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Captive-introduced tortoises in wild populations: can we identify them by shell morphology?
Get PDFDirect exploitation and wildlife trade pose significant threats to global biodiversity, particularly impacting reptiles, such as tortoises, which are highly vulnerable. Moreover, the releases of captive-held animals into the wild can lead to potential negative consequences, including genetic introgression, disease transmission, and parasite spread. Therefore, diagnostic assessments are essential to evaluate the impact of release practices. In this study, we analyzed the shell morphology of Testudo graeca tortoises to assess the effectiveness of morphological analysis in identifying captive-introduced tortoises and quantifying tortoise releases in SE Spain. Despite being illegal, the cultural tradition of keeping and breeding tortoises at home persists in this region. Principal component analyses identified significant morphological differences between captive and wild tortoises. Captive tortoises generally exhibited larger shell sizes and greater morphological variability compared to wild tortoises. Accordingly, linear discriminant analyses accurately identified approximately 99% of wild tortoises, but the identification of captive tortoises was only 50% accurate because some captive tortoises show shell morphologies identical to wild ones. These results likely reflect the diverse origins and growth conditions of captive tortoises. Although this is likely an underestimation, our approach classified 7% of 125 wildlife tortoises across 13 natural sites such as captive-introduced tortoises. These findings highlight the potential impact of tortoise releases in wild populations and underscore the value of morphological analyses as an initial tool for diagnosing such impacts. Furthermore, integrating genetic and isotopic methods could further enhance the precision of these assessments
¿Es la vía de administración intraductal una alternativa para el tratamiento del cáncer de mama?
Get PDFEl cáncer de mama continúa siendo una de las principales causas de mortalidad en mujeres, y aunque los tratamientos actuales han mejorado el pronóstico, siguen presentando importantes efectos secundarios que afectan la calidad de vida de las pacientes. En este contexto, surge la necesidad de explorar vías terapéuticas más precisas, eficaces y menos invasivas.
Este trabajo se centra en la administración intraductal, una técnica que consiste en aplicar el tratamiento directamente en los conductos mamarios, lugar donde habitualmente se inicia el tumor. Esta vía, aún en fase experimental, ha demostrado ser prometedora al permitir una acción localizada, evitando la exposición sistémica y reduciendo significativamente los efectos adversos.
A través de la revisión de ocho estudios preclínicos recientes, se analizan diferentes formulaciones basadas en nanotecnología - como nanopartículas termosensibles, nanoemulsiones, geles in situ o profármacos de liberación lenta - que han mostrado mejoras en la eficacia antitumoral, una mayor retención en el tejido mamario y un perfil de seguridad más favorable. Además, algunos sistemas han demostrado capacidad para liberar el fármaco de forma controlada en respuesta al entorno tumoral.
Los resultados revisados apuntan a que la combinación de administración intraductal con tecnologías avanzadas de liberación de fármacos podría representar una estrategia terapéutica más personalizada y menos agresiva para tratar el cáncer de mama, en especial en etapas tempranas como el carcinoma ductal in situ
Eficacia de técnicas de simulación en el aprendizaje rápido de ecografía en estudiantes de medicina
Get PDFIntroducción: El continuo crecimiento del conocimiento médico exige una formación actualizada, tanto teórica como práctica. La adquisición de habilidades clínicas en los rotatorios hospitalarios tradicionales presenta diferentes limitaciones. Ante esto, la simulación clínica emerge como un método de entrenamiento estandarizado y reproducible, que permite mejorar diversas habilidades de forma segura. Por otra parte, la formación en ecografía es fundamental para los médicos, optimizando competencias clínicas, detección temprana y seguridad del paciente. Sin embargo, esta formación suele ser insuficiente durante los estudios de grado, lo que justifica la investigación sobre la eficacia de programas de simulación para la enseñanza de ecografía clínica.
Material y métodos: Se trata de un estudio cuasiexperimental pre-post de un solo grupo en el que se realizaron talleres de simulación de 6 horas al final rotatorio de Pediatría de 95 alumnos del grado de medicina. Las actividades incluyeron briefing, prácticas con fantomas, realidad virtual, ecografías entre alumnos y un escape room, seguidas de un debriefing. Se midieron los conocimientos de ecografía y otras variables relacionadas con cuestionarios Moodle antes y después de la intervención. Los datos se analizaron mediante el programa SPSS.
Resultados: Los estudiantes opinan que no han recibido una formación suficiente en ecografía durante el grado, que cuantifican en 2,13/5. El grado inicial percibido de conocimientos sobre ecografía es de 3,84/10, y aumenta tras el taller a un 6,74/10. En cuanto a la autoconfianza del alumnado para realizar ecografías aumenta desde un 52,6% hasta un 90,9%. Respecto al grado de conocimientos sobre ecografía se aprecia un incremento de una nota media de un 6,51/10 inicial hasta un 8,2/10 final. La evaluación del nivel de aprendizaje de la práctica ha sido de un 4,84/5. La valoración de las diferentes mini estaciones de ecografía ha sido de 9,19/10 para la realizada con fantomas, 9,57/10 para la efectuada con gafas de realidad virtual y 9,81/10 para la realizada entre compañeros. La actividad final de escape room se ha valorado en un 9,3/10.
Conclusiones: Los estudiantes piensan que han recibido una insuficiente formación en ecografía durante el grado en Medicina, y un aprendizaje específico mediante simulación en ecografía ha permitido aumentar su grado de conocimiento y seguridad para la realización de la misma, con una muy elevada valoración subjetiva de las diferentes mini estaciones realizadas.Introduction: The continuous growth of medical knowledge demands updated training, both theoretical and practical. The acquisition of clinical skills in traditional hospital rotations presents different limitations. Faced with this, clinical simulation emerges as a standardized and reproducible training method, which allows for the safe improvement of various skills. Furthermore, training in ultrasound is fundamental for doctors, optimizing clinical competencies, early detection, and patient safety. However, this training is often insufficient during undergraduate studies, which justifies research into the effectiveness of simulation programs for teaching clinical ultrasound.
Material and methods: This is a single-group pre-post quasiexperimental study in which 6-hour simulation workshops were conducted at the end of the Pediatrics rotation for 95 medical students
The activities included briefing, practices with phantoms, virtual reality, ultrasounds between students, and an escape room, followed by a debriefing. Ultrasound knowledge and other related variables were measured with Moodle questionnaires before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program
Results: The students believe that they have not received sufficient training in ultrasound during their degree, which they quantify as 2.13/5. The initial perceived level of knowledge about ultrasound is 3.84/10, and it increases to 6.74/10 after the workshop. Regarding the students' self-confidence to perform ultrasounds, it increases from 52.6% to 90.9%. With respect to the degree of knowledge about ultrasound, an increase in the average grade from an initial 6.51/10 to a final 8.2/10 is observed. The evaluation of the level of learning in practice was 4.84/5. The ratings of the different ultrasound mini-stations were 9.19/10 for the one performed with phantoms, 9.57/10 for the one performed with virtual reality glasses, and 9.81 for the one performed between classmates. The final escape room activity was rated at 9.3/10.
Conclusions: Students believe they have received insufficient training in ultrasound during their medical degree, and specific training through ultrasound simulation has increased their level of knowledge and confidence in performing ultrasound, with a very high subjective assessment of the different mini-stations performed
Organic amendments as a tool to restore soil microbial diversity after wildfires in native Mediterranean forests
No full textWildfires are intensifying under climate change and increasingly compromising the resilience of Mediterranean
ecosystems. Soil restoration through organic amendments has been proposed as an effective tool to mitigate soil
degradation after fires, yet there is limited knowledge on how different typologies of organic amendments influence
soil microbial communities and the recovery of microbial-mediated functions. This study evaluated
contrasting organic amendments—straw mulch, compost, and fresh swine and poultry manures—on soil microbial
diversity and enzymatic activity in burned native sclerophyllous, Mediterranean forest in central Chile,
the earliest in its type experiencing effects of climate change. The study took place six months after amendment
application and two years after a wildfire occurrence. Enzyme activities showed different responses according to
organic amendments type: while manures strongly stimulate enzymes (urease, glucosidase, and phosphatase
activities), compost and mulch promoted a gradual effect on nutrient cycling. Fungal biomass, reduced by fire,
recovered best under compost and swine manure. However, organic amendments significantly reduced
eukaryotic alpha diversity and differentiated communities from unburned soils and burned soils with no
amendment. In contrast, only manures reduced alpha diversity in prokaryotes, while beta diversity analyses
revealed that compost amended soils maintained communities closer to reference conditions. Overall, manures
provided short-term functional improvements in burned soils, but compost supported a more balanced recovery,
preserving microbial communities closer to unburned soils. Therefore, the compost amendment can represent a
practical and ecologically safer strategy to accelerate post-fire soil restoration. Targeted application, for example
through “fertile islands” in the most degraded areas, may enhance soil resilience while minimizing ecological
risks in fire-sensitive landscapes
Interfacial halogen bonding with charge-transport layers for operational stability of hybrid perovskite solar cells
No full textHybrid metal halide perovskites have emerged as some of the leading
semiconductors in photovoltaics. Despite their remarkable power
conversion efficiencies, these materials remain unstable under device
operating conditions. One of the main instabilities relates to the interface
with the contact layers in photovoltaic devices, such as metal
oxides. We rely on halogen bonding (XB) using 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene
(TFDIB) to modulate the interface of the TiO2
electron-transport layer, demonstrating the improvement of perovskite
solar cell operational stability. Furthermore, we complement this
strategy with the use of iodo-functionalized Zn–phthalocyanine modulator
of the hole-transporting material, which passivate the interface
while enhancing the power conversion efficiency, showcasing the
potential of XB in hybrid photovoltaics
Garbling an evaluation to retain an advantage
No full textWe study information transmission in a model of career concerns in which experts evaluate their worth based on social comparisons. There are two experts, each of whom receives an informative signal about the state of the world and makes a statement to the principal. The quality of the signal each expert receives is unknown to the other players, and the experts differ in the prior that their signal is fully informative. Accordingly, we speak of the stronger and the weaker expert, where the stronger expert is ex-ante more likely to receive a better signal. We show that expert heterogeneity and social comparisons drive expert dissent. We identify an incentive for the stronger expert to deliberately misreport an informative signal in order to sabotage the weaker expert, garble the principal’s evaluation, and maintain her initial advantage. In equilibrium, this expert may even completely contradict her signal and the decision of the other expert. This result suggests a new rationale for social dissent that may help shed light on current polarization trends
Evaluation of Estimation Methods for Simultaneous Equations Models Across Varying Levels of Data Variability
No full textSimultaneous Equations Model (SEM) is a set of regression equations where bidirectional relationships exist between
variables. SEMs are widely used to model complex systems, capture the interdependencies between different variables,
and make predictions about future outcomes in a wide range of fields such as economics, markets, or health sciences.
In the literature, the performance of numerous methods, both classical and Bayesian, has been widely studied in various
aspects such as endogeneity or correlation. To our knowledge, the study of estimator performance under varying levels
of data variability in simultaneous equation models is not well-developed. This paper aims to evaluate the performance
of methods for estimating SEMs of different sizes, considering the number of variables and the variability of endogenous
variables. An experimental study has been conducted applying different estimation methods, including Two Stage Least
Squares (2SLS) and the Optimized Bayesian Method of Moments (BmomOPT ), to evaluate their performance across
different SEMs. Based on our computational results, the main finding is that the performance of the methods depends on
the variability of the data, with BmomOPT being more accurate at lower levels of variability. These results could interest researchers aiming to apply SEMs in practical cases as they offer insights into selecting the estimation method while
considering both the model size and data variabilit
Evaluación de la eficacia y seguridad de combinaciones farmacológicas en la intubación de secuencia rápida en pacientes críticos no quirúrgicos.
No full textIntroducción: la secuencia rápida de intubación (RSI) en pacientes críticos comprende
una clase de pasos que incluyen la administración de fármacos sedantes para facilitar el procedimiento. Entre ellos, hay diferentes opciones como etomidato, ketamina, midazolam y Propofol. Ninguno de ellos ha demostrado ser superior en cuanto a eficacia y disminución de los efectos adversos.
Objetivos: comparar los diferentes fármacos sedantes en la RSI en cuanto eficacia
(intubación al primer intento) y seguridad (hipotensión, hipoxia y parada cardiaca peri- procedimiento).
Material y métodos: revisión sistemática, de la literatura publicada desde 01 enero de
2018 a octubre de 2024, en Medline. Se incluyeron ensayos clínicos y estudios observacionales comparando alternativas de sedación para la IO T (intubación orotraqueal) en mayores de 18 años, con procedimientos no quirúrgicos. Se realizó un metaanálisis de efectos aleatorios con los datos obtenidos.
Resultados: de los 133 artículos inicialmente identificados, se seleccionaron 8 estudios
(3 ensayos clínicos y 5 estudios observacionales) que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión, sumando un total de 8.969 pacientes. Los fármacos sedantes analizados fueron principalmente ketamina y etomidato, con un estudio adicional que evaluó ketofol (combinación de ketamina y Propofol). En cuanto al éxito en la intubación al primer intento, tanto ketamina como el etomidato presentaron resultados similares (90- 91%). El metaanálisis no mostró diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos fármacos (RR ponderado = 0.99; IC 95%: 0,97–1,01; p = 0,658; I² = 0%). Respecto a la hipoxemia durante el procedimiento, los porcentajes fueron ligeramente mayores con etomidato en algunos estudios, pero sin significación estadística. El metaanálisis no encontró diferencias relevantes (RR ponderado = 1,09; IC 95%: 0,66–1,80; p = 0,709; I²
= 66,4%). En relación con la hipotensión peri-procedimiento, se observó una mayor incidencia en los pacientes que recibieron ketamina. El metaanálisis mostró una diferencia significativa a favor del etomidato (RR ponderado = 1,34; IC 95%: 1,12– 1,61; p = 0,0015; I² = 57,6%). Por último, en cuanto a la mortalidad peri-procedimiento, no se hallaron diferencias significativas entre ketamina y etomidato (RR ponderado = 1,15; IC 95%: 0,66–2,02; p = 0,601; I² = 0%).
Conclusiones: en la literatura analizada, el etomidato se asocia a un menor riesgo de
hipotensión durante la intubación en SRI. No se han encontrado diferencias significativas respecto a la hipoxemia, la mortalidad peri-procedimiento o el éxito de la intubación al primer intento en comparación con otros sedantes, principalmente ketamina.Introduction: rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in critically ill patients comprises a several
steps that include the administration of sedative drugs to facilitate the procedure. Among them, there are different options such as etomidate, ketamine, midazolam and propofol. None of them have been shown to be superior in terms of efficacy and reduction of adverse effects.
Objectives: to compare the different sedative drugs in RSI in terms of efficacy
(intubation at first attempt) and safety (hypotension, hypoxia and peri-procedural cardiac arrest).
Material and methods: systematic review of the literature published from 01 January
2018 to October 2024 in Medline. Clinical trials and observational studies comparing sedation alternatives for OTI (orotracheal intubation) in patients over 18 years of age, with non-surgical procedures, were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed on the data obtained.
Results: of the 133 articles initially identified, 8 studies (3 clinical trials and 5
observational studies) meeting inclusion criteria were included (8,969 patients). The sedative drugs compared were mainly ketamine and etomidate, with one additional study evaluating ketofol (combination of ketamine and Propofol). In terms of first attempt intubation success, both ketamine and etomidate had similar results (90-91%). Meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two drugs (pooled RR= 0.99; 95% CI: 0.97-1.01; p = 0.658; I² = 0%). Regarding hypoxemia during the procedure, the percentages were slightly higher with etomidate in some studies, but without statistical significance. The meta-analysis found no relevant differences (pooled RR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.66-1.80, p = 0.709, I² = 66.4). Concerning peri-procedural hypotension, a higher incidence was observed in patients receiving ketamine. Meta-analysis showed a significant difference in favour of etomidate (pooled RR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.12-1.61; p = 0.0015; I² = 57.6%) Finally, for peri-procedural mortality, no significant difference was found between ketamine and etomidate (pooled RR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.66-2.02; p = 0.601; I² = 0%).
Conclusions: in the literature reviewed, etomidate is associated with a lower risk of
hypotension during intubation in SRI. No significant differences were found with respect to hypoxemia, peri-procedural mortality or intubation success at the first attempt compared to other sedatives, mainly ketamine
Outsourcing of tourist information services in the COVID‑19 context
Get PDFLa legislación española permite a las administraciones públicas la externalización de
determinados servicios cuando no cuentan con los medios propios para prestarlos adecuadamente. Así, los
servicios de información turística son uno de los servicios que las administraciones suelen externalizar,
ya que para atender las necesidades de los turistas se requiere de una amplia flexibilidad horaria que las
administraciones no siempre pueden garantizar con sus propios recursos. Además, el sector turístico ha
sido uno de los sectores económicos más afectados por la reciente pandemia de COVID‑19,
con importantes
efectos sobre el empleo, la demanda o la llegada de turistas internacionales, entre otros. De este modo,
el objetivo general de este trabajo es analizar el efecto que ha tenido la pandemia de la Covid‑19
en la
externalización de los servicios de información turística. Para ello se ha diseñado una investigación que
analiza las licitaciones publicadas en la Plataforma de Contratación del Estado relacionadas con los servicios
de información turística de 2018 a 2020. Los datos parecen sugerir la existencia de una tendencia positiva
y que la COVID‑19
ha influido levemente. También parecen indicar que las administraciones públicas no
utilizan de manera adecuada el código de clasificación del Vocabulario Común de Contratación Pública (CPV)
en sus procesos de licitación, aunque este hecho parece estar corrigiéndose.Spanish legislation allows public authorities to outsource the provision of certain services when
they lack their own means to do so Thus, tourist information services are one of the services that authorities
tend to outsource because tourism’s broad and flexible time margins cannot always be covered by the public
sector. In addition, tourism has been one of the economic sectors hardest hit by the recent COVID‑19
pandemic, with significant effects on employment, demand and the arrival of international tourists, among others. Thus, the general objective of this work is focused on analysing the effect that the COVID‑19
pandemic has had on the outsourcing of tourist information services. As such, an investigation has been designed that researches the tenders from the Spanish State Contract Platform from 2018 to 2020. The results seem to suggest a positive trend and that COVID‑19 has had a slight influence. The research also seems to indicate that public administrations do not use the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) code adequately in their tender processes, although it seems to be being corrected
Reportaje escrito: desarrollo de las artes marciales en España. Del tatami al octágono: Un deporte marginal convertido en fenómeno nacional.
Get PDFLas Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA, por sus siglas en inglés) se están convirtiendo en tendencia a un ritmo muy acelerado en los últimos tiempos debido a la irrupción de luchadores españoles con gran popularidad en el circuito internacional de promotoras, en concreto, en la UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) que es la liga más grande a nivel mundial de Artes Marciales Mixtas.
Desde la creación de importantes organizaciones a nivel nacional como son WARMMA, Dodgefight Wild Tournament o WOWFC, los luchadores españoles tienen la oportunidad de luchar en su país y que España no sea un país que simplemente exporta talentos.
Este trabajo analiza y profundiza desde el género del reportaje, la evolución de las Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en España, centrándose en el crecimiento de este deporte a nivel profesional en los últimos años, en su impacto en la sociedad (audiencias: deporte minoritario-tendencia) y en la cultura deportiva del país.
A través de este recorrido por la evolución del deporte en torno a los núcleos clave de la disciplina, se analiza la historia de las MMA y en qué momento se encuentran, su aceptación en la sociedad y el futuro del deporte y de los deportistas dedicados al deporte en nuestro país. Aprovechando uno de los lugares más importantes para el desarrollo de las MMA en España como lo es Alicante.
El reportaje incluye entrevistas a deportistas, entrenadores, especialistas del deporte, organizadores y periodistas especializados donde se exploran todos los desafíos y retos que enfrenta el desarrollo de este deporte y las oportunidades aprovechables.
Por otra parte, mediante el análisis de datos y audiencias, el reportaje profundiza en las causas del aumento de la popularidad de este deporte y a su impacto económico y social.
Por último, el reportaje trata de acercar a la audiencia y descubrir quienes son las futuras estrellas de este deporte en España
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are becoming a rapidly growing trend in recent times, driven by the emergence of Spanish fighters who have gained significant popularity in the international circuit of major promotions—particularly in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the largest MMA organization in the world.
Since the creation of important national organizations such as WarMMA, Dodgefight Wild Tournament, AFL and WOWFC, Spanish fighters now have the opportunity to compete in their own country, ensuring that Spain is not just a nation that exports talent but also one that fosters its own MMA scene.
This report, written in a journalistic feature style, analyzes the evolution of MMA in Spain, focusing on the sport's professional growth in recent years, its impact on society (from a niche sport to a rising trend), and its role in the country's sports culture.
With a local perspective, the study examines the history of MMA in Spain, its current state, its acceptance in society, and the future of both the sport and the athletes dedicated to it. It highlights Alicante, one of the most significant hubs for MMA development in Spain.
The report includes interviews with athletes, coaches, sports specialists, event organizers, and specialized journalists, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the sport’s growth.
Additionally, through data and audience analysis, the report explores the reasons behind MMA's increasing popularity, as well as its economic and social impact.
Finally, this feature aims to bring MMA closer to the audience and showcase the future stars of the sport in Spain