Inflammation in the intervertebral disc herniation

[EN] Up until fairly recently, it was thought that sciatic pain in the lumbar herniated disc was caused by compression on the nerve root. However, the lumbar herniated disc shows mixed pictures which are difficult to explain by simple mechanical compromise. In recent years various immunology, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology studies have shown that the herniated tissue is not an inert material, but rather it Is biologically very active with the capability of expressing a series of inflammatory mediators: cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleuquin-8 and tumor necrosis factor being the ones which stand out. The inflammation is not only induced by the chemical irritation of the bioactive substances released by the nucleus pulposus but also by an autoimmune response against itself. Thus, in addition to the mechanical factor, the biomechanical mediation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sciatic pain and of radiculopathy. Through a review of a wide range of literature, we researched the cellular molecular mediators involved in this inflammatory process around the lumbar herniated disc and its involvement in sciatic painSIResearch funded by the Fundación Leonesa Pro-neurociencias [Pro-neurosciences Foundation of León

Role of Slaughtering in Salmonella Spreading and Control in Pork Production

[EN] Salmonella is one of the major foodborne pathogens worldwide. Pork products are among the main sources of Salmonella infection in humans, and several countries have established Salmonella surveillance and control programs. The role of slaughtering in carcass contamination has been indicated by studies focused on the slaughterhouse environment. In this review, we examine and discuss the information available regarding the influence that farm status, pig transport, and lairage have on the carriage of Salmonella by pigs entering the slaughter line. The evolution of carcass contamination throughout the slaughtering process, the main sources of contamination in the dirty and clean zones of the slaughter line, and previously reported prevalence of Salmonella on carcasses and factors affecting this prevalence also are discussed. The importance of implementing interventions at the slaughter level is discussed briefly. Consistent with the information available, pigs from infected farms and newly acquired or recrudescent infections in pigs at the subsequent stages of transport and lairage are important sources of Salmonella at the slaughtering plant. The continuous introduction of Salmonella into the slaughterhouse and the potential for resident flora constitute a risk for carcass contamination. At the slaughterhouse, some dressing activities can reduce carcass contamination, but others are critical control points that jeopardize carcass hygiene. This information indicates the importance of considering slaughter and previous stages in the pork production chain for controlling Salmonella in swine productionS

The distribution of vertebrate roadkill varies by season, surrounding environment, and animal class

[EN] Due to rapid human expansion in the last century, wildlife roadkill is becoming a concerning threat to biodiversity and human safety. The frequency of roadkill events depends on factors related to specific traits of the road—tortuosity or the presence of fences, among others—and the animal ecology—such as activity patterns, reproductive season, or thermoregulation. These, in turn, are related to environmental factors, with seasonal variations. Here, we assessed roadkill mortality of terrestrial vertebrates over the year. To do this, we sampled 10 road sections (of 3 km, by walk) in the south of Spain for a full year, registering the carcasses of run-over vertebrates. Then, we analysed the spatiotemporal patterns of roadkill events for the four vertebrates’ classes and the effects of road traits (presence of fence, tortuosity, distance to water point) and environmental variables (mean temperature and precipitation). Mammals suffered the highest mortality by roadkill (45.72%). The frequency of collisions was independent of tortuosity, presence of fences, and precipitation, while mean temperature significantly increased the probability of collision of mammals, birds, and reptiles. There was a seasonal effect in the number of collisions, which spatial pattern depended on the class of vertebrates. All this leads us to conclude that, to reduce the impact caused by roadkill mortality on wildlife, we need specific measures to be taken timely in each critical place and for each vertebrate groupSIFunding for open access publishing: Universidad de Granada/CBUA (Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Andalucía). Zaida Ortega was funded by a postdoctoral talent-attraction contract from the Junta de Andalucía, co-funded with European Commission fund

In vitro effect of furan acetamide bromide on Salmonella enterica isolates from chickens

[ES] Dentro del género Salmonella, la especie Salmonella enterica, subsp enterica es una de las de mayor interés por su efecto patógeno sobre los animales. El trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto in vitro de la acetamida furánica bromada (AFB) sobre Salmonella enterica aviar. La AFB se obtuvo en el Centro de Bioactivos Químicos de la Universidad Central de las Villas, Cuba. La actividad antimicrobiana del producto sobre los aislados de Salmonella enterica se determinó por el método de macrodilución en caldo, según el "National Comité for Clinical Laboratory Standards", NCCLS, documento M7-A2. La concentración letal mínima se determinó según NCCLS, documento M26-A, 1999. Las pruebas bioquímicas y serológicas confirmaron la presencia de Salmonella gallinarum en el 100 % de las muestras. Los valores de la mínima concentración inhibitoria (MCI) y mínima concentración bactericida (MCB) de la AFB fueron ambas de 12.5 mg/ml, para las cepas de Salmonella gallinarum y "American Type Culture Collection" de E. coli. Se concluye que la MCI y MCB de la Salmonella enterica frente a la acetamida furánica bromada in vitro fue de 12.5 mg/ml, demostrando la acción bactericida del producto.N

Delibes: "Madera del héroe", Names, Christian Saints and The Matter of heroism

[ES] Este trabajo se propone releer Madera de héroe (antes 377A, Madera de héroe, 1987), de Miguel Delibes, buscando una propuesta constructiva sobre el valor del heroísmo. En la novela pugnan distintas ten-dencias (o tentaciones): una valoración persistente del heroísmo como impostura, la de su nocividad para individuos y sociedades, mientras va cobrando forma la idea, que se consolida al final, del heroís-mo como ejemplo que sólo puede cumplirse a posteriori, al modo de la santidad. El método de análisis atenderá conexiones, repeticiones y resignificaciones dentro del texto, tomando en cuenta las elecciones de nombres, vocablos, frases, y lo que surge de la ironía que posibilitanlas cercanías o distancias de las distintas voces respecto a la materia narrada.[EN] The purpose of this work is reread Madera de héroe (before 377A, Madera de héroe, 1987), by Miguel De-libes, seeking a constructive proposal on the value of heroism. There are conflicting ideas in the novel: a persistent valuation of heroism as an imposture, that of its harmfulness for individuals and societies, while the idea is taking shape, which is consolidated in the end, of heroism as an example that can only be fulfilled posthumously, like the holiness. The method of analysis will address the connections, repe-titions and resignifications in the text, considering names, words, phrases, and the irony that arises from the proximity or distance of the different voices in history

La irrelevancia de la pedagogía española hoy: educar es un nuevo nicho de mercado

[ES] El gobierno de España anunciaba que para evitar la segregación de la que hacen gala los centros concertados, se proponía financiarles con más dinero público para que excluyeran un poco menos al alumnado de clase social baja, migrantes, minorías y con necesidades educativas.S

Estimation of Prometheus fuel types using physically based remote sensing techniques

[EN] Background Detailed knowledge of the spatial distribution of vegetation fuels is essential for assessing wildfire hazard and behavior, as well as for planning effective management. In southern Europe, the Prometheus project has proposed the differentiation of seven fuel types, but their characterization using remote sensing techniques remains challenging. Here, we propose a two‑phase, innovative methodology for high‑resolution mapping of Prometheus fuel types, integrating complementary remote sensing data and physically based techniques. In the first phase, we estimated the fire‑propagating element (grass, shrubs, and trees) through multispectral imagery and an advanced spectral unmixing technique (multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis—MESMA) to mimic the Prometheus classification system in the field. In the second phase, synthetic aperture radar data, together with a novel LiDAR workflow related to the distribution of leaf area density by fuel vertical strata, were used to classify the corresponding Prometheus fuel type (FT) within each fire‑propagating element (grassland, shrubland, and woodland) by using a random forest classification algorithm. Results Field validation conducted across four sites in the Iberian Peninsula with markedly different environmental conditions and vegetation types showed high performance in the classification of the fire‑propagating element through MESMA (overall accuracy (OA) = 94.58%). The producer’s (PA) and user’s (UA) accuracy for each class (> 90.00%) was consistent with the OA. During the second phase, fuel types in shrublands (FT2 to FT4) and woodlands (FT5 to FT7), together with the fuel type in grasslands (FT1) retrieved directly from MESMA, were classified with high overall performance (OA = 90.27%) as depicted by the validation of the final Prometheus fuel type map from a set of independent field plots. The PA and UA for most individual FTs exceeded 80%. Conclusions The results of this manuscript provide an accurate characterization of the spatial variability of fuel types within the Prometheus classification system across heterogeneous landscapes. The generalizability of the remote sensing methodology proposed, grounded in physical and ecological principles, represents a significant advance for fuel planning in southern European countries[ES] Antecedentes El conocimiento detallado de la variabilidad espacial de los combustibles vegetales es esencial para determinar el riesgo y comportamiento de los incendios forestales, como así también para planificar estrategias de gestión efectivas. En el sur de Europa, el proyecto Prometheus ha propuesto la diferenciación de siete tipos de combustibles, aunque su caracterización mediante el uso de técnicas de teledetección resulta todavía desafiante. En este trabajo, proponemos una metodología innovadora, en dos fases, para el mapeo en alta resolución de los tipos de combustible Prometheus, integrando datos de teledetección complementarios y técnicas con base física. En la primera fase, estimamos los elementos propagadores del fuego (pasto, matorral, y árboles) a través de imágenes multiespectrales y una técnica de mezclas espectrales avanzada (multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis -MESMA-)para imitar la clasificación del sistema Prometeus en campo. En la segunda fase, usamos datos de radar de apertura sintética junto con un flujo de trabajo LIDAR novedoso, relacionado con la estimación de la distribución de la densidad del área foliar y los estratos verticales del combustible, para clasificar el correspondiente tipo de combustible del Prometheus (FT) dentro de cada elemento propagador del fuego, usando el algoritmo de clasificación Random Forest. Resultados La validación en campo realizada a través de cuatro sitios de estudio en la Península Ibérica, con marcadas diferencias en sus condiciones ambientales y tipos de vegetación, mostraron un alto rendimiento en la clasificación de los elementos de propagación del fuego a través de MESMA (precisión global o overall accuracy OA‑ = 94.58%). La precisión del Productor (PA) y del Usuario (UA) para cada clase (> 90.00%) fue consistente con la OA. Durante la segunda fase, los tipos de combustibles de matorral (FT2 a FT4) y de arbolado (FT5 a FT7), junto con el tipo de combustible de pasto (FT1), estimado directamente de MESMA, fueron clasificados con un alto rendimiento (OA = 90.27%) como muestra en la validación final del mapa de tipos de combustible Prometheus a partir de un conjunto de parcelas de campo independientes. La PA y UA de cada FT excedió el 80%. Conclusiones Los resultados de este trabajo proporcionan una metodología para clasificar de forma precisa la variabilidad espacial de los tipos de combustibles dentro del sistema Prometheus a través de diferentes tipos de paisaje. La generalización de la metodología de teledetección propuesta, basada en principios físicos y ecológicos, representa un avance significativo para la planificación de las estrategias de gestión del combustible en los países del sur de EuropaSIThis study was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation in the framework of LANDSUSFIRE project (PID2022‑139156OB‑ C21) within the National Program for the Promotion of Scientific‑Technical Research (2021–2023), by the Regional Government of Castile and León in the framework of the IA‑FIREXTCyL project (LE081P23) and by the Fundación Bio‑ diversidad of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenera‑ tionEU in the framework of the “Sistemas agroforestales multifuncionales como alternativa a la conservación del paisaje: AGROFORES” BF 273. Andrea Monzón‑Gonzalez was supported by pre‑doctoral fellowship from the University of Leó

The storm of the castle of San Gerónimo (1668): Exquemelin’s version and its comparison with Spanish documentation

[ES] En 1668 Henry Morgan lideró un ataque pirático contra Portobelo, cuyas fortalezas se conquistaron en pocas horas. Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin, el autor de una de las obras más importantes sobre el filibusterismo de la época, sostuvo que las operaciones más destacadas se produjeron en “otro castillo” que, dependiendo de su ubicación y características, se identificó con San Gerónimo. En 1981, Peter Earle dio a conocer por primera vez otra versión de la toma, basada en los testimonios de sus víctimas que se registraron en la documentación del Archivo General de Indias [AGI], y proporcionó una interpretación distinta de aquellos hechos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es cotejar ambas versiones, acudiendo directamente a los manuscritos del AGI y a la bibliografía especializada sobre ese tema, a fin de someter a prueba la veracidad del relato de Exquemelin y entender si de verdad el asalto sobre el mencionado castillo fue crucial en las operaciones.[EN] In 1668 Henry Morgan led a pirate storm of Portobelo and its fortresses were conquered in a few hours. Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin, the author of one of the most important sources on piracy of the time, maintained that the most notable operations took place in “another castle” which, depending on its location and characteristics, was identified with that of San Gerónimo. In 1981, Peter Earle publishedanother version of the attack, based upon the testimonies of its victims that were recorded in documents of the General Archive of the Indies [AGI], providing a different interpretation of those events. The objective of the present work is to compare both versions, directly consulting the manuscripts from the AGI, hand in hand with the specialized bibliography on this subject, in order to test the veracity of Exquemelin’s.S

A molecular phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae, Ochthebiinae)

[EN] Ochthebiinae, with c. 650 species distributed worldwide, are the second most speciose subfamily of the aquatic beetle family Hydraenidae. They are ecologically the most diverse hydraenid subfamily, with terrestrial species as well as species in almost all types of aquatic habitats, including hypersaline waters. Ochthebiinae include the tribes Ochtheosini (four species in three genera) and Ochthebiini. We provide here the first comprehensive phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini, based on 186 species and four subspecies from most genera, subgenera and species groups. We obtained sequence data for a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene fragments including the 5′ and 3′ ends of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, the 5′ end of 16S RNA plus the leucine tRNA transfer plus 5′ end of NADH dehydrogenase subunit I, and internal fragments of the large and small ribosomal units. The analyses with maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian probabilities consistently recovered a generally well supported phylogeny, with most currently accepted taxa and species groups as monophyletic. We provide a new classification of the tribe based on our phylogenetic results, with six genera: Meropathus Enderlein, Ochthebius Leach, Protochthebius Perkins, Prototympanogaster Perkins, Tympallopatrum Perkins and Tympanogaster Janssens. The genus Ochthebius is here divided into nine subgenera in addition to Ochthebius s.s.: (1) O. (Angiochthebius) Jäch & Ribera; (2) O. (Asiobates) Thomson; (3) O. (Aulacochthebius) Kuwert; (4) O. (Cobalius) Rey; (5) O. (Enicocerus) Stephens; (6) O. (Gymnanthelius) Perkins comb.n.; (7) O. (Gymnochthebius) Orchymont; (8) O. (Hughleechia) Perkins comb.n.; and (9) O. (Micragasma) Sahlberg. Within Ochthebius s.s., 17 species groups are proposed, five of them newly established (3, 9, 11, 13 and 16): (1) andraei; (2) atriceps; (3) corrugatus; (4) foveolatus; (5) kosiensis; (6) lobicollis; (7) marinus; (8) metallescens; (9) nitidipennis; (10) notabilis; (11) peisonis; (12) punctatus; (13) quadricollis; (14) rivalis; (15) strigosus; (16) sumatrensis; and (17) vandykei. We elevated to species rank two subspecies of Ochthebius: O. fallaciosus Ganglbauer stat.n. (former subspecies of O. viridis Peyron) and O. deletus Rey stat.rest. (former subspecies of O. subpictus Wollaston)SIWe thank all collectors mentioned in Table S3 in File S1 for allowing us to study their material, Ana Izquierdo (MNCN) and Rocío Alonso (IBE) for laboratory work and three anonymous referees for comments to previous versions of the manuscript. AV has a FPI-MINECO PhD grant from the Spanish Government. This work has been partly funded by project CGL2013-48950-C2 (AEI/FEDER, UE) to I

The service-learning strategy "MicroMundo" helps to stimulate the practical training of future secondary education teachers

[EN] The “MicroMundo” project is an innovative educational initiative designed to address the issue of antibiotic resistance through a collaborative and service-learning approach focused on detection of antibiotic-producing bacteria. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, MicroMundo was adapted by integrating university students enrolled in the “Master’s in Teacher Training for Secondary Education” (SWITAs) which mentored high school students (SWISs) through the laboratory research experience. Evaluation of the project through surveys highlighted strong satisfaction among participants, with 100% of university students valuing the teaching experience and 80% reporting gains in essential skills such as planning and communication. Pre-university students also highly valued this experience, reporting an increase in motivation despite the challenging circumstances, and noting that it sparked their interest in the field of science. This hands-on approach reinforces the need for practical, research-based experiences and emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about critical health challenges, particularly in contexts beyond the scientific field.SIThis project was supported by the teaching innovation program founded by the University of León