Southeast Spain Research Articles

Clinical, diagnostic and epidemiological implications of Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Leishmania infantum infection in cats and dogs in a Mediterranean periurban setting

Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and Leishmania infantum are common parasites of dogs in Mediterranean countries and are less frequent in cats, particularly Babesia spp. and L. infantum. Moreover, there is limited information on coinfections between these parasites and on L. infantum’s distribution in blood, skin and lymphoid tissue in cats. We used PCR and DNA sequencing to investigate the prevalence of these parasites and the aetiology of Hepatozoon spp. and Babesia spp., in blood, skin, spleen and lymph node samples from up to 212 stray cats and 82 abandoned dogs in southeast Spain. All except 2 dogs were healthy; instead, 112 cats had clinical signs. The estimated PCR prevalences (95% confidence interval) were 25% (19–31%) Hepatozoon felis in cats, 13% (6–21%) Hepatozoon canis in dogs, 1% (0–4%) Babesia vogeli in dogs, 0% Babesia spp. in cats and 21% (15–26%) and 44% (33–55%) L. infantum in cats and dogs, respectively, and infections were not associated with each other. Leishmania infantum prevalence in lymphoid tissue was significantly higher in dogs than in cats (p < 0.001), and dogs had higher parasite loads than cats (p = 0.012). Moreover, L. infantum prevalence was significantly higher in the skin and lymphoid tissue compared to blood in infected, asymptomatic animals but it was similar in cats with clinical signs, which also had higher parasite loads compared to infected, asymptomatic cats (p < 0.05). The study highlights significant differences between sympatric dogs and cats with respect to the parasite infections investigated, as well as the need to examine both lymphoid tissue and skin samples to maximise the sensitivity of L. infantum infection diagnosis.

Examining the perceptions and behaviours of farmers regarding the installation of covers over irrigation ponds: Evidence from South-east Spain

The installation of covers over ponds for agricultural irrigation is a feasible alternative to reduce evaporative water losses. However, the installation of these systems continues to be very limited. Understanding the factors that influence the behaviour of farmers towards this type of installation is fundamental because they are the individuals making the final decision. This article analyses the perceptions and behaviours of farmers towards the installation of covers in agricultural irrigation ponds in southeastern Spain. A cluster analysis characterized four groups of farmers related to this practice. The results show that these clusters present different perceptions towards the installation of covers, their possible advantages and the different incentives that can be established to promote their implementation. Technical and agronomic aspects play an important role in installation decisions, while economic and environmental aspects are considered secondary. Based on these results, actionable recommendations are proposed for policy-makers. The findings of this study can be very useful in those regions in which it is desired to promote the installation of covers over ponds for agricultural irrigation.

Copper Supply Networks in the Early Bronze Age of South-east Spain: New Evidence from the Lower Segura Valley

The range of copper sources and the nature of metal supply networks used by the El Argar culture of south-east Spain have been the subject of a long-running debate. On one side of this debate we have a model that envisages supply for much of the El Argar culture coming from a closely circumscribed region and controlled centrally by a political élite, while on the other side we have a model of a more decentralised supply network drawing on a wider, geographically more dispersed range of ore sources that is lacking the same level of political control. The available archaeometallurgical data are not entirely conclusive in this respect. While results from the existing, comparatively small body of lead isotope analyses have been taken to support, at least to some extent, the idea of a single main source region supplying most if not all of the El Argar culture area with copper, results from the much larger but not easily interpreted body of minor-element analyses would appear to lend support to the notion of a more decentralised supply. In this contribution we present new analytical data from the Lower Segura Valley, both from local copper ores and from local El Argar artefacts, which provide new insights relevant to this debate.

Design and Implementation of a Wireless Recorder System for Seismic Noise Array Measurements.

In this work, a wireless data acquisition system for seismic noise array measurements is presented. The developed system is composed of a series of nodes and a central server arranged in a point-to-multipoint topology. The nodes consist of a CC3200 microcontroller, an analog-to-digital converter, and a low-noise conditioning circuit designed specifically to register seismic noise, and which is connected to the seismic sensor. As a server, a Raspberry Pi 4B has been used that will receive the samples from the nodes via Wi-Fi and will save them in files. It also incorporates a Web interface developed with JavaScript node.js technology that allows to configure the number of nodes as well as different options, to start and stop the records, and to view in real time the different signals received from the nodes. The system can be deployed anywhere since each of the nodes use independent batteries as a power supply. In addition, it is possible to operate the system remotely if internet connectivity is available. The prototype has been tested in four different locations in the Alicante province (southeast Spain), demonstrating its suitability for seismic noise array measurements.

Clustering Arid Rangelands Based on NDVI Annual Patterns and Their Persistence

Rangeland ecosystems comprise more than a third of the global land surface, sustaining essential ecosystem services and livelihoods. In Spain, Southeast Spain includes some of the driest regions; accordingly, rangelands from Murcia and Almeria provinces were selected for this study. We used time series metrics and the Hurst Exponent from rescale range and detrended fluctuation analysis to cluster different rangeland dynamics to classify temporally and spatially diverse rangelands. The metrics were only calculated for three time periods that showed significant NDVI changes: March to April, April to July, and September to December. Detrended fluctuation analysis was not previously employed to cluster vegetation. This study used it to improve rangeland classification. K-means and unsupervised random forest were used to cluster the pixels using time series metrics and Hurst exponents. The best clustering results were obtained when unsupervised random forest was used with the Hurst exponent calculated with detrended fluctuation analysis. We used the Silhouette Index to evaluate the clustering results and a spatial comparison with topographical data. Our results show that adding the Hurst exponent, calculated with detrended fluctuation analysis, provided a better classification when clustering NDVI time series, while classifications without the Hurst exponent or with the Hurst exponent calculated with the rescale range method showed lower silhouette values. Overall, this shows the importance of using detrending when calculating the Hurst exponent on vegetation time series, and its usefulness in studying rangeland dynamics for management and research.

The role of the Compañía de Riegos de Levante S.A. in the development of electricity in south-east Spain (1918-1940)

ABSTRACT Studies on the development of hydroelectricity in early twentieth century in Spain have paid very little attention to the south-eastern part of the country, specifically the provinces of Alicante and Murcia. The specific needs of this industry (regular flowing rivers and with steep slopes) were in conflict with the fact that there is only one large river in the area, the Segura River, with a scarce flow and major droughts. However, issues related to the use of its waters for irrigation, or periodic flooding or drought, have been prominent themes in research on the Segura River. Despite this, a single company, the Compañía Riegos de Levante S.A. became the most important generator and distributor of electricity in the area until its sale to Hidroeléctrica Española in 1952. Originally, the CRLSA was not established to exploit the new urban electrical consumption markets, but to fulfil the needs of the expanding irrigated agriculture. In this article we will discuss the development of the company, particularly regarding its activities in the electrical energy business and explain the reasons for its establishment and its transformation into a leading company in this industry until the Spanish Civil War.

The use of bayesian networks and bootstrap to evaluate risks linked to the microbial contamination of leafy greens irrigated with reclaimed water in Southeast Spain

The use of reclaimed water for irrigation is one of the most common strategies to address water scarcity in many regions of the world, and many of the most intensive production areas of fruits and vegetables rely on these water sources to produce high quality fresh produce. However, there are still concerns regarding the microbiological quality and safety of products irrigated with reclaimed water. In this study, we propose an innovative approach to evaluate factors affecting this potential risk. Using the concentration of Escherichia coli as a proxy (an indicator) for bacterial pathogens, we define a probabilistic model divided in two parts. The variation in bacterial concentration during water reclamation and distribution is described by a Bayesian Network, where variability and uncertainty are included by data augmentation using non-parametric bootstrap. The second part, is a stochastic model that predicts the microbial concentration on the plant accounting for cross-contamination and bacterial survival.The novel approach is used to evaluate the factors affecting the contamination and potential risk associated with the consumption of leafy greens irrigated with reclaimed water from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in several growing fields located in the south-east of Spain. According to the model, the microbial concentration in the outlet of the WWTP has a relatively low impact on the probability of E. coli concentrations on the plant to exceed 2 log CFU/g (a common threshold), and the impact of the irrigation system (overhead, drip or irrigation) would be insignificant. Instead, the probability of exceedance would be dominated by soil-to-plant contamination due to splashing, when organic amendments are used as fertilizers. Therefore, provided every step in water reclamation from water generation to point of use is kept safe, current reclamation treatments from WWTPs would be effective in reducing microbial concentrations in reclaimed water.

Actions for the Conservation and Restoration of the Dunes and Wetlands in the Salinas of San Pedro del Pinatar: LIFE-Salinas Project (Murcia, Southeast of Spain)

The LIFE SALINAS project, co-financed by the European Union, aims for the conservation and improvement of the protected area named the Regional Park of Las Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar (Region of Murcia, Spain). The main objectives are, among others, to stop the erosion of the dunes in front of a 500 m long beach and to expand the breeding habitat of aquatic birds. Between the dune and the beach, a barrier was placed to protect the dune from the effects of storms. The dunes were fenced, placed with sand traps and revegetation was carried out with native species in the most degraded areas. Within the salt pans, 1800 m of new sandy dikes were built to separate the salt ponds. The results have been the recovery of the dune ecosystem and the increase in the population of nesting aquatic birds and other species, as well as an increase in the quality and production of salt.

The last chance of intermodal strategies for redistribution of vegetables from Southeast of Spain

European Administration has spent years trying to shift traffic from the road to the sea, using intermodality in order to achieve a modal rebalancing. Meanwhile we keep waiting. This study analyses new approaches that strengthen the modal shift, rather than focusing simply on the reduction of externalities. A possible option is to redefine ports, conceptualising them as redistribution and coordination centers and not only as areas of cargo exchange. The present article analyses this problem by attempting to promote intermodality (truck and short sea shipping) for the transport of highly perishable products (vegetables) exported from southeast Spain, which is the leading supplier to Europe. It is analysed the location of coordination centers between customer-provider by applying a p-median multicriteria model, adapted to the transport of perishables. This scheme avoids bias in decision-making processes.

Ownership and exploitation of water drained by galleries and groundwater dam in the Southeast of Spain

Ownership and exploitation of water drained by galleries and groundwater dam in the Southeast of Spain

Installation of hedgerows around greenhouses to encourage biological pest control: Farmers' perspectives from Southeast Spain

The intensification of agriculture has led to the deterioration of various ecosystem services, including pest control. The installation of hedgerows around greenhouses is presented as a viable option to maintain and favour natural enemies of pests. Despite the economic and environmental advantages of this type of facility, farmers are reluctant to implement it. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the factors that influence the decision to install hedgerows and the most appropriate incentives to promote their establishment. This article analyses intensive agriculture in Southeastern Spain. The application of cluster analysis techniques allowed the detection of four types of farmers in relation to this practice. The factors that drive its installation are an increase in the effectiveness of biological control, a reduction in the use of pesticides and the possible economic and environmental benefits. As a barrier, a lack of knowledge of and confidence in the effectiveness of this practice stand out. Among the measures to encourage their installation, the most valued are training and advice and recurring payments for the ecosystem services generated. The results obtained can be useful for policy makers in regions in which the installation of non-crop vegetation is promoted.

Students’ performance in the scientific skills during secondary education

One of the goals of secondary science education is to help students develop skills related to scientific inquiry. However, the results of previous studies have shown that students have difficulties in identifying problems, formulating hypotheses, drawing conclusions, and designing experiments. The main objective of this contribution is to indicate the situation in the southeast of Spain in this regard, comparing progress throughout secondary education. Four instruments were designed based on specific problematic situations in biology that were solved by 260 students from three different educational levels (12, 14, and 16 years old). The results show that high school students learn very little in terms of the development of the aforementioned skills and have difficulty understanding their meaning in the science texts used in the classroom. In this paper, some of the reasons that could explain this situation are analyzed and suggestions are made as to how the teaching of the desired skills could be improved.

Factors structuring microbial communities in highly impacted coastal marine sediments (Mar Menor lagoon, SE Spain).

Coastal marine lagoons are environments highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures such as agriculture nutrient loading or runoff from metalliferous mining. Sediment microorganisms, which are key components in the biogeochemical cycles, can help attenuate these impacts by accumulating nutrients and pollutants. The Mar Menor, located in the southeast of Spain, is an example of a coastal lagoon strongly altered by anthropic pressures, but the microbial community inhabiting its sediments remains unknown. Here, we describe the sediment prokaryotic communities along a wide range of environmental conditions in the lagoon, revealing that microbial communities were highly heterogeneous among stations, although a core microbiome was detected. The microbiota was dominated by Delta- and Gammaproteobacteria and members of the Bacteroidia class. Additionally, several uncultured groups such as Asgardarchaeota were detected in relatively high proportions. Sediment texture, the presence of Caulerpa or Cymodocea, depth, and geographic location were among the most important factors structuring microbial assemblages. Furthermore, microbial communities in the stations with the highest concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Fe, Pb, As, Zn, and Cd) were less stable than those in the non-contaminated stations. This finding suggests that bacteria colonizing heavily contaminated stations are specialists sensitive to change.

Patterns of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella isolates from fattening pigs in Spain

BackgroundSwine are considered a major source of foodborne salmonellosis, a public health issue further complicated by the circulation of multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains that threaten the safety of the food chain. The current study aimed to identify patterns that can help to understand the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella in pigs in Spain through the application of several multivariate statistical methods to data from the AMR national surveillance programs from 2001 to 2017.ResultsA total of 1,318 pig Salmonella isolates belonging to 63 different serotypes were isolated and their AMR profiles were determined. Tetracycline resistance across provinces in Spain was the highest among all antimicrobials and ranged from 66.7% to 95.8%, followed by sulfamethoxazole resistance (range: 42.5% − 77.8%), streptomycin resistance (range: 45.7% − 76.7%), ampicillin resistance (range: 24.3% − 66.7%, with a lower percentage of resistance in the South-East of Spain), and chloramphenicol resistance (range: 8.5% − 41.1%). A significant increase in the percentage of resistant isolates to chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin and trimethoprim from 2013 to 2017 was observed. Bayesian network analysis showed the existence of dependencies between resistance to antimicrobials of the same but also different families, with chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole in the centre of the networks. In the networks, the conditional probability for an isolate susceptible to ciprofloxacin that was also susceptible to nalidixic acid was 0.999 but for an isolate resistant to ciprofloxacin that was also resistant to nalidixic acid was only 0.779. An isolate susceptible to florfenicol would be expected to be susceptible to chloramphenicol, whereas an isolate resistant to chloramphenicol had a conditional probability of being resistant to florfenicol at only 0.221. Hierarchical clustering further demonstrated the linkage between certain resistances (and serotypes). For example, a higher likelihood of multidrug-resistance in isolates belonging to 1,4,[5],12:i:- serotype was found, and in the cluster where all isolates were resistant to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and florfenicol, 86.9% (n = 53) of the isolates were Typhimurium.ConclusionOur study demonstrated the power of multivariate statistical methods in discovering trends and patterns of AMR and found the existence of serotype-specific AMR patterns for serotypes of public health concern in Salmonella isolates in pigs in Spain.

Competence and Attitude of Family Physicians towards Sexuality Regarding Their Sexual Orientation, Age, or Having a Partner-Survey Study and Validation.

Background: The main objective of this study was to assess different aspects of family physicians (sex, age, sexual orientation, or having a partner) regarding their competencies, attitudes, and procedures towards their patients’ sexuality. We also sought to develop a valid questionnaire to perform this task. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among family and community medicine physicians in southeast Spain. Results: A total of 259 family physicians participated. Overall, 69.9% were women, 80.7% were heterosexual, 80.7% had a partner, and 50.6% had not received specific sexology training. Homosexual physicians showed a slightly more positive attitude toward sexuality. Training in sexuality established differences in competencies and procedures, but no differences were found in the attitude regarding whether the physicians had a partner or their training. While younger ages were correlated with a more positive attitude, the global score was positively correlated with the age of the professionals. Conclusions: Competences, attitudes, and knowledge of procedures do not depend on whether the professional has a partner, but there may be slight differences regarding attitude when considering the sexual orientation of the physicians. The attitude toward sexuality may not depend on previous training. Albeit younger family physicians have a more positive attitude, all providers become more involved with sexuality as they gain professional experience.

Spontaneous vegetation colonizing abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings consistently modulates climatic, chemical and biological soil conditions throughout seasons.

This study aimed to evaluate whether the improvement in soil conditions induced by the vegetation spontaneously colonizing abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings from semiarid areas is consistent throughout seasons and to identify if the temporal variability of that conditions is of similar magnitude of that of the surrounding forests. Soil climatic (temperature and moisture), chemical (pH, electrical conductivity and water-soluble salts and metal(loid)s) and biological (water-soluble organic carbon and ammonium, microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase activity, organic matter decomposition and feeding activity of soil dwelling organisms) parameters were seasonally evaluated for one year in bare soils and different vegetated patches within metalliferous mine tailings and surrounding forests in southeast Spain. The results indicated that the improvement in soil conditions (as shown by softening of climatic conditions and lower scores for salinity and water-soluble metals and higher for biological parameters) induced by vegetation colonization was consistent throughout seasons. This amelioration was more evident in the more complex vegetation patches (trees with herbs and shrubs under the canopy), compared to bare soils and simpler soil-plant systems (only trees), and closer to forest soils outside the tailings. Bare soils and, to a lesser extent, vegetation patches solely composed by trees, showed stronger seasonal variability in temperature, moisture content, salinity, and water-soluble metals. In contrast, changes in biological and biological-related parameters were more pronounced in the more complex vegetation patches within mine tailings and surrounding forests due to its greater biological activity. In summary, the results demonstrated that vegetation patches formed by spontaneous colonization act as microsites that modulate seasonal variability in soil conditions and stimulate biological activity. This suggests that tailings vegetation patches might have higher resilience against climate change effects than bare soils. Therefore, they should be preserved as valuable spots in the phytomanagement of metal(loid)s mine tailings from semiarid areas.

Opportunistic vegetation in quarry soil restoration from semiarid South East Spain: Pines and spontaneous species

AbstractThe objective of our study was to undestand the effect of two organic amendments on three planted autochthonous species in two substrates mulched with pine chips 6 years after starting an experimental restoration in a quarry for cement production in semiarid SE Spain. But because this kind of mulch contained pine cones and pine seedlings appeared after the first year of the restoration, new objectives were added to the initial one: to check if organic amendments influenced pine growth among planted vegetation and if there were competition between planted and non‐planted species. Essential soil parameters, plant cover and diversity and pine growth were measured and statistically processed with correlation analyses, ANOVA and detrended correspondence analysis. Six years after restoration, organic amendments contributed significantly to explain the differences on the tested variables. The combined effects of the two substrates and the two organic amendments effectively enhanced soil properties recovery, but they also facilitated the establishment and entry of new species in addition to planted vegetation, driving a differential plant development. Planted vegetation cover and total plant cover from amended plots were double that of control plots. The number of pines, as well as their coverage, depended on the interaction between amendment type and substrate. Organic amendments favoured opportunistic species which, despite competing with those planted, helped to control soil erosion and enhanced pedogenesis. Pine chips used as mulch and derived pine seedlings, despite not entering the experimental design, might have some potential in the restoration of these particular degraded semiarid environments.

Determination of the Best Planting Season for the Protected Cultivation of Papaya

Papaya is a tropical crop increasingly cultivated in the greenhouses of subtropical regions such as South East Spain, where the determination of the best planting season is important to ensure a stable fruit production and quality during the year. In this work, we studied plant growth, yield, and fruit quality, comparing spring and autumn planting seasons in ‘Intenzza’ cultivar. The results showed that planting in spring favors plant growth, leading to an earlier entry into production. Total yield and fruit quality were similar in both planting seasons, although the spring cycle provided higher profits due to greater commercial yield and lower discards. Our results confirm that adverse environmental conditions affect the crop in a similar way regardless of the planting season, so different growing cycles are not very useful for filling the production gaps and fighting against seasonality in our region, unless unfavorable climate conditions are avoided inside the greenhouse.

Body-dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms in a large sample of adolescents

Few studies have investigated body-dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms in adolescents and how they relate to mental health, quality of life, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-harm. We used a quota sampling procedure and contacted 100 secondary centres in the Southeast of Spain, of which 34 participated in the study. A sample of 5,345 adolescents (12–18 years) completed dimensional measures of body-dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms. The proportion of adolescents with clinically significant symptoms within each symptom type was estimated and associations with other indicators of mental health examined. Clinically significant body-dysmorphic symptoms were reported by 3.7%, hoarding by 0.9%, hair-pulling by 0.7%, and skin-picking by 1.8%. Body-dysmorphic symptoms were more common in girls and in those over 14 years of age. Body-dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms were moderately to strongly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and poor quality of life. Those with significant body-dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms were much more likely to have attempted suicide and engaged in non-suicidal self-harm during the last twelve months than those without such symptoms. Body-dysmorphic symptoms showed the strongest associations with internalizing symptoms and poor quality of life. Limitations are the sole use of self-report and a sample from only two regions in Spain, but findings suggest that body-dysmorphic, hoarding, hair-pulling, and skin-picking symptoms are common and impairing during adolescence.

Dimensionless Characterization to Estimate Horizontal Groundwater Velocity from Temperature–Depth Profiles in Aquifers

The outcome of a dimensionless characterization study in a two-dimensional porous media domain in which groundwater flows at a constant horizontal velocity is presented in this report. Using spatial discrimination, the dimensionless groups that govern the solution patterns are determined from dimensionless governing equations. As a boundary condition on the surface, the case of constant temperature is studied. From the mathematical deduction of the groups, a characteristic horizontal length emerges. This length determines the region in which temperature–depth profiles are affected by flow. Existing analytical solutions have been shown to be invalid due to the severe assumption that the horizontal thermal gradient has a constant value. Therefore, universal solutions based on pi theorem have been obtained for the characteristic horizontal length, temperature field, temperature–depth profiles and horizontal temperature profiles. Dependencies between dimensionless groups have been depicted by universal curves, abacuses and surfaces. These graphical solutions are used in an easy way to estimate groundwater velocity from experimental temperature measurements in the form of an inverse problem. In addition, an easy and fast protocol for estimating fluid flow velocity and groundwater inlet temperature from temperature profile measurements is proposed. This protocol is applied in a scenario of groundwater discharge from a quaternary aquifer to a salty lagoon located in the southeast of Spain.