Controlling Groundwater Exploitation Through Economic Instruments: Current Practices, Challenges and Innovative Approaches

Groundwater can be considered as a common-pool resource, is often overexploited and, as a result, there are growing management pressures. This chapter starts with a broad presentation of the range of economic instruments that can be used for groundwater management, considering current practices and innovative approaches inspired from the literature on Common Pool Resources management. It then goes on with a detailed presentation of groundwater allocation policies implemented in France, the High Plains aquifer in the USA, and Chile. The chapter concludes with a discussion of social and political difficulties associated with implementing economic instruments for groundwater management

Social factors related to the clinical severity of influenza cases in Spain during the A(H1N1)2009 virus pandemic

Background During the 2009 influenza pandemic, a change in the type of patients most often affected by influenza was observed. The objective of this study was to assess the role of individual and social determinants in hospitalizations due to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection. Methods We studied hospitalized patients (cases) and outpatients (controls) with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data. Variables that might be related to the hospitalization of influenza cases were compared by estimation of the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the variables entered into binomial logistic regression models. Results Hospitalization due to pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infections was associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity (OR: 2.18, 95% CI 1.17 − 4.08), overcrowding (OR: 2.84, 95% CI 1.20 − 6.72), comorbidity and the lack of previous preventive information (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.50 − 4.83). Secondary or higher education was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36 − 0.87) Conclusions In addition to individual factors such as comorbidity, other factors such as educational level, ethnicity or overcrowding were associated with hospitalization due to A (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infections

Revisión N-3 fatty acids in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity

Resumen Los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGP) de la serie n-3 son esenciales para el crecimiento normal y el desarrollo. Los efectos de estos ácidos grasos en la salud incluyen reducción del riesgo cardiovascular debido a acciones antiarrítmicas, antiinflamatorias, antitrombóticas e hipolipemiantes. Un aumento en la insaturación de los ácidos grasos de la membrana muscular se asocia con mejora en la sensibilidad a la insulina. Una mayor proporción de ácidos grasos n-3 puede desempeñar papeles beneficios, tales como efectos antiobesidad y protección frente al síndrome metabólico y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Sin embargo, existe controversia sobre los diferentes efectos de los ácidos grasos n-6 y n-3, así como con la interacción entre la grasa saturada y monoinsaturada. Además, se han descrito algunos efectos adversos en relación al uso de suplementos de aceite de pescado con altas dosis de ácidos grasos n-3. Algunos estudios muestran el riesgo de diabetes en esquimales, mientras que los resultados de intervenciones nutricionales sobre la influencia del consumo de pescado graso u otros alimentos ricos en ácidos grasos n-3 son muy limitados. Este artículo revisa los posibles mecanismos a través de los cuales los AGP n-3 intervienen en el control de la glucosa y la sensibilidad a la insulina. Se revisan los estudios epidemiológicos y de intervención junto con los hallazgos más recientes en el campo de la nutrigenómica relacionados con la sensibilidad y resistencia a la insulina. (Nutr Hosp. 2009;24:113-127) Palabras clave: Ácidos grasos n-3. Aceite de pescado. Diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Resistencia a la insulina. Nutrigenómica. Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n-3 series are essential for normal growth and development. The health effects of these fatty acids include reduction of cardiovascular risk due to antiarrhythmic, antiinflammatory, anti-thrombotic and lipid lowering actions. An increase in unsaturation of the muscle membrane fatty acids is associated with improved insulin sensitivity. Higher proportion of n-3 fatty acids may have beneficial roles, such as antiobesity effects and protection against the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus through a number of metabolic effects. However, controversy exists on the different effects of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as on the interacting effect of dietary saturated and monounsaturated fat. In addition, some adverse effects have been described concerning the use of fish oil supplements containing high doses of n-3 fatty acids. Several studies show Eskimos diabetes risk, while results of nutritional interventions on the influence of consuming diets rich in oily fish or other food rich in n-3 fatty acids is very limited. This article reviews the possible mechanisms through which n-3 PUFA are involved in glucose level control and insulin sensitivity. Intervention and epidemiological studies together with recent findings on the nutrigenomic field related with this subject are also briefly reviewed

Revisión N-3 fatty acids in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity

Resumen Los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (AGP) de la serie n-3 son esenciales para el crecimiento normal y el desarrollo. Los efectos de estos ácidos grasos en la salud incluyen reducción del riesgo cardiovascular debido a acciones antiarrítmicas, antiinflamatorias, antitrombóticas e hipolipemiantes. Un aumento en la insaturación de los ácidos grasos de la membrana muscular se asocia con mejora en la sensibilidad a la insulina. Una mayor proporción de ácidos grasos n-3 puede desempeñar papeles beneficios, tales como efectos antiobesidad y protección frente al síndrome metabólico y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Sin embargo, existe controversia sobre los diferentes efectos de los ácidos grasos n-6 y n-3, así como con la interacción entre la grasa saturada y monoinsaturada. Además, se han descrito algunos efectos adversos en relación al uso de suplementos de aceite de pescado con altas dosis de ácidos grasos n-3. Algunos estudios muestran el riesgo de diabetes en esquimales, mientras que los resultados de intervenciones nutricionales sobre la influencia del consumo de pescado graso u otros alimentos ricos en ácidos grasos n-3 son muy limitados. Este artículo revisa los posibles mecanismos a través de los cuales los AGP n-3 intervienen en el control de la glucosa y la sensibilidad a la insulina. Se revisan los estudios epidemiológicos y de intervención junto con los hallazgos más recientes en el campo de la nutrigenómica relacionados con la sensibilidad y resistencia a la insulina. (Nutr Hosp. 2009;24:113-127) Palabras clave: Ácidos grasos n-3. Aceite de pescado. Diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Resistencia a la insulina. Nutrigenómica. Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n-3 series are essential for normal growth and development. The health effects of these fatty acids include reduction of cardiovascular risk due to antiarrhythmic, antiinflammatory, anti-thrombotic and lipid lowering actions. An increase in unsaturation of the muscle membrane fatty acids is associated with improved insulin sensitivity. Higher proportion of n-3 fatty acids may have beneficial roles, such as antiobesity effects and protection against the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus through a number of metabolic effects. However, controversy exists on the different effects of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as on the interacting effect of dietary saturated and monounsaturated fat. In addition, some adverse effects have been described concerning the use of fish oil supplements containing high doses of n-3 fatty acids. Several studies show Eskimos diabetes risk, while results of nutritional interventions on the influence of consuming diets rich in oily fish or other food rich in n-3 fatty acids is very limited. This article reviews the possible mechanisms through which n-3 PUFA are involved in glucose level control and insulin sensitivity. Intervention and epidemiological studies together with recent findings on the nutrigenomic field related with this subject are also briefly reviewed

Single and dual crop coefficients and water requirements for onion (Allium cepa L.) under semiarid conditions

The objectives of this study were to determine onion water requirements with a sprinkler irrigation system, the most usual irrigation method in Spain. A weighing lysimeter was used to measure single (Kc) and dual (Kcb+Ke) crop coefficient curves and obtain the relationship between Kc-ground cover (GC) and Kcb-GC. Experimental work was carried out in 2005 at "Las Tiesas" farm, located in Albacete (Central Spain). To determine actual onion evapotranspiration (ETc), we used a weighing lysimeter with continuous electronic data recording. Daily measured ETc values obtained by the lysimeter were compared to calculated ETc values obtained through the standard FAO methodology [Allen, R.G., Pereira, L.S., Raes, D., Smith, M., 1998. Crop evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. FAO Irrig. and Drain. Paper 56. Rome, Italy]. Seasonal evapotranspiration measured in the lysimeter (893.34mm) was higher than the seasonal ETc calculated by FAO-56 method (832.90mm). The percentage of GC was found through the supervised classification technique of digital photographic images with the maximum probability algorithm [Calera, A., Martínez, C., Melia, J., 2001. A procedure for obtaining green plant cover: relation to NDVI in a case study for barley. Int. J. Remote Sensing, 22, 3357-3362]. The values derived from lysimetric measurements are Kc ini: 0.65, Kc mid: 1.20 and Kc end: 0.75, similar to values given in FAO-56. Lysimetric measurements showed that the evaporative component was high during the growing season, due to the high frequency of irrigation and the fact that the onion crop does not completely cover the ground; maximum GC was 72%. Therefore, the dual crop coefficient was calculated, which allowed differentiation between crop transpiration (basal crop coefficient, Kcb) and evaporation from the soil (evaporation coefficient, Ke). With the aim of facilitating extrapolation of the results to other areas, Kc and Kcb were linearly correlated to fractional GC.Lysimeter Crop evapotranspiration Single crop coefficient Dual crop coefficient Ground cover Onion