La violencia intrafamiliar y su afectación en la salud mental en los adultos mayores

Over time, the human being experiences a series of changes associated with the aging process, generating different transitions in biological, psychological and social aspects given by the progressive increase in the life expectancy of the population that influences family relationships. The purpose of this study was to characterize domestic violence from the type of abuse that affects mental health in older adults who receive care from the Ministry of economic and social inclusion through a cooperation agreement with the autonomous decentralized parish government of San Jacinto del Búa de the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. A non-experimental research with a cross-sectional descriptive design was carried out in a population of 40 older adults who underwent a sociodemographic survey, applying the geriatric scale of elder abuse and the general health questionnaire -12. The result of this work has yielded relevant data, predominantly in the age group of 71 to 80 years, especially the female sex, as the one that has suffered the most psychological, financial and negligence abuse from their relatives, affecting their mental health. Concluding that the mistreatment generated by domestic violence is related to the presence of psychopathological alterations in the mental health of older adults, disturbing them emotionally, which reflects the need to guarantee respect for their dignity and the exercise of their rights. Keywords: Older adult, violence, old age, mental health.Al pasar el tiempo el ser humano experimenta una serie de cambios asociados con el proceso del envejecimiento generando diferentes transiciones en los aspectos biológicos, psicológicos y sociales dado por el aumento progresivo de la expectativa de vida de la población que influye en las relaciones familiares. El propósito del presente trabajo fue caracterizar la violencia intrafamiliar desde la tipología de maltratos que afectan la salud mental en los adultos mayores que reciben atención del Ministerio de inclusión económica y social mediante convenio de cooperación con el Gobierno autónomo descentralizado parroquial de San Jacinto del Búa de la provincia de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Se llevo a cabo una investigación no experimental de diseño descriptivo tipo transversal en una población de 40 adultos mayores a quienes se les realizó una encuesta sociodemográfica aplicándose la escala geriátrica de maltrato al adulto mayor y el cuestionario de salud general -12. El resultado de este trabajo ha arrojado datos relevantes predominando el grupo etario de 71 a 80 años, sobre todo el sexo femenino como el que más maltrato de tipo psicológico, financiero y negligencia ha sufrido por parte de sus familiares afectando su salud mental. Concluyendo que el maltrato generado por la violencia intrafamiliar se relaciona con la presencia de alteraciones psicopatológicas en la salud mental de los adultos mayores perturbándoles emocionalmente, lo que refleja la necesidad de garantizar el respeto de su dignidad y el ejercicio de sus derechos. Palabras clave: Adulto mayor, violencia, vejez, salud mental. Abstract Over time, the human being experiences a series of changes associated with the aging process, generating different transitions in biological, psychological and social aspects given by the progressive increase in the life expectancy of the population that influences family relationships. The purpose of this study was to characterize domestic violence from the type of abuse that affects mental health in older adults who receive care from the Ministry of economic and social inclusion through a cooperation agreement with the autonomous decentralized parish government of San Jacinto del Búa de the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. A non-experimental research with a cross-sectional descriptive design was carried out in a population of 40 older adults who underwent a sociodemographic survey, applying the geriatric scale of elder abuse and the general health questionnaire -12. The result of this work has yielded relevant data, predominantly in the age group of 71 to 80 years, especially the female sex, as the one that has suffered the most psychological, financial and negligence abuse from their relatives, affecting their mental health. Concluding that the mistreatment generated by domestic violence is related to the presence of psychopathological alterations in the mental health of older adults, disturbing them emotionally, which reflects the need to guarantee respect for their dignity and the exercise of their rights. Keywords: Older adult, violence, old age, mental health

Searching for Heavy Dark Matter near the Planck Mass with XENON1T

Multiple viable theoretical models predict heavy dark matter particles with a mass close to the Planck mass, a range relatively unexplored by current experimental measurements. We use 219.4 days of data collected with the XENON1T experiment to conduct a blind search for signals from multiply interacting massive particles (MIMPs). Their unique track signature allows a targeted analysis with only 0.05 expected background events from muons. Following unblinding, we observe no signal candidate events. This Letter places strong constraints on spin-independent interactions of dark matter particles with a mass between 1×10$^{12}$ and 2×10$^{17}$  GeV/c$^{2}$. In addition, we present the first exclusion limits on spin-dependent MIMP-neutron and MIMP-proton cross sections for dark matter particles with masses close to the Planck scale

Obscured Activity: AGN, Quasars, Starbursts and ULIGs observed by the Infrared Space Observatory

Some of the most active galaxies in the Universe are obscured by large quantities of dust and emit a substantial fraction of their bolometric luminosity in the infrared. Observations of these infrared luminous galaxies with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) have provided a relatively unabsorbed view to the sources fuelling this active emission. The improved sensitivity, spatial resolution and spectroscopic capability of ISO over its predecessor Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), has enabled significant advances in the understanding of the infrared properties of active galaxies. ISO surveyed a wide range of active galaxies which, in the context of this review, includes those powered by intense bursts of star-formation as well as those containing a dominant active galactic nucleus (AGN). Mid infrared imaging resolved for the first time the dust enshrouded nuclei in many nearby galaxies, while a new era in infrared spectroscopy was opened by probing a wealth of atomic, ionic and molecular lines as well as broad band features in the mid and far infrared. This was particularly useful since it resulted in the understanding of the power production, excitation and fuelling mechanisms in the nuclei of active galaxies including the intriguing but so far elusive ultraluminous infrared galaxies. Detailed studies of various classes of AGN and quasars greatly improved our understanding of the unification scenario. Far-infrared imaging and photometry also revealed the presence of a new very cold dust component in galaxies and furthered our knowledge of the far-infrared properties of faint starbursts, ULIGs and quasars. We summarise almost nine years of key results based upon ISO data spanning the full range of luminosity and type of active galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in 'ISO science legacy - a compact review of ISO major achievements', Space Science Reviews - dedicated ISO issue. To be published by Springer in 2005. 62 pages (low resolution figures version). Higher resolution PDFs available from http://users.physics.uoc.gr/~vassilis/papers/VermaA.pdf or http://www.iso.vilspa.esa.es/science/SSR/Verma.pd

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Functional Analysis of the Arlequin Mutant Corroborates the Essential Role of the ARLEQUIN/TAGL1 Gene during Reproductive Development of Tomato

Reproductive development of higher plants comprises successive events of organ differentiation and growth which finally lead to the formation of a mature fruit. However, most of the genetic and molecular mechanisms which coordinate such developmental events are yet to be identified and characterized. Arlequin (Alq), a semi-dominant T-DNA tomato mutant showed developmental changes affecting flower and fruit ripening. Sepals were converted into fleshy organs which ripened as normal fruit organs and fruits displayed altered ripening features. Molecular characterization of the tagged gene demonstrated that it corresponded to the previously reported TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE 1 (TAGL1) gene, the tomato ortholog of SHATTERPROOF MADS-box genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, and that the Alq mutation promoted a gain-of-function phenotype caused by the ectopic expression of TAGL1. Ectopic overexpression of TAGL1 resulted in homeotic alterations affecting floral organ identity that were similar to but stronger than those observed in Alq mutant plants. Interestingly, TAGL1 RNAi plants yielded tomato fruits which were unable to ripen. They displayed a yellow-orange color and stiffness appearance which are in accordance with reduced lycopene and ethylene levels, respectively. Moreover, pericarp cells of TAGL1 RNAi fruits showed altered cellular and structural properties which correlated to both decreased expression of genes regulating cell division and lignin biosynthesis. Over-expression of TAGL1 is able to rescue the non-ripening phenotype of rin and nor mutants, which is mediated by the transcriptional activation of several ripening genes. Our results demonstrated that TAGL1 participates in the genetic control of flower and fruit development of tomato plants. Furthermore, gene silencing and over-expression experiments demonstrated that the fruit ripening process requires the regulatory activity of TAGL1. Therefore, TAGL1 could act as a linking factor connecting successive stages of reproductive development, from flower development to fruit maturation, allowing this complex process to be carried out successfully

Macroecología y conservación de la alondra ricotí Chersophilus duponti: distribución, conectividad y viabilidad poblacional de la metapoblación ibérica

Tesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Ecología. Fecha de Lectura: 21-06-2024Los artículos publicados son una contribución a la Red de Excelencia de la Comunidad de Madrid REMEDINAL 3 (S2013/ MAE2719), y a los proyectos ‘Bases científicas para la Estrategia Nacional de Conservación de la alondra ricotí en España’ y “Criterios para la gestión y conservación de la población española de Alondra ricotí (Chersophilus duponti)”, financiados por la Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, LIFE-Ricotí (LIFE15-NATES- 000802), financiado por la Comisión Europea, y BBVA-Dron Ricotí, financiado por la Fundación BBV

Connectivity in spanish metapopulation of Dupont's lark may be maintained by dispersal over medium-distance range and stepping stones

BACKGROUND: Dupont’s Lark is an endangered bird, whose fragmented distribution in Europe is entirely restricted to Spain. This lark, suffering pronounced population decline and range contraction, inhabits steppes that have long been used for grazing sheep and are now threatened by rural abandonment and land use changes. Thus, for conservation of the lark, increasing knowledge about the connectivity of the Spanish metapopulation and identifying the most important connectivity nodes are crucial. METHODS: The study was carried out in Spain, using over 16,000 Dupont’s Lark georeferenced observations. We used distance buffers to define populations and subpopulations, based on the available scientific information. We identified potential stepping stones using a MaxEnt probability of presence model. Connectivity was assessed using Conefor software, using the centroid of each subpopulation and stepping stone as nodes. Each node was assigned a quantitative attribute based on total habitat area, within-node habitat quality and internal fragmentation. We evaluated different connectivity scenarios by potential movement thresholds (5–20–100 km) and presence or absence of stepping stones in the network. RESULTS: Dupont’s Lark Iberian metapopulation comprises 24 populations and 100 subpopulations, plus 294 potential stepping stones. Movement thresholds and stepping stones had a strong influence in the potential network connectivity. The most important nodes are located in the core of the metapopulation, which shows connectivity among subpopulations in the different indices and scenarios evaluated. Peripheral populations are more isolated and require stepping stones or medium (20 km) or long (100 km) potential movement thresholds to join the network. DISCUSSION: Metapopulation connectivity may be greater than expected, thanks to stepping stones and potential medium-distance movements. Connectivity is crucial for conservation and can be increased by preserving or improving adequate habitat in the most important nodes. Given the current species decline, steppe habitat should be urgently protected from land use changes and agriculture intensification, at least in the critical subpopulations and stepping stones. Long-term conservation of steppe lands and Dupont’s Lark in Spain requires the recovery of traditional grazing and more research on juvenile dispersion. Meanwhile, the conservation of potentially critical stepping stones should be incorporated to management plans

Factors affecting Dupont´s lark distribution and range regression in Spain

In this work, we analyse factors explaining the distribution and range regression of Dupont’s lark in Spain, the only European country in which this threatened alaudid is present. Dupont’s lark is an extremely elusive and scarce species, distributed across a reduced and strongly fragmented range, showing a metapopulational structure with unknown dispersive and connective mechanisms. We used maximum entropy modelling (Maxent) on nearly 15,000 Dupont’s lark observations (1985–2015) to assess the probability of presence at a 1 km resolution across its European range. Moreover, we tested the probability of extinction by comparing pre- and post-2000 observations by means of a GLM over a subset of cells with presence-absence data. We obtained strong model fitting (AUC = 0.919), in which species occurrence was explained by low values of plant productivity (NDVI), climate (high temperature range and medium annual precipitation), land use (increasing with sclerophyllous scrubland), flat topography and human disturbance (associated with low human population density). The species also tolerates dry farming, but not other farm types or forest cover. The probability map identified two main regions known as the species’ core areas: the steppes of the Iberian System and the Ebro Valley. The North Plateau is characterised by a dispersed structure of small and very fragmented patches of suitable habitat, while a succession of discontinuous probability patches form an Eastern Corridor connecting the central core areas to the southernmost populations. Finally, the model identified small and isolated patches of high probability of presence along the eastern coastline. The species tends to occur in the best available areas but, at the same time, the model revealed a large area of suitable but unoccupied habitat. Our results correct the previous estimation of occupation area from 1,480 to 1,010.78 km2, a reduction of 26.22%. The current distribution of Dupont’s lark is almost completely covered by Important Bird Areas (IBAs), highlighting their importance for bird conservation, but only 44.89% is included in Natura 2000 Special Protection Areas (SPAs). A comparison of pre- and post-2000 periods revealed a range contraction of 44%. Probability of extinction increased with higher temperature range and lower annual precipitation, and with decreases in population density, which suggests that this species is extremely vulnerable to both climate change and rural abandonment, due to its dependence on traditional grazing. These results suggest the need for a re-evaluation of the conservation status of Dupont’s lark in Spain. They urge the preservation of not only current extant populations, but also the unoccupied suitable areas that could be critical for metapopulation structure, and the development of policies addressing the preservation of traditional grazingData used in this paper come from different projects, in particular the II National Census (2004-2006), granted by the Spanish Ministry of Environment; and the Dupont’s Lark Monitoring Program in Medinaceli Region, funded by Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León. This is a contribution to the Excellence Network Remedinal 3CM (S2013/MAE-2719), supported by Comunidad de Madrid, and to the projects “Criteria for the management and conservation of the Spanish population of Dupont’s Lark, supported by Fundación Biodiversidad, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment; LIFE Ricotí (LIFE15-NAT-ES-000802), supported by the European Commission; and BBVA-Dron Ricoti, funded by the BBVA Foundation. INECO provided support in the form of salary for author JHZ, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific role of this author is articulated in the ‘author contributions’ sectio