A machine learning model was created to predict the electron spectrum generated by a GeV-class laser wakefield accelerator. The model was constructed from variational convolutional neural networks, which mapped the results of secondary laser and plasma diagnostics to the generated electron spectrum. An ensemble of trained networks was used to predict the electron spectrum and to provide an estimation of the uncertainty of that prediction. It is anticipated that this approach will be useful for inferring the electron spectrum prior to undergoing any process that can alter or destroy the beam. In addition, the model provides insight into the scaling of electron beam properties due to stochastic fluctuations in the laser energy and plasma electron density.

Schizophrenia and mood disorders -including unipolar depression and bipolar disorder-, are severe mental diseases with a highly heterogeneous symptomatology, among which cognitive dysfunction has progressively emerged as a key cornerstone. Patients suffering from these illnesses show significant deficits in different neurocognitive and social cognition domains. These deficits are evident during acute episodes, and in a high percentage of patients persist in periods of recovery, playing a decisive role on functional and clinical outcome. Nowadays, different pharmacological therapies have been tested, obtaining non-conclusive results. In this context, non-pharmacological strategies, such as neurocognitive remediation, have emerged as promising therapeutic intervention. Neurocognitive remediation comprises a program to rehabilitate cognitively impaired subjects, aiming either to restore their cognitive functioning or to compensate them in specific cognitive domains. One evolving approach, beginning to receive attention for its initial promising results, is computerized cognitive training. This technique employs tasks or games that exercise a particular brain function which target specific neural networks in order to improve cognitive functioning through neuroplasticity in a given neural circuit. In this scenario, we report our recent results with neuropersonaltrainer®-MH; a module for neurocognitive remediation consisting in a computerized telerehabilitation platform that enables cognitive remediation programs to be carried out in an intensive and personalized manner. Our group has applied NPTMH® in a pilot study treating patients with early onset psychotic disorder with positive and promising results, involving an improvement in functionality, neurocognition, and social cognition performance. Furthermore, new trials in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder have been recently started.

Some food bioactives potentially exert anti-obesity effects. Anthocyanins (ACN), catechins, β-glucan (BG) and n-3 long chain PUFA (LCPUFA) are among the most promising candidates and have been considered as a strategy for the development of functional foods counteracting body weight gain. At present, clinical trials, reviews and meta-analyses addressing anti-obesity effects of various bioactives or bioactive-rich foods show contradictory results. Abdominal obesity is an important criterion for metabolic syndrome (MetS) diagnosis along with glucose intolerance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Food bioactives are supposed to exert beneficial effects on these parameters, therefore representing alternative therapy approaches for the treatment of MetS. This review summarises outcomes on MetS biomarkers in recent clinical trials supplementing ACN, catechins, BG and n-3 LCPUFA, focusing mainly on anti-obesity effects. Overall, it is clear that the level of evidence for the effectiveness varies not only among the different bioactives but also among the different putative health benefits suggested for the same bioactive. Limited evidence may be due to the low number of controlled intervention trials or to inconsistencies in trial design, i.e. duration, dose and/or the method of bioactive supplementation (extracts, supplements, rich or enriched food). At present, the question ‘Are bioactives effective in weight management and prevention of metabolic syndrome?’ remains inconclusive. Thus, a common effort to harmonise the study design of intervention trials focusing on the most promising bioactive molecules is urgently needed to strengthen the evidence of their potential in the treatment of obesity, MetS and related diseases.

Raman spectroscopy studies have been performed on one hand to identify different materials related to spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and on the other hand to study the behavior of SNF at different storage conditions. Specifically, the expected oxidation of the SNF matrix under dry storage conditions and the formation of secondary phases (SP), as a result of corrosion of SNF in a deep geological repository, have been studied. In order to perform these experiments, two protocols based on the Raman spectroscopy technique have been developed. The results show U4O9/U3O7 and U3O8 as oxidation products of UO2 powder at high temperatures in air, and the secondary phase formation (rutherfordine, UO2(CO3), soddyite, (UO2)2SiO4•2H2O, uranophane alpha Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2•5H2O and kasolite, PbUO2SiO4•H2O), due to uraninite corrosion under the conditions of Sierra Albarrana (Spain).

The factorial approach to assess the amino acid (AA) requirements of pigs is based on the assumption that the AA composition of body protein is constant. However, there are indications that this assumption may not be valid because the AA composition of body protein can be affected by the AA supply. The extent to which different tissues are affected by an AA deficiency is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding pig diets with a deficient or sufficient total sulfur AA supply (TSAA; Met+Cys) from 6 to 23 weeks of age on tissue composition and meat quality. The deficient diet (TSAA–) provided 24% Met : Lys and 51% TSAA : Lys on a standardized ileal digestible basis, which are 19% and 16% below the recommended requirements, respectively. The sufficient diet (TSAA+) provided 33% Met : Lys and 60% TSAA : Lys. Diets were offered slightly below the ad libitum feed intake capacity of the pigs. Pigs offered diet TSAA– had a lower average daily gain, lower weights of the longissimus dorsi (LM) and rhomboideus muscles (RM), and of selected skin sections (P<0.05). The weight of different sections of the small intestine and the liver was not affected by the diet. The protein content of the LM and RM decreased in pigs offered diet TSAA– (P<0.05), whereas the protein content of other tissues was not affected. The TSAA supply affected the AA composition (g/16 g N) of protein in all tissues, but the Met content was changed only in the liver (P<0.05). Pigs receiving diet TSAA– had a lower Cys content in the RM and in the distal jejunum and ileum (P<0.01). The deficient TSAA supply resulted in a lower carcass weight and higher muscle glycogen stores (P<0.05), but did not affect other meat quality traits. The results of this study indicate that the muscles, jejunum and ileum respond more to a prolonged AA deficiency than the liver. In addition, the observed changes in AA composition of tissue protein question the use of a constant AA profile of retained protein to assess AA requirements.

The formation of uranyl peroxide phases was identified as a corrosion product of spent fuel by Hanson et al [1]. The subsequent analysis of this phase showed that metastudtite retained 241Am, 237Np and 239Pu [2]. In this study, the retention of radionuclide Pu4+ and An3+, released from the spent fuel matrix into studtite structure, has been evaluated by the precipitation of studtite from uranyl dissolution with variable concentrations of REE (Th, Nd, Sm and Eu). Three different precipitation conditions parameters were studied: media of synthesis, time of synthesis and REE concentration. Synthesized phases were characterized by XRD and the cell parameter was calculated. The REE incorporation was determined by ICP-MS analysis. The results showed that studtite could incorporate 63% of Th in solution during its precipitation. Changes in the “a” cell parameter were identified. The results suggest that studtite coprecipitated with REE could play a role as a limiting for the REE mobility.

Cyclodextrin (CD) has been studied intensively due to its ability to form inclusion complexes with a variety of guest molecules in the solid state. A few studies have paid attention to the use of CD to facilitate the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. In this work the synthesis of magnetite (M) is made in the presence of CD. The particle size of the inorganic material is controlled by the presence of CD, in which spherical particles of few nanometers are grown. The synthesis of Fe3O4 (M) in the presence of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and β-cyclodextrin (βCD) is described. The formation of an M-CD complex is studied in both cases by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) in order to elucidate the chemical bonding of the complex. The morphology and size of the particles are determined by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and software. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to confirm the formation of magnetite.

We describe recent advances in the development of a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer applied to the study of the kinematics of the interstellar medium at the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional at San Pedro Mártir, B.C. México.

La larve de Thremma tellae est décrite pour la première fois, par comparaison avec celle de Thremma gallicum, dont elle se distingue nettement par quelques particularités morphologiques. Son fourreau et son comportement constructeur constituent les caractères les plus originaux. Les auteurs donnent également quelques remarques biogéographiques et écologiques.