Effect of the water stress on gross primary production modeling of a Mediterranean oak savanna ecosystem

Dehesa ecosystem consists of widely-spaced oak trees combined with crops, pasture and Mediterranean shrubs. It is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, where water scarcity is recurrent, severely affecting the multiple productions and services of the ecosystem. Upscaling in situ Gross Primary Production (GPP) estimates in these areas is challenging for regional and global studies, given the significant spatial variability of plant functional types and the vegetation stresses usually present. The estimation of GPP is often addressed using light use efficiency models (LUE-models). Under soil water deficit conditions, biomass production is reduced below its potential rate. This work investigates the effect of different parameterizations to account for water stress on GPP estimates and their agreement with observations. Ground measurements of GPP are obtained using an Eddy Covariance (EC) system installed over an experimental site located in Córdoba, Spain. GPP is estimated with a LUE-model in the footprint of the EC tower using several approaches: a fixed value taken from previous literature; a fixed value modified by daily weather conditions; and both formulations modified by an additional coefficient to explicitly consider the vegetation water stress. The preliminary results obtained during two hydrological years (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) are compared, focusing on specific wet and dry periods.</p

Challenge 5: Impact of global change on managed ecosystems

Topic Coordinators: María Begoña García ( IPE, CSIC ); Pedro Jordano ( EBD, CSIC )Peer reviewe

Modifiable risk factors associated with prediabetes in men and women: A cross-sectional analysis of the cohort study in primary health care on the evolution of patients with prediabetes

Background: Prediabetes is a high-risk state for diabetes development, but little is known about the factors associated with this state. The aim of the study was to identify modifiable risk factors associated with the presence of prediabetes in men and women. Methods: Cohort Study in Primary Health Care on the Evolution of Patients with Prediabetes (PREDAPS-Study) is a prospective study on a cohort of 1184 subjects with prediabetes and another cohort of 838 subjects without glucose metabolism disorders. It is being conducted by 125 general practitioners in Spain. Data for this analysis were collected during the baseline stage in 2012. The modifiable risk factors included were: smoking habit, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, inadequate diet, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. To assess independent association between each factor and prediabetes, odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: Abdominal obesity, low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), and hypertension were independently associated with the presence of prediabetes in both men and women. After adjusting for all factors, the respective ORs (95% Confidence Intervals) were 1.98 (1.41-2.79), 1.88 (1.23-2.88) and 1.86 (1.39-2.51) for men, and 1.89 (1.36-2.62), 1.58 (1.12-2.23) and 1.44 (1.07-1.92) for women. Also, general obesity was a risk factor in both sexes but did not reach statistical significance among men, after adjusting for all factors. Risky alcohol consumption was a risk factor for prediabetes in men, OR 1.49 (1.00-2.24). Conclusions: Obesity, low HDL-cholesterol levels, and hypertension were modifiable risk factors independently related to the presence of prediabetes in both sexes. The magnitudes of the associations were stronger for men than women. Abdominal obesity in both men and women displayed the strongest association with prediabetes. The findings suggest that there are some differences between men and women, which should be taken into account when implementing specific recommendations to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in adult population

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2

Actas de las V Jornadas ScienCity 2022. Fomento de la Cultura Científica, Tecnológica y de Innovación en Ciudades Inteligentes

ScienCity es una actividad que viene siendo continuada desde 2018 con el objetivo de dar a conocer los conocimientos y tecnologías emergentes siendo investigados en las universidades, informar de experiencias, servicios e iniciativas puestas ya en marcha por instituciones y empresas, llegar hasta decisores políticos que podrían crear sinergias, incentivar la creación de ideas y posibilidades de desarrollo conjuntas, implicar y provocar la participación ciudadana, así como gestar una red internacional multidisciplinar de investigadores que garantice la continuación de futuras ediciones. En 2022 se recibieron un total de 48 trabajos repartidos en 25 ponencias y 24 pósteres pertenecientes a 98 autores de 14 instituciones distintas de España, Portugal, Polonia y Países Bajos.Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología-Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades; Consejería de la Presidencia, Administración Pública e Interior de la Junta de Andalucía; Estrategia de Política de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Huelva; Cátedra de Innovación Social de Aguas de Huelva; Cátedra de la Provincia; Grupo de investigación TEP-192 de Control y Robótica; Centro de Investigación en Tecnología, Energía y Sostenibilidad (CITES

Integration of remote sensing images in the development of environmental indicators in Mediterranean basins. Application for monitoring water status and productivity

[EN] This thesis proposes the use of remote sensing images of different spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions that, combined with meteorological, hydrological and phenological data, can be used to produce indicators of different ecosystem variables related to productivity and water status in different unique systems of the Mediterranean region. Specifically, the development of three indicators closely linked to each other is proposed: an indicator of the water status of the soil at the end of the dry season from the state of different vegetation covers; an indicator of the productivity of natural pastures, the main food support for extensive livestock in dehesa ecosystems, based on their status and the climatic conditions of the period evaluated; and, finally, an indicator of the relationship between water state of the soil and the natural pasture phenological state.[ES] En esta tesis se plantea el desarrollo de indicadores de variables ecosistémicas relacionadas con la productividad y el estado hídrico de sistemas característicos de la zona mediterránea basados en sensores remotos. Para ello, se han combinado imágenes de diferentes resoluciones espaciales, espectrales y temporales con registros puntuales de datos meteorológicos, hidrológicos y fenológicos. En concreto, se han desarrollado y evaluado tres indicadores estrechamente ligados entre sí: i) un indicador del estado hídrico del suelo al final de la estación seca, a partir del estado de varios tipos de cubierta vegetal; ii) un indicador de la productividad de los pastos naturales, principal sustento alimenticio de la ganadería extensiva en ecosistemas de dehesa, a partir de su estado y de las condiciones climáticas del período evaluado; y iii) un indicador que relaciona el estado hídrico del sistema con el estado fenológico en el que se encuentra el estrato herbáceo.Gómez-Giráldez, PJ. (2021). Integración de imágenes de sensores remotos en el desarrollo de indicadores medioambientales en cuencas mediterráneas. Aplicación al seguimiento de su estado hídrico y productividad. Revista de Teledetección. 0(58):147-152. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/169771OJS14715205

Remote-Sensing-Based Water Balance for Monitoring of Evapotranspiration and Water Stress of a Mediterranean Oak–Grass Savanna

Mediterranean oak savannas (known as dehesas in Spain) are exposed to numerous threats from natural and economic causes. A close monitoring of the use of water resources and the status of the vegetation in these ecosystems can be useful tools for maintaining the production of ecological services. This study explores the estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) and water stress over a dehesa by integrating remotely sensed data into a water balance using the FAO-56 approach (VI-ETo model). Special attention is paid to the different phenology and contribution to the system&rsquo;s hydrology of the two main canopy layers of the system (tree + grass). The results showed that the model accurately reproduced the dynamics of the water consumed by the vegetation, with RMSE of 0.47 mm day&minus;1 and low biases for both, the whole system and the grass layer, when compared with flux tower measurements. The ET/ETo ratio helped to identify periods of water stress, confirmed for the grassland by measured soil water content. The modeling scheme and Sentinel-2 temporal resolution allowed the reproduction of fast and isolated ET pulses, important for understanding the hydrologic behavior of the system, confirming the adequacy of this sensor for monitoring grasslands water dynamics

Implicación del estrés oxidativo en las enfermedades neurodegenerativas y posibles terapias antioxidantes

Objetivos: El sistema nervioso central es fundamental en el control de la homeostasis y mantenimiento de las funciones fisiológicas del organismo. Sin embargo, sus características bioquímicas hacen que sea especialmente vulnerable al daño oxidativo, lo que compromete su correcto funcionamiento, desencadenando neurodegeneración y muerte neuronal. Contenido: El estrés oxidativo desempeña un papel importante en la fisiopatología de las enfermedades neurodegenerativas dado que participa en multitud de mecanismos que inducen oxidación de ácidos nucleicos, proteínas y lípidos, contribuyendo con ello, al daño cerebral progresivo. Entre estos mecanismos se encuentran la disfunción mitocondrial, generación excesiva de especies reactivas de oxígeno y nitrógeno, déficit de defensas antioxidantes, oligomerización de proteínas, producción de citoquinas y respuesta inflamatoria, alteración de la barrera hematoencefálica o disfunción del proteasoma. Todas estas disfunciones se han visto implicadas en la patogénesis de diversas enfermedades neurodegenerativas, como la enfermedad de Parkinson, Alzheimer, Huntington o esclerosis lateral amiotrófica. Resumen y perspectivas: Aunque actualmente no existen tratamientos curativos, las investigaciones se han dirigido a la búsqueda de terapias que permitan reducir el daño secundario al estrés oxidativo y ralentizar la evolución de la enfermedad. Es aquí donde las investigaciones sobre el efecto de las terapias antioxidantes muestran un papel activo

The role of oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases and potential antioxidant therapies

Objectives: The central nervous system (CNS) is essential for homeostasis and controls the physiological functions of the body. However, the biochemical characteristics of the CNS make it especially vulnerable to oxidative damage (OS). This phenomenon compromises correct CNS functioning, leading to neurodegeneration and neuronal death. Contents: OS plays a crucial role in the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases. It is involved in multiple mechanisms of nucleic acid, protein, and lipid oxidation, thereby contributing to progressive brain damage. These mechanisms include mitochondrial dysfunction; excessive production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; deficiency of antioxidant defenses; protein oligomerization; cytokine production and inflammatory response; blood–brain barrier abnormalities; and proteasome dysfunction. All these dysfunctions are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Summary and outlook: A curative treatment is currently not available. Research is focused on the search for therapies that reduce oxidative damage and delay disease progression. In the recent years, researchers have focused their attention on the effects of antioxidant therapies