Using a task-based approach in evaluating the usability of BoBIs in an e-book environment

This paper reports on a usability evaluation of BoBIs (Back-of-the-book Indexes) as searching and browsing tools in an e-book environment. This study employed a task-based approach and within-subject design. The retrieval performance of a BoBI was compared with a ToC and Full-Text Search tool in terms of their respective effectiveness and efficiency for finding information in e-books. The results demonstrated that a BoBI was significantly more efficient (faster) and useful compared to a ToC or Full-Text Search tool for finding information in an e-book environment

The importance of liver function assessment before cardiac surgery: A narrative review

The demand for cardiac surgery procedures is increasing globally. Thanks to an improvement in survival driven by medical advances, patients with liver disease undergo cardiac surgery more often. Liver disease is associated with the development of heart failure, especially in patients with advanced cirrhosis. Cardiovascular risk factors can also contribute to the development of both cardiomyopathy and liver disease and heart failure itself can worsen liver function. Despite the risk that liver disease and cirrhosis represent for the perioperative management of patients who undergo cardiac surgery, liver function is often not included in common risk scores for preoperative evaluation. These patients have worse short and long-term survival when compared with other cardiac surgery populations. Preoperative evaluation of liver function, postoperative management and close postoperative follow-up are crucial for avoiding complications and improving results. In the present narrative review, we discuss the pathophysiological components related with postoperative complications and mortality in patients with liver disease who undergo cardiac surgery and provide recommendations for the perioperative management

Lpa1-5525 : a new lpa1 mutant isolated in a mutagenized population by a novel non-disrupting screening method

Phytic acid, or myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate, is the main storage form of phosphorus in plants. It is localized in seeds, deposited as mixed salts of mineral cations in protein storage vacuoles; during germination, it is hydrolyzed by phytases to make available P together with all the other cations needed for seed germination. When seeds are used as food or feed, phytic acid and the bound cations are poorly bioavailable for human and monogastric livestock due to their lack of phytase activity. Therefore, reducing the amount of phytic acid is one strategy in breeding programs aimed to improve the nutritional properties of major crops. In this work, we present data on the isolation of a new maize (Zea mays L.) low phytic acid 1 (lpa1) mutant allele obtained by transposon tagging mutagenesis with the Ac element. We describe the generation of the mutagenized population and the screening to isolate new lpa1 mutants. In particular, we developed a fast, cheap and non-disrupting screening method based on the different density of lpa1 seed compared to the wild type. This assay allowed the isolation of the lpa1-5525 mutant characterized by a new mutation in the lpa1 locus associated with a lower amount of phytic phosphorus in the seeds in comparison with the wild type

Management training for hospital administrators: sentinel lymph-node biopsy under local anaesthetic for carcinoma of the breast–organizational and economic impact

This study compares sentinel lymph-node biopsy carried out at the time of removal of the primary breast tumour, under general anaesthetic, with sentinel lymph-node biopsy carried out under local anaesthetic prior to the main operation. It compares the total cost of the two treatment approaches, in terms of average income and of their impact on the subsequent programming of operations and hence on waiting lists and income

Caracterización fisicoquímica y estabilidad oxidativa de aceites comestibles de semillas de sacha inchi microencapsulados y secados por aspersión

The aim of this work was to obtain sacha inchi oil (SIO) microcapsules from two different species, Plukenetia volubilis L. (SIVO) and Plukenetia huayllabambana L. (SIHO), using different biopolymers as wall materials and spray drying technology. The physicochemical characteristics such as encapsulation efficiency, particle size, morphology and oxidative stability were analyzed in order to select the best formulation that could potentially be used as an ingredient in the development of functional food. Bulk SIO and four formulations were tested for each oil ecotype, using different encapsulating agents: maltodextrin (MD), Arabic gum (AG), whey protein concentrate (WPC) and modified starch HI-CAP®-100 (H). Microcapsules made of H presented the highest oxidative stability and encapsulation efficiency compared to AG, AG:MD or AG:MD:WPC formulations.El objetivo de este trabajo fue obtener microcápsulas de dos especies de aceite de sacha inchi (SIO), Plukenetia volubilis L. (SIVO) y Plukenetia huayllabambana L. (SIHO), utilizando diferentes biopolímeros como materiales de pared y la tecnología de secado por aspersión. Se analizaron tanto las características fisicoquímicas como la eficiencia de encapsulación, el tamaño de partícula, la morfología y la estabilidad oxidativa para seleccionar la mejor formulación que podría utilizarse como ingrediente en el desarrollo de alimentos funcionales. Se analizaron los aceites y cuatro formulaciones para cada ecotipo, usando diferentes agentes encapsulantes: maltodextrina (MD), goma Arábiga (AG), concentrado proteico de lactosuero (WPC) y almidón modificado HI-CAP®-100 (H). Las microcápsulas hechas con H presentaron la mayor estabilidad oxidativa y eficiencia de encapsulación en comparación con las formulaciones: AG; AG:MD o AG:MD:WPC

Local climate and vernalization sensitivity predict the latitudinal patterns of flowering onset in the crop wild relative Linum bienne Mill.

Background and aims: The timing of flowering onset often correlates with latitude, indicative of climatic gradients. Flowering onset in temperate species commonly requires exposure to cold temperatures, known as vernalization. Hence, population differentiation of flowering onset with latitude might reflect adaptation to the local climatic conditions experienced by populations.Methods: Within its Western range, seeds from Linum bienne populations (the wild relative of cultivated L. usitatissimum) were used to describe the latitudinal differentiation of flowering onset to determine its association with the population´s local climate. A vernalization experiment, including different crop cultivars, was used to determine how vernalization accelerates flowering onset, and the vernalization sensitivity response among populations and cultivars. Additionally, genetic differentiation of L. bienne populations along the latitudinal range was scrutinized using microsatellite markers.Key results: Flowering onset varied with latitude of origin, with southern populations flowering earlier than their northern counterparts. Vernalization reduced the number of days to flowering onset, but vernalization sensitivity was greater in northern populations compared to southern ones. Conversely, vernalization delayed flowering onset in the crop, exhibiting less variation in sensitivity. In L. bienne, both flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity were better predicted by the population´s local climate than latitude itself. Microsatellite data unveiled genetic differentiation of populations, forming two groups geographically partitioned along latitude.Conclusions: The consistent finding of latitudinal variation across experiments suggests that both flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity in L. bienne populations are under genetic regulation and might depend on climatic cues at the place of origin. The association with climatic gradients along latitude suggests that the climate experienced locally drives population differentiation of the flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity patterns. The genetic population structure suggests that past population history could have influenced the flowering initiation patterns detected, which deserves further work.Keywords: climate change; crop wild relative; flax; flowering phenology; genetic differentiation; latitudinal gradients; local adaptation; vernalization

Panel: Broadening the Discussion of Ethics in the Interaction Design and Children Community

Interaction Design and Children (IDC) as an academic field, and as a community, has a responsibility to engage with the many and diverse ethical challenges that arise from work that concerns the creation of digital technology for and with children – both in terms of research and industry contexts. This panel builds on a short history of similar events at previous conferences and aims to foster and strengthen the debate about ethical conduct and moral responsibilities in IDC. In this year’s panel, we seek to broaden the discussion by collecting ethical concerns, issues or dilemmas from within the community to be discussed at the conference. To this end, we will issue an open call for input that will be publicised via the usual channels. The organisers then will synthesise the responses and facilitate the discussion and debate at the panel

Local climate and vernalization sensitivity predict the latitudinal patterns of flowering onset in the crop wild relative Linum bienne Mill.

• Background and Aims The timing of flowering onset is often correlated with latitude, indicative of climatic gradients. Flowering onset in temperate species commonly requires exposure to cold temperatures, known as vernalization. Hence, population differentiation of flowering onset with latitude might reflect adaptation to the local climatic conditions experienced by populations. • Methods Within its western range, seeds from Linum bienne populations (the wild relative of cultivated Linum usitatissimum) were used to describe the latitudinal differentiation of flowering onset to determine its association with the local climate of the population. A vernalization experiment including different crop cultivars was used to determine how vernalization accelerates flowering onset, in addition to the vernalization sensitivity response among populations and cultivars. Additionally, genetic differentiation of L. bienne populations along the latitudinal range was scrutinized using microsatellite markers. • Key Results Flowering onset varied with latitude of origin, with southern populations flowering earlier than their northern counterparts. Vernalization reduced the number of days to flowering onset, but vernalization sensitivity was greater in northern populations compared with southern ones. Conversely, vernalization delayed flowering onset in the crop, exhibiting less variation in sensitivity. In L. bienne, both flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity were better predicted by the local climate of the population than by latitude itself. Microsatellite data unveiled genetic differentiation of populations, forming two groups geographically partitioned along latitude. • Conclusions The consistent finding of latitudinal variation across experiments suggests that both flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity in L. bienne populations are under genetic regulation and might depend on climatic cues at the place of origin. The association with climatic gradients along latitude suggests that the climate experienced locally drives population differentiation of the flowering onset and vernalization sensitivity patterns. The genetic population structure suggests that past population history could have influenced the flowering initiation patterns detected, which deserves further work.Fellowship programme of the University of PortsmouthCONACyT (Mexico) Postdoctoral Research FellowshipPosgrado en Ciencias Biológicas of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)UK BBSRC CASE PhD studentship BB/R506321/1Grant from the Wild Flower SocietyTravel grant from the Percy Sladen Memorial FundGrant to R. P-B (PID2021-127264NB-100) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 “ERDF A way of making Europe”The open access funding was provided by the University of Granada/CBUA

The Role of HE4 in Ovarian Cancer Follow-up: A Review.

Objective: The aim of this review was to analyze the state of the art about HE4 and follow-up in patients treated for ovarian cancer. Methods: A literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE database using the key words "HE4" and "ovarian cancer" and "recurrence" or "relapse" or "follow up." Results: Seven of 28 clinical studies were selected. Four studies were prospective, and all of them were based on a small number of patients (8Y73 women). A failure of HE4 levels to normalize at completion of standard therapy may indicate a poor prognosis, thus suggesting the need of a closer follow-up. Moreover, HE4 showed better sensibility and specificity in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer recurrence with respect to CA-125, being also an earlier indicator of the relapse with a lead time of 5 to 8 months. HE4 showed a better performance in this setting if performed in association with other markers (CA-125, CA-72.4). HE4 seems to be an independent predictive factor for the surgical outcome at secondary cytoreductive surgery and to maintain its prognostic role even after the recurrence. Conclusions: These preliminary data start to suggest a superiority of HE4 over CA-125 in the detection of ovarian cancer recurrence. Moreover, the prognostic role of HE4 could help clinicians to personalize the follow-up program, whereas its predictive role could be useful to plan the treatment of the relapse. The role of HE4 in ovarian cancer follow-up deserves to be further investigated in prospective randomized multicentric studies