Interdisciplinariedad en la innovación social frente a la despoblación rural

[EN] This article explores interdisciplinarity in social innovation facing rural depopulation. For this purpose, we analyse the diversity of disciplines involved in the social innovation initiatives registered in the database of the SIMRA research project that are addressing demographic challenges. The results of this analysis show a significant level of integration of scientific knowledge in the social innovation facing depopulation, which evidences the need for interdisciplinarity in fighting depopulation and also its analysis, as well as the existing margin for more scientific fields to participate in this type of social innovation.[ES] Este artículo explora la interdisciplinariedad en el enfrentamiento de la despoblación rural desde la innovación social. Para ello, analizamos la diversidad de disciplinas envueltas en las iniciativas de innovación social registradas en la base de datos del proyecto de investigación SIMRA orientadas a enfrentar desafíos demográficos. Los resultados de este análisis muestran un destacable nivel de integración de conocimiento científico en la innovación social frente a la despoblación, evidenciando el necesario carácter interdisciplinar de la lucha contra la despoblación y su análisis, así como el margen existente para que se informe este tipo de innovación social desde más campos científicos.Las autoras agradecen los comentarios de los dos revisores anónimos de la revista así como los de Maite Aguinaco, Bill Slee y Rosalind Bryce en distintos momentos del proceso de elaboración de este artículo. Este trabajo se ha realizado gracias al apoyo financiero del programa de investigación e innovación de la Unión Europea Horizonte 2020 en virtud del acuerdo de subvención 677622.Valero, DE.; López Marco, L. (2019). Interdisciplinarity in social innovation in the face of rural depopulation. Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 19(1):17-36. https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2019.01.02SWORD173619

Redes de apoyo al emprendimiento femenino en territorios rurales

Las condiciones del mercado de trabajo en las áreas rurales han convertido el autoempleo en una de las opciones recurrentes entre las mujeres que tratan de iniciar una actividad o consolidar su participación económica. Mediante técnicas cualitativas y a partir de un caso de estudio en un área LEADER española (Sierra del Segura, Albacete), este trabajo investiga las redes locales de apoyo al autoempleo femenino en zonas rurales, así como el impacto de la crisis económica sobre dicho sistema de apoyos. Los resultados más destacados señalan la importancia del asociacionismo empresarial femenino (redes formales) y los liderazgos locales (redes informales) como apoyos-fuerza al emprendimiento femenino rural. Asimismo, se pone de manifiesto la destrucción de gran parte de las redes de apoyos y el papel emergente de las entidades de la Economía Social y Solidaria como consecuencia de la crisis económica

Models de vida femenins en el medi rural. Un cas d'estudi a la Sierra del Segura (Albacete)

La sobreemigració femenina i la masculinització són processos encara latents en gran part de la ruralitat espanyola. No obstant això, existeixen dones que mantenen o traslladen la seua residència a aquestes àrees. Així doncs, aquesta investigació tracta de caracteritzar les principals circumstàncies i patrons de vida que assumeixen i configuren les dones rurals. A partir d'un estudi de cas, la Sierra del Segura (Albacete), i mitjançant tècniques qualitati- ves, s'exposen quatre grans models de vida femenins. Per una part, dos que impliquen una trajectòria de localització ancorada en el món rural i el manteniment de rols de gènere, si bé el component generacional habilita divergències importants en termes de participació social i econòmica. Per altra, dos models més que integren episodis urbans, nivells educatius més elevats i esquemes socioculturals renovats, que poden ajudar a promoure iniciatives socioeconòmiques i a fixar població. The higher emigration of women and masculinization are still latent processes in rural areas of Spain. However, some women maintain or move their residence to these zones. This research aims to characterize the main life circumstances and models assumed and configured by rural women. Through a case of study of Sierra del Segura, Albacete, and the use of qualitative techniques, we discuss four major female life models. On the one hand, two life models that imply local trajectories anchored in the rural world and the maintenance of gender roles, although with important divergences regarding social and economic participation according to a generational component. On the other hand, another two life models connected with urban experiences, higher education levels and updated socio-cultural frameworks, which can promote socio-economic initiatives and help to fix the population

µ-Calpain Conversion of Antiapoptotic Bfl-1 (BCL2A1) into a Prodeath Factor Reveals Two Distinct alpha-Helices Inducing Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis

Anti-apoptotic Bfl-1 and pro-apoptotic Bax, two members of the Bcl-2 family sharing a similar structural fold, are classically viewed as antagonist regulators of apoptosis. However, both proteins were reported to be death inducers following cleavage by the cysteine protease µ-calpain. Here we demonstrate that calpain-mediated cleavage of full-length Bfl-1 induces the release of C-terminal membrane active α-helices that are responsible for its conversion into a pro-apoptotic factor. A careful comparison of the different membrane-active regions present in the Bfl-1 truncated fragments with homologous domains of Bax show that helix α5, but not α6, of Bfl-1 induces cell death and cytochrome c release from purified mitochondria through a Bax/Bak-dependent mechanism. In contrast, both helices α5 and α6 of Bax permeabilize mitochondria regardless of the presence of Bax or Bak. Moreover, we provide evidence that the α9 helix of Bfl-1 promotes cytochrome c release and apoptosis through a unique membrane-destabilizing action whereas Bax-α9 does not display such activities. Hence, despite a common 3D-structure, C-terminal toxic domains present on Bfl-1 and Bax function in a dissimilar manner to permeabilize mitochondria and induce apoptosis. These findings provide insights for designing therapeutic approaches that could exploit the cleavage of endogenous Bcl-2 family proteins or the use of Bfl-1/Bax-derived peptides to promote tumor cell clearance

Progressive skin fibrosis is associated with a decline in lung function and worse survival in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) cohort.

Objectives To determine whether progressive skin fibrosis is associated with visceral organ progression and mortality during follow-up in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Methods We evaluated patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research database with dcSSc, baseline modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) ≥7, valid mRSS at 12±3 months after baseline and ≥1 annual follow-up visit. Progressive skin fibrosis was defined as an increase in mRSS >5 and ≥25% from baseline to 12±3 months. Outcomes were pulmonary, cardiovascular and renal progression, and all-cause death. Associations between skin progression and outcomes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox regression. Results Of 1021 included patients, 78 (7.6%) had progressive skin fibrosis (skin progressors). Median follow-up was 3.4 years. Survival analyses indicated that skin progressors had a significantly higher probability of FVC decline ≥10% (53.6% vs 34.4%; p<0.001) and all-cause death (15.4% vs 7.3%; p=0.003) than non-progressors. These significant associations were also found in subgroup analyses of patients with either low baseline mRSS (≤22/51) or short disease duration (≤15 months). In multivariable analyses, skin progression within 1 year was independently associated with FVC decline ≥10% (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.65) and all-cause death (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.31 to 5.09). Conclusions Progressive skin fibrosis within 1 year is associated with decline in lung function and worse survival in dcSSc during follow-up. These results confirm mRSS as a surrogate marker in dcSSc, which will be helpful for cohort enrichment in future trials and risk stratification in clinical practice

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Comparative genomic and phylogeographic analysis of Mycobacterium leprae

Reductive evolution and massive pseudogene formation have shaped the 3.31-Mb genome of Mycobacterium leprae, an unculturable obligate pathogen that causes leprosy in humans. The complete genome sequence of M. leprae strain Br4923 from Brazil was obtained by conventional methods (6 x coverage), and Illumina resequencing technology was used to obtain the sequences of strains Thai53 (38 x coverage) and NHDP63 (46 x coverage) from Thailand and the United States, respectively. Whole-genome comparisons with the previously sequenced TN strain from India revealed that the four strains share 99.995% sequence identity and differ only in 215 polymorphic sites, mainly SNPs, and by 5 pseudogenes. Sixteen interrelated SNP subtypes were defined by genotyping both extant and extinct strains of M. leprae from around the world. The 16 SNP subtypes showed a strong geographical association that reflects the migration patterns of early humans and trade routes, with the Silk Road linking Europe to China having contributed to the spread of leprosy