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Abstract We apply the effective field theory formalism that was used to study CP violation induced by heavy new physics in the τ → K S πν τ decays to the other two-meson tau decay channels. We focus on the rate and the forward-backward asymmetries, that are predicted using current bounds on the complex Wilson coefficients of the effective Lagrangian. We discuss our outcomes for the modes with (K/π)π 0 and KK S , that can be studied at Belle-II and a super-tau-charm facility. Our main finding is that current and forthcoming experiments would be sensitive to the maximum allowed CP rate asymmetry in the K ± K S modes if a precision of 5% is reached on this observable, that can check as well the BaBar anomaly in K S π. For the π ± π 0 channels, new physics would be difficult to probe at present. Disentangling new sources of CP violation would be most challenging in K ± π 0 and the other modes.

Background: Historically, a large gender-related disparity in vascular access (VA) has been demonstrated, with there being a lower prevalence of women with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) compared to men, and women have worse maturity rates. The cause of this difference is not entirely clear, although several reasons that could contribute to it have been hypothesized. The emergence of new percutaneous FAV (pFAV) systems could be an alternative for reducing these differences. Objective: This study aims to determine whether there is a gender difference in the creation of AVFs using new percutaneous systems. Material and Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching PubMed and Google Scholar using the following terms: “percutaneous arteriovenous fistula”, “endovascular arteriovenous fistula”, and “hemodialysis”. All clinical trials, comparative studies, and descriptive studies involving patients who underwent a pAVF were included. Results: Finally, the review includes 19 studies, comprising 14 retrospective studies and 5 prospective studies. Of these, six studies are comparative, five of which compare pAVFs with surgically created AVFs (sAVFs), and one compares pAVFs performed using different systems with each other. A total of 1269 patients were included in the review. Of the total number of patients, only 414 were women, representing 32.62% of patients. Conclusions: The number of women included in the various studies analyzing pAVF remains very low, representing less than one-third of all patients. Although the causes of this difference are not entirely clear, several reasons have been hypothesized, such as socioeconomic factors, anatomical factors, or even patients’ preferences. Given these results, further studies are needed to try to clarify the reasons for this gender disparity and to establish different strategies to mitigate the barriers faced by women in accessing AVFs.

Summary: This perspective explores the multifaceted development challenges related to road network expansion in sub-Saharan Africa, where recent infrastructure investments reflect transformative ambitions but also imply socio-ecological tradeoffs. Roads can boost economic growth by facilitating trade, tourism, and access to essential services, yet they simultaneously contribute to ecosystem fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and human-wildlife conflicts. Looking at the history of Africa’s road development, we find that mega-projects—often funded by international donors—reshape political and economic landscapes while altering rural livelihoods and ecosystems. We synthesize literature and case studies to reveal critical trends and propose solutions, urging for a shift toward sustainable, evidence-based infrastructure strategies that balance development with environmental stewardship. We further advocate for transdisciplinary approaches and community engagement to align road expansion with long-term stakeholder needs so as to minimize adverse impacts on Africa’s socio-ecological systems.

A successful posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction depends on multiple factors. Various techniques have been described for PCL reconstruction. Despite the constant evolution of reconstructive techniques, 26% of residual laxity cases with grade I and II positive posterior drawer tests have been reported in the literature in patients undergoing PCL reconstruction. Part of these failures is associated with the lack of control of the posterior translation of the tibia and the increase in external tibial rotation. We describe a surgical technique in which a posterolateral tenodesis augmentation associated with a single-bundle reconstruction of the PCL is performed. It is proposed for use in isolated reconstructions of the PCL in cases of grade III ruptures associated with or unassociated with low-grade posterolateral corner injuries.

# Background The foam roller is considered a versatile tool. Along with an active warm-up, it appears to positively affect range of motion, stability, muscle stiffness, and perceived exertion with no reductions in performance. # Hypothesis/Purpose The main purpose of the study was to observe the effects of the utilization of a foam roller during the warm-up on ankle mobility and lower limb stability, and secondarily, to assess if any induced effects were sustained over time. # Study design Randomized controlled trial. # Methods Twenty-two healthy male subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group, which only carried out a general warm-up over a period of four months, and the foam roller group, which followed a specific warm-up routine using a foam roller for a period of three months plus one month of follow-up in which no foam rolling was performed. Two outcome measurements were taken pre- and post- intervention to assess ankle mobility: the Dorsi-Flexion Lunge test and the Y-Balance test (YBT) for the lower quarter. Outcomes were measured at three time points: before the protocol was initiated, at the end of the protocol (at 12 weeks), and after a one-month follow-up period (at 16 weeks). # Results A significant increase was observed in the dorsiflexion of the right (p < 0.001) and left (p < 0.001) ankles in the experimental group. Significant increases were also noticed in the anterior (p < 0.003), posteromedial (p < 0.050), and posterolateral (p < 0.050) reach distances of the right leg and in the anterior (p < 0.002), posteromedial (p < 0.010), and posterolateral (p < 0.030) reach distances of the left leg during the YBT in the experimental group. The control group also showed significant differences in the right (p < 0.007) and left (p < 0.010) anterior reach distances on the YBT. At the one-month follow-up period, the improvements that had been obtained in both groups were lost, except for the dorsiflexion of the right ankle (p < 0.050) and right (p < 0.010) and left (p < 0.030) anterior reach distance on the YBT in the experimental group. # Conclusions The foam roller can be used as a part of a pre-training warm-up routine to enhance the dorsiflexion range of motion and performance on the YBT. # Level of Evidence 3\. Registered as a clinical trial at ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number: NCT05971316.

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The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows real-time monitoring and control in the distribution network. This infrastructure requires the installation of different technologies and communication protocols in the microgrid to exchange data. However, a performance evaluation is required to identify whether the network and communication protocol meet the AMI requirements. Therefore, this paper presents an evaluation of Modbus and DNP3 protocols encapsulated in TCP under Wi-Fi and Ethernet technologies applied to microgrids. For this purpose, an AMI infrastructure was designed and implemented on a university campus microgrid. Then, both protocols were modeled and implemented in the NS-2 simulator to perform various tests. Both protocols were evaluated with field and simulation tests in three scenarios: point-to-point wireless topology, point-to-point wired topology, and multipoint wireless topology. Protocols are evaluated with metrics such as delay and throughput and the results of field and simulation tests are compared. The results show that the simulations performed with the proposed models have a good approximation to those obtained with the field tests. Both protocols perform well for real-time monitoring of the university campus microgrid, although the time response shows that they are not suitable for protection applications. In addition, Modbus presents better performance than DNP3 when transmitting a small amount of information, but DNP3 is more robust and efficient when transmitting a large amount of information. The paper shows promising results for simulating other applications in smart grids.

Despite lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) being extensively employed as assistant agents to improve the UV-blocking performance of sunscreens, there is a lack of information addressing how and to what extent the chemical and structural features of these particles relate to the improvements observed in the Sun Protection Factors (SPF) of the sunscreens. In this study, lignin oligomers were prepared by a solvothermal extraction process of five typical biomasses in a water–acetone co-solvent without noticeable degradation of the cellulose fraction. Afterward, LNPs were produced from the self-assembly of these lignin oligomers via the solvent-shifting methodology. When incorporated into the sunscreen, these had different morphologies, and exerted different UV-blocking capacities. The effects of the chemical structure and size distribution of the LNPs were systematically studied and compared to those of the original lignin oligomers. LNPs exhibited better UV-blocking ability than soluble lignin oligomers due to the more exposed chromophore on the surface. Besides, compact LNPs with conjugating CO and β-O-4 linkages, as well as the presence of the syringyl unit rich in the methoxyl group in the structures, were beneficial in boosting the UV resistance of the sunscreens. Even though smaller LNPs with higher surface area favored the UV shielding performance, LNPs with widely distributed sizes could further help decrease the UV transmittance. These findings provide an excellent basis for using lignin-derived materials as sunscreen additives and pave the way to developing new environmentally friendly materials for the cosmetic industry.

The crystal structures of two intermediates, 4-amino-3,5-difluorobenzonitrile, C7H4F2N2 (I), and ethyl 4-amino-3,5-difluorobenzoate, C9H9F2NO2 (II), along with a visible-light-responsive azobenzene derivative, diethyl 4,4′-(diazene-1,2-diyl)bis(3,5-difluorobenzoate), C18H14F4N2O4 (III), obtained by four-step synthetic procedure, were studied using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecules of I and II demonstrate the quinoid character of phenyl rings accompanied by the distortion of bond angles related to the presence of fluorine substituents in the 3 and 5 (ortho) positions. In the crystals of I and II, the molecules are connected by N—H...N, N—H...F and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, C—H...F short contacts, and π-stacking interactions. In crystal of III, only stacking interactions between the molecules are found.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La pandemia por COVID-19 condujo a la adopción de medidas de confinamiento con impacto en el control de la diabetes mellitus (DM). El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la pandemia en la atención de personas con DM del subsector público y privado de salud del Partido de General Pueyrredon (PGP). MÉTODOS: Se utilizó un diseño cuasiexperimental que comparó dos períodos: pandemia (3 de marzo de 2020 al 2 de marzo de 2021) y prepandemia (3 de marzo de 2019 al 2 de marzo de 2020). Se incluyó a personas de 18 años y más del PGP con diagnóstico de DM; se conformaron dos grupos según cobertura de salud. Los criterios de valoración principal fueron la hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) y el control metabólico; los secundarios: glucemia basal, índice de masa corporal (IMC), triglicéridos, colesterol, consultas médicas, internación, fondo de ojo e índice albúmina/creatinina. Las diferencias con valor p

Conservation and enhancement of old-growth forests are key in forest planning and policies. In order to do so, more knowledge is needed on how the attributes traditionally associated with old-growth forests are distributed in space, what differences exist across distinct forest types and what natural or anthropic conditions are affecting the distribution of these old-growthness attributes. Using data from the Third Spanish National Forest Inventory (1997–2007), we calculated six indicators commonly associated with forest old-growthness for the plots in the territory of Peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands, and then combined them into an aggregated index. We then assessed their spatial distribution and the differences across five forest functional types, as well as the effects of ten climate, topographic, landscape, and anthropic variables in their distribution. Relevant geographical patterns were apparent, with climate factors, namely temperature and precipitation, playing a crucial role in the distribution of these attributes. The distribution of the indicators also varied across different forest types, while the effects of recent anthropic impacts were weaker but still relevant. Aridity seemed to be one of the main impediments for the development of old-growthness attributes, coupled with a negative impact of recent human pressure. However, these effects seemed to be mediated by other factors, specially the legacies imposed by the complex history of forest management practices, land use changes and natural disturbances that have shaped the forests of Spain. The results of this exploratory analysis highlight on one hand the importance of climate in the dynamic of forests towards old-growthness, which is relevant in a context of Climate Change, and on the other hand, the need for more insights on the history of our forests in order to understand their present and future.

We have developed an in vitro model for the evaluation of potential anticoccidial properties of novel compounds aimed to control chicken coccidiosis, a costly disease for the poultry industry. This disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria (Apicomplexa), and it is mainly controlled by chemoprophylaxis with ionophores and chemical anticoccidials; however, there is an overall agreement about the limitation of these traditional drugs and the need to improve current methods of control. Anticoccidial activities of novel compounds is currently evaluated by expensive experiments that involve large numbers of chickens. The use of our in vitro model for the pre-screening of essential oils led to a reduction of 67% of the chickens used in the in vivo trials for validation. Eimeria parasites can only complete their life cycle in their animal host, therefore chickens are required for their propagation as they cannot be propagated in vitro. In this study, we describe how further optimisation of this in vitro model by miniaturisation can have an additional impact in reduction of the number of chickens used for the generation of parasite stocks for provision of the in vitro model. We have estimated that the use of one chicken could support the evaluation of 10 compounds with a 96-well plate format versus only two compounds with a 24-well plate format, which means an 80% reduction in chicken use. In this study we have proved that the miniaturisation into a 96-well plate format perfectly mimics the invasion and replication observed before in the 24-well plate format. In addition, the 96-well plate format has allowed the simultaneous pre-screening of higher numbers of anticoccidial drugs at different concentrations following streamlined protocols in a more cost-effective way, factors that are beneficial for a wider uptake of the model by other researchers investigating anticoccidial compounds.

IntroductionPoverty is one of the macro factors that has been little studied in terms of its effect on death from COVID-19 since most studies have focused only on investigating whether the pandemic increased poverty or not. With that on mind, the present study aims to analyze how the social deprivations that comprise the measurement of municipal poverty in interaction with health comorbidities and sociodemographic characteristics, increased the probability of death from COVID-19.MethodsThe study is cross-sectional and covers daily reports on the conditions of COVID-19 in the Mexican population for almost 2 years. Using data from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System and the National Council for Evaluation of the Social Development Policy (N = 5,387,981), we employ a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM), specifically a binomial generalized linear mixed model.ResultsThe findings indicate that, besides comorbidities, sociodemographic traits, and clinical aspects, living in a municipality where one or more of the social deprivations exist increases the probability of death. Specifically, in those municipalities where there is deprivation in education, social security, and food, as well as deprivation due to access to health services and deprivation in household services, the probability of death was greater.DiscussionLiving in a municipality with one or more of the social deprivations that compose poverty generated a greater probability of death. Each one of them or together, shows that poverty is a substantial factor for a pandemic like COVID-19 to worsen contagion and death, becoming a circle from which it is difficult to escape.

El Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE) ha experimentado un crecimiento significativo en las últimas dos décadas. A pesar de que este crecimiento se ha visto reflejado en productos de investigación como los artículos publicados en revistas académicas, no existen estudios actuales y amplios que den cuenta del estado del arte en esta disciplina. En este estudio, 1110 artículos publicados en revistas académicas entre el 2000 y 2023 fueron organizados en un Sistema de Organización del Conocimiento y analizados en la herramienta Vantage Point con el fin de dar cuenta del estado de la investigación en ELE a través de su evolución cronológica, sus ejes temáticos y sus lugares de producción de conocimiento. Los resultados muestran que el desarrollo del ELE se ha dado principalmente por la realización de estudios y de publicaciones en España, con una fuerte predilección por el reporte de experiencias de aula y de estudios de caso. Esta investigación se presenta como un marco para no solo comprender el devenir y las dinámicas de la producción académica de ELE, sino, tal vez más importante, para reflexionar y proyectar líneas de investigación que respondan a las necesidades e intereses investigativos locales e internacionales del campo.

Since its beginning, the computational performance of numerical optimization techniques has depended on utilizing efficient mathematical formulations to deal with large-size problems successfully. This fact is manifested in the unit commitment literature. Several approaches have been proposed to handle the complexity of accurately modeling real power systems. However, most of these methodologies focus on strengthening the technical features’ representations by reducing the number of constraints and variables of the associated optimization problem or approximating its relaxed feasible region to the integer one to improve resolution processes. Hence, the state-of-art of these effective procedures is periodically studied under operational research and commercial solvers developments. Nevertheless, the formulation comparisons frequently obviate analyzing the impact of the balance equations on the computational burden of the unit commitment problem. This constraint links every single technical restriction along the time span and sometimes provides an ample optimization space, sometimes a narrow one, directly affecting resolution proceedings. It can impose an electricity generation equal to demand, allow production excesses, include non-served energy, or establish profit-based relationships. This paper presents a computational analysis of the most popular balance equations, detailing solver performances and determining these methodologies’ tightness, compactness, and arduousness. Therefore, 1010 case studies were run utilizing different input profiles and optimality-convergence criteria.

IntroductionThe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American labor markets continue to be quantified, to identify the social and economic impacts that this pandemic had, and to design more efficient public policies that would protect the most vulnerable groups. For this reason, the research question was as follows: what were the changes in the labor formality rates before and two years after the main contingency measures of the COVID-19 pandemic were implemented?MethodsUsing data from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, the formality rate (τ) was analyzed, which was calculated using a weighted average between the formal employment rates of the number (i) of economic sectors (p) in a specific period (t).ResultsThe results suggest that the weighted labor formality rate increased in the countries of the region. These changes in formality could be the result of greater capital accumulation, the integration of productive processes, the integration of commercialization processes, and differentiated fiscal stimuli (i.e., the intrasectoral aspect), but it was not due to the displacement of workers from highly informal economic sectors to more formalized sectors (i.e., the intersectoral component).DiscussionThe findings emphasized the precarious situation of women in the region, regardless of the country, particularly in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. These findings suggest the need to design public policies that reverse the current situation of the labor market and prevent future economic shocks, with special emphasis on the informal sector and women.

Abstract Safe and effective pain management is a critical healthcare and societal need. The potential for acute liver injury from paracetamol (ApAP) overdose; nephrotoxicity and gastrointestinal damage from chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use; and opioids’ addiction are unresolved challenges. We developed SRP-001, a non-opioid and non-hepatotoxic small molecule that, unlike ApAP, does not produce the hepatotoxic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone-imine (NAPQI) and preserves hepatic tight junction integrity at high doses. CD-1 mice exposed to SRP-001 showed no mortality, unlike a 70% mortality observed with increasing equimolar doses of ApAP within 72 h. SRP-001 and ApAP have comparable antinociceptive effects, including the complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced inflammatory von Frey model. Both induce analgesia via N-arachidonoylphenolamine (AM404) formation in the midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) nociception region, with SRP-001 generating higher amounts of AM404 than ApAP. Single-cell transcriptomics of PAG uncovered that SRP-001 and ApAP also share modulation of pain-related gene expression and cell signaling pathways/networks, including endocannabinoid signaling, genes pertaining to mechanical nociception, and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Both regulate the expression of key genes encoding FAAH, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1), CNR2, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4), and voltage-gated Ca2+ channel. Phase 1 trial (NCT05484414) (02/08/2022) demonstrates SRP-001’s safety, tolerability, and favorable pharmacokinetics, including a half-life from 4.9 to 9.8 h. Given its non-hepatotoxicity and clinically validated analgesic mechanisms, SRP-001 offers a promising alternative to ApAP, NSAIDs, and opioids for safer pain treatment.

Abstract Leather dyeing is a critical step in leather manufacturing, as it is responsible for providing leather products with an eye-catching visual aspect and adequate quality properties to meet customers' expectations. This step is becoming more and more challenging as the leather industry advances hand in hand with new environmentally friendly policies and regulations to achieve a safer and healthier planet by replacing the highly polluting Cr-based leather tanning technology with greener alternatives. As a result, achieving high-performance dyeing of organic chrome-free leather is one of the bottlenecks for the sustainable development of the leather industry. Herein, we propose a novel strategy to fabricate an isocyanate-based oligomeric dye (IBD) with high coloring capabilities (component content higher than 62.8%) based on toluene 2,4-diisocyanate and reactive red dye 180. This material has been tested for the dyeing of biomass-derived aldehyde (BDA)-tanned leather with excellent outcomes. The experimental results showed that the crust leather dyed with our novel IBD dyeing agent had higher color fastness and better fullness than the leather dyed with conventional anionic (CAD) or reactive red 180 (RRD-180) dyes. These excellent and promising results open new avenues in manufacturing high-performance organic Cr-free leather products and help to ensure the sustainable transition of the leather industry from Cr-based leather tanning to more sustainable alternatives, maintaining the final quality of the leather products. Graphical abstract

Abstract We investigate the sensitivity of the FASERν detector, a novel experimental setup at the LHC, to probe and constrain generalized neutrino interactions (GNI). Employing a comprehensive theoretical framework, we model the effects of generalized neutrino interactions on neutrino-nucleon deep inelastic scattering processes within the FASERν detector. By considering all the neutrino channels produced at the LHC, we perform a statistical analysis to determine the sensitivity of FASERν to constrain these interactions. Our results demonstrate that FASERν can place stringent constraints on the GNI effective couplings. Additionally, we study the relation between GNI and a minimal Leptoquark model where the SM is augmented by a singlet Leptoquark with hypercharge 1/3. We have found that the sensitivities for various combinations of the Leptoquark Yukawa couplings are approximately O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (1), particularly when considering a Leptoquark mass in the TeV range.

One of the alternative materials used for conducting conservation treatment of iron artifacts is the rust converter, since it generates barrier properties and more stable oxides. The protective properties and surface modifications from using Mimosa tenuiflora extract as a green rust converter on a gray iron oxide layer were studied. The surface characterization was carried out using a Scanning Electron Microscope coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS), along with infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Water Contact Angle (WCA). Electrochemical characterization was performed with an Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscope (EIS) using 3.5 wt.% NaCl as the electrolyte. According to the results of the Raman spectroscopy and XRD, the layer of corrosion products formed after 90 days in the atmosphere was composed of goethite, lepidocrocite, maghemite, hematite, and magnetite. The surface of the corrosion products was transformed with the rust converter into an amorphous and microcracked layer. By IR, the Fe-O and C-O-Fe bonds associated with the iron chelate were found with absorption bands at 1540 and 1567 cm−1, respectively. By XRD, a modification of the magnetite crystallinity was observed. Finally, the Water Contact Angle and the protective capacity of the corrosion products were improved by the presence of the rust converter.

Introducción: El estudio de la cultura organizacional es un tema de amplio debate, por la necesidad de establecer ejes comunes en su definición y llegar a un consenso acerca de cómo medirlo. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar los principales instrumentos y escalas de medición, válidas y confiables, que han sido construidas para medir la cultura organizacional durante el período 2013-2023. Método: El tipo de investigación es una revisión sistemática. La muestra seleccionada fueron artículos que han publicado el diseño y construcción de instrumentos de medición de la cultura organizacional, durante los últimos diez años. Resultados: De la revisión efectuada,siete son adaptaciones de instrumentos ya validados. Los sectores más representativos son: Salud, Educación y Pymes. El 71,4 % de los artículos reflejan un adecuado criterio de selección muestral. El marco teórico más referenciado es el Modelo de Valores por Competencias. El 92,8 % de los instrumentos analizados supera el Alpha de Cronbach de 0,70, y para la validación, el 85,7 % empleó la validez de constructo. Discusiones: Se reconoce en las investigaciones la carencia de adaptaciones de instrumentos que son clásicos en estos estudios, así como aquellos que miden cultura organizacional en idioma español, y que sean aplicables al contexto latinoamericano. Además, no exploran factores que son relevantes para el análisis de esta variable, tales como: significados, normas, valores e ideologías, supuestos básicos, hábitos, rituales, creencias, expectativas y subculturas. Se evidencia la necesidad de identificar nuevos modelos, factores y tipos de cultura.

Most studies analysing waste generation consider the impact on the resident population; however, in the case of tourist destinations, it is important to differentiate the impact between the local population and tourists. This research separates these two population groups using the stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence and technology (STIRPAT) model for the case of Ibiza. The results confirm different waste generation patterns in tourist and non-tourist populations depending on the waste type (non-sorted and sorted). Moreover, our analysis found that the amount of waste generated per person decreased over time, demonstrating the growth of circular economy practices in the destination. Furthermore, the STIRPAT model highlights the development of a circular economy, showing a downward trend in the generation of non-sorted waste and a positive trend towards collecting recyclable materials. Finally, the results confirm that waste generation patterns vary by season, population, and waste type. Additionally, for both populations, there is a reduction in per capita non-sorted waste generation (this is more significant for the non-tourist population). In contrast, per capita sorted waste generation has increased for both types of population.

Sonic crystal noise barriers (SCNB) have emerged as a promising solution for mitigating traffic noise pollution. These barriers utilize periodic structures to selectively reflect acoustic waves at specific target frequencies, offering the advantage of being permeable to light and wind. However, their installation and maintenance costs have hindered widespread adoption. In contrast, active noise control (ANC) systems leverage speakers and microphones to generate opposing sound waves that cancel out incoming noise, presenting a potentially cost-effective alternative. The efficacy of ANC, however, hinges on the precision of noise prediction models and control algorithms. Reinforcement Learning (RL) technique, an interdisciplinary area of machine learning, has shown promise in enhancing ANC systems by enabling them to adapt to changing noise conditions and achieve superior noise reduction, particularly in enclosed spaces. Despite these advancements, several challenges remain in applying RL to ANC systems for SCNB. This paper explores these challenges and proposes an RL-based solution for autonomous ANC systems within the context of SCNB, utilizing a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulation environment to address low-frequency, moving sources, and outdoor propagation noise scenarios.

La investigación buscó determinar la incidencia de la ceniza de eucalipto en las propiedades mecánicas del mortero de asentamiento de ladrillos artesanales, por lo cual se utilizó la metodología de enfoque cuantitativo, tipo aplicada, nivel explicativo y diseño cuasiexperimental. La población estuvo constituida por muestras que 36 son en cubos, 36 son rectangulares, 4 muretes y 4 prismas de mortero, a las cuales se les realizo los ensayos en laboratorio tanto a la muestra patrón como a las con adiciones con porcentajes de 1%, 3% y 5% de ceniza de eucalipto. Los resultados con el 1% de adición tuvo notable mejoría, ya que presento superioridad en cuanto a las otras adiciones en todos los ensayos realizados, finalmente se concluyó que la adición de la ceniza de eucalipto influyó de manera positiva en las propiedades mecánicas del mortero.

Two sporadic cases of legionellosis occurring in consecutive years were confirmed by positive antigenuria to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in individuals with limited mobility who were confined to their homes. Both cases had a history of using ultrasonic humidifiers and of low exposure to other possible sources of infection. This study was conducted through an expanded epidemiological survey and home inspection. Samples were collected from domestic hot water and humidifiers. Environmental isolates were characterised by immunoagglutination and immunofluorescence. The Dresden panel is employed for the determination of groups and subgroups of serogroup 1. The amoebae were isolated by water filtration and subsequent cultivation of the filters. Identification of the isolates was conducted through the sequencing of PCR products. In both cases, epidemiological studies identified the ultrasonic humidifiers as the probable source of infection. The presence of Legionella pneumophila was confirmed in the sanitary water installation and in the humidifiers, where high values of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 counts were also obtained. The isolates were characterised as Olda Oxford and Olda OLDA. Furthermore, in addition to the Legionella isolates, the presence of Vermamoeba vermiformis was also identified in samples obtained from domestic hot water and humidifiers in one of the residential addresses under investigation. It has been demonstrated that humidifiers can act as an amplification mechanism for pathogenic microorganisms when they are not cleaned and maintained correctly. This can pose a health danger, especially to people with previous respiratory pathologies, the immunosuppressed, and the elderly. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that professionals who recommend the therapeutic use of this equipment should issue warnings regarding the importance of its correct use, cleaning, and disinfection. Finally, humidifiers should be considered in epidemiological surveys and in the study of sporadic cases.

Background/Objectives: Vaccines may improve the control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis. However, the evaluation of experimental candidates requires the assessment of the protection, excretion, transmission and biosafety. A natural transmission trial among likely infected animals was conducted. Methods: Seventy-four male heifers were randomly distributed (five groups) and vaccinated subcutaneously with attenuated strains (M. bovis Δmce2 or M. bovis Δmce2-phoP), a recombinant M. bovis BCG Pasteur (BCGr) or M. bovis BCG Pasteur. Then, they cohoused with a naturally infected bTB cohort under field conditions exposed to the infection. Results: A 23% of transmission of wild-type strains was confirmed (non-vaccinated group). Strikingly, first vaccination did not induce immune response (caudal fold test and IFN-gamma release assay). However, after 74 days of exposure to bTB, animals were re-vaccinated. Although their sensitization increased throughout the trial, the vaccines did not confer significant protection, when compared to the non-vaccinated group, as demonstrated by pathology progression of lesions and confirmatory tools. Besides, the likelihood of acquiring the infection was similar in all groups compared to the non-vaccinated group (p > 0.076). Respiratory and digestive excretion of viable vaccine candidates was undetectable. To note, the group vaccinated with M. bovis Δmce2-phoP exhibited the highest proportion of animals without macroscopic lesions, compared to the one vaccinated with BCG, although this was not statistically supported. Conclusions: This highlights that further evaluation of these vaccines would not guarantee better protection. The limitations detected during the trial are discussed regarding the transmission rate of M. bovis wild-type, the imperfect test for studying sensitization, the need for a DIVA diagnosis and management conditions of the trials performed under routine husbandry conditions. Re-vaccination of likely infected bovines did not highlight a conclusive result, even suggesting a detrimental effect on those vaccinated with M. bovis BCG.

Resumen Introducción y objetivo. Para obtener buenos resultados en reconstrucción mamaria autóloga con colgajo de dorsal ancho se requiere verificar la presencia de una vascularización tóracodorsal adecuada. En el presente trabajo evaluamos la aportación de la ecografía Doppler-Dúplex para la localización de la arteria torácodorsal, previa a la reconstrucción mamaria diferida con colgajo de dorsal ancho. Material y método. Revisión de 51 pacientes con antecedentes de cirugía axilar por cáncer de mama candidatas a reconstrucción diferida con colgajo homolateral del músculo dorsal ancho. La exploración ecográfica la realizó un solo radiólogo utilizando la modalidad ecográfica Doppler-Dúplex. Resultados. Entre las 51 pacientes, se localizó la arteria tóracodorsal mediante ecografía en 39 casos (76.47%). En 12 casos no se pudo localizar o bien su identificación resultó dudosa. Entre estos 12 casos, en 8 se realizó angio-tomografía computarizada o bien angio-resonancia magnética que identificaron la arteria en 5 casos. En los otros 3, las pacientes rechazaron las exploraciones y no se sometieron a reconstrucción mediante la técnica estudiada o bien no se reconstruyeron Se dispone de datos confirmados en 47 casos, entre los cuales no se ha visualizado vascularización tóracodorsal en 3 casos, lo que supone un 6.38%. Los parámetros diagnósticos resultantes fueron: sensibilidad 88.63%; especificidad 100%; valor predictivo positivo 100%;y valor predictivo negativo 37.50%, con una exactitud del 89.36%. Conclusiones. En base a nuestra experiencia podemos concluir que, siempre que se disponga de la experiencia y los medios técnicos adecuados, la ecografía Doppler-Dúplex debería ser el primer procedimiento a utilizar para la evaluación de la vascularización tóracodorsal. y en el caso de no reunir tales requisitos o bien si la ecografía fuera dudosa/negativa, realizar otros métodos como la angio-tomografía computarizada o la angio-resonancia magnética. Nivel de evidencia científica 5c Diagnóstico

The rapid land use change in tropical forests is a severe threat to Earth nature’s contributions to people (NCPs) and biodiversity. Effectively conserving ecosystems is a global target that requires clearly prioritizing areas that provide multiple benefits. The goal of this study is to identify potential NCPs and biodiversity hotspots of forest and evaluate their single and multiple representativeness within the Protection Areas (PA) in Peru. To do so we (1) analyzed the spatial distribution of three NCPs indicators at national and regional scales (carbon stock and sequestration in two components aboveground carbon density and soil organic carbon stock, water balance and erosion control) and one biodiversity indicator (biodiversity relative priority index) and identified their hotspots areas; (2) identified the single and overlapped hotspot areas within PAs; (3) identified synergies and trade-off among indicators. Our analysis shows that the distribution of NCPs and biodiversity varied across regions. Most hotspot areas were in the High and Not Flooded Rainforest regions due to favorable conditions for vegetation and lower levels of anthropic transformation. We found that the current PAs inadequately protect a significant percentage of hotspots, with few overlap areas. Synergies may shift to trade-offs at different scales or among regions, meaning a conservation plan solely focused on biodiversity cannot adequately preserve NCPs. Furthermore, multiple hotspot areas cannot be conserved in a single location, emphasizing the importance of hotspot identification as the first step towards achieving multifunctional PAs. Our analysis offers recommendations for achieving multifunctional PAs that can apply to megadiverse countries.

The interactions of charged particles moving paraxially in multi-walled carbon nanotubes may excite electromagnetic modes. This wake effect has recently been proposed as a potential novel method of short-wavelength high-gradient particle acceleration and for obtaining brilliant radiation sources. In this work, the excitation of wakefields in double-walled carbon nanotubes is studied by means of the linearized hydrodynamic theory. General expressions have been derived for the excited longitudinal and transverse wakefields and related to the resonant wavenumbers which can be obtained from the dispersion relation. In the absence of friction, the stopping power of the wakefield driver, modelled here as a charged macroparticle, can be written solely as a function of these resonant wavenumbers. The dependencies of the wakefields on the radii of the double-walled carbon nanotubes and the driving velocity have been studied. Double-walled carbon nanotubes with inter-wall distances much smaller than the internal radius may be a potential option to obtain higher wakefields for particle acceleration compared to single-walled carbon nanotubes.

PURPOSEBreast cancer mortality rates in Latin America (LA) are higher than those in the United States, possibly because of advanced disease presentation, health care disparities, or unfavorable molecular subtypes. The Latin American Cancer Research Network was established to address these challenges and to promote collaborative clinical research. The Molecular Profiling of Breast Cancer Study (MPBCS) aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of LA participants with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe MPBCS enrolled 1,449 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Through harmonized procedures and quality assurance measures, this study evaluated clinicopathologic characteristics, neoadjuvant chemotherapy response, and survival outcomes according to residual cancer burden (RCB) and the type of surgery.RESULTSOverall, 711 and 480 participants in the primary surgery and neoadjuvant arms, respectively, completed the 5-year follow-up period. Overall survival was independently associated with RCB (worse survival for RCBIII-adjusted hazard ratio, 8.19, P < .001, and RCBII [adjusted hazard ratio, 3.69, P < .008] compared with RCB0 [pathologic complete response or pCR]) and type of surgery (worse survival in mastectomy than in breast-conserving surgery [BCS], adjusted hazard ratio, 2.97, P = .001). The hormone receptor–negative-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive group had the highest proportion of pCR (48.9%). The analysis of the ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative breast module revealed high compliance with pathologic standards but lower adherence to treatment administration standards. Notably, compliance with trastuzumab administration varied widely among countries (33.3%-88.7%).CONCLUSIONIn LABC, we demonstrated the survival benefit of BCS and the prognostic effect of the response to available neoadjuvant treatments despite an important variability in access to key treatments. The MPBCS represents a significant step forward in understanding the real-world implementation of oncologic procedures in LA.

Abstract The spread of prion‐like protein aggregates is a common driver of pathogenesis in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related Tauopathies. Tau pathologies exhibit a clear progressive spreading pattern that correlates with disease severity. Clinical observation combined with complementary experimental studies has shown that Tau preformed fibrils (PFF) are prion‐like seeds that propagate pathology by entering cells and templating misfolding and aggregation of endogenous Tau. While several cell surface receptors of Tau are known, they are not specific to the fibrillar form of Tau. Moreover, the underlying cellular mechanisms of Tau PFF spreading remain poorly understood. Here, it is shown that the lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 (Lag3) is a cell surface receptor that binds to PFF but not the monomer of Tau. Deletion of Lag3 or inhibition of Lag3 in primary cortical neurons significantly reduces the internalization of Tau PFF and subsequent Tau propagation and neuron‐to‐neuron transmission. Propagation of Tau pathology and behavioral deficits induced by injection of Tau PFF in the hippocampus and overlying cortex are attenuated in mice lacking Lag3 selectively in neurons. These results identify neuronal Lag3 as a receptor of pathologic Tau in the brain，and for AD and related Tauopathies, a therapeutic target.

Abstract Multi‐terminal high‐voltage direct current technology based on voltage‐source converter stations (VSC‐MTDC) is expected to be one of the most important contributors to the future of electric power systems. In fact, among other features, it has already been shown how this technology can contribute to improve transient stability in power systems by the use of supplementary controllers. Along this line, this paper will investigate in detail how these supplementary controllers affect electromechanical oscillations, by means of small‐signal stability analysis. The paper analyses two control strategies based on the modulation of active‐power injections (P‐WAF) and reactive‐power injections (Q‐WAF) in the VSC stations which were presented in previous work. Both control strategies use global signals of the frequencies of the VSC‐MTDC system and they presented significant improvements on transient stability. The paper will provide guidelines for the design of these type of controllers to improve both large‐ and small‐disturbance angle stability. Small‐signal stability analysis (in Matlab) has been compared with non‐linear time domain simulation (in PSS/E) to confirm the results using CIGRE Nordic32A benchmark test system with a VSC‐MTDC system. The paper analyses the impact of the controller gains and communication latency on electromechanical‐oscillation damping. The main conclusion of the paper is that transient‐stability‐tailored supplementary controllers in VSC‐MTDC systems can be tuned to damp inter‐area oscillations too, maintaining their effectiveness.

Antarctica, its outlying archipelagoes and the Magellanic Subantarctic (MSA) ecoregion are amongst the last true wilderness areas remaining on the planet. Therefore, the publication, citation and peer review of their biodiversity data are essential. The new Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), a Chilean scientific initiative funded by the National Agency of Research and Innovation, contributes 770 new records of aquatic invertebrates as a point of reference for present-day biodiversity research at these latitudes.The occurrence dataset presented here has never been released before and is the result of the systematic recording of occurrences of several taxa across the Antarctic, Subantarctic and Magellanic Subantarctic ecoregions. We collected data from marine and freshwater invertebrates across numerous samplings from 2008 to 2023. From the 770 occurrences, we identified 160 taxa, 125 at species level and 35 at the genus level. The database has been registered in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The publication of this data paper was funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO, contract n°FR/36/AN1/AntaBIS) in the Framework of EU-Lifewatch as a contribution to the SCAR Antarctic biodiversity portal (biodiversity.aq)

The chemical transformation of natural oils provides alternatives to limited fossil fuels and produces compounds with added value for the chemical industries. The selective deoxygenation of natural oils to diesel-ranged hydrocarbons, bio-jet fuels, or fatty alcohols with controllable selectivity is especially attractive in natural oil feedstock biorefineries. This review presents recent progress in catalytic deoxygenation of natural oils or related model compounds (e.g., fatty acids) to renewable liquid fuels (green diesel and bio-jet fuels) and valuable fatty alcohols (unsaturated and saturated fatty alcohols). Besides, it discusses and compares the existing and potential strategies to control the product selectivity over heterogeneous catalysts. Most research conducted and reviewed has only addressed the production of one category; therefore, a new integrative vision exploring how to direct the process toward fuel and/or chemicals is urgently needed. Thus, work conducted to date addressing the development of new catalysts and studying the influence of the reaction parameters (e.g., temperature, time and hydrogen pressure) is summarized and critically discussed from a green and sustainable perspective using efficiency indicators (e.g., yields, selectivity, turnover frequencies and catalysts lifetime). Special attention has been given to the chemical transformations occurring to identify key descriptors to tune the selectivity toward target products by manipulating the reaction conditions and the structures of the catalysts. Finally, the challenges and future research goals to develop novel and holistic natural oil biorefineries are proposed. As a result, this critical review provides the readership with appropriate information to selectively control the transformation of natural oils into either biofuels and/or value-added chemicals. This new flexible vision can help pave the wave to suit the present and future market needs.

The information obtained from direct data (geological mapping and boreholes) and indirect techniques (reflection seismology, time-domain electromagnetics and magnetometry) is combined to analyse the northern limit of the Bailén basin (southeastern Spain). This Triassic–Neogene basin is confined by a graben-type structure, limited by two normal faults in the SW–NE direction (the Baños de la Encina-La Carolina fault and Guarromán fault). The movement of these faults was complex, with different pulses occurring over time. Therefore, the subsidence of the basin and the sedimentary filling of the graben were different, giving rise to lateral changes in the facies and thicknesses. This study focuses on the Baños de la Encina fault, chosen as the experimental site to analyse the effectiveness and accuracy of these geophysical techniques to reveal the basement structure and geometry. Seismic reflection allows to detect two faults that caused the subsidence of the eastern sector of the graben. The TDEM method made it possible to calculate the depth of the Palaeozoic basement, as well as reveal the presence of the two aforementioned faults. Magnetic total field data highlight variations in the basement depth that can be used to infer previously unknown fractures, in this case, in the NW–SE direction.

In many cases, the lateral extension of economically valuable mineral deposits is linked to fractures. Knowing the characteristics of these tectonic structures is crucial for determining the continuity of mineralization in the subsoil and, consequently, for planning their exploitation. To address this challenge, a multidisciplinary study was carried out using various geophysical techniques and direct field observations to analyze the effectiveness of each technique in the investigation of fractures. For this purpose, the mining district of Linares-La Carolina in southeastern Spain, known for hosting Philonian deposits of galena (PbS), was chosen. At the southern boundary of this mining district, the seams stopped being exploited when they lost their continuity due to the presence of a regional normal fault. This fault zone was responsible for hiding the seams under a thick sedimentary cover. Detailed geological mapping allowed us to deduce the presence of two fracture systems. The geophysical techniques of electrical resistivity tomography and the time domain electromagnetic method were used, allowing us to identify the positions and the vertical displacement of these faults. Furthermore, using magnetometry, the presence of a third system of fractures was deduced. The results showed that this multidisciplinary analysis provides information of interest concerning the complex structure that configures the limits of this mining district.

Muscle dysfunction and muscle atrophy are common complications resulting from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The evaluation of the peripheral muscles can be carried out through the assessment of their structural components from ultrasound images or their functional components through isometric and isotonic strength tests. This evaluation, performed mainly on the quadriceps muscle, is not only of great interest for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of COPD, but also for the evaluation of the benefits of therapeutic interventions. In this work, bioimpedance spectroscopy technology is proposed as a low-cost and easy-to-use alternative for the evaluation of peripheral muscles, becoming a feasible alternative to ultrasound images and strength tests for their application in routine clinical practice. For this purpose, a laboratory prototype of a bioimpedance device has been adapted to perform segmental measurements in the quadriceps region. The validation results obtained in a pseudo-randomized study in patients with COPD in a controlled clinical environment which involved 33 volunteers confirm the correlation and correspondence of the bioimpedance parameters with respect to the structural and functional parameters of the quadriceps muscle, making it possible to propose a set of prediction equations. The main contribution of this manuscript is the discovery of a linear relationship between quadriceps muscle properties and the bioimpedance Cole model parameters, reaching a correlation of 0.69 and an average error of less than 0.2 cm regarding the thickness of the quadriceps estimations from ultrasound images, and a correlation of 0.77 and an average error of 3.9 kg regarding the isometric strength of the quadriceps muscle.

We analyzed antimicrobial resistance and virulence traits in multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli isolates obtained from imported shrimp using whole-genome sequences (WGSs). Antibiotic resistance profiles were determined phenotypically. WGSs identified key characteristics, including their multilocus sequence type (MLST), serotype, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance genes, and mobile elements. Most of the isolates exhibited resistance to gentamicin, streptomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Multilocus sequence type (MLST), serotype, average nucleotide identity (ANI), and pangenome analysis showed high genomic similarity among isolates, except for EC15 and ECV01. The EC119 plasmid contained a variety of efflux pump genes, including those encoding the acid resistance transcriptional activators (gadE, gadW, and gadX), resistance-nodulation-division-type efflux pumps (mdtE and mdtF), and a metabolite, H1 symporter (MHS) family major facilitator superfamily transporter (MNZ41_23075). Virulence genes displayed diversity, particularly EC15, whose plasmids carried genes for adherence (faeA and faeC-I), invasion (ipaH and virB), and capsule (caf1A and caf1M). This comprehensive analysis illuminates antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and plasmid dynamics in E. coli from imported shrimp and has profound implications for public health, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and research into the evolution of these important bacterial pathogens.

We studied the primary succession of benthic communities in the lava flows of the Tajogaite volcano at 2, 4.5, and 7 months after the eruption ended. The lava from the Tajogaite created several lava flows and sterile rocky reefs that were monitored in both intertidal and subtidal areas up to 20 m depth. Sampling included macroinvertebrates and algae in the intertidal, and fishes, macroinvertebrates, and algae in the subtidal. A control zone was selected to compare the early colonisation of lava flows with that of a mature ecosystem. Colonisation of the lava flow was swift, with numerous species arriving and proliferating soon after the eruption ended. After 7 months, the total number of species recorded in the lava flows was 70, representing 64% of those found in the control zone. thus, communities were gradually becoming increasingly complex owing to the continuous incorporation of species. The number of fishes, and macroinvertebrates in both the intertidal and subtidal, lava flows increased progressively, approaching the values of the control zone. However, algae, in terms of total cover, presented values similar to the control zone from the beginning of the monitoring. All the communities have followed the same trajectory to converge towards communities like those in the control zone, although the rate at which they have changed with time differs. After seven months, differences in fishes between lava flows and the control zone were small, but they were still large with respect to macroinvertebrates and algae. Thus, according to each community of organisms, the benthic ecosystem of the lava flows was found at different stages of succession.

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Con este trabajo queremos llamar la atención sobre el proceso de excavación y análisis de materiales líticos provenientes de contextos calizos, como son los correspondientes a la vertiente sur de los Pirineos. La experiencia adquirida durante la excavación de Coro Trasito (Tella-Sin, Huesca) nos ha permitido distinguir entre los clastos y los fragmentos naturales de la propia cueva, una serie de lascas y fragmentos de caliza que presentan rastros de haber sido utilizados como instrumentos de trabajo. Este conjunto supone el 33,3% de los restos líticos recuperados en el sitio, porcentaje similar al del sílex (un 33,1%). En este conteo no se contemplan los cantos en caliza, que sí se han registrado en otros sitios del Neolítico antiguo del Pirineo central. La ausencia de este registro en otros yacimientos no permite realizar comparaciones en cuanto al desarrollo tecnológico de los grupos neolíticos que habitaron ese territorio.

Abstract Background Alzheimer Disease (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are both characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the brain, although Aβ deposits mostly in the brain parenchyma in AD and in the cerebrovasculature in CAA. The presence of CAA can exacerbate clinical outcomes of AD patients by promoting spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemia leading to CAA-associated cognitive decline. Genetically, AD and CAA share the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene as the strongest genetic risk factor. Although tremendous efforts have focused on uncovering the role of APOE4 on parenchymal plaque pathogenesis in AD, mechanistic studies investigating the role of APOE4 on CAA are still lacking. Here, we addressed whether abolishing APOE4 generated by astrocytes, the major producers of APOE, is sufficient to ameliorate CAA and CAA-associated vessel damage. Methods We generated transgenic mice that deposited both CAA and plaques in which APOE4 expression can be selectively suppressed in astrocytes. At 2-months-of-age, a timepoint preceding CAA and plaque formation, APOE4 was removed from astrocytes of 5XFAD APOE4 knock-in mice. Mice were assessed at 10-months-of-age for Aβ plaque and CAA pathology, gliosis, and vascular integrity. Results Reducing the levels of APOE4 in astrocytes shifted the deposition of fibrillar Aβ from the brain parenchyma to the cerebrovasculature. However, despite increased CAA, astrocytic APOE4 removal reduced overall Aβ-mediated gliosis and also led to increased cerebrovascular integrity and function in vessels containing CAA. Conclusion In a mouse model of CAA, the reduction of APOE4 derived specifically from astrocytes, despite increased fibrillar Aβ deposition in the vasculature, is sufficient to reduce Aβ-mediated gliosis and cerebrovascular dysfunction.

Abstract Recent nanotechnology advances enable fabrication of layered structures with controllable inter-layer gap, giving the ultra-violet (UV) lasers access to solid-state plasmas which can be used as medium for electron acceleration. By using a linearly polarized 3 fs-long laser pulse of 100 nm wavelength and 10 $$^{21}$$ 21 W/cm $$^2$$ 2 peak intensity, we show numerically that electron bunches can be accelerated along a stack of ionized graphene layers. Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations reveal a new self-injection mechanism based on edge plasma oscillations, whose amplitude depends on the distance between the graphene layers. Nanometre-size electron ribbons are electrostatically catapulted into buckets of longitudinal electric fields in less than 1 fs, as opposed to the slow electrostatic pull, common to laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) schemes in gas-plasma. Acceleration then proceeds in the blowout regime at a gradient of 4.79 TeV/m yielding a 0.4 fs-long bunch with a total charge in excess of 2.5 pC and an average energy of 6.94 MeV, after travelling through a graphene target as short as 1.5 $$\upmu $$ μ m. These parameters are unprecedented within the LWFA research area and, if confirmed experimentally, may have an impact on fundamental femtosecond research.

The study of technological materials made by meticulously arranging acoustic elements has received a lot of attention over the past three decades with the goal of generating improved acoustic properties, often going beyond the behavior of materials found in nature. These are frequently referred to as acoustic metamaterials, and because of the way wave propagation phenomena is managed, they exhibit unusual properties. Improvements in noise mitigation techniques of acoustic systems based on metamaterials principles have been made effectively and precisely using combined or hybrid numerical methods and improved numerical formulations. These noise mitigation properties should be optimized by modifying topology and inner elements properties, which requires a huge search space. This work focuses on metamaterials called sonic crystals with Helmholtz resonators, and its innovative insulation properties as noise barriers are optimized with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). This evolutionary algorithm provides a mono objective solution for the multi-dimensional search space inspired in animal behavior looking for food and communicating between each other. In order to assess the results obtained by the proposed approach, the presented PSO algorithm is compared with a Genetic Algorithm (GA): the results show that the PSO algorithm provides a better solution that pursues the objective of satisfying the acoustic comfort without exceeding the imposed practical constraints.

In the last decades, various events have shown that electromechanical oscillations are a major concern for large interconnected Alternative Current (AC) power systems. DC segmentation - a method that consists in turning large AC grids into a set of asynchronous AC clusters linked by Direct Current (DC) links - is a promising solution to mitigate this and other issues. However, no systematic segmentation procedure for a given AC power system exists so far. This paper aims at filling this gap and proposes an algorithm for DC segmentation for a given AC power system to mitigate electromechanical oscillations. In this proposal, DC segmentation is implemented with High Voltage Direct Current links based on Voltage Source Converters (VSC-HVDC). The algorithm uses small-signal stability techniques and the concept of dominant inter-area oscillation paths to eliminate the main inter-area mode of the power system. The algorithm will be explained using a six-generator test system and will then be used on the Nordic 44 test system. The proposed algorithm for DC segmentation has been validated by means of non-linear time-domain simulation and small-signal stability analysis (SSSA).

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite infecting all warm-blooded animals, including humans. The contribution of environmental contamination by T. gondii oocysts to infections is understudied. The aim of the current work was to explore T. gondii serology as a means of attributing the source of infection using a robust stepwise approach. We identified in silico thirty-two promising oocyst-specific antigens from T. gondii ´omics data, recombinantly expressed and purified them and validated whether serology based on these proteins could discriminate oocyst- from tissue cyst-driven experimental infections. For this, three well-characterized serum panels, sampled from 0 to 6 weeks post-infection, from pigs and sheep experimentally infected with T. gondii oocysts or tissue cysts, were used. Candidate proteins were initially screened by Western blot with sera from pigs or sheep, infected for different times, either with oocysts or tissue cysts, as well as non-infected animals. Only the recombinant proteins TgCCp5A and TgSR1 provoked seroconversion upon infection and appeared to discriminate between oocyst- and tissue cyst-driven infections with pig sera. They were subsequently used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for pigs. Based on this assay and Western blot analyses, a lack of stage specificity and low antigenicity was observed with all pig sera. The same was true for proteins TgERP, TgSporoSAG, TgOWP1 and TgOWP8, previously described as source-attributing antigens, when analyzed using the whole panels of sera. We conclude that there is currently no antigen that allows the discrimination of T. gondii infections acquired from either oocysts or tissue cysts by serological tests. This work provides robust new knowledge that can inform further research and development toward source-attributing T. gondii serology.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released from different cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) and play roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions. Although brain‐derived EVs (bdEVs) have been successfully collected from brain tissue, there is not yet a “bdEV Atlas” of EVs from different brain regions. To address this gap, we separated EVs from eight anatomical brain regions of a single individual and subsequently characterized them by count, size, morphology, and protein and RNA content. The greatest particle yield was from cerebellum, while the fewest particles were recovered from the orbitofrontal, postcentral gyrus, and thalamus regions. EV surface phenotyping indicated that CD81 and CD9 were more abundant than CD63 in all regions. Cell‐enriched surface markers varied between brain regions. For example, putative neuronal markers NCAM, CD271, and NRCAM were more abundant in medulla, cerebellum, and occipital regions, respectively. These findings, while restricted to tissues from a single individual, suggest that additional studies are warranted to provide more insight into the links between EV heterogeneity and function in the CNS.