El análisis de sistemas agrarios: una aportación económico-ecológica a una realidad compleja

El análisis de los sistemas agrarios mediante una única metodologia ha conducido a erróneas interpretaciones de su estructura y función. el presente trabajo, mediante los Balances Energéticos y la Huella Ecológica evaluamos la dinámica la agricultura española desde los años cincuenta hasta la actualidad. La conclusión es que nos hemos cada vez más de nuestra base territorial generando un déficit ecológico: la reproducción de la agricultura se ha fundamentado bien en superficie productiva alejadas de nuestras fronteras bien en el deterioro del capital natural.Using a single methodology to analyse agricultural systems has led to false interpretations of their structure and function. Energy Balances and Ecological Footprint are used in this article to assess the dynamism of Spanish agriculture from the 1950s to the present. The conclusion is that the Spanish agriculture is steadily moving away from its territorial base and generating an ecological deficit: the reproduction of Spanish agriculture has been based either on productive land abroad or on the deterioration of natural capital

Sostenibilidad energética y viabilidad monetaria de los cultivos herbáceos extensivos ecológico en Andalucía

Una de las características más importantes de la agricultura es su capacidad para transformar la energía y generar “excedentes” energéticos con diversos usos (alimentación humana, animal, fertilización, etc.). Estos excedentes energéticos son potencialmente mayores en la agricultura ecológica como resultado del menor uso de insumos vinculados a la energía fósil. Los cereales y las leguminosas son cultivos que se caracterizan por altos outputs y balances de energía, ambos indicadores fundamentales de la sostenibilidad agraria. En este trabajo se analiza, tanto en términos monetarios como energéticos, el comportamiento de los cultivos extensivos ecológicos en Andalucía para el año 2005. Así mismo, se realiza un análisis comparativo entre los resultados energéticos obtenidos en el presente estudio y los aportados en otros estudios nacionales e internacionales. El balance monetario y energético de los cultivos extensivos se estimó en 2,47 y 3,65 respectivamente. Este último se incrementa hasta 6,49 si solamente se tiene en cuenta el uso de energía no renovable. En términos comparativos con cultivos convencionales, los resultados muestran un elevado grado de eficiencia energética

Energy sustainability and economic viability of organic extensive herbaceous crops in Andalusia

Una de las características más importantes de la agricultura es su capacidad para transformar la energía y generar “excedentes” energéticos con diversos usos (alimentación humana, animal, fertilización, etc.). Estos excedentes energéticos son potencialmente mayores en la agricultura ecológica como resultado del menor uso de insumos vinculados a la energía fósil. Los cereales y las leguminosas son cultivos que se caracterizan por altos outputs y balances de energía, ambos indicadores fundamentales de la sostenibilidad agraria. En este trabajo se analiza, tanto en términos monetarios como energéticos, el comportamiento de los cultivos extensivos ecológicos en Andalucía para el año 2005. Así mismo, se realiza un análisis comparativo entre los resultados energéticos obtenidos en el presente estudio y los aportados en otros estudios nacionales e internacionales. El balance monetario y energético de los cultivos extensivos se estimó en 2,47 y 3,65 respectivamente. Este último se incrementa hasta 6,49 si solamente se tiene en cuenta el uso de energía no renovable. En términos comparativos con cultivos convencionales, los resultados muestran un elevado grado de eficiencia energética.One of the most important characteristics of agriculture is its capacity to transform energy and generate energy “surpluses” with various uses (human food, animal feed, fertilization, etc.). These energy surpluses are potentially larger in ecological agriculture as result of low fossil fuel inputs related. Cereals and legumes are crops with high energy balance and output, both key agrarian sustainability indicators. This work analyses the behaviour of ecological extensive crops in Andalusia (2005), in both monetary and energy terms. In addition, a comparative analysis is made of the energy results obtained in the present study and those contributed by other national and international studies. The monetary and energy balance of extensive crops is estimated at 2.47 and 3.65, respectively. When only the use of non-renewable energy is taken into consideration, the energy balance increases and reaches 6.49. In comparative terms, the results show a high degree of energy efficiency

Economía Ecológica y Ecología Política en el Ámbito de la Educación Ambiental

La crisis social y ambiental es uno de los mayores problemas al que se enfrentan las sociedades a día de hoy. Uno de los retos más importantes de la educación es dotar al profesorado y al alumnado de las herramientas conceptuales adecuadas para comprender y analizar la situación actual desde una perspectiva compleja. La economía ecológica y la ecología política forman parte de ese nuevo paradigma en construcción: el de la complejidad. A su vez, los indicadores biofísicos utilizados en economía ecológica pueden constituir buenas herramientas pedagógicas, analíticas y discursivas dentro de la educación ambiental, sobre todo dentro del marco analítico que nos ofrece la ecología política

Nintedanib decreases muscle fibrosis and improves muscle function in a murine model of dystrophinopathy

Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness. Dystrophin deficiency induces instability of the sarcolemma during muscle contraction that leads to muscle necrosis and replacement of muscle by fibro-adipose tissue. Several therapies have been developed to counteract the fibrotic process. We report the effects of nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in the mdx murine model of DMD. Nintedanib reduced proliferation and migration of human fibroblasts in vitro and decreased the expression of fibrotic genes such as COL1A1, COL3A1, FN1, TGFB1, and PDGFA. We treated seven mdx mice with 60 mg/kg/day nintedanib for 1 month. Electrophysiological studies showed an increase in the amplitude of the motor action potentials and an improvement of the morphology of motor unit potentials in the animals treated. Histological studies demonstrated a significant reduction of the fibrotic areas present in the skeletal muscles. Analysis of mRNA expression from muscles of treated mice showed a reduction in Col1a1, Col3a1, Tgfb1, and Pdgfa. Western blot showed a reduction in the expression of collagen I in skeletal muscles. In conclusion, nintedanib reduced the fibrotic process in a murine model of dystrophinopathy after 1 month of treatment, suggesting its potential use as a therapeutic drug in DMD patients.España, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2016-74975-PEspaña, Instituto Ramón y Cajal PI13/0134

Socio-Economic Impacts of the Current Demographic Process in Galicia

Texto dispoñible en galego e españolO descenso da taxa de natalidade e o aumento na esperanza de vida son os factores clave que explican o actual proceso demográfico en Galicia, cuxa consecuencia máis inmediata é o avellentamento da súa poboación. A baixa taxa de natalidade supón un límite ao tamaño das novas cohortes afectando, así mesmo, ao tamaño da poboación total. Esta tendencia demográfica constitúe un desafío para o sostemento do actual estado do benestar, onde o tamaño relativo das cohortes é crucial. Neste traballo analízase o actual proceso demográfico en Galicia e as principais consecuencias para o mercado de traballo, as prestacións de protección social, o gasto sanitario e de atención á dependencia e o gasto en educaciónEl descenso de la tasa de natalidad y el aumento en la esperanza de vida son los factores clave que explican el actual proceso demográfico en Galicia, cuya consecuencia más inmediata es el envejecimiento de su población. La baja tasa de natalidad supone un límite al tamaño de las nuevas cohortes afectando, asimismo, al tamaño de la población total. Esta tendencia demográfica constituye un desafío para el sostenimiento del actual estado del bienestar, donde el tamaño relativo de las cohortes es crucial. En este trabajo se analiza el actual proceso demográfico en Galicia y las principales consecuencias para el mercado de trabajo, las prestaciones de protección social, el gasto sanitario y de atención a la dependencia y el gasto en educaciónThe decline in birth rate and increasing life expectancy are the key factors that explain the demographic process in Galicia and its most immediate consequence is the aging of its population. The low birthrate limits the size of new cohorts and also affects the size of the total population. This demographic trend poses a challenge in maintaining the current welfare state, where the relative size of cohorts is crucial. In this work we describe the current demographic process in Galicia and analyze its main consequences in the labor market, pensions, health and disability spending as well as spending on educationS

Proteasome inhibitors reduce thrombospondin-1 release in human dysferlin-deficient myotubes

Altres ajuts: This project has been funded by projects from the Fundación Isabel Gemio to II, EG and JDM and by Fundación Ramón Areces (CIVP18A3903) to NdL.Dysferlinopathies are a group of muscle disorders causing muscle weakness and absence or low levels of dysferlin, a type-II transmembrane protein and the causative gene of these dystrophies. Dysferlin is implicated in vesicle fusion, trafficking, and membrane repair. Muscle biopsy of patients with dysferlinopathy is characterized by the presence of inflammatory infiltrates. Studies in the muscle of both human and mouse models of dysferlinopathy suggest dysferlin deficient muscle plays a role in this inflammation by releasing thrombospondin-1. It has also been reported that vitamin D3 treatment enhances dysferlin expression. The ubiquitin-proteasome system recognizes and removes proteins that fail to fold or assemble properly and previous studies suggest that its inhibition could have a therapeutic effect in muscle dystrophies. Here we assessed whether inhibition of the ubiquitin proteasome system prevented degradation of dysferlin in immortalized myoblasts from a patients with two missense mutations in exon 44. To assess proteasome inhibition we treated dysferlin deficient myotubes with EB1089, a vitamin D3 analog, oprozomib and ixazomib. Western blot was performed to analyze the effect of these treatments on the recovery of dysferlin and myogenin expression. TSP-1 was quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to analyze the effect of these drugs on its release. A membrane repair assay was designed to assess the ability of treated myotubes to recover after membrane injury and fusion index was also measured with the different treatments. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey post hoc test and analysis of variance. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Treatment with proteasome inhibitors and EB1089 resulted in a trend towards an increase in dysferlin and myogenin expression. Furthermore, EB1089 and proteasome inhibitors reduced the release of TSP-1 in myotubes. However, no effect was observed on the repair of muscle membrane after injury. Our findings indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome system might not be the main mechanism of mutant dysferlin degradation. However, its inhibition could help to improve muscle inflammation by reducing TSP-1 release. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-020-03756-7

Nintedanib Reduces Muscle Fibrosis and Improves Muscle Function of the Alpha-Sarcoglycan-Deficient Mice

Sarcoglycanopathies are a group of recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Sarcoglycan deficiency produces instability of the sarcolemma during muscle contraction, leading to continuous muscle fiber injury eventually producing fiber loss and replacement by fibro-adipose tissue. Therapeutic strategies aiming to reduce fibro-adipose expansion could be effective in muscular dystrophies. We report the positive effect of nintedanib in a murine model of alpha-sarcoglycanopathy. We treated 14 Sgca mice, six weeks old, with nintedanib 50 mg/kg every 12 h for 10 weeks and compared muscle function and histology with 14 Sgca mice treated with vehicle and six wild-type littermate mice. Muscle function was assessed using a treadmill and grip strength. A cardiac evaluation was performed by echocardiography and histological study. Structural analysis of the muscles, including a detailed study of the fibrotic and inflammatory processes, was performed using conventional staining and immunofluorescence. In addition, proteomics and transcriptomics studies were carried out. Nintedanib was well tolerated by the animals treated, although we observed weight loss. Sgca mice treated with nintedanib covered a longer distance on the treadmill, compared with non-treated Sgca mice, and showed higher strength in the grip test. Moreover, nintedanib improved the muscle architecture of treated mice, reducing the degenerative area and the fibrotic reaction that was associated with a reversion of the cytokine expression profile. Nintedanib improved muscle function and muscle architecture by reducing muscle fibrosis and degeneration and reverting the chronic inflammatory environment suggesting that it could be a useful therapy for patients with alpha-sarcoglycanopathy

Development of Photonic Multi-Sensing Systems Based on Molecular Gates Biorecognition and Plasmonic Sensors: The PHOTONGATE Project

[EN] This paper presents the concept of a novel adaptable sensing solution currently being developed under the EU Commission-founded PHOTONGATE project. This concept will allow for the quantification of multiple analytes of the same or different nature (chemicals, metals, bacteria, etc.) in a single test with levels of sensitivity and selectivity at/or over those offered by current solutions. PHOTONGATE relies on two core technologies: a biochemical technology (molecular gates), which will confer the specificity and, therefore, the capability to be adaptable to the analyte of interest, and which, combined with porous substrates, will increase the sensitivity, and a photonic technology based on localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) structures that serve as transducers for light interaction. Both technologies are in the micron range, facilitating the integration of multiple sensors within a small area (mm2). The concept will be developed for its application in health diagnosis and food safety sectors. It is thought of as an easy-to-use modular concept, which will consist of the sensing module, mainly of a microfluidics cartridge that will house the photonic sensor, and a platform for fluidic handling, optical interrogation, and signal processing. The platform will include a new optical concept, which is fully European Union Made, avoiding optical fibers and expensive optical components.The micro-nanofabrication capabilities required in the PHOTONGATE project- 101093042 are funded by the Pluri-Regional FEDER funding Plan 2014-2020 European Commission. This research project has received funding from the European Union¿s HORIZON-CL4-2022 research and innovation programme under grant agreement ID 101093042, PHOTONGATE projectNieves-Paniagua, Ó.; Ortiz De Zárate-Díaz, D.; Aznar, E.; Caballos-Gómez, MI.; Garrido-García, EM.; Martínez-Máñez, R.; Dortu, F.... (2023). Development of Photonic Multi-Sensing Systems Based on Molecular Gates Biorecognition and Plasmonic Sensors: The PHOTONGATE Project. Sensors. 23(20):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23208548113232

Identification of serum microRNAs as potential biomarkers in Pompe disease

Altres ajuts: This study was supported by a grant from Sanofi-Genzyme (GZ-2015-11342) to Dr. Gallardo and has been registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT03045042).This study was supported by a grant from Sanofi-Genzyme (GZ-2015-11342) to Dr. Gallardo and has been registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT03045042).To analyze the microRNA profile in serum of patients with Adult Onset Pompe disease (AOPD). We analyzed the expression of 185 microRNAs in serum of 15 AOPD patients and five controls using microRNA PCR Panels. The expression levels of microRNAs that were deregulated were further studied in 35 AOPD patients and 10 controls using Real-Time PCR. Additionally, the skeletal muscle expression of microRNAs which showed significant increase levels in serum samples was also studied. Correlations between microRNA serum levels and muscle function test, spirometry, and quantitative muscle MRI were performed (these data correspond to the study NCT01914536 at ClinicalTrials.gov). We identified 14 microRNAs that showed different expression levels in serum samples of AOPD patients compared to controls. We validated these results in a larger cohort of patients and we found increased levels of three microRNAs, the so called dystromirs: miR-1-3p, miR-133a-3p, and miR-206. These microRNAs are involved in muscle regeneration and the expression of these was increased in patients' muscle biopsies. Significant correlations between microRNA levels and muscle function test were found. Serum expression levels of dystromirs may represent additional biomarkers for the follow-up of AOPD patients