The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has not halted farmland biodiversity loss. The CAP post‐2023 has a new ‘‘Green Architecture,’’ including the new ‘‘Eco‐scheme’’ instrument. How ...can this new Green Architecture help tackle the biodiversity crisis? Through 13 workshops and an online survey, over 300 experts from 23 European Member States addressed this question.
From experts’ contributions, key principles for success include preserving and restoring (semi)natural elements and extensive grasslands; improving spatial planning and landscape‐scale implementation, including through collective actions; implementing result‐based approaches; and improved knowledge exchange. To maximize the effectiveness of Eco‐scheme for biodiversity, experts highlighted the need to prioritize evidence‐based actions, allocate a sufficient budget for biodiversity, and incentivize management improvements through higher payment levels. Additionally, stronger coherence is needed among CAP instruments.
For effective CAP implementation, the European Commission and the Member States should expand investments in biodiversity monitoring, knowledge transfer, and capacity‐building within relevant institutions. The remaining risks in the CAP's ability to reverse the loss of farmland biodiversity still require better design, closer monitoring, greater transparency, and better engagement with farmers. Additionally, greater involvement of scientists is needed to guide the CAP toward restoring farmland biodiversity while accounting for synergies and trade‐offs with other objectives.
It is well known that as part of their response to infectious agents such as viruses, microglia transition from a quiescent state to an activated state that includes proinflammatory and ...anti-inflammatory phases; this behavior has been described through in vitro studies. However, recent in vivo studies on the function of microglia have questioned the two-phase paradigm; therefore, a change in the frequency of in vitro studies is expected. A systematic review was carried out to identify the microglial cytokine profile against viral infection that has been further evaluated through in vitro studies (pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory), along with analysis of its publication frequency over the years. For this review, 531 articles published in the English language were collected from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO and ResearchGate. Only 27 papers met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. In total, 19 cytokines were evaluated in these studies, most of which are proinflammatory; the most common are IL-6, followed by TNF-α and IL-1β. It should be pointed out that half of the studies were published between 2015 and 2022 (raw data available in
https://github.com/dadriba05/SystematicReview.git
). In this review, we identified that evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokines released by microglia against viral infections has been performed more frequently than that of anti-inflammatory cytokines; additionally, a higher frequency of evaluation of the response of microglia cells to viral infection through in vitro studies from 2015 and beyond was noted.
Graphical Abstract
In vitro assessment of microglia-released cytokines upon viral infection has been more frequent since 2015 and has focused more on pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Land-use change is the main driver of biodiversity loss in the Mediterranean basin. New socio-economic conditions produced a rewilding process so that cultural landscapes are being invaded by more ...natural habitats. We analyze the effects of landscape change on the demography and the spatial distribution of Crocidura russula in six protected areas of the western Mediterranean basin. The study was conducted in the period 2008–2020 on 19 live trapping plots representing the three main natural habitats of the area (scrubland, pinewood, and holm oak woodland). We used a multiscale approach to ensure that the scale of response matched landscape structure (from plot to landscape) using either vegetation profiles (LiDAR) and land use data obtained from years 2007 and 2017. Statistical models (multiple-season single-species occupancy models) showed that C. russula populations were strongly associated to habitat features at the plot level. These models were used to predict occupancy at sampling units for the whole study area (850 km2), showing contrasting trends that shifted at relatively small spatial scales (expansions and retractions of species ranges). Parks showing extreme scrubland encroachment (−8% of area) and afforestation (+6%) significantly reduced habitat suitability for shrews and reductions in occupancy (−5%). Results would indicate faster changes in the spatial distribution of the target species than previously expected on the basis of climate change, driven by fast landscape changes.
A new hydrolysis method for producing peptides from porcine hemoglobin has been developed. Current processes are based on the use of expensive enzymes or high hydrostatic pressures. In the present ...study, a cheap and effective process has been assayed to produce peptides from purified porcine hemoglobin. A solution of purified hemoglobin is heated at different temperatures and pressurized at 4 MPa while a stream of nitrogen is injected into the reactor. A total of 82% of initial hemoglobin was transformed into peptides presenting an average size of 3.2 kDa. Some preferential hydrolyzed bonds have been detected. The peptide size distribution was evaluated at different times and temperatures. It has been demonstrated that this technique produces large amounts of peptides possessing good antioxidant properties. Furthermore, functional properties are conserved, and a desirable decrease in color (80%) is achieved.
Del lector ideal al mediador competente Díaz-Díaz, Mario; Echegoyen, Yolanda; Martín-Ezpeleta, Antonio
Ocnos,
07/2022, Letnik:
21, Številka:
2
Journal Article
En el camino de fijar claves que permitan introducir cambios instruccionales y didácticos que sirvan para optimizar la formación inicial de docentes, este trabajo tiene por objetivo principal ...analizar los hábitos lectores (autopercepción de nivel lector, frecuencia lectora, motivación…) que presentan 170 maestros en formación en relación con el formato de lectura preferido (digital o convencional) y con la percepción de las estrategias metacognitivas lectoras que emplean. Los resultados muestran preferencias por los medios digitales para el caso de la lectura recreativa y académica, así como una mejor relación con la lectura, estadísticamente significativa, para el caso de las mujeres. También se concluye una correlación positiva y significativa entre hábitos lectores y percepción de la metacognición lectora, la cual merece ser tenida en cuenta para reforzar los procesos lectores (digital y convencional) durante la formación de estos futuros mediadores de la lectura.
A simple method of egg yolk fractionation was carried out and three fractions (granules, lipidic paste and watery fraction) were obtained. The chemical and physical properties of each fraction were ...assessed in order to evaluate its potential new applications. Additionally, lyophilization was evaluated as a possible technique to increase product shelf life.
From a structural point of view, granules stress resistance is higher than in the case of the lipidic paste. Cure test and differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed that granules proteins are more resistant to heat denaturation than lipidic paste proteins. However, heat denaturation resistance of granules proteins is affected by freeze-drying process. Granules colour is not affected by lyophilization, while lipidic paste colour suffers a slight modification. Granules and lipidic paste, both fresh and lyophilized, have high emulsifying properties at all pH studied. Particle size measurements and scanning electron microscopy showed an increase in particle size of lyophilized fractions. According to their composition, granules, lipidic paste and watery fraction seem to be suitable to be employed as potential ingredients in food, cosmetic and biotechnological uses, respectively.
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Thermal pre-treatments of activated sludge involve the release of a high amount of polymeric substances into the bulk medium. The molecular size of these polymers will largely define the subsequent ...biological treatment of the liquid effluent generated. In this work, the effects of wet oxidation treatment (WO) on the fingerprints of the polymeric substances which compose the activated sludge, were analysed. For a better understanding of these transformations, the sludge was separated into its main fractions: soluble microbial products (SMP), loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS), tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS) and naked cells, and then each one was subjected to WO separately (190 °C and 65 bar), determining the fingerprints evolution by size exclusion technique. Results revealed a fast degradation of larger molecules (over 500 kDa) during the first minutes of treatment (40 min). WO also increases the absorptive properties of proteins (especially for 30 kDa), which is possibly due to the hydroxylation of phenylalanine amino acids in their structure. WO of naked cells involved the formation of molecules between 23 and 190 kDa, which are related to the release of cytoplasmic polymers, and more hydrophobic polymers, probably from the cell membrane. The results allowed to establish a relationship between the location of polymeric material and its facility to become oxidised; thus, the more internal the polymeric material in the cell, the easier its oxidation.
When working directly with the raw sludge, hydrolysis mechanisms played a key role during the starting period. Once a high degree of solubilisation was reached, the molecules were rapidly oxidised into other compounds with refractory characteristics. The final effluent after WO showed almost 90% of low molecular weight solubilised substances (0–35 kDa).
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•High and fast degree of solubilisation initially, with polymers ranging 23–190 kDa.•Oxidation reactions have a screening effect on molecular size of polymers.•Final effluent: 90% of low molecular weight solubilized substances (<35 kDa).•Possible proteins modification by phenylalanine hydroxylation during wet oxidation.•Refractoriness to oxidation: SMP > LB-EPS > TB-EPS > naked cells.
In this paper, we measure the effect of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic wave at the national and subnational levels in selected Latin American countries that were most affected: Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, ...Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. We used publicly available monthly mortality data to measure the impacts of the pandemic using excess mortality for each country and its regions. We compare the mortality, at national and regional levels, in 2020 to the mortality levels of recent trends and provide estimates of the impact of mortality on life expectancy at birth. Our findings indicate that from April 2020 on, mortality exceeded its usual monthly levels in multiple areas of each country. In Mexico and Peru, excess mortality was spreading through many areas by the end of the second half of 2020. To a lesser extent, we observed a similar pattern in Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador. We also found that as the pandemic progressed, excess mortality became more visible in areas with poorer socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. This excess mortality has reduced life expectancy across these countries by 2–10 years. Despite the lack of reliable information on COVID-19 mortality, excess mortality is a useful indicator for measuring the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, especially in the context of Latin American countries, where there is still a lack of good information on causes of death in their vital registration systems.
In this letter we reflect on the propagation of gravitational waves in alternative theories of gravity, which are typically formulated using extra gravitational degrees of freedom in comparison to ...General Relativity. We propose to understand that additional structure as forming a diagravitational medium for gravitational waves characterized by a refractive index. Furthermore, we shall argue that the most general diagravitational medium has associated an anisotropic dispersion relation. In some situations a refractive index tensor, which takes into account both the deflection of gravitational waves due to the curvature of a non-flat spacetime and the modifications of the general relativistic predictions, can be defined. The most general media, however, entail the consideration of at least two independent tensors.
Desde el último tercio del siglo XX, la profesión contable global es regulada por distintas organizaciones que han trabajado en la definición y elaboración de normas que faciliten el suministro de ...información financiera de alta calidad y que sean comparables, esencialmente, en aspectos de reconocimiento, medición y exposición. Este proceso también se ha dado en Uruguay, tanto a través de la emisión de normas profesionales dictadas por el Colegio de Contadores, Economistas y Administradores del Uruguay (CCEAU), como por la emisión de normas legales. Así, han ido apareciendo diversas leyes, decretos y pronunciamientos, entre otros, que han impulsado la aplicación de normas contables aprobadas por los organismos internacionales. En la presente investigación, tras realizar una descripción de las normas emitidas por los distintos organismos emisores, se hace un análisis de la evolución de las normas contables en Uruguay en seis períodos históricos con características propias. Además, se concluye con dos trabajos de campo que abarcan aspectos como (i) el impacto de la aplicación por primera vez de las normas internacionales, (ii) el nivel de conocimiento de las normas por parte de los profesionales y (iii) el nivel de conformidad con la formación universitaria recibida. Los principales resultados obtenidos fueron los siguientes: no se puede afirmar haya ausencia de normas; se constata cierto grado de desconocimiento de la normativa contable, especialmente de las Normas Internacionales de Contabilidad para el Sector Público (NICSP); se observa disconformidad con la formación recibida durante la carrera de grado, lo que lleva a la necesidad de actividades de actualización; se ha mejorado la calidad de la información contable; y un 72% de los profesionales entiende que la relación costo-beneficio es positiva.
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