Northern Region Of Spain Research Articles

Quality of life and social support during pregnancy in Spanish population. A longitudinal study

BackgroundThe quality of life and social support during pregnancy are two variables influencing the health of pregnants and neonates. The documented impact of these variables on mental health, specifically the risk of depression, is notable. AimTo investigate the evolution of quality of life and social support at the beginning and end of pregnancy in pregnant women, and to examine the relationship between these variables. MethodsThe proposed longitudinal study includes 188 pregnants from a northern region of Spain. Participants were selected through consecutive sampling from September 2021 to April 2023. Quality of life and social support will be assessed in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy using the SF-36 questionnaire and MOS-SSS questionnaire, respectively. FindingsThe questionnaires show strong internal consistency (α = 0.91 and 0.97). Quality of life changes during pregnancy, declining in the physical component and rising in the mental component towards the end. Primiparous women have higher quality of life. Depression risk is 29.8 % in the 1st trimester, dropping to 22.9 % in the 3rd trimester. Social support decreases in the 3rd trimester, particularly among unmarried women. Significant positive correlations exist between quality of life and social support. ConclusionThis study emphasizes notable variations in quality of life and social support during pregnancy, impacting the health of pregnant individuals and neonates. Proposing standardization in monitoring these factors during prenatal check-ups aims to improve the physical and mental health of pregnant individuals and newborns.

La reciente diversificación de los flujos turísticos internacionales hacia España

Rationale International tourism in Spain was highly buoyant in 2023, with record levels of tourist arrivals, hotel overnight stays and average spending per tourist. This article describes the recent characteristics of these tourist flows and the factors that could help explain them. Takeaways •The increase in international tourist arrivals in 2023 and early 2024 relative to the 2016-2019 period was more marked during the autumn and winter months than during the summer months. •In 2023 foreigner hotel overnight stays increased more sharply, compared with the pre-pandemic period, in the northern regions of Spain than in the islands and the south of mainland Spain. •Foreign tourist source countries also appear to have diversified in 2023, with a notable increase in the number of tourists from the Americas and a slight decrease in the number of tourists from countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom. •In 2023 as a whole international tourists appear to have chosen higher category hotels to a greater extent, thus boosting average spending per tourist.

Exploring the Intricate Connections between the Influence of Fishing on Marine Biodiversity and Their Delivery of Ecological Services Driven by Different Management Frameworks

The goal of this project is to assess the state of marine biodiversity in the Natura 2000 marine network in Spain and analyze the impact of fishing policies on it. The study focuses on three marine demarcations in Spain: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Strait of Gibraltar and Alborán Sea. The research uses the DPSIR (Drivers of Change-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework, a multi-criteria analysis approach to understand the relationships between biodiversity loss, fishing, marine ecosystem integrity, and the provision of ecosystem services. Our results revealed a significant decline in biodiversity since 1985 in the four marine areas studied; this loss was more pronounced in the Gulf of Cadiz (in Andalusia) and less intense in the northern regions of Spain (Galicia and Asturias). This trend aligns with the global degradation of marine ecosystems and loss of biodiversity caused by human activities. The main drivers behind this decline are economic factors promoting industrial fishing and overexploitation. However, there has been a reduction in the industrial fishing fleet since the 2000s, supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for transitioning toward sustainable fishing methods. Despite the increase in regulations and the establishment of marine protected areas, these measures have not been effective enough to stop the loss of marine biodiversity. The results highlight the importance of combining administrative measures such as creating marine protected areas and implementing fisheries management regulations with the preservation of cultural services provided by these ecosystems. Successful governance models that involve collaboration between fishermen and decision-makers have been observed in northern Galicia and the Gulf of Cádiz.

Genomics of the expanding pine pathogen Lecanosticta acicola reveals patterns of ongoing genetic admixture.

Lecanosticta acicola is a fungal pathogen causing severe defoliation, growth reduction, and even death in more than 70 conifer species. Despite the increasing incidence of this species, little is known about its population dynamics. Two divergent lineages have been described that have now been found together in regions of France and Spain, but it is unknown how these mixed populations evolve. Here we present the first reference genome for this important plant pathogenic fungi and use it to study the population genomics of 70 isolates from an affected forest in the north of Spain. We find signs of introgression between the two main lineages, indicating that active mating is occurring in this region which could propitiate the appearance of novel traits in this species. We also study the phenotypic differences across this population based on enzymatic activities on 20 compounds.

Large-scale unsupervised spatio-temporal semantic analysis of vast regions from satellite images sequences

Temporal sequences of satellite images constitute a highly valuable and abundant resource for analyzing regions of interest. However, the automatic acquisition of knowledge on a large scale is a challenging task due to different factors such as the lack of precise labeled data, the definition and variability of the terrain entities, or the inherent complexity of the images and their fusion. In this context, we present a fully unsupervised and general methodology to conduct spatio-temporal taxonomies of large regions from sequences of satellite images. Our approach relies on a combination of deep embeddings and time series clustering to capture the semantic properties of the ground and its evolution over time, providing a comprehensive understanding of the region of interest. The proposed method is enhanced by a novel procedure specifically devised to refine the embedding and exploit the underlying spatio-temporal patterns. We use this methodology to conduct an in-depth analysis of a 220 km2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document} region in northern Spain in different settings. The results provide a broad and intuitive perspective of the land where large areas are connected in a compact and well-structured manner, mainly based on climatic, phytological, and hydrological factors.

Small area variations in non-affective first-episode psychosis: the role of socioeconomic and environmental factors.

There is strong evidence supporting the association between environmental factors and increased risk of non-affective psychotic disorders. However, the use of sound statistical methods to account for spatial variations associated with environmental risk factors, such as urbanicity, migration, or deprivation, is scarce in the literature. We studied the geographical distribution of non-affective first-episode psychosis (NA-FEP) in a northern region of Spain (Navarra) during a 54-month period considering area-level socioeconomic indicators as putative explanatory variables. We used several Bayesian hierarchical Poisson models to smooth the standardized incidence ratios (SIR). We included neighborhood-level variables in the spatial models as covariates. We identified 430 NA-FEP cases over a 54-month period for a population at risk of 365,213 inhabitants per year. NA-FEP incidence risks showed spatial patterning and a significant ecological association with the migrant population, unemployment, and consumption of anxiolytics and antidepressants. The high-risk areas corresponded mostly to peripheral urban regions; very few basic health sectors of rural areas emerged as high-risk areas in the spatial models with covariates. Increased rates of unemployment, the migrant population, and consumption of anxiolytics and antidepressants showed significant associations linked to the spatial-geographic incidence of NA-FEP. These results may allow targeting geographical areas to provide preventive interventions that potentially address modifiable environmental risk factors for NA-FEP. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the associations between environmental risk factors and the incidence of NA-FEP.

Profile of Liver Transplant Recipient in a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Spain.

Spain has the highest rates of liver transplantation (LT) per million inhabitants in the world, with the profiles of both donors and recipients in Asturias, a region in northern Spain, being different from the rest of the country. The main goal of this study was to carry out a preliminary analysis of the characteristics of LT recipients in Asturias, as well as of the basic characteristics of surgery and the postoperative period, and to discuss whether the results obtained in this study were comparable to what is described in the literature. This was a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study, analyzing the LT carried out in a reference center of Asturias between 2002 and 2017. Relative and absolute frequency distributions for qualitative variables are provided, as are position and dispersion measures for quantitative variables. Using the multivariate Cox regression model, the prognostic factors associated with overall survival were determined. A total of 533 LTs were analyzed; 431 were men and 102 were women. The mean age was 55.1 years, concentrated between 40 and 69 years for both genders. LT was performed for chronic parenchymal liver disease (mostly of alcoholic etiology) and the recipients underwent surgery in an advanced stage of liver disease. Of these recipients, 8.1% (43 patients) were retransplantions, 65.1% in the first year due to primary graft dysfunction and complete hepatic artery thrombosis. Most patients had presented a grade II of Clavien-Dindo as the most frequent complication. Biliary complications were found in 12.3% of patients, with the main cause of death in the first 30 days being instability in the 24 h after LT. The median survival of the group was 13 years, with a 5-year survival probability of 79.3% and a 10-year survival probability of 61.9%. In view of the analyzed series, it can be concluded that the most frequent recipient profile was a male patient (mean age 55 years), with a significant alcohol habit, who was overweight, with chronic parenchymal liver disease of alcoholic or viral etiology, and who had reached the Child C stage before LT. This study could lay the foundations for future studies, to complete this analysis with the characteristics of LT surgery, its postoperative period, and the follow-up after discharge, to obtain a broader view of LT recipients in this region.

Soil Properties of Abandoned Vineyards

The abandonment of vineyards has shown to change the soil properties and structure. The analysis of vineyards in the Castilla y Leon region in northern Spain and the soil properties of specific points in the regions demonstrate that there is a change after abandonment of vineyard land. Historical data has shown that there has been observed changes in the soil and the hydrological properties in the soil after a vineyard has been abandoned (Vazquez-Blanco, 2022). Comparisons made between active vineyards and those that have been abandoned show some contrasts between each in the collected soil data and how the land use and land cover has changed (ESDAC, 2022). Additionally, the determination of why the vineyards were abandoned by the production yield and if the vineyards were abandoned due to economic reasons or if climatic changes caused for the land to be deem unsuitable for vineyard occupation. The purpose of this report is to show that soil properties and soil structure is altered in an area after vineyards are abandoned and the land is no longer cultivated. The comparisons of active vineyards and vineyards that are now abandoned provide for the stark differences to be observed.

Co-Occurrence of Mycotoxins in Feed for Cattle, Pigs, Poultry, and Sheep in Navarra, a Region of Northern Spain.

Mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by fungi on raw materials, such as cereals, represent a serious health hazard. Animals are exposed to them mainly through the ingestion of contaminated feed. This study presents data about the presence and co-occurrence of nine mycotoxins: aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, ochratoxins A and B, zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and sterigmatocystin (STER), in 400 samples of compound feed for cattle, pigs, poultry, and sheep (100 samples each) collected in Spain (2019-2020). Aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and ZEA were quantified using a previously validated HPLC method using fluorescence detection; whereas DON and STER were quantified using ELISA. Moreover, the obtained results were compared with those obtained in this country and published in the last 5 years. The mycotoxin presence in Spanish feed, especially for ZEA and DON, has been demonstrated. The maximum individual levels found were: AFB1: 6.9 µg/kg in a sample of feed for poultry; OTA: 65.5 µg/kg in a sample of feed for pigs, DON: 887 µg/kg in a sample of feed for sheep, and ZEA: 816 µg/kg in a sample of feed for pigs. Nevertheless, regulated mycotoxins appear, in general, at levels below those regulated by the EU; in fact, the percentage of samples containing concentrations above these limits was very low (from 0% for DON to 2.5% for ZEA). The co-occurrence of mycotoxins has also been demonstrated: 63.5% of the analyzed samples presented detectable levels of two to five mycotoxins. Due to the fact that the distribution of mycotoxins in raw materials can change greatly from year to year with climate conditions or market globalization, regular mycotoxin monitorization in feed is needed to prevent the integration of contaminated materials in the food chain.

Factors associated with academic performance in adolescents from La Rioja (Spain): lifestyle habits, health indicators, and sociodemographic factors

Introduction: academic performance is influenced by numerous factors, some personal and others contextual in nature, which also have a close relationship with the health of students. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship and influence of lifestyle habits, various physical and psychosocial health indicators, and sociodemographic variables on academic performance. Method: the study was carried out on a sample of 761 students (14.51 ± 1.63 years old) from 25 educational centers in a region of northern Spain. Academic performance was assessed, as well as health-related quality of life, self-esteem, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, hours of nocturnal sleep, level of physical activity, environment for the practice of physical activity, participation in extra-curricular sports activities, maximum oxygen consumption, body mass index, and various sociodemographic factors. Results: being male, having immigrant origins, as well as having a low/medium socioeconomic level, a cardiorespiratory capacity in the risk zone, lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and lower health-related quality of life indices were associated with lower academic performance, explaining up to 14 % of its variance according to the regression analysis. Likewise, adolescents with higher self-esteem, lower body mass index, females, those who lived in a favorable environment for physical activity practice, engaged in extra-curricular physical activity, and had a higher number of hours of nocturnal sleep showed higher levels of academic performance. Conclusions: interventions aimed at combating academic failure should take into account the aforementioned associated factors, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups such as males, those with lower socioeconomic status, and those who follow unhealthy lifestyle habits.

The role of infrastructures in rural depopulation. An econometric analysis

The aim of this article is to contribute to the analysis of the causes of rural depopulation and, particularly, the role of infrastructures. We build a panel data set with the 78 municipalities of a region in Northern Spain, Asturias. We estimate an econometric model where rural population is explained by a set of economic and infrastructure variables as well as some characteristics of the municipalities. The main results show the importance of infrastructures to maintain rural population. The presence of a medium–size town in the municipality helps to fix the population in the countryside. However, the income gap with urban municipalities contributes to reduce rural population.

Clinical utility of plasma biomarkers to identify preclinical Alzheimer’s disease in the community

AbstractBackgroundSeveral plasma biomarkers have shown good correlation with brain amyloidosis measured by CSF biomarkers and PET, but their utility to identify subjects with Alzheimer’s disease(AD) brain pathology at the community level is not well known. Neuropsychological tests might be a more accessible alternative.MethodOur aims were to assess the utility of plasma p‐tau231, plasma GFAP, and plasma NFL to identify individuals with preclinical AD, and to compare it with the utility of current neuropsychological tests for early AD detection: Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite 5(PACC5), Spanish version of Face‐Name Memory Exam(S‐FNAME), Logical Memory Test (LMT‐WMSIII), and Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test(FCSRT). Our study population was a community‐based cohort that enrolls individuals older than 55 living in Cantabria, a region in northern Spain. Exclusion criteria include a diagnosis of dementia or other cognitive disorders. AD+ status was defined by abnormal levels of both CSF amyloid‐β1‐42/1‐40 ratio and CSF p‐tau181. General linear models were used to compare biomarker and cognitive results between AD+ subjects and the rest of the population, with age and sex as covariates. ROC curves were built to compare the utility of each test to identify AD+ cases.ResultThe total sample included 156 individuals, 30 of them AD+. AD+ subjects showed significantly higher levels of GFAP (mean difference 78.04, p<0.00001) and p‐tau231 (mean difference 5.53, p 0.00040), but not NFL (mean difference 1.16, p 0.63), compared to non‐AD (table 1). After adjusting by age, sex, APOE4 carrier status, and AD status, age and sex were still independent predictors of GFAP levels, but not of p‐tau231 (table 2). FCSRT delayed recall and LMT‐WMSIII total score were significantly lower in AD+ than in non‐AD cases, but not S‐FNAME nor PACC5 (table 1). Both plasma GFAP and p‐tau231 showed an AUC of 0.75 to identify AD+ individuals (table 3, figure 1). Neuropsychological tests obtained non‐significantly smaller AUC than plasma biomarkers.ConclusionIn our community‐based population, plasma GFAP and p‐tau231 were useful to identify individuals with preclinical AD, but not plasma NFL. Although probably with a lower performance, early detection cognitive tests may also be helpful to identify AD cases in the community.

Scrutinizing the Profile and Risk Factors of Suicide: A Perspective from a Case–Control Study Focused on a Northern Region of Spain

Suicide is a major public health problem the prevention of which has become a priority, and, to this end, knowledge of its risk factors is essential. This study aims to evaluate the impact of some social, medico-legal, and clinical issues on suicide deaths. A total of 135 cases were identified as suicides that occurred in a region of northern Spain between 2018 and 2020. Controls (three for each case) were matched by age, sex, and urban-rural areas. The information was collected retrospectively through electronic health record systems. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to study the association between individual risk factors and suicide. Being male (78.5%), between 40 and 60 years of age, unmarried (70.9%), and unemployed (85%) were associated with suicide deaths. Although the existence of a previous self-harm attempt is presented as the most robust risk factor (OR 22.121 [8.997-54.389]), the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis (OR 12.583 [7.686-20.601]) and cancer (OR 3.729 [1.845-7.536]) also showed a significant relationship with suicide (p < 0.05). Defining and knowing the risk factors for suicide helps to better understand the profiles of those individuals who are vulnerable, and enables prevention actions to be taken in both social and medical spheres.

Functional continuum: independent predictor of one-year mortality and key decision-making element in older adults with severe aortic stenosis amenable to aortic valve replacement.

The impact of functional capacity over the entire functional continuum in older adults undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) has not been studied to date. This study aims to analyze 1.- the distribution of a cohort of older adults presenting severe aortic stenosis (AS) amenable to AVR in the different categories of the Functional Continuum Scale (FCS); 2.- its association with decision-making regarding valve disease; and 3.- its impact upon the one-year mortality rate of surgical (SAVR), transcatheter (TAVR) aortic valve replacement, or the decision to provide conservative management (OMT). This prospective study included patients from the FRESAS (FRailty-Evaluation-in-Severe-Aortic-Stenosis) registry evaluated by the reference Heart-Team of a region in northern Spain. All the patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. The study comprised 257 patients aged 84.0 ± 3.9years. SAVR: 25.3%, TAVR: 58.0% and OMT: 16.7%. Increased patient functional capacity was associated with an increased tendency to perform more invasive valve disease treatment. The overall one-year survival rate was 81.3%. One-year all-cause mortality: FCS-1 to FCS-2 "robust" 11.5%, FCS-3 to FCS-4 "prefrail" 14.7%, FCS-5 "frail" 19.2% and FCS-6 to FCS-8 "dependent" 45.0%; p < 0.001. Adjusted mortality analysis: FCS with HR = 1.206 [95%CI, 0.999-1.451 (p = 0.051)]; EuroSCORE-II with HR = 1.071 [95%CI, 1.006-1.161 (p = 0.033)]; and OMT with HR = 2.840 [95%CI, 1.409-5.772 (p = 0.004)] were retained in the final multivariable logistic regression model. In older AS patients amenable to AVR, the FCS is a useful predictive tool that may aid clinical decision-making.

Change on the Circulation of Respiratory Viruses and Pediatric Healthcare Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Asturias, Northern Spain.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of restrictions and nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) changed the trends in respiratory viral circulation and the pattern in pediatric healthcare utilization; (2) Methods: A retrospective, multicenter observational study designed to analyze the impact of the pandemic on pediatric healthcare utilization and the viral circulation pattern in children in a region in Northern Spain was carried out. Viral diagnostics data from all nasal or pharyngeal swabs collected in children in Asturias during the periods of March 2018–September 2019 and March 2020–September 2021 were analyzed, as well as the number of pediatric hospitalizations and emergency visits; (3) Results: A total of 14,640 samples were collected during the pandemic period. Of these, at least one respiratory virus was detected in 2940 (20.1%) while 5568/10,298 samples were positive in the pre-pandemic period (54.1%); p < 0.001. The detection of both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses decreased among periods (p < 0.001). After week 14, 2020, enveloped viruses were no longer detected until one year later, while non-enveloped viruses continued to be detected in children. Overall, a mean of 4946.8 (95% CI 4519.1–5374.4) pediatric emergency visits per month during the period 2018–2019 as compared to 2496.5 (95% CI 2086.4–2906.5) for 2020–2021 occurred (p < 0.001). The mean of pediatric hospitalizations also significantly decreased between periods, as follows: 346.6 (95% CI 313–380.2) in 2018–2019 vs. 161.1 (95% CI 138.4–183.8); p < 0.001; (4) Conclusions: Our study showed a remarkably reduction in pediatric hospitalizations and emergency visits and a change in the pattern of viral circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asturias. The usual seasonal respiratory viruses, namely influenza or RSV were nearly absent in the pediatric population during the pandemic.

Association of socioeconomic deprivation with life expectancy and all-cause mortality in Spain, 2011–2013

Life tables summarise a population’s mortality experience during a time period. Sex- and age-specific life tables are needed to compute various cancer survival measures. However, mortality rates vary according to socioeconomic status. We present sex- and age-specific life tables based on socioeconomic status at the census tract level in Spain during 2011–2013 that will allow estimating cancer relative survival estimates and life expectancy measures by socioeconomic status. Population and mortality data were obtained from the Spanish Statistical Office. Socioeconomic level was measured using the Spanish Deprivation Index by census tract. We produced sex- and age-specific life expectancies at birth by quintiles of deprivation, and life tables by census tract and province. Life expectancy at birth was higher among women than among men. Women and men in the most deprived census tracts in Spain lived 3.2 and 3.8 years less than their counterparts in the least deprived areas. A higher life expectancy in the northern regions of Spain was discovered. Life expectancy was higher in provincial capitals than in rural areas. We found a significant life expectancy gap and geographical variation by sex and socioeconomic status in Spain. The gap was more pronounced among men than among women. Understanding the association between life expectancy and socioeconomic status could help in developing appropriate public health programs. Furthermore, the life tables we produced are needed to estimate cancer specific survival measures by socioeconomic status. Therefore, they are important for cancer control in Spain.

Biochemical Diversity, Pathogenicity and Phylogenetic Analysis of Pseudomonas viridiflava from Bean and Weeds in Northern Spain.

Pseudomonas viridiflava was originally reported as a bean pathogen, and subsequently as a wide-host range pathogen affecting numerous plants species. In addition, several authors have reported the epiphytic presence of this bacterium in “non-host plants”, which may act as reservoir of P. viridiflava and source of inoculum for crops. A new biotype of this bacterium, showing an atypical LOPAT profile, was found in Asturias, a Northern region of Spain, causing significant damage in beans, kiwifruit, lettuce, and Hebe. In order to investigate the involvement of weeds in bean disease, samples were collected from beans and weeds growing in the same fields. A total of 48 isolates of P. viridiflava were obtained, 39 from weeds and 9 from beans. 48% and 52% of them showed typical (L− O− P+ A− T+) and atypical (L+ O− P v A− T+) LOPAT profiles, and they displayed high biochemical diversity. Regarding virulence factors, the T-PAI and S-PAI pathogenicity islands were found in 29% and 70.8% of the isolates, 81.2% displayed pectinolytic activity on potato slices, and 59% of the weed isolates produced symptoms after inoculation on bean pods. A phylogenetic tree based on concatenated rpoD, gyrB, and gltA sequences separated the strains carrying S-PAI and T-PAI into different clusters, both containing isolates from beans and weeds, and pathogenic as well as non-pathogenic strains. Closely related strains were found in the two hosts, and more than half of the weed isolates proved to be pathogenic in beans. This is consistent with the role of weeds as a reservoir and source of inoculum for bean infection. Detection of P. viridiflava in weeds throughout the year further supports these roles.

Rumen eukaryotes are the main phenotypic risk factors for larger methane emissions in dairy cattle.

Mitigation of methane emissions from dairy cattle is a relevant strategy to reduce environmental impact from livestock as well as to increase farm profitability through improvement of energy usage. The objective of this study was to compare how microbiome composition determines methane concentration (MET) and methane intensity (MI, ppm CH4/kg Milk) with other traditional proxies (e.g. milk yield and conformation traits). A total of 1359 Holstein cows from 17 herds in 4 northern regions of Spain were included in this study. Microbiome data came from a subset of 437 cows from 14 herds. Cows were classified in quartiles for MET and MI, according to individual records of methane measurements during the cow's visit to the automatic milking system unit. A probit approach under a Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) Bayesian framework was used to determine risk factors for high MET and high MI. Reducing MET and MI genetic merit by unit of standard deviation (SD) reduced the probability of being classified in the upper quartile by 35.2% (33.9% to 36.4%) and 28.8% (27.6% to 29.6%), respectively. Increasing the relative abundance of most bacteria reduced the probability of a cow to be classified as high emitter (e.g., Firmicutes 9.9% (8.3 to 11.3) for MET and 7.1% (6.2 to 8.2) for MI, per unit of SD). An opposite effect was observed for the relative abundance of Eukaryotes. Larger abundance of most eukaryote caused larger risk for a cow to be classified as a high emitter animal (e.g., Oomycetes 14.2% (11.7% to 16.4%) for MET and 11.8% (9.4% to 14.0%) for MI, per unit of SD). One more unit of milk yield SD increased the probability of being classified in the upper quartile for MET by 3.7% (2.3% to 4.2%) and reduced the probability for MI by 12.6% (12.2% to 13.3%). Structure and capacity traits were not main drivers of being classified in the higher quartile of methane emission and intensity, with risk odds lower than 2% per unit of SD. Cow genetic merit for methane concentration and her microbiome composition (86 phylum and 1240 genus) were the main drivers for a cow to be classified as high MET or MI. This study suggests that mitigation of MET and MI could be addressed through animal breeding programs including genetic merits and strategies that modulate the microbiome.

Vultures feeding on the dark side: current sanitary regulations may not be enough

SummaryIt is widely acknowledged that the conservation of vultures, a group of birds threatened worldwide, requires the management of safe, high-quality human subsidies, free of potentially harmful toxic compounds. Additionally, in Europe, the supply of livestock carcasses is subject to current sanitary regulations. It is largely unknown how vultures use sources of food of different abundance, predictability, or different legal status and how individual features shape these preferences. To answer these questions, we took advantage of information yielded by 35 GPS-tagged adult Eurasian Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus living in a region of northern Spain, which hosts one of the most important European populations. Our results indicated that vultures preferably used predictable feeding sites, such as carcass dumping sites, intensive farms and landfills which together account for the 62% of the observed feeding sites. Less than 10% of all observed sites had permission of authorities for the disposal of the carcasses. Interestingly, sites with large accumulations of carcasses were less used that those with intermediate amounts of food probably because of high intraspecific competition. In addition, sex and breeding status also played a role with males and breeding birds being more prone to visit the studied intensively managed feeding places. This vulture population is heavily dependent on food sources which are not under legal control where the birds could be at risk of intoxication and pathogen acquisition. Hence, current legal scenario allowing farmers to abandon carcasses in their exploitations seems insufficient. The future of vultures in highly anthropized regions is uncertain if interdictory regulations on the abandonment of carcasses of intensive livestock are applied. Additionally, conservation scenarios based on food subsidization must consider the effects of environmental and individual variability. We need science-based strategies ensuring the long-term viability of avian scavenger populations within a scenario of anthropized landscapes and livestock farming intensification.

Explaining the Decline of Rural Population in Spain (1900–2018)

Abstract The analysis of data at the municipality level from the Municipal Enumerator Books demonstrates that rural population in Spain has declined as a percentage of total population since 1900. A highly granular case study of Asturias, a region in northern Spain, reveals that internal infrastructure and the proximity of a medium-size town were crucial to maintaining population in the countryside. The income gap between rural and urban municipalities, however, also led to significant migration from rural areas.