Refining predictions of iberian plant distribution: lessons from p. nigra and p. sylvestris palaeoecological-based habitat suitability models

In recent years, challenged by the climate scenarios put forward by the IPCC and its potential impact on plant distribution, numerous predictive techniques -including the so called habitat suitability models (HSM)- have been developed. Yet, as the output of the different methods produces different distribution areas, developing validation tools are strong needs to reduce uncertainties. Focused in the Iberian Peninsula, we propose a palaeo-based method to increase the robustness of the HSM, by developing an ecological approach to understand the mismatches between the palaeoecological information and the projections of the HSMs. Here, we present the result of (1) investigating causal relationships between environmental variables and presence of Pinus sylvestris L. and P. nigra Arn. available from the 3rd Spanish Forest Inventory, (2) developing present and past presence-predictions through the MaxEnt model for 6 and 21 kyr BP, and (3) assessing these models through comparisons with biomized palaeoecological data available from the European Pollen Database for the Iberian Peninsula

Characteristics of febrile urinary tract infections in older male adults

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most frequent bacterial infections in older adults. The aim of the study was to analyse the existence of differences in clinical features, microbiological data and risk of infection by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) between older and non-older men with febrile UTI (FUTI). Methods: This was an ambispective observational study involving older males with a FUTI attended in the Emergency Department. Variables collected included age, comorbidity, diagnostic of healthcare-associated (HCA)-FUTI, clinical manifestations, hospitalization, mortality, and microbiological data. Results: Five hundred fifty-two males with a FUTI, 329 (59.6%) of whom were older adults, were included. Older males had a higher frequency of HCA-FUTI (p < 0.001), increased Charlson scores (p < 0.001), had received previous antimicrobial treatment more frequently (p < 0.001) and had less lower urinary tract symptoms (p < 0.001). Older patients showed a lower frequency of FUTI caused by E. coli (p < 0.001) and a higher rate of those due to Enterobacter spp. (p = 0.003) and P. aeruginosa (p = 0.033). Resistance rates to cefuroxime (p = 0.038), gentamicin (p = 0.043), and fluoroquinolones (p < 0.001) in E. coli isolates and the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and AmpC producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. strains (p = 0.041) and MDRO (p < 0.001) were increased in older males. Inadequate empirical antimicrobial treatment (p = 0.004), frequency of hospitalization (p < 0.001), and all cause in-hospital mortality (p = 0.007) were higher among older patients. In the multivariate analysis, being admitted from an long term care facility (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.06-5.9), having a urinary tract abnormality (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-3.8) and previous antimicrobial treatment (OR 3.2; 95% CI: 1.9-5.4) were associated to FUTI caused by MDRO. Conclusions: Older male adults with a FUTI have different clinical characteristics, present specific microbiological features, and antimicrobial resistance rates. In the multivariate analysis being an older male was not associated with an increased risk of FUTI caused by MDRO

Classificació i importància dels elements paisatgístics del territori Tsimane' segons la percepció local

En aquesta tesis es presenten els resultats de la investigació duta a terme a les comunitats indígenes Tsimane' de l'Amazònia boliviana. La investigació estudia la percepció dels indígenes sobre l'etnoclassificació del seu territori. S'estableix una clau de classificació i es determina la importància dels elements paisatgístics del territori Tsimane' segons la percepció local. Aquesta informació permetrà integrar el coneixement local dins dels programes de desenvolupament integral i de planificació territorial en l'Amazònia Boliviana. L'estudi conclou que la població Tsimane' classifica els elements paisatgístics del seu entorn en 89 taques conformades per una espècies arbòria dominant i que estan incloses en un o més dels nou paisatges identificats: Därsi Därä, Sajras, Sinues Ojñi', Mayes, Múcúya, Tsäquis Därä, Cum, Tajñi' i Jaman. A partir d'un anàlisi multicriteri s'ha determinat una importància total per cada paisatge segons els següents criteris d'importància: diversitat de taques, activitats econòmiques realitzables, presència espiritual, percepció individual i importància relativa segons els altres paisatges. Així doncs s'ha trobat que el paisatge més important és el Därsi Därä (bosc primari caracteritzat per un estrat arbori superior a 50 metres d'altura). També s'han analitzat les dades discernint segons el gènere de l'entrevistat i segons la proximitat de les comunitats estudiades a la ciutat més propera.En esta tesis se presentan los resultados de la investigación llevada a cabo en las comunidades indígenas Tsimane' de la Amazonía boliviana. La investigación estudia la percepción de los indígenas sobre la etnoclasificación de su territorio. Se establece una clave de clasificación y se determina la importancia de los elementos paisajísticos del territorio Tsimane' según la percepción local. Esta información permitirá integrar el conocimiento local en los programas de desarrollo integral y de planificación territorial en la Amazonía boliviana. El estudio concluye que la población Tsimane' clasifica los elementos paisajísticos de su entorno en 89 manchas conformadas por una especie arbórea dominante y que están incluidas en uno o más de los nueve paisajes identificados: Därsi Därä, Sajras, Sinues Ojñi', Mayes, Múcúya, Tsäquis Därä, Cum, Tajñi' i Jaman. A partir de un análisis multicriterio se ha determinado una importancia total para cada paisaje según los siguientes criterios de importancia: diversidad de manchas, actividades económicas realizables, presencia espiritual, percepción individual e importancia relativa según los otros paisajes. De este modo se ha obtenido que el paisaje más importante es el Därsi Därä (bosque primario caracterizado por un estrato arbóreo superior a 50 metros de altura). También se han analizado los datos distinguiendo según el género del entrevistado y según la proximidad de las comunidades estudiadas a la ciudad más cercana.The thesis presents the results of the research conducted in indigenous Tsimane' communities in the Bolivian Amazon. The research studied the indigenous perception of their territorial etnoclassification. We have established a classification key and we have determined the importance of landscape features of Tsimane' territory according to local perceptions. This information will integrate local knowledge into development programs and landscape planning in the Bolivian Amazon. The study concluded that Tsimane' population classifies their landscape elements in 89 spots characterized by a dominant tree specie and are included in one or more of the nine identified landscape: Därsi Därä, Sajras, Sinues Ojñi', Mayes, Múcúya, Tsäquis Därä, Cum, Tajñi' and Jaman. Using a multi-criteria analysis, we have identified a total importance for each landscape from the following criteria: spots's diversity, feasible economic activities, spiritual presence, individual perception and relative importance as other landscapes. We have obtained that the most important landscape is Därsi Därä (primary forest characterized by a tree stratum greater than 50 meters high. We also examined date according to the interviewed gender and according to the proximity of the communities studied to the nearest town

Involvement of lipid rafts in the localization and dysfunction effect of the antitumor ether phospholipid edelfosine in mitochondria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.-- et al.Lipid rafts and mitochondria are promising targets in cancer therapy. The synthetic antitumor alkyl-lysophospholipid analog edelfosine (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine) has been reported to target lipid rafts. Here, we have found that edelfosine induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells, both responses being abrogated by Bcl-xL overexpression. We synthesized a number of new fluorescent edelfosine analogs, which preserved the proapoptotic activity of the parent drug, and colocalized with mitochondria in HeLa cells. Edelfosine induced swelling in isolated mitochondria, indicating an increase in mitochondrial membrane permeability. This mitochondrial swelling was independent of reactive oxygen species generation. A structurally related inactive analog was unable to promote mitochondrial swelling, highlighting the importance of edelfosine molecular structure in its effect on mitochondria. Raft disruption inhibited mitochondrial localization of the drug in cells and edelfosine-induced swelling in isolated mitochondria. Edelfosine promoted a redistribution of lipid rafts from the plasma membrane to mitochondria, suggesting a raft-mediated link between plasma membrane and mitochondria. Our data suggest that direct interaction of edelfosine with mitochondria eventually leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. These observations unveil a new framework in cancer chemotherapy that involves a link between lipid rafts and mitochondria in the mechanism of action of an antitumor drug, thus opening new avenues for cancer treatment.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2008-02251, BQU2003-4413 and RD06/0020/1037 from Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofunded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional of the European Union), Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria and European Commission (FIS-FEDER 06/0813, 08/1434, PS09/01915), European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7-2007-2013 (grant HEALTH-F2-2011-256986), Junta de Castilla y León (CSI052A11-2, GR15-Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Biomedicine Project 2009 and Biomedicine Project 2010-2011), Fundación para la Investigación Sanitaria en Castilla-La Mancha (FISCAM, PI-2006/10) and Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (I1I09-0163-4002). CG is supported by the Ramón y Cajal Program from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. MF is recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. VH is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.Peer reviewe