The role of confidence in the evolution of the Spanish economy: empirical evidence from an ARDL model

The aim of this paper is to verify the existence and to determine the nature of long-term relationships between economic agents' confidence, measured by the Economic Sentiment Index (ESI), with some of the "fundamentals" of the Spanish economy. In particular, by modeling this type of relations, we try to determine whether confidence is a dependent (explained) or independent (explanatory) variable. Along with confidence, in our model we incorporate variables such as risk premium of sovereign debt, financial market volatility, unemployment, inflation, public and private debt and the net lending/net borrowing of the economy. For the purpose of obtaining some empirical evidence on the exogenous or endogenous character of the above mentioned variables an ARDL (Autoregressive-Distributed Lag) model is formulated. The model is estimated with quarterly data of the Spanish economy for the period 1990-2012. Our findings suggest that: (a) unemployment is the dependent variable, (b) there is an inverse relationship between ESI in Spain and unemployment; and (c) the Granger causality goes from confidence to unemployment

Toward Ecosystem-Based Assessment and Management of Small-Scale and Multi-Gear Fisheries: Insights From the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) remain a largely under-assessed and overlooked sector by governments and researchers, despite contributing approximately 50% to global fish landings and providing food and income for millions of people. The multi-species, multi-gear and data-poor nature of SSF makes implementation of traditional single-species management approaches – like catch-quotas or size limits – particularly challenging and insufficient. A more holistic approach is thus required, which demands assessment of ecological impacts. Here we carried out an estimation of selected ecological indicators of the impact of fisheries (mean length, maximum body size, mean trophic level, trophic and spatial guilds, threatened species and landed by-catch) based on the nominal catch of different gears in three representative SSF along the Colombian Pacific using landings data collected in multiple years (2011–2017). Results showed that taxonomic, size-based, functional and conservation features of the nominal catch vary greatly with geographical location and gear type used. Overall, handlines and longlines tend to select larger sizes and higher trophic levels than nets, but they also catch a higher proportion of intrinsically vulnerable species and species of conservation concern. This challenges the idea that more selective gears have overall lower ecological impacts. In contrast, nets target a wider size range – although focusing on small or medium sized fish – and include a higher diversity of trophic and spatial guilds, which could arguably be considered a more “balanced harvest” type of fishing that retains ecosystem structure and functionality. Bottom trawls, though, exhibited a relatively high percentage of landed by-catch, an undesirable feature for any fisheries in terms of sustainability. We propose that the assessment of a suite of ecological indicators, like those implemented here, should be included as part of periodic evaluations of multi-gear and multi-species SSF in tropical coastal areas, as a practical step toward ecosystem-based fisheries management

CHIKUNGUNYA. PRESENTACIÓN DE UN CASO

La Artritis epidémica Chikungunya o Fiebre de Chikungunya, trastorno, similar al dengue, es una forma relativamente rara de fiebre viral, causada por un Alfavirus, que tiene por vector de transmisión las picaduras del mosquito Aedes aegypti y el Aedes albopictus, conocido como el Mosquito Tigre Asiático. El caso que se presenta es de una persona de  42 años de edad, femenina, color de la piel blanca, que hace 24 horas llegó de Haití, con dolor intenso en las articulaciones, con deformidad de codos, muñecas y dedos, rash generalizado y fiebre de 38,5 °C. Los métodos y técnicas de investigación permitieron el análisis para procesar toda la información de la investigación, a través de medios automatizados, todos los datos obtenidos se compararon con la literatura nacional y extranjera actualizada. El  objetivo es proporcionar medidas preventivas eficaces del virus de chikungunya. Las personas con chikungunya (Cook, 2014), con su movilización aumenta los riesgos de multiplicación del padecimiento entre comunidades y países. lo más relevante de los resultados es que las consecuencias sociales que produce el chikungunya por la proliferación del Aedes aegypti y el Aedes albopictus, ponen en alerta su prevención. El auto focal es fundamentales para prevenir el chikungunya. Los principios básicos de métodos diagnósticos y terapéuticos del chikungunya, disminuye no solo la morbilidad sino también la mortalidad

Monitoramento remoto e controle baseados em tecnologia sem fio para a operação da máquina de irrigação de pivô central

La disponibilidad de recursos hídricos para la agricultura es una preocupación creciente en el planeta. Las nuevas tecnologías de la automatización y las comunicaciones ofrecen un conjunto de soluciones para la recolección y el análisis de información que posibilita la toma de decisiones en los sistemas modernos de irrigación agrícola. Se han dado importantes pasos en la automatización de los sistemas de riego, enfocados en determinar los requerimientos adecuados de agua en los cultivos, lo cual incide positivamente en el ahorro de portadores energéticos y recursos hídricos, y en el aumento de la productividad. En el presente trabajo se propone un sistema de control y supervisión en tiempo real, que permite la operación y el monitoreo remoto de máquinas de riego de pivote central. Para ello se emplea un autómata programable y tecnología de comunicación inalámbrica, de acuerdo con las exigencias y características asociadas al contexto de aplicación agrícola.The availability of water resources in agriculture is a growing concern throughout the planet. The new technologies of automation and communications offer a set of solutions for the collection and analysis of information that make possible the decision making in the modern systems of agricultural irrigation. Important steps have been taken in the automation of irrigation systems, focused on the adequate determination of water requirements in crops, which has a positive effect on the saving of energy carriers, water resources, and agricultural productivity. In the present research we propose to perform a real-time control and monitoring system, allowing the operation and remote monitoring of irrigation machines of center pivot. For this, a programmable logic controller and wireless communication technology are used, according with the requirements and characteristics of the context of agricultural application..A disponibilidade de recursos hídricos para a agricultura é uma preocupação crescente do planeta. As novas tecnologias de automação e as comunicações oferecem um conjunto de soluções para a coleta e análise de informação que permite a tomada de decisões em sistemas de irrigação agrícola modernos. Têm sido dados passos importantes na automação de sistemas de irrigação, focados na determinação das necessidades adequadas de água nas culturas, o que afeta positivamente a poupança de fontes de energia e recursos hídricos, bem como o aumento da produtividade. No presente trabalho, é proposto um sistema de controle e supervisão em tempo real, o que permite a operação e o monitoramento remoto de máquinas de irrigação de pivô central. Para isso, são utilizados um autômato programável e tecnologia de comunicação sem fio, de acordo com os requisitos e características associadas ao contexto de aplicação agrícola

Anxious and depressive symptomatology in university students from Bucaramanga during two phases of the COVID-19 quarantine

Introducción: la cuarentena nacional ante el COVID-19 ha involucrado cambios sociales representados en el confinamiento y el distanciamiento; además, ha generado impactos económicos y académicos para los universitarios,los cuales, según antecedentes, representan uno de los grupos poblacionales con mayor susceptibilidad a desarrollar sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva de importancia clínica. Objetivo: comparar la sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva de universitarios, según el género, durante una primera fase, llamada cuarentena obligatoria estricta, y una segunda, conocida como asilamiento preventivo obligatorio. Metodología: mediante un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, no experimental y transversal, se evaluó la sintomatología ansiosa (BAI) y depresiva (BDI-II), en un grupo de universitarios en abril (n = 172) y en un segundo grupo en junio y julio (n = 148), fases de la cuarentena con diferencias en restricciones de aislamiento y confinamiento. Resultados: se reveló que las mujeres universitarias de la primera fase de la cuarentena obtuvieron mayores niveles de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva que los hombres, adicionalmente, también se diferenciaron de las mujeres de la segunda fase, aunque solo en sintomatología somática, tanto ansiosa como depresiva. Mientras que, en la segunda fase de la cuarentena, se evidenció mayor afectación en los hombres universitarios, pues mostraron una mayor sintomatología depresiva en puntuación general y en síntomas somáticos que las mujeres de esa fase, e incluso que los hombres de la primera fase, tanto en sintomatología depresiva como ansiosa. Conclusión: el presente estudio aporta a la comprensión de un fenómeno que ha empezado a explorarse a nivel nacional, pues reveló que las mujeres manifiestan una afectación psíquica temprana, representada en síntomas somáticos desde la fase inicial de la cuarentena, mientras que los hombres expresan una mayor afectación en periodos posteriores, y a partir de síntomas cognitivos; esto invita a investigar variables adicionales asociadas al género y al rol de los universitarios.Introducción: la cuarentena nacional ante el COVID-19 ha involucrado cambios sociales representados en el confinamiento y el distanciamiento; además, ha generado impactos económicos y académicos para los universitarios,los cuales, según antecedentes, representan uno de los grupos poblacionales con mayor susceptibilidad a desarrollar sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva de importancia clínica. Objetivo: comparar la sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva de universitarios, según el género, durante una primera fase, llamada cuarentena obligatoria estricta, y una segunda, conocida como asilamiento preventivo obligatorio. Metodología: mediante un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo, no experimental y transversal, se evaluó la sintomatología ansiosa (BAI) y depresiva (BDI-II), en un grupo de universitarios en abril (n = 172) y en un segundo grupo en junio y julio (n = 148), fases de la cuarentena con diferencias en restricciones de aislamiento y confinamiento. Resultados: se reveló que las mujeres universitarias de la primera fase de la cuarentena obtuvieron mayores niveles de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva que los hombres, adicionalmente, también se diferenciaron de las mujeres de la segunda fase, aunque solo en sintomatología somática, tanto ansiosa como depresiva. Mientras que, en la segunda fase de la cuarentena, se evidenció mayor afectación en los hombres universitarios, pues mostraron una mayor sintomatología depresiva en puntuación general y en síntomas somáticos que las mujeres de esa fase, e incluso que los hombres de la primera fase, tanto en sintomatología depresiva como ansiosa. Conclusión: el presente estudio aporta a la comprensión de un fenómeno que ha empezado a explorarse a nivel nacional, pues reveló que las mujeres manifiestan una afectación psíquica temprana, representada en síntomas somáticos desde la fase inicial de la cuarentena, mientras que los hombres expresan una mayor afectación en periodos posteriores, y a partir de síntomas cognitivos; esto invita a investigar variables adicionales asociadas al género y al rol de los universitarios.Introduction: The national quarantine against Covid - 19 has involved social changes represented in confinement and distancing and, in addition, economic and academic impacts for university students, who, according to antecedents, represent one of the population groups with the greatest susceptibility to develop anxious and depressive symptoms of clinical importance. Methodology: Through a quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental and cross-sectional study, anxiety (BAI) and depressive symptoms (BDI - II) were evaluated in a group of university students in April (n = 172), and a second group in June and July (n = 148), phases of quarantine with differences in isolation and confinement restrictions. Results: It was revealed that university women in the first phase of quarantine obtained higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than men, additionally, they also differed from women in the second phase, although only in both anxiety and depressive somatic symptoms. While, in the second phase of quarantine, a greater affectation was evidenced in  university men, since they showed greater depressive symptoms in general score and somatic symptoms than women in that phase, and even than men in the first phase, both in depressive and anxious symptoms. Conclusion: The present study contributes to the understanding of a phenomenon that has begun to be explored at the national level, since it revealed that women manifest an early psychic affectation, represented in somatic symptoms from the initial phase of quarantine, while men express a greater affectation in later periods, and from cognitive symptoms; inviting to investigate additional variables associated with gender and the role of university students

Hyperspectral sensors as a management tool to prevent the invasion of the exotic cordgrass "Spartina densiflora" in the Doñana wetlands

We test the use of hyperspectral sensors for the early detection of the invasive denseflowered cordgrass (Spartina densiflora Brongn.) in the Guadalquivir River marshes, Southwestern Spain. We flew in tandem a CASI-1500 (368–1052 nm) and an AHS (430–13,000 nm) airborne sensors in an area with presence of S. densiflora. We simplified the processing of hyperspectral data (no atmospheric correction and no data-reduction techniques) to test if these treatments were necessary for accurate S. densiflora detection in the area. We tested several statistical signal detection algorithms implemented in ENVI software as spectral target detection techniques (matched filtering, constrained energy minimization, orthogonal subspace projection, target-constrained interference minimized filter, and adaptive coherence estimator) and compared them to the well-known spectral angle mapper, using spectra extracted from ground-truth locations in the images. The target S. densiflora was easy to detect in the marshes by all algorithms in images of both sensors. The best methods (adaptive coherence estimator and target-constrained interference minimized filter) on the best sensor (AHS) produced 100% discrimination (Kappa = 1, AUC = 1) at the study site and only some decline in performance when extrapolated to a new nearby area. AHS outperformed CASI in spite of having a coarser spatial resolution (4-m vs. 1-m) and lower spectral resolution in the visible and near-infrared range, but had a better signal to noise ratio. The larger spectral range of AHS in the short-wave and thermal infrared was of no particular advantage. Our conclusions are that it is possible to use hyperspectral sensors to map the early spread S. densiflora in the Guadalquivir River marshes. AHS is the most suitable airborne hyperspectral sensor for this task and the signal processing techniques target-constrained interference minimized filter (TCIMF) and adaptive coherence estimator (ACE) are the best performing target detection techniques that can be employed operationally with a simplified processing of hyperspectral images.This study has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the research projects HYDRA (No. CGL2006-02247/BOS) and HYDRA2 (CGL2009-09801/BOS), by the National Parks Authority (Organismo Autonomo de Parques Nacionales) of the Spanish Ministry of Environment to project OAPN 042/2007, and by funding from the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 641762 to ECOPOTENTIAL project. The Espacio Natural de Donana provided permits for field work in protected areas with restricted access. We are grateful to the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Spain, for performing the airborne campaign and the geometric correction of the images. J.B. has to acknowledge a sabbatical stay at Pye Laboratory of the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO) Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Australia, and at the Climate Change Cluster (C3) of the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, during data analysis and writing of this paper. This publication is a contribution from CEIMAR and also a contribution from CEICAMBIO

Efecto del bioproducto CBQ-AgroG® sobre la respuesta morfofisiológica y agronómica de frijol común cultivar ‘CIAP 7247'

The lack of chemical fertilizers has stimulated the use of alternatives to increase plant growth and production such as the use of bioproducts. The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of microbial origin CBQ-AgroG® bioproduct on the physiological and agronomic response of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivar 'CIAP-7247'. Seeds with basic category were used and three doses of the CBQ-AgroG® bioproduct (10.0, 20.0 and 30.0 l ha-1) were used and compared with an absolute control and a relative control (Fitomas E, 2.0%). The height, number of leaves per plant, fresh mass, dry mass and leaf area were evaluated. In addition, the agricultural yield and its components were estimated. Plants increased height up to 45 days after sowing. The maximum values of the morphophysiological variables number of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry mass were reached 45 days after sowing. Subsequently, they decreased until reaching physiological maturity. With the doses of 20.0 and 30.0 l ha-1, all the morphophysiological and agronomic indicators reached significantly higher values with respect to the rest of the treatments. The first dose is recommended as it is cheaper.La carencia de fertilizantes químicos ha estimulado el uso de alternativas para incrementar el crecimiento vegetal y la producción como el uso de bioproductos. El trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto del bioproducto de origen microbiano CBQ-AgroG® sobre la respuesta fisiológica y agronómica de Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivar ‘CIAP-7247´. Se utilizaron semillas con categoría básica y se emplearon tres dosis del bioproducto CBQ-AgroG® (10.0, 20.0 y 30.0 l ha-1) y se compararon con un control absoluto y un control relativo (Fitomas E, 2.0%). Se evaluó la altura, número de hojas por planta, masa fresca, masa seca y área foliar. Además, se estimó el rendimiento agrícola y sus componentes. Las plantas incrementaron la altura hasta los 45 días después de la siembra. Los máximos valores de la variables morfofisiológicas número de hojas, área foliar, masa fresca y seca se alcanzaron a los 45 días después de la siembra. Posteriormente decrecieron hasta alcanzar la madurez fisiológica. Con las dosis de 20.0 y 30.0 l ha-1 todos los indicadores morfofisiológicos y agronómicos alcanzaron valores significativamente superiores con respecto al resto de los tratamientos. Se recomienda la primera dosis por ser más económica

Rationale, design and preliminary results of the GALIPEMIAS study (prevalence and lipid control of familial dyslipidemia in Galicia, northwest Spain)

[Abstract] Aims. There is little information on the familial nature of dyslipidemias in the Spanish population. This knowledge could have potential diagnostic and treatment implications. The objective of the GALIPEMIAS study was to determine the prevalence of familial dyslipidemia in Galicia, as well as determine the degree of lipid control in the participants. Prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) was also estimated. This paper presents the design, methodology and selected preliminary results. Methodology. A cross‐sectional study was performed in the population aged ≥18 years using cluster sampling and then random sampling. A sample of 1000 subjects was calculated and divided into three sequential phases with a specific methodology for each one. Phase I: selection of subjects from the general population and collection of informed consent documents; Phase II: collection of data from the digital clinical history to select subjects with dyslipidemia according to study criteria; Phase III: personal interview, blood analysis, family tree, and definitive diagnosis of dyslipidemia. Prevalence of different diseases and active medication was analysed. Corrected prevalence (to the reference population) of different risk factors and ASCVD was estimated. Results. Phase I participation was 89.5%. We extracted complete information from 93% of the participants (Phase II). According to the study′s own criteria, 56.5% (n = 527) of the participants had some form of dyslipidemia and almost 33.7% of them had familial dyslipidemia with autosomal dominant inherit pattern. The corrected prevalence of ASCVD was 5.1% (95% CI 3.1‐7.2). Conclusions. Dyslipidemia was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in our population with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern in one out of every three dyslipidemia cases. Approximately, 5.1% of the sample population aged ≥18 has suffered an episode of ACVD

Primer consenso en leucemia linfocítica crónica de la agrupación mexicana para el estudio de la hematología: epidemiología, diagnóstico y tratamiento

La leucemia linfocítica crónica (LLC) es la leucemia crónica menos frecuente en México. En consideración a los avances recientes, a una mejor clasificación pronóstica y a la introducción de nuevas modalidades terapéuticas, la Agrupación Mexicana para el Estudio de la Hematología organizó el primer consenso mexicano en leucemia linfocítica crónica. Este consenso se llevó a cabo en Cancún, Quintana Roo, México, en Septiembre del 2007. Los objetivos de esta reunión fueron actualizar y compartir los conocimientos de la enfermedad entre los especialistas mexicanos, con el fin de mejorar el diagnóstico y el pronóstico de la LLC en México. En el artículo se discute los aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos y terapéuticos de la LLC