Uso didáctico de SIG y Street View en el Grado de Turismo: aproximación a la gentrificación comercial en grandes destinos urbanos

Tourism gentrification, as a complex phenomenon in large urban destinations, is an important topic for future tourism professionals. The aim of this paper is to offer a digital cartography making activity based on the contemporary dynamics of commercial transformation within tourism gentrification contexts in Madrid in order to facilitate its understanding. This innovative teaching activity is in accordance with the sustainable tourism pedagogy approach and follows an active methodology using three different GIS applications: Google Street View, ESRI ArcGIS Desktop and ESRI ArcGIS Online Story Maps application. A 4-phase methodological design is proposed so that the activity is customizable (1- recognition of previous ideas), achievable (2- significant streets’ mapping), collaborative (3- collective idea-sharing) and replicable (4- academic and didactic evaluation). Finally, the results from an initial implementation are brought to light: i) an initial conceptual lack was found, ii) examples that help to see the proposal materialized are shown and iii) expected positive consequences according to the scientific literature are presented. It is concluded that, despite the scarce bibliography, the use of GIS software and Google Street View in tourism higher education is convenient, not only to facilitate the learning of complex territorial phenomena but also to learn digital tools highly valued in the professional field.La gentrificación turística es un fenómeno complejo, pero su actualidad en grandes destinos urbanos lo convierte en un tema importante para los futuros profesionales del turismo. Para facilitar su comprensión, el objetivo de este artículo es presentar la realización de cartografía digital propia sobre la transformación comercial que se está produciendo en Madrid en contextos de gentrificación turística. En sintonía con la pedagogía del turismo sostenible, se presenta esta estrategia didáctica innovadora basada en una metodología activa que se sirve de tres aplicaciones del ámbito de los SIG: Street View de Google, ArcGIS Desktop de ESRI y la herramienta de Story Map de ArcGIS Online. Se propone un diseño metodológico en 4 fases para que la actividad sea personalizable (1- reconocimiento de ideas previas), realizable (2- mapeo secuenciado a partir de calles de estudio significativas), colaborativa (3- exposiciones y debate) y replicable (4- evaluación académica y didáctica). Finalmente, se adelantan los resultados a partir de una puesta en práctica inicial, entre los cuales destacan: i) una carencia conceptual inicial, ii) ejemplos que ayudan a ver materializada la propuesta y iii) consecuencias positivas esperadas según la literatura científica. Se concluye que, a pesar de la escasa bibliografía, el uso de softwares de SIG y el uso de Google Street View en la formación superior de turismo es conveniente, no solo para facilitar el aprendizaje de fenómenos territoriales complejos sino también para conocer herramientas digitales muy valoradas en el ámbito profesional

Endothelial Dysfunction and Advanced Glycation End Products in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Versus Established Diabetes: From the CORDIOPREV Study

Endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickness of common carotid arteries (IMT-CC) are considered subclinical markers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are increased in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, compared with non-diabetics, being implicated in micro- and macrovascular complications. Our aim was to compare serum AGEs levels and subclinical atherosclerotic markers between patients with established and newly diagnosed T2DM. Among 540 patients with T2DM and coronary heart disease from the CORDIOPREV study, 350 patients had established T2DM and 190 patients had newly diagnosed T2DM. Serum levels of AGEs (methylglyoxal (MG) and N-carboxymethyl lysine (CML)) and subclinical atherosclerotic markers (brachial flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and IMT-CC) were measured. AGEs levels (all p < 0.001) and IMT-CC (p = 0.025) were higher in patients with established vs. newly diagnosed T2DM, whereas FMD did not differ between the two groups. Patients with established T2DM and severe endothelial dysfunction (i.e., FMD < 2%) had higher serum MG levels, IMT-CC, HOMA-IR and fasting insulin levels than those with newly diagnosed T2DM and non-severe endothelial dysfunction (i.e., FMD ≥ 2%) (all p < 0.05). Serum CML levels were greater in patients with established vs. newly diagnosed T2DM, regardless of endothelial dysfunction severity. Serum AGEs levels and IMT-CC were significantly higher in patients with established vs. newly diagnosed T2DM, highlighting the progressively increased risk of ASCVD in the course of T2DM. Establishing therapeutic strategies to reduce AGEs production and delay the onset of cardiovascular complications in newly diagnosed T2DM patients or minimize ASCVD risk in established T2DM patients is needed

Optomechanical devides for mechanobiological fingerprinting

Resumen del trabajo presentado en el Frontiers of Nanomechanical Systems (FSN2021), celebraod de forma virtual del 19 al 21 de enero de 2021Twenty years have passed since the first detection of biomolecular recognition using micromechanical systems[1]. In the last two decades, micro- nanomechanical systems have been refined to achieve amazing detection limits in force and mass that have enabled different schemes for ultrasensitive measurements of biological interactions as well as new ways of biological spectrometry. More recently, these figures of merit have been improved by coupling optical cavities to mechanical systems. In this talk, I will review the use of micro- nanomechanical systems for mechanobiological fingerprinting of biological entities, particularizing in the contributions of our group [2]. An essential core of this topic is the discussion about the mechanical coupling between a biological particle and a mechanical resonator, an issue that it is has been often oversimplified. We show that the biomechanical coupling that emerges between a bioparticle and a mechanical resonator is more complex than previously expect and it can give rise to different interaction regimes, in which the resonator response is dominated by different physical parameters of the analyte [3-4]. In particular, we will show experiments done with a variety of micro- nano- optomechanical systems using different measurement schemes where the mass, the stiffness and even the vibration modes of single biological entities can be measured with high sensitivity. It is now widely appreciated the essential role of mechanics in relevant biological processes and how disease can be revealed as changes in the mechanical properties of biological matter. I am pretty sure that future developments in optomechanical devices will contribute for major understanding of diseases as well as for new avenues in diagnosis and therapy

Quality and Quantity of Protein Intake Influence Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Coronary Heart Disease Patients: From the CORDIOPREV Study

Evidence suggests that enriching a diet with plant-based proteins could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present work, we evaluated the association between the change in plant protein intake (adjusted by energy) and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with coronary heart disease from the CORDIOPREV (coronary diet intervention with olive oil and cardiovascular prevention) study. At baseline and during the follow-up, patients underwent medical examination and blood and oral glucose tolerance tests. Information on patient’s dietary intake was gathered by registered dietitians using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A total of 106 out of 436 nondiabetic patients at baseline developed type 2 diabetes mellitus after a median follow-up of 60 months. Cox regression analyses showed that patients who belonged to the group that increased plant protein intake exhibited a lower risk of developing the disease (HR = 0.64, (0.43–0.96)). Changes in plant protein intake were positively correlated with changes in carbohydrates, fibre, and legumes intake and negatively correlated with changes in saturated fatty acids intake. Results of the present study support the need of improving diet with plant-based proteins to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Formación en Nuevas Tecnologías e Intercambio de Experiencias Innovadoras en la Facultad de Geografía e Historia

Con este Proyecto de Innovación y Mejora de la Calidad Docente, de carácter institucional, se pretende dar continuidad a la etapa de innovación y formación docente que se inició el pasado Curso 2018-2019 en la Facultad de Geografía e Historia de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Así como a las anteriores iniciativas de la Facultad de Geografía e Historia en materia de nuevas tecnologías. El objetivo de este proyecto, siguiendo la metodología del año anterior, ha pretendido promover en nuestra Facultad una formación en el ámbito de la innovación educativa y de las nuevas tecnologías basada en: (i) la formación del Profesorado, del Personal de Administración y Servicios, y del Alumnado de nuestro Centro y (ii) en el intercambio de experiencias innovadoras entre representantes de estos colectivos, para poder hacer uso de las mismas en su desempeño docente, administrativo y formativo, respectivamente. El Proyecto, dirigido por el Vicedecano de Innovación, Nuevas Tecnologías y Comunicación de la Facultad, se adecua a las líneas prioritarias de la convocatoria Innova-Gestión Calidad, puesto que ha servido para profundizar en la innovación y en la mejora de la calidad docente-investigadora a través de programas formativos que, en la actualidad, constituyen objetivos prioritarios de la Estrategia UCM2020 de Investigación

Application of Compositional Data Analysis to Study the Relationship between Bacterial Diversity in Human Faeces and Sex, Age, and Weight

This work uses Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA) to examine the typical human faecal bacterial diversity in 39 healthy volunteers from the Andalusian region (Spain). Stool samples were subjected to high-throughput sequencing of the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene using Illumina MiSeq. The numbers of sequences per sample and their genus-level assignment were carried out using the Phyloseq R package. The alpha diversity indices of the faecal bacterial population were not influenced by the volunteer&rsquo;s sex (male or female), age (19&ndash;46 years), and weight (48.6&ndash;99.0 kg). To study the relationship between these variables and the faecal bacterial population, the ALDEx2 and coda4microbiome CoDA packages were used. Applying ALDEx2, a trend suggesting a connection between sex and the genera Senegalimassilia and Negatibacillus (slightly more abundant in females) and Desulfovibrio (more abundant in males) was found. Moreover, age was tentatively associated with Streptococcus, Tizzerella, and Ruminococaceae_UCG-003, while weight was linked to Senegalimassilia. The exploratory tool of the coda4microbiome package revealed numerous bacterial log-ratios strongly related to sex and, to a lesser extent, age and weight. Moreover, the cross-sectional analysis identified bacterial signature balances able to assign sex to samples regardless of controlling for volunteers&rsquo; age or weight. Desulfovibrio, Faecalitalea, and Romboutsia were relevant in the numerator, while Coprococcus, Streptococcus, and Negatibacillus were prominent in the denominator; the greater presence of these could characterise the female sex. Predictions for age included Caproiciproducens, Coprobacter, and Ruminoclostridium in the numerator and Odoribacter, Ezakiella, and Tyzzerella in the denominator. The predictions depend on the relationship between both groups, but the abundance of the first group and scarcity of the second could be related to older individuals. However, the association of the faecal bacterial population with weight did not yield a satisfactory model, indicating scarce influence. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the CoDA methodology for studying metagenomics data and, specifically, human microbiota

Oral intake of <i>Lactiplantibacillus pentosus</i> LPG1 Produces a Beneficial Regulation of Gut Microbiota in Healthy Persons: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Blind Trial

The search for vegetable-origin probiotic microorganisms is a recent area of interest. This study conducted a phase I clinical trial to assess the effects of oral administration of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus LPG1, a natural strain with probiotic potential isolated from table olive fermentations, on the gut microbiota. The trial was a randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blind study involving 39 healthy volunteers. Group A (n = 20) ingested one capsule/day of L. pentosus LPG1 containing 1 × 1010 UFC/capsule, while Group B (n = 19) received one capsule/day containing only dextrose (placebo). The capsules were taken during breakfast for 30 consecutive days. Human stool samples were collected from all volunteers at the beginning (baseline) and at the end of the study (post-intervention) and were subjected to 16S rRNA metataxonomic analysis using Illumina MiSeq. Sequencing data at the genus level were statistically analysed using traditional methods and compositional data analysis (CoDA). After treatment, the alpha diversity in Group B (placebo) decreased according to an increase in the Berger and Parker dominance index (p-value p-value Lactobacillus genus in the faeces was included in the CoDA signature balances (selbal and coda4microbiome) and played a notable role in distinguishing samples from baseline and post-intervention in Group A (LPG1). Additionally, ingesting L. pentosus LPG1 modified the gut microbiota post-intervention, increasing the presence of Parabacteroides and Agathobacter, but reducing Prevotella. These findings suggest that L. pentosus LPG1 is a potentially beneficial gut microbiota modulator in healthy persons

Telomere maintenance is associated with type 2 diabetes remission in response to a long-term dietary intervention without non-weight loss in patients with coronary heart disease: from the CORDIOPREV randomized controlled trial

In order to evaluate whether telomere maintenance is associated with type 2 diabetes remission, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients without glucose-lowering treatment (183 out of 1002) from the CORDIOPREV study (NCT00924937) were randomized to consume a Mediterranean or low-fat diet. Patients were classified as Responders, those who reverted from type 2 diabetes during the 5 years of dietary intervention (n = 69), and Non-Responders, who did not achieve diabetes remission by the end of the follow-up period (n = 104). We found no differences in diabetes remission between the two diets, and we determined telomere length (TL) by measuring qPCR, telomerase activity using the TRAP assay, and direct redox balance based on the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSH) via colorimetric assay. Responders exhibited higher baseline TL in comparison with Non-Responders (p = 0.040), and a higher TL at baseline significantly predicted a higher probability of type 2 diabetes remission (OR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 4.41). After the dietary intervention, Non-Responders showed significant telomere shortening (−0.19, 95% CI −0.32 to 0.57; p = 0.005). Telomere shortening was significantly pronounced in type 2 diabetes patients with a worse profile of insulin resistance and/or beta-cell functionality: high hepatic insulin resistance fasting, a high disposition index (−0.35; 95% CI, −0.54 to −0.16; p < 0.001), and a low disposition index (−0.25; 95% CI, −0.47 to −0.01; p = 0.037). In addition, changes in TL were correlated to the GSH/GSSG ratio. Responders also showed increased telomerase activity compared with baseline (p = 0.048), from 0.16 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.23) to 0.28 (95% CI, 0.15 to 0.40), with a more marked increase after the dietary intervention compared with Non-Responders (+0.07; 95% CI, −0.06–0.20; p = 0.049). To conclude, telomere maintenance may play a key role in the molecular mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes remission in newly diagnosed patients. However, further larger-scale prospective studies are necessary to corroborate our findings

Metformin, testosterone, or both in men with obesity and low testosterone: A double-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial.

Men with obesity tend to be insulin resistant and often have low-normal testosterone concentrations. We conducted a clinical trial aimed to evaluate potential therapeutic strategies for low testosterone in men with obesity. We did a 1-year, parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, where we evaluated the independent and combined effects of metformin and testosterone in 106 men with obesity, aged 18-50 years, who had low levels of testosterone and no diabetes mellitus. The primary outcome was change in insulin resistance, measured as Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index. Secondary outcomes included changes in total and free serum testosterone, body composition, metabolic variables, erectile function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the HOMA-IR index decreased significantly in all active groups compared to placebo (metformin -2.4, 95 % CI -4.1 to -0.8, p = 0.004; testosterone -2.7, 95 % CI -4.3 to -1.1, p = 0.001; combination -3.4, 95 % CI -5.0 to -1.8, p  Among men with obesity and low testosterone concentrations, the combination of metformin plus testosterone, metformin only, and testosterone only, compared to placebo, reduced insulin resistance with no evidence of additive benefit