Economic Valuation of the Goods and Services Offered by the High Relict High-Andean Ecosystem Located in the Districts of Chiguata, Characato and Pocsi, Arequipa, Peru

[EN] The relict high-Andean forest covered by associations of Polylepis Rugulosa found in the arid Andean region of southwestern Peru is a provider of a series of environmental goods and services such as water supply, climate regulation, erosion control, among others, that contribute to the wellbeing of societies. This investigation allows us to know the allocation of a range of economic value of the ecosystem services developed in the study area, based on different perspectives of analysis through the application of the multicriteria model Analytic Network Process (ANP) and the economic estimation of CO2eq sequestration. The results obtained range from USD 32,641,387 to USD 102,098,052.This study was financially supported by the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa through contract NaTP-05-2019-UNSAAraca, J.; Estruch-Guitart, V.; Aznar Bellver, J.; Yufra, S. (2021). Economic Valuation of the Goods and Services Offered by the High Relict High-Andean Ecosystem Located in the Districts of Chiguata, Characato and Pocsi, Arequipa, Peru. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. 30(6):5443-5452. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/137371S5443545230

La desnutrición en los documentos de alta hospitalaria

Numerosas investigaciones afirman que más de un 30% de los pacientes hospitalizados padecen desnutrición. El diagnóstico de desnutrición como tal aparece reflejado en los documentos de alta hospitalaria entorno al 0.8% de las veces. El propósito de este proyecto es mejorar la calidad de los documentos de alta hospitalaria en relación con la desnutrición. Para ello, se ha elaborado un plan de mejora de acuerdo con las fases de un plan de mejora de la calidad: en un primer lugar se ha realizado un análisis de las causas de infra notificación utilizando el método Causa-Raíz; y en segundo lugar, con objeto de lograr los objetivos planteados, se han propuesto unas acciones de mejora fácilmente implementables y con un gran impacto para la consecución de los objetivos, entre las que destacan: sesiones formativas a los profesionales implicados, modificación de determinados documentos y el uso de colores según el grado del Índice de Alerta Nutricional

Antibiotics Shaping Bacterial Genome: Deletion of an IS91 Flanked Virulence Determinant upon Exposure to Subinhibitory Antibiotic Concentrations

The nucleoid-associated proteins Hha and YdgT repress the expression of the toxin α-hemolysin. An Escherichia coli mutant lacking these proteins overexpresses the toxin α-hemolysin encoded in the multicopy recombinant plasmid pANN202-312R. Unexpectedly, we could observe that this mutant generated clones that no further produced hemolysin (Hly-). Generation of Hly- clones was dependent upon the presence in the culture medium of the antibiotic kanamycin (km), a marker of the hha allele (hha::Tn5). Detailed analysis of different Hly- clones evidenced that recombination between partial IS91 sequences that flank the hly operon had occurred. A fluctuation test evidenced that the presence of km in the culture medium was underlying the generation of these clones. A decrease of the km concentration from 25 mg/l to 12.5 mg/l abolished the appearance of Hly- derivatives. We considered as a working hypothesis that, when producing high levels of the toxin (combination of the hha ydgT mutations with the presence of the multicopy hemolytic plasmid pANN202-312R), the concentration of km of 25 mg/l resulted subinhibitory and stimulated the recombination between adjacent IS91 flanking sequences. To further test this hypothesis, we analyzed the effect of subinhibitory km concentrations in the wild type E. coli strain MG1655 harboring the parental low copy number plasmid pHly152. At a km concentration of 5 mg/l, subinhibitory for strain MG1655 (pHly152), generation of Hly- clones could be readily detected. Similar results were also obtained when, instead of km, ampicillin was used. IS91 is flanking several virulence determinants in different enteric bacterial pathogenic strains from E. coli and Shigella. The results presented here evidence that stress generated by exposure to subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations may result in rearrangements of the bacterial genome. Whereas some of these rearrangements may be deleterious, others may generate genotypes with increased virulence, which may resume infection

The incC sequence is required for R27 plasmid stability

IncHI plasmids account for multiple antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and other enterobacterial genera. These plasmids are generally very stable in their bacterial hosts. R27 is the archetype of IncHI1 plasmids. A high percentage of the R27-encoded open reading frames (ORFs) (66.7%) do not show similarity to any known ORFs. We performed a deletion analysis of all non-essential R27 DNA sequences to search for hitherto non-identified plasmid functions that might be required for plasmid stability. We report the identification of a short DNA sequence (incC) that is essential for R27 stability. That region contains several repeats (incC repeats), belongs to one of the three-plasmid replicons (R27 FIA-like) and is targeted by the R27 E protein. Deletion of the incC sequence drastically reduces R27 stability both in Escherichia coli and in Salmonella, the effect being more pronounced in this latter species. Interfering with incC-E protein interaction must lead to a reduced IncHI1 plasmid stability, and may represent a new approach to combat antimicrobial resistance

Antibiotics shaping bacterial genome: deletion of an IS91 flanked virulence determinant upon exposure to suinhibitory antibiotic concentrations

The nucleoid-associated proteins Hha and YdgT repress the expression of the toxin α-hemolysin. An Escherichia coli mutant lacking these proteins overexpresses the toxin α-hemolysin encoded in the multicopy recombinant plasmid pANN202-312R. Unexpectedly, we could observe that this mutant generated clones that no further produced hemolysin (Hly-). Generation of Hly- clones was dependent upon the presence in the culture medium of the antibiotic kanamycin (km), a marker of the hha allele (hha::Tn5). Detailed analysis of different Hly- clones evidenced that recombination between partial IS91 sequences that flank the hly operon had occurred. A fluctuation test evidenced that the presence of km in the culture medium was underlying the generation of these clones. A decrease of the km concentration from 25 mg/l to 12.5 mg/l abolished the appearance of Hly- derivatives. We considered as a working hypothesis that, when producing high levels of the toxin (combination of the hha ydgT mutations with the presence of the multicopy hemolytic plasmid pANN202-312R), the concentration of km of 25 mg/l resulted subinhibitory and stimulated the recombination between adjacent IS91 flanking sequences. To further test this hypothesis, we analyzed the effect of subinhibitory km concentrations in the wild type E. coli strain MG1655 harboring the parental low copy number plasmid pHly152. At a km concentration of 5 mg/l, subinhibitory for strain MG1655 (pHly152), generation of Hly- clones could be readily detected. Similar results were also obtained when, instead of km, ampicillin was used. IS91 is flanking several virulence determinants in different enteric bacterial pathogenic strains from E. coli and Shigella. The results presented here evidence that stress generated by exposure to subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations may result in rearrangements of the bacterial genome. Whereas some of these rearrangements may be deleterious, others may generate genotypes with increased virulence, which may resume infection

Roles of Proteins Containing Immunoglobulin-Like Domains in the Conjugation of Bacterial Plasmids

Transmission of a plasmid from one bacterial cell to another, in several instances, underlies the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. The process requires well-characterized enzymatic machinery that facilitates cell-to-cell contact and the transfer of the plasmid

Exploring the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds in different cocoa powders

Cocoa, the main derivative of the seeds of Theobroma cacao L., has been recognized to have several effects on human health including antioxidant and neuro- and cardio-protective effects, among others. These effects have been attributed mainly to its bioactive compounds. In this context, the aim of this work is to evaluate the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds (i.e., phenolic compounds, procyanidins and methylxanthines) and the antioxidant activity of seven different cocoas (alkalized and non-alkalized) from different origins (Peru, Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic, and West Africa). It represents the first stage of a larger project aiming to find high polyphenol cocoa-based nutritional strategies and related biomarkers that may potentiate brain plasticity and cognitive function. Cocoa powders were extracted by ultrasound-assisted technology, and the total phenolic content (TPC) was measured by Folin–Ciocalteu. Methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine) and procyanidin contents were determined by HPLC-FLD-DAD, and the antioxidant activity was assessed through DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. Non-alkalized cocoas showed higher phenolic and procyanidin contents and higher antioxidant activity compared to the alkalized ones. A strongly significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and the TPC, especially with the total procyanidin content, but not with methylxanthines was found. In conclusion, the non-alkalized cocoas, especially the one from Peru, were the best candidates in terms of bioactive compounds. The cocoa from Peru had a TPC of 57.4 ± 14.4 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g d.w., 28,575.06 ± 62.37 µg of catechin equivalents/g d.w., and 39.15 ± 2.12 mg/g of methylxanthines. Further studies should be undertaken to evaluate its effect on brain plasticity and cognitive function.This study was funded by Grant PID2020-114374RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (to C.R.-P. and E.C-O.) and Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación—Proyect P21_00777. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

La presencia de la mujer en la organización colegial estatal de la educación física y del deporte en España

Este trabajo pretende indagar sobre la igualdad de género en el seno de los Colegios Profesionales de la Educación Física y del Deporte de España a lo largo de la historia. Partiendo de una revisión documental, se ha realizado un análisis cuantitativo del número de mujeres en las Juntas de Gobierno, la Comisión Permanente y el Pleno de la organización colegial estatal desde 1948, así como del número de mujeres actuales en las Juntas de Gobierno de los Colegios autonómicos. También se ha realizado un análisis cualitativo de entrevistas realizadas a todas las integrantes de las Juntas de Gobierno actuales, sobre sus funciones colegiales y su visión sobre la igualdad de género. Los resultados muestran que la participación de las mujeres en esta organización colegial se ha producido desde su creación. Las mujeres que en la primera etapa se adentraron dentro de este colectivo prácticamente masculino pueden considerarse pioneras y aperturistas. Se desconoce si la evolución relativa de la participación femenina en el Pleno del Consejo COLEF ha sido una consecuencia del aumento de mujeres colegiadas desde los años 80 hasta la actualidad. Las funciones que realizan en las corporaciones no están relacionadas con el ejercicio de poder. Los datos obtenidos evidencian la evolución de la corporación y la desigualdad interna a nivel autonómico. En la actualidad se puede afirmar que el Consejo COLEF cuenta con un Pleno donde la representatividad femenina es muy pareja al porcentaje de colegiación de mujeres, y que en el seno de la Comisión Permanente existe paridad, al igual que en algunas de las Juntas autonómicas