University of Seville

Rice bran (RB), a by-product of rice milling, has the potential for bioplastic production. However, due to its complex composition, technological advancements are needed to transform RB into valuable products. Blending RB with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) could improve the properties of bioplastics, enabling their use in various applications and processing techniques like 3D-printing. This study developed RB/PLA blends through extrusion and injection molding, finding that increasing PLA content enhanced the mechanical properties of the materials. Thermal analysis confirmed miscibility, while microscopic analysis showed phase separation but partial compatibility between the by-product and PLA. Samples with 20 and 30 wt% RB were successfully produced using 3D-printing. While their mechanical properties are lower than those produced by injection molding (tensile strength decreased from 29 to 11 MPa), the material's suitability for this technique opens up new possibilities for RB valorization, promoting innovative and sustainable product development.

This article analyses the difficulties that 16 graduate with disabilities from 8 Spanish universities in the area of Health Sciences experienced during their academic career. It also shows how they overcame these difficulties, as well as their insight into their own resilience. This qualitative study used semi-structured and individual interviews. The results showed that the difficulties, the strategies to deal with them, and the opinions of the participants about their resilient characteristics are multiple and relate to both external and internal factors. The results reveal that participants’ voices from these Health Sciences degree contain useful strategies for the ­university community to promote the academic success of students with disabilities for the benefit of all students. Free online copies of the article: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ZIJY94JDR437UYX49RQG/full?target=10.1080/09687599.2024.2368558

The targeting of several nuclear stress-response factors by translocated cytochrome c upon genotoxic stress has been demonstrated in recent years to involve liquid-liquid phase separation. This protocol addresses the need to investigate the mechanisms and features of phase separation of the histone chaperone SET/TAF-Iβ induced by cytochrome c. We provide steps for protein purification and fluorescent labeling, condensate formation, imaging, quantification, and evaluation of their dynamics by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). This protocol can be broadly applied to other protein complexes. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Casado-Combreras et al.¹

Background Predicting long-term outcome trajectories in psychosis remains a crucial and challenging goal in clinical practice. The identification of reliable neuroimaging markers has often been hindered by the clinical and biological heterogeneity of psychotic disorders and the limitations of traditional case-control methodologies, which often mask individual variability. Recently, normative brain charts derived from extensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data-sets covering the human lifespan have emerged as a promising biologically driven solution, offering a more individualised approach. Aims To examine how deviations from normative cortical and subcortical grey matter volume (GMV) at first-episode psychosis (FEP) onset relate to symptom and functional trajectories. Method We leveraged the largest available brain normative model ( N > 100 000) to explore normative deviations in a sample of over 240 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who underwent MRI scans at the onset of FEP and received clinical follow-up at 1, 3 and 10 years. Results Our findings reveal that deviations in regional normative GMV at FEP onset are significantly linked to overall long-term clinical trajectories, modulating the effect of time on both symptom and functional outcome. Specifically, negative deviations in the left superior temporal gyrus and Broca’s area at FEP onset were notably associated with a more severe progression of positive and negative symptoms, as well as with functioning trajectories over time. Conclusions These results underscore the potential of brain developmental normative approaches for the early prediction of disorder progression, and provide valuable insights for the development of preventive and personalised therapeutic strategies.

Spiking neural P systems (SN P systems) are computing models based on the third generation of neuron models known as spiking neurons. Recent results in neuroscience highlight the importance of extrasynaptic activities of neurons, that is, features and functioning of neurons outside their synapses. Previously it was thought that signals such as neuropeptides only assist neurons, but recently such signals have been given additional importance. Inspired by recent results, we define wireless SN P systems (WSN P systems). In WSN P systems, no synapses exist: regular expressions associated with each neuron are used to decide which spikes it receives. We provide two semantics of how to “interpret” the spikes released by neurons. A specific register machine is simulated to show the different style of programming WSN P systems compared to programming standard SN P systems and other variants. This style emphasizes a trade-off: WSN P systems can be more “flexible” since they are not limited by their synapses for sending spikes; however, losing the useful directed graph structure requires careful design of rules and expressions associated with each neuron. We use linear prime number encodings in constructing the expressions and rules of the neurons to prove that WSN P systems are Turing-complete in both spike semantics.

There is no doubt that coins are of great interest to historical research, as they provide a wealth of information about the period in which they were minted. The Roman Tetrarchy (AD 294‐324) was one of the most turbulent periods in Roman history. It was characterized by power struggles between different rulers, which were reflected in the reduction of the weight and fineness of the coins. The Tomares hoard, discovered in this Sevillian town in 2016, is one of the largest hoards from this period. This paper focuses on the analysis of the metallic composition of coins from Lugdunum (current Lyon), a mint of fundamental importance in the monetary history of the Roman Empire and one of the most important of the Tetrarchy. Out of a total of 2291 coins analysed since the beginning of the study of this hoard, non‐destructive X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis has been carried out on a selection of 227 coins from this mint of Lyon. The chronology of these ranges from AD 294 to 309, a period relatively unexplored from an archaeometric point of view. The results obtained, in conjunction with the numismatic studies, provide valuable information on the historical context, the alloy used, and, more generally, the behavior of this mint, helping, among other things, to establish the chronological seriation of its issues. This work highlights the importance of the Tomares hoard as a valuable source to characterize the Roman economy in the 4th century AD.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of four full‐squat (SQ) training programs that differed in the blood flow condition [free flow (FF) versus restricted (BFR)] and in the velocity loss (VL) induced within the set (20% vs. 40%) on strength gains and muscle hypertrophy. Fifty‐two strength‐trained men followed an 8‐week (16 sessions) SQ training program from 55% to 70% 1‐repetition maximum (1RM) (FF20: n = 14; BFR20: n = 13; FF40: n = 12; BFR40: n = 13). The number of sets n = 13 per session and the inter‐set recovery periods (2 min) were matched between groups. A 50% arterial occlusion pressure was applied and maintained during the inter‐set recovery for BFR groups. The following tests were carried out before and after the training intervention: (1) cross‐sectional area of the vastus lateralis (ACSA); (2) countermovement jump; (3) progressive loading SQ test; and (4) fatigue SQ test. No significant BFR × VL × time interactions were observed. For 1RM and strength‐derived outcomes from the progressive loading test, significant VL × time interactions (p = 0.01–0.05) in favor of 20% VL groups were found. Regarding jump performance, a significant VL × time interaction (p = 0.02) also favored the 20% VL groups. A BFR × time interaction (p = 0.02) was observed in favor of the BFR condition for ACSA. Prescribing a certain level of effort through VL results in similar jump and strength performance improvements, regardless of blood flow condition, with optimal gains achieved at a moderate VL threshold (20%). Additionally, the BFR condition maximized muscle hypertrophy compared to FF, making it a valuable strategy for muscle growth.

Tourism co-creation has attracted a great deal of academic interest in recent years due to its important role in promoting the image and economic development of destinations. The emergence of new technologies has significantly changed the relationship between tourists and destinations. The main objective of this article is to visualise the structure and trends of tourism co-creation research between 2008 and 2024. Using mapping techniques, our study shows the relevance of research related to Tourism Experiences and New Technologies and, to a lesser extent, Service Domain Logic (SDL) for the period 2008 to 2024. However, three new research themes have emerged since 2016: Loyalty and Satisfaction, Hospitality and Coronavirus and Sharing Economy. The findings contribute to a broad and diverse understanding of the concept of value co-creation in the tourism industry, which can provide important insights for destination marketing organisations (DMOs) and policy makers in formulating management strategies to enhance destination branding and competitiveness.

Binocular vision function was assessed in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) without retinopathy and compared to a control group to identify potential nonstrabismic binocular vision disorders. This cross‐sectional study included 80 participants (40 T1D, 40 controls) without systemic or ocular diseases, visual impairments, medications, or prior ocular surgery. Highly repeatable tests evaluated heterophoria, the accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio, near point of convergence (NPC), fusional vergences, vergence facility, and stereoacuity. Diagnosed dysfunctions included convergence insufficiency, divergence insufficiency, basic exophoria, basic esophoria, fusional vergence dysfunction, convergence excess, and divergence excess. Individuals with T1D showed significantly farther NPC (break: 5.50 vs. 3.80 cm, p = 0.005; recovery: 8.32 vs. 5.69 cm, p < 0.001), lower near positive fusional vergence (break: 20.70 Δ vs. 24.25 Δ; recovery: 11.50 Δ vs. 14.75 Δ, p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively), reduced vergence facility (5.10 vs. 7.15 cpm, p = 0.003), and a lower AC/A ratio (3.30 vs. 4.00, p = 0.01). More participants with T1D had binocular vision parameters outside the normal range, with a higher prevalence of binocular vision disorders (p = 0.048). These findings highlight the impact of T1D on binocular vision and emphasize the need for optometric evaluations for early detection and management.

Spiking neural networks are emerging as an alternative neural network model due to their biological plausibility, energy efficiency, and built-in ability to learn from temporal dynamics. However, in order to effectively process data with rich spatial and temporal dependencies, the usual static projections (feedforward and recurrent) among layers of spiking neurons fail to represent all the information needed. Inspired by how synaptic delays affect the learning process in biological neurons, in this paper, we propose a biologically inspired attention mechanism based on spiking convolutions with learnable delayed kernel synapses. The proposed model increases temporal learning ability, attending simultaneously to spatial and temporal dynamics with few parameters required. More precisely, our main technical contributions are: (1) we add kernels to the temporal dimension to enlarge the receptive field of the convolution; (2) we time kernels activations to mimic multiple delayed times; and (3) we introduce three different pruning techniques to optimize the number of delays and parameters used. Experiments show that our method surpasses conventional spiking convolutional modules and achieves state-of-the-art results. When pruning, we show that, for some datasets or pruning techniques, removing up to 80% of the initially trained delays results in minimal performance loss, effectively reducing memory consumption and parameters required. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that learnable delayed synapses have been included in spiking convolutional layers for neuromorphic datasets classification, unlocking a new biologically inspired attention mechanism and achieving superior performance on high temporal demanding tasks.

Purpose To validate a new digital device: Optotab®+ (SmarThings4Vision) for measuring visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS). Methods A validation study was conducted involving 20 healthy subjects (aged: 18–29 years). Distance and near VA and CS were assessed using the Optotab®+ and compared with the ETDRS test and Sloan letters for distance VA, the ETDRS test and LEA numbers® near vision card for near VA and the Regan and CSV‐1000 tests for CS. Results No significant differences were noted between the right eye (RE) and left eye (L for distance (p > 0.99) and near VA (p = 0.32) or test–retest measurements (p > 0.05) using the Optotab®+. Distance VA differed significantly from the ETDRS (mean differences: −0.07 and −0.07 logMAR for the RE and LE, respectively, p = 0.01). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) indicated moderate reliability (RE: 0.64, LE: 0.48), while the ANOVA showed no significant differences (p = 0.75 for RE and p = 0.58 for LE). For CS, no significant differences were found between the RE and LE, except at 12 cpd (p = 0.04). ICC was highest at 18 cpd (0.90). A significant test–retest difference was observed at 6 cpd for the RE (0.10 log units, p = 0.01). Comparisons showed significant differences at 6 cpd between Optotab®+ and the CSV‐1000, and at 3, 12 and 18 cpd between Optotab®+ and the Regan test. ICC indicated low to high reliability across spatial frequencies, while the ANOVA did not show significant differences or low variability. No significant inter‐examiner differences were identified in VA and CS (p > 0.05), confirming strong reproducibility. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the Optotab®+ has moderate reliability for VA assessment and higher precision at higher spatial frequencies for CS, suggesting its clinical utility. Outcomes regarding reliability, repeatability and reproducibility support its validity as an effective tool for measuring visual parameters in clinical practice.

The Nernst heat theorem is proven from purely thermodynamic arguments connected with the second law of thermodynamics. The proof stipulates that T=0 T = 0 is formalized by a Carnot thermometer, and is independent of the vanishing of the specific heats, or the unattainability of the zeroth isotherm. With this proof, the second law of thermodynamics would extend its applicability, and the third postulate of thermodynamics would be narrowed to the fact that the entropy of a finite density, chemically homogeneous body must not be negative.

The aim of this work is to analyze Akkadian medical diagnosis by examining the reasoning involved in the process. The analysis highlights the importance of uncertainty in the timeline of inference. While prognosis pertains to the future, diagnosis concerns something different; it relates to what has already occurred. It is proposed that the analysis would be incomplete without considering the roles of both the past and present within the inferential framework. Ancient medical diagnosis must be understood by accounting for the entire reasoning structure, which is not captured in a single text, for which reason it is necessary to analyze both the diagnostic and therapeutic kind. This work draws on translations of these texts by Assyriologists. Ancient medical science needs to be studied from multiple perspectives, and the logic and philosophy of science can help to gain a better understanding of its practice and methodology.

Purpose To develop a multidisciplinary consensus outlining key recommendations to prevent fragility fractures and improve care through coordinated efforts across healthcare sectors. Methods An international group of experts, coordinated by the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (RNFC), engaged over 300 professionals and 31 scientific societies. Using a nominal group technique, the committee reviewed scientific evidence and collaboratively developed ten core recommendations. The consensus was refined through multiple telematic reviews and finalized at the 7th RNFC Annual Meeting in March 2024. Results The consensus presents ten actionable recommendations: (1) inclusion of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in health policies, (2) early detection and management of frailty and falls, (3) implementation of clinical practice guidelines, (4) promotion of fracture registries and audits, (5) support for Orthogeriatric Units and Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), (6) adoption of a “Fragility Fracture Code,” (7) empowerment of Primary Care in fracture prevention, (8) increased patient association involvement, (9) public awareness campaigns, and (10) promotion of research including patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions Fragility fractures are a major public health issue with rising incidence, disability, and healthcare costs. This consensus offers unified, evidence-based guidance for policy makers, healthcare professionals, and patient organizations. Broad dissemination and implementation of these recommendations aim to reduce fracture rates and enhance patient outcomes through coordinated, multidisciplinary care.

Diabetic retinopathy is a dangerous eye anomaly that may cause vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes (more than 500 million adults in 2021). This study presents a novel approach to diabetic retinopathy grading using explainable deep learning techniques to create a diagnosis aid tool that provides a fully detailed final report with alternative explanations for the result. This is clear novelty over existing solutions. The proposed approach is based on an ensemble of two very efficient deep learning networks: efficientNetV2 and ConvNeXt. This deep learning model is evaluated using a public available dataset and compared with the results obtained from previous works. Also, explainable deep learning techniques are applied to present the final report. The architecture is capable of achieving state-of-the-art performance for both the two-class problem and the five-class international clinical diabetes retinopathy (ICDR) classification problem. This work achieves a 96.7% accuracy and an AUC over 96% for all classes. The ensemble provides explainability records which are significantly improved when compared with those obtained from a single network. The ensemble architecture provides good quality explanations to the ophthalmologist with several configurable superimposed heat maps and two probabilityordered diagnostic suggestions, including a quality factor indicating the estimation of the probability ratio between the alternatives. This makes it a valuable diagnostic assistance tool for ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals. This study introduces a novel approach to diabetic retinopathy (DR) grading, utilizing explainable deep learning techniquesto create a diagnostic aid tool. The system provides a detailed final report with alternative explanations, which is a clear advancement over existing solutions. Our method is based on an ensemble of two highly efficient deep learning networks: EfficientNetV2 and ConvNeXt. This ensemble approach achieves a 96.7% accuracy and an AUC over 96% for the ICDR classification problem, outperforming single-network models in both accuracy and explainability. The system offers ophthalmologists configurable heat maps and probability-ordered diagnostic suggestions, making it a valuable diagnostic tool.

In this work, we investigate the relativistic quantum motion of spin–zero scalar bosons via the Duffin–Kemmer–Petiau (DKP) equation with a position–dependent mass (PDM) system in the background of the topological defect space–time produced by a cosmic string. We determine the radial wave equation and obtain the exact analytical solutions of the wave equation for the linear and Cornell–type potential through the Bi–Confluent Heun differential equation. In fact, we have obtained the ground state energy for both potentials.

Episodes of cyberbullying victimisation have serious consequences among adolescents, which worsen when their involvement is perpetuated over time. It is therefore important to understand what factors lead to long-term cybervictimisation to prevent it. This one-year longitudinal study examines significant socioemotional factors in the origin and dynamics of cybervictimisation, not yet jointly explored in its perpetuation. Participants were 427 Spanish 7th -, 8th -, 9th - and 10th -grade students (52.9% boys, 46.8% girls, 0.2% other), aged 12–17 ( M age = 13.08, SD = 1.01). Adolescents completed a series of self-reported questionnaires assessing peer pressure, anger dysregulation, and cybervictimisation. The results revealed that: (a) of the total sample, 5.6% were cybervictims only at T1 and 8.0% only at T2, and 3.6% were long-term cybervictims; (b) all variables were significantly and positively correlated at T1 and T2, except cybervictimisation at T1 and anger dysregulation at T2; (c) scores varied according to gender and age; and (d) peer pressure can increase the risk of long-term cybervictimisation, specifically in cases where anger dysregulation levels are moderate or low. The results highlight the importance of considering moderating mechanisms involved in increasing the risk of long-term cybervictimisation as well as the need to promote positive peer group dynamics and emotion management to avoid perpetuating the problem.

We investigate Pareto equilibria for bi-objective optimal control problems. Our framework comprises the situation in which an agent acts with a distributed control in a portion of a given domain, and aims to achieve two distinct (possibly conflictive) targets. We analyze systems governed by linear and semilinear heat equations and also systems with multiplicative controls. We develop numerical methods relying on a combination of finite elements and finite differences. We illustrate the computational methods with several experiments.

Recent studies combining electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) have shown promising results linking neural and vascular responses. This study analyzes the topographical effect of auditory stimulus intensity on cortical activation and explores neurovascular coupling between fNIRS hemodynamic signals and auditory-evoked potentials (AEPs), extracted from EEG. Forty healthy volunteers (13 males, 27 females; mean age = 22.27 ± 3.96 years) listened to complex tones of varying intensities (50-, 70-, and 90-dB SPL) across seven frequencies (range of 400–2750 Hz) in blocks of five, while EEG and fNIRS were recorded. PERMANOVA analysis revealed that increasing intensity modulated hemodynamic activity, leading to amplitude changes and enhanced recruitment of auditory and prefrontal cortices. To isolate stimulus-specific activity, Spearman correlations were computed on residuals—components of AEPs and fNIRS responses with individual trends removed. The N1 amplitude increase was correlated with higher superior temporal gyrus (STG) and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) activity, and reduced activity in inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) for the oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO), while the deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR) was associated with increased activity in one channel near the Supramarginal Gyrus (SMG). P2 amplitude increase was associated with higher activation in SFG and IFG for HbO, while for HbR with the activity in SMG, angular gyrus (AnG), SFG, and IFG. Additionally, internal correlations between fNIRS channels revealed strong associations within auditory and frontal regions. These findings provide insights into existing models of neurovascular coupling by showing how stimulus properties, such as intensity, modulate the relationship between neural activity and vascular responses.