A los pies de la Sierra de la Muela: aspectos constructivos de la vivienda tradicional y propuestas de actuación

El estudio se desarrollará dentro de un marco concreto del Campo de Cartagena por las características propias de esta área con respecto al resto del Campo de Cartagena en cuanto a orografía, agricultura, poblamiento y arquitectura. Esta zona se localiza en el extremo suroeste del Campo de Cartagena y por tanto, inmediatamente próximo a la Sierra de la Muela. Tal y como se ha señalado, este territorio se caracteriza por su relieve abrupto, a diferencia del resto del Campo de Cartagena, y esto será un factor importante para su transformación en parcelas y terrazas de cultivo. Así mismo las condiciones climáticas obligan a hacer un aprovechamiento meticuloso y un uso óptimo de los recursos hídricos. Los sistemas constructivos, están condicionados por los materiales que ofrece el propio lugar. De entre ellos, el más característico es la láguena, que se extrae de las laguenetas, grandes afloramientos de este material de los que contamos con dos dentro del marco de estudio. Hoy en día, son pocas las casas que aún conservan atisbos de ésta solución constructiva, ya que la técnica original está desaparecida. Igualmente todas las características que definían la identidad de este paisaje se encuentran en estado crítico, desde la arquitectura vernácula hasta la concepción del territorio

Development of a single tube multiplex real-time PCR to detect the most clinically relevant Mucormycetes species

AbstractMucormycetes infections are very difficult to treat and a delay in diagnosis could be fatal for the outcome of the patient. A molecular diagnostic technique based on Real Time PCR was developed for the simultaneous detection of Rhizopus oryzae, Rhizopus microsporus and the genus Mucor spp. in both culture and clinical samples. The methodology used was Molecular beacon species-specific probes with an internal control. This multiplex real-time PCR (MRT-PCR) was tested in 22 cultured strains and 12 clinical samples from patients suffering from a proven mucormycosis. Results showed 100% specificity and a detection limit of 1 fg of DNA per microlitre of sample. The sensitivity was 100% for clinical cultured strains and for clinical samples containing species detected by the PCR assay. Other mucormycetes species were not detected in clinical samples. This technique can be useful for clinical diagnosis and further studies are warranted

Los subtítulos integrados deícticos favorecen la comprensión oral en el aprendizaje de francés como lengua extranjera cuando se usan en material didáctico audiovisual

It has been demonstrated that subtitled multimedia content is a tool that facilitates foreign language learning. Traditionally, subtitling is presented in the lower portion of the screen, but recent research has shown the benefits of integrating subtitles within the visual image (as opposed to the bottom edge) since, by reducing the amount of eye movement, cognitive load and stress are in turn reduced, allowing for a better comprehension of the information. This research studies the potential impact of integrated (sub)titles mediated by the Gestalt laws of perception and a deictic visual effect on the oral comprehension of French as a foreign language. This study of confirmatory nature comprised two groups of French language students, to whom an oral comprehension test was applied with the purpose of comparing two stimuli: one video in French with integrated (sub)titles (stimulus 1) and the same video with integrated deictic (sub)titles (stimulus 2). The results indicate that integrated deictic (sub)titles improve oral comprehension in French language students, as they enable a better association of visual and auditory information.Se ha demostrado que el material audiovisual subtitulado es una herramienta que facilita el aprendizaje de una lengua extranjera. Tradicionalmente, el subtitulado se presenta en la parte inferior de la pantalla, pero investigaciones recientes han mostrado los beneficios de integrar los subtítulos dentro de la imagen visual (y no al margen inferior), ya que, al reducir la cantidad de movimientos oculares, se reducen, a su vez, el estrés y la carga cognitiva, posibilitando una mejor comprensión de la información. Esta investigación estudia la incidencia que pueden tener los (sub)títulos integrados, intervenidos con leyes de la Gestalt y un efecto visual deíctico en la comprensión oral de francés como lengua extranjera. En este estudio de tipo confirmatorio participaron dos grupos de estudiantes de francés, a quienes se les aplicó un test de comprensión oral con el fin de comparar dos estímulos: un video en francés con (sub)títulos integrados (estímulo 1) y el mismo video con (sub)títulos integrados deícticos (estímulo 2). Los resultados indican que los (sub)títulos integrados deícticos mejoran la comprensión oral en estudiantes de francés en la medida en que facilitan la asociación de la información visual con la auditiva

Effect of ground-cover management on predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in a Mediterranean vineyard

Most predatory mites belong to the family Phytoseiidae (Acari). Throughout the world, phytoseiids are involved in the biological control of phytophagous mites in vineyards. Conservative strategies, including cover-vegetation management, are essential to achieve environmentally friendly viticulture. The abundance and diversity of phytoseiid mites in the grapevine canopy and the vegetal ground cover of a Mediterranean vineyard were surveyed by weekly samplings, from early May until the end of September for two years (2016 and 2017). Three types of soil management without herbicide application were analysed and referred to as "Tillage", "Spontaneous Cover", and "Flower-driven Cover" treatments. Six phytoseiid species were collected on the grapevine canopy, with Typhlodromus pyri being the dominant species (99.5 %). Five phytoseiid species were recorded in the ground cover, with Typhlodromus and Neoseiulus as the major genera. The Flower-driven Cover treatment showed the highest abundance of phytoseiids in the grapevine canopy. However, both species richness and abundance of phytoseiid mites on the ground-cover vegetation were highest in the Spontaneous Cover treatment. These observations suggest that improving vegetation cover would promote both the abundance and diversity of phytoseiid mites in vineyards because the greater supply of pollen would enhance their survival. Therefore, the use of cover crops in vineyards represents a means of improving vineyard ecosystems by conservative biological control

Next-generation sequencing reveals a new mutation in the LTBP2 gene associated with microspherophakia in a Spanish family

Microspherophakia is a rare autosomal recessive eye disorder characterized by small spherical lens. It may present as an isolated finding or in association with other ocular and/or systemic disorders. This clinical and genetic heterogeneity requires the study of large genes (ADAMTSL4, FBN1, LTBP2, ADAMTSL-10 and ADAMTSL17). The purpose of the present study is to identify the genetic cause of this pathology in a consanguineous Spanish family. A clinical exome sequencing experiment was executed by the TruSight One® Sequencing Panel (TSO) from Illumina©. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the NGS results. Only the insertion of an adenine in exon 36 of the LTBP2 gene (c.5439_5440insA) was associated with pathogenicity. This new mutation was validated by Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis was also performed. Haplotype analyses using the polymorphic markers D14S1025, D14S43 and D14S999 close to the LTBP2 gene indicated identity by descent in this family. We describe the first case of a microspherophakia phenotype associated with a novel homozygous mutation in the LTBP2 gene in a consanguineous Caucasian family by means of NGS technology

Impact of exchange rate derivatives on stocks in emerging markets

This paper investigates the effect of derivatives on the relationship between the foreign exchange rate and the stock market. A theoretical model is used to extend the understanding of that relationship. Also, the model is tested with an empirical analysis using the GMM strategy for the Mexican and Brazilian stock markets for the period 2007 to 2019. Findings reveal that in addition to the spot exchange rate, exchange rate futures explain the currency exposure, wherein the derivative effect is the most prominent. The result implies that both risk sources should be considered in the implementation of risk management or macroeconomic policy. The theoretical results are extended by applying them to international portfolio management, proposing a strategy to mitigate foreign exchange exposure with derivatives. This study contributes to the literature by explaining why the minimum variance hedge ratio plays an essential role in the foreign exchange rate and stock market nexus

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a dual response in liver function tests: Association with mortality during hospitalization

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with abnormal liver function tests. We hypothesized that early altered liver biochemistries at admission might have different clinical relevance than subsequent changes during hospitalization. A single-center retrospective study was conducted on 540 consecutive hospitalized patients, PCR-diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Liver test abnormalities were defined as the elevation of either gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST), above the upper limit of normality set by our laboratory. Linear mixed models (LMM) evaluated longitudinal associations, incorporating all available follow-up laboratory chemistries. By the end of the follow-up period, 502 patients (94.5%) were discharged (109 (20.5%) died). A total of 319 (64.3%) had at least one abnormal liver test result at admission. More prevalent were elevated AST (40.9%) and GGT (47.3%). Abnormalities were not associated with survival but with respiratory complications at admission. Conversely, LMM models adjusted for age and sex showed that longitudinal increases during hospitalization in ferritin, GGT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as a decreased albumin levels, were associated with reduced survival. This dual pattern of liver damage might reconcile previous conflicting reports. GGT and ALP trajectories could be useful to determine who might need more surveillance and intensive care

Phytochemical Characterization and Antiplatelet Activity of Mexican Red Wines and Their By-products

Red wines and their grape pomaces are important sources of phenolic compounds. Inhibition of plateletaggregation is one of the mechanisms proposed for cardioprotective effect of phenolic compounds fromwine and grape pomace; however, phenolic content is affected by region, variety and winemaking process.In the present study, antiplatelet effect of red wines and grape pomaces was related to its phenolic content(determined by spectrophotometric techniques) and profile (determined using HPLC-MS/MS). in vitroAnti-platelet aggregation was determined using human platelets. Results showed that Zinfandel wine andCabernet Sauvignon grape pomace presented the highest phenolic content. Phenolic profiles presenteddifferences in the presence of flavonoids and oligomeric tannins. Results from platelet aggregationshowed that Merlot and Petit Verdot wines and Petit Verdot grape pomace sample presented the highestantiaggregant effect. These results indicate that antiplatelet effect could be related to phenolic profile thanphenolic content in wines and grape pomaces. Cardioprotective effect of red wines and grape pomacecould be related to specific compounds such as monomeric and polymeric flavan-3-ols

High-resolution melting assay for genotyping variants of the CYP2C19 enzyme and predicting voriconazole effectiveness

Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal agent recommended as primary treatment for invasive aspergillosis, as well as some other mold infections. However, it presents some pharmacokinetic singularities that lead to a great variability intra- and interindividually, nonlinear pharmacokinetics, and a narrow therapeutic range. Most experts have recommended tracing the levels of voriconazole in patients when receiving treatment. This azole is metabolized through the hepatic enzyme complex cytochrome P450 (CYPP450), with the isoenzyme CYP2C19 being principally involved. Allelic variations (polymorphisms) of the gene that encodes this enzyme are known to contribute to variability in voriconazole exposure. Three different allelic variants, CYP2C19*17, CYP2C19*2, and CYP2C19*3, could explain most of the phenotypes related to the voriconazole metabolism and some of its pharmacokinetic singularities. We designed a rapid molecular method based on high-resolution melting to characterize these polymorphisms in a total of 142 samples, avoiding sequencing. Three PCRs were designed with similar cycling conditions to run simultaneously. The results showed that our method represents a fast, accurate, and inexpensive means to study these variants related to voriconazole metabolism. In clinical practice, this could offer a useful tool to individually optimize therapy and reduce expenses in patients with fungal infections.National Institute of Health Carlos III (AES13PI13/01817Research Project MPY 1367/13). L.B.-M. has a contract supported by theMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofinanced by the EuropeanDevelopment Regional Fund (EDRF) “A Way to Achieve Europe” and the SpanishNetwork for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI; RD12/0015/0015). B.M.-R. is astudent in the Master’s Program entitled “Microbiología Aplicada a la Salud Pública eInvestigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas,” Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid,Spain. A.C. and C.C. were supported by the Northern Portugal Regional OperationalProgram (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement through theEuropean Regional Development Fund (FEDER; NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013) and theFundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT; IF/00735/2014 [A.C.] and SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 [C.C.])