Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Contribution to Interpret High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Metabolomic Data of Human Tumor Tissue

HRMAS NMR is considered a valuable technique to obtain detailed metabolic profile of unprocessed tissues. To properly interpret the HRMAS metabolomic results, detailed information of the actual state of the sample inside the rotor is needed. MRM (Magnetic Resonance Microscopy) was applied for obtaining structural and spatially localized metabolic information of the samples inside the HRMAS rotors. The tissue was observed stuck to the rotor wall under the effect of HRMAS spinning. MRM spectroscopy showed a transference of metabolites from the tissue to the medium. The sample shape and the metabolite transfer after HRMAS indicated that tissue had undergone alterations and it can not be strictly considered as intact. This must be considered when HRMAS is used for metabolic tissue characterization, and it is expected to be highly dependent on the manipulation of the sample. The localized spectroscopic information of MRM reveals the biochemical compartmentalization on tissue samples hidden in the HRMAS spectrum

Factores de alto riesgo obstétrico en las pacientes que consultan a las unidades comunitarias de salud familiar intermedia “hábitat confíen milingo” Ciudad Delgado y Panchimalco, enero - mayo 2018

El siguiente estudio presenta la frecuencia del riesgo obstétrico detectado en las embarazadas que consultaron en las Unidades Comunitarias de Salud Familiar Intermedia “Hábitat Confíen Milingo” y Panchimalco, durante los meses de enero a mayo del 2018. Para identificar a las pacientes se utilizó la hoja filtro de riesgo obstétrico proporcionada por el Ministerio de Salud de El Salvador, la cual es empleada en los controles prenatales, con la cual se detectaron 43 en Milingo y 47 pacientes en Panchimalco, haciendo un total de 90 pacientes que cumplen los criterios de inclusión

Plan estratégico para la continuidad de la incubadora de empresas del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal Enrique Álvarez Córdova, ubicada en el municipio de Ciudad Arce, departamento de La Libertad.

La Incubadora de Empresas del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal Enrique Álvarez Córdova (CENTA) es un proyecto ejecutado por el Programa Frutales y Cacao, con el fin de apoyar a productores y transformadores dedicados al rubro del cacao, impartiéndoles asistencia técnica, asesoría empresarial, capacitaciones, desarrollando redes de contactos entre los participantes y además pueden hacer uso del centro de entrenamiento para la elaboración de sus productos respaldados por la marca Ancestral. Para prestar sus servicios cuenta con las instalaciones de la institución ubicadas en el kilómetro 33 ½ carretera a Santa Ana, Municipio de Ciudad Arce, Departamento de La Libertad. A partir de una entrevista con la coordinadora se conoció que el apoyo económico proporcionado para el desarrollo de la cacaocultura impulsado en cooperación con el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), finalizaría en el mes de octubre del 2018; además, enfatizó que a lo largo del proceso se ha logrado: Más de 200 personas beneficiadas de las cuales, con 89 emprendedores se han creado 33 planes de negocio, se registró la marca Ancestral y se desarrollaron 4 productos de chocolate; pero no se logró satisfacer a todas las personas que demandan los servicios. Razón por la cual, surge la necesidad de realizar el estudio, para que se establezca una incubadora de manera permanente, apoyando desde la idea de negocio hasta la introducción en el mercado del cacao, chocolate y derivados. El objetivo principal de la presente investigación es: Desarrollar un plan estratégico que contribuya a la continuidad de la Incubadora de Empresas del CENTA. Se utilizó el método científico y sus auxiliares: Análisis y síntesis; mediante la investigación descriptiva y el diseño no experimental. Siendo las fuentes primarias: Los encargados de la incubadora, el personal profesional de la institución que apoya directamente en la formación y entrenamiento de productores y emprendedores que también formaron parte del estudio; utilizando las técnicas de la encuesta y entrevista, mediante los instrumentos del cuestionario, guía de preguntas y otros instrumentos para la recolección de información; se determinó el universo y muestra, además, se aplicó el censo para el personal profesional y los encargados de la incubadora, posteriormente, se procesó la información obtenida en tablas y gráficas que facilitaron el análisis. Al finalizar el diagnóstico se concluye que: • En el proceso de investigación se identificó que la institución no posee un plan estratégico para la continuidad de la incubadora de empresas. • El financiamiento termina junto con el proyecto, razón por la cual, la ejecución y continuidad de este se verá afectada y por ende el apoyo a transformadores y productores de cacao. Por lo que se recomienda: • Valorar la implementación del plan estratégico que se propone para la continuidad de los servicios de la incubadora de empresas. • Mantener el vínculo financiero con el cooperante actual, buscar un nuevo patrocinador o valorar la disponibilidad de los productores a cancelar una cuota simbólica por los servicios recibidos para tener el financiamiento y continuar apoyando a transformadores en rubro del cacao

Barriers and opportunities for the implementation of sustainable farming practices in Mediterranean tree orchards

This study identifies, through consultation with relevant stakeholders, low-input farming practices that can help to minimize the most pressing agronomic and environmental problems in some of the most relevant Mediterranean woody crops in Spain (almond, citrus, and olive) and enhance their sustainability. The results illustrate stakeholders’ perception regarding how each cropping system could be oriented towards a more sustainable production. Despite each case study’s particularities, there is consensus in the need for a shift towards the use of organic fertilizers, the maintenance of vegetation in the edges of plots and the use of integrated pest control strategies. On the contrary, stakeholders have selected different tillage and soil cover practices that are consistent with the characteristics and problems of each cropping system. This study also identifies relevant strengths and drawbacks for the implementation of low-input agricultural practices in each crop and study area. While stakeholders find the identified low-impact farming practices as easy and not costly, suggesting a significant potential for their successful implementation, the results also point out at the reduced knowledge of the practical benefits of some farming practices and the need for improved technical advice to foster the adoption of others.: This research was funded by the European Commission through the DIVERFARMING H2020 project (grant agreement 728003)

Metabolic Profile of chronic liver disease by NMR spectroscopy of human biopsies

Abstract Among the different processes occurring during the evolution of liver disease, fibrosis has a predominant role. Liver fibrosis mechanisms are fairly constant irrespective of the underlying etiology. Cirrhosis is the end-stage of this reaction. Metabolic profiles, which are affected by many physiological and pathological processes, may provide further insight into the metabolic consequences of this severe liver disease. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the applicability of 1H high resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy in the biochemical profile determination of human liver needle biopsy samples for the characterization of metabolic alterations related to the severity of liver disease. We recorded and analyzed HR-MAS spectra of 68 liver tissue samples obtained by needle biopsy from patients with chronic liver disease. Multivariate analysis was applied to these data to obtain discrimination patterns and to reveal relevant metabolites. The metabolic characterization of liver tissue from needle biopsies by HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy provided differential patterns for cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic chronic liver disease tissue. Metabolites closely related to the liver metabolism such as some fatty acids, glucose and amino acids show differences between the two groups. Phospholipid precursors, which have been previously correlated with hepatic lesions also show differences. Furthermore, the correlation between histologically assessed liver disease stages and the levels of the most discriminative metabolites show that liver dysfunction is present at the initial stages of chronic hepatic lesions. Overall, this work suggests that the additional information obtained by NMR metabolomics applied to needle biopsies of human liver may be useful for assessing metabolic alterations and liver dysfunction in chronic liver disease

Six Collective Challenges for Sustainability of Almería Greenhouse Horticulture

Globally, current food consumption and trade are placing unprecedented demand on agricultural systems and increasing pressure on natural resources, requiring tradeoffs between food security and environmental impacts especially given the tension between market-driven agriculture and agro-ecological goals. In order to illustrate the wicked social, economic and environmental challenges and processes to find transformative solutions, we focus on the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world located in the semi-arid coastal plain of South-east Spain. Almería family farming, predominantly cooperative, greenhouse intensive production, commenced after the 1960s and has resulted in very significant social and economic benefits for the region, while also having important negative environmental and biodiversity impacts, as well as creating new social challenges. The system currently finds itself in a crisis of diminishing economic benefits and increasing environmental and social dilemmas. Here, we present the outcomes of multi-actor, transdisciplinary research to review and provide collective insights for solutions-oriented research on the sustainability of Almeria’s agricultural sector. The multi-actor, transdisciplinary process implemented collectively, and supported by scientific literature, identified six fundamental challenges to transitioning to an agricultural model that aims to ameliorate risks and avoid a systemic collapse, whilst balancing a concern for profitability with sustainability: (1) Governance based on a culture of shared responsibility for sustainability, (2) Sustainable and efficient use of water, (3) Biodiversity conservation, (4) Implementing a circular economy plan, (5) Technology and knowledge transfer, and (6) Image and identity. We conclude that the multi-actor transdisciplinary approach successfully facilitated the creation of a culture of shared responsibility among public, private, academic, and civil society actors. Notwithstanding plural values, challenges and solutions identified by consensus point to a nascent acknowledgement of the strategic necessity to locate agricultural economic activity within social and environmental spheres.This paper demonstrates the need to establish transdisciplinary multi-actor work-schemes to continue collaboration and research for the transition to an agro-ecological model as a means to remain competitive and to create value

Preoperative toxoplasma gondii serostatus does not affect long-term survival of cardiac transplant recipients: analysis of the Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry

[Abstract] Background. It's unclear whether pre-transplant T. gondii seropositivity is associated with impaired survival in heart transplant recipients. Objectives. To test the above-mentioned hypothesis in the Spanish Heart Transplantation Registry. Methods. Post-transplant outcomes of 4048 patients aged > 16 years who underwent first, single-organ heart transplantation in 17 Spanish institutions from 1984 to 2014 were studied. Long-term post-transplant survival and survival free of cardiac death or retransplantation of 2434 (60%) T. gondii seropositive recipients and 1614 (40%) T. gondii seronegative recipients were compared. Results. T. gondii seropositive recipients were older, had higher body mass index, and presented higher prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, COPD and Cytomegalovirus seropositivity than T. gondii seronegative recipients. In univariable analysis, pre-transplant T. gondii seropositivity was associated with increased post-transplant all-cause mortality (non-adjusted HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04–1.26). However, this effect was no longer statistically significant after multivariable adjustment by recipient's age and sex (adjusted HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92–1.11). Extended multivariable adjustment by other potential confounders showed similar results (adjusted HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.89–1.11). T. gondii seropositivity had no significant effect on the composite outcome cardiac death or retransplantation (non-adjusted HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.95–1.24, p = 0.235). The distribution of the causes of death was comparable in T. gondii seropositive and T. gondii seronegative recipients. No statistically significant impact of donor's T. gondii serostatus or donor-recipient T. gondii serostatus matching on post-transplant survival was observed. Conclusions. Our analysis did not show a significant independent effect of preoperative T. gondii serostatus on long-term outcomes after heart transplantation

QUIJOTE scientific results - V. The microwave intensity and polarization spectra of the Galactic regions W49, W51 and IC443

We present new intensity and polarization maps obtained with the QUIJOTE experiment towards the Galactic regions W49, W51 and IC443, covering the frequency range from 10 to 20 GHz at ∼ 1 deg angular resolution, with a sensitivity in the range 35–79 μK beam−1 for total intensity and 13–23 μK beam−1 for polarization. For each region, we combine QUIJOTE maps with ancillary data at frequencies ranging from 0.4 to 3000 GHz, reconstruct the spectral energy distribution and model it with a combination of known foregrounds. We detect anomalous microwave emission (AME) in total intensity towards W49 at 4.7σ and W51 at 4.0σ with peak frequencies νAME = (20.0 ± 1.4) GHz and νAME = (17.7 ± 3.6) GHz, respectively; this is the first detection of AME towards W51. The contamination from ultracompact H II regions to the residual AME flux density is estimated at 10 per cent in W49 and 5 per cent in W51, and does not rule out the AME detection. The polarized SEDs reveal a synchrotron contribution with spectral indices αs = −0.67 ± 0.10 in W49 and αs = −0.51 ± 0.07 in W51, ascribed to the diffuse Galactic emission and to the local supernova remnant, respectively. Towards IC443 in total intensity we measure a broken power-law synchrotron spectrum with cut-off frequency ν0,s = (114 ± 73) GHz, in agreement with previous studies; our analysis, however, rules out any AME contribution which had been previously claimed towards IC443. No evidence of polarized AME emission is detected in this study.Partial financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under the projects AYA2007-68058-C03-01, AYA2007-68058-C03-02, AYA2010-21766-C03-01,AYA2010-21766-C03-02, AYA2014-60438-P, ESP2015-70646-C2-1-R, AYA2017-84185-P,ESP2017-83921-C2-1-R,AYA2017-90675-REDC (co-funded with EU FEDER funds), PGC2018-101814-B-I00, PID2019-110610RB-C21, PID2020-120514GB-I00, IACA13-3E-2336, IACA15-BE-3707, EQC2018-004918-P, the Severo Ochoa Programs SEV-2015-0548 and CEX2019-000920-S, the Maria de Maeztu Program MDM-2017-0765, and by the Consolider-Ingenio project CSD2010-00064 (EPI: Exploring the Physics of Inflation). We acknowledge support from the ACIISI, Consejeria de Economia, Conocimiento y Empleo del Gobierno de Canarias and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under grant with reference ProID2020010108. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 687312 (RADIOFOREGROUNDS). DT acknowledges the support from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) with Grant N. 2020PM0042; DT also acknowledges the support from the South African Claude Leon Foundation, that partially funded this work. EdlH acknowledges partial financial support from the Concepción Arenal Programme of the Universidad de Cantabria. FG acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 101001897). FP acknowledges the European Commission under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement number 658499 (PolAME). FP acknowledges support from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) under grant numbers PID2019-105552RB-C43. BR-G acknowledges ASI-INFN Agreement 2014-037-R.0.With funding from the Spanish government through the "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2019-000920-S).Peer reviewe

QUIJOTE Scientific Results – XVII. Studying the anomalous microwave emission in the Andromeda Galaxy with QUIJOTE-MFI

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the Local Group galaxy that is most similar to the Milky Way (MW). The similarities between the two galaxies make M31 useful for studying integrated properties common to spiral galaxies. We use the data from the recent QUIJOTE-MFI Wide Survey, together with new raster observations focused on M31, to study its integrated emission. The addition of raster data improves the sensitivity of QUIJOTE-MFI maps by almost a factor 3. Our main interest is to confirm if anomalous microwave emission (AME) is present in M31, as previous studies have suggested. To do so, we built the integrated spectral energy distribution of M31 between 0.408 and 3000 GHz. We then performed a component separation analysis taking into account synchrotron, free–free, AME, and thermal dust components. AME in M31 is modelled as a lognormal distribution with maximum amplitude, AAME, equal to 1.03 ± 0.32 Jy. It peaks at νAME = 17.2 ± 3.2 GHz with a width of WAME = 0.58 ± 0.16. Both the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria find the model without AME to be less than 1 per cent as probable as the one taking AME into consideration. We find that the AME emissivity per 100 μm intensity in M31 is 28.4 GHz AME = 9.6 ± 3.1 μK MJy−1 sr, similar to that of the MW. We also provide the first upper limits for the AME polarization fraction in an extragalactic object. M31 remains the only galaxy where an AME measurement has been made of its integrated spectrum.Partial financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under the projects AYA2007-68058-C03-01, AYA2007-68058-C03-02, AYA2010-21766-C03-01, AYA2010-21766-C03-02, AYA2014-60438-P, ESP2015-70646-C2-1-R, AYA2017-84185-P,ESP2017-83921-C2-1-R, PID2019-110610RB-C21, PID2020-120514GB-I00, IACA13-3E-2336, IACA15-BE-3707, EQC2018-004918-P, the Severo Ochoa Programs SEV-2015-0548 and CEX2019-000920-S, the Maria de Maeztu Program MDM-2017-0765, and by the Consolider-Ingenio project CSD2010-00064 (EPI: Exploring the Physics of Inflation). We acknowledge support from the ACIISI, Consejeria de Economia, Conocimiento y Empleo del Gobierno de Canarias, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under grant with reference ProID2020010108. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 687312 (RADIOFOREGROUNDS). MFT acknowledges support from the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU) and the European Social Fund (ESF) under grant with reference PRE-C-2018-0067. CA-T acknowledges support from the Millennium Nucleus on Young Exoplanets and their Moons (YEMS). FP acknowledges support from the Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información (ACIISI) under the European FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional) de Canarias 2014–2020 grant No. PROID2021010078.With funding from the Spanish government through the "Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence" accreditation (CEX2019-000920-S).Peer reviewe

Expression of Interest: The Canfranc Axion Detection Experiment (CADEx)

Trabajo presentado al 29th Meeting of the LSC Scientific Committee, celebrado online del 30 de noviembre al 1 de diciembre de 2021.Peer reviewe