This article presents a mathematical model that captures the temporal dynamics of efficiencies in the responses to pleasure and pain, represented by $k_P(t)$ and $k_D(t)$, as well as the interaction factor $k_{PD}(t)$ between cortisol and dopamine. The model allows for the analysis of how these parameters evolve over time as a function of an individual's activities and physiological states, incorporating processes of tolerance, sensitization, and homeostasis. We present the updated differential equations, qualitative analyses, potential simulation scenarios, implications, and potential applications of the model.

This paper introduces the novel concept of Time-Traveling Turing Machines (TTTMs) — Turing Machines with the ability to read symbols that have been explicitly sent from their future computational state. We delve into their properties and behavior, particularly emphasizing the importance of maintaining a self-consistent computational timeline. We present theorems demonstrating the universality of these machines and the challenges in achieving faster computations than traditional Turing Machines.

Endocrine therapy (ET) has established itself as an efficacious treatment for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers, with a reduction in recurrence rates and increased survival rates. The pre-surgical approach with chemotherapy (NCT) has become a common form of management for large, locally advanced or high-risk tumors. However, a good response to NCT is not usually expected in ER+ tumors. Good results with primary ET, mainly in elderly women, have encouraged studies in other stages of life, and nowadays neoadjuvant endocrine treatment (NET) has become a useful approach to many ER+ breast cancers. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the current state of art regarding the present and the future role of NET.

The removal of harmful arsenic(V) from aqueous solutions using Cyanex 923 (solvation extractant) was investigated under various experimental variables: equilibration time, acidity of the aqueous phase, temperature, extractant and arsenic concentrations, and O/A ratio. Cyanex 923 extracted As(V) (and sulphuric acid) from acidic solutions, thus, its use to remove the metal from slightly acid or neutral solutions it is not possible. Extraction of arsenic is exothermic, and responded to the formation of H3AsO4·nL species in the organic phase (L represented the extractant and the stoichiometric factor n: 1 or 2, depends on the acidity of the aqueous phase). Extraction isotherms are derived from experimental results. Both arsenic and sulphuric acid loaded onto the organic phase can be stripped with water, and stripping isotherms are also derived from the experimental results. The selectivity of the system against the presence of other metals (Cu(II), Ni(II), Bi(III), Sb(III)) are investigated, and also it is investigated the ability of Cyanex 923 to extract As(V) and sulphuric acid against the use of other P=O based solvation reagents, such dibutyl butylphosphonate (DBBP) and tri-butyl phosphate (TBP).

Pimobendan is an inotropic and vasodilator drug with no sympathomimetic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the haemodynamic effects of pimobendan during anaesthesia in healthy senior dogs. A prospective, randomised, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted. Thirty-three dogs (median [range]: 9 [7, 12] years) were anaesthetised for surgical procedures. Dogs were randomly allocated into two groups: eighteen dogs received pimobendan 0.15 mg kg-1 IV (PIMOBENDAN) and 15, saline solutions 0.2 ml kg-1 IV (PLACEBO). Data were recorded before, 1 minute, 10 minutes and 20 minutes after injection. Velocity-time integral (VTI), peak-velocity (PV) and mean-acceleration (MA) were measured using an oesophageal Doppler monitor (ODM). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were also registered. Data were analysed using a two-way ANOVA for trimmed means. Statistical differences were considered if p < 0.05. Twenty minutes after injection, VTI (13.0 cm [10.4, 22.3]), PV (95.0 [83.0, 160] m sec-1), and MA (12.6 [9.40, 17.0] m sec-2) were higher in PIMOBENDAN when compared to PLACEBO (VTI: 10.5 [6.50, 17.4] cm, PV: 80.0 [62.0, 103] m sec-1 and MA: 10.2 [7.00, 16.0] m sec-2). No differences were observed in the rest of the variables. Using pimobendan during anaesthesia increases VTI, PV and MA measured by an ODM.

There is consensus over the fact that urban green areas contribute to the quality of life of their inhabitants. So, efficient city management must assess whether the population has access to green areas and their quality in relation to vegetation, facilities or furnishings, for example. Therefore, the objective set is to establish the environmental justice of urban parks in Tarragona (Spain) by developing a Park Quality Index (PQI) and the sociodemographic characteristics (level of studies, Human Development Index [HDI], home sale and rental prices) of the population living within 300 metres of a park. To prepare this, a GIS-integrated Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) has been produced. The results show that the green areas have low accessibility and availability and that most parks obtain an average-low PQI, with the best- valued aspect being the vegetation and the worst the facilities. As for the degree of environmental justice, a casual relationship emerges between the PQI and the indicators used. The average value of the home sale prices is the one that shows the greatest correlation. These results can be used together with participatory procedures as a basis for identifying places with greater inequality, and for selecting the more effective actions that enable increasing environmental justice with respect to green areas.

Breakthrough curves for the adsorption of H2S using a metal-oxides mixture were predicted using the Bohart-Adams model of fixed bed adsorption. This mixture (ZnMn2O4+ZnO+Mn2O3) came from the processing of an urban waste as spent alkaline batteries were. The H2S adsorption experiments were carried out in a fixed-bed column at 20º C, and under various experimental conditions: gas flow rate, inlet H2S concentration and adsorbent dosage. Curves predicted by the model matched well with experimental data, providing data for the possible scale-up of the system. At the various experimental variables, the efficiency of the column, were also provided in the work. This investigation demonstrated the usefulness of a waste material, like spent alkaline batteries, to provide an adsorbent material to mitigate the problem of the presence of this harmful gas.

In the present article, the application of an artificial neural network (ANN) model is studied, whose function is the development of plastic instability maps of a medium carbon microalloyed steel during the hot forging process. And, secondly, we proceed to create another neural network capable of providing the recrystallized grain size in the steady state phase resulting from the deformation by hot forging, thus creating a methodology that can be applied to different types of processes and materials. In order to achieve this objective, we start from the experimental data of a medium carbon microalloy steel, obtained by hot compression tests, for strain rates that vary between 10-4 and 3 s-1 and in a range of temperatures between 900 oC and 1150 oC. These experimental data will be used to train the neural network that is intended to be created in this work. Once trained, it will be verified if the results of the test correspond to the experimental data and the fluency curves will be obtained. Finally, the processing maps will be developed applying the Dynamic Materials Model (DMM), according to which the safe domains to forge the material and the plastic instability domains are delineated, to be avoided during the forging process. The maps obtained by means of RNA will be compared with the experimental ones and it will be possible to verify that the optimal regions of forging in the maps obtained by RNA coincide with those obtained by means of experimental data. In addition, a study of the influence of the microstructure on the behavior of steel during hot forming will be carried out, since the experimental tests are carried out at austenitizing temperature, so the microstructure is different in each test.

Background: our purpose is to assess the effectiveness and safety of sacubitril/valsartan (SV) in “real-world” patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), including a broader spectrum of patients than those in clinical trials and evaluating variables not previously described in the literature. Methods: real-world study in HFrEF patients (N:204), both in and out-patients, who started SV between October 2017 and December 2018. We performed a prospective analysis with a 12-month follow-up. The study outcomes were effectiveness and safety, measured by individual parameters and combined endpoints, comparing the pre and post practice periods. Results: at the end of follow-up, an improvement of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF): 29.8% vs 33.7; p<0.0001, a decrease in NT-proBNP levels (3928 pg/mL vs 2902 pg/mL; p=0.012), number of hospital admissions (141 vs 35; p<0.0001) and percentage of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) indication (79.9% vs 49.5%; p<0.0001) were observed. Of our population, 81.3% met a combined efficacy endpoint (defined by increase of LVEF, reduction of hospital admission or improvement in functional class). No differences were observed in parameters regarding safety. Conclusions: Sacubitril/valsartan has brought about a revolution in the therapeutic management of HFrEF patients and its use may raise questions about what is considered "optimal medical therapy" prior to implantation of cardiac devices.

The construction industry is responsible for 40 to 45% of primary energy consumption in Europe alone. Therefore, it is essential to find new materials with a lower environmental impact in order to attain sustainable housing. This study aims to determine and compare the environmental impact of two clay samples forming a basis for the manufacture of traditional brick, a standard material in building construction; traditional red clay brick and a brick based on clay mixed with a biological ingredient. The samples of fired clay were manufactured at the laboratory scale, the results being valid exclusively as indicators for the extrapolation of the analysis to other studies. The results of the environmental impact of these formulations have been examined through an evaluation of life-cycle analysis (LCA), observing that the incorporation of biological pore forming agents led to a decrease of around 15 to 20% of all impact categories studied. Thus, the suitability of using biological-based additives in clay bricks was confirmed both for their constructive characteristics (lighter material) and increased energy efficiency (better thermal insulation) considering the environmental point of view.

Associating the most influential parameters with the product distribution is of uttermost importance in complex catalytic processes such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). These correlations can lead to the information-driven catalyst screening, kinetic modeling and reactor design. In this work, a dataset of 104 uncorrelated experiments, with 64 variables, has been obtained in an FCC simulator using 6 types of feedstock (vacuum gasoil, polyethylene pyrolysis waxes, scrap tire pyrolysis oil, dissolved polyethylene and blends of the previous), 36 possible sets of conditions (varying contact time, temperature and catalyst/oil ratio) and 3 industrial catalysts. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been applied over the dataset, showing that the main components are associated with feed composition (27.41% variance); operational conditions (19.09%) and catalyst properties (12.72%). The variables of each component have been correlated with the indexes and yields of the products: conversion, octane number, aromatics, olefins (propylene) or coke, among others.

A novel hybrid CSP-PV power plant is presented. Instead of the integration used in current hybrid power plants, where part of the PV production is charged into the thermal energy storage system through electrical resistors, the proposed system integrates both PV and thermal solar fields using a high-temperature heat pump. Both the heat pump and the heat engine are based on Brayton supercritical CO2 thermodynamic cycles. Such integration allows for charging the molten salts storage as if a central tower receiver field supplied the thermal energy, whereas parabolic trough collectors are employed. Unlike conventional hybrid plants, where the storage of PV production leads to a decrease in power injected into the grid throughout the day, the power injected by the proposed system remains constant. The heat engine efficiency is 44.4%, and the COP is 2.32. The LCOE for a 50 MWe plant with up to 12 hours of storage capacity is 171 $/MWh, which is lower than that of existing CSP power plants with comparable performance. Although the cost is higher compared to a PV plant with batteries, this hybrid system offers two significant advantages: it eliminates the consumption of critical raw materials in batteries, and all the electricity produced comes from a synchronous machine.

Intensive greenhouse horticulture can cause various environmental problems. Among them, the management, storage and processing of crop residues can provoke aquifer contamination, pest proliferation, bad odors or the abuse of phytosanitary treatments. Biosolarization put in value any fresh plant residue and is an efficient technique for the control of soil-borne diseases. This study aims to examine an alternative means of managing greenhouse crop residues through biosolarization and to investigate the influence of organic matter on yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, L.) fruit. With this purpose, the following nutritional systems were evaluated: inorganic fertilization with and without brassica pellets (Fert, Fert + and Fert ++), fresh tomato plant debris with and without brassica pellets (Rest, Rest + and Rest ++) and no fertilizer application (Control). The addition of organic matter equaled all the treatments except for control with regard to yield and quality of the tomato fruit. In light of these results, the application of tomato plant debris to the soil through biosolarization is postulated as an alternative for the management of crop residues, solving an environmental problem and having a favorable impact on the production and quality of tomatoes as a commercial crop.

This study addresses the influence of working conditions on Work-Related Quality of Life (WRQOL) among Spanish healthcare professionals. The research seeks to elucidate the mediating roles of job engagement and burnout, and the moderating effects of resilience and self-efficacy, in this relationship. Methods: The study included 374 healthcare workers from Spain, encompassing physicians, nurses, and nursing assistants. It employed a methodological approach using validated instruments to assess psychosocial risks, work-life quality, job engagement, burnout, and resilience. Data were gathered through self-reported questionnaires. Results: Key findings indicate a negative association between working conditions and WRQOL. Job engagement and burnout significantly mediated this relationship, accounting for 19% to 33% of the variance in WRQOL. Notably, lack of support emerged as a strong negative factor for work-related quality of life. Additionally, resilience moderated the relationship between lack of support and burnout. Conclusions: The study concludes that improving working conditions could increase WRQOL. Interventions aimed at enhancing engagement and addressing burnout may be effective. The moderating role of resilience suggests that strategies to enhance resilience could also be beneficial. These findings hold significant implications for policy formulation and human resources planning in healthcare, emphasizing the need for enhanced workplace support and the development of resilience among health workers.

Heart rate and blood pressure, along with body temperature and respiratory rate, are two of the four parameters used to assess the state of bodily functions, as both measures are indicators of heart activity. Therefore, these measurements become a basic procedure in patient diagnosis, necessitating techniques that can obtain them accurately and reliably, while being as non-intrusive as possible for the patient. Using video data, these two vital signs can be determined at any time and place. To achieve this, artificial intelligence techniques such as machine learning and deep learning 6 can be applied to overcome the main limitations of conventional remote photoplethysmography (rPPG). This document explains the technical and methodological aspects involved, including the acquisition and preprocessing of video data, the extraction of the rPPG signal, and its subsequent processing, as well as the artificial intelligence model for heart rate estimation and the mathematical modeling for blood pressure estimation. We compared the results for heart rate and blood pressure extracted from videos recorded by a basic smartphone front-camera to a blood pressure monitor and achieved results with reasonable accuracy and correlation. These results are part of the AIVA project, grant agreement 2021/C005/00145071. This project has been funded by Red.es through the Spanish 2021 call for grants aimed at research and development projects in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies.

The study´s goals were to determine the health status of a group of heart transplant recipients (HTR) and their level of physical activity and to compare the health status among them and with a group of healthy sedentary individuals. Fifty-four HTR and eighteen S were assigned to four groups, according to their level of physical activity (determined with The International Physical Activity Questionnaire); patients with a low, a moderate and a high level of physical activity (HTRL, HTRM and HTRH, respectively) and sedentary individuals (S). Participants underwent a basic blood analysis and several tests to assess their cardiovascular, neuromuscular, functional mobility condition and their quality of life. The S and HTRH were very similar in terms of BP, HR and blood analysis while HTRM and HTRL differed from both S and HTRH in these parameters. Regarding the cardiovascular, neuromuscular, functional mobility, and quality of life variables assessed in this study, HTRH showed the best results across all of them, followed by S, HTRM, and HTRL. It is suggested that the weekly level of physical activity of HTR should be high, what might help them to enhance their health and quality of life.

The current study aims to first, isolate H. pylori in cultures from gastric biopsy samples and test their susceptibility. Secondly, we aim to assess the efficacy of the standard triple therapy from patients coming of the western central region of Colombia. Patients with H. pylori positive re-ceived standard triple therapy with PPI [40 mg b.i.d.], clarithromycin [500 mg b.i.d.], amoxicillin [1g b.i.d.] for 14 days. Thereafter, antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was assessed by E-Test. From 94 patients enrolled, 67 were positive for H. pylori by histology or culture. Resistance to metronidazole, levofloxacin, rifampicin, clarithromycin and amoxicillin was 81, 26.2, 23.9, 19 and 9.5%, respectively. No resistance was found for tetracycline. 54 patients received standard triple therapy, 48 attended follow-ups testing and of them, 30 had resistance test reports. Overall eradication rate was 81.2%, 4 patients underwent second-line management and only one patient remained H. pylori positive by urea breath test during the follow-up [six weeks]. Eradication was significantly higher in patients with clarithromycin susceptible than in resistant strains [95.6% vs. 42.8% p= 0.001]. The updated percentages of resistance to clarithromycin in this geographical area have increased, so this value must be considered when choosing the treatment regimen.

Crystallization of soluble salts represents a significant deterioration mechanism for porous building materials in cultural heritage, with substantial economic consequences. These salts can originate from geogenic sources (such as soil leachate, sea salt aerosols, and material incompatibilities in historical constructions) or anthropogenic sources (including environmental pollution and organic waste). This study investigates the capillary rise of retained and sustained water within soil, which is subsequently absorbed by calcareous rocks in monuments. This process leads to a range of damages, from superficial staining and efflorescence to more severe material degradation and mass loss. The paper examines the capillary rise phenomenon and analyzes the typology and origin of salts that predominantly impact the durability and mechanical resistance of calcareous rocks used in the construction of historic buildings in Spain.

The growing population in Yucatan has led to the expansion of construction in the Mayan jungle for tourist spaces, residential areas, and agriculture. Recently, rabies cases in cats (Felis catus) have increased. This study aimed to perform the antigenic and genetic characterization of the RABV and to try to identify factors contributing to the increased transmission of rabies virus from wildlife to cats in the State of Yucatan. The ArcGIS software was employed to generate maps depicting the geographic locations of rabies outbreaks in cats. A mixed-effects Poisson regression model was applied to investigate the association between cat rabies cases and sociodemographic and ecological variables. A total of nine feline rabies cases occurred, three antigenic variants were detected: RVV1 (n=1); (RVV3) (n=1), and the canine-originated atypical variant (n=7). Rabies cases were spatially distributed at the urban-jungle interface, which may favor contact between cats and wildlife. No statistically significant associations with sociodemographic/ecological variables were observed. Urban areas with low (0-2%) to moderate (2-4%) changes in land cover showed a substantial increase in the probability of feline rabies cases. This study highlights the concerning resurgence of rabies infections in cats, emphasizing the looming threat of its reintroduction in dogs should vaccination rates diminish. The genetic affinity between the atypical variant and the canine virus underscores the urgent need for vigilance in maintaining high vaccination coverage across all susceptible species.

Energy consumption modelling is of critical importance for improving energy efficiency in the drive towards sustainable manufacturing. Modern manufacturing processes and machine tools are very complex as they involve interplay of several advanced technologies. Therefore, energy modelling of modern machine tools is a complex multi-disciplinary task. This paper proposes a systematic and practical framework to choose the appropriate modelling approach for a given industrial problem. The framework was validated by applying it to diverse industrial scenarios.

The lack of a Dengue vaccine and pharmacological antiviral drugs has made Vector Control Programs the primary resource in the fight against arboviral diseases. Although Integrated Management and Control programs implement intense control measures for adult, pupal, larval, and breeding sites during outbreaks, there is a lack of studies to understand the role of the vector egg stage in disease dynamics. This study aimed to assess the dry season quiescent Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus egg populations in houses and backyards in the tropical city of Tapachula, southern Mexico. Two hundred fifty ovitraps were placed in 125 homes in the Las Americas neighborhood. A total of 7,290 eggs were collected from 211 (84.4%) ovitraps, with 4,031 (71.1%) identified as Ae—aegypti, and 1,636 (28.8%) as albopictus, respectively. Eighty-three larval sites were sampled with desiccated eggs during the dry season; most of them were described as trash-like because larvicides are only used for larger containers of 5-10 L. Evolutionary characteristics for the two species include rapid and delayed hatching of eggs, ambient-regulated quiescence, the ability of the embryo to survive for a more extended period intra-seasonally, and the sticking of egg walls to container walls. This demands urgent operational research to achieve successful egg-proof larval container methods.

The trigeminal nerve is responsible for innervating the periorbita. Ultrasound-guided trigeminal block is employed in humans for trigeminal neuralgia or periorbital surgery. There are no studies evaluating this block in dogs. This study aims to evaluate and compare two approaches (coronoid and temporal) of the trigeminal nerve block. We hypothesized superior staining with the coronoid approach. Thirteen dog heads were used. After a preliminary anatomical study, two ultrasound-guided injections per head (right and left, coronoid and temporal approach, randomly assigned), with an injectate volume of 0.15 mL cm-1 of cranial length were performed (iodate contrast and tissue dye mixture). The ultrasound probe was placed over the temporal region, visualizing the pterygopalatine fossa. For the temporal approach, the needle was advanced from the medial aspect of the temporal region in a dorsoventral direction. For the coronoid approach, it was advanced ventral to the zygomatic arch in a lateromedial direction. CT scans and dissections were conducted to assess and compare the position of the needle, spread of injectate, and nerve staining. No significant differences were found. Both approaches demonstrated effective interfascial distribution of injectate, with some minimal intracranial spread. Although the coronoid approach did not yield superior staining as hypothesized, it presents a viable alternative to the temporal approach. Studies in live animals are warranted to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety.