Spinal Cord Stimulation for Refractory Angina Pectoris: Current Status and Future Perspectives, a Narrative Review.

Refractory angina pectoris (RAP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia that is unresponsive to optimal pharmacological therapy and revascularization procedures. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for managing RAP, offering significant symptom relief and improved quality of life. A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, mechanisms of action, and safety profile of SCS in treating RAP.

Interindividual Variability Response to Resistance and High-Intensity Interval Training on Blood Pressure Reduction in Hypertensive Older Adults.

Background: This study evaluated the effects of resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in hypertensive older adults undergoing pharmacological therapy over four and eight weeks. We compared the efficacy of RT and HIIT in reducing non-responders (NRs) between weeks 4 and 8 and analyzed time-course adaptations in NRs and responders (Rs).

Methods: Thirty-nine participants were randomized into RT-G ( = 13), HIIT-G ( = 13), or control (CG, = 13) groups.

A Study on the Safety and Efficacy of an Innovative Hydrophilic Dialysis Membrane.

The dialysis membrane based on a hydrophilic polymer (Hydrolink NV) was designed to enhance the movement of adsorbed water at the blood-membrane interface, aiming to achieve antithrombogenic and antifouling effects. This study aimed to assess the performance and albumin loss of the Hydrolink NV dialyzer in hemodialysis (HD) and post-dilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) with different infusion flows (Qis) and compare it with the hydrophilic FX CorAL dialyzer in post-dilution HDF. A prospective study was carried out in 20 patients.

Predictive Value of First Amniotic Sac IL-6 and Maternal Blood CRP for Emergency Cerclage Success in Twin Pregnancies.

To assess the usefulness of first amniotic sac Interleukin-6 (IL-6) to rule out intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI), as well as maternal blood c-reactive protein (CRP), to select patients with a twin pregnancy who may benefit from an emergency cerclage. : Retrospective, descriptive study among all patients with a twin pregnancy and mid-trimester bulging membranes admitted to a tertiary Hospital from January 2012 to September 2023. According to the Hospital's Protocol, all patients received a vaginal and abdominal ultrasound, a maternal blood test, and an amniocentesis of the first sac to rule out IAI, defined by IL-6 ≥ 2.

Descriptive Analysis of Patients Treated with Diroximel Fumarate and Dimethyl Fumarate-A Real-Life Experience.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and diroximel fumarate (DRF) are two treatments used for multiple sclerosis (MS) that have been shown to be effective in controlling MS patients. DRF was introduced in 2019 with the aim of decreasing the gastrointestinal side effects caused by DMF. Few real-life studies verify the data provided in the clinical trials.

Digital Competence of Rural Teachers in Depopulated Regions of Spain: A Bibliometric Review.

Rural teachers have the potential to be important agents of local development. To achieve this goal, they need to acquire high digital competence in order to effectively integrate technology into their pedagogical practices, thus enriching the learning experience of students and fostering their participation. Digital competence contributes to reducing the education gap between urban and rural areas, promoting educational equity and inclusion.

Outlining the Psychological Profile of Persistent Depression in Fibromyalgia Patients Through Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI).

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex condition marked by increased pain sensitivity and central sensitization. Studies often explore the link between FM and depressive anxiety disorders, but few focus on dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), which can be more disabling than major depression (MD). To identify clinical scales and subscales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) that effectively describe and differentiate the psychological profile of PDD, with or without comorbid MD, in FM patients with PDD previously dimensionally classified by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III).

MicroVi: A Cost-Effective Microscopy Solution for Yeast Cell Detection and Count in Wine Value Chain.

In recent years, the wine industry has been researching how to improve wine quality along the production value chain. In this scenario, we present here a new tool, MicroVi, a cost-effective chip-sized microscopy solution to detect and count yeast cells in wine samples. We demonstrate that this novel microscopy setup is able to measure the same type of samples as an optical microscopy system, but with smaller size equipment and with automated cell count configuration.

Influence of Synthesis Conditions on the Capacitance Performance of Hydrothermally Prepared MnO for Carbon Xerogel-Based Solid-State Supercapacitors.

In this study, the potential to modify the phase structure and morphology of manganese dioxide synthesized via the hydrothermal route was explored. A series of samples were prepared at different synthesis temperatures (100, 120, 140, and 160 °C) using KMnO and MnSO·HO as precursors. The phase composition and morphology of the materials were analyzed using various physicochemical methods.

Studying the Size-Dependence of Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the Final Properties of Polyurethane Aerogels: Thermal Insulation and Mechanical Strength.

In the present work, the influence of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets presenting different dimensions on polyurethane-polyisocyanurate aerogel structure and properties has been studied. The obtained aerogels synthesized through a sol-gel method have been fully characterized in terms of density, porosity, specific surface area, mechanical stiffness, thermal conductivity, and speed of sound. Opacified aerogels showing high porosity (>92%) and low densities (78-98 kg/m) have been produced, and the effect of the size and content of graphene nanoplatelets has been studied.

Formulation of Hydrogel Beads to Improve the Bioaccessibility of Bioactive Compounds from Goldenberry and Purple Passion Fruit and Evaluation of Their Antiproliferative Effects on Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells.

Goldenberry and purple passion fruit contain bioactive compounds (BCs) that can prevent gastrointestinal cancers; hydrogel beads can protect and control their release in the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to develop an encapsulating material for fruit hydrogel beads (FHBs) to increase their bioaccessibility and to assess antiproliferative effects. A blend of goldenberry-purple passion fruit was encapsulated using ionic gelation and electrospraying.

Impact of Ethical Leadership on Autonomy and Self-Efficacy in Virtual Work Environments: The Disintegrating Effect of an Egoistic Climate.

Ethical management is key to ensuring organizational sustainability, through resources such as autonomy or self-efficacy. However, economic and social uncertainty occasionally leads to adaptive responses that prioritize profit as the primary interest, blurring the integrating role of ethical leadership. There are a number of studies that support this reality in a virtual work environment.

Decision-Making Styles, Prosociality, and Behavioral Difficulties in Adolescent Offenders: The Mediating Role of Life Satisfaction and Emotional Experiences.

Research on adolescents suggests that decision-making styles, emotional experiences, and life satisfaction play a crucial role in emotional and behavioral difficulties and the development of prosocial behaviors. This study analyzed the relationship between decision-making styles, prosociality, and difficulties among adolescent offenders, as well as the mediating role of life satisfaction and emotional experiences in this relationship. A total of 457 adolescents aged from 14 to 19 years (M = 16.

Psychometric Validation of the Dating Violence Questionnaire (DVQ-R) in Ecuadorians.

Gender-based violence among young people is a pressing global problem, causing injury and disability to women and posing physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health risks. This study aimed to psychometrically validate the Dating Violence Questionnaire-Revised (DVQ-R) in a sample of 340 Ecuadorian university students. The study included 340 male and female students from two universities in Ecuador.

Becoming a Caregiver: The Role of the Environment in the Process of Children Becoming Responsible for Others.

This article aims to illustrate the pivotal role that the environment plays in early child development (ECD), drawing upon data derived from the ethnographic research on children's daily routines. Participant observation and in-depth interviews were conducted over the course of several fieldwork periods (2013-2018). The concept of "mutual raising" is employed to examine the daily interactions between middle-aged children and their domestic animals.

Improving Anxiety Related to Chronic Pain Through a Sleep Circadian Intervention Program: A Pilot Study.

The limitations of pharmacological treatments for chronic pain have become increasingly evident: dependency, side effects, resistance, and diminishing efficacy. The urgent need for innovative solutions has become a compelling focus for improving patient outcomes. Innovative non-pharmacological approaches, such as sleep management, as a strategy to reduce opioid consumption and pain control are needed.

Segment, Compare, and Learn: Creating Movement Libraries of Complex Task for Learning from Demonstration.

Motion primitives are a highly useful and widely employed tool in the field of Learning from Demonstration (LfD). However, obtaining a large number of motion primitives can be a tedious process, as they typically need to be generated individually for each task to be learned. To address this challenge, this work presents an algorithm for acquiring robotic skills through automatic and unsupervised segmentation.

Osteoblastic Differentiation and Mitigation of the Inflammatory Response in Titanium Alloys Decorated with Oligopeptides.

Under benign conditions, bone tissue can regenerate itself without external intervention. However, this regenerative capacity can be compromised by various factors, most importantly related with the extent of the injury. Critical-sized defects, exceeding the body's natural healing ability, demand the use of temporary or permanent devices like artificial joints or bone substitutes.

Influence of the Sodium Titanate Crystal Size of Biomimetic Dental Implants on Osteoblastic Behavior: An In Vitro Study.

Treating the surfaces of dental implants in an alkaline medium allows us to obtain microstructures of sodium titanate crystals that favor the appearance of apatite in the physiological environment, producing osteoconductive surfaces. In this research, 385 discs made of titanium used in dental implants underwent different NaOH treatments with a 6M concentration at 600 °C and cooling rates of 20, 50, 75, and 115 °C/h. Using high-resolution electron microscopy, the microstructures were observed, and the different crystal sizes were determined and compared with control samples (those without biomimetic treatment).

Evaluation of Sericin/Polyvinyl Alcohol Mixtures for Developing Porous and Stable Structures.

Fibrous by-products, including defective or double cocoons, are obtained during silk processing. These cocoons primarily contain fibroin and sericin (SS) proteins along with minor amounts of wax and mineral salts. In conventional textile processes, SS is removed in the production of smooth, lustrous silk threads, and is typically discarded.

Nature-Inspired Metaheuristic Optimization for Control Tuning of Complex Systems.

In this contribution, a methodology for the optimal tuning of controllers of complex systems based on meta-heuristic techniques is proposed. Two bio-inspired meta-heuristic optimization algorithms -the Antlion Optimizer (ALO) and the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)- have been applied to two different dynamic systems: the Hoop & Ball electromechanical system, a system where a linearized description is adequate; and to a Wind Turbine-Generator-Rectifier, as an example of a complex non-linear dynamic system. The performance of the ALO and WOA techniques for the tuning of conventional PID controllers is evaluated in relation to the number of agents nS and the maximum number of iterations nMaxIter; given the stochastic nature of both methods, repeatability is also addressed.

Discontinuous Structural Transitions in Fluids with Competing Interactions.

This paper explores how competing interactions in the intermolecular potential of fluids affect their structural transitions. This study employs a versatile potential model with a hard core followed by two constant steps, representing wells or shoulders, analyzed in both one-dimensional (1D) and three-dimensional (3D) systems. Comparing these dimensionalities highlights the effect of confinement on structural transitions.

Maximizing Free Energy Gain.

Maximizing the amount of work harvested from an environment is important for a wide variety of biological and technological processes, from energy-harvesting processes such as photosynthesis to energy storage systems such as fuels and batteries. Here, we consider the maximization of free energy-and by extension, the maximum extractable work-that can be gained by a classical or quantum system that undergoes driving by its environment. We consider how the free energy gain depends on the initial state of the system while also accounting for the cost of preparing the system.

Structured Dynamics in the Algorithmic Agent.

In the Kolmogorov Theory of Consciousness, algorithmic agents utilize inferred compressive models to track coarse-grained data produced by simplified world models, capturing regularities that structure subjective experience and guide action planning. Here, we study the dynamical aspects of this framework by examining how the requirement of tracking natural data drives the structural and dynamical properties of the agent. We first formalize the notion of a using the language of symmetry from group theory, specifically employing Lie pseudogroups to describe the continuous transformations that characterize invariance in natural data.

Statistical Mechanics of Directed Networks.

Directed networks are essential for representing complex systems, capturing the asymmetry of interactions in fields such as neuroscience, transportation, and social networks. Directionality reveals how influence, information, or resources flow within a network, fundamentally shaping the behavior of dynamical processes and distinguishing directed networks from their undirected counterparts. Robust null models are crucial for identifying meaningful patterns in these representations, yet designing models that preserve key features remains a significant challenge.