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Temporal dynamics of inflammatory, platelet, and neurotrophic markers during social stress in relation to suicidal ideation and suicide attempt history
Get PDFInterpersonal stress is a major precipitant of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA), yet the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined dynamic plasma concentrations of inflammatory, platelet activation, and neurotrophic markers during acute social stress in 76 depressed women (mean age: 39.7 ± 1.39 years) with and without SA history or recent SI. Participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test, with biomarkers measured at five time points before, during, and after the stressor. Covariate-adjusted growth curve models and area under the curve analyses were applied. SI was associated with elevated overall TNF-α levels (0.82 ± 0.05 vs. 0.61 ± 0.05, p = 0.039). Participants without SI showed cubic trajectories in TNF-α (t228 = 4.76, p < 0.001) and MIP-1β (t235 = 2.12, p = 0.035), and quadratic trajectories in platelet markers TSP-1 (t274 = −2.42, p = 0.016), PF-4 (t274 = −2.25, p = 0.025), and NAP-2 (t274 = −2.43, p = 0.016), which were absent in participants with SI. Cubic patters in inflammatory responses were also observed in participants without SA history, but not in suicide attempters (TNF-α: t228 = 3.15, p = 0.030; MIP-1β: t235 = 2.74, p = 0.007). Meanwhile, participants with SI or SA, but not those without, showed a linear BDNF increase (t275 = 2.39, p = 0.017; t275 = 2.28, p = 0.024, respectively). These findings suggest that SI and SA may be associated with impaired dynamic immune-inflammatory, platelet, and neurotrophic systems responses to acute interpersonal stress, reflecting systemic biological rigidity
From anthropological transfer to children's emotional health through motor stories
Get PDFAnthropology, in its various branches, explores human evolution and behavior in both biological and social contexts. The development of the prefrontal cortex, which occurs significantly during childhood and adolescence, is closely linked to the formation of executive functions and the establishment of the basis for future behavior. In this context, the social and educational environment, ranging from family to school, plays a crucial role in shaping the aspirations and vocations of young people. Reading, especially in the early stages of development, presents itself as a powerful tool that can foster interest in science and medicine. This article explores how the interaction between physical anthropology, child cognitive development, and literature can contribute to cultivating scientific vocations through children’s narratives. The aim of this research is to encourage medical vocation in children, combining reading and physical anthropology by introducing historical characters, such as the “Roman legionaries” who inhabited Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza, Spain) in the 2nd century A.D., through a motor story aimed at schoolchildren. This approach is used as a scientific transfer tool to generate greater interest in the medical and anthropological field among children. As a result of this proposal, a book entitled “Maripi: the scientific gladiator” has been created and edited, which will be implemented in the early childhood education classroom after its publication. This book will not only narrate the experiences and the context of the Roman legionaries, but it is also designed to capture the attention of children and stimulate their curiosity about medicine. From this work it is concluded that reading at early ages can be a facilitating element for science, in this case physical anthropology, to contribute to enhance medical vocations in the youngest and also as a resource for transferring scientific knowledge to the youngest
Non-renewable and renewable exergy costs of water electrolysis in hydrogen production
Get PDFHydrogen production via water electrolysis and renewable electricity is expected to play a pivotal role as an energy carrier in the energy transition. This fuel emerges as the most environmentally sustainable energy vector for non-electric applications and is devoid of CO2 emissions. However, an electrolyzer’s infrastructure relies on scarce and energy-intensive metals such as platinum, palladium, iridium (PGM), silicon, rare earth elements, and silver. Under this context, this paper explores the exergy cost, i.e., the exergy destroyed to obtain one kW of hydrogen. We disaggregated it into non-renewable and renewable contributions to assess its renewability. We analyzed four types of electrolyzers, alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), proton exchange membrane (PEM), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), and anion exchange membrane (AEM), in several exergy cost electricity scenarios based on different technologies, namely hydro (HYD), wind (WIND), and solar photovoltaic (PV), as well as the different International Energy Agency projections up to 2050. Electricity sources account for the largest share of the exergy cost. Between 2025 and 2050, for each kW of hydrogen generated, between 1.38 and 1.22 kW will be required for the SOEC-hydro combination, while between 2.9 and 1.4 kW will be required for the PV-PEM combination. A Grassmann diagram describes how non-renewable and renewable exergy costs are split up between all processes. Although the hybridization between renewables and the electricity grid allows for stable hydrogen production, there are higher non-renewable exergy costs from fossil fuel contributions to the grid. This paper highlights the importance of non-renewable exergy cost in infrastructure, which is required for hydrogen production via electrolysis and the necessity for cleaner production methods and material recycling to increase the renewability of this crucial fuel in the energy transition
Análisis de la carga técnica de un equipo profesional femenino en Colombia durante competición
Get PDFIntroducción: el fútbol femenino presenta un amplio crecimiento y desarrollo global; el monitoreo y el control de los diferentes componentes del entrenamiento es más frecuente. En este sentido, la carga técnica, su control y evaluación es una de las novedades. Objetivo: analizar la carga técnica de un equipo profesional femenino en Colombia durante la competición. Materiales y métodos: la población evaluada fueron 16 jugadoras de un equipo profesional femenino; se utilizó el dispositivo Playermaker Elite, para obtener los datos referentes a la carga técnica y, a través de esta plataforma, se extrajeron y se procesaron los datos presentados durante la fase de grupo regular, por las jugadoras del equipo profesional. Resultados y discusión: los datos muestran una descripción en cuanto a la carga técnica. Se observan diferencias significativas en los goles anotados, con una leve diferencia en cantidad de contactos en juegos perdidos y empatados, con relación a juegos ganados; además, se presenta una diferencia marcada en cuanto a cantidad de contactos con la pierna derecha, con relación a la pierna izquierda, entendiéndose que hay una predominancia por este perfil. Conclusiones: el análisis de la carga técnica durante la competencia es fundamental para adecuar los procesos de entrenamiento, según las necesidades de los deportistas; la cantidad de toques, según el contexto, puede indicar una dinámica y predisposición por parte del equipo ante las situaciones cambiantes del juego. Además, los datos de carga técnica permiten a los técnicos un mayor control del entrenamiento y la competición de los deportistas
The role of biogenic waste composition on pyrolysis: Part II – Char CO2 adsorption capacity
No full textThe CO2 adsorption capacities (AC) of biochars obtained at 350, 550, and 750 °C from the main organic (cellulose, lignin, and protein) and inorganic (CaCO3) macro-components of biogenic waste, as well as from co-digested manure (CDM), have been determined for different CO2 concentrations (2–83 vol%) at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. CO2 adsorption isotherms have been determined using two different experimental methodologies: thermogravimetric and fixed-bed dynamic adsorption tests, yielding similar results. The composition effect has been analyzed by comparing the adsorption performance of the chars derived from individual macro-components and the potential interactions occurring during their co-pyrolysis. Lignin and cellulose-derived chars showed higher CO2 retention (≈77 mg gbiochar−1) than those produced from protein (≈40 mg gbiochar−1). Pyrolyzed CaCO3 exhibited negligible CO2 adsorption. For surrogate_CDM chars, prepared at pyrolysis temperatures high enough to decompose CaCO3 in the organic matrix, experimental results showed a synergistic effect, with AC between 14 % and 47 % higher than theoretical predictions. This decomposition promoted the reverse Boudouard reaction and enhanced char microporosity. However, the improvement was insufficient to offset the dilution effect caused by the high CaCO3 content. AC results have been discussed based on the biochar textural and chemical properties, with ultramicroporosity being the key factor determining adsorption capacity. The AC of CDM-derived sorbents is similar to that of cellulose-derived, expressed per gram of waste (7–13 mg gwaste−1). Furthermore, the biochars retained at least 80 % of their initial AC after 3 adsorption-desorption cycles, indicating their potential for stable CO2 capture
Evaluation of post-transfer fertility of vitrified goat morulae and blastocysts using an innovative protocol in micropipette tips
No full textIn 2022, we developed an innovative protocol consisting of three vitrification solutions with the addition of sucrose to vitrify goat embryos in micropipette tips (S-VitriTip) and obtained promising in vitro results. However, to date, this protocol has not been tested in vivo in recipient females. The study aimed to evaluate the embryo survival and post-transfer fertility of goat morulae and blastocysts vitrified by the S-VitriTip protocol. Embryo recovery from donor goats (n = 23) was carried out on Days 8 and 9 after sponge removal. Immediately after recovery, morulae and blastocysts were vitrified using the S-VitriTip protocol. Briefly, all embryos were exposed to three different increasing solutions of cryoprotectants (glycerol, ethylene glycol, sucrose), loaded into micropipette tips and stored in liquid nitrogen. After warming, embryos were transferred in pairs into recipient goats (n = 47); morulae and blastocysts were transferred on the same day they were recovered, either Day 8 or Day 9 after sponge removal. On day 25 after embryo transfer, ultrasound diagnosis was performed. No significant differences were observed on embryo survival nor on post-transfer fertility according to embryo stage or day of embryo recovery (42 and 50 %, respectively; P > 0.05). Embryo survival and post-transfer fertility of vitrified morulae of 30 % and 40 % were obtained, highlighting our study as one of the first to report efficient reproductive rates through the in vivo transfer of cryopreserved goat morulae, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of this innovative vitrification protocol
Directed ratchet transport in starlike networks of driven damped pendula by localized symmetry-breaking-inducing excitations
Get PDFWe study the effectiveness of locally controlling the breakage of a significant space-time symmetry by zeroaverage periodic excitations at inducing and suppressing directed ratchet transport (i.e., that induced without an applied net bias) and chaos in starlike networks of driven damped pendula. While the emergence of chaos mainly depends upon the impulse transmitted by the periodic excitations, directed ratchet transport does upon a subtle balance between energy transmitted through the pendula via excitations’ impulse and degree of symmetry breaking, thus defining a physicalcriticalityscenario. Optimal enhancement of directed ratchet transport is found to occur when the waveform of the periodic excitation matches as closely as possible to a universal waveform when all nodes are homogeneously driven. In the case of networks with heterogeneous distributions of the symmetry breaking, the net ratcheting effect of increasing the effective breakage by periodic excitations acting on a number of particular nodes strongly depends upon their number and degree of connectivity as well as the coupling strength, while showing self-organized criticality with respect to the maximum strength of directed ratchet transport
Advancing Sustainability Through Industrial Symbiosis: A Technoeconomic Approach Using Material Flow Cost Accounting and Cost–Benefit Analysis
Get PDFIndustrial symbiosis (IS) involves transferring waste materials and/or energy flows between stakeholders to enhance resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. The success of these transactions depends on supply–demand matching, technical feasibility of waste integration into industrial processes, economic savings, and compliance with legal and environmental regulations. This paper presents a methodology for the technoeconomic assessment of IS projects, integrating material flow cost accounting (MFCA) and cost–benefit analysis (CBA) incorporating CAPEX and OPEX considerations. MFCA, traditionally used to identify hidden costs from inefficiencies, is adapted here to assess resource utilisation across industry networks. The methodology is applied to two real-world demo cases: a novel fertiliser production process in Escombreras (Spain), where IS focuses on process optimisation and by-product valorisation, and an IS process design in Frövi (Sweden), where CO2 and residual energy flows are exchanged between industrial sectors. The results demonstrate the potential of MFCA-CBA integration to enhance decision making in IS implementation. In Spain, process optimisation led to a 50% reduction in operating costs, whereas, in Sweden, CO2 reutilisation resulted in a 30% increase in resource efficiency. These findings highlight the economic and environmental benefits of IS and provide insights into cost allocation and pricing strategies
Brief screening tools to facilitate referral of people with emotional disorders in primary care: A Cohort Study on the use of the Overall Depression and Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scales
Get PDFEmotional disorders (EDs) represent a significant volume of consultations in Primary Care (PC), where family physicians do not have the time or tools to assess them effectively. Therefore, individuals are referred to Mental Health Units (MHUs) regardless of the severity of their symptoms. The aim of this study is to explore the screening ability of two brief measures, ODSIS and OASIS. A cohort study was conducted with 256 individuals referred from PC to Spanish MHUs with a main diagnosis of EDs. The variables assessed at pre-psychological treatment, post and up to the 15-month follow-up were anxiety, depression, neuroticism, extraversion, quality of life, interference, and emotional regulation. Participants were retrospectively divided into three groups based on their baseline scores on the severity and interference of depressive (ODSIS) and anxious (OASIS) symptomatology. The results showed statistically significant differences between the three groups in all variables and times assessed, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (η² values between 0.42 and 0.95). Similar results were obtained in the linear mixed models, a main effect of the variable “group” was observed in all variables with effect sizes ranging from small to medium (Cohen’s d values between 0.20 and 0.49). However, no “Time*Group” interaction effects were found (except for ODSIS and neuroticism), nor Time*Group*Sessions* so no different evolution was observed over time between groups or based on the number of sessions. ODSIS and OASIS allow an easy and effective discrimination of individuals regarding their emotional symptoms and their differences remain stable over time while receiving a psychological treatment. Trial NCT03064477 (March 10, 2017)