Vinculación de Ciempozuelos (Madrid) con sus aguas subterráneas

Ciempozuelos is located 35 km to the south of Madrid on the Miocene gypsum formations characteristic of the centre of Madrid basin. From old times (XIV century or former) the water supply was made mainly by means of a galleries dug by pick and shovel (denominated in the town “mines” of water). By this way, the public fountains were supplied. Given the easiness of excavation of the galleries in gypsum materials and the robustness of they without lining necessity, made proliferate the “mines” and also the excavation of caves in the basements of the housings with object of storage wines and other products. Finally it was a crossroad of galleries, holes, caves, mines… that extend for the underground of Ciempozuelos. The historians speculates, with foundation, that Spanish name of the city mentions this proliferation of wells and mines.Actually this rich hydraulic patrimony is abandoned and in phase of deterioration due to its partial destruction as the urbanization of the urban city progresses. The Town Hall has undertaken archaeological and hydrogeological studies in order to improve the knowledgement of the nature and singularities of these infrastructures and later to management them properly. The hydrogeological study made, has distinguished clearly among those denominated “mines” and other types of built hollows under the urban underground. Forty six wells have been inventoried. The equipotential lines map show that the direction of the groundwater flow in Ciempozuelos city is mainly from the southwest toward the northeast. Thirty five chemical analysis and fifteen bacteriological samples have been made and they confirm the calcium bicarbonate facies with high conductivity (1.700 ìS/cm) and the inadequate bacteriological quality in order to possible use in urban water supply. We recommend their use for ornamental uses, irrigation of streets, and cultural memory of the singular water supply that has persisted in the city during centuries.Ciempozuelos pertenece a la Comunidad de Madrid y se encuentra a unos 35 km al sur de la capital. Desde tiempos antiguos (siglo XIV o anteriormente) el abastecimiento en agua se efectuaba principalmente mediante una serie de galerías horizontales excavadas a “pico y pala” (denominadas en la localidad “minas de agua”). De esta forma se abastecían las fuentes públicas.La facilidad de excavación en el sustrato yesífero y la robustez de las cavidades sin necesidad de revestimiento, hizo proliferar tanto la construcción de “minas” como cuevas en los bajos de las viviendas con objeto de almacenaje de diversos productos. El resultado fue una encrucijada de pozos, galerías, huecos, cuevas y “minas” que se extienden por el subsuelo, y que posiblemente diese lugar al nombre del emplazamiento: Ciempozuelos.En la actualidad este rico patrimonio hidráulico está prácticamente abandonado y en fase de deterioro debido a su destrucción parcial a medida que progresa la urbanización del casco urbano. El Ayuntamiento ha emprendido estudios arqueológicos e hidrogeológicos para, en primer lugar, conocer la naturaleza y singularidades de estas infraestructuras y posteriormente gestionarlas con criterio.El estudio hidrogeológico efectuado ha distinguido claramente entre las denominadas “minas” y otros tipos de oquedades construidas bajo el subsuelo urbano. Se han inventariado 46 puntos de agua, se ha confeccionado el mapa de isopiezas bajo el subsuelo del casco urbano que ha determinado que el flujo de las aguas subterráneas es principalmente de sudoeste a nordeste. Se han efectuado 35 análisis químicos y 13 bacteriológicos de muestras de agua que han servido para confirmar la facies bicarbonatada cálcica con alta conductividad (1.700 mS/cm) de las aguas y la inadecuada calidad bacteriológica, de cara a su posible uso en abastecimiento.Se propone el uso del agua para fines ornamentales y baldeo de calles y cultural como recuerdo del singular abastecimiento que durante siglos ha persistido en la población

Groundwater resources exploration in the Zug area (Tiris, Western Sahara)

[ES] El área de Zug se localiza en el extremo suroccidental de la dorsal de Tiris, en el Sahara Occidental. La zona se caracteriza por el afloramiento de materiales de edad arcaica, fundamentalmente gneises y rocas graníticas fracturadas; en el sector más meridional se encuentran cubiertos por mantos de arena eólica. Se ha hecho un reconocimiento hidrogeológico de los terrenos a partir de la realización de un inventario de puntos de agua y el estudio geológico de los materiales aflorantes, llegando a diferenciar dos dominios hidrogeológicos: Zug y Azzefal. En lo referente al dominio de Zug, que es el de interés en este estudio, a partir de análisis de imágenes de satélite, trabajo de campo, realización de perfiles geofísicos, inventario de puntos de agua y análisis químicos, se han identificado tres zonas preferentes para el emplazamiento de futuras captaciones orientadas al abastecimiento en puntos clave de la población autóctona de hábitat nómada y sus rebaños: 1) abanicos aluviales, ubicados preferentemente en las laderas de los diques que recorren la dorsal de Tiris; 2) sabkhas, como lugares de concentración de escorrentías efímeras y de infiltración al subsuelo del agua acumulada; 3) zonas graníticas intensamente fracturadas. A alguno de estos tres casos obedecen los pozos existentes en esta zona. Los trabajos de geofísica han detectado que, en localizaciones concretas, la resistividad eléctrica disminuye hasta profundidades superiores a los 50 metros, abriendo una puerta a la posibilidad de encontrar agua en cantidad suficiente para cubrir las necesidades antes aludidas. La calidad del agua no es la conveniente para el abastecimiento humano, pero con el tratamiento adecuado puede potabilizarse. Queda por delante un amplio campo de investigación cuando se den las condiciones políticas estables que permitan una investigación con mayor detalle.[EN] The area of Zug is located in the southwestern corner of the Tiris dorsal, in the Western Sahara. The area is characterized by outcrops of materials, mainly gneisses of archaic age and fractured granitic rocks, which in the southern sector are covered by aeolian sand sheets. A hydrogeological survey of the territory has been carried out, and boreholes and dug wells have been located and analyzed and this information integrated with the sparse outcrops. Based on this study, two hydrogeological domains have been established: Zug and Azzefal. From the analysis of satellite images, field work, geophysical profiles, a well inventory and chemical analysis, three priority areas for the location of future water supply wells have been identified: 1) alluvial fans, preferably located on the slopes of the dikes that cross the Tiris dorsal; 2) sabkhas (salt flats) as places of concentration of ephemeral runoff and subsurface infiltration of accumulated water; 3) highly fractured granitic areas. Some of these three cases coincide with existing wells in this area. Electrical tomography shows how, in specific locations, low resistivity values reach 50 metres, opening up the possibility of finding sufficient water to meet the aforementioned needs. The water quality is not suitable for human supply directly from the well without chemical treatment. The area is still full of opportunities for future research, but only when a more stable political situation exists.Ha sido financiada gracias a una beca de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).Peer reviewe

The Role of Large and Small Scale Hydropower for Energy and Water Security in the Spanish Duero Basin

Hydropower has been increasingly seen as a two-fold solution to the provision of renewable energy and water storage. However, the massive deployment of both large and small scale hydropower projects has been reported to cause important environmental impacts at the basin scale. This study assesses the differential contributions to regional energy and water security of large (LHP) and small (SHP) scale hydropower deployment in the Spanish Duero basin, as well as associated cumulative environmental impacts. This is performed through a selection of indicators measured in absolute and relative terms. The results suggest that LHP deployment contributes more to energy and water security, performing better in 10 of the 12 indicators. It also shows higher absolute environmental impacts on flow regime and habitat loss. Meanwhile, when analyzed in relative terms, SHP shows greater impacts in all categories as a result of cumulative effects cascading along the rivers system. These findings suggest that optimizing the use of existing hydropower infrastructure would be beneficial for energy, water and environmental security. This could be implemented by substantially reducing the number of low capacity plants with almost no impact on final energy generation, while enhancing the pumping and storage potential of higher capacity plants

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-8B levels at birth and in the first year of life: relation to metabolic-endocrine variables and brown adipose tissue activity

Objective: Bone morphogenetic protein-8B (BMP8B) is an adipokine produced by brown adipose tissue (BAT) contributing to thermoregulation and metabolic homeostasis in rodent models. In humans, BAT activity is particularly relevant in newborns and young infants. We assessed BMP8B levels and their relationship with BAT activity and endocrine-metabolic parameters in young infants to ascertain its potentiality as biomarker in early life. Methods and Materials: BMP8B concentrations were assessed longitudinally by ELISA in a cohort of 27 girls and 23 boys at birth, and at age 4 and 12 months, together with adiposity parameters (DXA), and circulating endocrine-metabolic variables. BAT activity was measured by infrared thermography. BMP8B gene expression (qRT-PCR) was determined in BAT, white fat, and liver samples from neonatal necropsies, and in placenta and cord blood. Results: BMP8B levels were high at birth, particularly in boys (P=0.04 vs girls), declined progressively, and remained well above those in healthy adults and pregnant women at age one year (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Neonatal BMP8B transcript levels were higher in BAT than in white fat, liver and cord blood. Circulating BMP8B levels during the first year of life marginally correlated with bone mineral density and gains in lean mass. Conclusion: BMP8B levels are high at birth and decline progressively over the first year of life remaining above adult levels. Although changes in BMP8B concentrations overall reflect those in BAT activity during development, BMP8B levels are unlikely to be useful to predict individual variations in endocrine-metabolic status and BAT activity in healthy young infants

Deep subcutaneous application of poly-L-lactic acid as a filler for facial lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients

Introduction: Facial lipoatrophy is a crucial problem of HIV-infected patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Poly-L-lactic acid (PLA), provided as New-Fill(R)/Sculptra(TM), is known as one possible treatment option. In 2004 PLA was approved by the FDA as Sculptra(TM) for the treatment of lipoatrophy of the face in HIV-infected patients. While the first trials demonstrated relevant efficacy, this was to some extent linked to unwanted effects. As the depth of injection was considered relevant in this context, the application modalities of the preparation were changed. The preparation was to be injected more deeply into subcutaneous tissue, after increased dilution. Material and Methods: To test this approach we performed a pilot study following the new recommendations in 14 patients. Results: While the efficacy turned out to be about the same, tolerability was markedly improved. The increase in facial dermal thickness was particularly obvious in those patients who had suffered from lipoatrophy for a comparatively small period of time. Conclusion: With the new recommendations to dilute PLA powder and to inject it into the deeper subcutaneous tissue nodule formation is a minor problem. However, good treatment results can only be achieved if lipoatrophy is not too intense; treatment intervals should be about 2 - 3 weeks. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

FGF21 mediates the lipid metabolism response to amino acid starvation

Abstract Lipogenic gene expression in liver is repressed in mice upon leucine deprivation. The hormone fi broblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which is critical to the adaptive metabolic response to starvation, is also induced under amino acid deprivation. Upon leucine deprivation, we found that FGF21 is needed to repress expression of lipogenic genes in liver and white adipose tissue, and stimulate phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase in white adipose tissue. The increased expression of Ucp1 in brown adipose tissue under these circumstances is also impaired in FGF21- defi cient mice. Our results demonstrate the important role of FGF21 in the regulation of lipid metabolism during amino acid starvation. ¿De Sousa-Coelho, A. L., J. Relat, E. Hondares, A. Pérez-Martí, F. Ribas, F. Villarroya, P. F. Marrero, and D. Haro. FGF21 mediates the lipid metabolism response to amino acid starvation

Thymidine Kinase 2 Deficiency-Induced Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Causes Abnormal Development of Adipose Tissues and Adipokine Levels in Mice

Mammal adipose tissues require mitochondrial activity for proper development and differentiation. The components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain/oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) are encoded by both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. The maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a key element for a functional mitochondrial oxidative activity in mammalian cells. To ascertain the role of mtDNA levels in adipose tissue, we have analyzed the alterations in white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues in thymidine kinase 2 (Tk2) H126N knockin mice, a model of TK2 deficiency-induced mtDNA depletion. We observed respectively severe and moderate mtDNA depletion in TK2-deficient BAT and WAT, showing both tissues moderate hypotrophy and reduced fat accumulation. Electron microscopy revealed altered mitochondrial morphology in brown but not in white adipocytes from TK2-deficient mice. Although significant reduction in mtDNA-encoded transcripts was observed both in WAT and BAT, protein levels from distinct OXPHOS complexes were significantly reduced only in TK2-deficient BAT. Accordingly, the activity of cytochrome c oxidase was significantly lowered only in BAT from TK2-deficient mice. The analysis of transcripts encoding up to fourteen components of specific adipose tissue functions revealed that, in both TK2-deficient WAT and BAT, there was a consistent reduction of thermogenesis related gene expression and a severe reduction in leptin mRNA. Reduced levels of resistin mRNA were found in BAT from TK2-deficient mice. Analysis of serum indicated a dramatic reduction in circulating levels of leptin and resistin. In summary, our present study establishes that mtDNA depletion leads to a moderate impairment in mitochondrial respiratory function, especially in BAT, causes substantial alterations in WAT and BAT development, and has a profound impact in the endocrine properties of adipose tissues

Efficacy and epigenetic interactions of novel DNA hypomethylating agent guadecitabine (SGI-110) in preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly malignancy characterized at the epigenetic level by global DNA hypomethylation and focal hypermethylation on the promoter of tumor suppressor genes. In most cases it develops on a background of liver steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Guadecitabine (SGI-110) is a second-generation hypomethylating agent, which inhibits DNA methyltransferases. Guadecitabine is formulated as a dinucleotide of decitabine and deoxyguanosine that is resistant to cytidine deaminase (CDA) degradation and results in prolonged in vivo exposure to decitabine following small volume subcutaneous administration of guadecitabine. Here we found that guadecitabine is an effective demethylating agent and is able to prevent HCC progression in pre-clinical models. In a xenograft HCC HepG2 model, guadecitabine impeded tumor growth and inhibited angiogenesis, while it could not prevent liver fibrosis and inflammation in a mouse model of steatohepatitis. Demethylating efficacy of guadecitabine on LINE-1 elements was found to be the highest 8 d post-infusion in blood samples of mice. Analysis of a panel of human HCC vs. normal tissue revealed a signature of hypermethylated tumor suppressor genes (CDKN1A, CDKN2A, DLEC1, E2F1, GSTP1, OPCML, E2F1, RASSF1, RUNX3, and SOCS1) as detected by methylation-specific PCR. A pronounced demethylating effect of guadecitabine was obtained also in the promoters of a subset of tumor suppressors genes (CDKN2A, DLEC1, and RUNX3) in HepG2 and Huh-7 HCC cells. Finally, we analyzed the role of macroH2A1, a variant of histone H2A, an oncogene upregulated in human cirrhosis/HCC that synergizes with DNA methylation in suppressing tumor suppressor genes, and it prevents the inhibition of cell growth triggered by decitabine in HCC cells. Guadecitabine, in contrast to decitabine, blocked growth in HCC cells overexpressing macroH2A1 histones and with high CDA levels, despite being unable to fully demethylate CDKN2A, RUNX3, and DLEC1 promoters altered by macroH2A1. Collectively, our findings in human and mice models reveal novel epigenetic anti-HCC effects of guadecitabine, which might be effective specifically in advanced states of the disease