Analyzing the Impact of Responding to Joint Attention on the User Perception of the Robot in Human-Robot Interaction.

The concept of joint attention holds significant importance in human interaction and is pivotal in establishing rapport, understanding, and effective communication. Within social robotics, enhancing user perception of the robot and promoting a sense of natural interaction with robots becomes a central element. In this sense, emulating human-centric qualities in social robots, such as joint attention, defined as the ability of two or more individuals to focus on a common event simultaneously, can increase their acceptability.

Predictive Modeling of Hospital Readmission of Schizophrenic Patients in a Spanish Region Combining Particle Swarm Optimization and Machine Learning Algorithms.

Readmissions are an indicator of hospital care quality; a high readmission rate is associated with adverse outcomes. This leads to an increase in healthcare costs and quality of life for patients. Developing predictive models for hospital readmissions provides opportunities to select treatments and implement preventive measures.

Route Optimization for UVC Disinfection Robot Using Bio-Inspired Metaheuristic Techniques.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for effective surface disinfection solutions, which has led to the use of mobile robots equipped with ultraviolet (UVC) lamps as a promising technology. This study aims to optimize the navigation of differential mobile robots equipped with UVC lamps to ensure maximum efficiency in disinfecting complex environments. Bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithms such as the gazelle optimization algorithm, whale optimization algorithm, bat optimization algorithm, and particle swarm optimization are applied.

Valorization of Selected Biomass-Derived Molecules on Leaves-Biotemplated TiO-g-CN Photocatalysts.

Biotemplating technique allows the synthesis of catalysts, recreating the sophisticated structure of nature templates. In this work, some biotemplated TiO semiconductors were synthesized using leaves as templates. Then, g-CN was coupled to materials to later incorporate Pt on the surface or as dopant in the structure to evaluate the efficiency of the solids in two photocatalytic applications to valorize biomass: hydrogen production through glycerol photoreforming, and photoacetalization of cinnamaldehyde with 1,2-propanediol.

High-Sensitivity Flow Cytometry for the Reliable Detection of Measurable Residual Disease in Hematological Malignancies in Clinical Laboratories.

Background: Monitoring of measurable residual disease (MRD) requires highly sensitive flow cytometry protocols to provide an accurate prediction of shorter progression-free survival. High assay sensitivity generally requires rapid processing to avoid cell loss from small bone marrow sample volumes, but this requirement conflicts with the need in most clinical cytometry laboratories for long processing and acquisition times, especially when multiple MRD studies coincide on the same day.

Methods: The proposed protocol was applied to 226 human bone marrow and 45 peripheral blood samples submitted for the study of MRD or the detection of rare cells.

Impact of Hearing Loss Type on Linguistic Development in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Hearing loss in childhood is associated with significant challenges in linguistic and cognitive development, particularly affecting language skills such as syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, which are essential for effective communication and social integration. This study aimed to analyze how different types and degrees of hearing loss impact linguistic development in children, and to identify clinical factors-such as age at diagnosis and years of language intervention-that may predict language performance. This study included a sample of 140 children aged 6 to 12, categorized into seven groups based on their hearing condition: unilateral and bilateral conductive, unilateral and bilateral sensorineural, unilateral and bilateral mixed hearing loss, and a control group with no hearing loss.

Development of Thermosensitive Hydrogels with Tailor-Made Geometries to Modulate Cell Harvesting of Non-Flat Cell Cultures.

Considering the complexity in terms of design that characterizes the different tissues of the human body, it is necessary to study and develop more precise therapies. In this sense, this article presents the possibility of fabricating photocurable thermosensitive hydrogels with free geometry and based on N-Vinyl Caprolactam (VCL) with the aim of modulating the adhesion of non-planar cell cultures. The fabrication process is based on the use as a mold of two-layer thick water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) previously printed by Extrusion Material (MatEx).

Ionic Crosslinking of Linear Polyethyleneimine Hydrogels with Tripolyphosphate.

In this work, the mechanical properties of hydrogels based on linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) chemically crosslinked with ethyleneglycoldiglycidyl ether (EGDE) were improved by the ionic crosslinking with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). To this end, the quaternization of the nitrogen atoms present in the PEI structure was conducted to render a network with a permanent positive charge to interact with the negative charges of TPP. The co-crosslinking process was studied by H high-resolution magic angle spinning (H HRMAS) NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in combination with organic elemental analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Rheological Properties and Physical Stability of Aqueous Dispersions of Flaxseed Fibers.

The main objective of this work is to investigate the influence of shear on the rheological properties and physical stability of aqueous dispersions of flaxseed fiber. The variable to consider will be the homogenization rate in two different rotor-stator homogenizers, Ultraturrax T50 or T25. In order to achieve the proposed objective, small amplitude oscillatory tests, flow curves, and multiple light scattering measurements were carried out.

Zirconium-Polycarboxylato Gel Systems as Substrates to Develop Advanced Fluorescence Sensing Devices.

This study presents the development of zirconium polycarboxylate gel systems as substrates for advanced fluorescence sensing devices. Zirconium-based metal-organic gels (MOGs) offer a promising alternative due to the robustness of the Zr-O bond, which provides enhanced chemical stability. In this work, zirconium polycarboxylate gels were synthesized using green solvents in a rapid room temperature method.

The Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Molecular Organization, Thermomechanical, and Shape Memory Properties of Gelatin-Matrix Composite Films.

Gelatin is a natural hydrocolloid with excellent film-forming properties, high processability, and tremendous potential in the field of edible coatings and food packaging. However, its reinforcing by materials such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is often necessary to improve its mechanical behavior, including shape memory properties. Since the interaction between these polymers is complex and its mechanism still remains unclear, this work aimed to study the effect of low concentrations of CNC (2, 6, and 10 weight%) on the molecular organization, thermomechanical, and shape memory properties in mammalian gelatin-based composite films at low moisture content (~10 weight% dry base).

Development of Soft Wrinkled Micropatterns on the Surface of 3D-Printed Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds via High-Resolution Digital Light Processing.

The preparation of sophisticated hierarchically structured and cytocompatible hydrogel scaffolds is presented. For this purpose, a photosensitive resin was developed, printability was evaluated, and the optimal conditions for 3D printing were investigated. The design and fabrication by additive manufacturing of tailor-made porous scaffolds were combined with the formation of surface wrinkled micropatterns.

3D Printing of New Foods Using Cellulose-Based Gels Obtained from L. Byproducts.

Carob pulp is a valuable source of cellulose-rich fraction (CRF) for many food applications. This study aimed to obtain and characterize a CRF derived from carob pulp waste after sugar removal and to evaluate its potential use in the 3D printing of cellulose-rich foods. Thus, the extraction of the CRF present in carob pulp (by obtaining the alcohol-insoluble residue) was carried out, accounting for nearly 45% dm (dry matter) of this byproduct.

Positive Relational Management and Occupational Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Flourishing and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors.

This study examines the relevance of interpersonal relationships in the work environment, focusing specifically on analyzing associations between positive relational management, which refers to the use of relational resources that enable adaptation to the workplace, and key organizational variables such as flourishing, individual-directed organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBis), and life satisfaction. Given the importance of this topic, a structural model is required for the possible relationship between positive relational management and other organizational variables relevant to occupational well-being. As a preliminary step, the Positive Relational Management Scale (PRMS) was analyzed and validated in a sample of 348 Spanish workers.

A Step Forward in Long COVID Research: Validating the Post-COVID Cognitive Impairment Scale.

Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, includes a variety of enduring symptoms that endure beyond the acute phase of the illness, impacting multiple facets of patients' psychological and physical health. The persistent symptoms encompass fatigue, breathing difficulties, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive impairments, which can significantly affect daily functioning and overall quality of life. The objective of this study was to create and validate the accuracy of the Post-COVID Cognitive Impairment Scale, which is used to evaluate cognitive impairments resulting from a COVID-19 infection.

Olfactory Identification as a Biomarker for Cognitive Impairment: Insights from Healthy Aging, Subjective Cognitive Decline, and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

: This study aims to investigate the relationship between olfactory identification (OI) and cognitive impairment by examining OI abilities across various stages of cognitive deterioration. : A total of 264 participants were divided into three groups based on cognitive status: cognitively healthy, subjective cognitive, and mild cognitive impairment. All participants were assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks Olfactory Identification test and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.

Creative Self-Efficacy and Social Skills in a Portuguese Sample of University Students: Links with Self-Esteem, Academic Achievement and Life Satisfaction.

Creative self-efficacy and social skills are two elements that can significantly enhance personal and professional development. The main objective of this research is to analyze the relations established between creative self-efficacy and social skills with other variables such as self-esteem, academic performance, and life satisfaction. The participants included in the methodology of this study are a total of 238 Portuguese university students.

The Role of Psychological Factors and Resilience in Mediating Sports Passion in Triathletes.

The present study aims to analyze the psychological characteristics associated with the performance of amateur athletes, exploring their relationships with key variables such as resilience, harmonious and obsessive passion, and perception of discomfort. The main objective is to establish the relationship between psychological characteristics and each of the variables used (resilience, personal competence, and acceptance of self and life), and to consider whether these are related to passion (harmonious and obsessive) through a structural equation analysis. The sample was composed of 110 persons: 87 adults (22 females, mean age 40.

Increased Levels of Anti- Antibodies During Hospital Admission in Septic Patients.

Background/objectives: In a previous study, we described elevated anti- IgG levels in septic patients in relation to disease severity. In this study, our objective was to analyze the evolution of anti- immunoglobulins in septic patients during hospital admission and their association with αβ and γδ T cell subsets.

Methods: We recruited 80 subjects: 40 patients with sepsis and 40 controls.

Outcomes of Flapless Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG Laser-Assisted Crown Lengthening: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: In recent years, erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) and erbium, chromium/yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) lasers have been introduced as another possibility to perform less-invasive flapless (FL) crown-lengthening (CL) procedures.

Objectives: The aim of this review is to describe the outcomes and complications of this approach.

Materials And Methods: A literature review was conducted to retrieve clinical studies and case reports that analyze different variables related to laser-assisted flapless crown lengthening and report their outcomes in terms of gingival margin level stability (GMLS), and postoperative complications.

Short-term evolution and dispersal patterns of fluconazole-resistance in clade III.

The rapid increase in infections caused by the emerging fungal pathogen is of global concern, and understanding its expansion is a priority. The phylogenetic diversity of the yeast is clustered in five major clades, among which clade III is particularly relevant, as most of its strains exhibit resistance to fluconazole, reducing the therapeutic alternatives and provoking outbreaks that are difficult to control. In this study, we have investigated the phylogenetic structure of clade III by analyzing a global collection of 566 genomes.

First complete genome sequence of serotype O4, a rising threat in marine aquaculture.

is a Gram-negative marine fish pathogen. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of strain SP9.1, representing the emerging serotype O4.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.