Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Variability of the PAR/GHI Ratio and PAR Modeling Based on Two Satellite Estimates

The main objectives of this work are to address the analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of the ratio between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and global horizontal irradiance (GHI), as well as to develop PAR models. The analysis was carried out using data from three stations located in mainland Spain covering three climates: oceanic, standard Mediterranean, and continental Mediterranean. The results of this analysis showed a clear dependence between the PAR/GHI ratio and the location; the oceanic climate showed higher values of PAR/GHI compared with Mediterranean climates. Further, the temporal variability of PAR/GHI was conditioned by the variability of clearness index, so it was also higher in oceanic than in Mediterranean climates. On the other hand, Climate Monitoring Satellite Facility (CM-SAF) and Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were used to estimate PAR as a function of GHI over the whole territory. The validation with ground measurements showed better performance of the MODIS-estimates-derived model for the oceanic climate (root-mean-square error (RMSE) around 5%), while the model obtained from CM-SAF fitted better for Mediterranean climates (RMSEs around 2%)This work was funded by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) [Project CGL2016-79284-P AEI/FEDER/UE and F.F.-C. was founded by PhD Contract Number BES-2017-082043]S

Major depressive disorder following terrorist attacks: A systematic review of prevalence, course and correlates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Terrorist attacks are traumatic events that may result in a wide range of psychological disorders for people exposed. This review aimed to systematically assess the current evidence on major depressive disorder (MDD) after terrorist attacks.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review was performed. Studies included assessed the impact of human-made, intentional, terrorist attacks in direct victims and/or persons in general population and evaluated MDD based on diagnostic criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 567 reports were identified, 11 of which were eligible for this review: 6 carried out with direct victims, 4 with persons in general population, and 1 with victims and general population. The reviewed literature suggests that the risk of MDD ranges between 20 and 30% in direct victims and between 4 and 10% in the general population in the first few months after terrorist attacks. Characteristics that tend to increase risk of MDD after a terrorist attack are female gender, having experienced more stressful situations before or after the attack, peritraumatic reactions during the attack, loss of psychosocial resources, and low social support. The course of MDD after terrorist attacks is less clear due to the scarcity of longitudinal studies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Methodological limitations in the literature of this field are considered and potentially important areas for future research such as the assessment of the course of MDD, the study of correlates of MDD or the comorbidity between MDD and other mental health problems are discussed.</p

Sex-dependent modulation of longevity by two Drosophila homologues of human Apolipoprotein D, GLaz and NLaz

11 páginas, 7 figuras, 2 tablas.Apolipoprotein D (ApoD), a member of the Lipocalin family, is the gene most up-regulated with age in the mammalian brain. Its expression strongly correlates with aging-associated neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. Two homologues of ApoD expressed in the Drosophila brain, Glial Lazarillo (GLaz) and Neural Lazarillo (NLaz), are known to alter longevity in male flies. However, sex differences in the aging process have not been explored so far for these genes. Here we demonstrate that NLaz alters lifespan in both sexes, but unexpectedly the lack of GLaz influences longevity in a sex-specific way, reducing longevity in males but not in females. While NLaz has metabolic functions similar to ApoD, the regulation of GLaz expression upon aging is the closest to ApoD in the aging brain. A multivariate analysis of physiological parameters relevant to lifespan modulation uncovers both common and specialized functions for the two Lipocalins, and reveals that changes in protein homeostasis account for the observed sex-specific patterns of longevity. The response to oxidative stress and accumulation of lipid peroxides are among their common functions, while the transcriptional and behavioral response to starvation, the pattern of daily locomotor activity, storage of fat along aging, fertility, and courtship behavior differentiate NLaz from GLaz mutants. We also demonstrate that food composition is an important environmental parameter influencing stress resistance and reproductive phenotypes of both Lipocalin mutants. Since ApoD shares many properties with the common ancestor of invertebrate Lipocalins, we must benefit from this global comparison with both GLaz and NLaz to understand the complex functions of ApoD in mammalian aging and neurodegeneration.This work was supported by start-up grants to D.S. and M.D.G. from the “Ramón y Cajal Program” (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología—Spain, and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional SGFRH Foundation; Junta de Castilla y Leon grant VA049A0, Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia grant BFU2005-00522, and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion grant BFU2008-01170 to M.D.G. and D.S.; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion grant BFU2008-04683-C02-02 to I.C.; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion grant BFU2009-12410/BMC and Fundación Cien Reina Sofía to A.A.Peer reviewe

Procesos de afrontamiento y ajuste a la enfermedad en pacientes con artritis reumatoide

The current paper explores the role played by coping strategies in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a cronic desease related to high levels of pain, physical impairment and negative emotions. To carry out the research, it has been selected 89 sample of RA patients who have been evaluated with the following tools: Inventario de Valoración y Afrontamiento, IVA; Inventario de Situaciones y Respuestas de Ansiedad Breve, ISRA-B; Cuestionario de Tristeza Depresión, CTD; Inventario de Expresión de Ira Estado-Rasgo, STAXI-2; Frecuencia e Intensidad de Dolor, FID y Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ. Correlational analysis as well as regression analysis were carried out, in such way that the latter had coping strategies as the independent variables and desease adjustment as the dependent variables (negative emotions, pain and physical impairment). Results show significative and possitive correlations between two kinds of coping: passive and avoiding, and different adjustments measures (negative emotions, pain, and physical impairment). In regression analysis, those already mentioned coping ways (passive and avoiding) forecast higher levels of pain, physical impairment and negative emotion.El presente trabajo persigue la exploración del papel que juegan las estrategias de afrontamiento en los pacientes con Artritis Reumatoide, una enfermedad reumática crónica que cursa asociada a altos niveles de dolor, discapacidad y emocionalidad negativa. Para ello se ha tomado una muestra de 89 pacientes con Artritis Reumatoide, que han sido evaluados con los siguientes instrumentos: Inventario de Valoración y Afrontamiento, IVA; Inventario de Situaciones y Respuestas de Ansiedad Breve, ISRA-B; Cuestionario de Tristeza Depresión, CTD; Inventario de Expresión de Ira Estado-Rasgo, STAXI-2; Frecuencia e Intensidad de Dolor, FID y Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ. Se han llevado a cabo análisis correlacionales y análisis de regresión, tomando para estos últimos como variables independientes o predictoras las estrategias de afrontamiento ante el dolor y como variables dependientes aquellas que constituyen el llamado ajuste a la enfermedad: las emociones negativas, el dolor y la discapacidad. Los resultados muestran correlaciones positivas y significativas entre dos tipos de afrontamiento, el pasivo y el evitativo, y las distintas medidas de ajuste (emociones negativas, dolor y discapacidad). En los análisis de regresión, de nuevo son estas dos formas de afrontamiento, pasivo y evitativo, las que predicen mayores niveles de dolor, discapacidad y emocionalidad negativa

Modeling photosynthetically active radiation from satellite-derived estimations over mainland Spain

A model based on the known high correlation between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and global horizontal irradiance (GHI) was implemented to estimate PAR from GHI measurements in this present study. The model has been developed using satellite-derived GHI and PAR estimations. Both variables can be estimated using Kato bands, provided by Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM-SAF), and its ratio may be used as the variable of interest in order to obtain the model. The study area, which was located in mainland Spain, has been split by cluster analysis into regions with similar behavior, according to this ratio. In each of these regions, a regression model estimating PAR from GHI has been developed. According to the analysis, two regions are distinguished in the study area. These regions belong to the two climates dominating the territory: an Oceanic climate on the northern edge; and a Mediterranean climate with hot summer in the rest of the study area. The models obtained for each region have been checked against the ground measurements, providing correlograms with determination coefficients higher than 0.99This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) [Project CGL2016-79284-P AEI/FEDER/UE]S

Enfermedad renal oculta en pacientes oncológicos

A descriptive study with retrospective and analytical components was conducted. It included patients who died with cancer – those who underwent autopsy – at the Arnaldo Milian Castro and Celestino Hernández Robau University Hospitals during the period from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008.  The study was aimed at determining the factors associated with chronic kidney disease, analyzing the prevalence of this disease in its different stages, identifying the behavior of occult renal disease and correlate pathological findings suggestive of chronic kidney damage with the renal function. The medical records of patients and the results of the autopsies were reviewed, which were tested for statistical analysis. The cases were predominant in the group of 70 years of age and over, and in males. There are patients with undiagnosed chronic kidney disease and normal creatinine figures. Stages II and III of chronic kidney disease were the most frequent. The nephrotoxic drugs more commonly used were more aminoglycosides. Hypertension and ischemic heart disease were the most commonly associated chronic conditions. The average hospitalization was 2.28 and the average hospital stay was 24.44 days.Se realizó un estudio descriptivo con componentes analíticos y retrospectivos en el que se incluyeron los pacientes que fallecieron con cáncer -con necropsias- en los Hospitales Universitarios “Arnaldo Milián Castro” y “Celestino Hernández Robau” durante el período comprendido entre el 1ro de enero de 2007 y el 1ro de enero de 2008 para determinar los factores asociados a la enfermedad renal crónica, analizar la prevalencia de esta afecciçon en sus diferentes estadios,  identificar el comportamiento de la enfermedad renal oculta y relacionar hallazgos anatomopatológicos sugestivos de daño renal crónico con la función renal. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes y los resultados de las necropsias, a las que se les realizaron pruebas de análisis estadísticos.  Predominaron los casos del grupo de 70 años y más y el sexo masculino; hay pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica sin diagnosticar y cifras normales de creatinina; los estadios II y III de la enfermedad renal crónica fueron los más frecuentes; los medicamentos nefrotóxicos más usados fueron los aminoglucósidos; la hipertensión arterial y la cardiopatía isquémica crónica resultaron las dolencias que se asociaron con mayor frecuencia; el promedio de hospitalización fue de 2.28 y la estadia promedio de 24.44 días

Spread of Epidemic MRSA-ST5-IV Clone Encoding PVL as a Major Cause of Community Onset Staphylococcal Infections in Argentinean Children

BACKGROUND: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-(CA-MRSA) strains have emerged in Argentina. We investigated the clinical and molecular evolution of community-onset MRSA infections (CO-MRSA) in children of Córdoba, Argentina, 2005-2008. Additionally, data from 2007 were compared with the epidemiology of these infections in other regions of the country. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Two datasets were used: i) lab-based prospective surveillance of CA-MRSA isolates from 3 Córdoba pediatric hospitals-(CBAH1-H3) in 2007-2008 (compared to previously published data of 2005) and ii) a sampling of CO-MRSA from a study involving both, healthcare-associated community-onset-(HACO) infections in children with risk-factors for healthcare-associated infections-(HRFs), and CA-MRSA infections in patients without HRFs detected in multiple centers of Argentina in 2007. Molecular typing was performed on the CA-MRSA-(n: 99) isolates from the CBAH1-H3-dataset and on the HACO-MRSA-(n: 51) and CA-MRSA-(n: 213) isolates from other regions. Between 2005-2008, the annual proportion of CA-MRSA/CA-S. aureus in Córdoba hospitals increased from 25% to 49%, P<0.01. Total CA-MRSA infections increased 3.6 fold-(5.1 to 18.6 cases/100,000 annual-visits, P<0.0001), associated with an important increase of invasive CA-MRSA infections-(8.5 fold). In all regions analyzed, a single genotype prevailed in both CA-MRSA (82%) and HACO-MRSA(57%), which showed pulsed-field-gel electrophoresis-(PFGE)-type-"I", sequence-type-5-(ST5), SCCmec-type-IVa, spa-t311, and was positive for PVL. The second clone, pulsotype-N/ST30/CC30/SCCmecIVc/t019/PVL(+), accounted for 11.5% of total CA-MRSA infections. Importantly, the first 4 isolates of Argentina belonging to South American-USA300 clone-(USA300/ST8/CC8/SCCmecIVc/t008/PVL(+)/ACME(-)) were detected. We also demonstrated that a HA-MRSA clone-(pulsotype-C/ST100/CC5) caused 2% and 10% of CA-MRSA and HACO-MRSA infections respectively and was associated with a SCCmec type closely related to SCCmecIV(2B&5). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The dissemination of epidemic MRSA clone, ST5-IV-PVL(+) was the main cause of increasing staphylococcal community-onset infections in Argentinean children (2003-2008), conversely to other countries. The predominance of this clone, which has capacity to express the h-VISA phenotype, in healthcare-associated community-onset cases suggests that it has infiltrated into hospital-settings

Caracterización del Banco de La Concepción

Se integra información hidrográfica, geomorfológica, sedimentológica, biológica, sobre hábitats marinos y pesquera, para establecer las bases ecológicas necesarias para la protección y conservación del Banco de La ConcepciónEl proyecto INDEMARES ha permitido utilizar amplios medios económicos y personales para estudiar en detalle y desde múltiples perspectivas la zona del Banco de La Concepción. Se han aplicado metodologías para el estudio de la hidrografía, caracterizando la región, describiendo sus principales masas de agua y la hidrodinámica de las corrientes. También se ha abordado la geología de la zona, incluyendo levantamientos batimétricos, perfiles sísmicos, muestreos de sedimento y petrológicos, obteniendo modelos digitales del terreno, mapas de tipos de fondo, geomorfológicos. Se han caracterizado las comunidades bentopelágicas, demersales, epibentónicas y endobentónicas, prestando especial atención a aquellas que conforman o estructuran los hábitats sensibles cuyo inventariado y cartografía era objeto principal del proyecto. Los trabajos de identificación de hábitats se han realizado con muestreadores directos, pero también con muestreadores visuales, que han permitido hacer un mayor esfuerzo de muestreo sin aumentar el impacto sobre los fondos de la zona. Por otro lado se ha estudiado la huella pesquera de la zona por medio del análisis de los datos VMS y los cuadernos de pesca proporcionados por la SGP, además de una ardua labor a pie de puerto de entrevistas y encuestas. Toda la información ha sido gestionada y analizada por diferentes grupos de investigación de diferentes centros (Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlántico, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander y Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga del Instituto Español de Oceanografía, …), aunque el grueso de esta labor, además de la coordinación, se ha llevado a cabo en el Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias del Instituto Español de Oceanografía. Los resultados permiten tener un conocimiento profundo y multidisciplinar de la zona de estudio comparable a pocos proyectos de investigación marina en la macaronesia. El estudio oceanográfico, el geológico, y el de las comunidades biológicas, ha permitido la caracterización de los hábitats de la zona, y su cartografiado mediante el intenso muestreo y la aplicación de análisis de idoneidad de hábitats.INDEMARES Project made possible to bring together economic and staff resources to study in detail, and from multiple perspectives, the area of Banco de La Concepción. Methodologies have been applied to study hydrography, making a regional characterization, depicting main water masses, and current hydrodynamics. Geology has been tackled including bathymetric uplifting, seismic profiles, sediment and petrological sampling, obtaining digital terrain models, type of bottom maps, geomorphological maps, as an output. Benthopelagic, demersal, epibenthic and endobenthic communities have been characterized, paying special attention to sensitive habitats which inventory and mapping was the project’s main aim. Habitat identification has been made with direct and visual samplers, the latter making a major sampling effort possible without an increase of bottom impact. Moreover, fisheries footprint has been identified by Vessel Monitoring System data, together with logbooks from Secretaría General de Pesca (Fisheries Ministry), as well as a hard interviewing and surveying task at landing points. Information has been managed and analysed by different research groups from different Centres (Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlántico, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander y Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga del Instituto Español de Oceanografía), although the main body of the work, plus coordination, has been made by the Canary Islands Oceanographic Centre, from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography. Results let us have a multidisciplinary profound knowledge of the study zone, comparable to few other marine research projects off Macaronesia. The study about oceanography, geology and biologic communities has allowed the habitats characterization and mapping by means of intensive sampling and habitat suitability analysis.Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Comisión Europea Programa LIFE+, Fundación Biodiversida

Caracterización del Sur de Fuerteventura

Se integra información hidrográfica, geomorfológica, sedimentológica, biológica, sobre hábitats marinos y pesquera, para establecer las bases ecológicas necesarias para la protección y conservación del Sur de Fuerteventura (Montes de Amanay y El Banquete)El proyecto INDEMARES ha permitido utilizar amplios medios económicos y personales para estudiar en detalle y desde múltiples perspectivas la zona del Sur de Fuerteventura (montes de Amanay y El Banquete). Se han aplicado metodologías para el estudio de la hidrografía, caracterizando la región, describiendo sus principales masas de agua y la hidrodinámica de las corrientes. También se ha abordado la geología de la zona, incluyendo levantamientos batimétricos, perfiles sísmicos, muestreos de sedimento y petrológicos, obteniendo modelos digitales del terreno, mapas de tipos de fondo, geomorfológicos. Se han caracterizado las comunidades bentopelágicas, demersales, epibentónicas y endobentónicas, prestando especial atención a aquellas que conforman o estructuran los hábitats sensibles cuyo inventariado y cartografía era objeto principal del proyecto. Los trabajos de identificación de hábitats se han realizado con muestreadores directos, pero también con muestreadores visuales, que han permitido hacer un mayor esfuerzo de muestreo sin aumentar el impacto sobre los fondos de la zona. Por otro lado se ha estudiado la huella pesquera de la zona por medio del análisis de los datos VMS y los cuadernos de pesca proporcionados por la SGP, además de una ardua labor a pie de puerto de entrevistas y encuestas. Toda la información ha sido gestionada y analizada por diferentes grupos de investigación de diferentes centros (Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlántico, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander y Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga del Instituto Español de Oceanografía, …), aunque el grueso de esta labor, además de la coordinación, se ha llevado a cabo en el Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias del Instituto Español de Oceanografía. Los resultados permiten tener un conocimiento profundo y multidisciplinar de la zona de estudio comparable a pocos proyectos de investigación marina en la Macaronesia. El estudio oceanográfico, el geológico, y el de las comunidades biológicas, ha permitido la caracterización de los hábitats de la zona, y su cartografiado mediante el intenso muestreo y la aplicación de análisis de idoneidad de hábitats.Abstract: INDEMARES Project made possible to bring together economic and staff resources to study in detail, and from multiple perspectives, the area of South of Fuerteventura (Amanay and El Banquete Semounts). Methodologies have been applied to study hydrography, making a regional characterization, depicting main water masses, and current hydrodynamics. Geology has been tackled including bathymetric uplifting, seismic profiles, sediment and petrological sampling, obtaining digital terrain models, type of bottom maps, geomorphological maps, as an output. Benthopelagic, demersal, epibenthic and endobenthic communities have been characterized, paying special attention to sensitive habitats which inventory and mapping was the project’s main aim. Habitat identification has been made with direct and visual samplers, the latter making a major sampling effort possible without an increase of bottom impact. Moreover, fisheries footprint has been identified by Vessel Monitoring System data, together with logbooks from Secretaría General de Pesca (Fisheries Ministry), as well as a hard interviewing and surveying task at landing points. Information has been managed and analysed by different research groups from different Centres (Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlántico, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander y Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga del Instituto Español de Oceanografía), although the main body of the work, plus coordination, has been made by the Canary Islands Oceanographic Centre, from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography. Results let us have a multidisciplinary profound knowledge of the study zone, comparable to few other marine research projects off Macaronesia. The study about oceanography, geology and biologic communities has allowed the habitats characterization and mapping by means of intensive sampling and habitat suitability analysis.Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Comisión Europea Programa LIFE+, Fundación Biodiversida