Exploring the Role of Central Metals in Bulky Phthalocyanines for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Two series of metallo-(Zn(II), Mg(II), and Ru(II)) and free-base phthalocyanines (Pcs) with a carboxyl anchoring group and well-established bulky peripheral substituents (either tert-butyl or bulky 2,6-diisopropylphenoxy) were synthesized and tested as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The trend of photovoltaic efficiencies (PCEs) for free-base and metallo Pcs followed the order Zn(II)Pc>Mg(II)Pc≫H2Pc ≈ Ru(II)Pc regardless of the peripheral substitution. Higher efficiencies (4.95 versus 3.63 for the Zn(II) derivatives) were achieved with Pcs bearing the bulkier 2,6-diisopropylphenoxy group, indicating a lower aggregation and more suitable HOMO-LUMO levels. Furthermore, these derivatives showed a morelevant influence of the metal on the PCE values (from the highest 4.95 for the Zn(II)Pc to the lowest 0.23 for the Ru(II)Pc. In both series, the best PCEs observed with the Zn(II) derivatives were mainly due to their highest Jsc values. The lowest efficiencies found for the free-bases and Ru(II) derivatives were attributed to a mismatch between their LUMO levels and the conduction band of the TiO2,and lower light-harvesting capabilities, respectively. In conclusion, Zn(II) derivatives are still the best Pc candidates to use as sensitizers in molecular photovoltaics.

Rechallenge in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury: An analysis of cases in two large prospective registries according to existing definitions.

INTRODUCTION: Data on positive rechallenge in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are scarce. We aim to analyse the clinical presentation, outcome and drugs associated with positive rechallenge in two DILI registries. METHODS: Cases from the Spanish and Latin American DILI registries were included. Demographics, clinical characteristics and outcome of cases with positive rechallenge according to CIOMS/RUCAM and current definitions were analysed. RESULTS: Of 1418 patients with idiosyncratic DILI, 58 cases had positive rechallenge (4.1%). Patients with positive rechallenge had shorter duration of therapy (p=0.001) and latency (p=0.003). In patients with rechallenge, aspartate transaminase levels were increased (p=0.026) and showed a prolonged time to recovery (p=0.020), albeit no differences were seen in terms of fatal outcomes. The main drug implicated in rechallenge was amoxicillin-clavulanate (17%). The majority of re-exposure events were unintentional (71%). Using both existing definitions of positive rechallenge, there were four cases which exclusively fulfilled the current criteria and five which only meet the historical definition. All cases of positive rechallenge, irrespective of the pattern of damage, fulfilled the criteria of either alanine transaminase (ALT) ≥3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥2 times ULN. CONCLUSIONS: Episodes of rechallenge were characterised by shorter duration of therapy and latency, and longer time to resolution, but did not show an increased incidence of fatal outcome. Based on our findings, ALT ≥3 times ULN and/or ALP ≥2 times ULN, regardless of the pattern of damage, is proposed as a new definition of rechallenge in DILI.

Exploring Reversible Redox Behavior in the 6H-BaFeO3-δ (0 < δ < 0.4) System: Impact of Fe3+/Fe4+ Ratio on CO Oxidation.

This work is devoted to evaluating the relationship between the oxygen content and catalytic activity in the CO oxidation process of the 6H-type BaFeO3-δ system. Strong evidence is provided about the improvement of catalytic performance with increasing Fe average oxidation state, thus suggesting the involvement of lattice oxygen in the catalytic process. The compositional and structural changes taking place in both the anionic and cationic sublattices of the catalysts during redox cycles have been determined by temperature-resolved neutron diffraction. The obtained results evidence a structural transition from hexagonal (P63/mmc) to orthorhombic (Cmcm) symmetry. This transition is linked to octahedra distortion when the Fe3+ concentration exceeds 40% (δ values higher than 0.2). The topotactical character of the redox process is maintained in the δ range 0 < δ < 0.4. This suggests that the cationic framework is only subjected to slight structural modifications during the oxygen exchange process occurring during the catalytic cycle.

Adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome without obesity: HOTAIR rs1443512 genotype relates to fat mass and to the redistribution of fat mass on low-dose pioglitazone.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by androgen excess and oligo-amenorrhea, and often results from ectopic lipid storage due to a mismatch between early adipogenesis and later lipogenesis. Endogenous HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) and exogenous pioglitazone are enhancers of subcutaneous adipogenesis, particularly in the gluteofemoral region. The A allele of HOTAIR rs1443512 is an equivalent of a natural knock-down and is, thus, a candidate to influence the distribution of fat mass, and also the redistribution of fat mass by pioglitazone in adolescent PCOS-without-obesity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed two post hoc analyses by HOTAIR rs1443512 genotype. In the first, we analyzed the pooled pre-treatment data (auxology; endocrinology; body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry; abdominal fat distribution by magnetic resonance imaging) of 65 adolescent girls with PCOS-without-obesity in three reported studies (ISRCTN45546616; ISRCTN29234515; ISRCTN11062950). In the second, we analyzed the results of 24 adolescent girls with PCOS-without-obesity, who received pioglitazone (7.5 mg/d for 1 year) as part of a randomized combination treatment (with spironolactone and metformin) in two reported studies (ISRCTN29234515; ISRCTN11062950). All data had been obtained in a blinded-to-genotype way. RESULTS: The pre-treatment data disclosed that the girls-with-A-allele of HOTAIR rs1443512 had developed PCOS with a lower BMI (22.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2; N = 17) than the other girls (24.1 ± 2.7 kg/m2; N = 48), this difference being essentially attributable to a lower fat mass (mean difference 4.6 kg; P < 0.01). On low-dose pioglitazone, girls-with-A-allele (N = 12) raised their fat mass while the other girls (N = 12) did not (total fat mass + 2.2 ± 1.8 kg vs - 0.9 ± 2.2 kg; P < 0.001), particularly in the gynoid area (gluteofemoral fat + 0.6 ± 0.4 kg vs - 0.1 ± 0.5 kg; hip circumference + 2.3 ± 1.9 cm vs - 1.7 ± 3.1 cm; both P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that the HOTAIR rs1443512 genotype influences not only the distribution of fat mass in adolescent girls with PCOS-without-obesity but also the redistribution of fat mass during prolonged treatment with low-dose pioglitazone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN45546616 ( https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN45546616 ). ISRCTN29234515 ( https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN29234515 ). ISRCTN11062950 ( https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11062950 ).

Study of the Impact of Restrictions on Access to Biological Drugs for the Management of Psoriasis on the Minimum Disease Activity Criteria: Subanalysis of AEDV EQUIDAD and AME Projects. / Estudio del impacto de las restricciones en el acceso a fármacos biológicos en psoriasis sobre la actividad mínima de la enfermedad: subanálisis de los proyectos EQUIDAD y AME de la AEDV.

Spanish Autonomous Communities (ACs) are entitled to decide on the prescription requirements of their own territories, which can create inequalities in access to new drugs in the management of psoriasis. The objective of this study was to assess whether the level of restrictions in the access to new drugs for the management psoriasis was associated with the probability of achieving disease control measured using the Minimum Disease Activity (MDA) criteria. Therefore, we combined the results of 2 previous independent, cross-sectional studies: one that described the MDA in psoriasis by AC, and another that evaluated the level of restrictions to drug access by AC. We found that the higher the number of restrictions the lower the chances of achieving the MDA criteria (P=.013). Our results suggest that, in Spain, geographical differences in the access to new drugs may be creating health inequalities across the country.

Bibliometric Study of the Advances Made in Clinical Dermatological Research in Spain from 2015 through 2021: Update of the MaIND Project and Interactive Online Map. / Estudio bibliométrico sobre la evolución de la investigación clínica dermatológica española entre 2015 y 2021: actualización del proyecto MaIND y mapa interactivo en línea.

INTRODUCTION: A clinical dermatological research was conducted in Spain from 2005 through 2014 as part of the MaIND project with the provinces or centers with the highest number of published articles. However, a low level of evidence in scientific production was confirmed as the overall result. The aim of this study is to update the Spanish clinical dermatological research in bibliometric terms from 2015 through 2021 with comparisons between both periods of time. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric study to replicate the methodology used in the article to be updated. We included articles whose corresponding authors' affiliation was a Spanish dermatological center, which met the criteria for clinical research in dermatology, including a level of evidence ≤4. RESULTS: A total of 1,674 out of the 10,199 articles met the inclusion criteria. An interactive map representing quantitative and qualitative indicators calculated for the 2005-2021 is presented here. In the study period, we found an increasing trend both in the number of published articles (P<.002) and in the mean number of citation-years per article (P<.01). A total of 22 of the articles had a level of evidence >4, with a positive trend towards more articles having a higher level of evidence (P<.03). ACTAS DERMOSIFILOGRÁFICAS still maintains its position as the journal with the highest number of articles received (18%, a total of 302 articles). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that, in Spain, the scientific production of dermatology represents an upward trend in quantity, impact, and level of evidence.

Skin homeostasis is impaired in hidradenitis suppurativa lesions, a comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin disease whose impact on skin homeostasis has not been adequately studied at present. Knowledge about how skin function changes in these patients, and could be of interest not only to improve the topical management of the disease, but also as an objective measure of disease activity. The aim of this study was to compare skin homeostasis and the epidermal barrier function in lesional and healthy skin areas of patients with HS. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Skin homeostasis and the epidermal barrier function of lesions were assessed in HS patients using validated tools. A healthy perilesional skin control was assigned to each lesion to compare skin homeostasis parameters. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients were included: 22 nodules, 10 abscesses and 25 draining tunnels were measured. The male-to-female ratio was 20:23, and the mean age, 35.95 years (SD, 14.82). Increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema were found in nodules, abscesses and draining tunnel vs healthy skin. A direct association was observed between inflammatory nodules TEWL and IHS4 stage. In draining tunnels, a direct association was observed between TEWL and smoking. A trend of increasing TEWL values was observed as a function of Hurley stage. CONCLUSION: HS lesions exhibit epidermal barrier dysfunction that depends on the severity of inflammatory activity. These results could be useful to develop objective classification systems for the severity and degree of involvement of HS or help in the development of vehicles for specific drugs, antiseptics and dressings for the management of this disease.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Centre Study of Epidemiologic, Clinic and Histopathological Factors.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic may have adversely affected the early diagnosis of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: To compare epidemiological, clinical and histopathological characteristics in patients undergoing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) surgery before and after the beginning of the pandemic. MATERIAL & METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study including two case series: (1) patients operated on for SCC in the year after the first state of alarm in Spain (15 March 2020), and (2) patients with SCC operated on in the previous year. Epidemiological, clinical and histopathological variables, tumour stage and risk grade were collected. RESULTS: 248 patients were included (127 undergoing surgery before the pandemic and 121 after the pandemic). After the beginning of the pandemic, the percentage of high-risk SCC significantly increased from 35.3% to 46.2% (p=0.011). However, no significant differences were found in thickness, perineural invasion or metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Although there has not been a significant reduction in the number of SCC operated on after the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in high-risk SCC. All this could lead to an increase in skin cancer mortality in the future.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Centre Study of Epidemiologic, Clinic and Histopathological Factors. / [Artículo traducido] Impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 en el carcinoma de células escamosas cutáneo: un estudio unicéntrico de los factores epidemiológicos, clínicos e histopatológicos.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic may have adversely affected the early diagnosis of skin cancer. OBJECTIVE: To compare epidemiological, clinical and histopathological characteristics in patients undergoing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) surgery before and after the beginning of the pandemic. MATERIAL & METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study including two case series: (1) patients operated on for SCC in the year after the first state of alarm in Spain (15 March 2020), and (2) patients with SCC operated on in the previous year. Epidemiological, clinical and histopathological variables, tumour stage and risk grade were collected. RESULTS: 248 patients were included (127 undergoing surgery before the pandemic and 121 after the pandemic). After the beginning of the pandemic, the percentage of high-risk SCC significantly increased from 35.3% to 46.2% (p=0.011). However, no significant differences were found in thickness, perineural invasion or metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Although there has not been a significant reduction in the number of SCC operated on after the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in high-risk SCC. All this could lead to an increase in skin cancer mortality in the future.

Quality of Professional Life Among Dermatologists: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Suggestions for Improvement. / Calidad de vida profesional en dermatología: impacto de la pandemia y propuestas de mejora.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Quality of professional life (QPL) is defined as a sense of well-being derived from a balance between the challenges of work and the resources available to deal with them. Impaired QPL can contribute to burnout. The aim of this study was to evaluate QPL in Spanish dermatologists using a validated questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional study in which Spanish dermatologists were invited to complete an online questionnaire sent out by messaging applications. The dermatologists were asked to provide sociodemographic information, answer 3 open questions, and complete the 35-item Spanish QPL questionnaire (Spanish abbreviation, CVP-35). RESULTS: We analyzed the information submitted by 106 dermatologists (62 women, 58%) with a mean age of 41 years (95% CI, 43.3-38.8 years). Women and department heads scored significantly higher in the workload domain of the questionnaire (P=.02 and P=.005, respectively). A heavy caseload was mentioned as the main factor contributing to impaired QPL and the main change in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Female dermatologists reported heavier workloads. Heavy caseloads and more remote work were the main changes identified after the COVID-19 pandemic. Heavy caseloads have a significant impact on the QPL of dermatologists in Spain. Reducing caseloads would improve general job satisfaction and quality of care provision.

Requirements for Accessing New Dermatology Drugs in Spain: Results of the EQUIDAD Study. / Condicionantes de acceso a nuevos medicamentos dermatológicos en España: resultados del proyecto EQUIDAD.

BACKGROUND: Although the Spanish Ministry of Health prepares national therapeutic positioning reports (TPRs) and drug reimbursement policies, each of the country's 17 autonomous communities (ACs) is responsible for health care services and prescription requirements in its territory. The aim of the EQUIDAD study was to describe and explore potential differences in prescription requirements for new dermatology drugs across the autonomous communities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted in April and May, 2023. Two dermatologists with management responsibilities from each autonomous community reported on territorial and more local prescription requirements for drugs covered by national TPRs issued between 2016 and 2022. RESULTS: Thirty-three researchers from 17 autonomous communities participated. The data submitted revealed between-community inequities in access to new drugs. Overall, 64.7% of the regions imposed additional prescription requirements to those mentioned in the TPRs for psoriasis. This percentage was lower for atopic dermatitis (35.3%) and melanoma (11.8%). The most common requirement for accessing a new drug was a previous prescription for another drug. Differences and additional requirements were also detected at the local level (i.e., differences between hospitals within the same autonomous community). CONCLUSIONS: Spain's autonomous communities have multiple regional and local prescription requirements that are not aligned with national TPR recommendations. These differences result in inequitable access to new drugs for both patients and practitioners across Spain.

[Translated article] Requirements for Accessing New Dermatology Drugs in Spain: Results of the EQUIDAD Study.

BACKGROUND: Although the Spanish Ministry of Health prepares national therapeutic positioning reports (TPRs) and drug reimbursement policies, each of the country's 17 autonomous communities (ACs) is responsible for health care services and prescription requirements in its territory. The aim of the EQUIDAD study was to describe and explore potential differences in prescription requirements for new dermatology drugs across the autonomous communities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted in April and May, 2023. Two dermatologists with management responsibilities from each autonomous community reported on territorial and more local prescription requirements for drugs covered by national TPRs issued between 2016 and 2022. RESULTS: Thirty-three researchers from 17 autonomous communities participated. The data submitted revealed between-community inequities in access to new drugs. Overall, 64.7% of the regions imposed additional prescription requirements to those mentioned in the TPRs for psoriasis. This percentage was lower for atopic dermatitis (35.3%) and melanoma (11.8%). The most common requirement for accessing a new drug was a previous prescription for another drug. Differences and additional requirements were also detected at the local level (i.e., differences between hospitals within the same autonomous community). CONCLUSIONS: Spain's autonomous communities have multiple regional and local prescription requirements that are not aligned with national TPR recommendations. These differences result in inequitable access to new drugs for both patients and practitioners across Spain.

Role of PumB antitoxin as a transcriptional regulator of the PumAB type-II toxin-antitoxin system and its endoribonuclease activity on the PumA (toxin) transcript.

The PumAB type-II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system is encoded by pumAB genes that are organized into an operon. This system is encoded by the pUM505 plasmid, isolated from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strain. The pumA gene encodes a putative RelE toxin protein (toxic component), whereas the pumB gene encodes a putative HTH antitoxin protein. The expression of the PumAB system in Escherichia coli confers plasmid stability. In addition, PumA toxin overexpression in P. aeruginosa possesses the capability to increase bacterial virulence, an effect that is neutralized by the PumB antitoxin. The aim of this study was to establish the mechanism of regulation of the PumAB toxin-antitoxin system from pUM505. By an in silico analysis of the putative regulatory elements, we identified two putative internal promoters, PpumB and PpumB-AlgU (in addition to the already reported PpumAB), located upstream of pumB. By RT-qPCR assays, we determined that the pumAB genes are transcribed differentially, in that the mRNA of pumB is more abundant than the pumA transcript. We also observed that pumB could be expressed individually and that its mRNA levels decreased under oxidative stress, during individual expression as well as co-expression of pumAB. However, under stressful conditions, the pumA mRNA levels were not affected. This suggests the negative regulation of pumB by stressful conditions. The PumB purified protein was found to bind to a DNA region located between the PpumAB and the pumA coding region, and PumA participates in PumB binding, suggesting that a PumA-PumB complex co-regulates the transcription of the pumAB operon. Interestingly, the pumA mRNA levels decreased after incubation in vitro with PumB protein. This effect was repressed by ribonuclease inhibitors, suggesting that PumB could function as an RNAse toward the mRNA of the toxin. Taken together, we conclude that the PumAB TA system possesses multiple mechanisms to regulate its expression, as well as that the PumB antitoxin generates a decrease in the mRNA toxin levels, suggesting an RNase function. Our analysis provides new insights into the understanding of the control of TA systems from mobile plasmid-encoded genes from a human pathogen.

Population screening for liver fibrosis: Toward early diagnosis and intervention for chronic liver diseases.

Cirrhosis, highly prevalent worldwide, develops after years of hepatic inflammation triggering progressive fibrosis. Currently, the main etiologies of cirrhosis are non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver disease, although chronic hepatitis B and C infections are still major etiological factors in some areas of the world. Recent studies have shown that liver fibrosis can be assessed with relatively high accuracy noninvasively by serological tests, transient elastography, and radiological methods. These modalities may be utilized for screening for liver fibrosis in at-risk populations. Thus far, a limited number of population-based studies using noninvasive tests in different areas of the world indicate that a significant percentage of subjects without known liver disease (around 5% in general populations and a higher rate -18% to 27%-in populations with risk factors for liver disease) have significant undetected liver fibrosis or established cirrhosis. Larger international studies are required to show the harms and benefits before concluding that screening for liver fibrosis should be applied to populations at risk for chronic liver diseases. Screening for liver fibrosis has the potential for changing the current approach from diagnosing chronic liver diseases late when patients have already developed complications of cirrhosis to diagnosing liver fibrosis in asymptomatic subjects providing the opportunity of preventing disease progression.

Vulnerable newborn types: analysis of subnational, population-based birth cohorts for 541 285 live births in 23 countries, 2000-2021.

OBJECTIVE: To examine prevalence of novel newborn types among 541 285 live births in 23 countries from 2000 to 2021. DESIGN: Descriptive multi-country secondary data analysis. SETTING: Subnational, population-based birth cohort studies (n = 45) in 23 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) spanning 2000-2021. POPULATION: Liveborn infants. METHODS: Subnational, population-based studies with high-quality birth outcome data from LMICs were invited to join the Vulnerable Newborn Measurement Collaboration. We defined distinct newborn types using gestational age (preterm [PT], term [T]), birthweight for gestational age using INTERGROWTH-21st standards (small for gestational age [SGA], appropriate for gestational age [AGA] or large for gestational age [LGA]), and birthweight (low birthweight, LBW [<2500 g], nonLBW) as ten types (using all three outcomes), six types (by excluding the birthweight categorisation), and four types (by collapsing the AGA and LGA categories). We defined small types as those with at least one classification of LBW, PT or SGA. We presented study characteristics, participant characteristics, data missingness, and prevalence of newborn types by region and study. RESULTS: Among 541 285 live births, 476 939 (88.1%) had non-missing and plausible values for gestational age, birthweight and sex required to construct the newborn types. The median prevalences of ten types across studies were T+AGA+nonLBW (58.0%), T+LGA+nonLBW (3.3%), T+AGA+LBW (0.5%), T+SGA+nonLBW (14.2%), T+SGA+LBW (7.1%), PT+LGA+nonLBW (1.6%), PT+LGA+LBW (0.2%), PT+AGA+nonLBW (3.7%), PT+AGA+LBW (3.6%) and PT+SGA+LBW (1.0%). The median prevalence of small types (six types, 37.6%) varied across studies and within regions and was higher in Southern Asia (52.4%) than in Sub-Saharan Africa (34.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Further investigation is needed to describe the mortality risks associated with newborn types and understand the implications of this framework for local targeting of interventions to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes in LMICs.

Description of a new ultrasound sign to distinguish Crohn's anal fistula from cryptoglandular fistula: The rosary sign.

AIM: Endoanal and endorectal ultrasound are essential diagnostic tools for perianal fistula. Recent studies have examined ultrasound signs that help differentiate cryptoglandular anal fistula from perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease. The main aim of this work was to describe a new ultrasound sign for perianal fistula and to evaluate its ability to differentiate Crohn's disease from cryptoglandular anal fistula. METHOD: This study included 363 patients (113 women; mean age 46.5 ± 14.3 years). Overall, 287 (79.1%) patients had a cryptoglandular perianal fistula and 76 (20.9%) had fistulizing Crohn's disease. All patients underwent three-dimensional anal endosonography for perianal fistula. The reading was carried out by two observers. RESULTS: Observer 1, who was an experienced sonographer and colorectal surgeon, observed the ultrasound sign in 120 patients (33.1%), while observer 2, who was inexperienced, observed it in 129 patients (35.5%). The overall interobserver agreement was 67.22%. The Kappa coefficient measuring interobserver agreement was 0.273 (0.17-0.38). Among those patients with Crohn's disease, 48.68% had the sign and 16% did not (p = 0.001). A logistic regression study showed that the sign was a predictor of Crohn's disease (p = 0.001), with an odds ratio of 2.33 (1.39-3.91). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 38.68%, 71.08%, 30.83%, 83.95% and 66.39%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides a new ultrasound sign for perianal fistula (the rosary sign) in patients with Crohn's disease. The sign can be used to differentiate Crohn's disease from other types of fistula. This is useful in the management of patients with anal fistula.

The species composition of local flea assemblages at a small scale in two South American regions is predominantly driven by niche-based mechanisms.

We applied a step-down factor analysis (SDFA) and multi-site generalised dissimilarity modelling (MS-GDM) to local flea communities harboured by small mammals (i.e., collected at small sampling sites over a short time period) in two South American regions (Patagonia and the Northwestern Argentina) with the aim of understanding whether these communities were assembled via niche-based or dispersal-based processes. The SDFA allows us to determine whether clusters of flea assemblages across different types of climates, vegetation and soils can be distinguished (suggesting niche-based assembly). MS-GDM allows us to determine whether a substantial proportion of the variation in flea species turnover is explained by specific climate-associated, vegetation-associated and soil-associated variables (indicating niche-based assembly) or host turnover (indicating dispersal-based assembly). Mapping of assemblages on climate, vegetation and soil maps, according to their loadings on axis 1 or axis 2 of the SDFA, did not provide clear-cut results. Clusters of similar loadings could be recognized within some, but not other, climate, vegetation and soil types. However, MS-GDM demonstrated that the effect of environmental variables (especially air temperature) on flea compositional turnover was much stronger than that of host turnover, indicating the predominance of niche-based processes in local community assembly. A comparison of our results with those on the mechanisms that drive species assembly in regional communities allows us to conclude that local and regional communities result from the joint action of niche-based and dispersal-based processes, with the former more important at a smaller spatial scale and the latter at a larger spatial scale.

Recent advances in subphthalocyanines and related subporphyrinoids.

Half a century after the synthesis of the first subporphyrinoid, the study of tripyrrole and trisoindole porphyrin analogues constitutes a fervent and rapidly expanding research area. The outstanding structural, electronic and optical features of these cone-shaped aromatic macrocycles render them attractive candidates for a wide variety of applications, ranging from optoelectronics to biomedicine. To tune their properties and exploit their functionalities, the development of novel methodologies for the synthesis and post-functionalization of these contracted porphyrinoids, as well as a deep understanding of their supramolecular organization and their implementation into multicomponent systems of increasing complexity are of paramount importance. Herein, a review of the most recent advances in the fundamentals and applications of subporphyrinoids is presented, which comprehensively cover the last decade of discoveries. The final aim is to highlight the chemical versatility and intriguing physicochemical features of subporphyrinoids, while providing an updated overview of their most promising applications.

Pyrolysis of municipal solid waste compost: Pilot plant evaluation as a sustainable practise of waste management.

To evaluate the potential of compost based on municipal solid waste (MSW) and 20% legume pruning under a pyrolysis process, generated products, including solids (biochar), liquids (bio-oil), and gases (non-condensable gases), through experimentation in a pilot plant with a fluidized bed reactor at 450°C and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry have been analysed. In addition, the compost kinetic behaviour by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method, has been investigated. Four different reaction zones, associated with lignocellulosic materials (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) with a first step for water evaporation, in TGA curve have been observed. A biochar with low stability and aromaticity, considering high and low O/C and H/C ratios, respectively, has been obtained. The obtained pyrolytic liquids contain a high concentration of phenolic compounds because of a significant presence of lignins and other high molecular weight compounds in the original material. Moreover, the generated non-condensable gases consist mainly of short-chain compounds, such as alcohols, aldehydes, and alkenes produced from hemicellulose, cellulose, and proteins.

Self-perceived cultural competence: a cross-sectional study about nurses' awareness and behavior.

Background: Cultural competence is a valuable and intangible heritage of knowledge, relationships and identity. Cultural competence is fundamental in nursing: sharing the objectives of all patients - not only foreigners - promotes patient's participation in healthcare and supports nurses' professional development, enhancing the intellectual capital that guides quality care. The aim of this study is to evaluate nurses' self-perceived cultural competence. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Methods: A self-administered cultural-competence questionnaire was used. Nurses working in hospitals and territorial healthcare settings in Rome, Italy, were involved in this study, from March 2017 to February 2018. Results: This study involved 192 nurses. The mean age was 46.2 ± 7.9. Most of the nurses (77.6%) were women. The nurses' mean work experience was 21.4 ± 8.8 years; 65.1% of them had never attended any type of course concerning multiculturalism. The mean score of the nurses' cultural competence was 4.19 ± 0.57 (range = 2.75-5.71). In all, 41.7% of the nurses did not consider themselves neither competent nor incompetent. Conclusion: The results show that nurses have an acceptable level of cultural competence, slightly higher in the territorial context.