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Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the mumps virus (MuV). However, MuV has re-emerged in many countries with high vaccine coverage. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends molecular surveillance based on sequencing of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene. Additionally, the combined use of SH and non-coding regions (NCR) has been described in different studies, proving to be a useful complement marker to discriminate general patterns of circulation at national and international levels. The aim of this work is to test local-level usefulness of the combination of SH and MF-NCR sequencing in tracing hidden transmission clusters and chains during the last epidemic wave (2015–2020) in Spain. A database with 903 cases from the Autonomous Community of Madrid was generated by the integration of microbiological and epidemiological data. Of these, 453 representative cases were genotyped. Eight different SH variants and thirty-four SH haplotypes were detected. Local MuV circulation showed the same temporal pattern previously described at a national level. Only two of the thirteen previously identified outbreaks were caused by more than one variant/haplotype. Geographical representation of SH variants allowed the identification of several previously undetected clusters, which were analysed phylogenetically by the combination of SH and MF-NCR, in a total of 90 cases. MF-NCR was not able to improve the discrimination of geographical clusters based on SH sequencing, showing limited resolution for outbreak investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The main aim of this paper is to analyze the underlying variables of return intention of migrants in Spain's Madrid Region, who are segmented by their legal status. The microdata source is the Regional Immigration Survey 2011-2012. Using a sample of 563 individuals, we formulated two research questions to determine the importance of legal status in return intentions and to find the main explanatory variables of return intention for both legal and illegal immigrants, such as personal factors, job market success and social and contextual factors. To answer these research questions, we developed a binomial logit model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary urban sprawl and urban functional centrality at the regional scale have made the classical urban-rural dichotomy no longer valid. Instead, urban development generates a range of peri-urban transitional areas in which urban and rural uses are mixed in a fragmented land mosaic. The main objective of this paper is to detect opportunitites for the revitalisation of peri-urban agriculture based on an analysis and comparison of its evolution in two different regional contexts in Spain. The peri-urban space is delimited according to density, topography and perceptual criteria. Aerial images and cartographic bases are used to identify land quality and land use changes in the areas, concluding that peri-urban agriculture has suffered both urban occupation and internal changes in crops and agricultural uses, experiencing a process of decline. Innovative initiatives performed in these spaces are also explored as opportunities for revitalisation from a multifunctional approach, linking urban population to peri-urban agriculture, organic farming or landscape management. This analysis serves as a prerequisite to develop new policies for the planning of peri-urban agriculture at local and regional scales, based on a deep understanding of the territory and its evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the hydrolysis of αS1-, αS0-, βB-, βA1- and βA2-caseins by 32 wild lactococci of different randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns, isolated from raw ewes’ milk cheese, and the production of hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides from whole casein by those strains. Methods and Results: Most strains hydrolysed all caseins, and degraded β-caseins to a larger extent than αS-caseins, when the proteolytic activity of whole cells was determined by capillary electrophoresis. Higher levels of hydrophilic than of hydrophobic peptides were produced from whole casein by all strains, according to reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography analyses. Conclusions: Cell envelope proteinases of most lactococci isolated from raw ewes’ milk cheese were CEPII, CEPII/III or CEPIII (classification of Exterkate et al. 1993). A negative correlation was found between degraded αS- and β-caseins and a highly positive correlation between hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides. Significance and Impact of the Study: Fast acid-producing lactococci from raw ewes’ milk cheese have considerable and diverse caseinolytic activities. Their peptide production patterns do not reveal serious risks of bitter-flavour defect in cheeses if used as components of dairy starters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the description of a new pentastomid species by researchers from Madrid, Spain. Identification of the new species from the air sacs of a black vulture; Use of the parasite's distinct morphological characteristics as seen under a scanning electron microscopy to suggest it should be classified in the new genus; Physical description of the parasite.