A GIS-based multivariate clustering for characterization and ecoregion mapping from a viticultural perspective

In wine-growing regions, zoning studies define areas according to their potential to produce specific wines and also identify the key drivers behind their variability and optimize vineyard management for sustainable viticulture. However, delineation of homogeneous zones is difficult because of the complex combination of factors which could affect zone classifications. One possibility to capture potential variability is the use of natural environmental properties as they are related to success in grape growing. With the aim of characterizing the spatial variability of the main vine-related environmental variables and determining different zones, climate and topographical data were obtained for Extremadura (southwestern Spain), an important wine region. Firstly, accurate maps of all climate indices were generated by using regression-kriging as the most suitable algorithm in which exhaustive secondary information on elevation was incorporated, and maps of topography-derived variables were obtained using GIS (Geographical Information System) tools. Secondly, principal component analysis and multivariate geographic classification were used to define homogeneous classes, resulting in three zones. Each zone was further characterized by overlaying the zonation map with a geology map and all enviromental layers. It was obtained that although a wide part of the Extremaduran territory has warm climate characteristics, the zones have different viticultural potential and a high proportion of the region lays on suitable substrate. This zonation in Extremadura is the basis for further zoning studies at more detailed field scale and the modeling of vineyard response to climate change

Localización de la Enzima Oxido Nítrico Sintasa y de Proteínas Nitradas en el Septum Medial y Lateral de la Rata Vieja

Con el fin de conocer la posible implicación de los sistemas productores de óxido nítrico en las alteraciones morfofuncionales que, asociadas al septum cerebral, tienen lugar en el envejecimiento, y mediante el empleo de técnicas inmunohistoquímicas y de análisis de imagen, se describe la localización de la enzima óxido nítrico sintasa (NOS), del marcador histoquímico NADPH-diaforasa (NADPH-d), y de los complejos de nitración proteica (N-Tyr) en el septum medial y lateral de ratas adultas y viejas.Los principales resultados obtenidos mostraron un descenso significativo del inmunomarcaje frente a la isoforma neuronal de las NOS con el envejecimiento, y un aumento detectado a nivel vascular para la actividad NADPH-d. Además, se observó un aumento significativo en la formación de complejos N-Tyr tanto a nivel neuronal como glial en las ratas viejas.Puesto que el septum es una región cerebral que forma parte del sistema límbico y que está implicada en funciones tales como el aprendizaje y la memoria, las emociones, el miedo, la agresión y el estrés, se concluye que el sistema nitrérgico puede participar en las alteraciones morfofuncionales del septum cerebral y, por tanto, en el declive cognitivo que suele acompañar a la senescencia

Effect of Cultivar Resistance and Soil Management on Spatial–Temporal Development of Verticillium Wilt of Olive: A Long-Term Study

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, challenges olive cultivation and an Integrated Disease Management (IDM) approach is the best-suited tool to combat it. Since 1998, an IDM strategy in an orchard (called Granon, Spain) of the susceptible cv. Picual was conducted by increasing planting density with moderately resistant cv. Frantoio, chemical weed control, and replanting of dead olives with cv. Frantoio following soil solarization. The Verticillium wilt epidemic in Granon orchard was compared to the epidemic in a non-IDM orchard (called Ancla, Spain) with plowed soil and dead Picual olives replanted with the same cultivar. Field evaluations (2012–2013) showed an incidence and severity of the disease as Picual–Ancla > Picual–Granon > Frantoio–Granon. The spatiotemporal dynamics of the Verticillium epidemics from 1998 to 2010 were monitored with digital images using SIG. The annual tree mortalities were 5.6% for Picual olives in Ancla orchard, and 3.1 and 0.7% for Picual and Frantoio olives in Granon orchard, respectively. There was a negative relationship between the mortality of olive trees (%) by the pathogen and the height (m) above sea level. The annual mortality of cv. Picual olives was positively correlated with spring rainfalls. The Index of Dispersion and beta-binomial distribution showed aggregation of Verticillium-dead olives. In conclusion, this IDM strategy considerably reduced the disease in comparison with traditional agronomic practices

A Statistical Comparative Study of Different Similarity Measures of Consensus in Group Decision Making

Research conducted in collaboration between DMU and University of Granada (Spain). DIGITS, Department of Informatics, Faculty of Technology, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; Department of Quantitative Methods in Economic and Business, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Department of Statistics and Operational Research, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; Department of Computer Science and A.I., University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainNOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in . Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Information Sciences. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2012.09.014An essential aim in group decision making (GDM) problems is to achieve a high level of consensus among experts. Consensus is defined as general or widespread agreement, and it is usually modelled mathematically via a similarity function measuring how close experts’ opinions or preferences are. Similarity functions are defined based on the use of a metric describing the distance between experts’ opinions or preferences. In the literature, different metrics or distance functions have been proposed to implement in consensus models, but no study has been carried out to analyse the influence the use of different distance functions can have in the GDM process. This paper presents a comparative study of the effect of the application of some different distance functions for measuring consensus in GDM. By using the nonparametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test, it is concluded that different distance functions can produce significantly different results. Moreover, it is also shown that their application also has a significant effect on the speed of achieving consensus. Finally, these results are analysed and used to derive decision support rules, based on a convergent criterion, that can be used to control the convergence speed of the consensus process using the compared distance functions.The authors would like to acknowledge FEDER financial support from the Project FUZZYLING-II Project TIN2010-17876; the financial support from the Andalusian Excellence Projects TIC-05299 and TIC-05991, and also from the research Project MTM2009-08886. Prof. Francisco Chiclana would like to acknowledge the financial support from the University of Granada 2012 GENIL Strengthening through Short-Visits research program (Ref. GENIL-SSV)

Nueva base de datos de precipitaciones y temperaturas para Extremadura en el periodo (1989-2018)

Ponencia presentada en: XII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Santiago de Compostela entre el 19 y el 21 de octubre de 2022.[ES]Se ha elaborado una nueva base de datos de precipitaciones medias mensuales y temperaturas máximas y mínimas medias mensuales, con la que se han analizado los datos de 142 estaciones meteorológicas obtenidos de la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) para el periodo (1989-2018). En este estudio se presentan los resultados de diferentes pruebas de homogeneización y relleno de 134, 172 y 176 series de temperaturas y precipitaciones provenientes de las estaciones ubicadas en la región de Extremadura. Para ello, se realizó un primer control de calidad de los datos cumpliendo con los requisitos de la Organización Meteorológica Mundial (OMM) y las recomendaciones indicadas por el Real Instituto Meteorológico de los Países Bajos (KNMI). Posteriormente se llevó a cabo la homogeneización de las series utilizando el software Climatol, en el que se han implementado diferentes funciones que permiten depurar los datos a través de un análisis de los valores atípicos y de la homogeneidad, así como la completación de las lagunas de las series. Los análisis confirman la obtención de unos niveles de depuración de los datos muy altos, confiables y de buena calidad; obteniendo así una nueva base de datos para posteriores estudios climáticos.[EN]A new database of monthly average rainfall and monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures has been developed, with which data from 142 weather stations obtained from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) for the period (1989-2018) have been analysed. This study presents the results of different homogenisation and backfilling tests of 134, 172 and 176 temperature and precipitation series from stations located in the region of Extremadura. For this purpose, a first quality control of the data was carried out in compliance with the requirements of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the recommendations indicated by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). Subsequently, the series were homogenised using Climatol software, in which different functions have been implemented to clean the data through an analysis of outliers and homogeneity, as well as filling in the gaps in the series. The analyses confirm the achievement of very high, reliable and good quality data cleaning levels, thus obtaining a new database for further climate studies.Esta investigación fue financiada por la Junta de Extremadura y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) a través de la ayuda al grupo de investigación Alcántara (TIC008), GR21006, y el Proyecto IB18001 “Análisis y modelización del impacto del cambio climático sobre la distribución de zonas vitícolas en Extremadura”

El grupu neandertal de la Cueva d'El Sidrón (Borines, Piloña).

Na monografía clásica de Puig y Larraz (1896: 250-252) amiéntense delles cavidaes del Conceyu de Piloña2 , pero non la Cueva d’El Sidrón (Fig. 1). Esta conocíase, ensin dulda, dende la Guerra Civil y el maquis al servir d’abellugu a persiguíos políticos, y guarda una alcordanza imborrable nuna de les sos múltiples entraes, yá qu’ellí ta enterrada Olvido Otero González (1908-1938). Per El Sidrón pasaron munches persones a lo llargo de los años, pero en 1994 prodúxose’l descubrimientu per parte d’unos espeleólogos xixoneses d’unos güesos humanos que dieron un importante xiru a la conocencia de los nuesos antepasaos neandertale

Total and Subtypes of Dietary Fat Intake and Its Association with Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Mediterranean Population at High Cardiovascular Risk

Background: The effect of dietary fat intake on the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in turn on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear in individuals at high CVD risk. Objective: To assess the association between fat intake and MetS components in an adult Mediterranean population at high CVD risk. Design: Baseline assessment of nutritional adequacy in participants (n = 6560, men and women, 55-75 years old, with overweight/obesity and MetS) in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial. Methods: Assessment of fat intake (total fat, monounsatured fatty acids: MUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids: PUFA, saturated fatty acids: SFA, trans-fatty acids: trans-FA, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and ω-3 FA) using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality using 17-item Mediterranean dietary questionnaire and fat quality index (FQI). Results: Participants in the highest quintile of total dietary fat intake showed lower intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein and fiber, but higher intake of PUFA, MUFA, SFA, TFA, LA, ALA and ω-3 FA. Differences in MetS components were found according to fat intake. Odds (5th vs. 1st quintile): hyperglycemia: 1.3-1.6 times higher for total fat, MUFA, SFA and ω-3 FA intake; low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c): 1.2 higher for LA; hypertriglyceridemia: 0.7 lower for SFA and ω-3 FA intake. Conclusions: Dietary fats played different role on MetS components of high CVD risk patients. Dietary fat intake was associated with higher risk of hyperglycemia

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

One-year changes in fruit and vegetable variety intake and cardiometabolic risk factors changes in a middle-aged Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk

Background and aims Previous studies have shown beneficial associations between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors. However, variety in FV, which may play an important role on cardiovascular health due to the different nutrient and phytochemical content among the different groups and subgroups of FV has been poorly investigated. We longitudinally investigated associations between 1-year changes in variety and quantity of FV and concurrent changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in elderly subjects with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome. Methods a one-year data longitudinal analysis of 6647 PREDIMED-plus study participants (48% women) was conducted. Data were collected at baseline, six months and 1-year of follow-up. Variety and quantity of FV were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire and continuous scores for variety were created based on items/month of FV. Linear mixed-models adjusted for potential confounders were performed to estimate associations (β-coefficients and 95% confidence interval) between 1-year changes in FV variety and/or quantity and concurrent changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. Results Two points increment in the FV variety score over one year was associated with a concurrent decrease in glucose (−0.33 mg/dL (0.58, −0.07)), body weight (−0.07 kg (−0.13, −0.02)) and waist circumference (WC) (−0.08 cm (−0.16, −10.01)). An increment of 100 g/d of FV over one year was associated with a concurrent decrease in triglycerides (−0.50 mg/dL (−0.93, −0.08)), glucose (−0.21 mg/dL (−0.32, −0.11)), body weight (−0.11 kg (−0.15, −0.07)) and WC (−0.10 cm (−0.14, −0.06)) over 1-year. Changes in FV consumption which led to higher quantity and variety over one year were associated with downward changes in glucose (−1.26 mg/dL (−2.09, −0.43)), body weight (−0.40 kg (−0.58, −0.23)) and WC (−0.50 cm (−0.73, −0.28)). Conclusion Greater variety, in combination with higher quantity of FV was significantly associated with a decrease in several cardiometabolic risk factors among elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk