University of Salamanca

This study focused on a detailed mineralogical and crystal-chemical analysis of Mg-smectites from four bentonite samples from Turkey. Mg-rich smectites, mainly associated with alkaline and evaporitic depositional conditions, are formed in environments such as salt lakes, brine springs, and sabkhas, as well as in hydrothermal systems, in some cases by transformation from other phyllosilicates. Saponite has also been documented on the surface of Mars. The systems that produce Mg-smectites are less common than those that produce dioctahedral Al-smectites and consequently Mg-rich smectites are less abundant than dioctahedral smectites. For this reason, information on nanoscale mineralogy and crystal chemistry of Mg-smectites is relatively lacking. In this study, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and electron microscopy were used to study Mg-smectites. The crystal chemistry of single crystals determined with analytical electron microscopy in transmission electron microscopy (AEM-TEM) revealed that all samples had notable variability in the composition of individual crystals, such that no point analysis resulted in ideal structural formulae for saponite, stevensite, sepiolite, or palygorskite. They contain SiO 2 content greater than that corresponding to a Mg-smectite, even stevensite, and often are intermediate to Mg-smectites and the sepiolite-palygorskite series. Meanwhile, the number of octahedral cations is small for fibrous clay minerals. Neither the point analysis of smectitic particles nor the mean structural formula fit properly for Mg-smectites showing crystallochemistry complexity. The results of these point analyses, in which no contamination has been observed, suggest that these smectites have intermediate compositions between trioctahedral smectites and sepiolite-palygorskite, indicating nanometer-scale intergrowths of these minerals in Mg-rich clay deposits.

Familial Platelet Disorder with associated Myeloid Malignancy (FPDMM, FPD/AML, RUNX1‐FPD), caused by monoallelic deleterious germline RUNX1 variants, is characterized by bleeding diathesis and predisposition for hematologic malignancies, particularly myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Clinical data on FPDMM‐associated AML (FPDMM‐AML) are limited, complicating evidence‐based clinical decision‐making. Here, we present retrospective genetic and clinical data of the largest cohort of FPDMM patients reported to date. We describe 159 European patients (from 94 families) of whom 134 were evaluable for the development of malignant disease. Sixty developed a hematologic malignancy (44.8%), most frequently AML (36/134, 26.9%) or MDS (18/134, 13.4%). Somatic alterations of RUNX1 by gene mutation (48%) and chromosome 21 aberrations (14.3%) were the most common somatic genetic aberrations in FPDMM‐AML, followed by FLT3‐ITD mutations (24.1%). Somatic RUNX1 and FLT3‐ITD mutations were not detected in FPDMM‐associated MDS, suggesting important contributions to leukemic transformation. Remission‐induction chemotherapy resulted in complete remission in 80% of FPDMM‐AML patients with a 5‐year overall survival (OS) of 50.4%. Survival outcome was non‐inferior compared to a large cohort of newly diagnosed adult RUNX1‐mutated AML (5‐year OS 36.6%, p = 0.5), with relatively infrequent concurrent adverse risk somatic aberrations (ASXL1 mutation, monosomal karyotype, monosomy 5/del 5q) in FPDMM‐AML. Collectively, data support the notion that step‐wise leukemic evolution in FPDMM is associated with distinct genetic events and indicate that a substantial subset of FPDMM‐AML patients achieves prolonged survival with conventional AML treatment, including allogeneic stem cell transplant. These findings are anticipated to inform personalized clinical decision‐making in this rare disorder.

Background Different techniques have been proposed to reduce the incidence of the intraoperative bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Among these, Near-Infrared Fluorescence Cholangiography (NIFC) with Indocyanine Green (ICG) represents a relatively recent addition. At present, there is considerable variation in the protocols for the administration of ICG. Methods The aim of this randomized multicenter clinical trial (RCT) is to ascertain whether there are differences between the dosage and administration intervals of ICG, with a view to optimizing a good-quality NIFC during LC. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted to determine the potential impact of different factors on the outcomes of this technique. The trial was approved by the local institutional Ethics Committee. Results From June 2022 to June 2023, 200 patients were randomized in four arms (G1: 2.5 mg ICG > 3 h prior to surgery, G2: 2.5 mg ICG 15–30 min prior to surgery, G3: 0.05 mg/kg ICG > 3 h prior to surgery and G4: 0.05 mg/kg ICG 15–30 min prior to surgery). We found differences in the DISTURBED score between the groups (p < 0.001), suggesting that ICG administration 15–30 min before surgery was worse than administration > 3 h after LC (p = 0.02). Additionally, it was observed that body mass index (BMI), gender, ASA Classification System, previous liver and biliary disease and the type of surgery had influence on NIFC. Finally, the NIFC had an impact in intraoperative and postoperative complications, operative time and hospital length of stay. Conclusions The administration of ICG > 3 h improve liver background fluorescence in the NIFC during LC. There are different factors may affect NIFC results (BMI, ASA grade, previous liver disease, presence of gallbladder inflammation and type of surgery). Finally, high-quality NIFC was associated with fewer surgical complications, shorter surgical time and shorter length of hospital stay.

In various areas of science, researchers try to gain insight into important processes by jointly analysing different data-sets containing information regarding common aspects of these processes. For example, to explain individual differences in personality, researchers collect, for the same set of persons, data regarding behavioural signatures (i.e., the reaction profile of a person across different situations), on the one hand, and traits or dispositions, on the other hand. To uncover the processes underlying such coupled data, to all N-way N-mode data blocks simultaneously a global model is fitted, in which each data block is represented by an N-way N-mode decomposition model (e.g., principal component analysis [PCA], Parafac, Tucker3) and the parameters underlying the common mode are required to be the same for all data blocks this mode belongs to. To estimate the parameters underlying the common mode, a simultaneous strategy is used that pools the information present in all data blocks (i.e., data fusion). In this paper, we propose the T3-PCA model, which represents three-and two-way data with Tucker3 and PCA respectively. This model is less restrictive than the already proposed LMPCA model in which the three-way data block is decomposed according to a Parafac model. To estimate the T3-PCA model parameters, an alternating least-squares algorithm is proposed. The superior performance of the simultaneous T3-PCA strategy over a sequential strategy (i.e., estimating common parameters This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Objective To quantify the mortality risk in a large, well-characterized cohort of Sjögren's disease (SjD) patients and to identify independent predictors of mortality in this population. Methods We included 314 patients diagnosed with SjD according to the 2002 American-European Consensus Group criteria from a prospective, multicenter SjögrenSER-PROS cohort. Detailed data on systemic manifestations, serological markers, disease activity, and mortality was collected after 9 years of follow up. The primary outcome was overall mortality, secondary analyses aimed to identify independent predictors of mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated by comparing the observed deaths in the SjD cohort to the expected deaths in an age- and sex-matched general population. Results The study identified a 70% increased mortality risk in the SjD cohort compared to the general population, with a standard mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.7. Infections (35.71%), malignancies (23.8%), and cardiovascular disease (7.14%) were the most common causes of death. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (HR 1.11 per year, 95% CI 1.05-1.17), C4 hypocomplementemia (HR 3.75, 95% CI 1.52-9.24), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.03), history of heart failure (HR 4.24, 95% CI 1.89-9.51), and pulmonary involvement (HR 3.31, 95% CI 1.48-7.41) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion This study shows a significantly increased mortality risk in SjD, with infections, malignancies, and cardiovascular disease as leading causes of death. Independent predictors of mortality include advanced age, C4 hypocomplementemia, elevated ESR, heart failure, and pulmonary involvement, underscoring the need for proactive, individualized management.

One of the primary drawbacks of organic materials, compared to their inorganic counterparts in various optoelectronic applications, is their lower charge generation efficiency, which stems from their inherently higher exciton binding energy. Therefore, new out-of-the-box approaches need to be introduced to the field. Herein, we propose a new approach to increase the charge formation of naphthalenediimide (NDI) derivatives by inducing a large torsional angle between the NDI core and the core-attached substituent, deconjugating the resulting extended π-system. To study the extent of this change, transient absorption spectroscopy characterisation has been performed on a set of derivatised NDI molecules where the core-attached substituents have been systematically altered to modulate the resulting torsional angle. The data clearly shows an enhanced charge generation with core-attached substituents from phenyl to anthracenyl which increase in both size and degree of rotational inhibition. This opens the possibility for a new family of NDI materials with implications for a wide range of applications such as photovoltaics, transistors and catalysis.

Dielectric waveguides are widely recognized as excellent and versatile components for integrated multifunctional photonic chips, thanks to their strong optical confinement capabilities. In this study, we present a novel semi-tapered depressed-cladding waveguide structure, designed and fabricated using femtosecond laser direct writing technology. The optical guiding performance of this semi-tapered waveguide is systematically analyzed by characterizing its loss characteristics. Leveraging the high gain and superior laser performance of the semi-tapered waveguide platform, we successfully demonstrate an efficient vortex waveguide laser. Moreover, we achieve a stable Q-switched vortex laser with short pulse duration and high repetition rate by utilizing an Sb2Te3 thin film as a saturable absorber. This work exemplifies the potential for developing three-dimensional waveguides for on-chip integrated pulsed lasers.

Obesity poses a global health challenge, demanding a deeper understanding of adipose tissue (AT) and its mitochondria. This study describes the role of the mitochondrial protein Methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ/DnaJC15) in orchestrating brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. Here we show how MCJ expression decreases during obesity, as evident in human and mouse adipose tissue samples. MCJKO mice, even without UCP1, a fundamental thermogenic protein, exhibit elevated BAT thermogenesis. Electron microscopy unveils changes in mitochondrial morphology resembling BAT activation. Proteomic analysis confirms these findings and suggests involvement of the eIF2α mediated stress response. The pivotal role of eIF2α is scrutinized by in vivo CRISPR deletion of eIF2α in MCJKO mice, abrogating thermogenesis. These findings uncover the importance of MCJ as a regulator of BAT thermogenesis, presenting it as a promising target for obesity therapy.

The market for the sale of art-NFTs is a reality, but due to their diffuse legal nature, there are many doubts about this business model from a legal perspective. This raises uncertainties as to whether it is possible to recognise a property right over the NFT as a digital asset and an online distribution rights model, where the principle of exhaustion is recognised from the intellectual property law perspective.

This article is concerned with the construction and analysis of efficient uniformly convergent methods for a class of parabolic systems of coupled singularly perturbed reaction–diffusion problems with discontinuous source term. Due to the discontinuity in the source term, the solution to this problem exhibits interior layers along with boundary layers, which are overlapping and interacting in nature. To achieve an efficient numerical solution for the coupled system under consideration, at interior points (excluding the interface point) we employ a special finite difference scheme in time (where the components of the approximate solution are decoupled at each time level) and the central difference scheme in space; for mesh points on the interface, a special finite difference scheme decoupling the components of the approximate solution is developed. A rigorous error analysis is provided, establishing the method’s uniform convergence. In terms of computational cost, our numerical methods are more efficient than existing approaches for solving this class of problems. Finally, we provide numerical results to substantiate the theory and showcase the efficiency of our methods.

Currently, companies face several challenges and are increasingly concerned about human capital, particularly after the pandemic period. Reward systems emerge as a powerful resource to influence workers’ behavior. This study systematically reviews 61 articles on reward systems in an organizational context, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and three databases were used. By limiting the year range, it was possible to confirm that there was an increase in scientific production in the post-pandemic. This research provides a significant contribution to academia and to organizations by offering deeper insights into how reward systems shape the management of intellectual capital, facilitate knowledge sharing within organizations, and foster innovation. The results also offer organizations differentiated strategies, helping them, in the current business environment, to manage their best talents more efficiently, increasing competitiveness.

The matter of Chinese economic interests in Africa creates different debates worldwide within International Relations, Security Studies, and International Business. Moving beyond the debates based on the narratives from different “blocks”, this chapter tries to ascertain the capability of the Chinese private security companies in Africa to secure Chinese interests on the continent, their advantages, and shortcomings, and where to stress the need of change. The research confronts the studies on International Business focused on the way Chinese Outward Direct Investment (ODI) manages its investments abroad (from State Own Enterprises, Multi National Enterprises or Small and Medium Enterprises), and those specifically focused on the Chinese security industry along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The conclusion highlights the importance for Chinese Private Security Companies (CPSCs) of greater managerial flexibility focus on economic aims, less ideological interference and political guidelines, clearer legal support from Beijing on their international activities and the need for the Chinese customers to allocate a higher budget to security when they invest and operate abroad.

Background In recent years, cancer survival rates have increased exponentially. However, this rise in survival comes with a significant drawback. As the number of treatment lines has grown, so too have the side effects, which can severely impact patients’ functionality and quality of life. One of the most concerning effects is dyspnoea, a serious health issue that imposes substantial limitations on individuals. While traditional clinical approaches, primarily focused on pharmacological interventions, are commonly employed to manage dyspnoea, we argue that these methods may not always provide optimal symptomatic relief. Therefore, we propose a study protocol to implement an interdisciplinary intervention for these patients. This protocol aims to enhance standard clinical practice by introducing a program of functional re-education and environmental adaptation. We believe this intervention is essential for the follow-up care of patients with respiratory conditions after hospital discharge. Methods A two-arm, randomized, parallel, controlled clinical trial will be conducted by the University of Salamanca, Spain, in collaboration with the Medical Oncology Service of the University Health Care Complex of Salamanca. The trial aims to recruit 80 oncology patients who exhibit symptoms of dyspnoea during hospital admission. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the control group, which will receive a health education program, and the experimental group, which will receive both the health education program and a functional re-education and environmental adaptation program. Assessments will be conducted at three time points: baseline (prior to hospital discharge), follow-up (15 days after discharge), and the end of the intervention (1 month after discharge). During these assessments, sociodemographic data will be collected, and the following scales will be administered: Barthel Index, Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale (mMRC), EuroQol 5-D questionnaire (EQ-5D), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and the Zarit Reduced Caregiver Burden Scale. Discussion The findings of this research can be easily implemented in clinical settings by introducing a targeted intervention to improve the quality of life for this patient population. This study aims to advance traditional clinical approaches by facilitating the recovery or adaptation of cancer patients in their daily routines, in relation to the severity of their symptoms. Our primary goal is to enhance independence and functionality, ultimately improving their overall standard of living. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov; ID: NCT06035263. Registered on: September 19, 2023. https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000DM2U&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0004OJ7&ts=6&cx=f7qqxo.

Does digital stratification foster inequalities in access to work and employment? We address this question by examining inequalities related to online job search skills and the outcomes of the online search process. Results from a representative survey of 1103 Spanish jobseekers show that online job search skills positively affect the chances of getting an interview through employment platforms but that they are unevenly distributed. Online job search skills are more important than other digital resources, including basic digital skills, in determining positive outcomes of online job searches though there are still inequalities in getting an interview independent of either. This calls for considering domain-specific digital skills both in research and in practice alongside tackling traditional inequalities.