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This work examines the implementation of energy labelling by the residential real estate sector. First, it considers the interest by real estate sellers in not publishing energy certification information, and then, it quantifies the impact of the housing’s energy certification on the asking price. The results are compared with those obtained from other studies conducted in distinct European countries. The study’s final sample was collected, including information from 52,939 multi-family homes placed on the real estate market in the province of Alicante (Spain). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, as well as an ordinary least squares regression model. This study highlights the fact that, in the current market, owners and sellers have no incentive to reveal the energy certification, since this permits them to sell homes with low energy ratings at prices similar to those of more energy efficient homes. In addition, it was found that homes with better energy ratings (letters A and B) are not sold at higher prices than homes with other rating letters, unlike the case of other European countries that were examined.

Rm 12,1 exhorts to perform spiritual worship, which is born of the Eucharist. This theme was central both in the writings of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI and in those of St. Josemaría Escrivá. The former concentrates his thought on the Eucharist itself, which is opus Dei and the sacrifice of the Logos that must influence Christian life. St Josemaría, for his part, stressing the Eucharistic foundation of life, points to the existential praxis of spiritual worship performed through work offered to God as a Mass on the altar of the human heart. Although the texts differ in style, they have a wonderful complementarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are essential for cell-to-cell communication because they transport functionally active molecules, including proteins, RNA, and lipids, from secretory cells to nearby or distant target cells. Seminal plasma contains a large number of EVs (sEVs) that are phenotypically heterogeneous. The aim of the present study was to identify the RNA species contained in two subsets of porcine sEVs of different sizes, namely small sEVs (S-sEVs) and large sEVs (L-sEVs). The two subsets of sEVs were isolated from 54 seminal plasma samples by a method combining serial centrifugations, size exclusion chromatography, and ultrafiltration. The sEVs were characterized using an orthogonal approach. Analysis of RNA content and quantification were performed using RNA-seq analysis. Results The two subsets of sEVs had different size distributions (P

Abstract Deep learning-based computer vision systems have become powerful tools for automated and cost-effective pavement distress detection, essential for efficient road maintenance. Current methods focus primarily on developing supervised learning architectures, which are limited by the scarcity of annotated image datasets. The use of data augmentation with synthetic images created by generative models to improve these supervised systems is not widely explored. The few studies that do focus on generative architectures are mostly non-conditional, requiring extra labeling, and typically address only road crack defects while aiming to improve classification models rather than object detection. This study introduces AsphaltGAN, a novel class-conditional Generative Adversarial Network with attention mechanisms, designed to augment datasets with various rare road defects to enhance object detection. An in-depth analysis evaluates the impact of different loss functions and hyperparameter tuning. The optimized AsphaltGAN outperforms state-of-the-art generative architectures on public datasets. Additionally, a new workflow is proposed to improve object detection models using synthetic road images. The augmented datasets significantly improve the object detection metrics of You Only Look Once version 8 by 33.0 $$\%$$ , 3.8 $$\%$$ , 46.3 $$\%$$ , and 51.8 $$\%$$ on the Road Damage Detection 2022 dataset, Crack Dataset, Asphalt Pavement Detection Dataset, and Crack Surface Dataset, respectively.

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Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motoneurons (MNs), and despite progress, there is no effective treatment. A large body of evidence shows that astrocytes expressing ALS-linked mutant proteins cause non-cell autonomous toxicity of MNs. Although MNs innervate muscle fibers and ALS is characterized by the early disruption of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and axon degeneration, there are controversies about whether muscle contributes to non-cell-autonomous toxicity to MNs. In this study, we generated primary skeletal myotubes from myoblasts derived from ALS mice expressing human mutant SOD1G93A (termed hereafter mutSOD1). Characterization revealed that mutSOD1 skeletal myotubes display intrinsic phenotypic and functional differences compared to control myotubes generated from non-transgenic (NTg) littermates. Next, we analyzed whether ALS myotubes exert non-cell-autonomous toxicity to MNs. We report that conditioned media from mutSOD1 myotubes (mutSOD1-MCM), but not from control myotubes (NTg-MCM), induced robust death of primary MNs in mixed spinal cord cultures and compartmentalized microfluidic chambers. Our study further revealed that applying mutSOD1-MCM to the MN axonal side in microfluidic devices rapidly reduces mitochondrial axonal transport while increasing Ca2 + transients and reactive oxygen species (i.e., H2O2). These results indicate that soluble factor(s) released by mutSOD1 myotubes cause MN axonopathy that leads to lethal pathogenic changes.

Abstract Background Peripheral neuropathy (PN) constitutes a dose-limiting side effect of oxaliplatin chemotherapy that often compromises the efficacy of antineoplastic treatments. Sensory neurons damage in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are the cellular substrate of PN complex molecular origin. Dehydropeptidase-1 (DPEP1) inhibitors have shown to avoid platin-induced nephrotoxicity without compromising its anticancer efficiency. The objective of this study was to describe DPEP1 expression in rat DRG in health and in early stages of oxaliplatin toxicity. To this end, we produced and characterized anti-DPEP1 polyclonal antibodies and used them to define the expression, and cellular and subcellular localization of DPEP1 by immunohistochemical confocal microscopy studies in healthy controls and short term (six days) oxaliplatin treated rats. Results DPEP1 is expressed mostly in neurons and in glia, and to a lesser extent in endothelial cells. Rats undergoing oxaliplatin treatment developed allodynia. TNF-𝛼 expression in DRG revealed a pattern of focal and at different intensity levels of neural cell inflammatory damage, accompanied by slight variations in DPEP1 expression in endothelial cells and in nuclei of neurons. Conclusions DPEP1 is expressed in neurons, glia and endothelial cells of DRG. Oxaliplatin caused allodynia in rats and increased TNF-α expression in DRG neurons. The expression of DPEP1 in neurons and other cells of DRG suggest this protein as a novel strategic molecular target in the prevention of oxaliplatin-induced acute neurotoxicity.

Introducción: las actividades de la vida diaria avanzadas (AVD-A) son un importante indicador del estado funcional adulto y del envejecimiento activo. Sin embargo, pocos estudios investigaron la influencia de dos atributos de personalidad (apertura a nuevas experiencias y resiliencia) sobre las AVD-A y hasta donde se tiene conocimiento no hay datos en contexto argentino. Se analizó la relación de AVD-A con apertura y resiliencia, y secundariamente se examinó la relación entre apertura y resiliencia. Materiales y métodos: fueron evaluados 151 argentinos (Medad = 66) con la Escala de Actividades Expansivas de la Vida Diaria, el Inventario de Personalidad IPIP-NEO y la Escala Breve de Afrontamiento Resiliente. Se efectuaron correlaciones parciales y regresión, controlando por edad y educación. Resultados: se hallaron correlaciones significativas (moderadas) entre todas las variables de interés: apertura, resiliencia y AVD-A. Las medidas de resiliencia, apertura y educación explicaron el 21 % de la varianza del score de AVD-A. La resiliencia fue la variable que más influyó sobre las AVD-A. Conclusión: una personalidad con más resiliencia y apertura está asociada a mayor realización de AVD‑A en argentinos ≥ 50 años. Se sugiere al Estado argentino implementar políticas públicas que promuevan la actividad recreativa e integración social en mediana y tercera edad.

Este artículo revisa los significados y funciones escolares y sociales que los maestros y catedráticos de educación secundaria y superior de México le atribuían al concepto de aprovechamiento para calificar la transmisión de los saberes, de 1824 a 1867. La temática es importante porque muestra la conformación de una cultura escolar, la cual dio origen a la evaluación educativa actual. Para ello se realiza un análisis minucioso de la prensa periódica y se revisan los significados, los usos y los cambios a través del tiempo. Se concluye que, si bien el aprovechamiento servía como criterio para calificar la transmisión de los saberes, pues estuvo relacionado con los procesos de seriación de los estudios, con el dilema sobre la cantidad de alumnos aprovechados y otros procesos internos de las instituciones, en la práctica era más importante la retórica sobre su función social, pues daba cuenta de las maneras de inserción de los alumnos en las instituciones educativas y, sobre todo en la sociedad jerarquizada de la época.

El libro es fruto de un trabajo de investigación, diálogo y reflexión entre diversos investigadores convocados por la problemática de la identidad de la Educación Religiosa Escolar (en adelante ERE) en Colombia. Este es el eje articulador de un proceso de 5 años de estudios cuyo trayecto se inició con la pregunta por la naturaleza y los fundamentos epistemológicos, la problematización por su corpus disciplinar en tanto disciplina escolar y la cuestión por el Currículo. La didáctica, tema de la presente obra, supone los ha-llazgos y las reflexiones de este proceso investigativo.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk of premature mortality, primarily due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and its updated version SCORE2 are used to estimate CVD risk, these tools may not adequately capture the full cardiovascular risk profile in RA patients. Objectives: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of SCORE2 versus SCORE in predicting the presence of carotid plaques or increased intima-media thickness (IMT), as detected by ultrasound, in RA patients. Design: This was a single-center cross-sectional study and included adult RA patients with moderate to severe disease who initiated treatment with Janus kinase inhibitors or anti-tumor necrosis factor inhibitors between September 2022 and April 2023. Methods: Both SCORE and SCORE2 were calculated for each patient. Carotid ultrasound examinations documented the presence of plaques, and IMT was measured. Results: A total of 122 patients were included. The mean SCORE was 2.48%, while SCORE2 was significantly higher at 4.07% ( p

Projected trends of intensified wildfires due to climate warming and fuel-load accumulation are expected to significantly alter fungal diversity, but we know little about how these changes will impact ecosystem services. We aimed to analyze how large wildfires alter the capacity of fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystems dominated by Pinus pinaster Ait. to deliver the provisioning ecosystem service of mushroom production throughout the post-fire succession. We assessed this at early (20 years) stages after fire, compared to an unburned forest. Our results evidenced that large wildfires significantly reduced the capacity of these forests to provide mushroom harvesting opportunities. This adverse effect was most pronounced in the first few years after wildfire but persisted even after 20 years of post-fire succession. The total fungal species richness, abundance, diversity, and productivity at the post-fire successional stages remained lower than in the unburned forest, failing to reach their pre-fire levels even after two decades. However, the presence of commercially valuable edible fungal species, along with their species richness and productivity, began to recover in the medium and late stages after fire. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, saprotrophic fungal species dominated, while mycorrhizal species became more prevalent during the medium and late stages of secondary succession. Additionally, the abundance and productivity of mycorrhizal species in the late succession stage approached those found in the unburned forest. Soil pH and biochemical variables (microbial biomass C and β-glucosidase enzymatic activity) were key drivers of changes in species composition along the successional stages. This knowledge is essential to guide management solutions aimed at reducing ecosystem service loss and increasing resilience to the new scenario of extreme large wildfire events at shorter fire-free intervals, especially in southern Europe.

The Mediterranean region is renowned for its natural susceptibility to wildfires. In recent years, this risk has intensified due to various factors, including climate change and rural abandonment. Castilla y Leon stands out as one of the most severely impacted areas grappling with rural exodus. This evolving scenario accentuates the urgency of implementing forest management strategies to mitigate the escalating threat of wildfires, with a primary focus on fuel reduction. Although prescribed fires represent an efficient and cost-effective tool for wildfire prevention, they remain a contentious subject in Europe. Fungi not only contribute significantly to rural economies but also play a pivotal role in maintaining the equilibrium of forest ecosystems. The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of prescribed burning on Pinus sylvestris soils, with a specific focus on the recovery of fungal populations after such fires. To assess the short-term effects of prescribed fires on soil fungal communities, we collected soil samples from both burned and unburned plots 12 months post-burning to perform genomic DNA analyses. Our findings indicate that prescribed burning does not significantly alter fungal diversity or composition, with only litter saprotrophs showing significantly higher levels of abundance in burned areas than in unburned areas. Valuable edible fungi persisted post-burning, suggesting that prescribed burning could be used to reduce wildfire fuel loads while preserving fungal biodiversity and valuable edible fungi. These results advocate for the use of prescribed burning as a viable, myco-friendly forest management practice, offering a balance between fire prevention and ecological conservation.

The Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) have been significantly adopted over the last three decades as a mechanism for the delivery and financing of projects. Various infrastructure project types in the energy and the transport sectors have adopted this procurement system for their ‘anticipated’ effectiveness in risk distribution and value for money. Yet, their acclaimed benefits, particularly in ensuring value for money in the waste to energy – or energy-from-wastes (EfW) – sector are under significant scrutiny. Governments and investors are increasingly questioning their fiscal efficiency and overall benefit to taxpayers. Despite these concerns, studies investigating whether PFI provides value of money of PFI in EfW are lacking. This study addresses this gap by comparing the PFI models used in the UK and Canada in currently operative EfW projects using mixed risk epistemology approach combining methods that provide both a real and objective evaluation of issues and risks and a subjective (or opinion-based) evaluation. The former is achieved through a quantitative probabilistic model for simulating EfW feasibility at the operation phase. The quantitative probabilistic model is capable to model and capture how operational phase costs and profitability are affected by lifecycle risks (such as quality of service driven by contractual requirements that are usually passed on to the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contractor) and a range of technical, payment and incentive dynamic variables and their fluctuations. If the impact of these variables is not considered and modelled accurately, the O&M contractor could incur significant losses undermining the viability of the EfW project. The latter employs a psychometric methodology to delve into the primary concerns of professionals involved in EfW projects regarding associated risks. The results show that common O&M risks identified in EfW PPP projects in UK and Canada prevail around unplanned maintenance, infeed waste reduction, market price, unsustainable debts, and policy changes.

Ballast behaviour has a profound impact on global track performance and durability, particularly for turnouts where dynamic forces are substantial. As ballast is a discontinuous material, this paper proposes the application of a Discrete Element Method (DEM) to model its behaviour under a conventional track turnout, a new approach that has not yet been tried for turnouts, only for main tracks. The model was validated with real vertical stiffness data measured in an actual turnout and used to analyse ballast behaviour under dynamic traffic loads. The results show remarkable differences in ballast behaviour for train speeds close to 180 km/h, as particle interactions and stress levels extend to the entire ballast layer. At lower speeds, the stress under the sleeper forms a trapezoidal shape for a given cross-section, while the rest of the layer remains barely affected. Overall, the DEM model is a reliable tool for simulating ballast behaviour and provides new insights into ballast-turnout interactions, which may help improve maintenance in these essential track elements.

The demand for innovative solutions to address urban complexities, with accessibility being crucial for sustainable environments, is growing globally. As demographic shifts and disability prevalence evolve, understanding spatial dynamics affecting accessibility becomes urgent. The research hypothesis suggests that investigating both physical and perceived accessibility realms reveals critical insights into challenges individuals face in public spaces. This study explores public participation methods of different nature to evaluate their effectiveness and complementarity in portraying perceived accessibility in urban spaces. A multi-method approach, integrating participant observation tools like self-completion questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with non-participant technology-driven data sources like Foursquare, Twitter, and Google Places, was employed. The analysis focused on two areas in Alicante, Spain. Findings emerge in four phases: (1) identifying perceived accessible public spaces via questionnaires, (2) discerning influential parameters from interviews, (3) conducting a comprehensive analysis incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods, and (4) establishing correlations between parameters gathered through the methods. The results underscore the importance of diverse public participation methods in urban planning, offering a comprehensive framework for future research to improve accessibility and inclusivity in urban environments. Understanding the relationship between physical urban features and citizens' perceptions advocates targeted interventions for improved accessibility and socially inclusive environments.

RESUMEN: La enfermedad de Still del adulto (ESA) es una enfermedad autoinflamatoria sistémica poco frecuente. En nuestro caso, presentamos a una paciente de 68 años cuya clínica principal era una fiebre de origen desconocido de una semana de evolución al ingreso, que no respondió a la administración de antibióticos, pero que sí lo hizo a la administración de corticoides. El signo guía que permitió establecer la sospecha diagnóstica fue una hiperferritinemia extrema, en la cual siempre debemos pensar en dos entidades: la linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica, y su variante relacionada con la ESA, el síndrome de activación macrofágica. ABSTRACT: Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic autoinflammatory disease. In our case, we present a 68-year-old patient whose main clinical symptom was a fever of unknown origin of a week of evolution at her admission, that did not respond to the administration of antibiotics but to corticosteroids. Guide sign that allowed us to stablish the diagnostic suspicion was an extreme hyperferritinemia, in which we must always consider two entities: hemophagocytic lynfohistiocytosis, and its variant related with AOSD, the macrophagic activation syndrome.

Abstract Background Structural and functional changes of the choroid plexus (ChP) have been reported in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nonetheless, the role of the ChP in the pathogenesis of AD remains largely unknown. We aim to unravel the relation between ChP functioning and core AD pathogenesis using a unique proteomic approach in mice and humans. Methods We used an APP knock-in mouse model, APPNL-G-F, exhibiting amyloid pathology, to study the association between AD brain pathology and protein changes in mouse ChP tissue and CSF using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Mouse proteomes were investigated at the age of 7 weeks (n = 5) and 40 weeks (n = 5). Results were compared with previously published human AD CSF proteomic data (n = 496) to identify key proteins and pathways associated with ChP changes in AD. Results ChP tissue proteome was dysregulated in APPNL-G-F mice relative to wild-type mice at both 7 and 40 weeks. At both ages, ChP tissue proteomic changes were associated with epithelial cells, mitochondria, protein modification, extracellular matrix and lipids. Nonetheless, some ChP tissue proteomic changes were different across the disease trajectory; pathways related to lysosomal function, endocytosis, protein formation, actin and complement were uniquely dysregulated at 7 weeks, while pathways associated with nervous system, immune system, protein degradation and vascular system were uniquely dysregulated at 40 weeks. CSF proteomics in both mice and humans showed similar ChP-related dysregulated pathways. Conclusions Together, our findings support the hypothesis of ChP dysfunction in AD. These ChP changes were related to amyloid pathology. Therefore, the ChP could become a novel promising therapeutic target for AD.

Abstract Seminal plasma (SP) is rich in extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are still poorly studied, especially in livestock species. To better understand their functional role in both spermatozoa and endometrial epithelial cells, proper characterization of EVs is an essential step. The objective was to phenotypically characterize porcine seminal EVs (sEVs) using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), which allows visualization of EVs in their native state. Porcine ejaculates are released in fractions, each containing SP from different source. This allows characterization sEVs released from various male reproductive tissues. Two experiments were performed, the first with SP from the entire ejaculate (n:6) and the second with SP from three ejaculate fractions (n:15): the first 10 mL of the sperm-rich ejaculate fraction (SRF-P1) with SP mainly from the epididymis, the remainder of the SRF (SRF-P2) with SP mainly from the prostate, and the post-SRF with SP mainly from the seminal vesicles. The sEVs were isolated by size exclusion chromatography and 1840 cryo-EM sEV images were acquired using a Jeol-JEM-2200FS/CR-EM. The size, electron density, complexity, and peripheral corona layer were measured in each sEV using the ImageJ software. The first experiment showed that sEVs were structurally and morphologically heterogeneous, although most (83.1%) were small (less than 200 nm), rounded, and poorly electrodense, and some have a peripheral coronal layer. There were also larger sEVs (16.9%) that were irregularly shaped, more electrodense, and few with a peripheral coronal layer. The second experiment showed that small sEVs were more common in SRF-P1 and SRF-P2, indicating that they originated mainly from the epididymis and prostate. Large sEVs were more abundant in post-SRF, indicating that they originated mainly from seminal vesicles. Porcine sEVs are structurally and morphologically heterogeneous. This would be explained by the diversity of reproductive organs of origin.

El artículo se centra en Beatriz y Blanca, esposa e hija del rey Alfonso III de Portugal, recipiendarias de cierta herencia castellana relacionada con Alfonso X y la familia de Guzmán. En su vida, ambas damas gestionarían importantes intereses a ambos lados de la frontera luso-castellana. En especial, el papel de Beatriz como mediadora llegaría a ser relevante para las relaciones entre Castilla y Portugal. El trabajo examina sus señoríos y patrimonio, amén de asuntos curiales, domésticos y de piedad, dentro del contexto de la evolución política y religiosa a ambos lados de la frontera, mediante un detenido análisis y reevaluación de las fuentes primarias y trabajos disponibles para el estudio del tema.

Abstract The effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on anxiety in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are understudied. We identified clinical predictors of STN-DBS effects on anxiety in this study. In this prospective, open-label, multicentre study, we assessed patients with anxiety undergoing STN-DBS for PD preoperatively and at 6-month follow-up postoperatively. We assessed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-anxiety and depression subscales), Unified PD Rating Scale-motor examination, Scales for Outcomes in PD-motor (SCOPA-M)-activities of daily living (ADL) and -motor complications, Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS), PDQuestionnaire-8 (PDQ-8), and levodopa-equivalent daily dose. We tested changes at follow-up with Wilcoxon signed-rank test and corrected for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni method). We identified patients with a clinically relevant anxiety improvement of anxiety based on a designated threshold of ½ standard deviation of baseline HADS-anxiety. Moreover, we investigated predictors of HADS-anxiety changes with correlations and linear regressions. We included 50 patients with clinically relevant baseline anxiety (i.e., HADS-anxiety ≥ 8) aged 63.1 years ± 8.3 with 10.4 years ± 4.5 PD duration. HADS-anxiety improved significantly at 6-month follow-up as 80% of our cohort experienced clinically relevant anxiety improvement. In predictor analyses, worse baseline SCOPA-ADL and NMSS-urinary domain were associated with greater HADS-anxiety improvements. HADS-anxiety and PDQ-8 changes correlated moderately. Worse preoperative ADL and urinary symptoms predicted favourable postoperative anxiety outcome, which in turn was directly proportionate to greater QoL improvement. This study highlights the importance of detailed anxiety assessments alongside other non-motor and motor symptoms when advising and monitoring patients undergoing STN-DBS for PD.

Abstract Objective Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), the two most common causes of dementia, are characterized by white matter (WM) alterations diverging from the physiological changes occurring in healthy aging. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a valuable tool to quantify WM integrity non‐invasively and identify the determinants of such alterations. Here, we investigated main effects and interactions of AD pathology, APOE‐ε4, cSVD, and cardiovascular risk on spatial patterns of WM alterations in non‐demented older adults. Methods Within the prospective European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia study, we selected 606 participants (64.9 ± 7.2 years, 376 females) with baseline cerebrospinal fluid samples of amyloid β1‐42 and p‐Tau181 and MRI scans, including DTI scans. Longitudinal scans (mean follow‐up time = 1.3 ± 0.5 years) were obtained in a subset (n = 223). WM integrity was assessed by extracting fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity in relevant tracts. To identify the determinants of WM disruption, we performed a multimodel inference to identify the best linear mixed‐effects model for each tract. Results AD pathology, APOE‐ε4, cSVD burden, and cardiovascular risk were all associated with WM integrity within several tracts. While limbic tracts were mainly impacted by AD pathology and APOE‐ε4, commissural, associative, and projection tract integrity was more related to cSVD burden and cardiovascular risk. AD pathology and cSVD did not show any significant interaction effect. Interpretation Our results suggest that AD pathology and cSVD exert independent and spatially different effects on WM microstructure, supporting the role of DTI in disease monitoring and suggesting independent targets for preventive medicine approaches.

Abstract Background Nursing care for older women represent a challenge worldwide due to its characteristics. When communication is impaired between primary care nurses and older women living alone, an imbalance in power relations occurs. The main objective of this study is to analyse the power relations between older women and primary care nurses in situations of active listening, shared decision-making and participation in care. Methods We developed a qualitative study in southern Spain using a discursive and gender approach. We used purposeful sampling to interview older women who lived alone and received home nursing care. Simultaneously, we conducted focus groups with primary care nurses who provided home care to older women. A linguistic analysis of the transcripts was carried out. Results Nine semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with older women who lived alone and two face-to-face focus groups with four primary care nurses in each. The discourse of the participants demonstrated an imbalance in power relations. Influenced by work overload, active listening was considered a privilege in primary care nurses´ discourse. Regarding shared decision-making, older women´s discourses revealed “mirages” of real situations where they thought they were deciding. Participation in care was difficult since older women saw themselves as a nuisance in nurses´ presence, and primary care nurses did not facilitate older women’s engagement. Older women weren´t considered when organising home visits and had interiorised a subordinated feeling. Similarly, a strict sense of identity made primary care nurses feel powerful in their relationships with older women. Conclusions The discourse of older women represented them as victims of a hostile panorama whilst they were sometimes satisfied with the deficient care received. The discourse of primary care nurses used more discursive strategies to represent themselves as professionals committed to caring. However, it also revealed deficiencies in care, discriminatory elements, and feelings of being limited by their working conditions. Active listening to older women and engagement in decision-making readjust empower the older women. Attending to the needs and concerns of primary care nurses could recalibrate the power imbalance between them and healthcare organisations.

The purpose of this work is to present an analytical method that allows to estimate in an approximate and fast way the presence of the non-resonant and ultra-fast multipactor effect in RF accelerating structures in the presence of high gradient electromagnetic fields. This single-surface multipactor regime, which has been little studied in the scientific literature, is characterised by appearing only under conditions of very strong RF electric fields (of the order of tens or hundreds of MV/m), where it is predominant over other types of single- or dual-surface resonance described in classical multipactor theory. This type of multipactor causes a rapid growth of the electron population and poses a serious drawback in the operation of RF accelerator components operating under high gradient conditions. Specifically, in dielectric-assist accelerating structures (DAA) it has been experimentally found that the presence of multipactor limits the maximum operating gradient of these components due to a significant increase in the reflected power due to the discharge, being this phenomenon the main problem to overcome. In a previous work, we found and described in detail by means of numerical simulations the presence of this non-resonant and ultra-fast multipactor regime in a DAA structure design for hadrontherapy. Here we aim to present a simple and fast method to predict the presence of this non-resonant and ultra-fast multipactor regime in RF accelerator structures with cylindrical revolution symmetry around the acceleration axis. This method is especially useful in the design stages of accelerating structures as it provides much faster results than numerical simulations of the multipactor, with quite good accuracy in a wide range of cases as shown in this paper.

Karl Galinsky (7. 2. 1942 - 9. 3. 2024)

ObjectiveOur previous genotyping studies suggest that some anatomical locations act as reservoirs of genotypes that may cause further candidemia, since we found identical genotypes in gastrointestinal tract or catheter tip isolates and blood cultures, in contrast, we did not find blood culture genotypes in vagina samples. We observed that some genotypes can be found in blood cultures more frequently than others, some of them being called widespread genotypes because have been found in unrelated patients admitted to different hospitals. The presence of widespread genotypes may be more frequently found because of their predisposition to cause candidemia. It is unclear whether genotypes colonizing other anatomical sites different from the gastrointestinal tract can also be detected in this way; we studied C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis colonizing genotypes to assess what proportion could be found in blood cultures and the proportion of widespread genotypes.MethodsThe isolates (n= 640 Candida isolates from 323 patients) studied herein were obtained from samples processed at the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department of the Gregorio Marañón Hospital (Madrid, Spain) from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2019. C. albicans (n=486), C. parapsilosis (n=94), and C. tropicalis (n=60) isolates were genotyped using species-specific microsatellite markers and sourced from blood (n=120) and colonized anatomical sites (n=520; catheter [n=50], lower respiratory tract [n=227], skin/mucosa [n=132], and urinary tract [n=111]). Isolates with identical genotypes were those presenting the same alleles for all markers or with only differences at one locus of a given marker. Identical genotypes were further classified as a match (identical genotype found in different groups of samples from a given patient) or as a cluster (identical genotype found in ≥2 patients). Finally, singletons were genotypes detected once. The genotypes found were then compared with our in-house database containing 587 blood genotypes from patients admitted to the Gregorio Marañón Hospital (2007-2023) to assess the proportion of genotypes found in colonized samples that were also found in blood cultures. Moreover, since some of our in-house database genotypes had been tagged as widespread genotypes, we compared the proportions of widespread genotypes as well as the proportions of matches, clusters, and patients involved in clusters found among exclusively colonizing genotypes, exclusively blood culture genotypes, and both colonizing and blood culture genotypes using a standard binomial method.ResultsIntra-patient analysis was conducted exclusively on those patients (n=225; 69.7%) who had ≥2 isolates from a given species; the proportion of patients with matches was lower in exclusively colonized patients than in patients with candidemia and colonizing genotypes (87.3% vs. 94.1%; p = 0.126). Inter-patient analysis was conducted considering all patients (n=323) and isolates from groups 1, 2, and 3 (n=640). Overall, we detected 341 genotypes, of which 320 were singletons and 21 were clusters (6.16%). Clusters involving blood cultures and colonizing isolates sourced from catheter tips (14.6%), skin and mucosa (7.5%), urine (7.4%), and lower respiratory tract (4.6%). Cluster-involved patients had not been admitted to the same ward at the same time. Of the 290 colonizing genotypes, 91 (31.1%) were also found in blood cultures, the highest proportion being C. parapsilosis (p < 0.05); proportions of identical genotypes found in blood cultures and catheter tips were higher than those found in blood cultures and other colonized samples (79.2% vs. 26.7%; p < 0.001). Widespread genotype ratios were significantly higher among genotypes found in both blood and colonized samples than among genotypes found exclusively in either blood culture or other colonizing genotypes (31.9% vs. 7.1% vs. 3.7%, respectively; p < 0.001).ConclusionWe observed that 94% of patients with candidemia were colonized by a genotype causing the infection; likewise, a total of 31% of colonizing genotypes were detectable in blood cultures. Finally, identical genotypes found in both colonized samples and blood cultures had a higher probability of being widespread.

Transformation of municipal solid waste into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) offers a promising solution for waste-to-energy conversion. In this context, a systematic literature review and scientometric analysis is conducted showing refinements in RDF application for energy-from-waste (EfW) initiatives, forging a comprehensive approach to sustainable waste management. Key aspects of EfW projects using RDF are examined, focusing on methodologies for calorific value estimation, waste characterization, quality assessment, and public–private partnerships (PPPs). Emphasis is placed on the necessity of accurate energy potential measurement and advanced characterization techniques, including computer vision, for effective waste sorting and analysis. Quality assessments of RDF are highlighted for their impact on decisions within the biomass fuel supply chain, emphasizing the importance of optimizing energy recovery. PPP’s are identified as key to successful execution of EfW projects, with their roles, trends, and risk modeling crucial for fostering effective collaboration between public and private sectors. The study concludes by identifying research gaps, such as the deficiency of new frameworks to support technical assessments of waste processing facilities for strategic, tactical, and operational improvements. Additionally, RDF applications in EfW are limited because of inconsistent waste sorting, deviation from specifications and environmental regulations. This approach aims to enhance sustainable waste management and energy recovery, guiding future research and implementation in the field.

Full osteochondral regeneration remains a major clinical challenge. Among other experimental cartilage regenerative approaches, decellularized cartilage (DCC) is considered a promising material for generating potentially implantable scaffolds useful as cartilage repair strategy. In this work, we focus on screening and comparing different decellularization methods, aiming to generate DCC potentially useful in biomedical context, and therefore, with biological activity and functional properties in terms of induction of differentiation and regeneration. Data indicates that enzymatic and detergents-based decellularization methods differentially affect ECM components, and that it has consequences in further biological behavior. SDS-treated DCC powder is not useful to be further processed in 2D or 3D structures, because these structures tend to rapidly solubilize, or disaggregate, in physiologic media conditions. Conversely, Trypsin-treated DCC powders can be processed to mechanically stable 2D films and 3D solid-foam scaffolds, presumably due to partial digestion of collagens during decellularization, which would ease crosslinking at DCC during solubilization and processing. In vitro cell culture studies indicate that these structures are biocompatible and induce and potentiate chondrogenic differentiation. In vivo implantation of DCC derived 3D porous scaffolds in rabbit osteochondral defects induce subchondral bone regeneration and fibrocartilage tissue formation after implantation. Therefore, this work defines an optimal cartilage tissue decellularization protocol able to generate DCC powders processable to biocompatible and bioactive 2D and 3D structures. These structures are useful for in vitro cartilage research and in vivo subchondral bone regeneration, while hyaline cartilage regeneration with DCC alone as implantable material remains elusive.

ABSTRACT Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which detect Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)-specific histidine-rich protein-2 (HRP2), have increasing importance for the diagnosis and control of malaria, especially also in regions where routine diagnosis by microscopy is not available. HRP2-based RDTs have a similar sensitivity to expert microscopy, but their reported low specificity can lead to high false positivity rates, particularly in high-endemic areas. Despite the widespread use of RDTs, models investigating the dynamics of HRP2 clearance following Pf treatment focus rather on short-term clearance of the protein. The goal of this observational cohort study was to determine the long-term kinetic of HRP2-levels in peripheral blood after treatment of uncomplicated malaria cases with Pf mono-infection using a 3-day course of artesunate/amodiaquine. HRP2 levels were quantified at enrollment and on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 17, 22, and 28 post-treatment initiation. The findings reveal an unexpectedly prolonged clearance of HRP2 after parasite clearance from capillary blood. Terminal HRP2 half-life was estimated to be 9 days after parasite clearance using a pharmacokinetic two-compartmental elimination model. These results provide evidence that HRP2 clearance has generally been underestimated, as the antigen remains detectable in capillary blood for up to 28 days following successful treatment, influencing RDT-based assessment following a malaria treatment for weeks. A better understanding of the HRP2 clearance dynamics is critical for guiding the diagnosis of malaria when relying on RDTs.IMPORTANCEDetecting Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the severest form of malaria, typically involves microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) targeting the histidine-rich protein 2 or 3 (HRP2/3). While microscopy and PCR quickly turn negative after the infection is cleared, HRP2 remains detectable for a prolonged period. The exact duration of HRP2 persistence had not been well defined. Our study in Gabon tracked HRP2 levels over 4 weeks, resulting in a new model for antigen clearance. We discovered that a two-compartment model accurately predicts HRP2 levels, revealing an initial rapid reduction followed by a much slower elimination phase that can take several weeks. These findings are crucial for interpreting RDT results, as lingering HRP2 can lead to false positives, impacting malaria diagnosis and treatment decisions.

The article analyzes the meanings, functions and circumstances that teachers attributed to exploitation to value the knowledge transmitted in nineteenth-century mexican formal primary education. It is pertinent because it addresses a new theme for the historiography of education, about the procedures and criteria that were used to assign grades and prizes to the most outstanding or successful disciples. To this end reviews the period from the end of the eighteenth century to 1870, is based on sources from the periodical press and archival documents, delimits chronological moments and the physical space covers several cities and towns in the country, although it is circumscribed, especially, to Mexico City. It is concluded that the purpose of these practices was to socially locate individuals through a wide vocabulary existing since colonial times that served to qualify the knowledge transmitted, from which the concept of exploitation. Conceptions of exploitation were transformed, formalized, diversified, and became complex in tune with the socioeconomic and cultural changes of independent Mexico.

Summary: The aggregation and spreading of “tau-seeds” are key for the development and progression of tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease. Here we describe the steps to isolate and analyze biochemically active tau-seeds from human, mouse, and cell origin. We detail the procedure to isolate soluble tau-seeds by size exclusion chromatography and seeding assay. The isolated tau-seed can be further analyzed to determine the interactome by mass spectrometry. This workflow identifies protein-protein interactors of tau-seeds, providing a useful tool for finding new therapeutic targets.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Martinez et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

CXCR4 is a ubiquitously expressed chemokine receptor that regulates leukocyte trafficking and arrest in both homeostatic and pathological states. It also participates in organogenesis, HIV-1 infection, and tumor development. Despite the potential therapeutic benefit of CXCR4 antagonists, only one, plerixafor (AMD3100), which blocks the ligand-binding site, has reached the clinic. Recent advances in imaging and biophysical techniques have provided a richer understanding of the membrane organization and dynamics of this receptor. Activation of CXCR4 by CXCL12 reduces the number of CXCR4 monomers/dimers at the cell membrane and increases the formation of large nanoclusters, which are largely immobile and are required for correct cell orientation to chemoattractant gradients. Mechanistically, CXCR4 activation involves a structural motif defined by residues in TMV and TMVI. Using this structural motif as a template, we performed in silico molecular modeling followed by in vitro screening of a small compound library to identify negative allosteric modulators of CXCR4 that do not affect CXCL12 binding. We identified AGR1.137, a small molecule that abolishes CXCL12-mediated receptor nanoclustering and dynamics and blocks the ability of cells to sense CXCL12 gradients both in vitro and in vivo while preserving ligand binding and receptor internalization.

Computer-aided deep learning has significantly advanced road crack segmentation. However, supervised models face challenges due to limited annotated images. There is also a lack of emphasis on deriving pavement condition indices from predicted masks. This article introduces a novel semantic diffusion synthesis model that creates synthetic crack images from segmentation masks. The model is optimized in terms of architectural complexity, noise schedules, and condition scaling. The optimal architecture outperforms state-of-the-art semantic synthesis models across multiple benchmark datasets, demonstrating superior image quality assessment metrics. The synthetic frames augment these datasets, resulting in segmentation models with significantly improved efficiency. This approach enhances results without extensive data collection or annotation, addressing a key challenge in engineering. Finally, a refined pavement condition index has been developed for automated end-to-end defect detection systems, promoting more effective maintenance planning.