Publications by authors named "Lara R"

There is a body of evidence that ultrafine particles (UFP, those with diameters ≤ 100 nm) might have significant impacts on health. Accordingly, identifying sources of UFP is essential to develop abatement policies. This study focuses on urban Europe, and aims at identifying sources and quantifying their contributions to particle number size distribution (PNSD) using receptor modelling (Positive Matrix Factorization, PMF), and evaluating long-term trends of these source contributions using the non-parametric Theil-Sen's method.

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With the rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) systems, ensuring robust security measures has become paramount. Microservices Architecture (MSA) has emerged as a promising approach for enhancing IoT systems security, yet its adoption in this context lacks comprehensive analysis. This systematic review addresses this research gap by examining the incorporation of MSA in IoT systems from 2010 to 2024.

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Atmospheric PM and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentrations in Manlleu (NE Spain) have remained high from 2008 to 2023, frequently exceeding EU limit/target values, and reaching BaP levels up to six times higher than urban averages in Spain. Furthermore, PM speciation campaigns were carried out in 2013, 2014-2015, 2016-2017 and 2021-2022. Chemical mass closure for autumn-winter showed a consistent PM composition for the different PM speciation campaigns, comprising 46-53% organic matter (OM), 18-26% secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA), 13-23% mineral matter (MM), and 5-9% elemental carbon (EC).

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Article Synopsis
  • Anthropogenic carbon emissions are altering ocean conditions by increasing acidity, temperature, and decreasing salinity, which may affect marine life, particularly oysters.
  • This project focused on how these changing conditions influence eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and their resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a harmful bacterium associated with seafood.
  • Results showed that oysters were able to control bacterial levels despite environmental stressors, but these conditions could lead to an increase in opportunistic pathogens, affecting oyster populations and potentially human health.
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Although many studies have discussed the impact of Europe's air quality, very limited research focused on the detailed phenomenology of ambient trace elements (TEs) in PM in urban atmosphere. This study compiled long-term (2013-2022) measurements of speciation of ambient urban PM from 55 sites of 7 countries (Switzerland, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, UK), aiming to elucidate the phenomenology of 20 TEs in PM in urban Europe. The monitoring sites comprised urban background (UB, n = 26), traffic (TR, n = 10), industrial (IN, n = 5), suburban background (SUB, n = 7), and rural background (RB, n = 7) types.

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Several studies have found that maltreated children show neuropsychological deficits in various cognitive domains such as memory and attention, language, visuospatial skills, emotional regulation, social cognition, and executive functioning. In terms of functional connectivity, abused children show an increased connectivity in the salience network (SN) as opposed to a decreased connectivity within the default (DMN) and executive networks (CEN). Children who suffer maltreatment may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which in turn, can increase psychological and cognitive sequelae.

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Intensive Care to facilitate Organ Donation (ICOD) consists of the initiation or continuation of intensive care measures in patients with a devastating brain injury (DBI) in whom curative treatment is deemed futile and death by neurological criteria (DNC) is foreseen, to incorporate organ donation into their end-of-life plans. In this study we evaluate the outcomes of patients subject to ICOD and identify radiological and clinical factors associated with progression to DNC. In this first prospective multicenter study we tested by multivariate regression the association of clinical and radiological severity features with progression to DNC.

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Undiagnosed monogenic diseases represent a challenging group of human conditions highly suspicious to have a genetic origin, but without conclusive evidences about it. We identified two brothers born prematurely from a non-consanguineous healthy couple, with a neonatal-onset, chronic disease characterized by severe skin and bone inflammatory manifestations and a fatal outcome in infancy. We conducted DNA and mRNA analyses in the patients' healthy relatives to identify the genetic cause of the patients' disease.

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Ultrafine particles (UFP, those with diameters ≤ 100 nm), have been reported to potentially penetrate deeply into the respiratory system, translocate through the alveoli, and affect various organs, potentially correlating with increased mortality. The aim of this study is to assess long-term trends (5-11 years) in mostly urban UFP concentrations based on measurements of particle number size distributions (PNSD). Additionally, concentrations of other pollutants and meteorological variables were evaluated to support the interpretations.

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This study addressed the scarcity of NH measurements in urban Europe and the diverse monitoring protocols, hindering direct data comparison. Sixty-nine datasets from Finland, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK across various site types, including industrial (IND, 8), traffic (TR, 12), urban (UB, 22), suburban (SUB, 12), and regional background (RB, 15), are analyzed to this study. Among these, 26 sites provided 5, or more, years of data for time series analysis.

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The characteristics of the whole PEDV genome that has circulated in Mexico from the first outbreak to the present are unknown. We chose samples obtained from 2013 to 2017 and sequenced them, which enabled us to identify the genetic variation and phylogeny in the virus during the first four years that it circulated in Mexico. A 99% identity was found among the analyzed pandemic strains; however, the 1% difference affected the structure of the S glycoprotein, which is essential for the binding of the virus to the cellular receptor.

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The ecotoxic effect of Zn species arising from the weathering of the marmatite-like sphalerite ((Fe, Zn)S) in Allium cepa systems was herein evaluated in calcareous soils and connected with its sulfide oxidation mechanism to determine the chemical speciation responsible of this outcome. Mineralogical analyses (X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy), chemical study of leachates (total Fe, Zn, Cd, oxidation-reduction potential, pH, sulfates and total alkalinity) and electrochemical assessments (chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) were carried out using (Fe, Zn)S samples to elucidate interfacial mechanisms simulating calcareous soil conditions. Results indicate the formation of polysulfides (S), elemental sulfur (S), siderite (FeCO)-like, hematite (FeO)-like with sorbed CO species, gunningite (ZnSO·HO)-like phase and smithsonite (ZnCO)-like compounds in altered surface under calcareous conditions.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study discusses the challenges of selecting appropriate chemical components for Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) in aerosol source apportionment, highlighting that this choice greatly affects the identified sources and contribution estimates.
  • It emphasizes that the absence of specific source tracers, like levoglucosan, can skew results and lead to uncertainties in identifying and quantifying sources of particulate matter (PM).
  • The research includes sensitivity analyses across different urban conditions in Europe, revealing that while vehicle exhaust analysis may be less sensitive to component choices, neglecting certain inorganic elements can hinder the identification of non-exhaust sources.
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Due to the intrinsically low turnover of neural tissues, regenerative therapies have gained significant interest in the context of degenerative diseases and injury to the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although a range of neuroregenerative strategies involving cell transplants and drugs have been explored, these are often limited by low efficacy and unwanted side effects. Electrical stimulation (ES) is thought to modulate the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs), and thus it represents a promising strategy for neuroregenerative therapies.

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Background: Severely maltreatment child is a harmful social factor that can disrupt normal neurodevelopment. Two commonly reported effects of maltreatment are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and brain structural and functional alteration. While Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is effectively used to reduce PTSD symptoms in maltreated children, yet, its impact on brain structural alterations has not been fully explored.

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This study characterizes the diversity of Sisyridae in an area of riparian forest (21°36'47"S; 47°49'4"W) at the Estação Ecológica de Jataí, in the municipality of Luiz Antônio, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The geographic ranges of Climacia carpenteri Parfin & Gurney, 1956 and Sisyra panama Parfin & Gurney, 1956 are expanded to include the State of São Paulo.

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The aim of the study was to explore the relationship among brain functional activations elicited by an emotional paradigm, clinical scores (PTSD, anxiety, and depression), psychopathic traits, and genetic characteristics (5-HTTLPR) in a group of severely maltreated children compared to a healthy control group before and after the implementation of a Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The final sample consisted of an experimental group of 14 maltreated children (mean age = 8.77 years old, .

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Article Synopsis
  • VEXAS syndrome is an adult-onset autoinflammatory disease caused by postzygotic genetic variants, affecting males with symptoms like skin lesions, fever, and arthritis at a mean age of 67.5 years.
  • In a study of 42 patients, 30 were identified with pathogenic genetic variants and showed varying degrees of glucocorticoid dependence for symptom management.
  • The research revealed that these variants were present in both blood and non-blood tissues, challenging the previous understanding that these genetic changes were limited to myeloid (blood) cells.
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In highly industrialized areas, abating particulate matter (PM) is complex owing to the variety of emission sources with different chemical profiles that may mix in the atmosphere. Gijón-an industrial city in northern Spain-was selected as a case study to better understand the key emission sources and improve air quality in highly industrialized areas. Accordingly, the trends of various air quality indicators (PM10, PM2.

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As the main components of the building envelope, construction materials have a straight relation with air contaminants from anthropogenic origins. Titanium dioxide has been recently applied in construction industry products since its photocatalytic properties can be used for pollutant degradation purposes. This study evaluated the performance of cement-based mortars with the incorporation of TiO nanoparticles and mineral admixtures.

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While mobbing, individuals utter distinctive calls and perform visual threatening displays. Like any other antipredatory strategies, it involves some costs (time, energy, injuries, and even death). Therefore, mobbing would be expected to vary depending on the perceived magnitude of the predation risk.

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Animal documentary films such as Blackfish, considered nonfiction accounts of reality, nonetheless use rhetorical devices to engage viewers and shape their emotional experience for maximum effect. Such devices can also influence attitudes and alter behavior. In animal documentaries, anthropomorphic impressions of the animals by audiences are key.

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Supervision of trainee and early career psychologists is the epitome of clinical skill cultivation and mentorship of knowledge passed from an experienced professional supervisor to supervisee. However, supervision is not only a "one-way street" as it has been traditionally regarded. Rather, the supervisor-supervisee dynamic is variable, ranging from didactic, to symbiotic, to everything in between.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown restrictions were established around the world. Many studies have assessed whether these restrictions affected atmospheric pollution. Comparison between them is difficult as the periods of time considered are generally not the same and thus, different conclusions may be reached.

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Currently, the important role of oxidative stress in the aging process and in neurodegenerative diseases has been highlighted, suggesting the beneficial effect of antioxidants as adjuvant therapy. Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenolic compound used in the clinic and has been shown as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Therefore, the objective was to verify neuroprotective and modulating effects of RSV on N2-A cells, pre or post inserted into an oxidative stress environment.

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