Béne wha lhall, béne lo ya'a: identidad y etnicidad en la Sierra Norte Zapoteca de Oaxaca

The aim of this doctoral thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of the issue of ethnic identity of the Zapotecs in the Sierra Norte of the Mexican State of Oaxaca, and to contribute to an indigenous criticism aiming at decolonizing cultural memories and social realities in México and the Americas. In discussing the reality of a specific indigenous people today, we are confronted with important questions, not only: ¿Who are the Zapotecs in the Sierra Norte of the Mexican State of Oaxaca, what are their characteristics?, but also How do they represent themselves and construct their cultural identity in their own terms? How do the processes of identity formation take place within a context of imposed and stigmatized ‘alterity’? How are forms of ethnic representation created and recreated in a situation of coloniality and social inequality? How is ethnic identity constructed in a framework of modernity and globalization: which role do cultural memory and worldview play in this?LEI Universiteit LeidenAdelaar W.F.H., Cammarota A., Geurds A., Hofman C.L., Schüren U., Wiesebron M.L.Mesoamerican and Andean Archaeolog

Application of genomic technologies to the breeding of trees

The recent introduction of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies represents a major revolution in providing new tools for identifying the genes and/or genomic intervals controlling important traits for selection in breeding programs. In perennial fruit trees with long generation times and large sizes of adult plants, the impact of these techniques is even more important. High-throughput DNA sequencing technologies have provided complete annotated sequences in many important tree species. Most of the high-throughput genotyping platforms described are being used for studies of genetic diversity and population structure. Dissection of complex traits became possible through the availability of genome sequences along with phenotypic variation data, which allow to elucidate the causative genetic differences that give rise to observed phenotypic variation. Association mapping facilitates the association between genetic markers and phenotype in unstructured and complex populations, identifying molecular markers for assisted selection and breeding. Also, genomic data provide in silico identification and characterization of genes and gene families related to important traits, enabling new tools for molecular marker assisted selection in tree breeding. Deep sequencing of transcriptomes is also a powerful tool for the analysis of precise expression levels of each gene in a sample. It consists in quantifying short cDNA reads, obtained by NGS technologies, in order to compare the entire transcriptomes between genotypes and environmental conditions. The miRNAs are non-coding short RNAs involved in the regulation of different physiological processes, which can be identified by high-throughput sequencing of RNA libraries obtained by reverse transcription of purified short RNAs, and by in silico comparison with known miRNAs from other species. All together, NGS techniques and their applications have increased the resources for plant breeding in tree species, closing the former gap of genetic tools between trees and annual species

Caractérisation des systèmes de production ovine dans la zone de "Sierra del Segura y la Sagra", Espagne

[FR] Le présent article se propose d¿analyser les caractéristiques les plus saillantes du secteur ovin dans une partie de la zone géographique sous Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) "Cordero de Segura y la Sagra". Une enquête a été menée sur 93 propriétaires d¿élevages, dans l'objectif de connaître la situation du secteur dans cette zone. Les questions concernaient les sujets suivants: caractéristiques du troupeau, âge, niveau d'études, ouvriers à la ferme, continuité des activités de la ferme. La taille moyenne du troupeau est de 378 animaux et la race "Segureña" est prédominante (99%). Dans 93,4% des cas l¿éleveur travaille à temps plein dans l¿exploitation et le revenu principal est la vente d¿agneaux pour la viande, mais seulement 9,7% des éleveurs font partie d¿une coopérative pour la commercialisation. L'âge moyen du fermier est de 50 ans et 87,1% des éleveurs n¿ont pas d¿études ou de faible niveau. La moyenne du travail employé est de 1,31 UTA, essentiellement de type familial. Seulement dans 12% des cas il existe une sécurité de la continuité de l'activité. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu'il est nécessaire de parvenir à de meilleures conditions socioéconomiques pour les exploitations dans la zone étudiée. L'IGP "Cordero de Segura y la Sagra" pourrait être utile pour améliorer ces aspects.[EN] The aim of this study is to present the basic characteristics which define the sheep systems in some zones of the PGI Cordero de Segura y la Sagra protected area, in order to bring about actions to improve the competitiveness of such systems. A survey has been conducted among 93 farm owners. The questionnaire included questions regarding herd characteristics, age, educational level, workers, and continuity of the farm activity. The average herd size is 378 animals and the Segureña breed sheep is predominant (99 percent). In 93.5 percent of cases the owner works full time on the farm and the main economic benefit is the sale of lambs for meat, but only 9.7 percent of farmers belong to some kind of marketing cooperative. The average farmer's age is 50 years old and a high percentage (87.1 percent) has no education or a very basic one. The year work unit (YWU) is 1.31 and the work is mainly of family type. In only 12 percent of the cases the continuity of the activity is assured. The above analysed aspects show that it is necessary to achieve better socioeconomic conditions of farms. The PGI Cordero de Segura y la Sagra could be useful to improve these aspects. Therefore we suggest that the PGI must be promoted among farmers, especially among young people.Navarro-Ríos, M.; Marín-Bernal, A.; Martí, A.; Fernández Martínez, CJ. (2011). Characterizacion of Segureña sheep production system in the area of Sierra del Segura y la Sagra, Spain. Options Mediterraneennes. Serie A: Seminaires Mediterraneens. (100):211-216. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/107315S21121610

Key plant species and detritivores drive diversity effects on instream leaf litter decomposition more than functional diversity: A microcosm study

Anthropogenic impacts on freshwater ecosystems cause critical losses of biodiversity that can in turn impair key processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Forest streams are mainly subsidized by terrestrial organic detritus, so their functioning and conservation status can be altered by changes in forest biodiversity and composition, particularly if these changes involve the replacement of functional groups or the loss of key species. We examined this issue using a microcosm experiment where we manipulated plant functional diversity (FD) (monocultures and low-FD and high-FD mixtures, resulting from different combinations of deciduous and evergreen Quercus species) and the presence of a key species (Alnus glutinosa), all in presence and absence of detritivores, and assessed effects on litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fungal and detritivore biomass. We found (i) positive diversity effects on detritivore-mediated decomposition, litter nutrient losses and detritivore biomass exclusively when A. glutinosa was present; and (ii) negative effects on the same processes when microbially mediated and on fungal biomass. Most positive trends could be explained by the higher litter palatability and litter trait variability obtained with the inclusion of alder leaves in the mixture. Our results support the hypothesis of a consistent slowing down of the decomposition process as a result of plant biodiversity loss, and hence effects on stream ecosystem functioning, especially when a key (N-fixing) species is lost; and underscore the importance of detritivores as drivers of plant diversity effects in the studied ecosystem processes.This study was funded by the 2014–2020 FEDER Operative Program Andalusia (RIOVEGEST project, Ref. FEDER-UAL18 -RNM -B006 – B, to J.J.C). Additional support was provided by the Spanish Ministry for Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER (BioLoss project, Ref. RTI2018-095023- B-I00, to L.B.). Rubio-Ríos was supported by an FPU grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (reference FPU16/03734)

Causes of Dropping out the Program of Music and Art at the Faculty of Music

The students of the Baccalaureate Program of Music and Art at the Music Faculty shows a significantpopulation decline during the first semester, so it was necessary to obtain information to understand the behavior, becausethere is no formal study to determine the causes of student dropouts%253B thus the aim of this study is to identify what are thereasons for students dropping out of the program, to provide a diagnosis to extent possible and analyze the situation togenerate strategies to rectify these variables to achieve completion of the program. This study is an exploratory diagnosticresearch with a quantitative perspective%253B a questionnaire was used as instrument, made for academic research done onabandonment and desertion. In conclusion the study shows that the main causes of dropout are a set of interrelatedvariables that show a complex cultural and socioeconomic phenomenon that reflects the general feeling in our society

A first approach to assess the impact of bottom trawling over Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems on the High Seas of the Southwest Atlantic

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Results of an early access treatment protocol of daratumumab monotherapy in spanish patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

Daratumumab is a human CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody approved as monotherapy for heavily pretreated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. We report findings for the Spanish cohort of an open-label treatment protocol that provided early access to daratumumab monotherapy and collected safety and patient-reported outcomes data for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. At 15 centers across Spain, intravenous daratumumab (16mg/kg) was administered to 73 patients who had ≥3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug, or who were double refractory to both. The median duration of daratumumab treatment was 3.3 (range: 0.03–13.17) months, with a median number of 12 (range: 1–25) infusions. Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 74% of patients and included lymphopenia (28.8%), thrombocytopenia (27.4%), neutropenia (21.9%), leukopenia (19.2%), and anemia (15.1%). Common (>5%) serious treatmentemergent adverse events included respiratory tract infection (9.6%), general physical health deterioration (6.8%), and back pain (5.5%). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 45% of patients. The median change from baseline in all domains of the EQ-5D-5L and EORTC QLQ-C30 was mostly 0. A total of 18 (24.7%) patients achieved a partial response or better, with 10 (13.7%) patients achieving a very good partial response or better. Median progression-free survival was 3.98 months. The results of this early access treatment protocol are consistent with previously reported trials of daratumumab monotherapy and confirm its safety and antitumoral efficacy in Spanish patients with heavily treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

Phase I clinical trial in healthy adults of a nasal vaccine candidate containing recombinant hepatitis B surface and core antigens

SummaryBackgroundThe nasal vaccine candidate (NASVAC), comprising hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface (HBsAg) and core antigens (HBcAg), has been shown to be highly immunogenic in animal models.MethodsA phase I double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was carried out in 19 healthy male adults with no serologic markers of immunity/infection to HBV. This study was aimed at exploring the safety and immunogenic profile of nasal co-administration of both HBV recombinant antigens. The trial was performed according to Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 45 years and were randomly allocated to receive a mixture of 50μg HBsAg and 50μg HBcAg or 0.9% physiologic saline solution, as a placebo, via nasal spray in a five-dose schedule at 0, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days. A total volume of 0.5ml was administered in two dosages of 125μl per nostril. Adverse events were actively recorded 1h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 7 days and 30 days after each dose. Anti-HBs and anti-HBc titers were evaluated using corresponding ELISA kits at days 30 and 90.ResultsThe vaccine candidate was safe and well tolerated. Adverse reactions included sneezing (34.1%), rhinorrhea (12.2%), nasal stuffiness (9.8%), palate itching (9.8%), headache (9.8%), and general malaise (7.3%). These reactions were all self-limiting and mild in intensity. No severe or unexpected events were recorded during the trial. The vaccine elicited anti-HBc seroconversion in 100% of subjects as early as day 30 of the immunization schedule, while a seroprotective anti-HBs titer (≥10IU/l) was at a maximum at day 90 (75%). All subjects in the placebo group remained seronegative during the trial.ConclusionThe HBsAg–HBcAg vaccine candidate was safe, well tolerated and immunogenic in this phase I study in healthy adults. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of safety and immunogenicity for a nasal vaccine candidate comprising HBV antigens