Microorganisms and climate change: a not so invisible effect

[EN] The effect of climate change on flora and fauna has been widely discussed for years. However, its consequences on microorganisms are generally poorly considered. The main effect of climate change on microbiota is related to biodiversity changes in different regions of the planet, mainly due to variations in temperature. These alterations are resulting in a worldwide (re)distribution of pathogens, which was not considered a few years ago. They mainly affect different food chain sectors (such as agriculture, livestock and fishing), as well as human health. Hence, the spread of numerous animal and plant pathogens has been observed in recent years from south to north (especially in America, Europe and Asia), leading to the spread of numerous plant and animal diseases, which results in economic and ecological losses. In addition, global warming that accompanies climate change could also be related to emerging antibiotic resistance. However, the mitigation of climate change goes hand in hand with microorganisms, which can help us through different natural and industrial processes. Thus, this manuscript presents the direct and indirect effects of climate change on microorganisms described up to date and how they act on this worldwide phenomenonSISpecial thanks to (i) the ESTELLA project (“DESign of bio-based Thermoset polymer with recycling capability by dynamic bonds for bio-composite manufacturing”) (Project no.: 101058371) funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (call: HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-11) and (ii) the BioPAC project (Development of bioactive and lifespan-controlled bioplastics) (Ref. no. TED2021-131864B-C21) funded by the MCIN (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación)/AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación)/10.13039/501100011033 (Digital Object Identifier) and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR (Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan)Ana Ibañez (A.I.) is funded by a “Margarita Salas” modality postdoctoral grant (Reference no.: UP2021-025) through the University of León awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Modernization and digitalization of the Educational System), with funding from the European Recovery Instrument European Union-NextGenerationE

From Lab to Field: Biofertilizers in the 21st Century

This article belongs to the special issue Horticultural Plant Nutrition, Fertilization, Soil Management[EN] Nowadays, legal regulations and social environmental concerns are converging towards the promotion of more sustainable agriculture based on organic compounds and soil preservation. These trends are fuelling the growth of the biofertilizers, which are beneficial preparations containing microorganisms able to enhance a plant’s ability to uptake essential nutrients. Their production and commercialization encompass a multitude of critical steps deeply reviewed in this manuscript through an exhaustive overview of the key stages, such as microorganism selection, new environmental sources, upscaling to field trials, encapsulation, current application systems and regulatory considerations. However, although the economical expectations are promising, several methodological, environmental, and legal concerns are undermining their advancement. The redefinition of international legal frameworks, their enhancement based on trending technologies, and the fostering of multidisciplinary collaboration across sectors are key players to promote biofertilizers as eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to chemical fertilizersSIAna Ibáñez (A.I.) is funded by a “Margarita Salas” modality postdoctoral grant (Reference no.: UP2021-025) through the University of León awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Modernization and digitalization of the Educational System), with funding from the European Recovery Instrument European Union-NextGenerationEU

From Genes to Bioleaching: Unraveling Sulfur Metabolism in Acidithiobacillus Genus

[EN] Sulfur oxidation stands as a pivotal process within the Earth’s sulfur cycle, in which Acidithiobacillus species emerge as skillful sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. They are able to efficiently oxidize several reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) under extreme conditions for their autotrophic growth. This unique characteristic has made these bacteria a useful tool in bioleaching and biological desulfurization applications. Extensive research has unraveled diverse sulfur metabolism pathways and their corresponding regulatory systems. The metabolic arsenal of the Acidithiobacillus genus includes oxidative enzymes such as: (i) elemental sulfur oxidation enzymes, like sulfur dioxygenase (SDO), sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), and heterodisulfide reductase (HDR-like system); (ii) enzymes involved in thiosulfate oxidation pathways, including the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system, tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), and thiosulfate quinone oxidoreductase (TQO); (iii) sulfide oxidation enzymes, like sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR); and (iv) sulfite oxidation pathways, such as sulfite oxidase (SOX). This review summarizes the current state of the art of sulfur metabolic processes in Acidithiobacillus species, which are key players of industrial biomining processes. Furthermore, this manuscript highlights the existing challenges and barriers to further exploring the sulfur metabolism of this peculiar extremophilic genusSI: Special thanks to (i) the ESTELLA project (“DESign of bio-based Thermosetpolymer with recycling capability by dynamic bonds for bio-composite manufacturing”) (Project no.: 101058371) funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (call: HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-11) and (ii) the BioPAC project (Development of bioactive and lifespan-controlled bioplastics) (Ref. no. TED2021-131864B-C21) funded by the MCIN (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación)/AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación)/10.13039/501100011033 (Digital Object Identifier) and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR (Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan).Ana Ibañez (A.I.) is funded by a “Margarita Salas” modality postdoctoral grant (Reference no.: UP2021-025) through the University of León awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Modernization and digitalization of the Educational System), with funding from the European Recovery Instrument European UnionNextGenerationEU

UNIDADES PRODUCTIVAS INTEGRADAS ASOCIADAS CON LOS SABERES ANCESTRALES INDÍGENAS CABECAR: DESDE LA PERSPECTIVA DE EXTENSIÓN UNIVERSITARIA

El trabajo de la extensión universitaria en las comunidades indígenas costarricenses ha resaltado la problemática existente en estos territorios, donde su cultura es irrespetada, desconocida y sometida a un rezago en el desarrollo con altos niveles de pobreza, poco acceso a servicios básicos, tenencia de la tierra y la reproducción de su propia cultura (CRI-Huetar Atlántica 2012). No obstante, a pesar de las dificultades, estos pueblos han basado su desarrollo en la agricultura agroecológica y familiar; así como en el emprendedurismo productivo (Chalampuente 2012). El proyecto se desarrolla en el territorio indígena Tayni está ubicado en distrito de Valle de la Estrella en la provincia de Limón, el cual alberga el 5,9% de la población costarricense en territorios indígenas y es uno de los tres con mayor pobreza en Costa Rica (INEC 2013).  Las comunidades de Boca Cohen, Jabuy, Vesta y Gavilán cuentan con servicios de electricidad y educación primaria; existiendo educación secundaria únicamente en Boca Cohen y Vesta.  Por lo que se decide implementar el proyecto a través de los centros educativos, que permiten un mayor alcance e impacto hacia la comunidad y facilita la labor de capacitación e intercambio de culturas entre los estudiantes: indígenas y universitarios, los actores locales y los académicos del proyecto

Quality of nutritional care during pregnancy: folic acid and vitamin D supplementation

Backgrounds: Folic acid (FA) and vitamin D supplementation is recommended during pregnancy. Quality nutritional care during pregnancy should include the supplementation of these vitamins. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the quality of nutritional care regarding supplementation during pregnancy in primary health care units in six states of Mexico (Estado de México, Oaxaca, Yucatán, Chihuahua, Veracruz and Chiapas). Methods: A mixed study was conducted. An indicator (formed by two sub-indicators) to assess the quality of nutritional care focused on FA and vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy was developed and validated. To assess the quality of care, a sample of 97 health units (HUs) was estimated considering the total number of HUs in the selected states. To ensure the representativeness of the following strata: rurality, care for the indigenous population, and size of the HU; at least one unit was assigned to each stratum by simple random sampling. A trained team performed a random sample of 30 pregnancy clinical records in each HU; the records and the nutritional control cards were reviewed to assess whether the recommendations of the indicator were met. The percentage of compliance with the indicator was estimated. It was considered that an evaluated record complied with the indicator if it complied with its two sub-indicators. A traffic light system was used to present the results: good quality was considered as green (compliance ≥90%); poor quality as yellow (compliance 71% - 89%) and bad quality as red (compliance ≤70%). In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with health professionals and an observation guide was applied in health units. Results: A total of 95 HU were assessed. Of the 794 cases evaluated, only one met the two sub-indicators. A bad quality of nutritional care focused on supplementation during pregnancy was observed in the six states and in all HUs. It was identified that most HUs did not have a nutritionist and doctors and nurses recognized that they did not have the knowledge to give nutritional recommendations. Conclusions: It is necessary to implement actions aimed at improving the capacities of health professionals regarding the quality of nutritional care

LOW-COAST: hacia un sistema de monitorización de topo-batimetrías de bajo coste

Se agradece la financiación parcial de los proyectos “SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PREDICCIÓN PROBABILÍSTICA DE INUNDACIÓN Y EROSIÓN EN PLAYAS” de SODERCAN y “EQUIPAMIENTO PARA MONITORIZACIÓN CON DRONES DE TOPO-BATIMETRÍAS EN PLAYAS Y ESTUARIOS” del Gobierno de Cantabria

Ventanas a la diversidad: guía de actuación y buenas prácticas en materia de diversidad de la UDC

[Resumen] En este libro se ofrece una compilación de los recursos ofrecidos por la Unidad de Atención a la Diversidad de la Universidade da Coruña a toda la comunidad universitaria, con el respaldo de la Vicerrectoría del Campus de Ferrol y Responsabilidad Social. Incluye una revisión de las diferentes estrategias y tendencias para fomentar la participación de las personas con diversidad en la vida universitaria

Plan piloto desarrollo de un programa de mentoría en el programa de doctorado “Formación en la Sociedad del Conocimiento” y creación de un espacio de trabajo colaborativo online

Memoria ID-027 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Proyecto Puentes: conectando la universidad con la salud mental comunitaria

Se presenta la memoria del Proyecto Puentes, cuya finalidad es explorar e implementar vías de participación entre la comunidad universitaria y las personas con problemas de salud mental. Es decir, tender puentes entre lo académico y la realidad de esas personas, con el propósito de conseguir una fuente de aprendizaje significativo para el estudiantado de la UCM, pero también herramientas útiles en los procesos de recuperación e integración de las personas con problemáticas de salud mental.Depto. de Personalidad, Evaluación y Psicología ClínicaFac. de PsicologíaFALSEsubmitte

Eligibility criteria for Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): a position statement from a consortium of scientific societies for the use of MHT in women with medical conditions. MHT Eligibility Criteria Group

This project aims to develop eligibility criteria for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The tool should be similar to those already established for contraception A consortium of scientific societies coordinated by the Spanish Menopause Society met to formulate recommendations for the use of MHT by women with medical conditions based on the best available evidence. The project was developed in two phases. As a first step, we conducted 14 systematic reviews and 32 metanalyses on the safety of MHT (in nine areas: age, time of menopause onset, treatment duration, women with thrombotic risk, women with a personal history of cardiovascular disease, women with metabolic syndrome, women with gastrointestinal diseases, survivors of breast cancer or of other cancers, and women who smoke) and on the most relevant pharmacological interactions with MHT. These systematic reviews and metanalyses helped inform a structured process in which a panel of experts defined the eligibility criteria according to a specific framework, which facilitated the discussion and development process. To unify the proposal, the following eligibility criteria have been defined in accordance with the WHO international nomenclature for the different alternatives for MHT (category 1, no restriction on the use of MHT; category 2, the benefits outweigh the risks; category 3, the risks generally outweigh the benefits; category 4, MHT should not be used). Quality was classified as high, moderate, low or very low, based on several factors (including risk of bias, inaccuracy, inconsistency, lack of directionality and publication bias). When no direct evidence was identified, but plausibility, clinical experience or indirect evidence were available, "Expert opinion" was categorized. For the first time, a set of eligibility criteria, based on clinical evidence and developed according to the most rigorous methodological tools, has been defined. This will provide health professionals with a powerful decision-making tool that can be used to manage menopausal symptoms