Dynamic Non-Covalent Exchange Intrinsic Self-Healing at 20 °C Mechanism of Polyurethane Induced by Interactions among Polycarbonate Soft Segments.

Two polyurethanes (PUs) were similarly synthesized by reacting a cycloaliphatic isocyanate with 1,4-butanediol and two polyols of different nature (polyester, polycarbonate diol) with molecular weights of 1000 Da. Only the PU synthesized with polycarbonate diol polyol (YCD) showed intrinsic self-healing at 20 °C. For assessing the mechanism of intrinsic self-healing of YCD, a structural characterization by molecular weights determination, infrared and X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis was carried out. The experimental evidence concluded that the self-healing at 20 °C of YCD was due to dynamic non-covalent exchange interactions among the polycarbonate soft segments. Therefore, the chemical nature of the polyol played a key role in developing PUs with intrinsic self-healing at 20 °C.

Myotonometry in machinery operators and its relationship with postural ergonomic risk.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between occupational ergonomic risk, personal characteristics, and working conditions with the biomechanical properties of stiffness and muscular tone in the paravertebral muscles of electric pallet jack and forklift operators in the industrial sector. METHODS: A total of 75 industrial sector machine operators were evaluated in 2021. Personal characteristics and working conditions were assessed through a questionnaire. Ergonomic risk was assessed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, and biomechanical properties of stiffness and muscular tone were obtained using the Myoton Pro device. Stiffness in paravertebral muscles was compared based on the operated machine and observed ergonomic risk. A multilevel linear regression model was employed to quantify the relationship, with mean differences and 95% CI calculated. RESULTS: Very high ergonomic risk was found in 75% of the electric pallet truck drivers. In this group with the highest ergonomic risk, an association between biomechanical properties and older workers was observed. Additionally, among electric pallet truck drivers, stiffness (mean difference 335.9 N/m, 95% CI: 46.4 (3.4 to 110.0), P < 0.05) and paravertebral muscle tone (mean difference 17.5 Hz, 95% CI: 1.4 (0.1 to 3.4), P < 0.05) showed statistically significant differences in the very high ergonomic risk category compared to the high-risk category. No significant differences were observed in any of the analyzed variables among forklift drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Workers operating electric pallet trucks with very high ergonomic risk according to the REBA method and aged over 40 yr are associated with increased muscle stiffness and tone.

Comparison of 2D and 3D convolutional neural networks in hyperspectral image analysis of fruits applied to orange bruise detection.

Recent advances in hyperspectral imaging (HSI) have demonstrated its ability to detect defects in fruit that may not be visible in RGB images. HSIs can be considered 3D images containing two spatial dimensions and one spectral dimension. Therefore, the first question that arises is how to process this type of information, either using 2D or 3D models. In this study, HSI in the 550-900 nm spectral range was used to detect bruising in oranges. Sixty samples of Thompson oranges were subjected to a mechanical bruising process, and HSIs were taken at different time intervals: before bruising, and 8 and 16 h after bruising. The samples were then classified using two convolutional neural network (CNN) models, a shallow 7-layer network (CNN-7) and a deep 18-layer network (CNN-18). In addition, two different input processing approaches are used: using 2D information from each band, and using the full 3D data from each HSI. The 3D models were the most accurate, with 94% correct classification for 3D-CNN-18, compared to 90% for 3D-CNN-7, and less than 83% for the 2D models. Our study suggests that 3D HSI may be a more effective technique for detecting fruit bruising, allowing the development of a fast, accurate, and nondestructive method for fruit sorting. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Orange bruises can reduce the market value of food, which is why the food processing industry needs to carry out quality inspections. An effective way to perform this inspection is by using hyperspectral images that can be processed with 2D or 3D models, either with deep or shallow neural networks. The results of the comparison performed in this work can be useful for the development of more accurate and efficient bruise detection methods for fruit inspection.

Innovative Device and Procedure for In Situ Quantification of the Self-Healing Ability and Kinetics of Self-Healing of Polymeric Materials.

A new device and procedure for the in situ quantification of the extent of the self-healing and the kinetics of self-healing of polymeric materials were proposed. The device consisted of flowing an inert gas below the sample placed in a hermetically closed chamber. When the sample was perforated/damaged, the gas passed through the hole made in the polymeric material and the gas flow rate declined as the self-healing was produced. Once the gas flow rate stopped, the self-healing was completed. The proposed method was simple, quick, and reproducible, and several in situ self-healing experiments at different temperatures could be performed in the same sample. As a proof of concept, the new device and method have been used for measuring the self-healing ability of different polyurethanes.

Tratamiento combinado de Espongostan® y Mepitel® en heridas con pérdida de sustancia y abundante sangrado / Combined treatment of Espongostan® and Mepitel® in wounds with loss of substance and abundant bleeding: a case series

Objetivo: Las heridas por pérdida de sustancia en las yemas de los dedos son dolorosas, incapacitantes y sangran abundantemente. El tratamiento recomendado es a base de Espongostan®, aunque este producto puede combinarse con Mepitel®. La combinación de ambos tratamientos podría reducir el dolor y minimizar el sangrado en curas sucesivas. El objetivo de este estudio es describir la aplicación del tratamiento combinado de Espongostan® y Mepitel®. Además, se describirá la evolución del dolor y el sangrado en estos pacientes. Descripción del caso: Se aplicó el tratamiento combinado a 6 pacientes con heridas de pérdida de sustancia en las yemas de los dedos. Resultados: La escala EVA se mantuvo en valores moderados o se redujo a leve en curas sucesivas. Los pacientes no describen signos de dolor destacables al retirar el Espongostan®. Por otro lado, el sangrado remitió antes de 8 días. La tasa promedio de remisión del sangrado se situó en 1 caso por 4 días. Conclusión: La cura combinada es altamente positiva para minimizar el dolor y el sangrado, reduciendo por consiguiente las molestias derivadas sobre los pacientes. (AU)

Objective: Loss of substance wounds on the pads of the fingers are painful, disabling, and have profuse bleeding. The recommended treatment is based on Espongostan®, although this product may be combined with Mepitel ®. The combination of both treatments could reduce pain and minimize bleeding in successive cures. The objective of this study is to describe the application of the combined treatment of Espongostan® and Mepitel®. In addition, the evolution of pain and bleeding in these patients will be described. Description of the case: We applied the combined treatment to 6 patients with loss of substance wounds on the pads of the fingers. Results: The VAS scale remained at moderate values or was reduced to mild in successive cures. Patients do not describe noticeable signs of pain when removing the Espongostan®. Bleeding subsided before 8 days. The average bleeding remission rate was 1 case per 4 days. Conclusion: The combined cure is highly positive for minimizing pain, bleeding and reducing discomfort caused to patients. (AU)

Quality of Life and Related Factors in Patients Undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy at the Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real: Cross Sectional Descriptive Observational Study.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the quality of life of patients on renal replacement therapy and the Symptomatology they presented. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive observational study: quality of life was assessed by means of the KDQOL-SF questionnaire, Symptomatology by the Palliative Care Outcome Scale-Symptoms Renal questionnaire, and sociodemographic and clinical data of patients in the Hemodialysis Unit (HD) of the Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real (HGUCR) by means of personal interviews and clinical history data. Results: A total of 105 patients participated in the study, 63 (60.57%) men and 42 (40.38%) female. The mean age was 62.5 dt (14.84) years. Of these, 43 (41%) were on peritoneal dialysis and 62 (59%) were on hemodialysis. The mean quality of life score was 44.89 dt (9.73). People on hemodialysis treatment presented a better quality of life than those on PD treatment: 49.66 dt (9.73) vs. 38.13 dt (9.12) t = 7.302, p < 0.001. A higher score on the symptom impairment scale (post-renal) correlated with worse scores on the total quality of life score: r = -0.807, p < 0.001. It was observed that those who improved the distress symptom scored better on the total quality of life questionnaire: 50.22 dt (8.44) vs. 46.42 dt (9.05), p < 0.001. Conclusions: The presence and management of the large number of symptoms that appear as side effects, such as distress or depression, could determine changes in some components of quality of life.

Inference on the Genetic Architecture of Breast Cancer Risk.

BACKGROUND: What are the major determinants of women's breast cancer risk? Rare mutations such as those in the BRCA1/2 genes, polygenic scores of common alleles identified by genome-wide association studies, or nongenetic factors? METHODS: The population-based Nordic Twin Study of Cancer, with 3,933 breast cancer cases among 21,054 monozygotic (MZ) and 30,939 dizygotic (DZ) female twin pairs, provides three key clues to this question: (i) the average lifetime risk, approximately 8%, does not differ by twin zygosity; (ii) the mean time interval between diagnoses when both twins develop disease (i.e., disease concordance) also does not differ by zygosity; but, (iii) conditioning on one twin having developed disease, the incidence rate in the co-twin is approximately 1% per year if the pair is MZ and 0.5% per year if DZ. RESULTS: Assuming that nongenetic risk factors are shared similarly between twins regardless of zygosity, we can draw two conclusions from (i) to (iii). CONCLUSIONS: First, (i) and (iii) imply that the chief determinant of risk is in the germline DNA, because the conditional incidence rate is several-fold higher than the average risk (8% lifetime) in MZ twins but only half as much in DZ twins. Second, the seeming inconsistency between the two-fold conditional incidence rate (iii) and the equality of the mean inter-twin disease intervals in disease concordance (ii) can be resolved if the risk factors in the germline DNA are rare variants, not common variants. IMPACT: This paper details simple deductive reasoning for these conclusions and draws a critical inference regarding breast cancer etiology. See related In the Spotlight, p. 1477.

CVS-Q teen©: síndrome visual informático en adolescentes y su relación con libros de texto digitales / CVS-Q teen©: computer vision syndrome in adolescents and its relationship with digital textbooks

Objetivo: Analizar la prevalencia y la evolución del síndrome visual informático en estudiantes de secundaria y bachillerato mediante el CVS-Q© adaptado y validado para adolescentes, según empleen libros en papel o en soporte digital.Método: Se adaptará el CVS-Q© mediante un pilotaje en adolescentes y un grupo nominal compuesto por especialistas en salud visual, profesorado y padres/madres. Se evaluarán la calidad y la aplicabilidad de la versión resultante (CVS-Q teen©) y se realizará un estudio de validación con pruebas visuales, retest y análisis psicométrico. Posteriormente, se realizará un estudio prospectivo longitudinal con cuatro medidas repetidas en adolescentes de dos institutos de San Juan de Alicante (uno ha sustituido libros por tabletas). Se medirá el síndrome visual informático mediante el CVS-Q teen© con tres seguimientos. Se analizará la prevalencia de síndrome visual informático según factores sociodemográficos, visuales y de uso de dispositivos digitales. Se realizarán modelos de regresión logística con efecto aleatorio por estudiante y tiempo de uso. (AU)

Objective: To analyse the prevalence and progression of computer vision syndrome in secondary and high school students with the CVS-Q© adapted and validated for adolescents, depending on whether they use textbooks or digital books.Method: The CVS-Q© will be adapted by a pilot study in adolescents and a nominal group of visual health specialists, teachers and parents. The resulting version (CVS-Q teen©) will be tested to confirm its quality and applicability and a validation study will be done with visual tests, retest and psychometric analysis. Subsequently, a prospective longitudinal study with four repeated measures will be carried out in adolescents from two secondary schools of San Juan de Alicante (one has replaced textbooks by tablets). Computer vision syndrome will be measured by the CVS-Q teen© with three follow-ups. The prevalence of computer vision syndrome will be analysed according to sociodemographic, visual and digital device use variables. Logistic regression models will be performed, with random effect by student and time of use. (AU)

Understanding the Interactions between Soft Segments in Polyurethanes: Structural Synergies in Blends of Polyester and Polycarbonate Diol Polyols.

There are no previous studies on the interactions between polyols of different nature as a model for understanding the interactions between soft segments in PUs. In this study, different blends of two polyols of different natures (polyester-PE, and polycarbonate diol-CD) and similar molecular weights were prepared and their structural, thermal, surface, viscoelastic, and self-adhesion properties were assessed. Different experimental techniques were used: infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and plate-plate rheology. PE showed a larger number of structural repeating units and a higher number of polar groups than CD, but the carbonate-carbonate interactions in CD were stronger than the ester-ester interactions in PE. The blending of CD and PE imparted synergic structural properties, particularly in the blends containing less than 50 wt.% PE, they were associated with the disrupt of the carbonate-carbonate interactions in CD and the formation of new ester-carbonate and hydroxyl-carbonate interactions. CD + PE blends with less than 50 wt.% PE exhibited higher glass transition temperatures, a new diffraction peak at 2θ = 24°, one additional thermal degradation at 426-436 °C, and a less-steep decline of the storage moduli. Furthermore, the different interactions between the polyol chains in the blends were also evidenced on their surface properties, and all CD + PE blends showed self-adhesion properties which seemed related to the existence of ester-carbonate and carbonate-carbonate interactions.

Efficient Physical Mixing of Small Amounts of Nanosilica Dispersion and Waterborne Polyurethane by Using Mild Stirring Conditions.

Good dispersion of nanosilica particles in waterborne polyurethane was obtained by mild mechanical stirring when 0.1-0.5 wt.% nanosilica in aqueous dispersion was added. The addition of small amounts of nanosilica produced more negative Z-potential values, increased the surface tension and decreased the Brookfield viscosity, as well as the extent of shear thinning of the waterborne polyurethane. Depending on the amount of nanosilica, the particle-size distributions of the waterborne polyurethanes changed differently and the addition of only 0.1 wt.% nanosilica noticeably increased the percentage of the particles of 298 nm in diameter. The DSC curves showed two melting peaks at 46 °C and 52 °C, as well as an increase in the melting enthalpy. In addition, when nanosilica was added, the crystallization peak of the waterborne polyurethane was displaced to a higher temperature and showed higher enthalpy. Furthermore, the addition of 0.1-0.5 wt.% nanosilica displaced the temperature of decomposition of the soft domains to higher temperatures due to the intercalation of the particles among the soft segments; this led to a change in the degree of phase separation of the waterborne polyurethanes. As a consequence, improved thermal stability and viscoelastic and mechanical properties of the waterborne polyurethanes were obtained. However, the addition of small amounts of nanosilica was detrimental for the wettability and adhesion of the waterborne polyurethanes due to the existence of acrylic moieties on the nanosilica particles, which seemed to migrate to the interface once the polyurethane was cross-linked. In fact, the final T-peel strength values of the joints made with the waterborne polyurethanes containing nanosilica were significantly lower than the one obtained with the waterborne polyurethane without nanosilica; the higher the nanosilica content, the lower the final adhesion. The better the nanosilica dispersion in the waterborne polyurethane+nanosilica, the higher the final T-peel strength value.

Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Classrooms at the University of the Basque Country through a User-Informed Natural Ventilation Demonstrator.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a renewed interest in indoor air quality to limit viral spread. In the case of educational spaces, due to the high concentration of people and the fact that most of the existing buildings do not have any mechanical ventilation system, the different administrations have established natural ventilation protocols to guarantee an air quality that reduces risk of contagion by the SARS-CoV-2 virus after the return to the classrooms. Many of the initial protocols established a ventilation pattern that opted for continuous or intermittent ventilation to varying degrees of intensity. This study, carried out on a university campus in Spain, analyses the performance of natural ventilation activated through the information provided by monitoring and visualisation of real-time data. In order to carry out this analysis, a experiment was set up where a preliminary study of ventilation without providing information to the users was carried out, which was then compared with the result of providing live feedback to the occupants of two classrooms and an administration office in different periods of 2020, 2021 and 2022. In the administration office, a CO2-concentration-based method was applied retrospectively to assess the risk of airborne infection. This experience has served as a basis to establish a route for user-informed improvement of air quality in educational spaces in general through low-cost systems that allow a rational use of natural ventilation while helping maintain an adequate compromise between IAQ, comfort and energy consumption, without having to resort to mechanical ventilation systems.

[CVS-Q teen©: computer vision syndrome in adolescents and its relationship with digital textbooks]. / CVS-Q teen©: síndrome visual informático en adolescentes y su relación con libros de texto digitales.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence and progression of computer vision syndrome in secondary and high school students with the CVS-Q© adapted and validated for adolescents, depending on whether they use textbooks or digital books. METHOD: The CVS-Q© will be adapted by a pilot study in adolescents and a nominal group of visual health specialists, teachers and parents. The resulting version (CVS-Q teen©) will be tested to confirm its quality and applicability and a validation study will be done with visual tests, retest and psychometric analysis. Subsequently, a prospective longitudinal study with four repeated measures will be carried out in adolescents from two secondary schools of San Juan de Alicante (one has replaced textbooks by tablets). Computer vision syndrome will be measured by the CVS-Q teen© with three follow-ups. The prevalence of computer vision syndrome will be analysed according to sociodemographic, visual and digital device use variables. Logistic regression models will be performed, with random effect by student and time of use.

Using population-based data to evaluate the impact of adherence to endocrine therapy on survival in breast cancer through the web-application BreCanSurvPred.

We show how the use and interpretation of population-based cancer survival indicators can help oncologists talk with breast cancer (BC) patients about the relationship between their prognosis and their adherence to endocrine therapy (ET). The study population comprised a population-based cohort of estrogen receptor positive BC patients (N = 1268) diagnosed in Girona and Tarragona (Northeastern Spain) and classified according to HER2 status (+ / -), stage at diagnosis (I/II/III) and five-year cumulative adherence rate (adherent > 80%; non-adherent ≤ 80%). Cox regression analysis was performed to identify significant prognostic factors for overall survival, whereas relative survival (RS) was used to estimate the crude probability of death due to BC (PBC). Stage and adherence to ET were the significant factors for predicting all-cause mortality. Compared to stage I, risk of death increased in stage II (hazard ratio [HR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-3.30) and stage III (HR 5.11, 95% CI 3.46-7.51), and it decreased with adherence to ET (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.59). PBC differences were higher in non-adherent patients compared to adherent ones and increased across stages: stage I: 6.61% (95% CI 0.05-13.20); stage II: 9.77% (95% CI 0.59-19.01), and stage III: 22.31% (95% CI 6.34-38.45). The age-adjusted survival curves derived from this modeling were implemented in the web application BreCanSurvPred ( https://pdocomputation.snpstats.net/BreCanSurvPred ). Web applications like BreCanSurvPred can help oncologists discuss the consequences of non-adherence to prescribed ET with patients.

Agroclimatic Evolution web application as a powerful solution for managing climate data.

Applying the AgroClimatic Evolution web application allows inquiries being made, data being collected and variables being calculated with the data acquired from different public agrometeorological stations on a single platform. Today all these stations from Murcia and Andalusia (Spain) are included, and stations elsewhere in Spain are being incorporated. This web application also offers the possibility of including each user's own stations, which increases the number and availability of data close to each farmer's plots. The data collected from stations is employed to collect daily data about weather and times, which are used to calculate the reference evapotranspiration (ETo). All the data are saved in a cloud database to later consult them and study their evolution. The data provided by all the stations are validated by applying the filters indicated in Standard UNE 500540:2004 "Automatic weather stations networks" by eliminating mistaken data that could alter correct ETo calculations. With the filtered data, and having calculated ETo, the user is provided with a comparison made with the raw data supplied by public stations. The main objective of this tool is to optimize the use of water resources available from data acquisition. Managing these data will contribute to make agriculture more sustainable and compatible with the natural environment.

No Excess Mortality up to 10 Years in Early Stages of Breast Cancer in Women Adherent to Oral Endocrine Therapy: A Probabilistic Graphical Modeling Approach.

Breast cancer (BC) is globally the most frequent cancer in women. Adherence to endocrine therapy (ET) in hormone-receptor-positive BC patients is active and voluntary for the first five years after diagnosis. This study examines the impact of adherence to ET on 10-year excess mortality (EM) in patients diagnosed with Stages I to III BC (N = 2297). Since sample size is an issue for estimating age- and stage-specific survival indicators, we developed a method, ComSynSurData, for generating a large synthetic dataset (SynD) through probabilistic graphical modeling of the original cohort. We derived population-based survival indicators using a Bayesian relative survival model fitted to the SynD. Our modeling showed that hormone-receptor-positive BC patients diagnosed beyond 49 years of age at Stage I or beyond 59 years at Stage II do not have 10-year EM if they follow the prescribed ET regimen. This result calls for developing interventions to promote adherence to ET in patients with hormone receptor-positive BC and in turn improving cancer survival. The presented methodology here demonstrates the potential use of probabilistic graphical modeling for generating reliable synthetic datasets for validating population-based survival indicators when sample size is an issue.

[Archivos in 2021, second year of the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Archivos en 2021, segundo año de la pandemia de COVID-19.

Al igual que ya sucedió en 2020, 2021 ha estado dominado por la pandemia de COVID-19. Si hace un año escribíamos esta Nota Editorial con gran preocupación por la evolución de la situación de la infección originada por el SARS-CoV-2 y, a su vez, con grandes esperanzas puestas en las vacunas como estrategia preventiva, la actual viene marcada por la incertidumbre generada por la irrupción de la nueva variante de preocupación: Omicrón….

Archivos en 2021, segundo año de la pandemia de COVID-19 / Archivos in 2021, second year of the COVID-19 pandemic

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Ten-Year Probabilities of Death Due to Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease among Breast Cancer Patients Diagnosed in North-Eastern Spain.

Mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), second tumours, and other causes is of clinical interest in the long-term follow-up of breast cancer (BC) patients. Using a cohort of BC patients (N = 6758) from the cancer registries of Girona and Tarragona (north-eastern Spain), we studied the 10-year probabilities of death due to BC, other cancers, and CVD according to stage at diagnosis and hormone receptor (HR) status. Among the non-BC causes of death (N = 720), CVD (N = 218) surpassed other cancers (N = 196). The BC cohort presented a significantly higher risk of death due to endometrial and ovarian cancers than the general population. In Stage I, HR- patients showed a 1.72-fold higher probability of all-cause death and a 6.11-fold higher probability of breast cancer death than HR+ patients. In Stages II-III, the probability of CVD death (range 3.11% to 3.86%) surpassed that of other cancers (range 0.54% to 3.11%). In Stage IV patients, the probability of death from any cancer drove the mortality risk. Promoting screening and preventive measures in BC patients are warranted, since long-term control should encompass early detection of second neoplasms, ruling out the possibility of late recurrence. In patients diagnosed in Stages II-III at an older age, surveillance for preventing late cardiotoxicity is crucial.

Estimating Country-Specific Incidence Rates of Rare Cancers: Comparative Performance Analysis of Modeling Approaches Using European Cancer Registry Data.

Estimating incidence of rare cancers is challenging for exceptionally rare entities and in small populations. In a previous study, investigators in the Information Network on Rare Cancers (RARECARENet) provided Bayesian estimates of expected numbers of rare cancers and 95% credible intervals for 27 European countries, using data collected by population-based cancer registries. In that study, slightly different results were found by implementing a Poisson model in integrated nested Laplace approximation/WinBUGS platforms. In this study, we assessed the performance of a Poisson modeling approach for estimating rare cancer incidence rates, oscillating around an overall European average and using small-count data in different scenarios/computational platforms. First, we compared the performance of frequentist, empirical Bayes, and Bayesian approaches for providing 95% confidence/credible intervals for the expected rates in each country. Second, we carried out an empirical study using 190 rare cancers to assess different lower/upper bounds of a uniform prior distribution for the standard deviation of the random effects. For obtaining a reliable measure of variability for country-specific incidence rates, our results suggest the suitability of using 1 as the lower bound for that prior distribution and selecting the random-effects model through an averaged indicator derived from 2 Bayesian model selection criteria: the deviance information criterion and the Watanabe-Akaike information criterion.