Introducción

Este número de la revista Sociología y tecnociencia explora el impacto de los avances de la inteligencia artificial sobre la vida económica, política y social. La inteligencia artificial, los sistemas de aprendizaje autónomos, la robotización, está imprimiendo gran tensión a las pautas de organización social prevalentes. Por ello, resulta crucial examinar las consecuencias posibles de la implementación de todas las posibilidades tecnológicas actuales. Esta reflexión puede contribuir a la dirección del proceso de innovación, frente al determinismo tecnológico que se expande de manera imperceptible en muchos círculos. Este ejercicio, además, no solo tiene relevancia académica, sino que se torna crucial para una apropiada anticipación ante los desafíos del futuro

Introducción

This special issue of the journal Sociology and Technoscience explores the impact of advances in artificial intelligence on economic, political and social life. Artificial intelligence, autonomous learning systems, robotisation, is putting great strain on prevailing patterns of social organisation. It is therefore crucial to examine the possible consequences of the implementation of all current technological possibilities. This reflection can contribute to setting the direction of the innovation process, before the technological determinism that is spreading imperceptibly in many circles. This exercise, moreover, is not only of academic relevance, but becomes crucial for an appropriate anticipation of the challenges of the future.Este número de la revista Sociología y tecnociencia explora el impacto de los avances de la inteligencia artificial sobre la vida económica, política y social. La inteligencia artificial, los sistemas de aprendizaje autónomos, la robotización, está imprimiendo gran tensión a las pautas de organización social prevalentes. Por ello, resulta crucial examinar las consecuencias posibles de la implementación de todas las posibilidades tecnológicas actuales. Esta reflexión puede contribuir a la dirección del proceso de innovación, frente al determinismo tecnológico que se expande de manera imperceptible en muchos círculos. Este ejercicio, además, no solo tiene relevancia académica, sino que se torna crucial para una apropiada anticipación ante los desafíos del futuro

El gas somero en los sedimentos de la Ría de Muros-Noia (NO de España): formas de aparición y cartografía

High-resolution seismic reflection and side-scan sonar records have been analysed and interpreted in order to detect shallow gas signatures in the Ría de Muros-Noia (NW Spain). The different gas features have been classified into four types according to their specific seismic signatures: 1) acoustic blankings s.s., with a flat top surface and kilometric extent, 2) acoustic curtains, with a convex top surface and some tens of meters of lateral extent, 3) acoustic columns, with an enhanced reflector at the top and an averaged extent of 20 m, and 4) acoustic turbidity, distinguishable as a diffuse perturbation of the records. At the same time, two different types of gas escape features have been also distinguished: a) acoustic plumes into the water column, rising up to 10 m above the present seafloor, and b) pockmarks on the present seabed, recognised as highly reflective areas in the side-scan sonar records. Mapping of acoustic blankings s.s. reveals the presence of a large gas field (11.5 km2) in the inner part of the ría. In this field the top of the gas accumulates from the close seabed surface up to 4 ms TWT (3.2 m) in depth. Moreover a map with the spatial distribution of the gas accumulations and of the gas escape features is shown

The saga of the many studies wrongly associating mitochondrial DNA with breast cancer

Background A large body of genetic research has focused on the potential role that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants might play on the predisposition to common and complex (multi-factorial) diseases. It has been argued however that many of these studies could be inconclusive due to artifacts related to genotyping errors or inadequate design. Methods Analyses of the data published in case–control breast cancer association studies have been performed using a phylogenetic-based approach. Variation observed in these studies has been interpreted in the light of data available on public resources, which now include over >27,000 complete mitochondrial sequences and the worldwide phylogeny determined by these mitogenomes. Complementary analyses were carried out using public datasets of partial mtDNA sequences, mainly corresponding to control-region segments. Results By way of example, we show here another kind of fallacy in these medical studies, namely, the phenomenon of SNP-SNP interaction wrongly applied to haploid data in a breast cancer study. We also reassessed the mutually conflicting studies suggesting some functional role of the non-synonymous polymorphism m.10398A > G (ND3 subunit of mitochondrial complex I) in breast cancer. In some studies, control groups were employed that showed an extremely odd haplogroup frequency spectrum compared to comparable information from much larger databases. Moreover, the use of inappropriate statistics signaled spurious “significance” in several instances. Conclusions Every case–control study should come under scrutiny in regard to the plausibility of the control-group data presented and appropriateness of the statistical methods employed; and this is best done before potential publication.AS has been supported by grants from the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (SAF2011-26983) and from the Plan Galego IDT, Xunta de Galicia (EM 2012/045)S

Combined sterilization and fabrication of drug-loaded scaffolds using supercritical CO2 technology

The access of biodegradable scaffolds to the clinical arena is constrained by the absence of a suitable sterilization technique for the processing of advanced polymeric materials. Sterilization with supercritical CO2 (scCO2) may circumvent some technological limitations (e.g., low temperature, no chemical residues on the material), although scCO2 can plasticize the polymer depending on the processing conditions used. In this latter case, the integration of the manufacturing and sterilization processes is of particular interest to obtain sterile and customized scaffolds in a single step. In this work, scCO2 was exploited as a concomitantly foaming and sterilizing agent for the first time, developing a one-step process for the production of vancomycin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) bone scaffolds. The effect of the CO2 contact time on the sterility levels of the procedure was investigated, and the sterilization efficiency was evaluated against dry spores (Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus atrophaeus). Vancomycin-loaded PCL scaffolds had relevant sustained release profiles for the prophylaxis of infections at the grafted area, even those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The biological performance of the scaffolds was evaluated in vitro regarding human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) attachment and growth. Finally, the biocompatibility and angiogenic response of the manufactured sterile scaffolds was assessed in ovo through chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assaysThis research was funded by Xunta de Galicia [ED431C 2020/17], MICINN [PID2020-120010RB-I00], Consellería de Sanidade, Servizo Galego de Saúde, Axencia de Coñecemento en Saúde (ACIS, CT850A-G), Agencia Estatal de Investigación [AEI] and FEDER funds. V. Santos-Rosales acknowledges to Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria) for a predoctoral research fellowship [ED481A-2018/014]S

Diagnostic yield of sentinel lymph node biopsy in oral squamous cell carcinoma T1/T2-N0: systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in T1/T2-N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A systematic review of the literature on SLNB until March 2019 was conducted. The review was organized according to the PRISMA protocol, considering the following PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) question: What is the sensitivity of sentinel lymph node biopsy in OSCC? ‘P’ was patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma T1/2-N0; ‘I’ was SLNB; ‘C’ was neck treated with elective neck dissection and haematoxylin–eosin histopathology; ‘O’ was sensitivity and specificity. A meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed on the selected studies. The sensitivity of SLNB was up to 88% (95% confidence interval (CI) 72–96%) and specificity was up to 99% (95% CI 96–100%). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.99 (95% CI 0.98–1.00). In the four studies where immunohistochemistry was performed, both the sensitivity and specificity were higher than in the studies without immunohistochemistry: 93% (95% CI 88–97%) and 98% (95% CI 96–100%), respectively. In conclusion, SLNB is an effective technique for treating patients with some types of stage T1/2-N0 OSCC. Some parameters such as immunohistochemistry could determine the level of diagnostic accuracyS

Does prior abdominal surgery influence peritoneal transport characteristics or technique survival of peritoneal dialysis patients?

[Abstract] Introduction: Prior abdominal surgery may result in peritoneal membrane adhesions and fibrosis, compromising the success of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The impact of this factor on peritoneal membrane function and PD technique survival has not been adequately investigated. Methods: Following an observational, retrospective design, we studied 171 incident PD patients, with the main objective of analyzing the influence of prior abdominal surgical procedures (main study variable) on baseline and evolutionary peritoneal transport characteristics (main outcome) and PD patient and technique survival (secondary outcomes). Abdominal surgeries were categorized according to the degree of presumed injury to the peritoneal membrane. We also considered the additive effect of aggressions to the membrane during the first year on PD therapy. Results: All patients had a baseline peritoneal equilibration test with complete drainage at 60′, and 113 patients had a second study at the end of the first year. Sixty-one patients (35.7%) had a record of prior abdominal surgery, including 29 patients with at least one major intraperitoneal surgery, 22 having undergone minor intraperitoneal procedures, and 21 with a background of major abdominopelvic extraperitoneal surgery. We did not observe differences, at baseline or after 1 year, among patients with or without previous abdominal procedures regarding small solute transport, overall capacity of ultrafiltration, free water transport, small pore ultrafiltration, or peritoneal protein excretion. Stratified analysis, considering prior and first-year-on-PD peritoneal aggressions, did not reveal any differences, although in this case our analysis was hampered by a limited statistical power. Abdominal surgical events did not influence patient or PD technique survival. Conclusion: Prior abdominal surgical procedures do not appear to compromise peritoneal membrane function or technique survival in patients successfully started on PD

Long-Term Trends in the Incidence of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis Disclose an Increasing Relevance of Streptococcal Infections: A Longitudinal Study

[Abstract} Background. The selective impact of strategies for prevention of PD-related peritonitis (PDrP) may have modified, in the long term, the causal spectrum, clinical presentation and outcomes of these infections. Objectives. To compare trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms during a 30-year period, with a particular focus on streptococcal infections. To analyze the clinical presentation and outcomes of these infections. Secondarily, to investigate how the isolation of different species of streptococci can influence the clinical course of PDrP by this genus of bacteria. Method. Following a retrospective, observational design we investigated 1061 PDrP (1990–2019). We used joinpoint regression analysis to explore trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms, and compared the risk profile (Cox), clinical presentation and outcomes (logistic regression) of these infections. Main results. Our data showed a progressive decline in the incidence of PDrP by staphylococci and Gram negative bacteria, while the absolute rates of streptococcal (average annual percent change +1.6%, 95% CI -0.1/+3.2) and polymicrobial (+1.8%, +0.1/+3.5) infections tended to increase, during the same period. Remarkably, streptococci were isolated in 58.6% of polymicrobial infections, and patients who suffered a streptococcal PDrP had a 35.8% chance of presenting at least one other infection by the same genus. The risk profile for streptococcal infections was comparable to that observed for PDrP overall. Streptococcal PDrP were associated with a severe initial inflammatory response, but their clinical course was generally nonaggressive thereafter. We did not observe a differential effect of different groups of streptococci on the clinical presentation or outcome of PDrP. Conclusions. Time trends in the incidence of PDrP by different microorganisms have granted streptococci an increasing relevance as causative agents of these infections, during the last three decades. This behaviour suggests that current measures of prevention of PDrP may not be sufficiently effective, in the case of this genus of microorganisms