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Eugenol is a volatile phenylpropanoid that contributes to flower and ripe fruit scent. In ripe strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit receptacles, eugenol is biosynthesized by eugenol synthase (FaEGS2). However, the transcriptional regulation of this process is still unknown. We have identified and functionally characterized an R2R3 MYB transcription factor (EMISSION OF BENZENOID II [FaEOBII]) that seems to be the orthologous gene ofPhEOBIIfromPetunia hybrida, which contributes to the regulation of eugenol biosynthesis in petals. The expression ofFaEOBIIwas ripening related and fruit receptacle specific, although high expression values were also found in petals. This expression pattern ofFaEOBIIcorrelated with eugenol content in both fruit receptacle and petals. The expression ofFaEOBIIwas repressed by auxins and activated by abscisic acid, in parallel to the ripening process. In ripe strawberry receptacles, where the expression ofFaEOBIIwas silenced, the expression ofCINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE1andFaEGS2, two structural genes involved in eugenol production, was down-regulated. A subsequent decrease in eugenol content in ripe receptacles was also observed, confirming the involvement ofFaEOBIIin eugenol metabolism. Additionally, the expression ofFaEOBIIwas under the control ofFaMYB10, another R2R3 MYB transcription factor that regulates the early and late biosynthetic genes from the flavonoid/phenylpropanoid pathway. In parallel, the amount of eugenol inFaMYB10-silenced receptacles was also diminished. Taken together, these data indicate thatFaEOBIIplays a regulating role in the volatile phenylpropanoid pathway gene expression that gives rise to eugenol production in ripe strawberry receptacles.

Pectins are essential components of primary plant cell walls and middle lamellae, and are related to the consistency of the fruit and its textural changes during ripening. In fact, strawberries become soft as the middle lamellae of cortical parenchyma cells are extensively degraded during ripening, leading to the observed short post-harvest shelf life. Using a custom-made oligonucleotide-based strawberry microarray platform, a putative rhamnogalacturonate lyase gene (FaRGlyase1) was identified. Bioinformatic analysis of the FaRGlyase1 sequence allowed the identification of a conserved rhamnogalacturonate lyase domain, which was also present in other putative RGlyase sequences deposited in the databases. Expression of FaRGlyase1 occurred mainly in the receptacle, concurrently with ripening, and it was positively regulated by abscisic acid and negatively by auxins. FaRGLyase1 gene expression was transiently silenced by injecting live Agrobacterium cells harbouring RNA interference constructs into fruit receptacles. Light and electron microscopy analyses of these transiently silenced fruits revealed that this gene is involved in the degradation of pectins present in the middle lamella region between parenchymatic cells. In addition, genetic linkage association analyses in a strawberry-segregating population showed that FaRGLyase1 is linked to a quantitative trait loci linkage group related to fruit hardness and firmness. The results showed that FaRGlyase1 could play an important role in the fruit ripening-related softening process that reduces strawberry firmness and post-harvest life.

One of the main activities of the nuclear industry is the characterisation of radioactive waste based on the detection of gamma radiation. Large volumes of radioactive waste are classified according to their average activity, but often the radioactivity exceeds the maximum allowed by regulators in specific parts of the bulk. In addition, the detection of the radiation is currently based on static detection systems where the geometry of the bulk is fixed and well known. Furthermore, these systems are not portable and depend on the transport of waste to the places where the detection systems are located. However, there are situations where the geometry varies and where moving waste is complex. This is especially true in compromised situations.We present a new model for nuclear waste management based on a portable and geometry-independent tomographic system for three-dimensional image reconstruction for gamma radiation detection. The system relies on a combination of a gamma radiation camera and a visible camera that allows to visualise radioactivity using augmented reality and artificial computer vision techniques. This novel tomographic system has the potential to be a disruptive innovation in the nuclear industry for nuclear waste management.

Abstract Spain has been consolidating the implementation of digital healthcare. However, there is not a comprehensive picture of the digital health literacy of the population in relation to existing policies and practices. To identify different profiles of people by analysing their digital health literacy, with the ultimate goal of providing healthcare organizations with indications to improve the relationship between people and the healthcare system. This cross-sectional survey study included 400 people aged ≥18 years from May 2021 to May 2022 in Spain. Participants were stratified by gender, age range, and residential area mirroring the Spanish population, and were recruited by an online panel and in community settings. A self-administered online survey was used, including the eHLQ questionnaire as a main measure and sociodemographic information. The digital health literacy level was medium and balanced among the seven eHLQ dimensions (ranging from 2.60 to 2.77 out of 5). The latent class analysis revealed five profiles based on the scores of the dimensions of the eHLQ questionnaire and taking into account age, technology use, and educational level. Access to digital services that work, together with using digital technology to process health information, is the main challenge identified by the participants. National health institutions and policies should focus not only on educating and training in digital skills but also on providing reliable and useful digital health services. This is the first study to provide a comprehensive digital health literacy profile of the Spanish population using the eHLQ questionnaire.

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy such as solar and wind power into the grid as well as the addition of modern types of versatile loads such as electric vehicles, the grid system is more prone to system failure and instability. One of the possible solutions to mitigate these conditions and increase the system efficiency is the integration of virtual power plants into the system. Virtual power plants can aggregate distributed energy resources such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, flexible loads, and energy storage, thus allowing for better coordination and optimization of these resources. This paper proposes a genetic algorithm-based optimization to coordinate the different elements of the energy management system of a virtual power plant, such as the energy storage system and charging/discharging of electric vehicles. It also deals with the random behavior of the genetic algorithm and its failure to meet certain constraints in the final solution. A novel method is proposed to mitigate these problems that combines a genetic algorithm in the first stage, followed by a gradient-based method in the second stage, consequently reducing the overall electricity bill by 50.2% and the simulation time by almost 95%. The performance is evaluated considering the reference set-points of operation from the obtained solution of the energy storage and electric vehicles by performing tests using a detailed model where power electronics converters and their local controllers are also taken into account.

Neoplasm development in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) has been widely discussed. The aim of this work is to determine neoplasm frequency, relationship with the prescription pattern of DMTs, and influence of the patients’ baseline characteristics. Data from 250 MS outpatients were collected during the period 1981–2019 from the medical records of the Neurology Service of the HUPM ( Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar )—in Southern Spain—and analysed using Cox models. Neoplasm prevalence was 24%, mainly located on the skin, with cancer prevalence as expected for MS (6.8%). Latency period from MS onset to neoplasm diagnosis was 10.4 ± 6.9 years (median 9.30 [0.9–30.5]). During the observation period β-IFN (70.4% of patients), glatiramer acetate (30.4%), natalizumab (16.8%), fingolimod (24.8%), dimethyl fumarate (24.0%), alemtuzumab (6.0%), and teriflunomide (4.8%) were administered as monotherapy. Change of pattern in step therapy was significantly different in cancer patients vs unaffected individuals ( p  = 0.011) (29.4% did not receive DMTs [ p  = 0.000]). Extended Cox model: Smoking (HR = 3.938, CI 95% 1.392–11.140, p  = 0.010), being female (HR = 2.006, 1.070–3.760, p  = 0.030), and age at MS diagnosis (AGE-DG) (HR = 1.036, 1.012–1.061, p  = 0.004) were risk factors for neoplasm development. Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) phenotype (HR = 0.179, 0.042–0.764, p  = 0.020) and treatment-time with IFN (HR = 0.923, 0.873–0.977, p  = 0.006) or DMF (HR = 0.725, 0.507–1.036, p  = 0.077) were protective factors. Tobacco and IFN lost their negative/positive influence as survival time increased. Cox PH model: Tobacco/AGE-DG interaction was a risk factor for cancer (HR = 1.099, 1.001–1.208, p  = 0.049), followed by FLM treatment-time (HR = 1.219, 0.979–1.517). In conclusion, smoking, female sex, and AGE-DG were risk factors, and SPMS and IFN treatment-time were protective factors for neoplasm development; smoking/AGE-DG interaction was the main cancer risk factor.

Short-chain esters contribute to the blend of volatiles that define the strawberry aroma. The last step in their biosynthesis involves an alcohol acyltransferase that catalyses the esterification of an acyl moiety of acyl-CoA with an alcohol. This study identified a novel strawberry alcohol acyltransferase gene (FaAAT2) whose expression pattern during fruit receptacle growth and ripening is in accordance with the production of esters throughout strawberry fruit ripening. The full-length FaAAT2 cDNA was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and its activity was analysed with acyl-CoA and alcohol substrates. The semi-purified FaAAT2 enzyme had activity with C1–C8 straight-chain alcohols and aromatic alcohols in the presence of acetyl-CoA. Cinnamyl alcohol was the most efficient acyl acceptor. When FaAAT2 expression was transiently downregulated in the fruit receptacle by agroinfiltration, the volatile ester production was significantly reduced in strawberry fruit. The results suggest that FaAAT2 plays a significant role in the production of esters that contribute to the final strawberry fruit flavour.

Background: Mental health literacy is a determinant of mental health, which can facilitate early detection of psychological problems and endorse timely access to care. Instruments to measure mental health literacy exist, but not in French. Assessment of mental health literacy in young adults is essential to tailor appropriate educational interventions promoting psychological wellbeing and preventing mental health problems in this vulnerable population. The aim of this study was to validate the French version of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS-FR) in university students. Methods: A total of 482 students from the University of Bordeaux, France, completed the translated version of the scale. Collected data were used to validate the MHLS-FR through psychometric analyses: descriptive statistics, item distribution, test-retest reliability, exploratory structural equation model, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients, and hypothesis testing. Results: The final scale included 26 items covering 6 dimensions. Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients were 0.744 and 0.961, respectively. With test-retest, about 50% of items had intraclass correlation coefficients superior to 0.5. Conclusions: The MHLS-FR can be considered as a valid and reliable instrument for measuring mental health literacy in French students.

The probability of defects detection (POD) is developed as an efficient tool to evaluate the detection capacity of non-destructive testing methods. An experimental study has been carried out applying the magnetic particle test method with an electromagnetic yoke on welded steel joints, which contained surface defects previously characterized in shape, size and location. The test conditions were varied, such as the type of magnetization current, and the type of magnetic particle. The probability of detecting defects in welded joints evaluated by the Hit/miss method increased with the size of the defect, independent of its shape factor. Smaller defects were likely to be detected with dry magnetic particles compared to wet fluorescent ones, a50 (2,118 mm ˂ 2,469 mm), a90 (6,395 mm ˂ 6,77 mm) and a90/95 (12,12 mm ˂ 12,19 mm).

The use of renewable energy sources (RES) such as wind and solar power is increasing rapidly to meet growing electricity demand. However, the intermittent nature of RES poses a challenge to grid stability. Energy storage (ES) technologies offer a solution by adding flexibility to the system. With the emergence of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the transition to prosumer-based electricity systems, energy management systems (EMSs) have become crucial to coordinate the operation of different devices and optimize system efficiency and functionality. This paper presents an EMS for a residential photovoltaic (PV) and battery system that addresses two different functionalities: energy cost minimization, and self-consumption maximization. The proposed EMS takes into account the operational requirements of the devices and their lower-level controllers. A genetic algorithm (GA) is used to solve the optimization problems, ensuring a desired State of Charge (SOC) at the end of the day based on the next day forecast, without discretizing the SOC transitions allowing a continuous search space. The importance of adhering to the manufacturer’s operating specification to avoid premature battery degradation is highlighted, and a comparative analysis is performed with a simple tariff-driven solution, evaluating total cost, energy exchange, and peak power. Tests are carried out in a detailed model, where Power Electronics Converters (PECs) and their local controllers are considered together with the EMS.