos de enseñanza y aprendizaje en todas las disciplinas, porque permiten a los aprendices monitorear el conocimiento adquirido, implementar las estrategias más óptimas para resolver tareas específicas y evaluar los resultados de las actividades realizadas. Sin embargo, la investigación reciente en el campo de la cognición motivada ha evidenciado que el funcionamiento metacognitivo puede estar sesgado por factores motivacionales asociados a creencias o metas individuales. En la presente revisión, se propone que los procesos metacognitivos implicados en la comprensión histórica son especialmente propensos a este tipo de influencias motivacionales, en virtud de sus características epistémicas y de sus implicaciones sociales. Esta tesis se apoya en evidencia empírica que sugiere que los compromisos ideológicos e identitarios relacionados con las narrativas históricas pueden afectar la manera en que aprendices y expertos monitorean la calidad de su comprensión y controlan la aplicación de su conocimiento estratégico al evaluar información histórica.

La forma en la que se enseñan las ingenierías y las ciencias es un tema que ha sido discutido de manera recurrente y amplia en esferas académicas, investigativas, industriales y empresariales, entre otras. La pertinencia de la persona recién egresada de una carrera de ingeniería o ciencias y sus actitudes en función de las necesidades locales han suscitado debates que terminan cuestionando hasta los mismos cimientos epistemológicos y filosóficos del tipo del conocimiento científico y tecnológico que está siendo enseñado y generado en contextos del llamado sur global [1]. Es precisamente en esta dirección que varios pensadores latinoamericanos han concluido que la estructura epistemológica positivista, heredada de Occidente, podría no ser tan apropiada para la consecución de los resultados sociales, políticos y económicos que generen las transformaciones necesarias en Latinoamérica, que promuevan la reducción de la desigualdad, la ampliación de la equidad de oportunidades y la mitigación de los impactos ambientales que generan economías puramente extractivas, típicas de los países del mal llamado tercer mundo.

X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy provides element specificity and is a powerful experimental method to probe local unoccupied electronic structures. In the soft x-ray regime, it is especially well suited for the study of 3d-metals and light elements such as nitrogen. Recent developments in vacuum-compatible liquid flat jets have facilitated soft x-ray transmission spectroscopy on molecules in solution, providing information on valence charge distributions of heteroatoms and metal centers. Here, we demonstrate XANES spectroscopy of molecules in solution at the nitrogen K-edge, performed at FLASH, the Free-Electron Laser (FEL) in Hamburg. A split-beam referencing scheme optimally characterizes the strong shot-to-shot fluctuations intrinsic to the process of self-amplified spontaneous emission on which most FELs are based. Due to this normalization, a sensitivity of 1% relative transmission change is achieved, limited by fundamental photon shot noise. The effective FEL bandwidth is increased by streaking the electron energy over the FEL pulse train to measure a wider spectral window without changing FEL parameters. We propose modifications to the experimental setup with the potential of improving the instrument sensitivity by two orders of magnitude, thereby exploiting the high peak fluence of FELs to enable unprecedented sensitivity for femtosecond XANES spectroscopy on liquids in the soft x-ray spectral region.

Ultrafast phenomena on a femtosecond timescale are commonly examined by pump-probe experiments. This implies multiple measurements, where the sample under investigation is pumped with a short light pulse and then probed with a second pulse at various time delays to follow its dynamics. Recently, the principle of streaking extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses in the temporal domain has enabled recording the dynamics of a system within a single pulse. However, separate pump-probe experiments at different absorption edges still lack a unified timing, when comparing the dynamics in complex systems. Here, we report on an experiment using a dedicated optical element and the two-color emission of the FERMI XUV free-electron laser to follow the charge and spin dynamics in composite materials at two distinct absorption edges, simultaneously. The sample, consisting of ferromagnetic Fe and Ni layers, separated by a Cu layer, is pumped by an infrared laser and probed by a two-color XUV pulse with photon energies tuned to the M-shell resonances of these two transition metals. The experimental geometry intrinsically avoids any timing uncertainty between the two elements and unambiguously reveals an approximately 100 fs delay of the magnetic response with respect to the electronic excitation for both Fe and Ni. This delay shows that the electronic and spin degrees of freedom are decoupled during the demagnetization process. We furthermore observe that the electronic dynamics of Ni and Fe show pronounced differences when probed at their resonance, while the demagnetization dynamics are similar. These observations underline the importance of simultaneous investigation of the temporal response of both charge and spin in multi-component materials. In a more general scenario, the experimental approach can be extended to continuous energy ranges, promising the development of jitter-free transient absorption spectroscopy in the XUV and soft X-ray regimes.

Cancer is a major public health issue and represents the second leading cause of death in women worldwide, as female reproductive-related neoplasms are the main cause of incidence and mortality. Female reproductive cancers have a close relationship to estrogens, the principal female sex steroid hormones. Estrogens exert their actions by the nuclear estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ). ERα, and ERβ act as transcription factors mediating genomic effects. Besides, the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER, formerly known as GPR30) was recently described as a seven-transmembrane receptor that mediates non-genomic estrogenic signaling, including calcium mobilization, cAMP synthesis, cleavage of matrix metalloproteinases, transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the subsequent activation of PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways, which are the reasons why it is related to cellular processes, such as cell-cycle progression, cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Since its discovery, selective agonists and antagonists have been found and developed. GPER has been implicated in a variety of hormone-responsiveness tumors, such as breast, endometrial, ovarian, cervical, prostate, and testicular cancer as well as lung, hepatic, thyroid, colorectal, and adrenocortical cancers. Nevertheless, GPER actions in cancer are still debatable due to the conflicting information that has been reported to date, since many reports indicate that activation of this receptor can modulate carcinogenesis. In contrast, many others show that its activation inhibits tumor activity. Besides, estrogens play an essential role in the regulation of the immune system, but little information exists about the role of GPER activation on its modulation within cancer context. This review focuses on the role that the stimulation of GPER plays in female reproductive neoplasms, specifically breast, endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers, in its tumor activity and immune response regulation.