We study the bursting of a bubble on a liquid free surface under critical conditions, i.e. those leading to the minimum (maximum) size (velocity) of the first-emitted jet droplet. We consider the effect of a surfactant remaining in the monolayer during the cavity collapse and jetting (the surfactant is considered as insoluble). Our experiments show that a tiny amount of surfactant considerably increases (decreases) the droplet radius (velocity). The volume of the first-emitted droplet increases by a factor of 20 for a concentration that produces an insignificant reduction in the bubble surface tension. The total liquid volume ejected by the bubble increases with the surfactant concentration. Surfactant accumulates at the bubble base due to the shrinkage of the cavity bottom and surfactant convection. The resulting reduction in surface tension narrows the region of free surface reversal. Despite this effect, the droplet size increases because Marangoni stress widens the jet and slows the liquid jet interface, delaying droplet detachment. More liquid flows into the droplets, increasing the mass and energy transfer to the resulting spray. A significant increase in the droplet size is also observed with a weak surfactant. This indicates that natural water contamination can substantially alter bubble bursting under critical conditions. Our results may explain the size of the particles emitted by bubble bursting in seawater.

High-energy, sugar-rich diets are associated with obesity and pancreatic disorders. We investigated the effects of consumption of a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFrD) on gene expression related to insulin synthesis, inflammation and apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells. Weaned Wistar rats were fed either a control diet (CD; 11 % kcal from fat and 0 % from fructose) or an HFFrD (48 % kcal from fat and 33 % from fructose) for 22 weeks; after a 6-h fast, animals were euthanised. Body weight and total fat were recorded. Serum analyses included: glucose, insulin, triacylglycerides (TAG), malondialdehyde (MDA), TNFα, IL-6, IL-10 and advanced glycation end-products (AGE). Pancreatic islets were analysed for gene expression linked to insulin synthesis, inflammation and apoptosis. Pancreatic assessments included TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry. HFFrD increased body weight, total fat, MDA, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, AGE, TAG and IL-6 concentrations in both sexes. Gene expression revealed sex-dependent differences: Glut2, Gck, Khk, Ins2 and the transcription factor Mafa were downregulated in males but upregulated in females. Pdx1 expression increased in females, whereas NeuroD1 increased in males. Pro-inflammatory markers (Il-1β, Il-6) increased in both sexes, whereas Il-10 decreased in males and increased in females. Bax/Bcl2 ratio decreased in males but increased in females; antioxidant and apoptotic markers Nrf2 and Casp3 increased in females. Endocannabinoid receptors (Cnr1, Cnr2) increased in both sexes. HFFrD altered the expression of genes involved in insulin synthesis, inflammation and apoptosis in a sex-specific manner. Compared with males, females showed lower vulnerability, possibly because of adaptive responses in insulin synthesis signalling influenced by sex hormones.

Participation in the public debate constitutes one of the most evident avenues for political scientists to demonstrate the social relevance of the discipline. This article focuses on two questions: the types of roles political scientists adopt in their public interventions and the potential tensions between their public engagement and the epistemic norms regulating academic and research activities. We investigate these questions in the context of very salient political debates, involving a high degree of political confrontation, where basic political beliefs, values, identities, and interests are at stake. Focusing on the case of the public debate surrounding the Catalan independence crisis (2010–2018), we demonstrate that in this type of context, (1) political scientists mostly adopt a partisan stance in their public interventions, yet it is also frequent that this is combined with the presence of academic elements in their discourse; (2) demand side factors (media outlets’ editorial lines) reinforce these partisan dynamics. These findings show that opportunities for increasing the social relevance of political scientists in these highly contentious contexts might come at the price of creating tensions that could erode the legitimacy of political science knowledge before the public.

Chronic otitis and mastoiditis are inflammatory processes that can lead to deafness and disability if left untreated, especially in the pre-antibiotic era and in fishing communities with high exposure to infection. This study describes lesions on temporal bones found in Tzintzuntzan, a prehispanic city located near Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, in western Mexico. A multidisciplinary team analyzed a sample (N = 96) of temporal bones using morphoscopic analysis, multidetector CT scanning, and 2D and 3D virtual reconstruction. All evaluations were double-blinded using a previously standardized process and a validated questionnaire. The combination of multiple methodologies and a multidisciplinary team of evaluators improved the likelihood of classifying lesions. Nearly one-third of the lesions (31.25%) are compatible with the diagnoses of chronic otitis and mastoiditis. The frequency of these lesions is high in fishing communities such as in the city of Tzintzuntzan, possibly leading to significant hearing impairment among the population and affecting individuals’ abilities to perform essential aquatic activities.

In 1988, meteorological measurements started at the Spanish research station Juan Carlos I (JCI) on Livingston Island. A second station - Gabriel de Castilla (GdC) - was installed in 2005 on Deception Island. These long-term measurements improved our climatological understanding of the western region of the South Shetland Islands (SSI), a region that has received less attention than the more station-populated King George Island in the central SSI. Here, we present a complete climatological analysis of these stations after undertaking a full quality control process of the data. This analysis covers temperature, wind, precipitation, radiation, relative humidity and pressure, as well as trends and variability. The results show: 1) the stations along the western SSI coastline, particularly JCI, are warmer than those on the central SSI, especially in summer, 2) at GdC, winters are colder due to stagnant cold air pooling within the Deception Island caldera, 3) the importance of island orography in shaping local climatology, especially regarding wind patterns, and 4) the critical need to correct precipitation measurements for undercatchment of solid precipitation by common pluviometers. This study provides a climatological framework to support further research conducted in the region.

Atop El Castillo, the largest pyramid within the Maya site of Chichen Itza, in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, stand two ruined columns that once portrayed the feathered serpent deity K’uk’ulkan. 3D-imaging technologies have identified scattered sculptural fragments belonging to these columns, allowing a digital reconstruction that opens new possibilities for their conservation.

Given the growing global prevalence and significant impact of depression and anxiety, both in general and within the workplace, understanding the underlying mechanisms contributing to emotional disorders is essential. This study examined whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between experiential avoidance and emotional disorders, focusing on depression and anxiety. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 174 outpatients from a community mental health center, who completed self-report measures of experiential avoidance, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. We used the PROCESS macro for mediation analysis, and the results indicated that self-esteem significantly mediated the relationship between experiential avoidance and both depression and anxiety. We analyzed the mediation model within the framework of self-determination theory, which suggested that interventions aimed at reducing experiential avoidance and enhancing self-esteem could be effective for emotional disorders. In this study, we highlight the importance of addressing both experiential avoidance and self-esteem in the therapeutic context. We also discuss implications for clinical practice and limitations of the current study.

Idiopathic orbital myositis is a rare inflammatory condition that predominantly affects multiple extraocular muscles. Isolated involvement of a single muscle is very uncommon. Isolated levator palpebrae myositis is a diagnostic challenge that should be considered in patients with periocular pain and complete eyelid ptosis without ophthalmoparesis or pupillary dysfunction. We propose a comprehensive set of diagnostic tests to identify the underlying etiology and a recommended treatment regimen. Additionally, we present a case from our clinical practice that illustrates this rare presentation, of which few cases have been described in the literature.

An archaeological investigation at the western margin of the Cordillera de la Sal Formation in Catarpe (San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile), revealed a series of pyrometallurgical furnaces from the Late period (AD 1400–1536). The furnaces, found at the Catarpe Túnel archaeological site, were used to reduce atacamite, clinoatacamite, brochantite, chrysocolla, and azurite to obtain unalloyed copper prills. Exceptional for the Atacama oasis and salt flats, Catarpe Túnel represents the only major archaeometallurgical site recorded in the area. Archaeometric analysis has determined the type of ore smelted, the composition of the metallic copper produced, and the characteristics of the fuel used by the operations. Although these operations are typical of the local metallurgical tradition, their proximity to a documented section of the Qhapaq Ñan and the Inka administrative center of Catarpe Este led us to wonder about the possible Tawantinsuyu influence in the region.

Intentionally enhancing and supporting the early careers of individuals from populations underrepresented in science and medicine (URSM) is essential to achieving health equity. The Health Equity Leadership and Mentoring (HELM) Program at the University of Minnesota and the University of Utah is designed to foster academic excellence and build leadership capacity of postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and early-career faculty who identify as URSM and/or who are committed to careers in health equity research and clinical care. HELM models a culture of psychosocial safety to create a sense of belonging and uses evidence-based and culturally aware mentoring and career development strategies with the goal of retaining diverse faculty. HELM proved agile and adaptive during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been successful in states with and without legislation limiting diversity programs. Across the 2 institutions, the HELM program has supported over 200 trainees and early-career faculty through mid-2024. Among HELM participants who joined the program as faculty, 85%–95% have remained in their faculty positions.

This work reports the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data recorded at room temperature (293 K) of dibromidodioxido-[(4,4′-di-tert-butyl)-2,2′-bipyridine]molybdenum(VI). The analysis of the powder diffraction pattern led to an orthorhombic united cell with parameters a = 17.9205(23) Å, b = 13.4451(16) Å, c = 18.1514(19) Å, V = 4,373.5(11) Å3, and values of Z = 8 and Z’ = 2. The crystal structure of this material corresponds to the structure of entry IFUJEC of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), determined at 90 K. The excellent Rietveld refinement, carried out with General Structure and Analysis Software II (GSAS-II), showed the single-phase nature of the material and the good quality of the data. This material was also characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) techniques.