About the Typification of <i>Myriophyllum aquaticum</i> (Haloragaceae)

In 1973, Verdcourt made the combination in Myriophyllum L.: M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt based on Enydria aquatica Vellozo in the Haloragaceae. However, significant morphological differences exist between the study of the Vellozo 1825 protologue and the Vellozo 1831 plate of E. aquatica. Therefore, we propose the designation of an epitype to better fix the taxonomic application of the name M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt.En 1973, Verdcourt realizó una nueva combinación en Myriophyllum L.: M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt basándose en Enydria aquatica Vellozo. A través del estudio de la descripción original (1825) y lámina (1831) de E. aquatica, encontramos que los caracteres diagnósticos son diferentes. Por lo tanto en el presente trabajo se propone designar un epitipo para M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt para la mejor aplicación del nombre.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Development and Evaluation of the Reliability of a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess the Intake in the Serbian Population

Assessing dietary habits with validated questionnaires is crucial for achieving reliable results in health research. The aim of this study was the development and validation of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in an 18–30-year-old Serbian population. A total of 93 participants completed the FFQ and three 24 h dietary recalls (24 hR). Pearson and intraclass correlations between FFQ and 24 hR intakes were assessed and were de-attenuated and energy-adjusted. Bland–Altman plots were generated, and quintiles of energy, water, fiber, and macronutrient intake were analyzed with contingency tables. Adjustments for sex differences were included. The validity of the FFQ varied, with significant correlations for energy, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin D. Misclassification rates were generally low. Bland–Altman plots indicated good agreement between methods. It can be concluded that the validated FFQ is a promising tool for dietary assessment in the Serbian population. Results for several nutrients align closely with previous studies. The new FFQ is a useful tool for dietary assessment in the Serbian population

About the Typification of <i>Myriophyllum aquaticum</i> (Haloragaceae)

In 1973, Verdcourt made the combination in Myriophyllum L.: M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt based on Enydria aquatica Vellozo in the Haloragaceae. However, significant morphological differences exist between the study of the Vellozo 1825 protologue and the Vellozo 1831 plate of E. aquatica. Therefore, we propose the designation of an epitype to better fix the taxonomic application of the name M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt.En 1973, Verdcourt realizó una nueva combinación en Myriophyllum L.: M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt basándose en Enydria aquatica Vellozo. A través del estudio de la descripción original (1825) y lámina (1831) de E. aquatica, encontramos que los caracteres diagnósticos son diferentes. Por lo tanto en el presente trabajo se propone designar un epitipo para M. aquaticum (Vellozo) Verdcourt para la mejor aplicación del nombre.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Real-time monitoring and control for efficient management of drinking water networks: Barcelona case study

Trabajo presentado a la 11th International Conference on Hydroinformatics celebrada en New York (US) del 17 al 21 de agosto de 2014.This research has been partially funded by the DGR of Generalitat de Catalunya (SAC group Ref. 2009/SGR/1491), Doctorat Industrial AGAUR-2013-DI-041 and by EFFINET: Efficient Integrated Real-time Monitoring and Control of Drinking Water Networks (FP7-ICT2011-8-318556).Peer Reviewe

The Mediterranean diet and lifestyle

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is characterized by a high intake of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil, moderate consumption of poultry and fish, and a limited intake of red meat and minimal processed foods. It has been associated with many health benefits, including the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain types of cancer, as well as increased longevity and reduced risk of mortality. The protective effects of the MedDiet are related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The MedDiet is not only a health-promoting dietary pattern, but it is also environmentally sustainable, showing a negative correlation with greenhouse gas emissions, among other environmental indicators. In addition to the MedDiet, the Mediterranean lifestyle, which involves regular physical activity, adequate rest, and socializing during meals, has also been linked to beneficial health outcomes. Preventive strategies for noncommunicable diseases should focus on promoting the Mediterranean lifestyle and implementing early detection and prevention programs, at both individual and social levels

Real-time monitoring and control for efficient management of drinking water networks: Barcelona case study

Drinking water utilities in urban areas are facing new challenges in their real-time operation: limited water resources, intensive energy requirements, a growing population, a costly and ageing infrastructure, increasingly stringent regulations, and increased attention towards the environmental impact of water use. The efficient use of resources is becoming a priority for water managers and the recent advances in ICT technologies can provide solutions to this end. Real-time management in water networks may be considered as a process comprising two different levels: (i) Monitoring, which is concerned with the observation and estimation of the current state of a system and the detection/diagnosis of abnormal situations. It is achieved through sensors and communications technology, together with mathematical models; and (ii) Control, related to computing and applying the best admissible control strategies for network actuators. Optimal control seeks to optimize a given set of operational goals related to the network performance, such as efficiency in resource use, environmental impact, etc. Real-time monitoring and control techniques can significantly improve the use of water and energy resources in water networks. This paper addresses the developments of the European project EFFINET, which proposes a novel integrated water resource management system based on advanced ICT technologies of automation and telecommunications for improving the efficiency of drinking water networks in terms of water use, energy consumption, water loss minimization, and water quality guarantees by addressing the real-time monitoring and control levels.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Realizar un póster durante los seminarios y prácticas de investigación para presentarlo en un congreso como estrategia de aprendizaje

[EN] Motivation is a pedagogical necessity in the university classroom since to learn it is essential to be able to do it, it is essential to want to learn, that is, to have the disposition, intention and sufficient motivation. In order to motivate students, they must try to reach their field of satisfaction proposed by the teacher. The objective of this innovation proposal is to increase the motivation of biology degree students to acquire knowledge in a more applied and practical way, and to be in contact with future reality. The vehicle that will be used to achieve the objective is the realization of a poster derived from the activities carried out in the seminars and research practices to present it in a congress. To carry out the evaluation of the students' perceptions of the new learning strategy, a questionnaire was designed. The elaborated questionnaire was divided into three dimensions: motivation, learning and evaluation, plus a final question of general evaluation and measured under a Likert scale. The results of this questionnaire indicated a great acceptance of the new learning strategy. In conclusion, this proposal has served as motivation for the students since it has allowed them to feel like scientists, in addition to beginning to understand and discover how complex it is to carry out the entire development of a research process.[ES] La motivación es una necesidad pedagógica en el aula universitaria ya que para aprender es imprescindible poder hacerlo, es imprescindible querer aprender, es decir, tener la disposición, intención y motivación suficiente. Para motivar a los alumnos se debe intentar que alcancen su campo de satisfacción propuesta por el docente. El objetivo de esta propuesta de innovación es implementar una nueva metodología como estrategia de aprendizaje para aumentar motivación de los alumnos del grado de biología a adquirir los conocimientos de una forma más aplicada y práctica, y en contacto con la realidad futura. Para llevar a cabo la evaluación de las percepciones del alumnado ante la nueva estrategia de aprendizaje se diseñó un cuestionario. El cuestionario elaborado se dividió en tres dimensiones: motivación, aprendizaje y evaluación, más una pregunta final de valoración general y medido bajo una escala Likert. Los resultados de este cuestionario indicaron una gran acogida de la nueva estrategia de aprendizaje. En conclusión, esta propuesta ha servido de motivación a los alumnos ya que les ha permitido sentirse como científicos, además de empezar a ver lo complejo que es llevar a cabo todo el desarrollo de un proceso de investigación.Monserrat Mesquida, M.; Bouzas, C.; Tejada Gavela, S.; Capó, X.; Quetglas-Llabrés, MM.; Tur Marí, JA.; Sureda Gomila, A. (2023). Realizar un póster durante los seminarios y prácticas de investigación para presentarlo en un congreso como estrategia de aprendizaje. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 617-625. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2023.2023.1655661762

Comparison of Plasma Lipoprotein Composition and Function in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Alzheimer’s Disease

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) refers to beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in brain vessels and is clinically the main cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Aβ can also accumulate in brain parenchyma forming neuritic plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our study aimed to determine whether the peripheral lipid profile and lipoprotein composition are associated with cerebral beta-amyloidosis pathology and may reflect biological differences in AD and CAA. For this purpose, lipid and apolipoproteins levels were analyzed in plasma from 51 ICH-CAA patients (collected during the chronic phase of the disease), 60 AD patients, and 60 control subjects. Lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL, and HDL) were isolated and their composition and pro/antioxidant ability were determined. We observed that alterations in the lipid profile and lipoprotein composition were remarkable in the ICH-CAA group compared to control subjects, whereas the AD group presented no specific alterations compared with controls. ICH-CAA patients presented an atheroprotective profile, which consisted of lower total and LDL cholesterol levels. Plasma from chronic ICH-CAA patients also showed a redistribution of ApoC-III from HDL to VLDL and a higher ApoE/ApoC-III ratio in HDL. Whether these alterations reflect a protective response or have a causative effect on the pathology requires further investigation

Circulating AQP4 Levels in Patients with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a major cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in elderly patients. Growing evidence suggests a potential role of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in amyloid-beta-associated diseases, including CAA pathology. Our aim was to investigate the circulating levels of AQP4 in a cohort of patients who had suffered a lobar ICH with a clinical diagnosis of CAA. AQP4 levels were analyzed in the serum of 60 CAA-related ICH patients and 19 non-stroke subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CAA-ICH cohort was divided according to the time point of the functional outcome evaluation: mid-term (12 +/- 18.6 months) and long-term (38.5 +/- 32.9 months) after the last ICH. Although no differences were found in AQP4 serum levels between cases and controls, lower levels were found in CAA patients presenting specific hemorrhagic features such as >= 2 lobar ICHs and >= 5 lobar microbleeds detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, CAA-related ICH patients who presented a long-term good functional outcome had higher circulating AQP4 levels than subjects with a poor outcome or controls. Our data suggest that AQP4 could potentially predict a long-term functional outcome and may play a protective role after a lobar ICH

Association of candidate genetic variants and circulating levels of ApoE/ApoJ with common neuroimaging features of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

IntroductionCerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (A beta) in brain vessels and is a main cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the elderly. CAA is associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of small vessel disease (SVD). Since A beta is also accumulated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the brain parenchyma, we aimed to study if several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with AD were also associated with CAA pathology. Furthermore, we also studied the influence of APOE and CLU genetic variants in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and clusterin/apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) circulating levels and their distribution among lipoproteins. MethodsThe study was carried out in a multicentric cohort of 126 patients with lobar ICH and clinical suspicion of CAA. ResultsWe observed several SNPs associated with CAA neuroimaging MRI markers [cortical superficial siderosis (cSS), enlarged perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale (CSO-EPVS), lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMB), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), corticosubcortical atrophy and CAA-SVD burden score]. Concretely, ABCA7 (rs3764650), CLU (rs9331896 and rs933188), EPHA1 (rs11767557), and TREML2 (rs3747742) were significantly associated with a CAA-SVD burden score. Regarding circulating levels of apolipoproteins, protective AD SNPs of CLU [rs11136000 (T) and rs9331896 (C)] were significantly associated with higher HDL ApoJ content in the lobar ICH cohort. APOE epsilon 2 carriers presented higher plasma and LDL-associated ApoE levels whereas APOE epsilon 4 carriers presented lower plasma ApoE levels. Additionally, we observed that lower circulating ApoJ and ApoE levels were significantly associated with CAA-related MRI markers. More specifically, lower LDL-associated ApoJ and plasma and HDL-associated ApoE levels were significantly associated with CSO-EPVS, lower ApoJ content in HDL with brain atrophy and lower ApoE content in LDL with the extent of cSS. DiscussionThis study reinforces the relevance of lipid metabolism in CAA and cerebrovascular functionality. We propose that ApoJ and ApoE distribution among lipoproteins may be associated with pathological features related to CAA with higher ApoE and ApoJ levels in HDL possibly enhancing atheroprotective, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory responses in cerebral beta-amyloidosis