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Conventional approaches for the assessment of population abundance or trends are usually based on a single source of information, such as counts or changes in demographic parameters. However, these approaches usually neglect some of the information needed to properly understand the population as a whole, such as assessments of the non-breeding proportion of the population and the drivers of population change. The Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus is a threatened species and its Pyrenean population (the largest in Europe) inhabits parts of Spain, Andorra, and France. We developed an Integrated Population Model (IPM) using data from a long-term study (1987–2016) in the three countries, including capture–mark–recapture of 150 marked individuals, to assess population size and age structure at the whole population scale, and obtain estimates of survival and breeding parameters of this population. The breeding population experienced a geometric mean population increase of 3.3% annually, falling to 2.3% during the last 10 yr. The adult proportion of the population increased with time, from 61% to 73%. There were 365 (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI]: 354–373) adult breeding birds in 2016, representing 49% of the adult population and 36% of the total population (estimated at 1,026 individuals, 95% BCI: 937–1,119). The large number of non-breeding adults probably led to higher mean age of first reproduction than previously estimated, and to an estimated 30–35% of territories occupied by polyandrous trios. Population growth rate was positively and strongly correlated with adult survival, which had a much greater effect on population growth than productivity. The effects of subadult and juvenile survival on population growth were weaker. We found strong evidence for a density-dependent decrease in juvenile survival, productivity and adult survival, leading to reduced population growth with increased population size. Our approach allowed us to identify important conservation issues related to the management of supplementary feeding sites and geographic expansion of this population. Our study supports the use of IPMs as a tool to understand long-lived species, allowing simultaneous estimates of the non-breeding size of the population (which is critical for understanding population functioning), better estimates of population parameters, and assessment of demographic drivers.

El manejo del riesgo de incumplimiento atribuible a las características de los proveedores en la contratación pública en Colombia se limita a la exigencia de garantías, medidas contractuales de presión o la implementación de cláusulas exorbitantes al derecho común. En tal sentido, el Estado colombiano carece de una metodología para monitorear el riesgo que los proveedores acumulan con el tiempo y el riesgo que les es sobreviniente por circunstancias técnicas, financieras o de mercado; de ahí que no cuente con un registro de información parametrizada para clasificar a los contratistas acorde con su historial de desempeño, calidad y proclividad al incumplimiento contractual. Ante lo dicho, el Estado no cuenta con suficientes medidas previas de mitigación para contrarrestar los efectos nocivos derivados de un reconocido “mal prestador” o de un contratista con potencial de riesgo de incumplimiento medio o alto. Por el contrario, las garantías y exigencias requeridas durante el proceso de selección aplican de igual forma para todos los interesados, sin que haya diferenciación frente a quienes presenten un historial de incumplimientos, multas y/o sanciones, entre otras especificaciones de riesgo. El presente escrito plantea la necesidad de asimilar el concepto de riesgo inherente al proveedor como criterio objetivo y estandarizado, desde una perspectiva preventiva más que correctiva, de tal suerte que el Estado pueda mejorar la efectividad de sus contratos públicos y disminuir la materialización de los efectos negativos derivados de la contratación fallida.

The thesis describes two desymmetrization approaches to two different natural products. The first chapter contains background on the salvileucalins and the Buchner reaction along with the work done towards the synthesis of salvileucalin B. This includes the synthesis of the diazo substrates for the Buchner reaction and the results of experimentation on a key Buchner reaction step in the sequence. The second chapter contains background on emetine and the work done towards its synthesis. This includes the synthesis of the dihydropyridine intermediate, the results of experimentation on the key step of acidic hydrolysis of the dihydropyridine to facilitate a double Pictet–Spengler reaction, exploration of an oxidative cleavage strategy, and the results on a model system to find conditions for a successful Pictet–Spengler reaction. Future directions of the project are also discussed, which include a Mukaiyama hydration strategy and modulation of the groups on the dihydropyridine nitrogen.

The risk management of non-compliance attributable to the suppliers in Colombia's public procurement is limited to the guarantees' requirements, pressures associated with contractual measures, or the Public Administration's exceptional clauses. In this regard, the Colombian State lacks a methodology to monitor the performance of contractors and the risk they accumulate over time, as well as the risk that they are supervening due to technical, financial or market conditions; hence there is no record of parameterised data to classify contractors according to their performance, quality and tendency to breach the contract. Given the above, the State does not have prior measures of risk mitigation to counteract the harmful effects arising from a recognised 'bad provider' or a contractor with medium or high risk potential to breach the contract. By contrast, the guarantees and requirements demanded during the selection process apply equally to all applicants without any differentiation for those with a history of non-compliance, fines or penalties, among other risk specifications. This paper raises the need to assimilate the concept of inherent risk in the supplier as an objective and standardised criterion, from a preventative rather than corrective perspective, in such a way that the State can improve the effectiveness of their public contracts and reduce the negative outcomes resulting from failed contracting.

BackgroundStandard therapy for COVID-19 is continuously evolving. Autopsy studies showed high prevalence of platelet-fibrin-rich microthrombi in several organs. The aim of the study was therefore to evaluate the safety and efficacy of antiplatelet therapy (APT) in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and its impact on survival.Methods7824 consecutive patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in a multicentre international prospective registry (Health Outcome Predictive Evaluation-COVID-19 Registry). Clinical data and in-hospital complications were recorded. Data on APT, including aspirin and other antiplatelet drugs, were obtained for each patient.ResultsDuring hospitalisation, 730 (9%) patients received single APT (93%, n=680) or dual APT (7%, n=50). Patients treated with APT were older (74±12 years vs 63±17 years, p<0.01), more frequently male (68% vs 57%, p<0.01) and had higher prevalence of diabetes (39% vs 16%, p<0.01). Patients treated with APT showed no differences in terms of in-hospital mortality (18% vs 19%, p=0.64), need for invasive ventilation (8.7% vs 8.5%, p=0.88), embolic events (2.9% vs 2.5% p=0.34) and bleeding (2.1% vs 2.4%, p=0.43), but had shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (8±5 days vs 11±7 days, p=0.01); however, when comparing patients with APT versus no APT and no anticoagulation therapy, APT was associated with lower mortality rates (log-rank p<0.01, relative risk 0.79, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.94). On multivariable analysis, in-hospital APT was associated with lower mortality risk (relative risk 0.39, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.48, p<0.01).ConclusionsAPT during hospitalisation for COVID-19 could be associated with lower mortality risk and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, without increased risk of bleeding.Trial registration number NCT04334291.

During aging, bone mass declines increasing osteoporosis and fracture risks. Oxidative stress has been related to this bone loss, making dietary compounds with antioxidant properties a promising weapon. Male Wistar rats were maintained for 6 or 24 months on diets with fish oil as unique fat source, supplemented or not with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), to evaluate the potential of adding this molecule to the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA)-based diet for bone mineral density (BMD) preservation. BMD was evaluated in the femur. Serum osteocalcin, osteopontin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, ostroprotegerin, parathyroid hormone, urinary F2-isoprostanes, and lymphocytes DNA strand breaks were also measured. BMD was lower in aged rats fed a diet without CoQ10 respect than their younger counterparts, whereas older animals receiving CoQ10 showed the highest BMD. F2-isoprostanes and DNA strand breaks showed that oxidative stress was higher during aging. Supplementation with CoQ10 prevented oxidative damage to lipid and DNA, in young and old animals, respectively. Reduced oxidative stress associated to CoQ10 supplementation of this n-3 PUFA-rich diet might explain the higher BMD found in aged rats in this group of animals.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of the nature of the orthodontic archwires on the friction coefficient and wear rate against materials used commonly as brackets (Ti–6Al–4V and 316L Stainless Steel). The materials selected as orthodontic archwires were ASI304 stainless steel, NiTi, Ti, TiMo and NiTiCu. The array archwire’s materials selected presented very similar roughness but different hardness. Materials were chosen from lower and higher hardness degrees than that of the brackets. Wear tests were carried out at in artificial saliva at 37 °C. Results show a linear relationship between the hardness of the materials and the friction coefficients. The material that showed lower wear rate was the ASI304 stainless steel. To prevent wear, the wire and the brackets have high hardness values and in the same order of magnitude.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is the most frequent type of diabetes. It has a multifactorial etiology, affecting millions of people worldwide. Ghrelin gene ( GHRL ) encodes the ghrelin peptide, which promotes food intake, induces body weight and adipogenesis. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GHRL gene have been associated with metabolic diseases. A protective effect of the Leu72Met (rs696217) polymorphism has been described for T2D in some populations, but this effect seems to depend on the ethnicity of the patients studied. Methods The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the GHRL Leu72Met (rs696217) SNP with the development of T2D and serum ghrelin levels in a Western Mexican population. We performed a case-control study in which we included 284 subjects (159 with previous T2D diagnosis and 125 control subjects (CS)). Leu72Met SNP was genotyped by using PCR-RFLPs technique. Serum ghrelin levels were measured using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Genotypic and allelic distributions were compared using Chi square test. Student T-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare quantitative variables. Odds ratio (OR) was used to evaluate the association between alleles or genotypes and T2D. Multiple and logistic regression models were performed for adjustment. A two-tailed p -value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Leu72Leu genotype was more frequent among T2D compared to CS ( p  < 0.05). After adjusting for age and body composition, there was a significant protective effect of the 72Met allele for T2D development (OR 0.40 IC 95% 0.23–0.70; p  ≤ 0.001). Fasting serum ghrelin levels were lower in T2D than CS ( p  ≤ 0.0001) irrespective of age, body weight and BMI. No associations were found between genotypes and ghrelin serum levels in our population. Conclusions The GHRL 72Met allele decreases susceptibility for T2D development in a Western Mexican population. Serum ghrelin levels are lower in T2D independently of Leu72Met polymorphism genotype.

Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions (OGD) are a frequent symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It has been proposed that the neuroinvasive potential of the novel SARS-CoV-2 could be due to olfactory bulb invasion, conversely studies suggest it could be a good prognostic factor. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prognosis value of OGD in COVID-19. These symptoms were recorded on admission from a cohort study of 5868 patients with confirmed or highly suspected COVID-19 infection included in the multicenter international HOPE Registry (NCT04334291). There was statistical relation in multivariate analysis for OGD in gender, more frequent in female 12.41% vs 8.67% in male, related to age, more frequent under 65 years, presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoke, renal insufficiency, lung, heart, cancer and neurological disease. We did not find statistical differences in pregnant (p = 0.505), patient suffering cognitive (p = 0.484), liver (p = 0.1) or immune disease (p = 0.32). There was inverse relation (protective) between OGD and prone positioning (0.005) and death (< 0.0001), but no with ICU (0.165) or mechanical ventilation (0.292). On univariable logistic regression, OGD was found to be inversely related to death in COVID-19 patients. The odds ratio was 0.26 (0.15–0.44) (p < 0.001) and Z was − 5.05. The presence of anosmia is fundamental in the diagnosis of SARS.CoV-2 infection, but also could be important in classifying patients and in therapeutic decisions. Even more knowing that it is an early symptom of the disease. Knowing that other situations as being Afro-American or Latino-American, hypertension, renal insufficiency, or increase of C-reactive protein (CRP) imply a worse prognosis we can make a clinical score to estimate the vital prognosis of the patient. The exact pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 that causes olfactory and gustative disorders remains unknown but seems related to the prognosis. This point is fundamental, insomuch as could be a plausible way to find a treatment.