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Nd-Fe-B-type permanent magnets, containing approximately 30% critical rare-earth elements by weight, are essential components in renewable energy systems (e.g., wind turbines, hydroelectric generators) and electric vehicles. They are also critical for consumer electronics and electric motors in products like energy-efficient air conditioners and home appliances. In light of advancing sustainability goals, the direct reuse of magnets from end-of-life devices offers a promising alternative to energy-intensive and costly recycling methods based on hydro- and pyrometallurgical processes, as well as modern short-loop recycling through hydrogen processing. However, Nd-Fe-B magnets must be demagnetized before they can be extracted from devices. This study explores the effects of thermal demagnetization, performed either in air or a vacuum, on the stability of anticorrosion coatings and the magnetic performance of remagnetized magnets. Corrosion tests were conducted to assess the compatibility of various coatings with thermal demagnetization, identifying those most suitable for future applications involving magnet reuse.

Demagnetization is an essential step for the demounting and safe handling of end-of-life NdFeB. Thermal demagnetization in air is a straightforward option to demount adhesive-fixed or segmented magnets. However, this process is suspected to increase the uptake of contaminants like O, C and Zn from coatings and adhesives, potentially degrading the recyclate quality. This study tests the effects of thermal demagnetization in air at 400 °C for 15 to 240 min on variously coated samples with different initial oxidation levels. Furthermore, the possible reversal of the contaminant uptake is explored. Samples with low previous oxidation levels showed significant uptake in oxygen with a minimal diffusion depth, while the uptake depended on the used coating. The best protectiveness was achieved with NiCuNi with an increase in oxygen of only around 30%. Epoxy (up to ~130% O uptake) and Zn coatings (up to ~80% O uptake) disintegrated during the treatment and offered less protection but still made a difference compared to uncoated samples (up to ~220% O uptake). Samples with high initial oxidation levels show no clear tendency towards further oxygen uptake and the carbon uptake is generally low, likely due to contemporary epoxy coatings featuring a passivation underneath as a barrier layer. Zn infiltration, which carried organic debris, was observed. Short demagnetization times proved to be favorable for limiting the depth of the diffusing contaminants. Mechanical coating removal after thermal demagnetization in air can mitigate the contaminant uptake, producing clean, recyclable end-of-life material.

Allosteric transcription factor (aTF) based biosensors can be used to engineer genetic circuits for a wide range of applications. The literature and online databases contain hundreds of experimentally validated molecule-TF pairs; however, the knowledge is scattered and often incomplete. Additionally, compared to the number of compounds that can be produced in living systems, those with known associated TF-compound interactions are low. For these reasons, new tools that help researchers find new possible TF-ligand pairs are called for. In this work, we present Sensbio, a computational tool that through similarity comparison against a TF-ligand reference database, is able to identify putative transcription factors that can be activated by a given input molecule. In addition to the collection of algorithms, an online application has also been developed, together with a predictive model created to find new possible matches based on machine learning., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Absolute methods of standard setting (SS) are more suitable for OSCEs. However, previous studies have theorised that borderline regression method (BRM) is not reliable for small sample sizes., Materials and Methods: OSCE results for the 2017-2019 cohorts were analysed to compare BRM versus Modified Angoff. We reported on whether the stations in multiple cohorts were sufficiently equivalent to aggregate the results together to calculate which method of SS was more reliable. We finally used the bootstrapping method to compare the accuracy of BRM for small versus simulated larger cohorts., Results: BRM was a valid method for SS OSCEs in this dataset when station quality was sufficiently high. However, a large gap between the Angoff and BRM in some of the OSCEs was observed, which could be explained by poor use of the grading scale. Model fit statistics were generally adequate even with low sample sizes. Using the bootstrap of datasets, the error rate was much higher for low-quality stations but was not an issue in high-quality ones., Discussion: This study adds to the evidence that well-designed OSCEs can use BRM for small cohorts. However, there is a need for the institutions to properly assess their stations and their assessors, before embarking into using this method, to prevent from having to remove stations., Conclusions: This analysis suggests that BRM is an acceptable replacement for Angoff SS in small cohorts, where there is a range of candidates undertaking the assessments and there are well-designed OSCES with well-trained examiners., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In the transition to adulthood, sexuality and emotional relationships constitute one of the most important dimensions for the achievement of personal autonomy and emotional well-being. Despite advances in sex education, sexuality, and relationships remain conflictive areas in the development of young people. Inequalities between men and women, gender identities and sexual violence, along with the beliefs and expectations surrounding these issues, persist as handicaps to having a fulfilling relationship and sex life. At this stage, emotional well-being is also consolidated by one's perception of sexuality and relationships from models learned in childhood, in which gender stereotypes and sexuality based on relationships of domination and discrimination persist. Therefore, we examined how the sexual beliefs and practices reported by young people correlate with their level of personal autonomy and responsibility in terms of risky behaviors and toxic relationships. The study shows the extent to which sexual beliefs and habits are linked to decision-making, personal development and social problems derived from conflictive relationships, affecting young people's overall well-being. A questionnaire was developed based on the theoretical constructs of comprehensive sexuality and equality education (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2010, 2018; World Health Organization [WHO], 2010) with the following dimensions: sex education , sexual habits and practices , motivations , concepts , and beliefs about sexuality . It was distributed in institutions of higher education (N579) in Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Brazil, and the results revealed a discrepancy between the reported practices and behaviors and the beliefs and models of reference. Key issues included sexuality and relationships as an aspect of personal life that generates confusion and conflict, as well as the propagation of gender and sexist stereotypes that influence young people's emotional well-being, particularly important aspect in those young people who are training as future education professional., (Copyright © 2020 Marí-Ytarte, Moreno-López and Barranco-Barroso.)

Introduction: Rating scales have been described as better at assessing behaviours such as professionalism during Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). However, there is an increased need to train and calibrate staff on their use prior to student assessment., Material and Methods: An online e-learning package was developed and made available to all examiners at the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Aberdeen. The package included videos of three OSCE stations (medical emergency, rubber dam placement and handling a complaint) which were recorded in two different scenarios; (excellent and unsatisfactory candidate). These videos were recorded to meet a pre-defined marking score. The examiners were required to mark the six videos using pre-set marking criteria (checklist and rating scales). The rating scales included professionalism, general clinical ability and/or communication skills. For each video, examiners were given four possible options (unsatisfactory, borderline, satisfactory or excellent), and they were provided with a description for each domain. They were also required to complete a questionnaire to gather their views on the use of this e-learning environment., Results: Fifteen examiners completed the task. The total scores given were very similar to the expected scores for the medical emergency and complaint stations; however, this was not the case for the rubber dam station (P-value .017 and .036). This could be attributed to some aspects of the placement of the rubber dam being unclear as commented on in the examiners questionnaires. There was consistency in the selection of marks on the rating scales (inter-examiner correlation ranged between 0.916 and 0.979)., Conclusion: Further studies are required on the field of e-learning training to calibrate examiners for practical assessment; however, this study provides preliminary evidence to support the use of videos as part of an online training package to calibrate OSCE examiners on the use of rating scales., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction and Objectives: An increased consumption of processed foods that include phosphorus-containing additives has led us to propose the following working hypothesis: using phosphate-rich additives that can be easily absorbed in processed foods involves a significant increase in phosphorus in the diet, which may be considered as hidden phosphorus since it is not registered in the food composition tables., Materials and Method: The quantity of phosphorus contained in 118 processed products was determined by spectrophotometry and the results were contrasted with the food composition tables of the Higher Education Centre of Nutrition and Diet, those of Morandeira and those of the BEDCA (Spanish Food Composition Database) Network., Results: Food processing frequently involves the use of phosphoric additives. The products whose label contains these additives have higher phosphorus content and higher phosphorus-protein ratio. We observed a discrepancy with the food composition tables in terms of the amount of phosphorus determined in a sizeable proportion of the products. The phosphorus content of prepared refrigerated foods hardly appears in the tables., Conclusions: Product labels provide little information on phosphorus content. We observed a discrepancy in phosphorus content in certain foods with respect to the food composition tables. We should educate our patients on reviewing the additives on the labels and on the limitation of processed foods. There must be health policy actions to deal with the problem: companies should analyse the phosphorus content of their products, display the correct information on their labels and incorporate it into the food composition tables. Incentives could be established to prepare food with a low phosphorus content and alternatives to phosphorus-containing additives.

Anemia is the most common complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Control and inadequate treatment leads to a worse quality of life and increased morbidity and hospitalization. Blood loss, and to a lesser extent, malabsorption of iron are the main causes of iron deficiency in IBD. There is also a variable component of anemia related to chronic inflammation. The anemia of chronic renal failure has been treated for many years with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), which significantly improves quality of life and survival. Subsequently, rHuEPO has been used progressively in other conditions that occur with anemia of chronic processes such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or IBD, and anemia associated with the treatment of hepatitis C virus. Erythropoietic agents complete the range of available therapeutic options for treatment of anemia associated with IBD, which begins by treating the basis of the inflammatory disease, along with intravenous iron therapy as first choice. In cases of resistance to treatment with iron, combined therapy with erythropoietic agents aims to achieve near-normal levels of hemoglobin/hematocrit (11-12 g/dL). New formulations of intravenous iron (iron carboxymaltose) and the new generation of erythropoietic agents (darbepoetin and continuous erythropoietin receptor activator) will allow better dosing with the same efficacy and safety.

We present the next case: male, 30 years old, primary APLA syndrome diagnosed after 6 months of treatment with recurrent haemodialysis. The patient, who had a history of vascular thrombosis, presented with thrombotic problems in his arteriovenous fistula made as vascular access for hemodialysis. The discovery of celic trunk and superior mesenteric artery occlusions led us to the clinical diagnosis, which was confirmed by presence of a pathological type of lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies in plasma. We started treatment with oral anticoagulation, warfarin therapy. Since then there have been no more thrombotic events, though the period under observation is still short.

Unlabelled: American trypanosomosis was described in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico in 1936, and is probably endemic in rural areas. However, there is no information regarding chronic disease in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, previous to this report., Objective: To identify the prevalence of American trypanosomosis and its consequences, such as the chronic chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) among patients who were evaluated by the cardiology service in two general hospitals in Salina Cruz in the state of Oaxaca which is the main city of the Tehuantepec Region., Material and Methods: Consecutive patients referred to the two cardiology services were identified as primary dilated myocardiopathy after a complete clinical and epidemiological history, chest roengentgram, EKG and echocardiogram. Blood was obtained through venipuncture and samples were studied for anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies using validated indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA and Western blot assays., Results: Over a two period in which 540 cardiologic patients were examined, 16 (2.4% cases) of primary dilated cardiomyopathy were diagnosed and 13 (81%) of these were seropositive for anti-T. cruzi and therefore, fulfilled epidemiological and clinical criteria for chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC)., Conclusions: American trypanosomosis and CCC were diagnosed in cases of dilated cardiomyopathy within a geographical area where, there is an important distribution of triatomine bugs infected and Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection caused a progressive heart disease in this population exposed to insect vectors due to poor housing and sanitary conditions. The present study points out the need for further epidemiological studies in the Tehuantepec region.