Dissolved organic matter distribution in the water column and sediment pore water in a highly anthropized coastal lagoon (Mar Menor, Spain): Characteristics, sources, and benthic fluxes.

Coastal lagoons are among the most productive and biodiverse systems in the world and are important sentinels of climate change. The Mar Menor is one of the largest coastal lagoons in the Mediterranean, providing a variety of ecosystem services and resources to the community. However, in recent decades this lagoon has suffered drastic changes and degradation caused by human activities. We analyzed the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the water column and sediment pore water during the summer and winter of 2018 and during eighteen months from 2016 to 2018. Overall, we found that the composition of DOM is mainly related to and enhanced by anthropogenic activities and microbial metabolism. DOM enters the lagoon via urban and agricultural runoff, drainage systems, and wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, strong microbial metabolism in sediments leads to differences in DOM composition between water and sediments. In the water column, humic-like components accounted for 71 % of the total DOM, while protein-like compounds were most abundant in sediment pore water. We observed a strong seasonal variability associated with precipitation and the system collapse in 2016 (phytoplankton bloom), which resulted in the death of 80 % of macrophytes. The sediments act as a source of DOM to the overlying water, likely due to relatively high organic matter content and intense microbial activity, primarily through anaerobic pathways. Benthic fluxes of DOC ranged from 5.24 to 33.30 mmol m-2 d-1, being higher in winter than summer 2018 and decreasing from north to south, likely related to lower residence time in the northern basin, groundwater discharge and accumulation of organic matter from the dead meadows. We estimate a net flux of DOC from the Mar Menor toward the Mediterranean Sea of 1.57 × 107 mol yr-1.

Greenhouse gas assemblages (CO2, CH4 and N2O) in the continental shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Iberian Peninsula).

This study examines the simultaneous water-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz, as well as the effect it has in terms of the radiative balance in the atmosphere, between 2014 and 2016. The experimental database consists of new measurements of the spatial and seasonal distribution of CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) and N2O concentration in 2016. pCO2 shows a wide range of variation influenced mainly by seasonal thermal variations (8.0 µatm 0C-1), as well as with the relative intensity of biological activity. There is experimental evidence of a progressive increase of pCO2 over the last 2 decades, with an estimated gradient of 4.2 ± 0.7 µatm y-1. During 2016, the Gulf of Cadiz acted as a slight source of CO2 to the atmosphere, with a mean flux of 0.4 ± 2.2 mmol m-2 d-1. The analysis of concentration variations in the water column shows that nitrification is the main N2O production process in the study area, although in the more coastal zone there are signs of inputs related to continental and sediment contributions, most probably induced by denitrification processes. In 2016, the Gulf of Cadiz acted as a weak sink of atmospheric N2O, with a mean flux of -0.1 ± 0.9 µmol m-2 d-1. From previous studies, performed with a similar methodology, an interannual database (2014-2016) of water-atmosphere fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O, normalized to the mean wind speed in the area, has been generated. Considering their respective Global Warming Potential (GWP) a joint greenhouse gasses (GHG) flux, expressed in CO2 equivalents of 0.6 ± 2.0 mmol m-2 d-1, has been estimated, which extended to the area of study indicates an approximate emission of 67.9 Gg CO2 y-1. However, although there is a high uncertainty associated with the spatial, temporal and interannual variations of CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes in the Gulf of Cadiz, the exchange of greenhouse gasses could be influencing a radiative forcing increase in the atmosphere. When considering the available information on local and global estimates, the uncertainty about the effect of the joint exchange of GHGs to the atmosphere from the coastal seas increases significantly.

Dynamic of CO2, CH4 and N2O in the Guadalquivir estuary.

The concentration of dissolved CH4 and N2O, as well as the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) were studied in the Guadalquivir estuary. Samples were taken in March and April 2018 and 2019, under different rainy and tidal conditions. The available database for summer 2017 (Sierra et al., 2020) was included in the interpretation of the factors that determine the variability of these gases in the Guadalquivir estuary. Two different types of samplings were carried out: a longitudinal transect across the river with salinity values close to zero and another one during two consecutive tidal cycles in the mouth of the estuary. The highest concentrations were found in the upper zone of the estuary and during the low tide. This distribution was related to 4 factors: temperature, salinity, exchange with the atmosphere, and biochemical processes together with the river inputs. Temperature is one of the factors that clearly seems to determine the distribution of gases and fluxes, showing the highest values in the upper zone during the summer of 2017. Intense rains cause a dilution effect of the gas in the water column, this provoked, during the season of spring 2018, an increase in the salinity factor in the distribution of gases in the middle zone. High concentrations of the gases have been linked to production processes in the water column, as well as to benthic production and lateral inputs. While the gases concentrations at the mouth presented values close to those of the equilibrium with the atmosphere, the fluxes in the upper zone of the estuary reached average values of 89.6 mmol m-2 d-1, 121.7 µmol m-2 d-1 and 59.9 µmol m-2 d-1 for CO2, CH4 and N2O, respectively. Generally, water-atmosphere fluxes are positive through the whole study, which means that the estuary acts as a source of these gasses to the atmosphere.

Linkages between greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, and N2O) and dissolved organic matter composition in a shallow estuary.

Estuarine systems receive large amounts of organic matter that enhance the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Despite considerable research on GHGs and dissolved organic matter (DOM) distribution in estuaries, little is known about the linkage between these gases and DOM composition. Here we evaluated the relationship between three GHGs (CO2, CH4, and N2O) and DOM composition, determined through optical properties, in Guadalete estuary (Bay of Cadiz, Spain). The partial pressure of CO2, and CH4 and N2O concentrations ranged between 332.8 and 6807.1 µatm, 19.9-6440.1 nM, and 6.8-283.9 nM, respectively. Thus, the Guadalete estuary was a source of CO2, CH4 and N2O to the atmosphere. We validated three PARAFAC components related to humic-like fluorescence from terrestrial, microbial and effluent sources, and one with protein-like material. Humic-like components accounted for 86% ± 6% of the total FDOM pool, indicating a predominantly allochthonous DOM origin. The three GHGs were significantly linked to DOC concentration and DOM composition, exhibiting different patterns in these linkages. Terrestrial and microbial humic-like substances with increasing aromaticity might enhance pCO2 in Guadalete estuary. Dissolved CH4 concentrations showed the strongest relationship with DOM composition, indicating that humic and protein-like material are linked with their distribution. In contrast, dissolved N2O was only related with the protein-like fraction and with humic-like material derived from anthropogenic activities (sewage and agriculture). Our results further indicate that a possible coupling between benthic fluxes of GHGs and DOM might be occurring in this shallow estuary. We conclude that it is important to account for DOM composition when studying GHGs distribution in estuarine systems to understand their roles and potential responses associated with climate change.

"Greenhouse gas dynamics in a coastal lagoon during the recovery of the macrophyte meadow (Mar Menor, SE Spain)".

The Mar Menor is a hypersaline coastal lagoon with salinity values ranging from 41.9 to 45.5. The system is subjected to a high anthropic pressure that causes an intense eutrophication process, followed by a recovery of the macrophyte meadows. This study focuses on the distribution of the main greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) and was carried out in the extreme seasonal conditions of winter and summer during the year 2018. Sediment-water-atmosphere exchanges and biochemical processes in the water column appeared to be the main factors to explain the variability of these gases. Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), CH4 and N2O benthic fluxes values obtained in this study, were of 91 ± 29 mmol m-2 d-1, 3.9 ± 1.9 µmol m-2 d-1 and -0.65 µmol m-2 d-1, respectively, along with an important seasonal variation observed, with an increase of DIC and CH4 benthic fluxes during the summer season. Mean values of partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in surface water were of 579 µatm in winter and 464 µatm in summer, therefore we can establish that the Mar Menor acts as a source of this gas emitting 3.3 ± 3.0 mmol CO2 m-2 d-1 to the atmosphere. In spite of this, the Mar Menor has a strong autotrophic behaviour partly due to the recovery of the macrophyte meadows, presenting an estimated NEP of 101 mmol m-2 d-1. Regarding to CH4, the mean fluxes to the atmosphere were of 8.0 ± 5.8 µmol m-2 d-1 and there was evidence of CH4 production in the water column that increased in summer. Last of all, in the case of N2O the system acts as a sink with values of -0.65 ± 0.5 µmol m-2 d-1, presenting an intake of N2O that is usually detected in pristine systems.

Análisis de letalidad por COVID-19 en pacientes con demencia neurodegenerativa / Case fatality of COVID-19 in patients with neurodegenerative dementia

INTRODUCTION: The elderly population is the group most threatened by COVID-19, with the highest mortality rates. This study aims to analyse the case fatality of COVID-19 in a cohort of patients with degenerative dementia. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive case-control study of a sample of patients diagnosed with primary neurodegenerative dementia. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 88 patients with COVID-19 included in the study died: 10/23 (43.4%) patients diagnosed with dementia and 14/65 (21.5%) controls; this difference was statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that case fatality of COVID-19 is significantly higher among patients with primary degenerative dementia than in other patients with similar mean ages and comorbidities

INTRODUCCIÓN: La población anciana es la más amenazada por COVID-19, con mayores tasas de mortalidad. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la letalidad en una cohorte de pacientes de COVID-19 con demencia degenerativa. MÉTODOS: Hicimos un estudio descriptivo de casos-control de una muestra de pacientes diagnosticados con demencias neurodegenerativas primarias. RESULTADOS: De los 88 pacientes incluidos en el estudio, 24 pacientes con COVID-19 fallecieron: 10/23 (43,4%) eran pacientes con diagnóstico de demencia y 14/65 (21,5%) pacientes del grupo control, una diferencia estadísticamente significativa. DISCUSIÓN: La letalidad entre los pacientes con demencia degenerativa primaria por COVID-19 es significativamente mayor en comparación con otros pacientes con edades medias y comorbilidades similares, según nuestro estudio

Case fatality of COVID-19 in patients with neurodegenerative dementia. / Análisis de letalidad por COVID-19 en pacientes con demencia neurodegenerativa.

INTRODUCTION: The elderly population is the group most threatened by COVID-19, with the highest mortality rates. This study aims to analyse the case fatality of COVID-19 in a cohort of patients with degenerative dementia. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive case-control study of a sample of patients diagnosed with primary neurodegenerative dementia. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 88 patients with COVID-19 included in the study died: 10/23 (43.4%) patients diagnosed with dementia and 14/65 (21.5%) controls; this difference was statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that case fatality of COVID-19 is significantly higher among patients with primary degenerative dementia than in other patients with similar mean ages and comorbidities.

Señalización celular asociada a especies reactivas de oxígeno y su rol en cicatrización de heridas / Cellular signaling associated with reactive oxygen species and their role in wound healing

La señalización celular es un complejo mecanismo molecular que consiste en la transferencia de información proveniente de un ambiente externo celular, que es recibida, traducida y convertida en una respuesta interna, permitiendo comunicar a la célula con su entorno y con otras células. A nivel intracelular se generan una cascada de señales que involucra la formación de mensajeros que tienen por objetivo modificar la expresión génica. Sin embargo, existen muchos factores que regulan la actividad de estos mensajeros, entre ellos la formación de especies reactivas de oxigeno (ROS). Se ha observado que la producción de ROS está asociada a muchas patologías y por lo tanto pueden afectar una vía de señalización celular que en condiciones normales está regulada. No obstante, se ha observado en los últimos años que ROS es fisiológicamente necesario para que la célula cumpla mucha de sus funciones y que en el ambiente intracelular está totalmente regulado existiendo un balance entre oxidantes y antioxidantes, pero que el balance se pierde cuando existe una depleción de los sistemas antioxidantes y/o una producción de radicales libres que conlleva a un ambiente oxidante. En la presente revisión narrativa se hizo un análisis de las principales vías de señalización celular que son regulados por ROS y como esto podría estar asociado al proceso de cicatrización de heridas.

Cellular signaling is a complex molecular mechanism that consists of the transference of data from an external cellular environment that is received, translated and converted into an internal response, allowing the cell to communicate with the environment and other cells. At the intra-cellular level, a torrent of signals is generated that involves the formation of messengers which aim to modify the gene expression. However, many factors regulate the activity of these messengers, such as the formation of oxygen reactive species (ROS). It has been noted that the production of ROS is linked to many pathologies and therefore can affect a cellular signaling pathway that in normal conditions would be regulated. However, it has been noted in the past years that ROS is physiologically needed for the cell to fulfill many of its functions and that is normalized in the intra-cellular environment existing a balance between oxidants and antioxidants, but the balance is lost whenever there is a depletion of the anti-oxidant systems and /or production of free radicals leading to an oxidant environment. In the present narrative review, an analysis of the main cellular signaling pathways regulated by ROS was made, and how this could be linked to the wound healing process.

[Case fatality of COVID-19 in patients with neurodegenerative dementia]. / Análisis de letalidad por COVID-19 en pacientes con demencia neurodegenerativa.

Introduction: The elderly population is the group most threatened by COVID-19, with the highest mortality rates. This study aims to analyse the case fatality of COVID-19 in a cohort of patients with degenerative dementia. Methods: We conducted a descriptive case-control study of a sample of patients diagnosed with primary neurodegenerative dementia. Results: Twenty-four of the 88 patients with COVID-19 included in the study died: 10/23 (43.4%) patients diagnosed with dementia and 14/65 (21.5%) controls; this difference was statistically significant. Discussion: Our results suggest that case fatality of COVID-19 is significantly higher among patients with primary degenerative dementia than in other patients with similar mean ages and comorbidities.

Tos persistente y neuropatía laríngea / Persistent cough and laryngeal neuropathy

RESUMEN La tos persistente es un síntoma de consulta frecuente, de origen multifactorial, que involucra a diferentes especialidades como la neumología, la gastroenterología y la otorrinolaringología. Sus causas más frecuentes son la descarga nasal posterior, tos como variante del asma y reflujo gastroesofágico/faringolaríngeo. Una vez descartadas dichas causas, cobran importancia los trastornos sensoriales del nervio vago, una entidad relativamente nueva que también es conocida como neuropatía laríngea sensitiva. En la neuropatía laríngea, una injuria a nivel neuronal aferente del reflejo de la tos produce un estado de hipersensibilidad laríngea en la que estímulos normalmente ignorados (que no producen respuesta tusígena) comienzan a gatillar el reflejo. Las características clínicas de la tos y el descarte de las causas más frecuentes permite llegar a este diagnóstico. Su tratamiento tiene como objetivo la modulación de las vías neuronales alteradas basándose en 3 pilares: educación sobre la patología, recomendaciones conductuales (higiene vocal, estrategias de reducción de tos) y los fármacos entre los que se usan los inhibidores de bomba de protones, mucolíticos y neuromoduladores.

ABSTRACT Persistent cough is a common symptom for medical consultation, it is of multifactorial origin and involves different specialties such as pneumology gastroenterology and otorhinolaryngology. The most frequent causes are postnasal drip, cough variant asthma and gastroesophageal/pharyngolaryngeal reflux. Once these causes are discarded the vagus nerve sensory disorder becomes of importance, it is a relatively new entity also known as laryngeal sensitive neuropathy. In the laryngeal neuropathy, an injury in the afferent neuronal pathway of the cough reflex produces laryngeal hypersensitivity in which normally ignored stimulus (i.e. do not cause cough) start to trigger the reflex. The clinical features of the cough and the rule out of the most frequent causes allow the diagnosis. The objective of the treatment is to modulate the altered neuronal pathways based on 3 pillars: education regarding the pathology, behavioral recommendations (vocal hygiene, cough reduction strategies) and drugs among which proton pump inhibitors, mucolytics and neuromodulators are used.

Tensor algebra-based geometric methodology to codify central chirality on organic molecules.

A novel mathematical procedure to codify chiral features of organic molecules in the QuBiLS-MIDAS framework is introduced. This procedure constitutes a generalization to that commonly used to date, where the values 1 and -1 (correction factor) are employed to weight the molecular vectors when each atom is labelled as R (rectus) or S (sinister) according to the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules. Therefore, values in the range [Formula: see text] with steps equal to 0.25 may be accounted for. The atoms labelled R or S can have negative and positive values assigned (e.g. -3 for an R atom and 1 for an S atom, or vice versa), opposed values (e.g. -3 for an R atom and 3 for an S atom, or vice versa), positive values (e.g. 3 for an R atom and 1 for an S atom) or negative values (e.g. -3 for an R atom and -1 for an S atom). These proposed Chiral QuBiLS-MIDAS 3D-MDs are real numbers, non-symmetric and reduced to 'classical' (non-chiral) QuBiLS-MIDAS 3D-MDs when symmetry is not codified (correction factor equal to zero). In this report, only the factors with opposed values were considered with the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of this proposal. From QSAR modelling carried out on four chemical datasets (Cramer's steroids, fenoterol stereoisomer derivatives, N-alkylated 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-piperidines, and perindoprilat stereoisomers), it was demonstrated that the use of several correction factors contributes to the building of models with greater robustness and predictive ability than those reported in the literature, as well as with respect to the models exclusively developed with QuBiLS-MIDAS 3D-MDs based on the factor 1 | -1. In conclusion, it can be stated that this novel strategy constitutes a suitable alternative to computed chirality-based descriptors, contributing to the development of good models to predict properties depending on symmetry.

Distribution of N2O in the eastern shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Iberian Peninsula).

Distribution of N2O has been determined in eight cruises along three transects (Guadalquivir, Sancti Petri and Trafalgar) in the Gulf of Cadiz, during 2014 and 2015. The mean N2O value for this area was 10.0±0.9nM, with large spatial and temporal variations. Stratification in the water column has been observed; the concentration of this gas increases with the depth, because of the presence of the Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) and the Mediterranean Outflow Waters (MOW). The N2O production measured in this study is mainly due to nitrification. N2O yields from nitrification were estimated from the linear correlation of the excess of N2O (ΔN2O) with Apparent Oxygen Utilization (AOU) and nitrate (NO3-), with values of their slopes ranged between 0.010 and 0.021% and 0.017-0.025% respectively. There is an onshore - offshore gradient of N2O; the highest values were found at the shallower stations, indicating coastal input and benthic remineralization. The seawater-air flux of N2O is affected by several variables (temperature, AOU and NO3-), and the average flux calculated is 2.7±2.0µmolm-2d-1. The fluxes show a decrease with increasing distance from the coast, and with proximity to the Strait of Gibraltar. The study area behaves as a source of N2O to the atmosphere, with a global emission of 0.18Ggyear-1.

Spatial and seasonal variability of CH4 in the eastern Gulf of Cadiz (SW Iberian Peninsula).

Methane (CH4) concentrations were measured along three sections of the eastern Gulf of Cadiz (designated "Guadalquivir", "Sancti Petri" and "Trafalgar") during eight cruises in 2014 and 2015. The concentration of CH4 varied from 3.6 to 19.7nmolkg-1 (CH4 saturation percent of 122 and 916%), showing seasonal variation. The highest values were found in December 2014 and November 2015. In most of the sampling area the highest concentration of CH4 was found in subsurface waters at depths close to the thermocline, and in the bottom waters near the coast. The seawater-air flux of CH4 ranged between 0.8 and 59.7µmolm-2d-1, showing seasonal variation in function of the temperature of the surface water. In the "Guadalquivir" and "Sancti Petri" sections, the CH4 fluxes increased with proximity to the coast; this may be a result of continental inputs and CH4 emissions from sediments. The whole study area behaves as a source of CH4 to the atmosphere with mean values of 0.5 and 0.6GgCH4yr-1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

N-tuple topological/geometric cutoffs for 3D N-linear algebraic molecular codifications: variability, linear independence and QSAR analysis.

Novel N-tuple topological/geometric cutoffs to consider specific inter-atomic relations in the QuBiLS-MIDAS framework are introduced in this manuscript. These molecular cutoffs permit the taking into account of relations between more than two atoms by using (dis-)similarity multi-metrics and the concepts related with topological and Euclidean-geometric distances. To this end, the kth two-, three- and four-tuple topological and geometric neighbourhood quotient (NQ) total (or local-fragment) spatial-(dis)similarity matrices are defined, to represent 3D information corresponding to the relations between two, three and four atoms of the molecular structures that satisfy certain cutoff criteria. First, an analysis of a diverse chemical space for the most common values of topological/Euclidean-geometric distances, bond/dihedral angles, triangle/quadrilateral perimeters, triangle area and volume was performed in order to determine the intervals to take into account in the cutoff procedures. A variability analysis based on Shannon's entropy reveals that better distribution patterns are attained with the descriptors based on the cutoffs proposed (QuBiLS-MIDAS NQ-MDs) with regard to the results obtained when all inter-atomic relations are considered (QuBiLS-MIDAS KA-MDs - 'Keep All'). A principal component analysis shows that the novel molecular cutoffs codify chemical information captured by the respective QuBiLS-MIDAS KA-MDs, as well as information not captured by the latter. Lastly, a QSAR study to obtain deeper knowledge of the contribution of the proposed methods was carried out, using four molecular datasets (steroids (STER), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), thermolysin inhibitors (THER) and thrombin inhibitors (THR)) widely used as benchmarks in the evaluation of several methodologies. One to four variable QSAR models based on multiple linear regression were developed for each compound dataset following the original division into training and test sets. The results obtained reveal that the novel cutoff procedures yield superior performances relative to those of the QuBiLS-MIDAS KA-MDs in the prediction of the biological activities considered. From the results achieved, it can be suggested that the proposed N-tuple topological/geometric cutoffs constitute a relevant criteria for generating MDs codifying particular atomic relations, ultimately useful in enhancing the modelling capacity of the QuBiLS-MIDAS 3D-MDs.

Uso del láser CO2 en la cirugía de la disfagia cricofaríngea: caso clínico / CO2 Laser use in the surgery of the cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction: case report

La miotomía cricofaríngea es una técnica quirúrgica introducida hace años para el tratamiento de la disfagia asociada a disfunción del músculo cricofaríngeo con o sin divertículo de Zenker, mostrando resultados exitosos que revierten la sintomatologta y mejoran la calidad de vida del paciente. Con los avances científicos surge la cirugía láser endoscópica que permite ser una alternativa quirúrgica segura, viable y efectiva respecto a la miotomía clásica abierta, según diferentes series publicadas, mostrando disminuir los tiempos de anestesia, quirúrgico y de recuperación. En este artículo describimos un caso clínico, la técnica quirúrgica utilizada y los resultados en un paciente con disfagia por disfunción cricofaríngea con buen resultado posoperatorio.

Cricopharyngeal myotomy is a surgical technique introduced years ago for the treatment of dysphagia associated with cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction with or without Zenker’s diverticulum, showing successful results that reverse the symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients. With scientific advances endoscopic laser surgery allows to be an open safe, feasible and effective for classical surgical myotomy alternative, according to various published series showing decreasing times anesthesia, surgical and recovery emerges. In this article we describe a case, the surgical technique used and results in a patient with dysphagia by cricopharyngeal dysfunction with good postoperative outcome.

Perceptrons with Hebbian learning based on wave ensembles in spatially patterned potentials.

A general scheme to realize a perceptron for hardware neural networks is presented, where multiple interconnections are achieved by a superposition of Schrödinger waves. Spatially patterned potentials process information by coupling different points of reciprocal space. The necessary potential shape is obtained from the Hebbian learning rule, either through exact calculation or construction from a superposition of known optical inputs. This allows implementation in a wide range of compact optical systems, including (1) any nonlinear optical system, (2) optical systems patterned by optical lithography, and (3) exciton-polariton systems with phonon or nuclear spin interactions.

Anthropogenic effects on greenhouse gas (CH4 and N2O) emissions in the Guadalete River Estuary (SW Spain).

Coastal areas are subject to a great anthropogenic pressure because more than half of the world's population lives in its vicinity causing organic matter inputs, which intensifies greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Dissolved concentrations of CH4 and N2O have been measured seasonally during 2013 in the Guadalete River Estuary, which flows into the Cadiz Bay (southwestern Spanish coast). It has been intensely contaminated since 1970. Currently it receives wastewater effluents from cities and direct discharges from nearby agriculture crop. Eight sampling stations have been established along 18 km of the estuary. CH4 and N2O were measured using a gas chromatograph connected to an equilibration system. Additional parameters such as organic matter, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll were determinate as well, in order to understand the relationship between physicochemical and biological processes. Gas concentrations increased from the River mouth toward the inner part, closer to the wastewater treatment plant discharge. Values varied widely within 21.8 and 3483.4 nM for CH4 and between 9.7 and 147.6 nM for N2O. Greenhouse gas seasonal variations were large influenced by the precipitation regime, masking the temperature influence. The Guadatete Estuary acted as a greenhouse gas source along the year, with mean fluxes of 495.7 µmol m(-2)d(-1) and 92.8 µmol m(-2)d(-1) for CH4 and N2O, respectively.

Applying the ecosystem services framework to pasture-based livestock farming systems in Europe.

The concept of 'Ecosystem Services' (ES) focuses on the linkages between ecosystems, including agroecosystems, and human well-being, referring to all the benefits, direct and indirect, that people obtain from ecosystems. In this paper, we review the application of the ES framework to pasture-based livestock farming systems, which allows (1) regulating, supporting and cultural ES to be integrated at the same level with provisioning ES, and (2) the multiple trade-offs and synergies that exist among ES to be considered. Research on livestock farming has focused mostly on provisioning ES (meat, milk and fibre production), despite the fact that provisioning ES strongly depends on regulating and supporting ES for their existence. We first present an inventory of the non-provisioning ES (regulating, supporting and cultural) provided by pasture-based livestock systems in Europe. Next, we review the trade-offs between provisioning and non-provisioning ES at multiple scales and present an overview of the methodologies for assessing biophysical trade-offs. Third, we present non-biophysical (economical and socio-cultural) methodologies and applications for ES valuation. We conclude with some recommendations for policy design.

Un nuevo test para la valoración de la memoria episódica. Test episódico y test episódico del cuidador / A new assessment for episodic memory. Episodic memory test and caregiver’s episodic memory test

Introducción y objetivos: Valorar la memoria episódica, adaptándola a la definición del concepto, haciéndola asequible a las familias, y aplicándola con una alta sensibilidad y especificidad, es el concepto del test episódico y el test episódico del cuidador. Métodos y resultados: Se aplicó un test formado por 10 preguntas relacionadas con hechos episódicos a 332 sujetos, de los cuales 65 tenían enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA), 115 deterioro cognitivo leve amnésico (DCLa) y 152 no mostraron alteración cognitiva, según la escala de deterioro global (GDS) de Reisberg. Se calculó la sensibilidad y especificidad del test episódico para detectar EA frente a DCLa y normalidad. El área bajo la curva ROC para el diagnóstico de DCLa fue de 0,94 y el mejor punto de corte fue 20, valor con el que se obtuvo una sensibilidad del 89% y una especificidad del 82%. Con respecto al diagnóstico de EA, el área bajo la curva ROC fue de 0,99 y el mejor punto de corte fue 17, con el que se obtuvo una sensibilidad del 98% y una especificidad del 91%. Un estudio posterior con similar metodología demostró resultados similares cuando el test era pasado directamente por el cuidador. Conclusiones: El test episódico y el test episódico del cuidador son herramientas útiles como test breves de cribado para la captación de enfermos con EA en estadios iniciales, adecuadas para la utilización en atención primaria y en él domicilio, al poder ser pasado directamente por el cuidador. Las limitaciones del test vienen dadas por la necesidad de un cuidador fiable y por la medición exclusiva de la memoria episódica (AU)

Introduction and objectives: The purpose of the episodic memory test and the caregiver’s episodic memory test is to evaluate episodic memory according to its definition in a way that is feasible for families and achieves high degrees of sensitivity and specificity. Methods and results: We administered a test consisting of 10 questions about episodic events to 332 subjects, of whom 65 had Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 115 had amnestic MCI (aMCI) and 152 showed no cognitive impairment according to Reisberg’s global deterioration scale (GDS). We calculated the test’s sensitivity and specificity to distinguish AD from episodic aMCI and from normal ageing. The area under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of aMCI was 0.94 and the best cut-off value was 20; for that value, sensitivity was 89% and specificity was 82%. For a diagnosis of AD, the area under the ROC curve was 0.99 and the best cut-off point was 17, with a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 91%. A subsequent study using similar methodology yielded similar results when the test was administered directly by the caregiver. Conclusions: The episodic memory test and the caregiver’s episodic memory test are useful as brief screening tools for identifying patients with early-stage AD. It is suitable for use by primary care medical staff and in the home, since it can be administered by a caregiver. The test’s limitations are that it must be administered by a reliable caregiver and the fact that it measures episodic memory only (AU)

[A new assessment for episodic memory. Episodic memory test and caregiver's episodic memory test]. / Un nuevo test para la valoración de la memoria episódica. Test episódico y test episódico del cuidador.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the episodic memory test and the caregiver's episodic memory test is to evaluate episodic memory according to its definition in a way that is feasible for families and achieves high degrees of sensitivity and specificity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We administered a test consisting of 10 questions about episodic events to 332 subjects, of whom 65 had Alzheimer's disease (AD), 115 had amnestic MCI (aMCI) and 152 showed no cognitive impairment according to Reisberg's global deterioration scale (GDS). We calculated the test's sensitivity and specificity to distinguish AD from episodic aMCI and from normal ageing. The area under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of aMCI was 0.94 and the best cut-off value was 20; for that value, sensitivity was 89% and specificity was 82%. For a diagnosis of AD, the area under the ROC curve was 0.99 and the best cut-off point was 17, with a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 91%. A subsequent study using similar methodology yielded similar results when the test was administered directly by the caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: The episodic memory test and the caregiver's episodic memory test are useful as brief screening tools for identifying patients with early-stage AD. It is suitable for use by primary care medical staff and in the home, since it can be administered by a caregiver. The test's limitations are that it must be administered by a reliable caregiver and the fact that it measures episodic memory only.