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In this study we determined the causes of mortality and disease in a total of 325 lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) in northern Spain between 2000 and 2018. Risk factors such as the species, age, sex, time of year and origin were also considered. Clinical signs, gross and histopathological findings and ancillary test results were the basis for the final diagnoses that were reviewed to classify and identify the different disorders. A total of 26 different conditions were identified. A single cause of death or illness was detected in 267 animals. They were grouped into parasitic conditions (n= 65; 24.34%) represented by encephalitozoonosis, hepatic coccidiosis, hepatoperitoneal cysticercosis, intestinal coccidiosis, parasitic gastritis and cutaneous ectoparasitosis; bacterial diseases (n = 56; 20.97%) including pseudotuberculosis, blue breast, skin abscesses, tularemia, pneumonic pasteurellosis and staphylococcal infections; nutritional and metabolic diseases (n = 48; 17.97%) with epizootic rabbit enteropathy, hepatic steatosis and pregnancy toxemia as prominent diseases; viral infections (n= 31; 11.61%) comprising rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis and miscellaneous causes (n = 31; 11.61%) where rabbit enteritis complex, renal conditions (nephrosis), heat stroke, and arterial bone metaplasia were included; neoplasms (n = 12; 4.49%) represented by uterine adenocarcinoma, mammary adenocarcinoma, cutaneous fibroma, intestinal lymphoma and hepatic cholangiocarcinoma; toxicoses (n = 11; 4.11%); trauma-related injuries (n = 9; 3.37%) and finally congenital diseases (n = 4; 1.49%). In 58 animals of the study, some of these conditions were presented jointly. We discuss the detection frequency, possible causes or associated factors of the different pathologies as well as the importance of the different variables considered.

The family Synallactidae comprises mostly deep-sea forms and is the least-studied large taxon amongst deep-sea cucumbers. They are part of the abyssal megafauna and play an important role in modifying the sediment landscape and structuring the communities that live within it. The family embraces the genus Synallactes , which contains approximately twenty-five species from the Pacific, Atlantic (six species), Indian (seven species) and Antarctic Oceans (one species). Synallactes mcdanieli sp. nov. is described from the Northeast Pacific, Knight Inlet, British Columbia, Canada to Kodiak Island, Gulf of Alaska, USA, at depths from 21 to 438 m. This new species is unique amongst the species of the genus Synallactes because of the number and arrangement of dorsal papillae, number of Polian vesicles, together with the entire ossicle arrangement. In addition, this species has the shallowest bathymetric distribution ever recorded for this genus.

The photocatalytic activity of silica–titania (S-T) fibers synthesized via sol–gel and electrospinning was evaluated using methyl orange (MO), eriochrome black T (EB), and methylene blue (MB) as model dyes. Characterization by X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of anatase and rutile TiO2 phases, while UV-Vis spectroscopy determined a bandgap energy of 3.2 eV. Scanning electron microscopy revealed fibers with an average diameter of 214 nm. Under UV irradiation, nearly complete dye removal (initial concentration: 30 mg/L; catalyst dosage: 0.1 g/L) was achieved within 8 h. The reaction kinetics followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, with significant differences in apparent reaction rates (ka) among the dyes, attributable to their distinct structural and functional properties. This study establishes silica–titania fibers as a high-performance, highly versatile composite photocatalyst. Achieving 98% degradation efficiency, their key innovation is their fibrous morphology, which solves the critical problem of powder catalyst recovery. This enables a paradigm shift from simple lab efficiency to practical, sustainable application.

The increment of prevalence is among the most important changes that have taken place in recent years with regard to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); in the 1970s and 1980s of the 20th century, the prevalence of ASD was estimated to be 4/10,000 [...]

Fe−N−C catalysts are an interesting option for polymer electrolyte fuel cells due to their low cost and high activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Since Fe−N−C active sites are preferentially formed in the micropores of the carbon matrix, increasing the microporosity is highly appealing. In this work, carbon xerogels (CXG) were activated by physical and chemical methods to favor the formation of micropores, used as carbon matrices for Fe−N−C catalysts, and investigated for the ORR. The catalysts were characterized by solid‐state techniques to determine chemical composition and pore structure. Physical activation increased microporosity up to 2‐fold leading to catalysts with a larger density of active sites (more than twice iron and nitrogen uptake, pyridinic N and Nx−Fe). This entailed a higher ORR intrinsic activity determined in a 3‐electrode cell (80 mV better half‐wave potential). At the cathode of a fuel cell, the catalysts based on activated carbon materials showed 26 % lower power density ascribed to a more hydrophilic surface, causing a larger extent of flooding of the electrode that counterbalances the higher intrinsic activity. Interestingly, a more stable behavior was observed for the activated catalysts, with up to 2‐fold better relative power density retention after 20‐hour operation. Activated carbon xerogels were studied as matrix for Fe−N−C catalysts. The increased microporosity lead to catalysts with a larger density of active sites, achieving up to more than twice iron and nitrogen uptake, and consequently, a higher ORR intrinsic activity. Whereas, fuel cell power density is negatively affected by a more hydrophilic character, but stability enhances with activation.

The global warming and the dangerous climate change arising from the massive emission of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels have motivated the search for alternative clean and sustainable energy sources. However, the industrial development and population necessities make the decoupling of economic growth from fossil fuels unimaginable and, consequently, the capture and conversion of CO2 to fuels seems to be, nowadays, one of the most promising and attractive solutions in a world with high energy demand. In this respect, the electrochemical CO2 conversion using renewable electricity provides a promising solution. However, faradaic efficiency of common electro-catalysts is low, and therefore, the design of highly selective, energy-efficient, and cost-effective electrocatalysts is critical. Carbon-based materials present some advantages such as relatively low cost and renewability, excellent electrical conductivity, and tunable textural and chemical surface, which show them as competitive materials for the electro-reduction of CO2. In this review, an overview of the recent progress of carbon-based electro-catalysts in the conversion of CO2 to valuable products is presented, focusing on the role of the different carbon properties, which provides a useful understanding for the materials design progress in this field. Development opportunities and challenges in the field are also summarized.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke making accurate risk stratification central for effective management. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a marker of insulin resistance, has been associated to cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, it is particularly relevant in the context of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which are major contributors to cardiovascular risk. Herein, we explored whether the TyG index could predict thrombotic events in AF patients. Methods Prospective cohort study involving AF outpatients starting oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy between January 2016 and November 2021. The primary endpoint was a composite of thrombotic events including myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, ischemic stroke, or transient ischemic attack, over 2 years follow-up. The TyG index was calculated at baseline and patients were stratified into tertiles (T1: TyG index < 4.59; T2: TyG index 4.59–4.83; T3: TyG index > 4.83). Results 2907 patients (52.5% women; median age 77 years, IQR 69–82 years) were included, with a median TyG index of 4.71 (4.53–4.91). At 2-years, 7.2% (208) of patients experienced a composite thrombotic event. Patients in T3 had a significantly higher incidence rate ratio (1.39 [95% CI 1.01–1.96], p  = 0.047 vs. T1; 1.42 [95% CI 1.01–2.00], p  = 0.038 vs. T2). Adjusted Cox regression identified the TyG index as an independent predictor for thrombotic events (aHR 1.82; 95% CI 1.15–2.89). T3 patients exhibited a 64% higher risk of thrombotic events (aHR 1.64, 95% CI 1.17–2.29; log-rank test p value = 0.014). Conclusions In this real-world cohort of AF patients on OAC, an elevated TyG index independently predicted thrombotic events. However, further research is needed to determine how to integrate this simple marker into existing risk stratification strategies and whether it truly improves risk assessment and treatment decisions.

Renal dysfunction is highly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and confers an increased risk of thrombotic and bleeding complications. We evaluated the effect of renal function on prognosis in anticoagulated patients with AF and assessed the changes in renal function during a long-term follow-up period. We recruited 978 consecutive stable anticoagulated patients with AF from our outpatient anticoagulation clinic (international normalized ratio 2.0 to 3.0 within the previous 6 months). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation at inclusion and 2 years of follow-up. Adverse events were recorded during follow-up (thrombotic/vascular events, major bleeding episodes, and mortality). Longitudinal changes in renal function were analyzed in 886 patients (90.6%). At baseline, the median eGFR using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation was 70.24 ml/min/1.73 m2 (interquartile range 46.79 to 72.52). During follow-up, a low eGFR was associated with thrombotic/vascular events, with every 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 eGFR decrease (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11 to 1.83, p = 0.006), bleeding (hazard ratio 1.44, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.94, p = 0.015), and mortality (hazard ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.91, p = 0.004). After excluding patients with a baseline eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2, the mean eGFR in our cohort decreased >10 ml/min/1.73 m2 in 181 patients (21%) during the follow-up period. The variables associated with severe renal impairment during follow-up were heart failure (odds ratio 3.58, 95% CI 1.36 to 9.42, p = 0.010), basal eGFR (odds ratio 6.34, 95% CI 2.44 to 16.50, p <0.001), and CHADS2 (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age >75 years, Diabetes mellitus, and previous Stroke or transient ischemic attack [doubled]) score (odds ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.23, p = 0.003). In conclusion, the presence of impaired renal function was closely related to thrombotic/vascular events, bleeding, and mortality in anticoagulated patients with AF. During follow-up, 1/5 of the patients had significant impairment in renal function. Importantly, normal or mild renal dysfunction at baseline did not exclude the subsequent development of severe renal dysfunction during the follow-up period.

Introducing new inexpensive materials for supercapacitors application with high energy density and stability, is the current research challenge. In this work, Silver doped carbon xerogels have been synthesized via a simple sol-gel method. The silver doped carbon xerogels are further surface functionalized with different loadings of nickel cobaltite (1 wt.%, 5 wt.%, and 10 wt.%) using a facile impregnation process. The morphology and textural properties of the obtained composites are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen physisorption analysis. The silver doped carbon xerogels display a higher surface area and larger mesopore volume compared to the un-doped carbon xerogels and hierarchically porous structure is obtained for all materials. The hybrid composites have been utilized as electrode materials for symmetric supercapacitors in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Among all the hybrid composites, silver doped carbon xerogel functionalized with 1 wt.% nickel cobaltite (NiCo1/Ag-CX) shows the best supercapacitor performance: high specific capacitance (368 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), low equivalent series resistance (1.9 Ω), high rate capability (99% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles at 1 A g−1), and high energy and power densities (50 Wh/Kg, 200 W/Kg at 0.1 A g−1). It is found that the specific capacitance does not only depend on surface area, but also on others factors such as particle size, uniform particle distribution, micro-mesoporous structure, which contribute to abundant active sites and fast charge, and ion transfer rates between the electrolyte and the active sites.

The depletion of conventional light petroleum reserves has intensified the search for alternative sources, notably, low-quality heavy oils and byproducts from heavy crude processing, to meet the global demand for fuels, energy, and petrochemicals. Heavy crude oil (HO) and extra heavy crude oil (EHO) represent nearly 70% of the world’s reserves but require extensive upgrading to satisfy refining and petrochemical specifications. Their high asphaltene content results in elevated viscosity and reduced API gravity, posing significant challenges in extraction, transportation, and refining. Advanced catalytic approaches are crucial for efficient asphaltene removal and the conversion of heavy feedstocks into valuable light fractions. Kaolin, an aluminosilicate mineral, has emerged as a key precursor for zeolite synthesis and a promising catalyst in upgrading processes. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of kaolin’s geological origins, chemical properties, and structural characteristics, as well as the various modification techniques designed to improve its catalytic performance. Special focus is given to its application in the transformation of heavy crudes, particularly in facilitating asphaltene breakdown and enhancing light distillate yields. Finally, future research avenues and potential developments in kaolin-based catalysis are discussed, emphasizing its vital role in addressing the technological challenges linked to the growing reliance on heavier crude resources.