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Complex intracranial aneurysms (CIAs) comprise a subset of lesions with defiant vascular architecture, difficult access, and prior treatment. Surgical management of CIAs is often challenging and demands an assessment on a case-by-case basis. The generational evolution of bypass surgery has offered a long-standing potential for effective cerebral revascularization. Herein, we aim to illustrate a single-center experience treating CIAs. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients treated with cerebral revascularization techniques at Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Lima, Peru, during 2018–2022. Relevant data were collected, including patient history, aneurysm features on imaging, preoperative complications, the intraoperative course, aneurysm occlusion rates, bypass patency, neurological function, and postoperative complications. Seventeen patients (70.59% female; median age: 53 years) with 17 CIAs (64.7% saccular; 76.5% ruptured) were included. The most common clinical presentation included loss of consciousness (70.6%) and headaches (58.8%). Microsurgical treatment included first-, second-, and third-generation bypass. In 47.1% of cases, an anastomosis between the superficial temporal artery and the M3 segment was predominantly used, followed by an A3-A3 bypass (29.4%), a superficial temporal artery-M2 bypass (17.6%), and an external carotid artery to M2 bypass (5.9%). The intraoperative aneurysm rupture rate was 11.8%. Postoperative complications included ischemia (40%), cerebrospinal fluid fistulas (26.7%), and pneumonia (20%). At hospital discharge, the median Glasgow Coma Scale score was 14 (range: 10–15). At the 6-month follow-up, 82.4% of patients had a modified Rankin Scale score ≤2, bypass patency was present in all cases, and the morbidity rate was 17.6%. CIAs represent a spectrum of defiant vascular lesions with a poor natural history. Bypass surgery offers the potential for definitive treatment. Our case series illustrated the predominant role of cerebral revascularization of CIAs with a critical case-by-case approach to provide optimal outcomes in a limited-resource setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies have been introduced to neurosurgery with the goal of improving the experience of human visualization. In recent years, the application of remote AR and VR has opened new horizons for neurosurgical collaboration across diverse domains of education and patient treatment. Herein, we aimed to systematically review the literature about the feasibility of this technology and discuss the technical aspects, current limitations, and future perspectives. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 4 databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) were queried for articles discussing the use of remote AR and VR technologies in neurosurgery. Data were collected in various fields, including surgery type, application type, subspecialty, software and hardware descriptions, haptic device utilization, visualization technology, internet connection, remote site descriptions, technical outcomes, and limitations. Data were summarized as counts and proportions and analyzed using IBM SPSS software. Our search strategy generated 466 records, out of which 9 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The majority of AR and VR applications were used in cranial procedures (77.8%), mainly in education (63.6%), followed by telesurgical assistance (18.2%), patient monitoring (9.1%), and surgical planning (9.1%). Local collaborations were established in 55.6% of the studies, while national and international partnerships were formed in 44.4% of the studies. AR was the main visualization technology, and 3G internet connection was predominantly used (27.5%). All studies subjectively reported the utility of remote AR and VR for real-time interaction. The major technical challenges and limitations included audiovisual latency, the requirement for higher-fidelity and resolution image reconstructions, and the level of proficiency of the patient with the software. The results from this systematic review suggest that AR and VR technologies are dynamically advancing to offer remote collaboration in neurosurgery. Although still incipient in development and with an imperative need for technical improvement, remote AR and VR hold a frontierless potential for patient monitoring, neurosurgical education, and long-distance surgical assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Mexico is particularly rich in natural resources, yet unemployment has risen to 8% during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effect of the pandemic on the use and abundance of Tabasco's wild resources was examined through personal surveys. By using Microsoft Forms® with cell phones 1,963 surveys were collected. Cronbach's alpha, Z-value, and chi2 were calculated using the MAXQDA Analytics Pro program. A higher abundance of wild resources before the pandemic than today (57% vs. 11%) was observed. During the pandemic, people referred more to a high use (28%) of resources than to a low use (20%). This caused the low abundance or scarcity of wild products to be greater during the pandemic than before the pandemic (43% vs. 4%). Wild foods and timber were the most used products. The pandemic has produced a greater use of natural resources probably due to the high unemployment rate in rural areas. Future studies of wild products should address the relevant products in the locality and their even sampling. Finding suitable respondents is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Attitudinal Style' (AS) enhances the democratic and engaging learning process by improving student motivation and attitudes. Its adaptability, transferability, and applicability make it suitable for hybridization with other pedagogical models (PMs). This study explores the possibilities of blending AS with other PMs for classroom applications, emphasizing the use of formative and shared assessments to maximize efficiency. Adopting a Narrative Review methodology, the research delves into ten academic databases, identifying seven publications that meet the inclusion criteria for a detailed analysis. These publications propose pedagogical approaches for sports, body expression, natural environments, and physical conditioning. They highlight the potential of integrating AS with other PMs to not only enrich physical education (PE) experiences but also introduce innovative teaching methods for various physical activities. The evidence from these sources suggests that combining AS with other PMs serves as a robust strategy to enhance the overall educational experience in PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has affected the pork industry worldwide and during outbreaks the mortality of piglets has reached 100%. Lipid nanocarriers are commonly used in the development of immunostimulatory particles due to their biocompatibility and slow-release delivery properties. In this study, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) complex based on glycyrrhizinic acid (GA) and tested its efficacy as an adjuvant in mice immunized with the recombinant N-terminal domain (NTD) of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) spike (S) protein (rNTD-S). The dispersion stability analysis (Z-potential −27.6 mV) confirmed the size and charge stability of the LNP-GA, demonstrating that the particles were homogeneously dispersed and strongly anionic, which favors nanoparticles binding with the rNTD-S protein, which showed a slightly positive charge (2.11 mV) by in silico analysis. TEM image of LNP-GA revealed nanostructures with a spherical-bilayer lipid vesicle (~100 nm). The immunogenicity of the LNP-GA-rNTD-S complex induced an efficient humoral response 14 days after the first immunization (p < 0.05) as well as an influence on the cellular immune response by decreasing serum TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations, which was associated with an anti-inflammatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the relevance of signs and symptoms for the clinical identification of ESI and TI in HD‐CVC, by means of international expert consensus, and to reach a consensus on a definition and clinical management (CM) for these infections. Background: A recent systematic review showed a high heterogeneity in the signs/symptoms used for determining exit site infection (ESI) and tunnel infection (TI) of haemodialysis central venous catheter (HD‐CVC). Design: A modified Delphi ranking process was carried out between November 2020 and March 2021, consisting of four rounds using an online questionnaire with a panel of 26 experts from 12 countries. Methods: Experts responded on the level of relevance for the identification of ESI and TI, based on a list of 22 signs/symptoms obtained from a previous systematic review, using a 4‐point Likert‐type scale. After reaching consensus on the signs/symptoms, they followed the same method to reach consensus on the CM. The STROBE Checklist was used to report this study. Results: A high degree of consensus was reached to identify the presence of ESI based on nine signs/symptoms: presence of pain at the exit site (ES) during interdialysis period, with fever ≥38°C do not suspect other cause, local signs at the ES (inflammation, induration, swelling, hyperemia/erythema ≥2 cm from ES) and obvious abscess or purulent exudate at ES; and of TI. Likewise, 5 cm were agreed upon. Conclusion: This Delphi study provides international expert consensus definitions of ESI and TI in HD‐CVC, laying the groundwork for the validation of an HD‐CVC ES clinical assessment scale for early identification of ESI. Relevance to Clinical Practice: In addition, this study provides a series of attitudes to consensual clinics regarding signs/symptoms of local infections in HD‐CVC, which may be useful as expert opinion in clinical practice guidelines, when there is insufficient scientific evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant fusiform aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) are complex and rare vascular lesions with a poor natural history and challenging treatment decision-making. We report the case of a 46-year-old male with a history of chronic hypertension and a transient ischemic attack who presented with left-sided hemiparesis. A cerebral angiotomography revealed an unruptured giant fusiform aneurysm in the M2 segment of the right MCA. After carefully evaluating the procedure's risks and benefits with the patient, he underwent a low-flow bypass surgery. An anastomosis between the superficial temporal artery and the M3 segment was performed with proximal clipping of the M2 segment. The postoperative course was uneventful, with preserved bypass patency. At follow-up, the patient was neurologically intact. This report illustrates the nuances and operative techniques for treating a giant fusiform aneurysm of the M2 segment that accounted for a preserved bypass patency and optimal patient neurological recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the case of a 58-year-old male with a 3-day history of sudden onset headache, loss of consciousness, and uncontrolled vomiting. The patient had 3/5 quadriparesis and a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score of 8, which merited neurocritical intensive care. Brain imaging suggested the presence of two lesions: (i) a fusiform aneurysm of 12 × 7 mm in an accessory A2 artery of the anterior cerebral artery and (ii) an unruptured saccular aneurysm of 3.3 × 2.8 mm in the distal segment of the basilar artery. He was deemed a candidate for microsurgical management. Postoperatively, he had 4/5 quadriparesis, paresis of the right oculomotor nerve, and a GCS score of 13. A 3-month follow-up showed a significant improvement in neurological function with a score of 2 on the modified Rankin scale. The presented case illustrates the relevance of a nuanced acquaintance to operate in diseased anatomical variants and complex pathologies of narrow corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In preparing space and microgravity experiments, the utilization of ground-based facilities is common for initial experiments and feasibility studies. One approach to simulating microgravity conditions on Earth is to employ a random positioning machine (RPM) as a rotary bioreactor. Combined with a suitable low-mass model system, such as cell cultures, these devices simulating microgravity have been shown to produce results similar to those obtained in a space experiment under real microgravity conditions. One of these effects observed under real and simulated microgravity is the formation of spheroids from 2D adherent cancer cell cultures. Since real microgravity cannot be generated in a laboratory on Earth, we aimed to determine which forces lead to the detachment of individual FTC-133 thyroid cancer cells and the formation of tumor spheroids during culture with exposure to random positioning modes. To this end, we subdivided the RPM motion into different static and dynamic orientations of cell culture flasks. We focused on the molecular activation of the mechanosignaling pathways previously associated with spheroid formation in microgravity. Our results suggest that RPM-induced spheroid formation is a two-step process. First, the cells need to be detached, induced by the cell culture flask's rotation and the subsequent fluid flow, as well as the presence of air bubbles. Once the cells are detached and in suspension, random positioning prevents sedimentation, allowing 3D aggregates to form. In a comparative shear stress experiment using defined fluid flow paradigms, transcriptional responses were triggered comparable to exposure of FTC-133 cells to the RPM. In summary, the RPM serves as a simulator of microgravity by randomizing the impact of Earth's gravity vector especially for suspension (i.e., detached) cells. Simultaneously, it simulates physiological shear forces on the adherent cell layer. The RPM thus offers a unique combination of environmental conditions for in vitro cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emergent swine coronavirus which infects cells from the small intestine and induces watery diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, causing mortality in piglets (>40%). The aim of this study was to evaluate the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the recombinant membrane protein (M) of PDCoV (rM-PDCoV), which was developed from a synthetic gene obtained after an in silico analysis with a group of 138 GenBank sequences. A 3D model and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the highly conserved M protein structure. Therefore, the synthetic gene was successfully cloned in a pETSUMO vector and transformed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The rM-PDCoV was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot with ~37.7 kDa. The rM-PDCoV immunogenicity was evaluated in immunized (BLAB/c) mice and iELISA. The data showed increased antibodies from 7 days until 28 days (p < 0.001). The rM-PDCoV antigenicity was analyzed using pig sera samples from three states located in "El Bajío" Mexico and positive sera were determined. Our results show that PDCoV has continued circulating on pig farms in Mexico since the first report in 2019; therefore, the impact of PDCoV on the swine industry could be higher than reported in other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide family that functions pancreatic enzyme secretion, gallbladder contraction, intestinal motility, satiety, and stomach acid secretion. The CCK peptides are derived from pro‐CCK with a specific amino acid sequence (Asp, Tyr, Met, Gly, Trp, Met, Asp, and Phe) at their C‐terminus, where the Tyr residue is sulfated. The CCK peptides are ligands of the CCK receptors 1 (CCK1) and 2 (CCK2). In this study, we propose an approach for treating overweight and obese patients, preventing or reducing CCK1 activation using compounds that specifically interact with CCK peptides to regulate their interactions with CCK1. The compounds were selected by molecular docking using a chemical library with the selected residues (Asp, Tyr, Met, Gly, Trp, Met, Asp, and Phe) in CCK. Their effects were evaluated in a diet‐induced obese mice model. We show that compounds K2 and K5 decreased and maintained the body weight of the diet‐induced obese mice model, respectively, likely by preventing/hindering interactions between CCK peptides and CCK1, modifying its activity. This study demonstrates another approach to treating overweight and obesity by regulating CCK1 functions. The K2 and K5 compounds have properties supporting their continued development as new drugs against these risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Metastasis is the most dangerous feature of advanced cancers. In vitro models of this process could help us to study and understand mechanisms that are not readily accessible in the human body. In our approach, we used random positioning cell cultures to induce cancer cells to spread and form tumor spheroids. In this experimental setup, we show that dexamethasone is able to specifically inhibit the detachment of metastatic thyroid cancer cells. Our results not only show how differently healthy and malignant thyroid cells act and react in this in vitro metastasis model system, but also provide valuable insights into its functioning, possibilities and limitations. We recently reported that synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) is able to suppress metastasis-like spheroid formation in a culture of follicular thyroid cancer (FTC)-133 cells cultured under random positioning. We now show that this inhibition was selective for two metastatic thyroid carcinoma cells, FTC-133 and WRO, whereas benign Nthy-ori 3-1 thyrocytes and recurrent ML-1 follicular thyroid cancer cells were not affected by DEX. We then compare Nthy-ori 3-1 and FTC-133 cells concerning their adhesion and mechanosignaling. We demonstrate that DEX disrupts random positioning-triggered p38 stress signaling in FTC-133 cells, thereby antagonizing a variety of biological functions. Thus, DEX treatment of FTC-133 cells is associated with increased adhesiveness, which is mainly caused by the restored, pronounced formation of a normal number of tight junctions. Moreover, we show that Nthy-ori 3-1 and ML-1 cells upregulate the anti-adhesion protein mucin-1 during random positioning, presumably as a protection against mechanical stress. In summary, mechanical stress seems to be an important component in this metastasis model system that is processed differently by metastatic and healthy cells. The balance between adhesion, anti-adhesion and cell–cell connections enables detachment of adherent human cells on the random positioning machine—or not, allowing selective inhibition of thyroid in vitro metastasis by DEX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgravity changes the gene expression pattern in various cell types. This study focuses on the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (less invasive) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative, highly invasive). The cells were cultured for 14 days under simulated microgravity (s-µg) conditions using a random positioning machine (RPM). We investigated cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix (ECM) factors as well as focal adhesion (FA) and the transmembrane proteins involved in different cellular signaling pathways (MAPK, PAM and VEGF). The mRNA expressions of 24 genes of interest (TUBB, ACTB, COL1A1, COL4A5, LAMA3, ITGB1, CD44, VEGF, FLK1, EGFR, SRC, FAK1, RAF1, AKT1, ERK1, MAPK14, MAP2K1, MTOR, RICTOR, VCL, PXN, CDKN1, CTNNA1 and CTNNB1) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and studied using STRING interaction analysis. Histochemical staining was carried out to investigate the morphology of the adherent cells (ADs) and the multicellular spheroids (MCSs) after RPM exposure. To better understand this experimental model in the context of breast cancer patients, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to obtain the expression profiles of 35 breast cell lines from the HMS LINCS Database. The qPCR-verified genes were searched in the mammalian phenotype database and the human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) Catalog. The results demonstrated the positive association between the real metastatic microtumor environment and MCSs with respect to the extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, morphology, different cellular signaling pathway key proteins and several other components. In summary, the microgravity-engineered three-dimensional MCS model can be utilized to study breast cancer cell behavior and to assess the therapeutic efficacies of drugs against breast cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess compliance with recommendations to alleviate nipple pain and/or trauma (NPT) and to reduce the rate of breastfeeding abandonment for this reason. Introduction: As a fundamental priority, health programmes encourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of the baby's life and to supplement breast milk with other foods up to the age of 2 years. However, the presence of NPT can reduce or prevent compliance with this recommendation. Methods: The project was designed and carried out using a framework based on the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI-PACES). Six audit criteria were used in preaudits and postaudits to observe any changes in compliance with the recommendations. Between audits, the Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) tool was used to identify stakeholders, barriers and facilitators of the project. Results: Two hundred and sixty-seven breastfeeding women were studied in the baseline phase and 275 during follow-up. Compliance in four criteria improved, and the rates of NPT decreased (pain: from 63.3 to 53.5%; P¼0.02; trauma: from 37.8 to 24.7%; P¼0.01). The proportion of women advised by qualified personnel increased from 63 to 88% whereas those who cited pain as the reason for abandoning exclusive breastfeeding decreased from 1.5 to 1.1%. Conclusion: This evidence-based implementation project achieved significantly improved compliance rates in most of the evidence-based criteria considered. In consequence, the prevalence of NPT fell significantly. Nevertheless, there was no significant impact on the proportion of mothers abandoning breastfeeding for this reason. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior during storage at room temperature of flavored waters fortified with 5 g/L of fructoligosaccharides (FOS), in PET containers, was studied. In the pineapple and orange flavored waters, the FOS concentration at the end of seven months of storage was 87%. However, in the lemon-flavored water, the final FOS content was 45%. According to the results, the coloration of the pineapple and orange flavored waters did not experience any change, in the same way the sensory evaluation of both waters had an excellent rating, the same not happening with the lemon-flavored water, which its rating was decreasing in the storage time until the assessment of good at the end of the study, due to loss of intensity of the smell and taste of lemon. During the seven months of storage, the microbiological quality of all the flavored waters was satisfactory. It is recommended to make an adjustment in the lemon formulation, to achieve a FOS behavior like that obtained in orange and pineapple flavored waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue eye disease (BED) is a swine viral infection that affects the pork industry of Mexico. Porcine orthorubulavirus (PRV) is the etiological agent, and the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein (HN) is characterized as the best antigen for serological tests, although other structural proteins, including the nucleoprotein (NP) and the matrix (M) protein, have been investigated during the infection of members of the Paramyxoviridae family, generating promising results. Herein, for the first time, we successfully produced and characterized both the NP and M proteins of PRV by using a recombinant strategy in the E. coli heterologous system. The ORF of the NP and M genes were cloned in-frame with the pET-SUMO expression vector. Recombinant proteins proved to be a sensitive target to detect seroconversion at 7 days until 28 days in vaccinated mice (BALB/c) by indirect ELISAs. Immunoreactivity was also tested using porcine serum samples, in which antibodies were recognized from early stages to a persistence of PRV infection, which is indicative that these proteins contain properties similar to native antigens. The predicted tertiary structure showed that both proteins have a conserved structure that resembles those found in others Paramyxovirus. Our results pave the way for developing biotechnological tools based on these proteins for the control and prevention of BED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the global cancer statistics published by the American Cancer Society (2020), the incidence and mortality of cancer are rapidly increasing worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new drugs that have greater effectiveness and lower side effects than the current drugs. In this study we used the PIK3CA enzyme as therapeutic target, because there are studies that showed that PIK3CA plays a critical role to develop cancer, strongly related to tumor proliferation, migration, and clinical prognosis by its functions on the PI33K/AKT signaling pathway. The aim of this research is to determine a selective compound to PIK3CA, by molecular docking using a library of nearly 500,000 compounds, to develop a new anticancer drug to decrease the PIK3CA functions in the cancer processes. It was determined the C5 compound with a cytotoxic effect on in vitro cultures of cancer cell lines, due to a probable specific interaction in PIK3CA, Cys420, Glu453, Glu542, Glu545 amino acids, this region is necessary for the catalytic subunit p110α in the PIK3CA enzyme. This research evaluated the potential anticancer effect of C5 compound with acceptable citotoxicity, toxicity theoretical and LD50 results; other analyses will be necessary to continue this development as a new anticancer drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this double-blinded randomized controlled trial was to investigate whether percutaneous electrolysis (PE) is able to activate endogenous pain modulation and whether its effects are dependent on the dosage of the galvanic current. A total of 54 asymptomatic subjects aged 18–40 years were randomized into three groups, receiving a single ultrasound-guided PE intervention that consisted of a needle insertion on the lateral epicondyle tendon: sham (without electrical current), low-intensity (0.3 mA, 90 s), and high-intensity (three pulses of 3 mA, 3 s). Widespread pressure pain thresholds (PPT), conditioned pain modulation (CPM), and temporal summation (TS) were assessed in the elbow, shoulder, and leg before and immediately after the intervention. Both high and low intensity PE protocols produced an increase in PPT in the shoulder compared to sham (p = 0.031 and p = 0.027). The sham group presented a significant decrease in the CPM (p = 0.006), and this finding was prevented in PE groups (p = 0.043 and p = 0.025). In addition, high-intensity PE decreased TS respect to sham in the elbow (p = 0.047) and both PE groups reduced TS in the leg (p = 0.036 and p = 0.020) without significant differences compared to sham (p = 0.512). Consequently, a single PE intervention modulated pain processing in local and widespread areas, implying an endogenous pain modulation. The pain processing effect was independent of the dosage administrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform thermal lens and thermal mirror Z-scan experiments to study the photothermal properties of semiconductors. We fix the sample's position, facilitating the alignment procedure and the experiment's interpretation. By scanning the lens, which focuses the pump beam, we obtain the Z-scan signature. A diode laser at 1064 nm provides the probe beam for the thermal lens experiment, while a Helium–Neon laser generates it for the photothermal mirror one. Using a telescope, we collimated the probe beam having a nearly constant radius of few millimeters. In this configuration, the z-scan response is single peaked. We fit both experimental results using a model based on the Fresnel diffraction approximation. The fitting determines the photothermal phase shift, the photothermal quantum yield, the temperature change of the optical path, and the thermal diffusivity. We study two semiconductors: Gallium Arsenide and Silicon obtaining good agreement with previously reported data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent and rise of computer mediated communication, mainly of so-called social networks, ask for automated analytical capabilities to extract information and patterns from massive poorly structured data in order to anticipate future trends, events and actions. This area attracts both researchers and industries, with Linguistics, Computer Science, Psychology, Social Sciences or Statistics involved, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular access is a potentially fatal vulnerability for hemodialysis patients, and a notable area for improvement for healthcare providers. Hemodialysis central venous catheters (HD-CVC) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality from infectious complications. Clinical practice guidelines on vascular access for hemodialysis and infection control do not provide a standard definition for infection of the HD-CVC exit site. The main aim of this protocol is to establish consensus on the signs and symptoms for preventing CVC exit site infection for patients receiving hemodialysis, based on the opinion of a panel of experts. The secondary study aim is to determine the optimum treatment approach according to the signs and symptoms of infection at the HD-CVC exit site, as prioritized by the panel of experts. For this purpose, a modified ranking-type Delphi technique will be used, with three rounds of evaluation conducted via an online questionnaire: the first two rounds will be used to prioritize, by consensus, the most relevant signs and/or symptoms of infection of the HD-CVC exit site or tunnel. Once this consensus has been achieved, a third round of evaluation will be conducted, asking the participants to ascertain the most appropriate treatment approach. The research team has drawn up a list of signs and symptoms related to infection of the HD-CVC exit site or tunnel, based on the definitions obtained from a previous systematic review. The results of the present study will enable us to design an assessment scale for HD-CVC exit sites, thus facilitating early identification and action if infection occurs. The availability of such an instrument will benefit not only clinical practice, but also research, healthcare education and training programs for professionals in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirulina was overlooked as a promising future food source until the 1950s. Its industrial production is more recent and still faces various challenges that go beyond the high production costs and the intense "marine" flavour. Despite these challenges, its industrial use is a reality and foods enriched with Spirulina or coloured using Spirulina-derived pigments, are available on the market. In this review, we discuss overlooked problems faced by Spirulina producers including complex process control, the appearance of algal predators, and environmental impacts. The review also summarises some of the most common uses of Spirulina as a food and as a source of biologically active compounds. The main use of Spirulina continues to be food production; however, the current trend is to identify novel applications related to health promotion. High production costs and especially its low production capacity continue to limit the development of novel foods. Spirulina is mainly used as a colouring additive or as a part of a marketing strategy. Various human intervention studies suggest its potential use in the prevention of metabolic syndrome. Several strategies are being investigated aimed at reducing costs and water requirement during Spirulina production; producing Spirulina using seawater might also help avoid the appearance of algal predators. • Current research trends and novel products are summarised and discussed. • Production costs and a low production capacity limit the use of Spirulina as food. • Overlooked challenges including the appearance of insects are discussed. • Process control and online monitoring have affect the biomass productivity. • Human intervention studies suggest potential clinical applications beyond nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) nanowires (AgNWs) were synthesized. • AgNPs and AgNWs were dispersed into a liquid acrylic resin to form nanocomposites. • The thermal diffusivity and curing time of the nanocomposites were determined. • Scaffolds of the nanocomposites were 3D printed. • Physicochemical and mechanical characterization of the nanocomposites were done. The aim of this work was to design and build novel scaffolds of different composition for application of 3D printing in organic tissues and to determine the thermal properties of these nanocomposites; therefore, novel silver/acrylic composites based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of 15.7 nm average in diameter synthesized by a green method, and silver nanowires (AgNWs) of 50 nm in diameter and 1.5 µm in length synthesized by the polyol method were successfully prepared. Thermal lens spectroscopy (TLS) in a mismatched configuration was used to determine the liquid sample's thermal diffusivity (D), and photoacoustic spectroscopy (PA) in an open cell (OPC) configuration was used to determine the nanocomposite's characteristic curing time (τ). Values of D for the AgNPs range from 14.8 x 10-8 to 47.4 x 10-8 m2/s (4.5 to 18.5 x 10-5 wt%) with curing times (τ) of 26.7 to 57.7 s. On the other hand, the values of D for the AgNWs composites were between 6.6 x 10-8 and 36.6 x 10-8 m2/s (4.1 to 16.5 x 10-5 wt%) with curing times (τ) of 482.9 s to 1650.9 s (4.1 to 12.8 x 10-5 wt%). Scaffolds were 3D printed with a lithographic printer prototype whose experimental variables were optimized using an experimental design (DOE). Characterization techniques as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–vis spectroscopy were used to determine AgNPs, AgNWs and resin's morphology, physical and chemical aspects. Shore hardness D tester was used to analyze the scaffolds mechanical behavior with a linear increase for the AgNPs composites and non-linear trend for the AgNWs composites. From the results, an improvement and optimization of the thermal diffusivity, mechanical properties and curing time of the new nanocomposites was obtained with the increase in concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tendon dry needling is a potential treatment for tendinopathies. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain its underlying mechanisms. No studies (to the best of our knowledge) have investigated changes in gene expression. Objective To investigate histological and gene expression changes after the application of dry needling to the healthy Achilles tendons of rats. Methods Six Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into two groups: no intervention or dry needling. Dry needling consisted of three sessions (once per week) to the Achilles tendon. Molecular expression of several genes involved in tendon repair and remodeling (e.g. Cox2 , Mmp2 , Mmp9 , Col1a1 , Col3a1 , Vefg , and Scx) was assessed 7 days after the last needling session (day 28) or 28 days after for the no-intervention group. Histological tissue changes were determined with hematoxylin-eosin analyses. Results The hematoxylin-eosin–stained images revealed no substantial differences in collagen structure or the presence of inflammatory cells between the dry needling and no-intervention groups. A significant increase in the molecular expression of Cox2 , Mmp2 , Col3a1 , and Scx genes was observed in Achilles tendons treated with dry needling when compared with the no-intervention group. Conclusion This animal pilot study found that the application of dry needling to the healthy Achilles tendons of rats is able to increase the expression of genes associated with collagen regeneration and tissue remodeling of the extracellular matrix with no further histological damage to the tendon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study has been to compare the aboveground biomass (AGB) in six tropical forests in southeastern Mexico using generic and species-specific models at tree, species, and community levels. The dbh of 2,352 trees ≥10 cm was measured at 115 plots. AGB was estimated using Chave et al.'s generic model, with the most reliable specific equations extracted from the literature and online databases. Overall, we found 45 specific models applicable to 55.4% of the species present. In 30% of the species examined, there was a difference in AGB between the different methods used. Using specific equations at the community level, the estimate for AGB increased by 9.1% (x = 166.6 Mg ha−1 ± 27.5 SD) compared to the generic model alone (p < 0.04). Based on the consistency of overestimation at all sites, we concluded that for these particular tropical rainforests, applying specific models to the small proportion (≤10%) of dominant tree species (≥ 5% relative biomass) was sufficient to improve the accuracy of community level AGB estimates. This justifies increasing the number of databases of specific models particularly for highly productive rainforests. We therefore recommend that this approach be applied to provide further evidence to facilitate model choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to its current coverage, the root biomass of tropical pastures is of vital importance for the terrestrial carbon storage, but its estimation has been mainly indirect and with a very wide range of values. Objective: To document at national and global level as well as compare, the root carbon stocks extracted directly from two grasslands of different growth type and origin. Methods: The biomass and root carbon stocks were directly extracted from two tropical pastures with more than 40 yr of age. The biomass and total carbon, one native with stoloniferous growth (Paspalum notatum) and one introduced with growth in tillers (Urochloa decumbens) were measured. The study was conducted between August and October 2016. Three plots of 1 600 m2 each were selected per pasture, with 10 sub-squares (4 m2 each) in each plot to determine the floristic composition, aboveground biomass and C. The biomass and root C were estimated by hand in three trenches (1.50 m x 0.50 m x 1.0 m) per plot. The organic carbon content was determined with the ignition method at an average temperature of 550 °C for 3 hours. For the statistical analysis, a two-factor ANOVA was used, where one factor was the treatments that were the type of pasture (2) and the other factor was the section of the grass (above and belowground). Results: The floristic composition of the two types of pasture was different due to its management history. On average, 28.25 Mg ha-1 of total C was estimated for the locality. The native pasture of stoloniferous growth P. notatum yields almost three-fold more biomass (42.5 MgC ha-1) than the introduced with growth in tillers U. decumbens (14 MgC ha-1) due to the radicular storage (38.5 vs. 11.46 MgC ha-1). Seventy-four point five percent of the carbon in P. notatum was located in the radicular part and 25.5 % above-ground, while in U. decumbens 56.5 and 43.5 %, respectively. Conclusions: P. notatum accumulated more total and radicular biomass and carbon than U. decumbens. The best adaptation of the native grass as well as the morphology of its root system may explain this difference. Ninety six percent of the biomass and root C is found in the first 0.50 m depth. Due to the contribution of its radicular portion, tropical pastures can constitute important reservoirs of terrestrial carbon considering its extension nowadays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: frailty identifies a subgroup of people with higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Aims: our first aim was to determine the prevalence of frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus; our second aim was to establish which factors are associated with frailty in these patients. Material and methods: cross-sectional study in non-institutionalized people (288 patients), over 65 years of age, and diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2. Frailty was defined according to Freid's criteria. The following variables were assessed: blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, Lawton and Brody index, balance through unipodal support, and nutritional status by using the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire. Results: the prevalence of frailty syndrome was 14.6%. The frailty group showed lower systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), higher triglycerides levels (p = 0.007), and lower Lawton and Brody values (p < 0.001) than the non-frailty one; moreover, lower monopodal balance was observed with higher frailty levels (r = -0.306, p < 0.001). None frailty-subject was able to perform five seconds or more in balance (r = -0.343, p < 0.001). Moreover, higher frailty was related with poorer Mini Nutritional Assessment results (p = 0.013). Conclusion: the prevalence of frailty syndrome in patients with diabetes was higher compared with those in general population over 65 years of age. Frailty was related to lower systolic blood pressure, higher triglycerides concentrations, poorer nutritional status, and lower independency to perform instrumental activities of daily living and poorer balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model for managing human resources motivation, incorporating the observations of specialized people in the field is proposed. For this, a study was developed during five years in a leading enterprise of the mechanical engineering area. The company has business in all five continents, with more than 60,000 employees, and is active in more than 100 countries. With the results of the case studied other companies can adopt a number of measures aimed at improving the management of staff's motivation, enhancing the key success factors in the workplace. It is demonstrated that motivated workers contribute to the creation of synergies, workers' personal development, and ultimately to a better reputation of the company as a good employer. Succeeding in motivating your staff can attract highly-rated workers in the market to your organization and it can even serve as a powerful tool to retain the better valued, talented employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elaborar recomendaciones SER sobre el uso de agentes biológicos en el síndrome de Sjögren primario (SSp). Se identificaron preguntas clínicas de investigación relevantes sobre el uso de agentes biológicos en el SSp. Las preguntas clínicas se reformularon en 4 preguntas PICO. Se diseñó una estrategia de búsqueda y se realizó una revisión de la evidencia científica de estudios publicados hasta mayo de 2017. Se revisó sistemáticamente la evidencia científica disponible. Se evaluó el nivel global de la evidencia científica utilizando los niveles de evidencia del SIGN. Tras ello, se formularon recomendaciones específicas. Se recomienda rituximab como el fármaco biológico de elección para las manifestaciones extraglandulares refractarias al tratamiento convencional. Se desaconseja el uso de agentes anti-TNF. La evidencia científica es escasa con belimumab y abatacept, por lo que deberían considerarse solamente en los casos resistentes a rituximab. El rituximab es el fármaco biológico de elección en las manifestaciones graves extraglandulares del SSp. Belimumab o abatacept podrían ser de utilidad en casos seleccionados. To formulate SER recommendations for the use of biological agents in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Relevant clinical research questions were identified on the use of biological agents in pSS. The clinical questions were reformulated into 4 PICO questions. A search strategy was designed and a review of the scientific evidence of studies published until May 2017 was carried out. The scientific evidence available was systematically reviewed. The overall level of scientific evidence was assessed using the SIGN evidence levels. After that, specific recommendations were made. Rituximab is recommended as the biological agent of choice for extraglandular manifestations refractory to conventional treatment. The use of anti-TNF agents is discouraged. The scientific evidence with belimumab and abatacept is scarce, so they should be considered only in cases refractory to rituximab. Rituximab is the biological agent of choice in severe extraglandular manifestations of pSS. Belimumab or abatacept may be useful in selected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a human resource management model for the integration stage of mergers and acquisitions (M/A) process with four key factors: leadership and integration team; change and restructuring process; human resources (HR) resistance; valuable HR retention. Design/methodology/approach: The authors analyze a case study of a multinational company that operates in the mechanical engineering sector. Findings: The results show the special importance of human resource management in the success of the merger and acquisition process. And, the main actions implemented in HR contributing to the success of this process are identified. Research limitations/implications: Subsequent investigations could conduct similar analyses for the planning and implementation stages of the merger and acquisition process, with the objective of presenting a complete HR management model in merger and acquisition processes. Practical implications: The case study allows researchers to learn from professionals and business leaders while also offering a theoretical model that can help managers make decisions and improve the management of these processes. Originality/value: The main contribution of this study has been to observe how HR are managed in the integration stage of M/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The microphysics of precipitation has to be parameterized in Earth System Models (ESM), Global Circulation/Climate Models (GCMs), Cloud Resolving Models (CRMs), Regional Climate Models (RCMs), and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models since the relevant physical processes operate at centimeter scale, thus well below the finest model grid size. While more than 20 bulk microphysics schemes have been described in the literature, they all have a number of empirical values and work under a set of reasonable assumptions that treat the problems in a simplified way. This paper discusses these choices in order to present a homogenous account of the physics within the parameterizations, and illustrates how observations can help improve our present understanding of precipitation physics. The Weather and Forecasting Research model (WRF), and the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) in the Community Earth System Model (CESM) are used as prototypes of full-confidence models. This contribution can also help frame and advance research into the human-induced, ongoing climate change as those parameterizations are instrumental for the appropriate ESM modeling of future climates. Highlights • This paper provides an account of the empirical data and assumptions behind the microphysics in models. • A new scheme to describe each microphysical process is provided. • The physics can be traced back to a few papers that reveals the assumptions and empirical choices made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Law 41/2015, of 5th October, on Amending the Criminal Procedure Act for expediting the criminal justice and strengthening the procedural guarantees, introduced a new special procedure for prosecution of minor criminal cases (light or less severe penalty) through the application for the imposition of the penalty by the Public Prosecutor when certain requirements apply. This article analyzes extensively the procedure of the acceptance by decree, emphasizing those legal loopholes which need to be integrated. We considered appropriate the examination of this procedure in this exact moment, after over two years of implementation. With that in mind, we analyze the reasons that caused the failure, for the moment, in its practical application, which currently is completely residual. In this respect, we address extensively an analysis of its scope of application, the distinction with respect to other procedures, and in particular, speedy trials, reflecting the reasons for which the Public Prosecutor, the only one entitled for its proposition, does not opt for this new formula according to what has been introduced to the Criminal Procedure Act. In addition, we suggest several alternatives for the amendment of this special procedure, in pursuit of its wider application, oriented fundamentally towards its extension to crimes that imply an increased penalty, although within the scope of less severe penalties, despite of the possible difficulties it may imply with respect to the fundamental purpose of this procedure as a criminal summary payment procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study analyzes the effect of using a tablet and apps on the communication and language development of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from an educational perspective. In the first phase of this observational research, a catalog of apps was designed and created to promote the development of communication and language in a student of the open classroom at the San José de Calasanz Pre-School and Elementary School of Yecla, Murcia. Sixteen activities enriched through the use of apps and a tablet were subsequently designed, implemented and assessed. As a result of this innovative experience, the student's language prerequisites, communicative intention and behavior improved. However, the imitation of gestures and actions and the use of protodeclaratives did not improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue-eye disease (BED) of swine is a viral disease endemic in Mexico. The etiological agent is a paramyxovirus classified as Porcine rubulavirus (PoRV-LPMV), which exhibits in its envelope the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein, the most immunogenic and a major target for vaccine development. We report in this study the obtaining of ectodomain of PoRV HN (eHN) through the Pichia pastoris expression system. The expression vector (pPICZαB-HN) was integrated by displacement into the yeast chromosome and resulted in a Mut + phenotype. Expressed eHN in the P. pastoris X33 strain was recovered from cell-free medium, featuring up to 67 nmol/min/mg after 6 days of expression. eHN was recognized by the serum of infected pigs with strains currently circulating in the Mexican Bajio region. eHN induces antibodies in mice after 28 days of immunization with specific recognition in ELISA test. These antibodies were able to inhibit >80% replication by viral neutralization assays in cell culture. These studies show the obtaining of a protein with similar characteristics to the native HN and which may be a candidate to propose a vaccine or to use the antigen in a serologic diagnostic test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New kinds of services and data flows, such as cloud computing, server virtualization, or quality of service (QoS)-aware Internet services, have led to higher demands on network resources. Thus, they have also led to increased bandwidth consumption and unexpected congestion, especially in backbones. In this article a novel proposal is studied, with the aim of improving the performance of delay-sensitive flows. The congestion impact on those QoS-aware flows that require a high level of reliability and delay is analyzed. This management proposal has been implemented on multiprotocol label switching transport profile (MPLS-TP), which is a packet transport networks technology that provides QoS by means of flow differentiation in Internet backbones. In order to improve performance in congested networks, a guarantee of service is proposed. It allows local recovery of lost traffic of MPLS-TP privileged flows, and in order to fulfill the requirements for implementation on MPLS-TP, a minimum set of extensions to RSVP-TE has also been proposed to provide self-management capable routes. Finally, in this paper we have carried out a performance improvement measurement by means of an analytical model and simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there are experiences with ICT in the hospital schools. Nevertheless, there have been few studies about how technology can improve educational processes and the premises to consider. From this starting point, we present in this paper, a proposal for curriculum integration of ICT for hospital teachers. It is the main contribution of this paper along with the exhaustive analysis of previous studies. This evaluation research has tried to contribute useful knowledge to meet the needs of a real educational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new kinds of applications and technologies (e.g., data-intensive applications, server virtualization, and big data technology) has led to a higher utilization of network resources. These services imply increased bandwidth consumption and unexpected congestions, especially in backbones. In this article, a novel proposal is studied with the aim of improving the performance of prioritized forwarding equivalence classes in congested Multiprotocol Label Switching Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) domains. The congestion impact on those QoS-aware services that require high reliability and low delay is analyzed. A new policy has been implemented on MPLS-TP, which is a technology that provides QoS by means of flow differentiation in the Internet backbones. The proposal is known as Gossip-based local recovery policy and is offered as an operation, administration, and management function to allow local recovery of lost traffic for MPLS-TP privileged forwarding equivalence classes. In order to fulfill the requirements for implementation on MPLS-TP, a minimum set of extensions to resource reservation protocol traffic engineering has also been proposed to provide self-management capable routes. Finally, we have carried out a performance improvement measurement by means of an analytical model and simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The presence of low concentrations of persistent pollutants in waters (μg/L or ng/L), also called micropollutants, brings as a consequence the need to apply advanced oxidation treatments for their removal. The successful application of solar-driven photo-Fenton to treat highly polluted wastewaters (g/L and mg/L of pollutants) has prompted its application to lowly polluted effluents. However, a decrease in contaminant concentration may involve an alteration in the intrinsic process phenomenon, which until now has only been widely studied at the milligram-per-litre level or higher with this process. The aim of this research was to study the combined influence of the operating variable (iron concentration) and the environmental variable (irradiance) and application on the photo-Fenton process at pH2.8 when removing micropollutants. For this purpose, experimentation was carried out at laboratory and pilot plant scales with a biocide mixture of acetamiprid (ACTM), thiabendazole (TBZ) and imazalil (IMZ) (100μg/L each) as the model pollutant. Results indicated that above 15WUV/m2 and a light path length of 5cm (the most commonly used path for this type of application) iron concentration limited the process and there was irradiance excess under these conditions. On the other hand, and given the circumstances of irradiance excess, a higher light path length (10cm) was assessed. Results showed that path lengths wider than 5cm are recommended since more wastewater volume could be treated with a higher process rate per surface unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a world where the use of electronic communication and information systems is constantly expanding, a good user experience becomes a decisive factor for the success of a product in increasingly saturated and competitive markets. Ensuring the success of a product such as a website or a mobile application is not trivial as plenty of factors may have an influence on determining the adequacy of the experience for a given group of users. This paper uses real examples to study the concept of user experience, dealing in depth with the different factors which influence the ultimate success of a product, as well as how they must be taken into account while designing and managing interactive information systems. We also discuss the way they are supported by the different standards to improve user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances in the field of information and interactive systems mean that increasing numbers of factors and criteria are considered to assess quality during the design, development and evaluation process. In this context, concepts such as quality of use and user experience have appeared and in many cases are replacing or supplementing existing usability properties to identify the quality of the interaction process. In this paper we describe and analyze the evolution of the different concepts to identify the quality of the interaction on information systems and we help to characterize and locate each quality factor in one dimension and a specific range of the process of use, and consider the relationships and overlap between these concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the main demographic and clinical features of patients with spondyloarthropaties in Spain. Patients and methods: Review of randomized clinical charts of patients with spondyloarthropaties with at least one visit to the rheumatologist in the previous two years. Information was collected on demographic and clinical data (duration of illness, diagnostic category, disease activity, extra-articular manifestations, comorbidity and work disability). Results: 1168 patients were included in the study. Their median age was 49.2 years (39.7-60.5), 68.0% were males, and median time of disease was 105.1 months (48.4-192.5). The diagnoses and clinical data such as the BASDAI were reported only in 34.0% of the patients. The most widely used measure of metrology, the Schober test, was missing in 37.7% of the clinical charts. The patients included had the following diagnoses: ankylosing spondylitis (n=629, 55.2%), psoriatic arthritis (n=253, 22.2%), undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (n=184, 16.1%), arthritis associated to inflammatory bowel disease (n=50, 4.4%), and reactive arthritis (n=16, 1.4%). The most common extra-articular manifestations were psoriasis (20.8%), anterior uveitis (19.4%), and enthesitis (16.9%). Some kind of work disability was reported in 8.3% of the patients. Conclusions: Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with spondyloarthropaties in Spain do not differ as a whole from other published studies, except for undifferentiated spondyloarthritis, which was more likely in our patients than in other studies. The quality of the records of activity in the clinical charts could be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis of silicalite-1 layers on pyrolyzed wood bodies with a desired shape was studied. The synthesis procedure is based in an “in situ” hydrothermal treatment of a precursor gel in which the support is immersed. Two different calcination methods were carried out, using a flow of air or N2 and air. Samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analyses and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, revealing the existence of a micro/mesoporous hierarchical silicalite-1 structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many thermodynamic parameters and indices are currently being used as thunderstorm predictors because of their high correlations with the beginning and development of convection. Many of these indices have been developed for one specific area and their forecasting accuracy has generally been assessed in that zone and not in others. It is a highly intriguing question whether there are parameters or indices that may function adequately as thunderstorm predictors, as far as the Probability of Detection is concerned, irrespective of the latitude of the study zone. In order to approach this issue the present study focuses on data from 1692 sounding days in León (Spain), Zaragoza (Spain), Bordeaux (France) and Mendoza (Argentina). Specific discriminant models have already been developed for these areas. When comparing the results found by the different models constructed for each of the four study zones it may be noticed that there are no indices that function extremely well in all of the zones. Rather, a common ingredient pattern is observed for the beginning of convection): atmospheric instability and moist layers in the low atmosphere. It may also be concluded that sounding data alone are not enough to detect accurately the triggering mechanism, which is the third ingredient necessary for convection. The aim of this paper is to build a logistic equation integrating the four study zones. The stepwise method was employed with this purpose because it allows for the gradual inclusion of variables in the final equation according to their discriminating power. The results obtained suggest that Showalter Index and 850 hPa Dew Point Temperature are the variables that best characterize preconvective conditions irrespective of the geographic area considered. The values for POD (Probability of Detection) and FAR (False Alarm Ratio) are acceptable, but they are clearly lower than the ones obtained by each of the models in the study zone for which they were developed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lupus nephritis is a relevant source of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematusus. The standard therapy of remission induction in severe lupus nephritis is based on the use of monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide. Recent data have established that the maintenance of remission in lupus nephritis can be achieved with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, with less adverse effects than quarterly intravenous cydophosphamide. In recent years, a number of controlled randomized clinical trials have been published, opening new therapeutic options in the induction of remission in lupus nephritis, such as less aggressive regimens of intravenous cydophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil. Further studies are needed for establishing the optimal therapy of lupus nephritis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The newly synthesized copper coordination compound Casiopeína IIgly (Cas IIgly) is a promising alternative drug in the treatment of cancer, since it has shown cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in different tumour models. Given its enhanced effects after ascorbic acid-mediated copper reduction, Cas IIgly’s activity is thought to be related to oxidative damage. In the present work, oxidized Cas IIgly failed to induce cytosolic oxidative damage in HeLa cells (only 0.9% of the cell population), and in 2.3% of the treated cells when previously reduced, as evaluated through the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123). However, it showed cytotoxicity, since HeLa cells treated with 10–80μg/mL Cas IIgly proliferated only at 30% of their normal rate, and at 15% when treated with reduced Cas IIgly. This cytotoxicity is strongly abolished in the presence of the hydroxyl scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide. The decrease, from 3994 to 530 nanograms of reduced glutathione (GSH) per million cells after treatment with 80μg/mL Casiopeína IIgly, indicates that this drug causes the expenditure of this naturally occurring antioxidant. These results altogether suggest that, albeit Cas IIgly induced cytotoxicity is not related to cytosolic DHR 123 oxidation, it may be related to oxidative damage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fouquieria splendens ssp. breviflora is a species of the family Fouquieriaceae, growing in arid zones of México, between 700 and 2100 m above sea level (a.s.l). This species characteristically forms leaf buds under conditions of adequate water supply. The physiological response of this species was studied under varying conditions of irrigation in soil and water, using stems collected during two seasons: dry and rainy; evaluating the foliar material produced the quantity of free proline and total protein and anatomical foliar changes in the water conduction systems. This species displayed distinctive adaptive mechanisms involving the development of foliar fascicles, differentiation of vessels with formation of tracheal elements, and, metabolically, a high proline and total protein content in the stems of the dry season, showing that the responses observed in F. splendens spp. breviflora are adaptive physiological responses that take place simultaneously, being evidence of the first mechanisms of response to water-stress conditions. Thus, this species is regarded as a poikilohydric plant, as it is capable of the regulation of its metabolism during bud development when flooding events occur in the species' habitat after a prolonged dry and desiccation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]