Robustness surfaces of complex networks

Despite the robustness of complex networks has been extensively studied in the last decade, there still lacks a unifying framework able to embrace all the proposed metrics. In the literature there are two open issues related to this gap: (a) how to dimension several metrics to allow their summation and (b) how to weight each of the metrics. In this work we propose a solution for the two aforementioned problems by defining the $R^*$-value and introducing the concept of \emph{robustness surface} ($\Omega$). The rationale of our proposal is to make use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We firstly adjust to 1 the initial robustness of a network. Secondly, we find the most informative robustness metric under a specific failure scenario. Then, we repeat the process for several percentage of failures and different realizations of the failure process. Lastly, we join these values to form the robustness surface, which allows the visual assessment of network robustness variability. Results show that a network presents different robustness surfaces (i.e., dissimilar shapes) depending on the failure scenario and the set of metrics. In addition, the robustness surface allows the robustness of different networks to be compared.Comment: submitted to Scientific Report

Demographic, clinical, and functional determinants of antithrombotic treatment in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Background: This study assessed the sociodemographic, functional, and clinical determinants of antithrombotic treatment in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) attended in the internal medicine setting. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in NVAF patients who attended internal medicine departments for either a routine visit (outpatients) or hospitalization (inpatients). Results: A total of 961 patients were evaluated. Their antithrombotic management included: no treatment (4.7%), vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) (59.6%), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) (21.6%), antiplatelets (6.6%), and antiplatelets plus anticoagulants (7.5%). Permanent NVAF and congestive heart failure were associated with preferential use of oral anticoagulation over antiplatelets, while intermediate-to high-mortality risk according to the PROFUND index was associated with a higher likelihood of using antiplatelet therapy instead of oral anticoagulation. Longer disease duration and institutionalization were identified as determinants of VKA use over DOACs. Female gender, higher education, and having suffered a stroke determined a preferential use of DOACs. Conclusions: This real-world study showed that most elderly NVAF patients received oral anticoagulation, mainly VKAs, while DOACs remained underused. Antiplatelets were still offered to a proportion of patients. Longer duration of NVAF and institutionalization were identified as determinants of VKA use over DOACs. A poor prognosis according to the PROFUND index was identified as a factor preventing the use of oral anticoagulation

Value of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and neopterin in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The identification of biological markers in order to assess different aspects of COPD is an area of growing interest. The objective of this study was to investigate whether levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neopterin in COPD patients could be useful in identifying the etiological origin of the exacerbation and assessing its prognosis. We included 318 consecutive COPD patients: 46 in a stable phase, 217 undergoing an exacerbation, and 55 with pneumonia. A serum sample was collected from each patient at the time of being included in the study. A second sample was also collected 1 month later from 23 patients in the exacerbation group. We compared the characteristics, biomarker levels, microbiological findings, and prognosis in each patient group. PCT and CRP were measured using an immunofluorescence assay. Neopterin levels were measured using a competitive immunoassay. PCT and CRP showed significant differences among the three patient groups, being higher in patients with pneumonia, followed by patients with exacerbation (P < 0.0001). For the 23 patients with paired samples, PCT and CRP levels decreased 1 month after the exacerbation episode, while neopterin increased. Neopterin showed significantly lower levels in exacerbations with isolation of pathogenic bacteria, but no differences were found for PCT and CRP. No significant differences were found when comparing biomarker levels according to the Gram result: PCT (P = 0.191), CRP (P = 0.080), and neopterin (P = 0.109). However, median values of PCT and CRP were high for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and enterobacteria. All biomarkers were higher in patients who died within 1 month after the sample collection than in patients who died later on. According to our results, biomarker levels vary depending on the clinical status. However, the identification of the etiology of infectious exacerbation by means of circulating biomarkers is encouraging, but its main disadvantage is the absence of a microbiological gold standard, to definitively demonstrate their value. High biomarker levels during an exacerbation episode correlate with the short-term prognosis, and therefore their measurement can be useful for COPD management

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in heart failure and serum sodium levels

Aims: To determine whether there are differences in blood pressure profile on dynamic assessment by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) according to serum sodium levels in stable heart failure patients.Methods: Data were collected from the Spanish National Registry on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Heart Failure (DICUMAP). Patients underwent ABPM by the oscillometric principle using a Spacelabs 90121 monitor. The sample was divided into three groups according to sodium levels and their clinical and laboratory data and echocardiographic findings were analyzed. Robust statistical methods were used to compare the groups in univariate and multivariate models.Results: A total of 175 patients (44.57% male) were analyzed. We found a predominance of anomalous circadian blood pressure profiles in all three groups, with a significantly higher percentage of risers in the lowest serum sodium group (p=0.05). In addition, in this group there were significant differences in mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) (24-h SBP, p=0.05) and in mean daytime SBP (dSBP, p=0.008), with significant differences in nocturnal fall in SBP (p=0.05) and in diastolic blood pressure (p=0.005). In multivariate analysis a significant relationship was found between sodium levels and 24-h SBP (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, p=0.01) and dSBP (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, p=0.004).Conclusion: A relationship was found between lower sodium levels and lower systolic blood pressure, especially during waking hours, with a lower decline between daytime and night-timeblood pressure

Myocardial injury determination improves risk stratification and predicts mortality in COVID-19 patients

Background: Despite being associated with worse prognosis in patients with COVID-19, systematic determination of myocardial injury is not recommended. The aim of the study was to study the effect of myocardial injury assessment on risk stratification of COVID-19 patients.Methods: Seven hundred seven consecutive adult patients admitted to a large tertiary hospital with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Demographic data, comorbidities, laboratory results and clinical outcomes were recorded. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was calculated in order to quantify the degree of comorbidities. Independent association of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) increase with outcomes was evaluated by multivariate regression analyses and area under curve. In addition, propensity-score matching was performed to assemble a cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics.Results: In the matched cohort (mean age 66.76 ± 15.7 years, 37.3% females), cTnI increase above the upper limit was present in 20.9% of the population and was associated with worse clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality within 30 days (45.1% vs. 23.2%; p = 0.005). The addition of cTnI to a multivariate prediction model showed a significant improvement in the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (0.775 vs. 0.756, DC-statistic = 0.019; 95% confidence interval 0.001–0.037). Use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors was not associated with mortality after adjusting by baseline risk factors.Conclusions: Myocardial injury is independently associated with adverse outcomes irrespective of baseline comorbidities and its addition to multivariate regression models significantly improves their performance in predicting mortality. The determination of myocardial injury biomarkers on hospital admission and its combination with CCI can classify patients in three risk groups (high, intermediate and low) with a clearly distinct 30-day mortality

Physical activity is associated with improved mathematical computation, language reasoning, behavior and attention in ADHD girls

En la actualidad encontramos cifras alarmantes de sedentarismo e inactividad física, doscondiciones que se asocian signifi-cativamente con el cálculo matemático, razonamiento lingüístico, comportamiento y atenciónen edad escolar. Sin embargo, son escasos los estudios realizados en población escolar con Trastorno por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDAH). El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la asociación del nivel de práctica de Actividad FísicaModerada-Vigorosa (AFMV) de escolaresdiagnosticadosTDAH con el cálculo matemático, el razonamiento lingüístico, el comportamiento hiperactivo-desatento y el nivel de atención selec-tiva. Participaron 94 estudiantes (44 chicos; 47% y 50 chicas; 53%) de 9.48 ± 2.10 años. El cálculo matemático y razonamiento lingüístico se evaluaron mediante test ad hoc. Para el comportamiento hiperactivo-desatento en el aula se utilizó la prueba EDAH y la atención se midió con el test d2.Los resultados mostraron que unamayorpráctica de AFMVse asocia con un mayor nivel de razona-miento lingüístico. Al realizar los análisis separando por sexo, en chicas, una mayor práctica de AFMV se asoció con un mayorcálculo matemático y razonamiento lingüístico, menor presencia de comportamiento hiperactivo-desatento y mejor nivel de atención. Se con-cluye queun alto nivel de AFMV semanalpodría predecir mayor cálculo matemático y razonamiento lingüísticoybaja presencia decomportamiento hiperactivo-impulsivo en el centro escolar. Los resultados sugieren el fomento de práctica de AFMV en escolares diagnosticados TDAHCurrently we find alarming figures for sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity, two conditions that are significantly asso-ciated with mathematical calculation, linguistic reasoning, behaviour and attention at school age. However, few studies have beenconducted in school children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The aim of the present study was to analyse the association between the level of Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) practice in schoolchildren diagnosed with ADHD and mathematical calculation, linguistic reasoning, hyperactive-attentive behaviour and the level of selective attention. Ninety-four students (44 boys; 47% and 50 girls; 53%) aged 9.48 ± 2.10 years participated. Mathematical calculation and linguistic reasoning were assessed by means of ad hoc tests. For hyperactive-attentive behaviour in the classroom the EDAH test was used and attention was measured with the d2 test. The results showed that a higher level of MVPA was associated with a higher level of linguistic reasoning. When analysed by gender, in girls, a higher level of MVPA was associated with higher mathematical calculation and linguistic reasoning, less hyperactive-attentive behaviour and a better level of attention. It is concluded that ahigh level of weekly MVPA could predict higher mathematical calculation and linguistic reasoning and low presence of hyperactive-impulsive behaviour at school. The results suggest the promotion of MVPA practice in schoolchildren diagnosed with ADH

A palaeoecological approach to understanding the past and present of Sierra Nevada, a Southwestern European biodiversity hotspot

Mediterranean mountainous environments are biodiversity hotspots and priority areas in conservation agendas. Although they are fragile and threatened by forecasted global change scenarios, their sensitivity to long-term environmental variability is still understudied. The Sierra Nevada range, located in southern Spain on the north-western European flanks of the Mediterranean basin, is a biodiversity hotspot. Consequently, Sierra Nevada provides an excellent model system to apply a palaeoecological approach to detect vegetation changes, explore the drivers triggering those changes, and how vegetation changes link to the present landscape in such a paradigmatic mountain system. A multi-proxy strategy (magnetic susceptibility, grain size, loss-on-ignition, macroremains, charcoal and palynological analyses) is applied to an 8400-year long lacustrine environmental archive from the Laguna de la Mosca (2889 masl). The long-term ecological data show how the Early Holocene pine forests transitioned towards mixed Pinus-Quercus submediterranean forests as a response to a decrease in seasonality at ~7.3 cal. kyr BP. The mixed Pinus-Quercus submediterranean forests collapsed drastically giving way to open evergreen Quercus formations at ~4.2 cal. kyr BP after a well-known aridity crisis. Under the forecasted northward expansion of the Mediterranean area due to global change-related aridity increase, mountain forests inhabiting territories adjacent to the Mediterranean Region could experience analogous responses to those detected in the Sierra Nevada forests to the Mid to Late Holocene aridification, moving from temperate to submediterranean and then Mediterranean formations

Diseño de una app para la prevención de la adicción al teléfono móvil

Aquest projecte pretén, a través d'un procés d'investigació i desenvolupament de producte, crear una de les possibles solucions en forma de prototip d'aplicació per la prevenció i el tractament de l'abús d'ús i la dependència del telèfon mòbil per part dels joves.Este proyecto pretende, a través de un proceso de investigación y desarrollo de producto, crear una de las posibles soluciones en forma de prototipo de aplicación para la prevención y el tratamiento del abuso de uso y la dependencia del teléfono móvil por parte de los jóvenes.This project pretends, through a research process and product development, to create one of the possible solutions with a prototype application for the prevention and treatment of the abuse of use and dependence of the smartphone by young people

The Effects of Football Practice on Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dietary patterns, exercise, sport, and physical activity have been shown to improve body composition in children. This systematic review with meta-analysis analyzed the effects of practicing football on body composition (fat mass, lean body mass, and bone mineral content) in children. An initial search in PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus was carried out in April 2021 to identify relevant articles. Inclusion criteria required children up to 12 years of age with a minimum football intervention duration of 10 weeks. Methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Between the 1803 articles originally founded, only 14 articles were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 1643 subjects between the 14 studies were identified. The review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and used Review Manager and Full Meta-Analysis software. The results between the control and experimental groups showed significantly better lean body mass and fat mass values in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Football practice was positively associated with increases in lean body mass (mean difference of 1.55; 95% CI, 0.96, 2.15), decreases in fat mass (mean difference of −0.81; 95% CI, −1.49, −0.13), and increases in whole body bone mineral content (mean difference of 117.68; 95% CI, 83.69, 151.67). In conclusion, the results of this systematic review with meta-analysis suggest that football positively affects body composition in children. However, further research is needed to confirm the results for bone mineral content.A.H.-M. acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for funding the development of his PhD. (Grant no.: FPU18/03222). S.M.-C. acknowledges the University of Castilla-La Mancha for funding the development of his PhD. (2019/5964). J.G.-U. acknowledges “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, Programa Operativo de la Región de Castilla-La Mancha” (2018/11744) for funding the development of his research

Efecto de 2 y 4 meses de práctica de fútbol en el desarrollo osteogénico de niños prepuberales

Football for children and young people has been used as a tool to improve health and prevent future diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate, the effect of 2- and 4-month participation in an osteogenic sport such as football on the variables of bone mineral content and bone mineral density in pre-pubertal children. Twenty under-10 children (9.5 ± 1.4 years old) who were doing football training 3 hours a week and were at the Tanner I stage were included. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content values were measured using a dual energy X-ray absorber. The results showed an increase in the values of bone mineral content and total bone mineral density after two months of practice (p&lt;0.05; TE: 0.11 and TE: 0.27 respectively), significantly higher values after four months of practice compared to the initial value and the value after two months (p&lt;0.05; TE: 0.40 and TE: 0.13 respectively). Significant increase in bone mineral content and bone mineral density in the legs after two and four months of practice (p&lt;0.05; TE: 0.43 and TE: 0.40 respectively). Our data suggest that a 2- and 4-month recreational football training programme is beneficial for the osteogenic development and health of children during the pre-pubertal stage.El fútbol en edad infantil o juvenil se ha utilizado como una herramienta para mejorar la salud y prevenir futuras enfermedades. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar) el efecto de la participación de 2 y 4 meses en un deporte osteogénico como el fútbol en las variables de contenido mineral óseo y densidad mineral ósea en niños prepuberales. Se incluyeron 20 niños de categoría sub-10 (9,5 ± 1,4 años) que realizaban entrenamiento de fútbol 3 horas a la semana y se encontraban en la etapa de Tanner I. Los valores de densidad mineral ósea y contenido mineral óseo se midieron mediante un absorciómetro de rayos X de doble energía. Los resultados mostraron un incremento de los valores de contenido mineral óseo y densidad mineral ósea total tras los dos meses de práctica (p&lt;0,05; TE: 0,11 y TE: 0,27 respectivamente), valores significativamente mayores tras cuatro meses de práctica en comparación con el valor inicial y el valor tras dos meses (p&lt;0,05; TE: 0,40 y TE: 0,13 respectivamente). Aumento significativo de contenido mineral óseo y densidad mineral ósea en las piernas a los dos y cuatro meses de práctica (p&lt;0,05; TE: 0,43 y TE: 0,40 respectivamente). Los datos sugieren que un programa de entrenamiento de fútbol recreativo de 2 y 4 meses es beneficioso para el desarrollo osteogénico y la salud de los niños durante la etapa prepuberal