Abstract: Ethical management is key to ensuring organizational sustainability, through resources such as autonomy or self-efficacy. However, economic and social uncertainty occasionally leads to adaptive responses that prioritize profit as the primary interest, blurring the integrating role of ethical leadership. There are a number of studies that support this reality in a virtual work environment. This sector-specific and cross-sectional research explores how ethical leadership influences self-efficacy among teleworkers, through active commitment to job autonomy, and how an egoistic climate hinders this influence. The analysis is quantitative and correlational, and the sample includes 448 teleworkers. A model of conditional indirect effects, including both a mediation process and a moderation process, is used. Results support that ethical leadership enhances followers' self-efficacy through a redistribution of responsibilities, which increases the perception of autonomy. However, when ethical leadership coincides with a climate that has opposing interests, such as an egoistic climate, ethical leadership is unable to counteract it, and its effect on self-efficacy gradually diminishes. The benefits of this management style are widely known, but it is crucial to understand under what circumstances it loses efficacy. This research presents a new theoretical model that contributes to the existing literature on ethical leadership.

Abstract: Background: The prognostic significance of achieving an axillary pathologic complete response (AxpCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAT) in clinically node-positive (cN+) breast cancer (BC) is well established; however, there is currently no consensus regarding the optimal strategy for axillary management, particularly in patients with HER2-positive BC. This study, which seeks to assess the utility of the maximum standardized uptake value of axillary lymph nodes (N-SUVmax) obtained from baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT scans, in conjunction with the absolute monocyte count (AMC), as predictors of AxpCR to NAT in patients with cN+ HER2-positive BC, promises to bring significant benefits to the field of breast cancer treatment. Methods: The clinical, pathological, and imaging data of HER2-positive BC patients with cN+, who were eligible for NAT at the time of diagnosis, were analyzed retrospectively. Individual receiver operating characteristic curves were employed to establish the optimal cut-off values for both baseline N-SUVmax and AMC. Results: Involving 117 patients diagnosed with HER2+BC, 86 initially presented with cN+ disease. Among this group, 56 patients, representing 66.3%, achieved AxpCR following NAT. Patients with an N-SUVmax of 3.5 or higher exhibited a 4.6-fold increased probability of achieving AxpCR (p=0.039, odds ratio [OR]=4.638 [1.081; 1.904]). Conversely, those with an AMC exceeding 340/mm³ experienced a 90.4% decrease in the likelihood of achieving AxpCR (p<0.001, OR=0.096 [0.028; 0.324]). The interaction between N-SUVmax and AMC was thoroughly investigated, revealing that an increase in AMC mitigated the significance of N-SUVmax on the probability of attaining AxpCR after treatment (p=0.006, OR=0.999 [0.997; 1.000]). Patients were categorized into three groups based on their N-SUVmax and AMC levels: 1. High N-SUVmax – Low AMC group (Group 1, n=38) 2. High N-SUVmax – High AMC group or Low N-SUVmax – Low AMC group (Group 2, n=37) 3. Low N-SUVmax – High AMC group (Group 3, n=11) Individuals in Group 2 (p<0.001; OR=0.047 [0.009; 0.237]) and those in Group 3 (p<0.001, OR=0.017 [0.002; 0.137]) demonstrated a significantly lower probability of achieving AxpCR following NAT compared to patients in Group 1. Conclusions: Evaluating axillary treatment response in the neoadjuvant setting presents a valuable opportunity for HER2-positive breast cancer patients. By combining baseline N-SUVmax and AMC, clinicians can enhance their ability to determine the most appropriate axillary surgical approach for each patient, paving the way for enhanced treatment outcomes.

Abstract: A multi–dimensional mathematical theory applied to texts belonging to classical Greek Literature spanning eight centuries reveals interesting connections between them. By studying words, sentences and interpunctions of texts, the theory defines deep–language parameters and linguistic communication channels. These mathematical entities are due to writer’s unconscious design and can reveal connections between texts far beyond writers’ awareness. The analysis, based on 3,225,839 words contained in 118,952 sentences, shows that ancient Greek writers, and their readers, were not significantly different from modern writers/readers. Their sentences were processed by an extended short–term memory, modelled with two independent processing units in series, just like modern readers. In a society in which people were used to memorize information more than modern people do, the ancient writers wrote almost exactly, mathematically speaking, as modern writers do and for readers of similar characteristics. Since meaning is not considered, any text of any alphabetical language can be studied exactly with the same mathematical/statistical tools and allows comparisons, regardless of different languages and epoch of writing.

Abstract: In Cuba, Xanthosoma spp., are propagated asexually (rhizomes or cormels), because this plant species rarely or never produces inflorescences, which has limited their ability to produce botanical seeds. However, the Genetic Improvement Program (GIP) of the Research Institute of Tropical Roots and Tuber Crops (INIVIT by Spanish abbreviation) have as objective to investigate methods that allowed flowering induction of Xanthosoma spp. plant and consequently the production of seeds botanical. Under controlled conditions, Gibberellic Acid (GA3) was applied via injection at concentrations of 500, 750, and 1000 mg.L−1 and VIUSID® Agro at a concentration of 0.2 mL.L−1 via foliar spraying and a control (without GA3 and VIUSID® Agro). Results showed that the emission of inflorescences and seeds occurred in all the accessions evaluated at the concentration of 1000 mg.L−1 of GA3 plus VIUSID® Agro. In addition, the botanical seeds reached a total mass of 10.6 g, a length of less than 1.5 mm and a 92% of germination and the seed color varied from light yellow to dark yellow. These findings constitute the first scientific evidence of obtaining botanical seeds of Xanthosoma spp. in Cuba, which strengthens the genetic diversity and sexual reproductive capacity and the possibility of producing new varieties.

Abstract: Objective Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex chronic disease, and it is associated with a second comorbid condition in more than half of cases. Self-management programs can be specific to CHF or generic for chronic diseases. Several tools have been validated for CHF. Presently there are no established generic instruments validated for measuring self-management in CHF. This study aims to evaluate the internal reliability and construct validity (psychometric properties) of the Partners in Health (PIH) scale in the patients with congestive heart failure, a generic chronic disease self-management tool. Methods: The study included 210 adult CHF patients in Community Cardiology Outpatients in West Melbourne, Australia, treated in community cardiology were included between May 2022 and Jan 2024. The screened patient population were diagnosed with CHF and eligible for SGLT-2 inhibitor. Cohort analysis used the Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis to eval-uate a priori four-factor structure. Omega coefficients and 95% credible intervals (CI) were used to assess internal reliability. Results: In CHF cohorts, Heart Failure with reduced (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), participants mean [standard deviation (SD)] age was 66.8 (13.5) and 71.3 (9.76) years. Description of study sociodemographics highlighted male were 88% and 52%, BMI > 50% in both cohorts, eGFR > 60 ml/min were 59% and 74%, LVEF < 40% and > 50% were 99% and 100% respectively. Model fit for the hypothesised model was adequate (posterior predictive P = 0.073) and all hypothesised factor loadings were substantial ( > 0.6) and significant (P < 0.001). Omega coefficients (95% CI) for the PIH subscales of Knowledge, Partnership, Management and Coping were 0.84 (0.79 – 0.88), 0.79 (0.73 – 0.84), 0.89 (0.85 – 0.91) and 0.84 (0.79 – 0.88) respectively. Conclusion: This study is original in confirming the dimensionality, known-group valid-ity, and reliability of the PIH scale for measuring generic self-management in outpatients with the CHF syndrome.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Recent research has increasingly focused on the neurocognitive characteristics associated with eating disorders (EDs), including, anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) and individuals of higher weight (HW). This critical narrative review summarizes recent findings on neurocognitive processes across the weight spectrum, emphasizing implications for diagnosis and treatment. Results: Our review highlights that individuals with AN, especially the restrictive subtype of AN, exhibit reduced cognitive flexibility and increased attention to detail. In BN and BED, cognitive profiles are also marked by cognitive rigidity as well as impaired decision-making and impulsivity, with dysregulated reward processing and attentional bias toward food-related signals and reward sensitivity. OSFED presents a diverse neurocognitive profile, necessitating more focused research to delineate its specific characteristics. Finally, neurocognitive studies in individuals with HW highlight deficits in cognitive flexibility, increased impulsivity, and altered reward processing. These cognitive impairments may contribute to the intricate interplay of factors underlying overeating behaviours and subsequent weight gain. Conclusions: Comparing these profiles across the weight spectrum underscores unique and shared impairments, emphasizing the complexity of neurocognitive mechanisms in relation to body mass index (BMI) and eating behaviours. Future research should prioritize longitudinal and intervention studies to elucidate causal relationships and explore cognitive training, virtual reality, and neuromodulation techniques, ultimately informing more personalized treatment strategies for EDs.

Abstract: Background: A complex interplay between immune cells and abnormal tumor vasculature in the tumor microenvironment has been previously shown in preclinical studies, while clinical data suggest that angiogenesis biomarkers may be useful as predictors of prognosis and treatment response in immunotherapy-treated solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our primary aim was to investigate the prognostic and predictive value of baseline and post-treatment levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor-A and –B (VEGF-A and VEGF-B, respectively), soluble programmed cell death-1 (sPD-1) and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (sPD-L1) in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods: 55 patients with advanced NSCLC eligible to receive ICIs (as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy) were prospectively enrolled. A group of sex- and age-matched healthy controls (n=16) was also recruited, for determination of the optimal cut-offs and the potential diagnostic value of the examined biomarkers. Serum VEGF-A, VEGF-B, sPD-1 and sPD-L1 levels were measured in peripheral blood samples using ELISA, both at baseline and at the time of treatment response evaluation, and were correlated with treatment response, prognosis (PFS, OS), and the remaining clinicopathological features of patients. Results: Mean age of patients was 66.5 years (SD=8.0 years); 65,5% of patients received chemo-therapy and pembrolizumab combination while the remaining patients received pembrolizumab monotherapy. VEGF-B and sPD-1 levels were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, after treatment (p=0,028 and p

Abstract: Carotenoids, the bright yellow, orange, and red pigments of many fruits and vegetables, are essential components of the human diet as bioactive compounds not synthesized in animals. As a staple crop potato has the potential to deliver substantial amounts of these nutraceuticals despite their lower concentration in tubers compared to edible organs of other plant species. Even small gains in tuber carotenoid levels could have a significant impact on the nutritional value of potatoes. This review will focus on the current status and future perspectives of carotenoid biofortification in potato with conventional breeding and biotechnological approaches. The high biodiversity of tuber carotenoid levels and composition is presented, with an emphasis on the under-exploited native germplasm that represents a wide reservoir of useful genetic variants to breed carotenoid-rich varieties. The following section describes the structural genes involved in carotenoid metabolism and storage known to have a major impact on carotenoid accumulation in potato, together with the strategies that harnessed their expression changes to increase tuber carotenoid content. Finally, the little information available on the regulation of carotenoid metabolism and the desirable future advances in potato carotenoid biofortification are discussed.

Abstract: Background: Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) frequently experience deficits in cognitive skills such as working memory (WM) and sustained attention (SA), which are closely related to language development. Yet, these cognitive deficits remain underexplored in early childhood, particularly during the preschool years. Objective: This study explores WM and SA in Chilean preschoolers with DLD compared to their typically developing (TD) peers, using the non-verbal tasks "Torpo the Clumsy Mole" for WM and the Continuous Performance Task (CPT) "Duno and the Worms" for SA, both from the Child Neuropsychological Evaluation Test (TENI in Spanish). Method: Thirty DLD and 30 TLD peers (aged 4 to 4 years 11 months) participated. Accuracy and reaction times in both tasks were assessed. Results: DLD children demonstrated significant deficits in working memory accuracy and poorer sustained attention accuracy despite exhibiting shorter reaction times in the sustained attention task compared to TLD children. Conclusion: The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of DLD, particularly in relation to cognitive dimensions beyond language, such as working memory and sustained attention. Early identification of these differences emphasizes the important role of executive functions in DLD.

Abstract: Social and environmental influences are important for learning. However, the influence of reward and competition during social learning is less understood. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine the role of hot and cool executive functioning (EF) in reward processing and its relationship to performance under social competition. A review of the literature found the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) is implicated in hot EF, while dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is related to cool EF. In addition, reward processing deficits are associated with atypical connectivity between nucleus accumbens and dorsofrontal regions. Thus, we adapted a reward-based n-back task in a social competition game to examine the neural correlates of hot and cool EF and the reward influence on performance during social competition. 29 healthy adults showed cortical activation to be related to individual differences in EF abilities during fMRI scans. Hot and cool EF activated distinct networks (in addition to DLPFC and VMPFC) differentially during no-competition and competition conditions. Further analysis revealed correlations between the Hot-Cool network and working memory, reward sensitivity and risk-taking behaviour. The findings provided further insights on the neural basis of hot and cool EF engagement in socio-emotional regulation for learning.