OBTENCIÓN DE BETACAROTENO A PARTIR DEL CAMOTE TOQUECITA (IPOMOEA BATATA)

Introduction: Beta-carotene is a carotenoid present in fruits, and vegetables; it is a precursor of vitamin A. The sweet potato variety "Toquecita" with orange flesh from the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias de Portoviejo, Ecuador, offers multiple health benefits in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Objective: To obtain beta-carotene from the sweet potato variety "Toquecita" (Ipomea batata). Materials and methods: The soxhlet extraction method was used, which consisted of a solid-liquid extraction, using organic solvents, and an adaptation of ultrasound and centrifuge extraction was also used, which takes advantage of the displacement speed to obtain a liquid part and a sedimented part. Results and discussion: Analyses of moisture, ash, protein, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and reducing sugars gave results within bibliographical ranges. The presence of beta-carotene in the sweet potato "Toquecita" by the Soxhlet method was 3.962 uG⁄gbetacarotene in Acetone solvent, 2.452 uG⁄gbetacarotene in methanol solvent and 6.830 uG⁄gbetacarotene in hexane solvent. Using the adapted extraction method (ultrasonido-centrifuge), 131.285 mg⁄g beta-carotene was obtained. Conclusions: With the ultrasound-centrifuge extraction method, it was possible to obtain 131.285 Ug⁄g of beta-carotene, being thus, the one that obtained the best results within the ranges established by other authors cited in this research, one of the reasons is because this method was not exposed to heat sources or light, thus allowing better performance in obtaining beta-carotene

Relación entre la severidad de la disfagia y la medida de independencia funcional en adultos mayores postrados domiciliados: estudio piloto

111 p.La disfagia y la dependencia son variables que se relacionan significativamente en adultos mayores frágiles. Objetivo: Determinar si el grado de severidad de la disfagia difiere en los distintos niveles de independencia funcional para alimentarse de los adultos mayores adscritos a un programa de pacientes postrados de salud primaria. Participantes: La muestra de este estudio estuvo conformada por un total de 26 adultos mayores pertenecientes al programa de pacientes postrados de CESFAM La Florida, comuna de Talca. Metodología: A todos los participantes se les aplicó la Medida de Independencia Funcional (FIM) y un protocolo de valoración clínica de la deglución. A los pacientes con disfagia, la severidad del trastorno deglutorio se valoró de acuerdo la Escala Funcional de Fujishima para clasificación de pacientes con disfagia (1998). Resultados: Se observó pacientes con pluripatología y con bajo nivel de funcionalidad motora (bajo 50% en la FIM). La severidad de la disfagia no difiere significativamente de acuerdo al grado de funcionalidad de las personas mayores postradas para alimentarse (X2: 5,818; p> 0,05). Conclusión: Si bien la FIM en alimentación puede resultar dependiente para la mayoría de los evaluados, esto afectaría sólo la etapa preparatoria oral de la deglución y no necesariamente a la seguridad de la ésta. Los resultados de la presente investigación remarcan la necesidad de crear instrumentos especializados y confiables para la identificación de la disfagia en esta población, además de contar con la instrumentalización pertinente que permita estimar la severidad de la condición. Palabras claves: disfagia, dependencia, adulto mayor

Pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma. Postoperative outcome after surgical treatment in a Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) occasionally spreads to the pancreas. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the short and long-term results of a multicenter series in order to determine the effect of surgical treatment on the prognosis of these patients. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Variables related to the primary tumor, demographics, clinical characteristics of metastasis, location in the pancreas, type of pancreatic resection performed and data on short and long-term evolution after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 116 patients. The mean time between nephrectomy and pancreatic metastases' resection was 87.35 months (ICR: 1.51-332.55). Distal pancreatectomy was the most performed technique employed (50 %). Postoperative morbidity was observed in 60.9 % of cases (Clavien-Dindo greater than IIIa in 14 %). The median follow-up time was 43 months (13-78). Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 96 %, 88 %, and 83 %, respectively. The disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 73 %, 49 %, and 35 %, respectively. Significant prognostic factors of relapse were a disease free interval of less than 10 years (2.05 [1.13-3.72], p 0.02) and a history of previous extrapancreatic metastasis (2.44 [1.22-4.86], p 0.01). Conclusions: Pancreatic resection if metastatic RCC is found in the pancreas is warranted to achieve higher overall survival and disease-free survival, even if extrapancreatic metastases were previously removed. The existence of intrapancreatic multifocal compromise does not always warrant the performance of a total pancreatectomy in order to improve survival

El arte de la violencia

El tercer número de la colección Laboratorio Transmedia (ISSN: 2794-0861) contiene trece relatos escritos durante el curso 2021/2022 por estudiantes del Máster universitario en Escritura Creativa.Unidad Dptal. de Literatura y MediosFac. de Ciencias de la InformaciónTRUEUniversidad Complutense de Madridpu

Pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma. Postoperative outcome after surgical treatment in a Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) occasionally spreads to the pancreas. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the short and long-term results of a multicenter series in order to determine the effect of surgical treatment on the prognosis of these patients. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Variables related to the primary tumor, demographics, clinical characteristics of metastasis, location in the pancreas, type of pancreatic resection performed and data on short and long-term evolution after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 116 patients. The mean time between nephrectomy and pancreatic metastases' resection was 87.35 months (ICR: 1.51-332.55). Distal pancreatectomy was the most performed technique employed (50 %). Postoperative morbidity was observed in 60.9 % of cases (Clavien-Dindo greater than IIIa in 14 %). The median follow-up time was 43 months (13-78). Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 96 %, 88 %, and 83 %, respectively. The disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 73 %, 49 %, and 35 %, respectively. Significant prognostic factors of relapse were a disease free interval of less than 10 years (2.05 [1.13-3.72], p 0.02) and a history of previous extrapancreatic metastasis (2.44 [1.22-4.86], p 0.01). Conclusions: Pancreatic resection if metastatic RCC is found in the pancreas is warranted to achieve higher overall survival and disease-free survival, even if extrapancreatic metastases were previously removed. The existence of intrapancreatic multifocal compromise does not always warrant the performance of a total pancreatectomy in order to improve survival. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Repeated pancreatic resection for pancreatic metastases from renal cell Carcinoma: A Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background and objectives: Recurrent isolated pancreatic metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) after pancreatic resection is rare. The purpose of our study is to describe a series of cases of relapse of pancreatic metastasis from renal cancer in the pancreatic remnant and its surgical treatment with a repeated pancreatic resection, and to analyse the results of both overall and disease -free survival. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Patients were grouped into two groups depending on whether they received a single pancreatic resection (SPS) or iterative pancreatic resection. Data on short and long-term outcome after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 131 pancreatic resections performed in 116 patients. Thus, iterative pancreatic surgery (IPS) was performed in 15 patients. The mean length of time between the first pancreatic surgery and the second was 48.9 months (95 % CI: 22.2-56.9). There were no differences in the rate of postoperative complications. The DFS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 86 %, 78 % and 78 % vs 75 %, 50 % and 37 % in the IPS and SPS group respectively (p = 0.179). OS rates at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years were 100 %, 100 %, 100 % and 75 % in the IPS group vs 95 %, 85 %, 80 % and 68 % in the SPS group (p = 0.895). Conclusion: Repeated pancreatic resection in case of relapse of pancreatic metastasis of RCC in the pancreatic remnant is justified, since it achieves OS results similar to those obtained after the first resection

Biogenic factors explain soil carbon in paired urban and natural ecosystems worldwide

12 páginas.- 4 figuras.- 49 referencia.- Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01646-z .- Full-text access to a view-only version (Acceso a texto completo de sólo lectura en este enlace) https://rdcu.be/c8vZiUrban greenspaces support multiple nature-based services, many of which depend on the amount of soil carbon (C). Yet, the environmental drivers of soil C and its sensitivity to warming are still poorly understood globally. Here we use soil samples from 56 paired urban greenspaces and natural ecosystems worldwide and combine soil C concentration and size fractionation measures with metagenomics and warming incubations. We show that surface soils in urban and natural ecosystems sustain similar C concentrations that follow comparable negative relationships with temperature. Plant productivity’s contribution to explaining soil C was higher in natural ecosystems, while in urban ecosystems, the soil microbial biomass had the greatest explanatory power. Moreover, the soil microbiome supported a faster C mineralization rate with experimental warming in urban greenspaces compared with natural ecosystems. Consequently, urban management strategies should consider the soil microbiome to maintain soil C and related ecosystem services.This study was supported by a 2019 Leonardo Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators, BBVA Foundation (URBANFUN), and by BES Grant Agreement No. LRB17\1019 (MUSGONET). M.D-B., P.G-P., J.D. and A.R. acknowledge support from TED2021-130908B-C41/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR. M.D.-B. also acknowledges support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the I + D + i project PID2020-115813RA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. M.D.-B. was also supported by a project of the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) and the Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades of the Junta de Andalucía (FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 Objetivo temático ‘01 - Refuerzo de la investigación, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación’) associated with the research project P20_00879 (ANDABIOMA). D.J.E. was supported by the Hermon Slade Foundation. J.P.V. thanks the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) (EEQ/2021/001083, SIR/2022/000626) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India (DST/INT/SL/P-31/2021) and Banaras Hindu Univeristy-IoE (6031)-incentive grant for financial assistance for research in plant-microbe interaction and soil microbiome. J.D. and A. Rodríguez acknowledge support from the FCT (2020.03670.CEECIND and SFRH/BDP/108913/2015, respectively), as well as from the MCTES, FSE, UE and the CFE (UIDB/04004/2021) research unit financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC).Peer reviewe

Desarrollo de herramientas metodológicas para incorporar contenidos de ciencia al aula y su valoración económica

La ciencia y la tecnología juegan un papel fundamental en nuestra sociedad. En este sentido, la ciudadanía parece necesitar unos conocimientos básicos que le permitan responder de manera autónoma a multitud de situaciones, tanto a nivel personal como social (Kolstø et al., 2006). Este requisito, conocido en la literatura como alfabetización científica, lleva siendo uno de los objetivos de la educación en las últimas décadas (Hodson, 2003; Feinstein, 2011). Sin embargo, parece que su consecución presenta algunos problemas. Una de las causas de estas dificultades parece ser la falta de conexión entre los contenidos que se trabajan en las clases y el día a día del ciudadano. Respecto a esto, una solución ampliamente citada en la literatura es contextualizar el aprendizaje, relacionando los contenidos trabajados en clase con escenarios cotidianos y familiares para el alumnado (Clegg & Kolodner, 2014). El proyecto pretendía que nuestros estudiantes llevasen a cabo un análisis de los contextos con contenidos científico-económicos y promovieran su utilización en el aula y en su futuro profesional. Es decir, formar a nuestros profesionales para que pudieran detectar e incorporar entre sus competencias la capacidad de conectar lo aprendido en las asignaturas con las necesidades sociales. En concreto, el proyecto tenía, en base a los problemas detectados en la percepción de la ciencia y en la formación de los ciudadanos, dos grandes tipos de objetivos: Objetivos relacionados con la percepción de los conocimientos científico-tecnológicos y su valoración económica (Ezquerra, Fernández-Sánchez, Cabezas, 2013; Ezquerra, Fernandez-Sanchez, 2014; Ezquerra, Fernandez-Sanchez, Magaña, 2015; 2016; Ezquerra, Fernandez-Sanchez, Magaña & Mingo, 2017): • Identificar en qué situaciones los ciudadanos, en su vida cotidiana, están en presencia de contenidos científicos o tecnológicos. • Determinar de qué modo llegan al ciudadano estos contenidos, con qué intensidad, cómo son propuestos, cómo son percibidos... • Analizar el modo en que podemos otorgar a estos contenidos una valoración económica. Objetivos educativos que se integran dentro de las asignaturas: • Analizar las correspondencias entre los currículos oficiales y los contenidos presentes en el entorno del ciudadano (Ezquerra, Fernandez-Sanchez, Magaña Ramos, 2015; Ezquerra y Magaña, 2016). • Introducir a los estudiantes en una propuesta de aprendizaje basada en la indagación (Rivero et al., 2013; Ezquerra, De Juanas, Martín del Pozo, 2015). • Valorar las estrategias y competencias de los futuros docentes para vincular sus conocimientos con la realidad circundante (De Juanas et al., 2012). • Analizar las actividades que los estudiantes propongan para identificar los contenidos de ciencia y estudiar su valoración económica

Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands

14 páginas.- 4 figuras.- 67 referencias.- The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01670-7Perennial plants create productive and biodiverse hotspots, known as fertile islands, beneath their canopies. These hotspots largely determine the structure and functioning of drylands worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the factors controlling fertile islands under conditions of contrasting grazing by livestock, the most prevalent land use in drylands, remain virtually unknown. Here we evaluated the relative importance of grazing pressure and herbivore type, climate and plant functional traits on 24 soil physical and chemical attributes that represent proxies of key ecosystem services related to decomposition, soil fertility, and soil and water conservation. To do this, we conducted a standardized global survey of 288 plots at 88 sites in 25 countries worldwide. We show that aridity and plant traits are the major factors associated with the magnitude of plant effects on fertile islands in grazed drylands worldwide. Grazing pressure had little influence on the capacity of plants to support fertile islands. Taller and wider shrubs and grasses supported stronger island effects. Stable and functional soils tended to be linked to species-rich sites with taller plants. Together, our findings dispel the notion that grazing pressure or herbivore type are linked to the formation or intensification of fertile islands in drylands. Rather, our study suggests that changes in aridity, and processes that alter island identity and therefore plant traits, will have marked effects on how perennial plants support and maintain the functioning of drylands in a more arid and grazed world.This research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC grant 647038 (BIODESERT) awarded to F.T.M.) and Generalitat Valenciana (CIDEGENT/2018/041). D.J.E. was supported by the Hermon Slade Foundation (HSF21040). J. Ding was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project (41991232) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China. M.D.-B. acknowledges support from TED2021-130908B-C41/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/Unión Europea Next Generation EU/PRTR and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the I + D + i project PID2020-115813RA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. O.S. was supported by US National Science Foundation (Grants DEB 1754106, 20-25166), and Y.L.B.-P. by a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship (MSCA-1018 IF) within the European Program Horizon 2020 (DRYFUN Project 656035). K.G. and N.B. acknowledge support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) SPACES projects OPTIMASS (FKZ: 01LL1302A) and ORYCS (FKZ: FKZ01LL1804A). B.B. was supported by the Taylor Family-Asia Foundation Endowed Chair in Ecology and Conservation Biology, and M. Bowker by funding from the School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University. C.B. acknowledges funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41971131). D.B. acknowledges support from the Hungarian Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFI KKP 144096), and A. Fajardo support from ANID PIA/BASAL FB 210006 and the Millennium Science Initiative Program NCN2021-050. M.F. and H.E. received funding from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (grant 39843). A.N. and M.K. acknowledge support from FCT (CEECIND/02453/2018/CP1534/CT0001, SFRH/BD/130274/2017, PTDC/ASP-SIL/7743/2020, UIDB/00329/2020), EEA (10/CALL#5), AdaptForGrazing (PRR-C05-i03-I-000035) and LTsER Montado platform (LTER_EU_PT_001) grants. O.V. acknowledges support from the Hungarian Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFI KKP 144096). L.W. was supported by the US National Science Foundation (EAR 1554894). Y.Z. and X.Z. were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2003214). H.S. is supported by a María Zambrano fellowship funded by the Ministry of Universities and European Union-Next Generation plan. The use of any trade, firm or product names does not imply endorsement by any agency, institution or government. Finally, we thank the many people who assisted with field work and the landowners, corporations and national bodies that allowed us access to their land.Peer reviewe