Assessing the potential impact of grasshopper outbreaks on Patagonian wetlands through mathematical modelling.

Herbivorous insects occasionally produce population outbreaks that can alter the availability of food resources for other animals and cause economical losses. In the Patagonian steppe, wetlands are important ecosystems due to their environmental and ecological functions. Within these ecosystems, there is a wide diversity of phytophagous insects, among which two species of orthoptera are predominant: Dichroplus elongatus (usually considered a pest) and D.

A Retrospective Analysis of 83 Patients with Testicular Mass Who Underwent Testis-Sparing Surgery: The Eurasian Uro-oncology Association Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Herein, we analyzed the histopathological, oncological and functional outcomes of testis-sparing surgery (TSS) in patients with distinct risk for testicular cancer.

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study on consecutive patients who underwent TSS. Patients were categorized in high- or low-risk testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) according to the presence/absence of features compatible with testicular dysgenesis syndrome.

A New Optical Interferometric Biosensing System Enhanced with Nanoparticles for Alzheimer's Disease in Serum.

In this scientific work, we demonstrate, for the first time, a new biosensing system and procedure to measure specifically the total Tau (T-Tau) protein in serum, one of the most relevant biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive brain disorder that produces neuronal and cognitive dysfunction and affects a high percentage of people worldwide. For this reason, diagnosing AD at the earliest possible stage involves improving diagnostic systems.

A tragedy of the commons case study: modeling the fishers king crab system in Southern Chile.

Illegal fishing in small-scale fisheries is a contentious issue and resists a straightforward interpretation. Particularly, there is little knowledge regarding cooperative interactions between legal and illegal fishers and the potential effects on fisheries arising from these interactions. Taking the Chilean king crab (; common name centolla) fishery as a case study, our goal is twofold: (i) to model the effect of illegal-legal fishers' interactions on the fishery and (ii) analyze how management and social behavior affect fishery's outcomes.

A review of Optical Point-of-Care devices to Estimate the Technology Transfer of These Cutting-Edge Technologies.

Despite the remarkable development related to Point-of-Care devices based on optical technology, their difficulties when used outside of research laboratories are notable. In this sense, it would be interesting to ask ourselves what the degree of transferability of the research work to the market is, for example, by analysing the relation between the scientific work developed and the registered one, through patent. In this work, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art in the sector of optical Point-of-Care devices, not only in the research area but also regarding their transfer to market.

Mosquito populations and human social behavior: A spatially explicit agent-based model.

Some mosquitoes are vectors for disease transmission to human populations. Aedes aegypti, the main vector for dengue in Argentina, mainly breeds in artificial containers as it is strongly adapted to urban environments. This highlights the relevance of understanding human social behavior to design successful vector control campaigns.

Integration of Multiple Interferometers in Highly Multiplexed Diagnostic KITs to Evaluate Several Biomarkers of COVID-19 in Serum.

In the present work, highly multiplexed diagnostic KITs based on an Interferometric Optical Detection Method (IODM) were developed to evaluate six Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related biomarkers. These biomarkers of COVID-19 were evaluated in 74 serum samples from severe, moderate, and mild patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), collected at the end of March 2020 in the Hospital Clínico San Carlos, in Madrid (Spain). The developed multiplexed diagnostic KITs were biofunctionalized to simultaneously measure different types of specific biomarkers involved in COVID-19.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in higher education: A data driven analysis for the knowledge acquisition process.

The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed the classroom context and presented enormous challenges for all actors in the educational process, who had to overcome multiple difficulties and incorporate new strategies and tools to construct new knowledge. In this work we analyze how student performance was affected, for a particular case of higher education in La Plata, Argentina. We developed an analytical model for the knowledge acquisition process, based on a series of surveys and information on academic performance in both contexts: face-to-face (before the onset of the pandemic) and virtual (during confinement) with 173 students during 2019 and 2020.

Study of taxes, regulations and inequality using machine learning algorithms.

Genetic machine learning (ML) algorithms to train agents in the Yard-Sale model proved very useful for finding optimal strategies that maximize their wealth. However, the main result indicates that the more significant the fraction of rational agents, the greater the inequality at the collective level. From social and economic viewpoints, this is an undesirable result since high inequality diminishes liquidity and trade.

New Label-Free Biosensing for the Evaluation of the AX-024 Inhibitor: Case Study for the Development of New Drugs in Autoimmune Diseases.

We developed a new label-free assay to evaluate the inhibition capacity of AX-024 by means of a new Point-of-Care (PoC) device for application in the development of new drugs in autoimmune diseases. The technology of PoC is based on interferometric optical detection method (IODM). For this purpose, we have optimized and developed an assay protocol whereby a Glutathione S-Transferase modified protein (GST-SH3.

Efficient Chemical Surface Modification Protocol on SiO Transducers Applied to MMP9 Biosensing.

The bioreceptor immobilization process (biofunctionalization) turns to be one of the bottlenecks when developing a competent and high sensitivity label-free biosensor. Classical approaches seem to be effective but not efficient. Although biosensing capacities are shown in many cases, the performance of the biosensor is truncated by the inefficacious biofunctionalization protocol and the lack of reproducibility.

Wealth exchange models and machine learning: Finding optimal risk strategies in multiagent economic systems.

The Yard-Sale Model, a well known wealth exchange model whose observed macroscopic behavior hides many underlying aspects of particular complexity, was studied at the microscopic level. The performance of the agents during the successive transactions allows for the definition of successful or disadvantageous strategies according to the profit they achieve at the end of the process. Optimal strategies were found that maximize the individual wealth of each agent by performing their training through a genetic algorithm.

Contemporary patterns of presentation, diagnostics and management of upper tract urothelial cancer in 101 centres: the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society Global upper tract urothelial carcinoma registry.

Purpose Of Review: To assess patterns of presentation, diagnostics and treatment in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), a multicentre registry was launched. Clinical data of UTUC patients were prospectively collected over a 5-year period.

Recent Findings: Data from 2380 patients were included from 2014 to 2019 (101 centres in 29 countries).

Neuronal circuits on a chip for biological network monitoring.

Cultured neuronal networks (CNNs) are a robust model to closely investigate neuronal circuits' formation and monitor their structural properties evolution. Typically, neurons are cultured in plastic plates or, more recently, in microfluidic platforms with potentially a wide variety of neuroscience applications. As a biological protocol, cell culture integration with a microfluidic system provides benefits such as accurate control of cell seeding area, culture medium renewal, or lower exposure to contamination.

Molecular biomarkers in the context of focal therapy for prostate cancer: recommendations of a Delphi Consensus from the Focal Therapy Society.

Background: Focal therapy (FT) for prostate cancer (PCa) is promising. However, long-term oncological results are awaited and there is no consensus on follow-up strategies. Molecular biomarkers (MB) may be useful in selecting, treating and following up men undergoing FT, though there is limited evidence in this field to guide practice.

The Knowledge Acquisition Process from a Complex System Perspective: Observations and Models.

We study the knowledge acquisition process in a teaching-learning scenario that takes place within the classroom. We explore two complementary approaches, which include classroom observations and student surveys, and the formulation of theoretical models through the use of statistical physics tools. We develop an analytical model and a set of dynamics agent-based models that allow us to understand global behaviors, as well as to follow individual trajec-tories in the knowledge acquisition process.

Optical Vapor Sensors Based on Periodic Resonant Nanopillar Structures.

In this work, it is reported for the first time the use of a network of periodic optical resonant nanopillars for sensing vapors of volatile organic components. In particular, this work evaluates the presence of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, and toluene vapors at different working distances between the transducer and the surface of the sample in the liquid state, obtaining the sensing curve response of each one of them. In addition, it studies the thin film of liquid condensed onto the nanopillar surface, estimating their corresponding thickness value by means of numerical photonic simulations and their correlation with the corresponding vapor pressure of different specimens.

[De-escalation: Testicular cancer.].

Objectives: To provide a priority algorithm for determinate diagnostic, therapeutic and follow-up procedures regarding at testicular cancer, adjusted by institutional requirements. Testicular cancer patient assessment during COVID-19 Pandemia.

Material And Methods: Review of relevant manuscript published up to date, draft creation correctedt hough modified nominal group until final corrected manuscript.

European Association of Urology Guidelines Office Rapid Reaction Group: An Organisation-wide Collaborative Effort to Adapt the European Association of Urology Guidelines Recommendations to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unlike anything seen before by modern science-based medicine. Health systems across the world are struggling to manage it. Added to this struggle are the effects of social confinement and isolation.

Engineering vertically interrogated interferometric sensors for optical label-free biosensing.

In this work, we review the technology of vertically interrogated optical biosensors from the point of view of engineering. Vertical sensors present several advantages in the fabrication processes and in the light coupling systems, compared with other interferometric sensors. Four different interrelated aspects of the design are identified and described: sensing cell design, optical techniques used in the interrogation, fabrication processes, fluidics, and biofunctionalization of the sensing surface.

Utilization and Operative Influence of Renal Mass Biopsy in the Small Renal Mass: Analysis from the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society Small Renal Mass registry.

Definitive inclusion of renal mass biopsy (RMB) in small renal mass (SRM) diagnostic algorithm remains controversial. We assessed incidence and accuracy of RMB in SRMs in the CROES Renal Mass registry and the influence of preoperative RMB on perioperative complications after SRM nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). "" description of incidence of preoperative RMB and characteristics of SRM cases with and without RMB.

Phosphorylcholine-based hydrogel for immobilization of biomolecules. Application to fluorometric microarrays for use in hybridization assays and immunoassays, and nanophotonic biosensing.

An approach is presented for covalent immobilization of biomolecules on an acrylate phosphorylcholine hydrogel. The immobilization and the hydrogel formation take place simultaneously by a thiol-acrylate coupling reaction, induced by UV-light (254 nm). The hydrogel is prepared on two polymeric surfaces (the HardCoat protective layer of Blu-Ray discs, and SU-8) and applied to fluorescence microarray and label-free interferometric detection.

Numerical simulation modeling of the irreversible electroporation treatment zone for focal therapy of prostate cancer, correlation with whole-mount pathology and T2-weighted MRI sequences.

Background: At present, it is not possible to predict the ablation zone volume following irreversible electroporation (IRE) for prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to determine the necessary electrical field threshold to ablate human prostate tissue with IRE.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter trial, patients with localized PCa were treated with IRE 4 weeks before their scheduled radical prostatectomy.

Educational intervention (CUIDAR) in cancer patients treated with surgery: A quasi-experimental study.

Objective: To assess the effect of an educational intervention (CUIDAR) in cancer patients during the post-operatory, aimed to strength the competence to care patients at home in the dimensions knowledge, instrumental unicity, enjoy, anticipation and social relationships and interactions.

Methods: Quantitative quasi-experimental design with control and intervention groups, 192 patients who received surgery in the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia. The intervention was conducted since the admission to the sixth week after release.

Can ablation win against partial nephrectomy and become first line therapy in cT1a renal tumours?

Purpose Of Review: Currently, small renal masses account for the largest proportion of renal tumour and small renal cell carcinomas (RCC). Although partial nephrectomy, whenever possible, is recognized as the gold standard for treatment, thermal ablation has gained increasing attention as optional treatment in a population sector harbouring small renal masses/small RCCs. The purpose of this review is to update comparative outcomes between these two options of treatment.