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Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Abrocitinib, a selective JAK 1 inhibitor, was recently approved in Europe. Despite its approval, real‐world data on its efficacy and safety in treating moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) remains limited.This study aimed to evaluate the short‐term effectiveness and safety of abrocitinib in a real‐life setting for patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD.We conducted a retrospective multicenter study involving adult patients with moderate‐to‐severe AD who started abrocitinib treatment between May 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, in 15 Spanish hospitals. Treatment doses were 100 or 200 mg daily, based on clinical assessment. Data collection included patient demographics, AD history, comorbidities, previous treatments, and disease severity indicators such as SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD), Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), body surface area, and Peak Pruritus NRS scores at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Quality of life was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and safety was assessed by monitoring adverse reactions and various biochemical parameters.The cohort comprised 76 patients with an average age of 33.93 years; 57.89% were male. Before abrocitinib, 36.84% were naïve to advanced therapies. The baseline mean scores were SCORAD 47.04, EASI 21.79, and DLQI 15.01. At Week 24, there were significant improvements: EASI was reduced to 2.81, and 70.58% of the patients achieved EASI 75. However, 18.42% discontinued treatment mainly due to inefficacy or adverse effects. The safety profile was favorable, with 22.37% reporting mild adverse events (AEs) and one serious case of cutaneous lymphoma.This first Spanish series assessing abrocitinib in real‐world conditions reveals a significant improvement in AD symptoms and quality of life in a range of severity and prior treatment failures. Abrocitinib was well‐tolerated, with few serious AEs, highlighting its potential as an effective treatment option for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken behavior recognition is crucial for a number of reasons, including promoting animal welfare, ensuring the early detection of health issues, optimizing farm management practices, and contributing to more sustainable and ethical poultry farming. In this paper, we introduce a technique for recognizing chicken behavior on edge computing devices based on video sensing mosaicing. Our method combines video sensing mosaicing with deep learning to accurately identify specific chicken behaviors from videos. It attains remarkable accuracy, achieving 79.61% with MobileNetV2 for chickens demonstrating three types of behavior. These findings underscore the efficacy and promise of our approach in chicken behavior recognition on edge computing devices, making it adaptable for diverse applications. The ongoing exploration and identification of various behavioral patterns will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of chicken behavior, enhancing the scope and accuracy of behavior analysis within diverse contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using compactifications in the logarithmic cotangent bundle, we obtain a formula for the Chern classes of the pushforward of Lagrangian cycles under an open embedding with normal crossing complement. This generalizes earlier results of Aluffi and Wu‐Zhou. The first application of our formula is a geometric description of Chern‐Mather classes of an arbitrary very affine variety, generalizing earlier results of Huh which held under the smooth and schön assumptions. As the second application, we prove an involution formula relating sectional maximum likelihood (ML) degrees and ML bidegrees, which was conjectured by Huh and Sturmfels in 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destructive power of a landslide can seriously affect human beings and infrastructures. The prediction of this phenomenon is of great interest; however, it is a complex task in which traditional methods have limitations. In recent years, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a successful alternative in the geological field. Most of the related works use classical machine learning algorithms to correlate the variables of the phenomenon and its occurrence. This requires large quantitative landslide datasets, collected and labeled manually, which is costly in terms of time and effort. In this work, we create an image dataset using an official landslide inventory, which we verified and updated based on journalistic information and interpretation of satellite images of the study area. The images cover the landslide crowns and the actual triggering values of the conditioning factors at the detail level (5 × 5 pixels). Our approach focuses on the specific location where the landslide starts and its proximity, unlike other works that consider the entire landslide area as the occurrence of the phenomenon. These images correspond to geological, geomorphological, hydrological and anthropological variables, which are stacked in a similar way to the channels of a conventional image to feed and train a convolutional neural network. Therefore, we improve the quality of the data and the representation of the phenomenon to obtain a more robust, reliable and accurate prediction model. The results indicate an average accuracy of 97.48%, which allows the generation of a landslide susceptibility map on the Aloag-Santo Domingo highway in Ecuador. This tool is useful for risk prevention and management in this area where small, medium and large landslides occur frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seville is intimately linked to its historic role and extensive cultural heritage. The city has been occupied by Romans, Arabs and Christians, who built important historical buildings. Roman (first–second centuries) and Arabic (eleventh century) buildings, medieval Shipyard (thirteenth century), San Isidoro and Santa Maria de las Cuevas monasteries (fifteenth century), Santa María de las Cuevas (fifteenth century modified in eighteenth century), El Salvador Church (eighteenth century), the Royal Ordnance building (eighteenth century) and Santa Angela de la Cruz convent (twentieth century) performed with lining mortars, and mortars used in building stones (City Hall and Marchena Gate), all of them located in Seville (Spain), have been studied. Ninety-four mortar samples (employed as structural, plaster, coating) originally used or applied in restoration processes have been collected to perform an archaeometry study. The ratio of CO2 mass loss to hydraulic water (H2O) mass loss, and the mineralogical characterization by X-ray diffraction has been used to compare the mortars used in the different historical periods. Mainly hydraulic mortars were widely used in all these studied monuments as most mortars showed CO2/H2O ratios within the 4–10 range. Moreover, the thermal analysis curves also showed a broad temperature range for the thermal decomposition of the carbonate fraction of the mortars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bot Detection is crucial in a world where Online Social Networks (OSNs) play a pivotal role in our lives as public communication channels. This task becomes highly relevant in crises like the Covid-19 pandemic when there is a growing risk of proliferation of automated accounts designed to produce misinformation content. To address this issue, we first introduce a comparison between supervised Bot Detection models using Data Selection. The techniques used to develop the bot detection models use features such as the tweets' metadata or accounts' Digital Fingerprint. The techniques implemented in this work proved effective in detecting bots with different behaviors. Social Fingerprint-based methods have been found to be effective with bots that behave in a coordinated manner. Furthermore, all these approaches have produced excellent results compared to the Botometer v3. Second, we present and discuss a case study related to the Covid-19 pandemic that analyses the differences in the discourse between bots and humans on Twitter, a platform used worldwide to express opinions and engage in dialogue in a public arena. While bots and humans generally express themselves alike, the tweets' content and sentiment analysis reveal some dissimilitudes, especially in tweets concerning President Trump. When the discourse switches to pandemic management by Trump, sentiment-related values display a drastic difference, showing that tweets generated by bots have a predominantly negative attitude. However, according to our findings, while automated accounts are numerous and active in discussing controversial issues, they usually do not seem to increase exposure to negative and inflammatory content for human users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroelectric infrared sensors (PIR) are widely used as infrared (IR) detectors due to their basic implementation, low cost, low power, and performance. Combined with a Fresnel lens, they can be used as a binary detector in applications of presence and motion control. Furthermore, due to their features, they can be used in autonomous intelligent devices or included in robotics applications or sensor networks. In this work, two neural processing architectures are presented: (1) an analog processing approach to achieve the behavior of a presynaptic neuron from a PIR sensor. An analog circuit similar to the leaky integrate and fire model is implemented to be able to generate spiking rates proportional to the IR stimuli received at a PIR sensor. (2) An embedded postsynaptic neuron where a spiking neural network matrix together with an algorithm based on digital processing techniques is introduced. This structure allows connecting a set of sensors to the post-synaptic circuit emulating an optic nerve. As a case study, the entire neural processing approach presented in this paper is applied to optical flow detection considering a four-PIR array as input. The results validate both the spiking approach for an analog sensor presented and the ability to retrieve the analog information sent as spike trains in a simulated optic nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a cardiovascular disease with high mortality rate. Current guidelines propose initiation and escalation of PAHtargeted treatment based on a goal-directed approach targeting hemodynamic, functional, and biochemical variables. This approach has been successfully validated in large Caucasian cohorts. However, given the low number of Hispanic patients enrolled in large PAH trials and registries, it is unknown if the same prognostic tools can be applied to this patient population. We analyzed a single-center outpatient cohort that consisted of 135 Hispanic patients diagnosed with PAH. Baseline characteristics were calculated based on COMPERA, COMPERA 2.0 and REVEAL 2.0 risk scores before the initiation of PAH-targeted therapies. The survival rate at 1 year after diagnosis was 88% for the entire cohort. The three established risk scores to predict PAH outcomes yielded similar results with reasonable discrimination of mortality in the different risk strata (all p < 0.001). Hispanic patients with PAH have a high mortality rate. Our analysis suggests that guideline proposed risk assessment at baseline yields important prognostic information in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies a recently proposed dc-dc converter and its optimization in terms of capacitors selection through the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. The converter under study is the so-called Low Energy Storage Quadratic Boost Converter (LES-QBC), a quadratic type of converter that offers a smaller Output Voltage Ripple (OVR) compared to the traditional quadratic boost topology with capacitors of the same characteristics. This study presents a way to select the capacitors for minimizing the OVR while achieving a constraint of a maximum stored energy in capacitors. The capacitor's stored energy is given as a design specification. The results are compared against the traditional quadratic boost converter and the LES-QBC without optimization (equal capacitance in capacitors). The optimization algorithm used was the so-called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposition. For the design exercise used for the results, the capacitor's stored energy was kept almost the same, and a reduction in the OVR was achieved versus the non-optimized LES-QBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe PyNumero, an open-source, object-oriented programming framework in Python that supports rapid development of performant parallel algorithms for structured nonlinear programming problems (NLP's) using the Message Passing Interface (MPI). PyNumero provides three fundamental building blocks for developing NLP algorithms: a fast interface for calculating first and second derivatives with the AMPL Solver Library (ASL), a number of interfaces to efficient linear solvers, and block-structured vectors and matrices based on NumPy, SciPy, and MPI that support distributed parallel storage and computation. PyNumero's design enables efficient, parallel algorithm development using high-level Python syntax while keeping expensive numerical calculations in fast, compiled implementations based on languages like C and Fortran. To demonstrate the utility of PyNumero, we also present Parapint, a Python package built on PyNumero for parallel solution of dynamic optimization problems. Parapint includes a parallel interior-point solver based on Schur-Complement decomposition. We illustrate the effectiveness of PyNumero for developing parallel algorithms with both code examples and scalability analyses for parallel matrix-vector dot products, parallel solution of structured systems of linear equations using Schur-Complement decomposition, and the parallel solution of a two-dimensional PDE optimal control problem. Our numerical results show nearly perfect scaling to more than 1,000 cores for large matrix-vector dot products and structured linear systems. Moreover, we obtain more than 354 times speedup for the optimal control example. History: Accepted by Alice Smith, EIC/Ted Ralphs, Area Editor/Software Tools. Funding: This work was funded in part by the Institute for the Design of Advanced Energy Systems (IDAES) with funding from the Office of Fossil Energy, Cross-Cutting Research, U.S. Department of Energy. This work was also funded by Sandia National Laboratories Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program. Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information (https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.1272) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository (https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0285) at (http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7192328). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite emerging evidence and advances in the management of atopic dermatitis there a lack of consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria, therapeutic approach, method to assess severity, and patient follow-up for this condition. An expert consensus study was conducted to provide recommendations on the management of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The study used Delphi-like methodology based on a literature review, a summary of the scientific evidence, and a 2-round survey. The agreement of 60 panellists on 21 statements was evaluated. Consensus was predefined as ≥80% agreement of all respondents. In the first round 6 statements reached consensus. Unanimous consensus was achieved regarding therapeutic goals and patient satisfaction (maintained in the long term and periodic goals reassessment recommended every 3–6 months). In the second round, half of the statements reached consensus, all related to patient follow-up, treatment goals, and atopic comorbidities. The statements that did not reach consensus were related to diagnosis (biomarkers, allergy, and food testing) and starting patients on conventional systemic treatment rather than advanced treatment. The study assessed expert opinion regarding a variety of topics related to the clinical approach to patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, in order to provide guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients with atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current need to accelerate the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased the need to explore new nanomaterials that can harvest and convert solar energy into electricity. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are good candidates because of their tunable physical and chemical properties. CuCrS2 has shown good electrical and thermoelectrical properties; however, its optical and photoconductivity properties remain unexplored. In this study, we synthesized CuCrS2 nanosheets with average dimensions of 43.6 ± 6.7 nm in length and 25.6 ± 4.1 nm in width using a heat-up synthesis approach and fabricated films by the spray-coating method to probe their photoresponse. This method yielded CuCrS2 nanosheets with an optical bandgap of ~1.21 eV. The fabricated film had an average thickness of ~570 nm, exhibiting a net current conversion efficiency of ~11.3%. These results demonstrate the potential use of CuCrS2 as an absorber layer in solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an elliptical–cylindrical cavity for microwave thermal processing of materials at high electric field strengths is reported. The design methodology based on numerical modeling is validated by experimental measurements. The system can create high‐power densities in the heated phases, excellent treatment uniformity, and stable operation without degenerated modes or polarization rotation as suffered by other commonly used circular resonator cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study describes the effectiveness of a complex intervention that addresses multiple lifestyles to promote healthy behaviours in increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD).  METHODS: Cluster-randomised, hybrid clinical trial controlled with two parallel groups. The study was carried out in 26 primary Spanish healthcare centres. People aged 45-75 years who presented at least two of the following criteria were included: smoker, low adherence to the MD or insufficient level of physical activity. The intervention group (IG) had three different levels of action: individual, group, and community, with the aim of acting on the behaviours related to smoking, diet and physical activity at the same time. The individual intervention included personalised recommendations and agreements on the objectives to attain. Group sessions were adapted to the context of each healthcare centre. The community intervention was focused on the social prescription of resources and activities performed in the environment of the community of each healthcare centre. Control group (CG) received brief advice given in the usual visits to the doctor's office. The primary outcome was the change, after 12 months, in the number of participants in each group with good adherence to the MD pattern. Secondary outcomes included the change in the total score of the MD adherence score (MEDAS) and the change in some cardiovascular risk factors.Results: Three thousand sixty-two participants were included (IG = 1,481, CG = 1,581). Low adherence to the MD was present in 1,384 (93.5%) participants, of whom 1,233 initiated the intervention and conducted at least one individual visit with a healthcare professional. A greater increase (13.7%; 95% CI, 9.9-17.5; p < 0.001) was obtained by IG in the number of participants who reached 9 points or more (good adherence) in the MEDAS at the final visit. Moreover, the effect attributable to the intervention obtained a greater increase (0.50 points; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.66; p < 0.001) in IG.Conclusions: A complex intervention modelled and carried out by primary healthcare professionals, within a real clinical healthcare context, achieved a global increase in the adherence to the MD compared to the brief advice.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03136211. Retrospectively registered on 02/05/2017 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03136211. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of 'prion-like' behavior has emerged in the study of diseases involving protein misfolding where fibrillar structures, called amyloids, self-propagate and induce disease in a fashion similar to prions. From a biological standpoint, in order to be considered 'prion-like,' a protein must traverse cells and tissues and further propagate via a templated conformational change. Since 2017, cryo-electron microscopy structures from patient-derived 'prion-like' amyloids, in particular tau, have been presented and revealed structural similarities shared across amyloids. Since 2021, cryo-EM structures from prions of known infectivity have been added to the ex vivo amyloid structure family. In this review, we discuss current proposals for the 'prion-like' mechanisms of spread for tau and prion protein as well as discuss different influencers on structures of aggregates from tauopathies and prion diseases. Lastly, we discuss some of the current hypotheses for what may distinguish structures that are 'prion-like' from transmissible prion structures. • Prion-like aggregates exit, are taken up, and propagate across cells and tissues. • Tau fibril structures point to isoform-composition-based structural patterns. • Prion strains share structural similarities despite host prion sequence variation. • GSS harbors a distinct structure to those of scrapie-derived prion strains. • A structural line between prion and prion-like may be thin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fast synthesis of activated carbon occurred in less than 6 min. • Time and energy reduced in Activated Carbon synthesis via single-step microwave pyrolysis. • Largest surface area (1240 m2/g) was achieved in single-step microwave pyrolysis in only 3 min. • Mesoporosity in Activated Carbons influenced markedly the removal of Basic Blue 9. • Activated Carbons showed high CO 2 adsorption and excellent selectivity over N 2 and recyclability. Hierarchical porous activated carbons (ACs) were efficiently synthesized in less than 2 min using microwaves and phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4), exhibiting excellent potential as adsorbent for carbon dioxide (CO 2) and Methylene Blue (MB). The method emphasizes the development of selective physicochemical and textural properties crucial for CO 2 post-combustion capture and textile dye removal from water, using agricultural waste as carbon precursor to address the environmental and economic challenges associated with the preparation of ACs. Dielectric properties confirmed H 3 PO 4 increased the microwave absorption properties of the biomass. Employing a single-step method, the resulting ACs exhibited large specific surface areas exceeding 1000 m2g−1, achieved in less than 2 min and relatively low energies (2.4 GJ ton-1). Sample 0.4H4 displayed a surface area of 1145 m2g−1 and a significant ultra-micropore (<0.7 nm) content, demonstrating a CO 2 uptake of 4.1 and 2.8 mmolg−1 at 0 and 25 °C, with high CO 2 /N 2 selectivity (>38). The sample exhibited rapid CO 2 uptake in 5 min and efficient regeneration after 20 adsorption–desorption cycles. Sample 0.3H3 developed large mesoporosity and a high surface area of 1217 m2g−1 with less than 3 min of treatment. The maximum dye removal was 281 mgg−1 and adsorption mechanisms involved diffusion into the mesoporous matrix, electrostatic interactions, H-bonding between AC and MB acid groups, and π–π interactions. The experimental data best fitted the Freundlich model. The results confirmed that microwaves have the potential to convert waste to micro-mesoporous ACs that can be used for a wide range of applications with significant processing time reductions and superior product qualities compared to conventional technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the Shor relaxation of quadratic programs by fixing a feasible set and considering the space of objective functions for which the Shor relaxation is exact. We first give conditions under which this region is invariant under the choice of generators defining the feasible set. We then describe this region when the feasible set is invariant under the action of a subgroup of the general linear group. We conclude by applying these results to quadratic binary programs. We give an explicit description of objective functions where the Shor relaxation is exact and use this knowledge to design an algorithm that produces candidate solutions for binary quadratic programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the application of model predictive control (MPC) in high-performance drives. A wide variety of machines have been considered: Induction machines, synchronous machines, linear motors, switched reluctance motors, and multiphase machines. The control of these machines has been done by introducing minor and easy-to-understand modifications to the basic predictive control concept, showing the high flexibility and simplicity of the strategy. The second part of the article is dedicated to the performance comparison of MPC with classical control techniques such as field-oriented control and direct torque control. The comparison considers the dynamic behavior of the drive and steady-state performance metrics, such as inverter losses, current distortion in the motor, and acoustic noise. The main conclusion is that MPC is very competitive concerning classic control methods by reducing the inverter losses and the current distortion with comparable acoustic noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hyperglycemia increases the risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, but the related mechanisms are unclear. A mean glucose level upon hospital admission >166 mg/dl correlates positively with acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with hyperglycemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sustained hyperglycemia and the outcome of hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. We also evaluated the effect of high glucose concentrations on the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). We carried out a case-control study with hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 with and without sustained hyperglycemia. In a second stage, we performed in vitro assays evaluating the effects of high glucose concentrations on ACE2 gene expression. Fifty hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 were included, of which 28 (56%) died and 22 (44%) recovered. Patients who died due to COVID-19 and COVID-19 survivors had a high prevalence of hyperglycemia (96.4% versus 90.9%), with elevated central glucose upon admission (197.7 mg/dl versus 155.9 mg/dl, p = 0.089) and at discharge (185.2 mg/dl versus 134 mg/dl, p = 0.038). The mean hypoxemia level upon hospital admission was 81% in patients who died due to COVID-19 complications and 88% in patients who survived (p = 0.026); at the time of discharge, hypoxemia levels were also different between the groups (68% versus 92%, p ≤ 0.001). In vitro assays showed that the viability of A549 cells decreased (76.41%) as the glucose concentration increased, and the ACE2 gene was overexpressed 9.91-fold after 72 h (p ≤ 0.001). The relationship between hyperglycemia and COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 plays an important role in COVID-19-related complications and the outcome for these patients. In patients with chronic and/or sustained hyperglycemia, the upregulation of ACE2, and its potential glycation and malfunction, could be related to complications observed in patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions (SWBLIs) are critical phenomena in the design of high-speed vehicles as they exhibit inherent unsteadiness that can damage airframes and lead to engine unstart. This paper presents a novel characterization of the unsteady dynamics of cylinder-induced SWBLIs at Reynolds numbers of 26×106 m-1 and 13×106 m-1 using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). Data sets analyzed in this paper were obtained from experiments conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center's 20-Inch Mach 6 blowdown wind tunnel. The experiments used a cylinder protuberance model mounted on a 10° half-angle wedge to create the interaction. The lower-Reynolds-number case was observed to have a transitional incoming boundary layer, whereas a swept ramp array trip was used in the higher-Reynolds-number case to generate a turbulent incoming boundary layer. The POD analysis from both cases helped isolate spatial regions in the separation bubble that contained the highest percentage of energy for each case, which correlate to the dominant structures in the flow. A power spectral density analysis on the POD temporal components of the highest-energy POD mode (mode 1) revealed a frequency spectrum with a distinct peak at St~0.05 in the lower-Reynolds-number case and a band of high-energy peaks in the St range of 0.05-0.2 for the tripped SWBLI case. Through the DMD analysis, an unsteadiness mode was isolated at St=0.057 and an asymmetric motion of the forward lambda shock was identified in the lower-Reynolds-number case. This dynamic asymmetry was not detected in the higher-Reynolds-number case, suggesting that the asymmetric effect may be unique to interactions in transitional incoming boundary layers. Additional spectral-kernel-based POD analysis identified primary unsteadiness frequencies that were in agreement with the DMD findings. A low-frequency mode at St=0.055, exhibiting relatively high energy, was obtained for the lower-Reynolds-number (transitional) case, whereas a broadband "bump" with increased energy over a frequency range of St~0.05-0.2 was observed for the higher-Reynolds-number (tripped) case. Through these analysis techniques, a mode, likely connected to a shock-breathing mechanism, was identified at St~0.05. In the assessment of the structural motion occurring in the shock-breathing mode, the phenomenon in the lower-Reynolds-number case was found to traverse a longer upstream distance and compress to a larger degree when compared with the breathing behavior in the higher-Reynolds-number case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) is one of three key analytical instruments incorporated within the body of the ExoMars 2022 rover. The rover will collect samples from different sites on the Oxia Planum plain, using a drill capable of penetrating the near subsurface and rocky outcrops to a depth of 2 m. Samples are passed to the Analytical Laboratory Drawer (ALD) in the heart of the rover vehicle, where the Sample Preparation and Distribution System (SPDS) processes and transports the crushed material into a refillable container (RC), which is then presented to the analytical instruments for exobiology and geological investigation. The final sample grain distribution of the powder sample following the crushing and flattening processes is a critical aspect of the RLS instrument that has a direct impact on its overall performance, related to its mineral identification and operational capabilities. This paper provides a comparative overview of the performance of a set of Raman instruments, the RLS micro‐Raman Laboratory Equipment, the RLS ExoMars Simulator, and the RLS Engineering and Qualification Model (EQM) using Martian representative crushed samples, along with an evaluation of instrument performance as a function of the operational scenario. The results from the work performed by the RLS team confirm the capability of the RLS instrument performances, by acquiring good‐quality spectra from crushed samples provided by the SPDS, whose science return can be further optimized when improving the RLS instrument operation sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Semantic Web provides guidelines for the representation of information about real-world objects (entities) and their relations (properties). This is helpful for the dissemination and consumption of information by people and applications. However, the information is mainly contained within natural language sentences, which do not have a structure or linguistic descriptions ready to be directly processed by computers. Thus, the challenge is to identify and extract the elements of information that can be represented. Hence, this article presents a strategy to extract information from sentences and its representation with Semantic Web standards. Our strategy involves Information Extraction tasks and a hybrid semantic similarity measure to get entities and relations that are later associated with individuals and properties from a Knowledge Base to create RDF triples (Subject–Predicate–Object structures). The experiments demonstrate the feasibility of our method and that it outperforms the accuracy provided by a pattern-based method from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate whether the mental space-time association of temporal concepts could be modulated by the availability of cognitive resources (in terms of working memory and inhibitory control capacities) and to explore whether access to this association could be an automatic process. To achieve this, two experiments were carried out. In Experiment 1, participants had to classify words with future and past meanings. The working memory load (high vs. low) was manipulated and the participants were grouped into quartiles according to their visuospatial working memory capacity (WMC). Temporal concepts were displayed subliminally (immediate masking) and supraliminally (delayed masking). The ANOVA showed a performance pattern consistent with the left-past right-future conceptual scheme, regardless of both the type of masking and the working memory load, except in high WMC participants, in which, interestingly, the space-time association effect was absent. In Experiment 2, participants were asked to respond to the colour of the font of the temporal words, and their attentional control capacity was assessed. The results indicated a timeline effect that was irrespective of the WM load and the type of perceptual processing, but not of the WM capacity or the inhibitory abilities. These findings partially endorse the automatic and implicit access to the mental space-time association and suggest the involvement of the availability of cognitive resources. Individual WMC differences appear to modulate the automatic nature of the effect rather than the processing conditions themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linear optimization degree gives an algebraic measure of complexity of optimizing a linear objective function over an algebraic model. Geometrically, it can be interpreted as the degree of a projection map on the affine conormal variety. Fixing an affine variety, our first result shows that the geometry of this conormal variety, expressed in terms of bidegrees, completely determines the Chern-Mather classes of the given variety. We also show that these bidegrees coincide with the linear optimization degrees of generic affine sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to use an imidazole-based n-ionic Gemini surfactant derived from palm oil to inhibit the sulfide stress corrosion cracking of a supermartensitic stainless steel. Design/methodology/approach: The slow strain rate testing technique, hydrogen permeation tests and potentiodynamic polarization curves have been used. Findings: Addition of the inhibitor below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) decreased the corrosion current density (icorr), but not enough to avoid embrittlement due to the entry of hydrogen into the steel. Instead, the addition of the inhibitor close to the CMC decreased the icorr, suppressed the entry of hydrogen and inhibited the sulfide stress cracking of steel. Finally, the addition of inhibitor above the CMC led to a slight increase of icorr and promoted localized corrosion, however, the sulfide stress cracking of steel was inhibited. Originality/value: A green sulfide stress corrosion cracking inhibitor of a supermartensitic stainless steel has been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article argues that oral health is an integral component of age-friendly geriatric care. It recommends enlisting oral health providers in the process of caring for older adults to mitigate the impact of chronic illness such as periodontal and heart disease. Emphasis is given on the importance of paying attention to oral health considerations for mentation of older patients, identifying therapeutic options for older adults at high risk of falling and for overall quality of life.

We give a positive answer to a conjecture of Aluffi–Harris on the computation of the Euclidean distance degree of a possibly singular projective variety in terms of the local Euler obstruction function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of non-energy-yielding nutrients on health has been meticulously studied, and the evidence shows that a compound can exert significant effects on health even if not strictly required by the organism. Phenolic compounds are among the most widely studied molecules that fit this description; they are found in plants as secondary metabolites and are not required by humans for growth or development, but they can influence a wide array of processes that modulate health across multiple organs and systems. The lower gastrointestinal tract is a prime site of action of phenolic compounds, namely, by their effects on gut microbiota and colonic health. As with humans, phenolic compounds are not required by most bacteria but can be substrates of others; in fact, some phenolic compounds exert antibacterial actions. A diet rich in phenolic compounds can lead to qualitative and quantitative effects on gut microbiota, thereby inducing indirect health effects in mammals through the action of these microorganisms. Moreover, phenolic compounds may be fermented by the gut microbiota, thereby modulating the compounds bioactivity. In the colon, phenolic compounds promote anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antiproliferative actions. The aim of the present review is to highlight the role of phenolic compounds on maintaining or restoring a healthy microbiota and overall colonic health. Mechanisms of action that substantiate the reported evidence will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Améndola et al. proposed a method for solving systems of polynomial equations lying in a family which exploits a recursive decomposition into smaller systems. A family of systems admits such a decomposition if and only if the corresponding Galois group is imprimitive. When the Galois group is imprimitive, we consider the problem of computing an explicit decomposition. A consequence of Esterov's classification of sparse polynomial systems with imprimitive Galois groups is that this decomposition is obtained by inspection. This leads to a recursive algorithm to compute complex isolated solutions to decomposable sparse systems, which we present and give evidence for its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spawning grounds of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) are traditionally considered to be the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) and the Mediterranean Sea (Mediterranean Sea). However, for the western Atlantic, unequivocal evidence of bluefin spawning outside the Gulf of Mexico has been shown. In this study we present the first records of genetically confirmed bluefin larvae in the southern Bay of Biscay (eastern Atlantic). These findings provide evidence of bluefin spawning activity outside the Mediterranean Sea, in the north‐eastern Atlantic. However, our results suggest that the bluefin spawning in the Bay of Biscay is a sporadic phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, it is reported that thermal analysis techniques such as TG, DTA and X-ray thermodiffraction, performed in air or nitrogen atmosphere, are very useful for evaluating and characterizing the pigments and the supports used for the manufacture of wall paintings from the San Isidoro del Campo Monastery (fifteenth century) in which different scenes from the life of San Jeronimo are represented. The use of thermal techniques has allowed for collecting information on the technology and raw materials used in the manufacture of these wall paintings. The composition of the different colours forming the wall paintings is the following: blue by azurite, green by atacamite, red by iron oxide (hematite), cinnabar and ochre by iron oxyhydroxides (goethite), black by carbon and white by calcite. In all the colours, calcite and quartz were also identified. The paintings were performed by using the fresco technique. The support mortars are constituted of calcite, quartz and straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) being a cornerstone in the treatment of advanced heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Topics include successful electromechanical coupling and improvement of the biventricular systolic interaction translating into benefits in functional capacity; and reducing arrhythmic burden, improving ventricular–arterial coupling, and functional capacity compared to standard BiV.

Background. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic causing multiple fatalities and morbidities worldwide. We report a case of severe pneumonia causing acute respiratory distress syndrome due to a coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium abscessus in an elderly patient with multiple myeloma in Florida, USA. Case Presentation. An 84-year-old male with a medical history significant for multiple myeloma not in remission was sent to the emergency department to rule out COVID-19 infection prior to continuing his chemotherapy sessions. At presentation, he had nonspecific mild symptoms and an unremarkable physical examination. He had significant blood test findings including serum lactate dehydrogenase 373 U/L, high sensitive C-reactive protein 17.40 mg/l, and ferritin 415 ng/ml. Xpert-SARS-CoV-2 was positive. Chest radiograph revealed patchy areas of interstitial infiltrates in mid to lower lung zones. During his hospitalization course, his oxygenation deteriorated, requiring mechanical intubation. Repeat chest radiograph showed worsening bilateral infiltrates. He was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics and eventually weaned off mechanical intubation and extubated. On the 11th day of admission, he was found to be bradycardic and in shock, and he was reintubated. His labs showed worsening inflammatory markers along with kidney dysfunction to the point of requiring renal replacement therapy. He received both convalescent plasma and remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. Eventually, repeat blood cultures came back positive for the growth of acid-fast beaded bacilli. While awaiting final culture and sensitivity reports, his antibiotics were upgraded to cover possible nocardia infection. Repeat blood and sputum cultures resulted in growth of AFB bacilli Mycobacterium abscessus 1 week after. Conclusions. This case report highlights the importance of keeping a broad differential and considering multiple coinfections, including atypical ones during this COVID-19 pandemic, such as the one that was discussed above, Mycobacterium abscessus, in order to provide goal-directed therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Management of emergency care. Background: Malaria is the infection caused by inoculation with the mostly obligate intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. Severe malaria manifests as multiple organ dysfunction with high parasitemia counts characterized by coma, stupor, and severe metabolic acidosis. Physicians in the United States do not frequently encounter patients with malaria, and the drugs are only available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which makes the management of this disease somewhat complicated. In 2019, the marketing of quinine for malaria was discontinued. In May 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of intravenous artesunate for the treatment of adults and children with severe malaria. This case report describes a case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a 55-year-old woman who returned home to Florida from a visit to Ghana. Case Report: A previously healthy 55-year-old woman with no significant past medical history presented to the Emergency Department (ED) of a hospital in south Florida due to cyclic fever for 7 days. The patient's family reported mental status changes since symptom onset. The patient had returned from a 10-day trip to Ghana 18 days prior to admission. On arrival to the ED, the patient appeared lethargic and within hours was in respiratory distress. She was intubated and mechanically ventilated in the ED for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. A malaria smear was positive with 25% parasitemia, and a diagnosis of severe malaria was made, consistent with P. falciparum infection complicated by multi-organ failure. Infectious disease consultation was obtained and an infusion of intravenous (IV) quinidine and IV doxycycline was emergently started due to the anticipated delay in obtaining artesunate. During the second day of admission, the patient had QTc prolongation, so quinidine was switched to IV artesunate. The parasitemia and acidosis started improving by the third day of therapy. Conclusions: Given that artesunate is more effective, easier to dose, and more tolerable than quinidine, it is now the treatment of choice for severe malaria in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give a numerical algorithm computing Euler obstruction functions using maximum likelihood degrees. The maximum likelihood degree is a well-studied property of a variety in algebraic statistics and computational algebraic geometry. In this article we use this degree to give a new way to compute Euler obstruction functions. We define the maximum likelihood obstruction function and show how it coincides with the Euler obstruction function. With this insight, we are able to bring new tools of computational algebraic geometry to study Euler obstruction functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of alternative splicing is one of the great unanswered questions in cellular biology. There is strong evidence for alternative splicing at the transcript level, and transcriptomics experiments show that many splice events are tissue specific. It has been suggested that alternative splicing evolved in order to remodel tissue-specific protein-protein networks. Here we investigated the evidence for tissue-specific splicing among splice isoforms detected in a large-scale proteomics analysis. Although the data supporting alternative splicing is limited at the protein level, clear patterns emerged among the small numbers of alternative splice events that we could detect in the proteomics data. More than a third of these splice events were tissue-specific and most were ancient: over 95% of splice events that were tissue-specific in both proteomics and RNAseq analyses evolved prior to the ancestors of lobe-finned fish, at least 400 million years ago. By way of contrast, three in four alternative exons in the human gene set arose in the primate lineage, so our results cannot be extrapolated to the whole genome. Tissue-specific alternative protein forms in the proteomics analysis were particularly abundant in nervous and muscle tissues and their genes had roles related to the cytoskeleton and either the structure of muscle fibres or cell-cell connections. Our results suggest that this conserved tissue-specific alternative splicing may have played a role in the development of the vertebrate brain and heart. Author summary: We manually curated a set of 255 splice events detected in a large-scale tissue-based proteomics experiment and found that more than a third had evidence of significant tissue-specific differences. Events that were significantly tissue-specific at the protein level were highly conserved; almost 75% evolved over 400 million years ago. The tissues in which we found most evidence for tissue-specific splicing were nervous tissues and cardiac tissues. Genes with tissue-specific events in these two tissues had functions related to important cellular structures in brain and heart tissues. These splice events may have been essential for the development of vertebrate heart and muscle. However, our data set may not be representative of alternative exons as a whole. We found that most tissue specific splicing was strongly conserved, but just 5% of annotated alternative exons in the human gene set are ancient. More than three quarters of alternative exons are primate-derived. Although the analysis does not provide a definitive answer to the question of the functional role of alternative splicing, our results do indicate that alternative splice variants may have played a significant part in the evolution of brain and heart tissues in vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studied the use of three-dimensional voltammetry, particularly potential-time-current (E-t-i) data, on the development of electroanalytical methods. E-t-i data was obtained by taking chronoamperograms at potentials applied as pulses on a staircase waveform. By using this three-way kind of data and appropriate calibration algorithms, the possibility of achieving the second-order advantage was evaluated in the determination of ferrocyanide in the presence of the uncalibrated interference hydroquinone as a model system. The determination of acetaminophen in urine samples, where ascorbic acid and uric acid play the major roles as interferents was also studied. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and multivariate curve resolution alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) were the algorithms employed in this work. Both algorithms successfully achieved the second-order advantage by correctly predicting the concentrations of the validation synthetic samples. Excellent predictions were obtained in the direct analysis of acetaminophen-spiked urine samples by E-t-i data and MCR-ALS. Image 1 • First use of chronoamperometric-based E-t-i data with second-order calibration. • Second-order advantage achieved with E-t-i data and PARAFAC or MCR-ALS. • MCR-ALS provided better prediction results than PARAFAC. • Simple and direct determination of paracetamol in urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited data exist regarding patients with continuous‐flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support who require long‐term inotropes. Our primary objective was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and all‐cause mortality of LVAD recipients with prolonged inotrope use (PIU). Secondary endpoints were to compare predictors of PIU, mortality, risk of late re‐initiation of inotropes, time to gastrointestinal bleed (GIB), infection, and arrhythmias. Retrospective cohort study was conducted on adult patients with primary continuous‐flow LVADs implanted from January 2008 to February 2017 and the patients were followed up through February 2018. We defined PIU as ≥14 days of inotrope support. Kaplan–Meier method, competing risk models and Cox proportional hazard models were used. Final analytic sample was 203 patients, 58% required PIU, and 10% were discharged on inotropes. There was no difference in preimplant characteristics. One‐year survival rate was 87% if no PIU required, 74% if PIU required, and 72% if discharged on inotropes. PIU was associated with longer length of stay and higher incidence of GIB. We found no association between PIU and late re‐initiation of inotropes, infection or arrhythmias. Adjusted hazard risk of death was increased in patients with PIU (HR = 1.66, P =.046), older age (HR = 1.28, P =.031), and higher creatinine levels (HR = 1.60, P =.007). Prolonged inotrope use is frequently encountered following LVAD implantation and is associated with adverse prognosis but remains a therapeutic option. Inability to wean inotropes prior to hospital discharge is a marker of patients at particularly higher risk of mortality following LVAD implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An interactive social robot for assistance and stimulation. • Intelligent environment with abilities to monitor and learn actively. • An outdoor assistant to help disoriented patients. • Integration of several existing solutions and adaptation to the problem at hand. • Deep learning solutions to face various challenges: memory loss, attention problems. In the last years, the care of dependent people, either by disease, accident, disability, or age, is one of the current priority research topics in developed countries. Moreover, such care is intended to be at patients home, in order to minimize the cost of therapies. Patients rehabilitation will be fulfilled when their integration in society is achieved, either in the family or in a work environment. To address this challenge, we propose the development and evaluation of an assistant for people with acquired brain injury or dependents. This assistant is twofold: in the patient's home is based on the design and use of an intelligent environment with abilities to monitor and active learning, combined with an autonomous social robot for interactive assistance and stimulation. On the other hand, it is complemented with an outdoor assistant, to help patients under disorientation or complex situations. This involves the integration of several existing technologies and provides solutions to a variety of technological challenges. Deep leaning-based techniques are proposed as core technology to solve these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background  Cancer-related lymphedema represents the first cause of noninfectious secondary extremity lymphedema. This entity is a progressive and debilitating disease with no curative treatment available. With the advent of lymphedema microsurgery, focus has turned into risk reduction and prevention of the disease progression. Methods  Literature review was conducted to clarify current microsurgical approach to prophylaxis of cancer treatment-related extremity lymphedema. Results  Prophylactic approach could be classified into primary and secondary prevention; microsurgical procedures were performed simultaneously with cancer ablation in primary prevention, and secondary prevention was performed secondarily after cancer treatment for selected high-risk subclinical cases. Indocyanine green lymphography was the most useful method for lymphedema screening after cancer treatment and to diagnose subclinical lymphedema. Several lymphovenous shunt operations were performed as prophylactic procedures, and classified into microsurgical lymphovenous implantation and supermicrosurgical lymphovenous intima-to-intima coaptation. Both showed clinically significant prophylactic effects. Conclusion  This review provides a comprehensive overview of the literature regarding microsurgical interventions for the prevention of cancer-related extremity lymphedema. There are several methods for lymphedema prophylaxis and further studies are required to clarify indication of each method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland wetlands are resilient ecosystems that can adapt to extreme periodic drought–flood episodes. Climate change projections show increased drought severity in drylands that could compromise wetland resilience and reduce important habitat services. These recognized risks have been difficult to evaluate due to our limited capacity to establish comprehensive relationships between flood–drought episodes and vegetation responses at the relevant spatiotemporal scales. We address this issue by integrating detailed spatiotemporal flood–drought simulations with remotely sensed vegetation responses to water regimes in a dryland wetland known for its highly variable inundation. We show that a combination of drought tolerance and dormancy strategies allow wetland vegetation to recover after droughts and recolonize areas invaded by terrestrial species. However, climate change scenarios show widespread degradation during drought and limited recovery after floods. Importantly, the combination of degradation extent and increase in drought duration is critical for the habitat services wetland systems provide for waterbirds and fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of numerical algebraic geometry, positive-dimensional solution sets of systems of polynomial equations are described by witness sets. In this paper, we define multiprojective witness sets which encode the multidegree information of an irreducible multiprojective variety. Our main results generalise the regeneration solving procedure, a trace test, and numerical irreducible decomposition to the multiprojective case. Examples are included to demonstrate this new approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Endobronchial lipomas are a particularly rare form of benign lung neoplasms, with an incidence of 0.1-0.4%. They are often clinically silent, though present with nonspecific symptoms that can result in extensive workup or significant delay prior to diagnosis, as presented in this case. Case Presentation. A 61-year-old male presented with chronic productive cough and occasional dyspnea and a 10-year history of clinically diagnosis of intermittent, exercise-induced asthma, nonresponsive to bronchodilators, and with normal pulmonary function tests. A chest ray showed a band-like opacity in the right middle lobe of the lung and a CT of the chest showed right lung atelectasis with a soft tissue mass in the right main bronchus. The patient underwent bronchoscopy with biopsy, which demonstrated an endobronchial myxoid spindle cell lipoma. The lesion was subsequently removed by a bronchoscopic snare. The patient's asthmatic-like symptomatology resolved after the mass was excised. Conclusion. Though rare, endobronchial lipomas characteristically present with nonspecific signs and symptoms and thus can be easily mistaken for other medical conditions, delaying diagnosis and prolonging symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcoholic liver disease is one of the leading causes of hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatic carcinoma. Alcoholic hepatitis refers to the acute onset of symptomatic hepatitis. We describe a patient who presented with alcoholic hepatitis with direct hyperbilirubinemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and hypertriglyceridemia. All the imaging and laboratory work excluded obstructive causes, and liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Alcoholic hepatitis is a common condition, but some unusual presentations can lead one to think of uncommon pathologies. This case reflects that alcoholic hepatitis can present with high levels of triglycerides as well as a cholestatic pattern with direct hyperbilirubinemia and ALP without an obvious obstruction cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rare co-existance of disease or pathology. Background: Histoplasmosis results from the inhalation of spores from the fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. A case is presented of pulmonary histoplasmosis associated with altered mental state and hypercalcemia following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Case Report: A 75-year-old man with a five-day history of AML treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, presented with weakness, fatigue, and slow mentation. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain was unremarkable. Laboratory investigations showed serum albumin of 2.9 g/dL, calcium of 11.6 mg/dL, ionized calcium of 1.55 mmol/L, parathyroid hormone (PTH) <6.3 pg/mL, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D of 14.4 ng/mL. Treatment began with intravenous cefepime 1 gm bid, normal saline, and the bisphosphonate, pamidronate, administered as a single dose. Three days later, his clinical status declined. He developed a dry productive cough, his oxygen saturation (O2 Sat) was 90%, and his mental status worsened. Chest CT showed diffuse bilateral lung infiltrates with ground glass opacities. Bronchioalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy were negative for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP). The CMV viral load was 195 IU/mL. Urinalysis for Histoplasma antigen and the Fungitell® assay were positive. Treatment commenced with intravenous voriconazole (250 mg, bid) and ganciclovir (5 mg/kg, bid). A left lower lobe transbronchial lung biopsy was positive for Histoplasma capsulatum and negative for CMV. Conclusions: This case report has highlighted the need for awareness of the diagnosis of histoplasmosis in patients with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who present with an altered mental state in the setting of hypercalcemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumonia are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, and asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of IPD or pneumonia among children with asthma after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). DATA SOURCES: Four electronic databases were searched. STUDY SELECTION: We selected all cohorts or case-control studies of IPD and pneumonia in populations who already received PCV (largely 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine), but not 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide, in which authors reported data for children with asthma and in which healthy controls were included, without language restriction. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently reviewed all studies. Primary outcomes were occurrence of IPD and pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included mortality, hospital admissions, hospital length of stay, ICU admission, respiratory support, costs, and additional medication use. RESULTS: Five studies met inclusion criteria; of those, 3 retrospective cohorts (~26 million person-years) and 1 case-control study (N = 3294 children) qualified for the meta-analysis. Children with asthma had 90% higher odds of IPD than healthy controls (odds ratio = 1.90; 95% confidence interval = 1.63-2.11; I² = 1.7%). Pneumonia was also more frequent among children with asthma than among controls, and 1 study reported that pneumonia-associated costs increased by asthma severity. LIMITATIONS: None of the identified studies had information of asthma therapy or compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Despite PCV vaccination, children with asthma continue to have a higher risk of IPD than children without asthma. Further research is needed to assess the need for supplemental 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in children with asthma, regardless of their use of oral steroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Avocado (Persea americana) cv 'Hass' was analyzed at four ripening stages (RS1-RS4). • Main phenolics were epicatechin and vanillic acid; their concentration increased by 67- and 18-fold, respectively. • Extracts from RS1 and RS2 were most effective against HeLa and RAW 264.7 cells. Avocado is an excellent source of phytochemicals with remarkable bioactive properties. This study evaluated the effect of ripeness stage of 'Hass' avocado on the profile and content of lipophilic and hydrophilic phytochemicals and their in vitro cytotoxic activity. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the major phytochemicals were conducted in four stages of ripeness, using gas and liquid chromatography analyses. In general, phenolics, carotenoids, tocopherols, and phytosterols tended to increase during ripening. A decrease of individual phytochemicals was observed, namely, protocatechuic acid (0.36 to 0.03 mg 100 g−1 dw) and β-carotene (0.9 to 0.4 mg 100 g−1 dw), while quercetin and δ-tocopherol were only detected in a single ripeness stage (1 and 3, respectively). The major phytochemicals quantified at the end of ripening were epicatechin (12.66 mg 100 g−1 dw), lutein (0.5 mg 100 g−1 dw), α-tocopherol (12.4 mg 100 g−1 oil) and β-sitosterol (35.6 mg 100 g−1 dw) for phenolics, carotenoids, tocopherols and phytosterols, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of methanolic extracts of avocado was tested against RAW 264.7 and HeLa cells, where all RS showed a dose-dependent effect. We conclude that ripeness stage influences the concentration of specific compounds in each group of phytochemicals, as well as its in vitro cytotoxic activity, something that must be considered in future studies on the potential health benefits of avocado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]