An epidemiological survey on the leishmaniosis in the Campo de Nijar' s area (Almeria)

Se ha realizado un estudio epidemiológico sobre la leishmaniosis en el área Sur del matiz climático Mediterráneo Subdesértico de la provincia de Almería (Campo de Níjar, Sudeste de España). A una muestra de la población humana se le aplicó la Intradermorreacción de Montenegro (IDR): de 1.370 inoculados, sólo 33 (2'4 %) fueron positivos (induración >= 5 mm). De la población canina, se analizaron mediante Inmunofluorescencia Indirecta (IFI) 286 muestras de suero, de las que 174 (60'8 %) fueron negativas, y las 112 restantes tuvieron algún título (39'2 % de seropositividad); de éstas últimas sólo 13 presentaron titulo >= 160 (seroprevalencia del 4'5 %). El estudio se completó con la captura de vectores: 1) con trampas adhesivas se capturaron 216 ejemplares pertenecientes a las especies Sergentomyia minuta (62 %), Phlebotomus perniciosus (34'3 %), Y P. ariasi y P. papatasí (3'7 %). 2) Trampas CDC: se capturaron 790 ejemplares pertenecientes a las especies P. perniciosus (73 %), P. papatasi (22'2 %), Y P. ariasi, P. longicuspis, P. alexandri, P. sergenti y S. minuta (4'8 %). Aunque se diseccionaron 530 ejemplares hembras ninguna estuvo parasitada por Leíshmania.We have realised an epidemiological study on the Leishmaniosis in the Southem area from Subdesertic Mediterranean bioclimatic zone, of the Almeria' s province (Campo de Níjar, Southeast Spain). The Montenegro Skin test (IDR) was applied to a sample of human population: of 1.370 individuals inoculated, only 33 (2'4 %) were positives (induration >= 5 mm). The canine population was analysed by Immunofluorescent Antibody test (IFI): of 286 sample of serum analysed, 174 were negatives (60'9%) and 112 were with antibody titles >= 20 (39'2 % seropositivites); of these only 13 were with title >= 160 (seroprevalence of 4'5 %).   The study was completed with the capture of vectors: 1) with sticky traps we capture 216 specimens belonging to the species S. minuta (62 %), P. perniciosus, (34'3 %), and P. ariasi and P. papatasi (3 '7 %). 2) With CDC traps we capture 790 specimens to the species P. perniciosus (73 %), P. papatas; (22'2), P. ariasi, P. longicuspis, P. sergenti, P. alexandri and S. minuta (4' 8 %). Although we have diseccionate 530 specimens female none of them was parasitized by Leishmania

ESPRESSO: The next European exoplanet hunter

The acronym ESPRESSO stems for Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations; this instrument will be the next VLT high resolution spectrograph. The spectrograph will be installed at the Combined-Coud\'e Laboratory of the VLT and linked to the four 8.2 m Unit Telescopes (UT) through four optical Coud\'e trains. ESPRESSO will combine efficiency and extreme spectroscopic precision. ESPRESSO is foreseen to achieve a gain of two magnitudes with respect to its predecessor HARPS, and to improve the instrumental radial-velocity precision to reach the 10 cm/s level. It can be operated either with a single UT or with up to four UTs, enabling an additional gain in the latter mode. The incoherent combination of four telescopes and the extreme precision requirements called for many innovative design solutions while ensuring the technical heritage of the successful HARPS experience. ESPRESSO will allow to explore new frontiers in most domains of astrophysics that require precision and sensitivity. The main scientific drivers are the search and characterization of rocky exoplanets in the habitable zone of quiet, nearby G to M-dwarfs and the analysis of the variability of fundamental physical constants. The project passed the final design review in May 2013 and entered the manufacturing phase. ESPRESSO will be installed at the Paranal Observatory in 2016 and its operation is planned to start by the end of the same year.Comment: 12 pages, figures included, accepted for publication in Astron. Nach

Characterization of the K2-38 planetary system: Unraveling one of the densest planets known to date

.-- Toledo-Padrón, B. et al.Context. An accurate characterization of the known exoplanet population is key to understanding the origin and evolution of planetary systems. Determining true planetary masses through the radial velocity (RV) method is expected to experience a great improvement thanks to the availability of ultra-stable echelle spectrographs. Aims. We took advantage of the extreme precision of the new-generation echelle spectrograph ESPRESSO to characterize the transiting planetary system orbiting the G2V star K2-38 located at 194 pc from the Sun with V 11.4. This system is particularly interesting because it could contain the densest planet detected to date. Methods. We carried out a photometric analysis of the available K2 photometric light curve of this star to measure the radius of its two known planets, K2-38b and K2-38c, with Pb = 4.01593 ± 0.00050 d and Pc = 10.56103 ± 0.00090 d, respectively. Using 43 ESPRESSO high-precision RV measurements taken over the course of 8 months along with the 14 previously published HIRES RV measurements, we modeled the orbits of the two planets through a Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis, significantly improving their mass measurements. Results. Using ESPRESSO spectra, we derived the stellar parameters, Teff = 5731 ± 66, log g = 4.38 ± 0.11 dex, and [Fe/H] = 0.26 ± 0.05 dex, and thus the mass and radius of K2-38, Ma = 1.03-0.02+0.04 MaS and Ra = 1.06-0.06+0.09 RaS. We determine new values for the planetary properties of both planets. We characterize K2-38b as a super-Earth with RP = 1.54 ± 0.14 RaS and Mp = 7.3-1.0+1.1 MaS, and K2-38c as a sub-Neptune with RP = 2.29 ± 0.26 RaS and Mp = 8.3-1.3+1.3 MaS. Combining the radius and mass measurements, we derived a mean density of ρp = 11.0-2.8+4.1 g cm-3 for K2-38b and ρp = 3.8-1.1+1.8 g cm-3 for K2-38c, confirming K2-38b as one of the densest planets known to date. Conclusions. The best description for the composition of K2-38b comes from an iron-rich Mercury-like model, while K2-38c is better described by a rocky-model with H2 envelope. The maximum collision stripping boundary shows how giant impacts could be the cause for the high density of K2-38b. The irradiation received by each planet places them on opposite sides of the radius valley. We find evidence of a long-period signal in the RV time-series whose origin could be linked to a 0.25-3 MJ planet or stellar activity.With funding from the Spanish government through the "María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence" accreditation (MDM-2017-0737

Towards an integrated evaluation framework for xai: an experimental study

Increasing prevalence of opaque black-box AI has highlighted the need for explanations of their behaviours, for example, via explanation artefacts/proxy models. The current paper presents a paradigm for human-grounded experiments to evaluate the relationship between explanation fidelity, human learning performance, understanding and trust in a black-box AI by manipulating the complexity of an explanatory artefact. Decision trees were used in the current experiment as exemplar interpretable surrogate models, providing explanations approximating black-box behaviour, by means of explanation by simplification. Consistent with our hypotheses: 1) explanatory artefacts brought about better learning, while greater decision tree depths led to greater interpretability of the AI's performance and greater trust in the AI; and 2) explanatory artefacts facilitated learning and task performance even after they were withdrawn. Findings are discussed in terms of the interplay between human understanding, trust and AI system performance, highlighting the simplifying assumption of a monotonic relationship between explanation fidelity and interpretability

Evaluación de los diferentes tipos de membranas de hemodiálisis

La pluralidad de membranas utilizadas en la fabricación de dializadores, contribuye a que se presente en el mercado gran número de ellos, más de 400 en el ámbito de la EDTA, con características muy diferentes, tanto en lo relativo a sus prestaciones funcionales como a su "biocompatibilidad" y su precio. La trascendencia clínica y económica del uso de uno u otro tipo de dializador ha sido objeto de multitud de publicaciones y considerable debate que no ha llegado a materializarse en un cuerpo de doctrina universalmente aceptado, que sitúe con precisión la contribución relativa de cada tipo de dializador al resultado clínico del tratamiento en diálisis de la insuficiencia renal; y, consecuentemente, la efectividad y eficiencia de este elemento, fundamental en dicho tratamiento. El objeto del presente informe es proporcionar información respecto de dichas cuestiones, desde una perspectiva global, ponderando el valor relativo de los diferentes criterios en juego que afectan a: efectividad clínica, funcionalidad, biocompatibilidad y precio.Presentación, Abreviaturas, Informe de síntesis, Tratamiento de IRCT: Desarrollo actual y resultados, Objetivos y fundamentos de la técnica, Biocompatibilidad, Clasificación de membranas. Criterios y parámetros, Diálisis adecuada, Morbi-mortalidad asociada a diálisis Uso de las diferentes categorías de membranas, Consideraciones económicas, Conclusiones, Hemodiálisis: Evolución histórica y consideraciones generales, Morbilidad asociada a la diálisis Evolución de la técnica y diálisis adecuada, Criterios de clasificación de las membranas, Valoración clínica de las diferentes categorías de membranas, Extensión del uso de las diferentes categorías de membranas Aspectos económicos del tratamiento, Anexos

A Krill Oil Supplemented Diet Suppresses Hepatic Steatosis in High-Fat Fed Rats

Krill oil (KO) is a dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly represented by eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid bound to phospholipids. The supplementation of a high-fat diet with 2.5% KO efficiently prevented triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation in liver of treated rats. This effect was accompanied by a parallel reduction of the plasma levels of triglycerides and glucose and by the prevention of a plasma insulin increase. The investigation of the molecular mechanisms of KO action in high-fat fed animals revealed a strong decrease in the activities of the mitochondrial citrate carrier and of the cytosolic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase, which are both involved in hepatic de novo lipogenesis. In these animals a significant increase in the activity of carnitine palmitoyl-transferase I and in the levels of carnitine was also observed, suggesting a concomitant stimulation of hepatic fatty acid oxidation. The KO supplemented animals also retained an efficient mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, most probably as a consequence of a KO-induced arrest of the uncoupling effects of a high-fat diet. Lastly, the KO supplementation prevented an increase in body weight, as well as oxidative damage of lipids and proteins, which is often found in high-fat fed animals

Strategies for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in Mediterranean agriculture: A review

[EN] An integrated assessment of the potential of different management practices for mitigating specific components of the total GHG budget (N2O and CH4 emissions and C sequestration) of Mediterranean agrosystems was performed in this study. Their suitability regarding both yield and environmental (e.g. nitrate leaching and ammonia volatilization) sustainability, and regional barriers and opportunities for their implementation were also considered. Based on its results best strategies to abate GHG emissions in Mediterranean agro-systems were proposed. Adjusting N fertilization to crop needs in both irrigated and rain-fed systems could reduce N2O emissions up to 50% compared with a non-adjusted practice. Substitution of N synthetic fertilizers by solid manure can be also implemented in those systems, and may abate N2O emissions by about 20% under Mediterranean conditions, with additional indirect benefits associated to energy savings and positive effects in crop yields. The use of urease and nitrification inhibitors enhances N use efficiency of the cropping systems and may mitigate N2O emissions up to 80% and 50%, respectively. The type of irrigation may also have a great mitigation potential in the Mediterranean region. Drip-irrigated systems have on average 80% lower N2O emissions than sprinkler systems and drip-irrigation combined with optimized fertilization showed a reduction in direct N2O emissions up to 50%. Methane fluxes have a relatively small contribution to the total GHG budget of Mediterranean crops, which can mostly be controlled by careful management of the water table and organic inputs in paddies. Reduced soil tillage, improved management of crop residues and agro-industry by-products, and cover cropping in orchards, are the most suitable interventions to enhance organic C stocks in Mediterranean agricultural soils. The adoption of the proposed agricultural practices will require farmers training. The global analysis of life cycle emissions associated to irrigation type (drip, sprinkle and furrow) and N fertilization rate (100 and 300 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) revealed that these factors may outweigh the reduction in GHG emissions beyond the plot scale. The analysis of the impact of some structural changes on top-down mitigation of GHG emissions revealed that 3-15% of N2O emissions could be suppressed by avoiding food waste at the end-consumer level. A 40% reduction in meat and dairy consumption could reduce GHG emissions by 20-30%. Reintroducing the Mediterranean diet (i.e. similar to 35% intake of animal protein) would therefore result in a significant decrease of GHG emissions from agricultural production systems under Mediterranean conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors would like to thank the Spanish National R+D+i Plan (AGL2012-37815-C05-01, AGL2012-37815-C05-04) and very specifically the workshop held in December 2016 in Butron (Bizkaia) to synthesize the most promising measures to reduce N2O emissions from Spanish agricultural soils. BC3 is sponsored by the Basque Government. M. L. Cayuela thanks Fundacion Seneca for financing the project 19281/PI/14.Sanz-Cobeña, A.; Lassaletta, L.; Aguilera, E.; Del Prado, A.; Garnier, J.; Billen, G.; Iglesias, A.... (2017). Strategies for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation in Mediterranean agriculture: A review. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment. 238:5-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.09.038S52423

Balloon kyphoplasty in malignant spinal fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Spinal fractures are a common source of morbidity in cancer patients. Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP) is a minimally invasive procedure designed to stabilize fractures and correct vertebral deformities. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of BKP for spinal fractures in cancer patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched several electronic databases up to September 2008 and the reference lists of relevant publications for studies reporting on BKP in patients with spinal fractures secondary to osteolytic metastasis and multiple myeloma. Outcomes sought included pain relief, functional capacity, quality of life, vertebral height, kyphotic angle and adverse events. Studies were assessed for methodological bias, and estimates of effect were calculated using a random-effects model. Potential reasons for heterogeneity were explored.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The literature search revealed seven relevant studies published from 2003 to 2008, none of which were randomized trials. Analysis of those studies indicated that BKP resulted in less pain and better functional outcomes, and that these effects were maintained up to 2 years post-procedure. While BKP also improved early vertebral height loss and spinal deformity, these effects were not long-term. No serious procedure-related complications were described. Clinically asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 6% of all treated levels, and new vertebral fractures in 10% of patients. While there is a lack of studies comparing BKP to other interventions, some data suggested that BKP provided similar pain relief as vertebroplasty and a lower cement leakage rate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It appears that there is level III evidence showing BKP is a well-tolerated, relatively safe and effective technique that provides early pain relief and improved functional outcomes in patients with painful neoplastic spinal fractures. BKP also provided long-term benefits in terms of pain and disability. However, the methodological quality of the original studies prevents definitive conclusions being drawn. Further investigation into the use of BKP for spinal fractures in cancer patients is warranted.</p

The N-P-K soil nutrient balance of portuguese cropland in the 1950s: the transition from organic to chemical fertilization

Agricultural nutrient balances have been receiving increasing attention in both historical and nutrient management research. The main objectives of this study were to further develop balance methodologies and to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the functioning and nutrient cycling of 1950s agroecosystems in Portugal. Additionally, the main implications for the history of agriculture in Portugal were discussed from the standpoint of soil fertility. We used a mass balance approach that comprises virtually all nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) inputs and outputs from cropland topsoil for average conditions in the period 1951–56. We found a consistent deficit in N, both for nationwide (−2.1 kg.ha−1.yr−1) and arable crops (−1.6 kg.ha−1.yr−1) estimates, that was rectified in the turn to the 1960 decade. P and K were, in contrast, accumulating in the soil (4.2–4.6 kg.ha−1.yr−1 and 1.0–3.0 kg.ha−1.yr−1, respectively). We observed that the 1950s is the very moment of inflection from an agriculture fertilized predominantly through reused N in biomass (livestock excretions plus marine, plant and human waste sources) to one where chemical fertilizers prevailed. It is suggested that N deficiency played an important role in this transitioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio