Recent publications
Ocean warming and acidification driven by anthropogenic CO2 emissions may impact the mineral composition of marine calcifiers. Species with high skeletal Mg content could be more susceptible in polar regions due to the increased solubility of CO2 at lower temperatures. We aimed to assess the environmental influence on skeletal Mg content of Antarctic echinoderms belonging to Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuroidea classes, along a latitudinal gradient from the South Shetland Islands to Rothera (Adelaide Island). We found that all skeletal structures, except for echinoid spines, exhibited high Mg content, with asteroids showing the highest levels. Our results suggest that asteroids and holothuroids exert a higher biological capacity to regulate Mg incorporation into their skeletons. In contrast, the variability observed in the skeletal Mg content of ophiuroids and echinoids appears to be more influenced by local environmental conditions. Species-specific differences in how environmental factors affect the skeletal Mg content can thus be expected as a response to global climate change.
Introduction
Pisa syndrome (PS) is a postural abnormality that frequently manifests in various neurological disorders. In recent years, the dangers associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PS have been increasingly acknowledged, leading to heightened research efforts directed toward the treatment of PS. Nevertheless, the underlying causes of PS remain complex, and no clinically effective treatments have been established. While several studies have demonstrated the significant effects of Qigong in treating PD, there is currently no evidence to support the efficacy of Qigong in the treatment of PS.
Objective
To assess the immediate and long-term effects of Zhan Zhuang Qigong on PS in participants with PD using a rigorous randomised, parallel-control design with assignment concealment and evaluator-blinding methodologies.
Methods
60 PD participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups: conventional treatment (n=30) or Zhan Zhuang Qigong (n=30). The conventional treatment group will receive standard medications and physical therapy. The Zhan Zhuang Qigong group will receive conventional medicine plus 30 min of Zhan Zhuang Qigong practiced five times per week. The long-term effects of Qigong on PS will be evaluated after 6 months and 1 year of follow-up. Assessment tools will include the NeuroPostureApp, the B-PHY(A model of a balance testing system) balance check training system, the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and the Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire, which will measure total camptocormia, upper hump degree, Pisa angles, plantar pressure distribution, motor function and quality of life in participants with PD.
Ethics and dissemination
The local ethics committee approved this study (approval number: 2023-K068). The committee will oversee the study throughout its duration and will be notified of any protocol modifications. The results of the study will be disseminated through publication in an international journal or presentation at a conference.
Trial registration number
ChiCTR2400079696.
Background
Urbanicity is a well‐established risk factor for psychosis. Our recent multi‐national study found an association between urbanicity and clinical psychosis in Northern Europe but not in Southern Europe. In this study, we hypothesized that the effect of current urbanicity on variation of schizotypy would be greater in North‐western Europe countries than in Southern Europe ones.
Methods
We recruited 1080 individuals representative of the populations aged 18–64 of 14 different sites within 5 countries, classified as either North‐western Europe (England, France, and The Netherlands) with Southern Europe (Spain and Italy). Our main outcome was schizotypy, assessed through the Structured Interview for Schizotypy‐Revised. Our main exposure was current urbanicity, operationalized as local population density. A priori confounders were age, sex, ethnic minority status, childhood maltreatment, and social capital. Schizotypy variation was assessed using multi‐level regression analysis. To test the differential effect of urbanicity between North‐western and Southern European, we added an interaction term between population density and region of recruitment.
Results
Population density was associated with schizotypy ( β = 0.248,95%CI = 0.122–0.375; p < 0.001). The addition of the interaction term improved the model fit (likelihood test ratio: χ ² = 6.85; p = 0.009). The effect of urbanicity on schizotypy was substantially stronger in North‐western Europe ( β = 0.620,95%CI = 0.362–0.877; p < 0.001) compared with Southern Europe ( β = 0.190,95%CI = 0.083–0.297; p = 0.001).
Conclusions
The association between urbanicity and both subclinical schizotypy and clinical psychosis, rather than being universal, is context‐specific. Considering that urbanization is a rapid and global process, further research is needed to disentangle the specific factors underlying this relationship.
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Intuitionistic linear temporal logic (iLTL) has been studied extensively, especially in the last decade. It enjoys natural semantics over intuitionistic Kripke frames equipped with an order-preserving function representing the temporal dynamics, known as 'expanding models'. This leads to a logic that is known to be decidable but whose axiomatisation has long remained open. We propose an extension of iLTL with the co-implication connective of Hilbert–Brouwer logic and call it 'bi-intuitionistic linear temporal logic' (biLTL). We establish that this extension is still decidable for the class of expanding models. We moreover give a sound and complete Hilbert-style calculus for it, the first for any logic extending iLTL. As a corollary, the topological semantics for intuitionistic propositional logic cannot be extended to a topological semantics for Hilbert-Brouwer logic, which thus establishes co-implication as a distinctive feature of the Kripke semantics for bi-intuitionistic logic.
Field experiments have demonstrated that wheat mixtures differ in their ability to regulate aphid populations. To further investigate the effectiveness of wheat mixtures ( Triticum aestivum and Triticum turgidum ) in controlling aphids, we conducted both laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Specifically, we assessed the associational resistance of two wheat mixtures (Florence‐Aurora with Forment, Florence‐Aurora with Montcada), and their respective monocultures, in different stages of the aphid host selection process. We analysed aphid acceptance rate, population growth, and load under different wheat treatments. Additionally, we characterised wheat aboveground biomass and nitrogen content as important functional traits for aphid resistant. Aphid acceptance decreased in plants of cv. Forment when exposed to volatiles from undamaged Florence‐Aurora plants, whereas the other tested combinations tested had no effect. Aphids performed differently in the two mixtures: Florence‐Aurora mixed with Forment significantly reduced aphid population growth and load compared to the monocultures, whereas the combination of Florence‐Aurora with Montcada wheat had no effect on aphid performance. The plant–plant interactions also modified the analysed traits. Nitrogen content of Florence‐Aurora wheat plants was reduced when mixed with Forment wheat, which may explain the lower aphid load observed in plants of cv. Florence‐Aurora when mixed with plants of cv. Forment. However, mixing wheats with similar aboveground biomass resulted in an increase in the average biomass of plants of both cultivars which could have led to a higher aphid population. The data supports the idea of right neighbour, as the benefits of wheat mixtures for aphid control were determined by the identity of the combined plants (or species). Finally, our results suggest that associating wheats with different traits may promote facilitative interactions, which in turn enhances associational resistance, whereas the combination of wheats with similar traits may result in competitive interactions that may hinder aphid control benefits.
The past is a common setting for video games. Game makers use ruins, archaeologists, and historical characters to develop an engaging connection with the player. Entertainment-based video games are powerful experiences portraying past societies; they make ample use of archaeological content while also introducing biases and misrepresentations because they are not purposely designed to communicate how archaeologists generate this content. On the other hand, most games crafted for educational purposes do not fully exploit the potential interactivity and agency provided by video games as they focus on traditional approaches to communication such as text-based descriptions and non-interactive scenes instead of creating content-related game mechanics.
This chapter presents a project that explored a middle ground between both types of games through the integration of archaeological content within the design of the game mechanics and goals. The authors discuss the context of the initiative and follow the development process of the game, Ancestors: Stories of Atapuerca, while highlighting the delicate balance between archaeological content and game creation through aspects as diverse as theme, mechanics, artwork style, and testing. The experience suggests that Game-Based Learning approaches generate effective and playful visions of the past as long as there is an effective dialogue between the different actors of an interdisciplinary development team such as archaeologists, artists, and programmers.
Background Pisum sativum
(PS) is a universal legume plant utilized for both human and animal consumption, particularly its seeds, known as green peas. The processing of PS in food industries and households produces a significant amount of waste that needs to be valorized.
Methods
In this study, the metabolite profiles of the 70% ethanolic extracts of PS wastes, namely peels (PSP) and a combination of leaves and stems (PSLS), were investigated by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) followed by molecular networking.
Results
Different classes of metabolites were identified, being flavonoids and their derivatives, along with phenolic acids, the most abundant categories. Additionally, a comprehensive network pharmacology strategy was applied to elucidate potentially active metabolites, key targets, and the pathways involved in cytotoxic activity against breast cancer. This cytotoxic activity was investigated in MCF-7 and MCF-10a cell lines. Results revealed that PSLS extract exhibited a potent cytotoxic activity with a good selectivity index (IC50 = 17.67 and selectivity index of 3.51), compared to the reference drug doxorubicin (IC50 = 2.69 µg/mL and selectivity index of 5.28). Whereas PSP extract appeared to be less potent and selective (IC50 = 32.92 µg/mL and selectivity index of 1.62). A similar performance was also observed for several polyphenolics isolated from the PSLS extract, including methyl cis p-coumarate, trans p-coumaric acid, and liquiritigenin/ 7-methyl liquiritigenin mixture. Methyl cis p-coumarate showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cell line and the highest selectivity (IC50 = 1.18 µg/mL (6.91 µM) and selectivity index of 27.42). The network pharmacology study revealed that the isolated compounds could interact with several breast cancer-associated protein targets including carbonic anhydrases 1, 2, 4, 9, and 12, as well as aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1, adenosine A3 receptor, protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 1, and estrogen receptor 2.
Conclusion
The uncovered therapeutic potential of PSLS and its metabolite constituents pave the way for an efficient and mindful PS waste valorization, calling for further in-vitro and in-vivo research.
Graphical Abstract
This systematic review studies the emotional awareness (EA) in children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other child maltreatment (CM), and their relationship with externalizing and internalizing symptoms and protective factors. The search was performed using the PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases. The search was based on scientific studies using the follow terms: (“emotional awareness” OR “emotional intelligence”) AND (child OR adolescent OR children OR teenager) AND (abuse OR neglect OR maltreatment OR “presence of domestic violence” OR “domestic violence” OR “intimate partner violence”). Seventeen empirical studies were included, presenting a low risk of bias (82%). Four studies have explored the relationship between EA and exposition to IPV, four with sexual abuse, five with neglect, five with psychological abuse and three with physical abuse. A total of 13 articles have assessed the relationship between EA and externalizing and internalizing symptoms: three with suicidal ideation (SI), three with post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSD), two focused on addictions, three on affective symptoms, one with total externalizing symptoms, one with borderline personality disorder (BDP), one with non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and one with disordered eating behaviours and attitudes (DEBA). Studies show that abused children have lower EA and that the lower EA, the greater the presence of symptoms. A total of 10 articles have assessed the relationship between EA and protective factors such as mental health in parents, six with coping skills, one with self‐stem and one with quality of life. The main results suggest that EA could be a mediator between children exposed to IPV and other CM and internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as protective factors.
This European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guideline provides recommendations for the management of IgE‐mediated food allergy and was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Following the confirmation of IgE‐mediated food allergy diagnosis, allergen avoidance and dietary advice (with support of a specialised dietitian, if possible) together with the provision of a written treatment plan, education on the recognition of allergic symptoms and prescription of medication including adrenaline using an auto‐injector are essential. Patients with significant anxiety and requirement for coping strategies may benefit from support from a clinical psychologist. As immunomodulatory interventions, omalizumab is suggested for treatment of IgE‐mediated food allergy in children from the age of 1 and adults; and oral allergen‐specific immunotherapy is recommended for children and adolescents with peanut allergy and suggested for milk and egg allergies (generally after 4 years of age for milk and egg). Sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy are suggested for peanut allergy but are not yet available at the point of care. Future research into disease modifying treatments for IgE‐mediated food allergy are highly needed, with standardised and patient‐focused protocols and outcomes.
Nanoparticles (NPs) of high entropy materials (HEMs) have attracted significant attention due to their versatility and wide range of applications. HEM NPs can be synthesized by fragmenting bulk HEMs or disintegrating and recrystallizing them. Alternatively, directly producing HEMs in NP form from atomic/ionic/molecular precursors presents a significant challenge. A widely adopted strategy involves thermodynamically driving HEM NP formation by leveraging the entropic contribution but incorporating strategies to limit NP growth at the elevated temperatures used for maximizing entropy. A second approach is to kinetically drive HEM NP formation by promoting rapid reactions of homogeneous reactant mixtures or using highly diluted precursor dissolutions. Additionally, experimental evidence suggests that enthalpy plays a significant role in driving HEM NP formation processes at moderate temperatures, with the high energy cost of generating additional surfaces and interfaces at the nanoscale stabilizing the HEM phase. This review critically assesses the various synthesis strategies developed for HEM NP preparation, highlighting key illustrative examples and offering insights into the underlying formation mechanisms. Such insights are critical for fine‐tuning experimental conditions to achieve specific outcomes, ultimately enabling the effective synthesis of optimized generations of these advanced materials for both current and emerging applications across various scientific and technological fields.
Los estudios sobre infancia, migración y memoria se han focalizado principalmente en la perspectiva del mundo adulto o institucional y en la esfera nacional. Este artículo expone los resultados de una investigación que tiene por objetivo identificar la construcción de memoria colectiva de niños/as en torno a sus experiencias migratorias hacia Barcelona. Con un enfoque cualitativo y mediante la elaboración de cartografías se da cuenta de cómo los recuerdos se elaboran desde procesos de identidad, pertenencia y afectividad. Se aborda un análisis conjunto de memoria colectiva y migración, que aporta a la articulación de dichos campos de estudio a través de narrativas visuales de niños y niñas como protagonistas de sus experiencias. Se concluye que, en las memorias, la afectividad juega un rol central. A través de ésta, los/as niños/as subvierten las temporalidades de la infancia y construyen memorias transnacionales configuradas por identidades híbridas.
Aim
Benzodiazepine prescription is a growing phenomenon among the elderly population. However, information related to the frequency of these drugs among the elderly population attending in emergency departments (ED) and its impact over prognosis is scarce. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of benzodiazepine prescription and to analyze its association with short‐term prognosis in elderly patients attended in ED.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of the EDEN (Emergency Department Elderly in Need) cohort was conducted. This registry included all elderly patients attending in 52 Spanish EDs for any condition, between April 1st and 7th in 2019. Socio‐demographic data, comorbidities, and medication were recorded by consulting the patient's electronic health records. The assessed outcomes consisted on new ED visit, hospitalization, and mortality at 30 days after the first ED visit, associated with the use of benzodiazepines at baseline in comparison with no prescription of benzodiazepines. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses including patient's comorbidities were performed. Two sensitivity analyses were performed considering concomitant prescription of other central nervous system depressants as well as direct discharge from the ED.
Results
25 557 patients were evaluated (mean age 78 [IQR: 71–84]). 7865 (30.8%) patients were taken benzodiazepines at admission. After adjustment for comorbidities and other central nervous system drugs, benzodiazepine prescription was associated with ED revisit [OR: 1.10 (95%CI: 1.03–1.18)]. Similar results were found in the sensitivity analysis, eliminating patients with central nervous depressors [OR: 1.11 (1.03–1.25)] and patients discharged to home [OR: 1.13 (1.04–1.23)]. No association was found between the use of these drugs and new hospitalizations [OR: 0.90 (0.77–1.05)] or mortality 30 days after discharge [OR: 1.01 (0.88–1.18)]. The results held for all three outcomes in the sensitivity analyses.
Conclusion
The use of benzodiazepines is a frequent phenomenon among the elderly population attended in the ED, being associated with an increased risk of new visits to the emergency room, but not with an increased risk of 30‐day hospitalization or mortality.
We determine the strictly positive fragment QPL + ( HA ) of the quantified provability logic QPL ( HA ) of Heyting Arithmetic. We show that QPL + ( HA ) is decidable and that it coincides with QPL + ( PA ) , which is the strictly positive fragment of the quantified provability logic of of Peano Arithmetic. This positively resolves a previous conjecture of the authors described in [14]. On our way to proving these results, we carve out the strictly positive fragment PL + ( HA ) of the provability logic PL ( HA ) of Heyting Arithmetic, provide a simple axiomatization, and prove it to be sound and complete for two types of arithmetical interpretations. The simple fragments presented in this paper should be contrasted with a recent result by Mojtahedi [43], where an axiomatization for PL ( HA ) is provided. This axiomatization, although decidable, is of considerable complexity.
The immune system of newborns is underdeveloped, leaving them susceptible to infections like rotavirus (RV). Despite vaccines, RV remains a leading cause of child mortality, especially in developing countries. Maternal immunity is transferred during pregnancy and breastfeeding to the offspring providing protection against RV infection. This study aims to explore how the maternal diet can enhance the newborn's ability to fight early infections. Pregnant rats received orally Bifidobacterium breve M‐16 V and short chain galacto‐oligosaccharides (scGOS)/long chain fructo‐oligosaccharides (lcFOS). At day 5 of life pups are infected with RV and at day 8, samples are collected for the infection analysis. Pups whose mothers received the synbiotic have lower RV infection severity. The levels of immunoglobulins (Ig) IgG2c and IgA are raised in pups' plasma and digested milk, respectively. Synbiotic supplementation improves intestinal maturation and increases gene expression of immune‐related genes. In conclusion, the administration of this synbiotic to gestating and lactating mothers ameliorates the incidence and severity of the pup's diarrhea caused by the RV infection by improving their immunity.
Balancing the allocation of preschool education resources is a crucial objective within China’s preschool education reform. Our analysis focused on investigating the disparities between regions and urban-rural areas in China from 2011 to 2019, employing the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), spatial analysis, and Markov chains. The results demonstrate a gradual reduction in the gaps between regions, and a rapid decrease in urban-rural gaps. Notably, Sichuan stands out with noticeably higher urban-rural differences compared to other provinces. The dynamic evolution revealed by Markov chains illustrates a limited level of fluidity in the observed changes within preschool education resource allocation levels from 2011 to 2019, thereby indicating progression toward a higher-quality allocation process. Additionally, the steady-state formation predicted by Markov chains highlights that if the current investment strategy remains unaltered, the rural areas in middle China will become the least developed in terms of preschool education by 2025. This situation is projected to deteriorate further by 2030. Urgent attention and policy adjustments are therefore imperative to address new trends.
Enzymatic nanomotors harvest kinetic energy through the catalysis of chemical fuels. When a drop containing nanomotors is placed in a fuel-rich environment, they assemble into ordered groups and exhibit intriguing collective behaviour akin to the bioconvection of aerobic microorganismal suspensions. This collective behaviour presents numerous advantages compared to individual nanomotors, including expanded coverage and prolonged propulsion duration. However, the physical mechanisms underlying the collective motion have yet to be fully elucidated. Our study investigates the formation of enzymatic swarms using experimental analysis and computational modelling. We show that the directional movement of enzymatic nanomotor swarms is due to their solutal buoyancy. We investigate various factors that impact the movement of nanomotor swarms, such as particle concentration, fuel concentration, fuel viscosity, and vertical confinement. We examine the effects of these factors on swarm self-organization to gain a deeper understanding. In addition, the urease catalysis reaction produces ammonia and carbon dioxide, accelerating the directional movement of active swarms in urea compared with passive ones in the same conditions. The numerical analysis agrees with the experimental findings. Our findings are crucial for the potential biomedical applications of enzymatic nanomotor swarms, ranging from enhanced diffusion in bio-fluids and targeted delivery to cancer therapy.
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