Active aging promotion: results from the Vital Aging Program

Active aging is one of the terms in the semantic network of aging well, together with others such as successful, productive, competent aging. All allude to the new paradigm in gerontology, where by aging is considered from a positive perspective. Most authors in the field agree active aging is a multidimensional concept, embracing health, physical and cognitive fitness, positive affect and control, social relationships and engagement. This paper describes Vital Aging, an individual active aging promotion program implemented through three modalities: Life, Multimedia, and e-Learning. The program was developed on the basis of extensive evidence about individual determinants of active aging. e different versions of Vital Aging are described, and four evaluation studies (both formative and summative) are reported. Formative evaluation reflected participants's satisfaction and expected changes; summative evaluations yielded some quite encouraging results using quasi-experimental designs: those who took part in the programs increased their physical exercise, signicantly improved their diet, reported better memory, had better emotional balance, and enjoyed more cultural, intellectual, affective, and social activities than they did before the course, thus increasing their social relationships. These results are discussed in the context of the common literature within the field and, also, taking into .account the limitations of the evaluations accomplished.Vital Aging Programs were sponsored by the Institute for Older Adults and Social Services (IMSERSO-UAM Agreements 1997-00), the Socrates Minerva Program of the European Commission (AGE-LL-C, 2001-03), and the UAM Santander Research Program for Latin America (PUM-e 2011)

Hydrology influences carbon flux through metabolic pathways in the hypolimnion of a Mediterranean reservoir

Global change is modifying meteorological and hydrological factors that influence the thermal regime of water bodies. These modifications can lead to longer stratification periods with enlarged hypolimnetic anoxic periods, which can promote heterotrophic anaerobic processes and alter reservoir carbon cycling. Here, we quantified aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophic processes (aerobic respiration, denitrification, iron and manganese reduction, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis) on dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) production in the hypolimnion of a Mediterranean reservoir (El Gergal, Spain) under two contrasting hydrological conditions: a wet year with heavy direct rainfall and frequent water inputs from upstream reservoirs, and a dry year with scarce rainfall and negligible water inputs. During the wet year, water inputs and rainfall induced low water column thermal stability and earlier turnover. By contrast, thermal stratification was longer and more stable during the dry year. During wet conditions, we observed lower DIC accumulation in the hypolimnion, mainly due to weaker sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. By contrast, longer stratification during the dry year promoted higher hypolimnetic DIC accumulation, resulting from enhanced methanogenesis and sulfate reduction, thus increasing methane emissions and impairing reservoir water quality. Aerobic respiration, denitrification and metal reduction produced a similar amount of DIC in the hypolimnion during the two studied years. All in all, biological and geochemical (calcite dissolution) processes explained most of hypolimnetic DIC accumulation during stratification regardless of the hydrological conditions, but there is still ~ 30% of hypolimnetic DIC production that cannot be explained by the processes contemplated in this study and the assumptions made.This research was funded by project Alter-C (PID2020-114024GB-C31, PID2020-114024GB-C32, PID2020-114024GB-C33) of Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spanish Research Agency, AEI). JJM-P was supported by a Spanish FPI grant (RE2018-083596). EMASESA staff provide essential technical support during field surveys. R.M. acknowledges funding from Generalitat de Catalunya through the Consolidated Research Group 2017SGR1124 and the CERCA programme. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA

Active Aging Promotion: Results from the Vital Aging

Active aging is one of the terms in the semantic network of aging well, together with others such as successful, productive, competent aging. All allude to the new paradigm in gerontology, whereby aging is considered from a positive perspective. Most authors in the field agree active aging is a multidimensional concept, embracing health, physical and cognitive fitness, positive affect and control, social relationships and engagement. This paper describes Vital Aging, an individual active aging promotion program implemented through three modalities: Life, Multimedia, and e-Learning. The program was developed on the basis of extensive evidence about individual determinants of active aging. The different versions of Vital Aging are described, and four evaluation studies (both formative and summative) are reported. Formative evaluation reflected participants’ satisfaction and expected changes; summative evaluations yielded some quite encouraging results using quasi-experimental designs: those who took part in the programs increased their physical exercise, significantly improved their diet, reported better memory, had better emotional balance, and enjoyed more cultural, intellectual, affective, and social activities than they did before the course, thus increasing their social relationships. These results are discussed in the context of the common literature within the field and, also, taking into account the limitations of the evaluations accomplished

Dark Carbon Uptake in Emerged Sediments: Seasonal and Daily CO2 Flux Patterns in a saline wetland.

Inland water bodies are currently shrinking due to alterations of the water cycle, exposing extensive areas of previously submerged sediments to the atmosphere. Consequently, the carbon cycle is altered, leading to an increased emission of CO2. To study this, we performed monthly surveys throughout one year to measure CO2 fluxes from dawn to dusk in the calcite- rich emerged sediments of the endorheic saline wetland of La Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, Málaga (Spain). Consistent with existing literature, CO2 emission fluxes predominated in these sediments. However, at dawn and dusk fluxes were considerably lower, and even CO2 uptake into the sediment occurred. Consequently, we conducted three campaigns over a full 24-hour cycle to measure CO2 fluxes in the emerged sediments and their most influential environmental drivers. This approach revealed a net CO2 emission from the sediment during daylight hours, while a net CO2 uptake by the sediment was measured during darkness. The magnitude of CO2 fluxes exhibited seasonality with both highest uptake and emission fluxes in summer, reaching a maximum emission and uptake value of 0.29 g(CO2)m-2h-1 and -0.14 g(CO2)m-2h-1 respectively. In contrast, winter showed the lowest fluxes, with a maximum emission value of 0.04 g(CO2)m-2h-1 and a maximum uptake value of –0.01 g(CO2)m-2h-1. Our results reveal that, in addition to seasonal variability of CO2 fluxes magnitude in Fuente de Piedra, a daily trend in CO2 fluxes exists. This trend shows that CO2 emissions from sediments increase towards midday but decrease towards midnight resulting in CO2 uptake by the sedimentUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Layered in Time: Exploring the Impact of Nearly 8 Months of Stratification on Carbon Dynamics in a Mediterranean Reservoir.

Ecosystem metabolism determines its role as a CO2 source or sink. In lakes and reservoirs, metabolism is conditioned by the phytoplankton community. This relationship was studied throughout a hydrological year in El Gergal, a Mediterranean mesotrophic and warm monomictic reservoir used for water supply to the city of Seville, Spain. Aerobic metabolic rates (respiration and primary production) were modeled using high-resolution data, including temperature, PAR, oxygen, salinity, and meteorological variables. The size structure of the phytoplankton community was examined using flow cytometry. Thermal stratification persisted for 7.7 months. During this period the aerobic ecosystem metabolism was autotrophic, with a net O2 production of 0.06 ± 0.03 mg l–1 day–1, and ultraphytoplankton (an intermediate size group between pico- and nanophytoplankton) dominated the community. Notably, the epilimnion was the only layer exhibiting net O2 production, while the metalimnion remained almost neutral and the hypolimnion was heterotrophic. During the mixing period, El Gergal was heterotrophic (net O2 consumption: 0.12 ± 0.03 mg l–1 day–1) with picophytoplankton (the smallest size group) dominating the community. On an annual scale, El Gergal reservoir was slightly heterotrophic, raising concerns about its role as a CO2 sin

Saltpan as carbon sink.

Part of the Marchamalo saltpans (Murcia, Spain) has been abandoned for 28 years. The project “RESALAR” aims to restore 8 ha of this saltpan to extract salt in a traditional way while preserving biodiversity and historical heritage. The principal primary producers in hypersaline wetlands are microorganisms such as cyanobacteria and chlorophytes. Once the microorganism’s biomass becomes part of the decomposing sediment organic matter, the high sediment salinity and moisture levels leads to an anoxic environment, allowing it to be buried in the sediments. In this context, our study, previous to the restoration, aims to assess the carbon stock accumulated during the period of disuse as well as measure the carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux from the saltpan to the atmosphere and the effect of various physicochemical variables on soil CO2 emissions. To determine the carbon stock in the first 0.5 m we extracted a core from every tank, analyzed the bulk density, organic carbon, inorganic carbon and salinity in 5 cm sections. CO2 fluxes were measured using a soil respiration chamber connected to an infrared gas analyzer, and samples were taken from the first 10 cm of soil to analyze physicochemical variables. Our preliminary results shows that mean carbon stock value was 1349.71±251.39 Mg ha-1 and mean CO2 flux was 0.55±0.84 g m-2 h-1. Temperature was the main CO2 flux driver, while sediment moisture was the main carbon burial driver. Our results will be used to suggest management strategies to make the salt extraction compatible with carbon burialUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Differential clinical characteristics and prognosis of intraventricular conduction defects in patients with chronic heart failure

Intraventricular conduction defects (IVCDs) can impair prognosis of heart failure (HF), but their specific impact is not well established. This study aimed to analyse the clinical profile and outcomes of HF patients with LBBB, right bundle branch block (RBBB), left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), and no IVCDs. Clinical variables and outcomes after a median follow-up of 21 months were analysed in 1762 patients with chronic HF and LBBB (n = 532), RBBB (n = 134), LAFB (n = 154), and no IVCDs (n = 942). LBBB was associated with more marked LV dilation, depressed LVEF, and mitral valve regurgitation. Patients with RBBB presented overt signs of congestive HF and depressed right ventricular motion. The LAFB group presented intermediate clinical characteristics, and patients with no IVCDs were more often women with less enlarged left ventricles and less depressed LVEF. Death occurred in 332 patients (interannual mortality = 10.8%): cardiovascular in 257, extravascular in 61, and of unknown origin in 14 patients. Cardiac death occurred in 230 (pump failure in 171 and sudden death in 59). An adjusted Cox model showed higher risk of cardiac death and pump failure death in the LBBB and RBBB than in the LAFB and the no IVCD groups. LBBB and RBBB are associated with different clinical profiles and both are independent predictors of increased risk of cardiac death in patients with HF. A more favourable prognosis was observed in patients with LAFB and in those free of IVCDs. Further research in HF patients with RBBB is warranted

La cooperación y la colaboración en los Programas de Mayores: experiencia nacional y regional

La convocatoria a este panel, nos invita a reflexionar acerca de las fortalezas que la cooperación internacional ha producido en los Programas Universitarios con Personas Mayores, así como, los retos que ello, nos va presentando. Como sabemos, a medida que en los diferentes países han ido implementándose dichos programas, también han ido creciendo los vínculos entre ellos. En la ponencia, se exponen un conjunto de redes, eventos, intercambios y proyectos, que al efecto ya se han realizado en la región, y de los cuales hemos formado parte. En ese sentido, se identifican en particular, los denominados proyectos de cooperación internacional. Por otra parte, se destaca la importancia de las colaboraciones de carácter nacional, para los programas de mayores. En ese contexto, se presenta la experiencia de Cuba precisamente como producto de la integración de numerosas instituciones, las cuales colaboran y garantizan la propia existencia de nuestro programa. Se describe brevemente el Programa de Mayores en nuestro país, denominado Cátedras Universitarias de Adultos Mayores. En ese mismo sentido, se destaca el impacto de tales colaboraciones, desde el voluntariado, a través de una investigación ramal, concluida el pasado curso escolar