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The international community has approved the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a common roadmap to face the global challenges of poverty, inequity and the sustainable management of the planet’s natural resources. For this Agenda to succeed, all countries must adopt the Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) approach as the guiding and crosscutting principle of all domestic and foreign policies during the next 15 years. National parliaments are going to be key players to urge Governments to make the ambitious and long-term commitments that the 2030 Agenda requires. Proyecto Avizor —a Spanish Parliament Monitoring Organization (PMO)— has monitored the activity of the Spanish Parliament during the 2011-2016 period, analyzing the contribution that the parliamentarian activity has had to promote the Government’s commitment in the fight against global poverty, inequality and in favor of sustainable development and human rights. With the information provided by Proyecto Avizor, this article has aimed to find if, in the current Spanish political context, the political initiatives that will be needed to fulfill the 2030 Agenda’s goals, face extra obstacles and burdens during their approval procedures compared withthe rest of initiatives. The results of the analysis show that the inclusion of the PCD approach in a political initiative decreases its chances of being successfully processed at the Parliament. On the other hand, the analysis has found no evidences that a stronger presence of the PCD approach in the political mandates approved by theParliament hampers its chances of being accomplished by the Government.Being solidarity one of the values on which the European Union is founded, the European regional framework becomes the most suitable level to increase the effectiveness of European aid, assuming responsibility for coordination and management of policy coherence.

In sexually reproducing organisms, the specific combinations of parental alleles can have important consequences on offspring viability and fitness. Accordingly, genetic relationship between mates can be used as a criterion for mate choice. Here, we used microsatellite genetic markers to estimate the genetic relationship between mating pairs in the wild boar, Sus scrofa. Males, females and foetuses proceeding from Portugal, Spain and Hungary were genotyped using 14 microsatellite markers. The genetic relationship between mates was estimated using different measures of foetus heterozygosity. We found that the observed heterozygosity of foetuses was lower than that expected under random mating. This result occurred mainly when Sd 2 (relatedness of parental genomes) was used as the heterozygosity measure. After simulations, we concluded that the observed low heterozygosity was possibly due to outbreeding avoidance. Outbreeding avoidance based on genetically different genomes might play an important role in species evolution and its genetic conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slip velocity and frictional or slip heating of linear-low density polyethylene with a fluoropolymer processing aid in capillary flow were measured by rheo-particle image velocimetry and thermal imaging. The pure polymer did not show slip before the stick-slip regime but exhibited strong slip when blended with the processing additive. However, for shear stresses beyond the stick-slip regime, the pure polymer and the blend exhibited the same flow behavior with slip. The slip velocity increased with the shear stress at two different rates before and after the stick-slip and the contribution of slip to the total flow rate exhibited a minimum. Significant rises in temperature were measured under slip and no slip conditions, being these much higher than the values predicted by the adiabatic flow assumption. Clear difference was made between viscous and frictional heating before the stick-slip regime, even though they could not be distinguished from one another at higher stresses. Overall, in the presence of slip, frictional and viscous heating act synergistically producing higher temperature rises in the melt. Finally, in contrast to predictions by numerical simulations of viscous heating, measured velocity profiles did not evidence the heating effects in the shear stress range analyzed in this work. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:837-845, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch isolated from macho banana was oxidized by using 2.5% and 3.5% (w/w) of sodium hypochlorite. Native and oxidized starches with glycerol were processed using a conical twin screw extruder to obtain thermoplastic laminates or sheets, which were partially characterized. Oxidized banana starches presented higher moisture and total starch but lower ash, protein, lipids, and apparent amylose content than the native starch. Micrographs of sheets from oxidized starches showed wrinkles and cavities presumably caused by the plasticizer, but with less free glycerol and unplasticized starch granules than those from native starch. Sheets from oxidized starch showed a notorious increase in all thermal parameters (To, Tp, and ΔH), mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, and elasticity), and solubility. Banana starch X-ray diffraction patterns corresponded to a mixture of the A- and B-type polymorphs, with apparently slightly higher crystallinity in oxidized specimens than in native starch. A similar trend was observed in the corresponding sheets. Practical Application: Due to the pollution problem caused by the conventional plastics, there has been a renewed interest in biodegradable sheets, because they may have the potential to replace conventional packaging materials. Banana starch might be an interesting raw material to be used as edible sheet, coating or in food packaging, and preservation, because it is biodegradable, cheap, innocuous, and abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offspring quality may benefit from genetic dissimilarity between parents. However, genetic dissimilarity may trade-off with additive genetic benefits. We hypothesized that when sexual selection produces sex-specific selective scenarios, the relative benefits of additive genetic vs. dissimilarity may differ for sons and daughters. Here we study a sample of 666 red deer ( Cervus elaphus) microsatellite genotypes, including males, females and their foetuses, from 20 wild populations in Spain (the main analyses are based on 241 different foetuses and 190 mother-foetus pairs). We found that parental lineages were more dissimilar in daughters than in sons. On average, every mother was less related to her mate than to the sample of fathers in the population when producing daughters not sons. Male foetuses conceived early in the rutting season were much more inbred than any other foetuses. These differences maintained through gestation length, ruling out intrauterine mortality as a cause for the results, and indicating that the potential mechanism producing the association between parents’ dissimilarity and offspring sex should operate close to mating or conception time. Our findings highlight the relevance of considering the sex of offspring when studying genetic similarity between parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex-biased dispersal is a common phenomenon in birds and mammals. Competition for mates has been argued to be an important selective pressure favouring dispersal. Sexual differences in the level of intrasexual competition may produce asymmetries in the costs-benefits balance of dispersal and philopatry for males and females, which may favour male-biased dispersal in polygynous species such as most mammals. This being the case, condition-dependent dispersal predicts that male-bias should decrease if mating competition relaxes. We test this expectation for red deer, where male-biased dispersal is the norm. In southwestern Spain, red deer populations located in nonfenced hunting estates presented altered structures with sex ratio strongly biased to females and high proportion of young males. As a consequence, mate competition in these populations was lower than in other, most typical red deer populations. We found that, under such conditions of altered population structure, dispersal was female-biased rather than male-biased. Additionally, mate competition positively related to male dispersal but negatively to female dispersal. Other factors such as resource competition, age of individuals and sex ratio were not related to male or female dispersal. Males may not disperse if intrasexual competition is low and then females may disperse as a response to male philopatry. We propose hypotheses related to female mate choice to explain female dispersal under male philopatry. The shift of the sex-biased dispersal pattern along the gradient of mate competition highlights its condition-dependence as well as the interaction between male and female dispersal in the evolution of sex-biased dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygyny is expected to erode genetic variability by reducing the diversity of genetic contribution of males to the next generation, although empirical evidence shows that genetic variability in polygynous populations is not lost as rapidly as expected. We used microsatellite markers to study the genetic variability transmitted by mothers and fathers to offspring during a reproductive season in wild populations of a polygynous mammal, the red deer. Contrary to expectations, we found that males contributed more genetic diversity than females. Also, we compared study populations with different degrees of polygyny to find that polygyny was not related to a decrease in genetic diversity contributed by males. On the contrary, when population genetic diversity was relatively low, polygyny associated with higher genetic diversity of paternal lineage. Our results show that sexual selection, by favouring heterozygote individuals, may compensate the potential reduction of effective population size caused by polygyny, thus contributing to explain why genetic diversity is not depleted in polygynous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient transformation system for the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum has been developed. Transformation was obtained both by electroporation and polyethyleneglycol treatment, using a plasmid carrying the Escherichia coli hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene as a dominant selectable marker. The transformation frequency was 0.5 to 5 transformants /μg plasmid DNA. Transformation normally occurred by tandem integration of the transforming DNA. A high percentage of the transformants were mitotically unstable. The efficiency of co-transformation was very high (around 90%), and several co-transformants containing multiple copies of the egll gene encoding a β-(1,4)-endoglucanase were obtained. Some of them secrete increased levels of endoglucanase to the culture medium. In addition, the E. coli lacZ gene was expressed in an active form under control of the Aspergillus nidulans gpdA gene promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) alone or combined with carbon nanofibers (CNF) at different loadings have been fabricated by melt mixing with a focus on their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance for bipolar plates applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The incorporation of up to 20 wt% MWCNT in the PP matrix produces enhancements of 71, 47, 56, and 30% in microhardness, elastic modulus, and tensile and flexural strength, respectively. Combined additions of MWCNT and CNF allow producing hybrid nanocomposites with increased strength than when neat MWCNT as reinforcement, preserving their processability even at a total filler content of up to 30 wt%. The measured values of i corr in both PP/MWCNT and PP/MWCNT/CNF suggest a slow degradation rate in the PEMFC environment. Based on the US Department of Energy (DOE) targets, PP/20MWCNT, PP/21.5MWCNT, and PP/15MWCNT/15CNF nanocomposites are good candidates to produce bipolar plates for PEMFCs. [Display omitted] • PP/MWCNT and PP/MWCNT/CNF blends are evaluated for potential use in bipolar plates. • Hybrid composites reach 45.3 MPa in flexural strength and 0.046 μA cm−2 in i corr. • PP/MWCNT/CNF blends meet most of the targets set by the US DOE for bipolar plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis, and the consequences derived from it, such as fragility fractures, constitute a growing public health problem. Suffering from a fracture of this nature is the main risk factor for suffering a new fracture. It is documented that vertebral compression fractures lead to significant morbidity and mortality, in the short and long term, as well as other complications, such as sagittal imbalance and hyperkyphosis of the segment. However, we have not found documentation that analyzes the medium and long-term consequences of these injuries, assessing the type of treatment used, and the economic impact they represent. The purpose of this review is to analyze the main recent literature on the subject and make a breakdown of the consequences of these fractures in various spheres, such as economic, quality of life, sagittal balance and radiographic parameters, pain or mortality; as well as a brief analysis of epidemiology and natural history. CONCLUSION: Osteoporotic fractures constitute an emerging problem, both in the medical and economic fields. The consequences and sequelae on the patient are multiple and although surgical options offer good long-term results, it is necessary to properly select the patient, through multidisciplinary teams, to try to minimize potential complications., (Copyright © 2024 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Osteoporosis, and the consequences derived from it, such as fragility fractures, constitute a growing public health problem. Suffering from a fracture of this nature is the main risk factor for suffering a new fracture. It is documented that vertebral compression fractures lead to significant morbidity and mortality, in the short and long term, as well as other complications, such as sagittal imbalance and hyperkyphosis of the segment. However, we have not found documentation that analyzes the medium and long-term consequences of these injuries, assessing the type of treatment used, and the economic impact they represent. The purpose of this review is to analyse the main recent literature on the subject and make a breakdown of the consequences of these fractures in various spheres, such as economic, quality of life, sagittal balance and radiographic parameters, pain or mortality; as well as a brief analysis of epidemiology and natural history. CONCLUSION: Osteoporotic fractures constitute an emerging problem, both in the medical and economic fields. The consequences and sequelae on the patient are multiple and although surgical options offer good long-term results, it is necessary to properly select the patient, through multidisciplinary teams, to try to minimise potential complications., (Copyright © 2024 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Genome-wide technologies open up new possibilities to clarify questions on genetic structure and phylogeographic history of taxa previously studied with microsatellite loci and mitochondrial sequences. Here, we used 736 individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples genotyped at 35,701 single nucleotide polymorphism loci (SNPs) to assess the population structure of the species throughout Europe. The results identified 28 populations, with higher degrees of genetic distinction in peripheral compared to mainland populations. Iberian red deer show high genetic differentiation, with lineages in Western and Central Iberia maintaining their distinctiveness, which supports separate refugial ranges within Iberia along with little recent connection between Iberian and the remaining Western European populations. The Norwegian population exhibited the lowest variability and the largest allele frequency differences from mainland European populations, compatible with a history of bottlenecks and drift during post-glacial colonization from southern refugia. Scottish populations showed high genetic distance from the mainland but high levels of diversity. Hybrid zones were found between Eastern and Western European lineages in Central Europe as well as in the Pyrenees, where red deer from France are in close contact with Iberian red deer. Anthropogenic restocking has promoted the Pyrenean contact zone, admixture events in populations on the Isle of Rum and in the Netherlands, and at least partly the admixture of the two main lineages in central-eastern Europe. Our analysis enabled detailed resolution of population structure of a large mammal widely distributed throughout Europe and contributes to resolving the evolutionary history, which can also inform conservation and management policies., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: A study to assess the glucose levels of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) overnight, based on the insulin type and timing., Methods: A real-world, retrospective study of T1D, using multiple daily insulin injections. Continuous glucose monitoring and insulin injection data were collected for ten hours after dinner using the Insulclock ® connected cap. Meal events were identified using the ROC detection methodology. The timing of the rapid insulin, second injections, and the type of insulin analogs used, were evaluated., Results: The nocturnal profiles (n = 775, 49 subjects) were analyzed. A higher glucose AUC of over 180 mg/dL was observed in subjects with delayed injections (number; %; mg/dL × h): -45-15 min (n = 136; 17.5%, 175.9 ± 271.0); -15-0 min (n = 231; 29.8%, 164.0 ± 2 37.1); 0 + 45 min (n = 408; 52.6%, 203.6 ± 260.9), ( p = 0.049). The use of ultrarapid insulin (FiAsp ® ) (URI) vs. rapid insulin (RI) analogs was associated with less hypoglycemia events (7.1 vs. 13.6%; p = 0.005) and TBR70 (1.7 ± 6.9 vs. 4.6 ± 13.9%; p = 0.003). Users of glargine U300 vs. degludec had a higher TIR (70.7 vs. 58.5%) (adjusted R-squared: 0.22, p < 0.001). The use of a correction injection (n = 144, 18.6%) was associated with a higher number of hypoglycemia events (18.1 vs. 9.5%; p = 0.003), TBR70 (5.5 ± 14.2 vs. 3.0 ± 11.1%; p = 0.003), a glucose AUC of over 180 mg/dL (226.1 ± 257.8 vs. 178.0 ± 255.3 mg/dL × h; p = 0.001), and a lower TIR (56.0 ± 27.4 vs. 62.7 ± 29.6 mg/dL × h; p = 0.004)., Conclusion: The dinner rapid insulin timing, insulin type, and the use of correction injections affect the nocturnal glucose profile in T1D.

In this work, the effect of sonication on the molecular characteristics of polyacrylic acid (Carbopol ® Ultrez 10), as well as on its rheological behavior in aqueous dispersions and microgels, was analyzed for the first time by rheometry, weight-average molecular weight ( M w ) measurements via static light scattering (SLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. For this, the precursor dispersion and the microgels containing 0.25 wt.% of Ultrez 10 were sonicated in a commercial ultrasound bath at constant power and at different times. The main rheological properties of the microgel, namely, shear modulus, yield stress and viscosity, all decreased with increasing sonication time, while the microgel's Herschel-Bulkley (H-B) behavior, without thixotropy, was preserved. Also, M w of Ultrez 10 decreased up to almost one-third (109,212 g/mol) of its original value (300,860 g/mol) after 180 min of sonication. These results evidence a softening of the gel microstructure, which results from the reduction in the M w of polyacrylic acid with sonication time. Separately, FTIR measurements show that sonication produces scission in the C-C links of the Carbopol ® backbone, which results in chains with the same chemistry but lower molecular weight. Finally, confocal microscopy observations revealed a diminution of the size of the microsponge domains and more free solvent with sonication time, which is reflected in a less compact and softer microstructure. The present results indicate that both the microstructure and the rheological behavior of Carbopol ® microgels, in particular, and complex fluids, in general, may be manipulated or tailored by systematic high-power ultrasonication.

Objectives: Reaching optimal postprandial glucose dynamics is a daily challenge for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to analyze the postprandial hyperglycemic excursion (PHEs) and late postprandial hypoglycemia (LPH) risk according to prandial insulin time and type. Research Design and Methods: Real-world, retrospective study in T1D using multiple daily injections (MDI) analyzing 5 h of paired continuous glucose monitoring and insulin injections data collected from the connected cap Insulclock ® . Meal events were identified using the rate of change detection methodology. Postprandial glucometrics and LPH (glucose <70 mg/dL 2-5 h after a meal) were evaluated according to insulin injection time and rapid (RI) or ultrarapid analog, Fiasp ® (URI), use. Results: Meal glycemic excursions ( n  = 2488), RI: 1211, 48.7%; UR: 1277, 51.3%, in 82 people were analyzed according to injection time around the PHE: -45 to -15 min; -15 to 0 min; and 0 to +45 min. In 63% of the meals, insulin was injected after the PHE started. Lower PHE was observed with URI versus RI (glucose peak-baseline; mg/dL; mean ± standard deviation): 106.7 ± 35.2 versus 111.2 ± 40.3 ( P  = 0.003), particularly in 0/+45 injections: 111.6 ± 40.2 versus 118.1 ± 43.3; ( P  = 0.002). One third (29.1%) of participants added a second (correction) injection. The use of URI and avoiding a second injection were independently associated with less LPH risk, even in delayed injections (0/+45), (-36%, odds ratio [OR] 0.641; confidence interval [CI]: 0.462-0.909; P  = 0.012) and -56% (OR 0.641; CI: 0.462-0.909 P  = 0.038), respectively. Conclusions: URI analog use as prandial insulin reduces postprandial hyper- and hypoglycemia, even in delayed injections.

Spinal metastases represent a significant burden on the quality of life in patients affected by active oncological disease due to the high incidence of pain syndromes, spinal deformity, and neurological impairment. Surgery plays a decisive role in improving quality of life by controlling pain, restoring neurological function and maintaining spinal stability, as well as contributing to the response to medical therapy. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a treatment option in certain patients with high surgical risk since it has a low rate of complications, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay, and offers similar results to open surgery. In this review, we present the role of MIS in this pathology and some cases treated in our hospital., (Copyright © 2023 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Spinal metastases are a very common problem which dramatically affects the quality of life of cancer patients. The objective of this review is to address the issue of how minimally invasive surgery can play an important role in treating this pathology., Methods: A literature review was performed, searching in the Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Relevant and quality papers published within the last 10 years were included in the review., Results: After screening the 2184 initially identified registers, a total of 24 articles were included for review., Conclusion: Minimally invasive spine surgery is specially convenient for fragile cancer patients with spinal metastases, because of its reduced comorbidity compared to conventional open surgery. Technological advances in surgery, such as navigation and robotics, improve accuracy and safety in this technique., (Copyright © 2023 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Spinal metastases represent a significant burden on the quality of life in patients affected by active oncological disease due to the high incidence of pain syndromes, spinal deformity, and neurological impairment. Surgery plays a decisive role in improving quality of life by controlling pain, restoring neurological function and maintaining spinal stability, as well as contributing to the response to medical therapy. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a treatment option in certain patients with high surgical risk since it has a low rate of complications, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay, and offers similar results to open surgery. In this review, we present the role of MIS in this pathology and some cases treated in our hospital., (Copyright © 2023 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Spinal metastases are a very common problem which dramatically affects the quality of life of cancer patients. The objective of this review is to address the issue of how minimally invasive surgery can play an important role in treating this pathology., Methods: A literature review was performed, searching in the Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Relevant and quality papers published within the last 10 years were included in the review., Results: After screening the 2184 initially identified registers, a total of 24 articles were included for review., Conclusion: Minimally invasive spine surgery is specially convenient for fragile cancer patients with spinal metastases, because of its reduced comorbidity compared to conventional open surgery. Technological advances in surgery, such as navigation and robotics, improve accuracy and safety in this technique., (Copyright © 2023 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The analysis of population genetic structure and individual multilocus heterozygosity are crucial for wildlife management and conservation. Microsatellite markers have traditionally been used to assess these genetic parameters. However, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are becoming increasingly popular. Our goal here was to determine to what extent SNPs can provide better insights than microsatellites into the overall genetic status and population genetic processes in the species. To this end, we genotyped 210 red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) in the Spanish wild population with both 11 microsatellites and 31,712 SNPs. We compared parameters related to population genetic structure and individual multilocus heterozygosity obtained with both types of markers. Our results showed correlations between parameters measured using both microsatellites and SNPs, particularly those related to the level of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation. However, we found notably lower precision of microsatellites in measuring the distribution of genetic diversity among individuals. We conclude that microsatellites can be used to monitor the overall genetic status and detect broad patterns in red deer populations. Nevertheless, the greater precision of SNPs in inferring genetic structure and multilocus heterozygosity leads us to encourage scientists and wildlife managers to prioritize their use whenever possible.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of the insulin pen cap Insulclock on improving glycemic control, treatment adherence, and user satisfaction in people with type 1 diabetes., Research Design and Methods: This multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial comprised a 4-week run-in phase and a 6-week double-arm phase in which participants were randomly assigned into an active or masked mode., Results: Fifty-five participants were evaluable (active group, n = 26, masked group, n = 29). The increase in time in range was higher in the active versus masked group (5.2% vs. -0.8%; P = 0.016). The active group showed a higher reduction in mean glucose, glucose management indicator, time above range, and high blood glucose index. On-time insulin doses increased in the active group and decreased in the masked group., Conclusions: Insulclock system use was associated with improved glycemic control, glycemic variability, hyperglycemia risk, and treatment adherence in people with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes., (© 2022 by the American Diabetes Association.)