Search

Se revisa el concepto de innovación educativa a través de un análisis de definiciones teóricas provenientes de diversos autores y organismos. A lo largo del texto, se examinan definiciones de Macanchí-Pico et al., (2020), Martínez-Bonafé y Rogero-Anaya (2021), Prendes-Espinosa y Cerdán-Cartagena (2021), Orrego-Tapia (2022), Barragán-Perea (2023), Fuerte (2024), Rodríguez-Barboza et al. (2023), Bautista (2024), Rodríguez-Rodríguez (2024) y Vaca-Rueda y Sánchez-Soriano (2024), para identificar tanto sus fortalezas como sus limitaciones. El análisis revela que muchas definiciones tienden a restringir la innovación educativa a aspectos tecnológicos y metodológicos, sin considerar dimensiones más amplias del proceso educativo. Se argumenta que una comprensión más profunda de la innovación debe incluir un cambio cultural y un enfoque pedagógico integral, que contemple las dimensiones culturales, sociales y emocionales del acto educativo. La revisión teórica busca contribuir a un discurso académico que promueva prácticas educativas más inclusivas y transformadoras, capaces de enfrentar los desafíos del contexto educativo contemporáneo. El artículo concluye con una llamada a redefinir la innovación educativa más allá de los enfoques técnicos, proponiendo una visión que abarque un cambio significativo en la práctica pedagógica y en la formación docente.

Accurate maps of irrigation extent and dynamics are crucial for studying food security and its far-reaching impacts on Earth systems and the environment. While several efforts have been made to map irrigated area in China, few have provided multiyear maps, incorporated national land surveys, addressed data discrepancies, and considered the fractional coverage of cropland within coarse-resolution pixels. Here, we addressed these important gaps and developed new annual maps of China's irrigated cropland from 2000 to 2020, named CIrrMap250 (China's irrigation map with a 250 m resolution). We harmonized irrigation statistics and surveys and reconciled them with remote sensing data. The refined estimates of irrigated area were then integrated with multiple remote sensing data (i.e. vegetation indices, hybrid cropland products, and paddy field maps) and an irrigation suitability map by means of a semi-automatic training approach. We evaluated our CIrrMap250 maps using ∼ 20 000 reference samples, high-resolution irrigation water withdrawal data, and existing local to nationwide maps. Our CIrrMap250 maps demonstrated an overall accuracy of 0.79–0.88 for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 and outperformed currently available maps. The CIrrMap250-estimated irrigation area explained 50 %–60 % of the variance in irrigation water withdrawal across China. CIrrMap250 revealed that China's irrigation area increased by about 180 000 km2 (or 25 %) from 2000 to 2020, with the majority (61 %) occurring in the water-unsustainable regions facing severe to extreme water stress. Moreover, our product unveiled a noticeable northward shift of China's irrigation area, attributed to substantial expansions in irrigated cropland across northeastern and northwestern China. The accurate representation of irrigation extent in CIrrMap250 will greatly support hydrologic, agricultural, and climate studies in China, aiding in improved water and land resources management. CIrrMap250 can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24814293.v2 (Zhang et al., 2023a).

Resumen: Diseño de estudio: Revisión sistemática y metaanálisis. Objetivo: Comparar descompresión medular precoz ( 24 h) en la recuperación neurológica de pacientes con lesión medular aguda. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática según el protocolo de PRISMA para identificar estudios publicados hasta diciembre de 2022.Se incluyeron solo estudios de cohorte prospectivos y ensayos controlados que comparan la descompresión precoz versus tardía en la recuperación neurológica. Como variables se incluyeron el número de pacientes, nivel lesionado, tiempo de tratamiento, grado de ASIA, recuperación neurológica, uso de corticoesteroides y complicaciones. Para el metaanálisis se desarrolló el gráfico «forest plot». El riesgo de sesgo de los estudios incluidos se evaluó utilizando la herramienta ROBINS-I22 y Rob223. Resultados: Seis de los 7 estudios seleccionados para nuestra revisión fueron incluidos en el metaanálisis, con un total de 1.188 pacientes (592 pacientes en el grupo de descompresión precoz y 596 en el grupo de descompresión tardía), el promedio de seguimiento fue de 8 meses, en 5 estudios utilizaron metilprednisolona, las complicaciones mayormente reportadas fueron los eventos cardiopulmonares tromboembólicos.Cinco estudios mostraron diferencias significativas a favor de la descompresión precoz (diferencia de riesgo: 0,10, intervalo de confianza del 95%: 0,07-0,14, heterogeneidad: 46%). El beneficio fue mayor en las lesiones cervicales e incompletas. Conclusiones: Existe evidencia científica para recomendar la descompresión precoz en las primeras 24 horas tras la lesión medular traumática al mejorar la recuperación neurológica final, y debe recomendarse siempre que las condiciones del paciente y el hospital permitan hacerlo con seguridad. Abstract: Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Objective: To compare early (24 h) spinal cord decompression on neurological recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury. Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA protocol to identify studies published up to December 2022.Prospective cohort studies and controlled trials comparing early versus delayed decompression on neurological recovery were included. Variables included number of patients, level of injury, treatment time, ASIA grade, neurological recovery, use of corticosteroids, and complications. For the meta-analysis, the «forest plot» graph was developed. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I22 and Rob223 tools. Results: Six of the seven studies selected for our review were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 1188 patients (592 patients in the early decompression group and 596 in the delayed decompression group), the mean follow-up was 8 months, in 5 studies used methylprednisolone, the most reported complications were thromboembolic cardiopulmonary events.Five studies showed significant differences in favor of early decompression (risk difference 0.10, 95% confidence interval 0.07–0.14, heterogeneity 46%). The benefit was greatest in cervical and incomplete injuries. Conclusion: There is scientific evidence to recommend early decompression in the first 24 h after traumatic spinal cord injury, as it improves final neurological recovery, and it should be recommended whenever the patient and hospital conditions allow it to be safely done.

ABSTRACT Purpose To assess the incidence of the most common intra- and early postoperative complications following RIRS in a large series of patients with kidney stones. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with kidney stones who underwent RIRS across 21 centers from January 2018 to August 2021, as part of the Global Multicenter Flexible Ureteroscopy Outcome (FLEXOR) Registry. Results Among 6669 patients undergoing RIRS, 4.5% experienced intraoperative pelvicalyceal system bleeding without necessitating blood transfusion. Only 0.1% of patients, required a blood transfusion. The second most frequent intraoperative complication was ureteric injury due to the ureteral access sheath requiring stenting (1.8% of patients). Postoperatively, the most prevalent early complications were fever/infections requiring antibiotics (6.3%), blood transfusions (5.5%), and sepsis necessitating intensive care unit admission (1.3%). In cases of ureteric injury, a notably higher percentage of patients exhibited multiple stones and stone(s) in the lower pole, and these cases were correlated with prolonged lasing and overall surgical time. Hematuria requiring a blood transfusion was associated with an increased prevalence of larger median maximum stone diameters, particularly among patients with stones exceeding 20 mm. Furthermore, these cases exhibited a significant prolongation in surgical time. Sepsis necessitating admission to the intensive care unit was more prevalent among the elderly, concomitant with a significantly larger median maximum stone diameter. Conclusions Our analysis showed that RIRS has a good safety profile but bleeding requiring transfusions, ureteric injury, fever, and sepsis are still the most common complications despite advancements in technology.

Abstract Background The complex aetiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D), characterised by a detrimental cross‐talk between the immune system and insulin‐producing beta cells, has hindered the development of effective disease‐modifying therapies. The discovery that the pharmacological activation of LRH‐1/NR5A2 can reverse hyperglycaemia in mouse models of T1D by attenuating the autoimmune attack coupled to beta cell survival/regeneration prompted us to investigate whether immune tolerisation could be translated to individuals with T1D by LRH‐1/NR5A2 activation and improve islet survival. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from individuals with and without T1D and derived into various immune cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells. Cell subpopulations were then treated or not with BL001, a pharmacological agonist of LRH‐1/NR5A2, and processed for: (1) Cell surface marker profiling, (2) cytokine secretome profiling, (3) autologous T‐cell proliferation, (4) RNAseq and (5) proteomic analysis. BL001‐target gene expression levels were confirmed by quantitative PCR. Mitochondrial function was evaluated through the measurement of oxygen consumption rate using a Seahorse XF analyser. Co‐cultures of PBMCs and iPSCs‐derived islet organoids were performed to assess the impact of BL001 on beta cell viability. Results LRH‐1/NR5A2 activation induced a genetic and immunometabolic reprogramming of T1D immune cells, marked by reduced pro‐inflammatory markers and cytokine secretion, along with enhanced mitohormesis in pro‐inflammatory M1 macrophages and mitochondrial turnover in mature dendritic cells. These changes induced a shift from a pro‐inflammatory to an anti‐inflammatory/tolerogenic state, resulting in the inhibition of CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell proliferation. BL001 treatment also increased CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3+ regulatory T‐cells and Th2 cells within PBMCs while decreasing CD8+ T‐cell proliferation. Additionally, BL001 alleviated PBMC‐induced apoptosis and maintained insulin expression in human iPSC‐derived islet organoids. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the potential of LRH‐1/NR5A2 activation to modulate immune responses and support beta cell viability in T1D, suggesting a new therapeutic approach. Key Points LRH‐1/NR5A2 activation in inflammatory cells of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) reduces pro‐inflammatory cell surface markers and cytokine release. LRH‐1/NR5A2 promotes a mitohormesis‐induced immuno‐resistant phenotype to pro‐inflammatory macrophages. Mature dendritic cells acquire a tolerogenic phenotype via LRH‐1/NR5A2‐stimulated mitochondria turnover. LRH‐1/NR5A2 agonistic activation expands a CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3+ T‐cell subpopulation. Pharmacological activation of LRH‐1/NR5A2 improves the survival iPSC‐islets‐like organoids co‐cultured with PBMCs from individuals with T1D.

Introdução: A vacina de Hepatite B é fornecida pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no calendário de vacinação infantil e é uma medida essencial para proteger contra a doença, potencialmente fatal, ela é indicada para esquema de vacinação em primeira dose o mais precocemente possível, preferencialmente nas primeiras 12 horas após o nascimento, ainda na maternidade, podendo ser administrada até 30 dias após o nascimento. Embora tenha demonstrado ser altamente segura e eficaz, a implementação de programas de vacinação enfrenta desafios, a falta de acesso a serviços de saúde e conscientização da importância da vacinação podem dificultar a cobertura vacinal. Objetivo: Descrever a cobertura vacinal de Hepatite B em crianças com até 30 dais de vida entre os anos de 2017 e 2022 nas diferentes regiões do país. Método: Estudo ecológico realizado a partir dos dados secundários do Sistema de Informação do Programa Nacional de Imunizações (SI-PNI) situados no DATASUS (Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde). Foram coletadas informações da taxa de cobertura vacinal por região do país dos anos de 2017 a 2022. A análise estatística descritiva foi realizada no Microsoft Excel através do cálculo da diferença de frequência percentual por região de notificação. Resultados: Observou-se que nenhuma das regiões do país atendeu a meta de cobertura vacinal de 95% para a dose de hepatite B infantil antes dos primeiros 30 dias de vida. No entanto, a região Centro-Oeste apresentou a maior taxa de cobertura vacinal (85,3%) e a região Sul a menor cobertura (75,6%). O ano de 2020 apresentou menor taxa de cobertura, com apenas 70% dos nascidos vivos vacinados. A queda da cobertura vacinal não é um fenômeno exclusivo do Brasil. Desde 2013, o Brasil não atinge a meta de primeira dose de Hepatite B. Entre as causas do baixo índice de adesão vacinal, estão a falta de campanhas que conscientizem sobre a importância da vacina, movimentos ideológicos anti-vacinais, escassez de postos vacinais e horários de funcionamento limitados das unidades de saúde. Conclusão: Através dos dados, observou-se uma manutenção das baixas taxas de cobertura vacinal ao longo dos anos, revelando uma carência na imunização das novas gerações. Isso reflete de forma negativa na saúde pública, com possibilidade de aumento no número de casos/ano de Hepatite B, colocando em risco o plano de erradicação das doenças infecciosas.

Irrigation is the main driver of crop production in many agricultural regions across the world. The estimation of irrigation water has the potential to enhance our comprehension of the Earth system, thus providing crucial data for food production. In this study, we have created a unique operational system for estimating irrigation water using data from satellite soil moisture, reanalysis precipitation, and potential evaporation. As a proof of concept, we implemented the method at a high resolution (1 km) during the period of 2015–2023 over the area south of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, which collapsed on 6 June 2023. The selected study area enabled us to showcase that our operational system is able to track the effect of the pandemic and conflict on the irrigation water supply. Significant decreases of 63 % and 44 % in irrigation water compared to the mean irrigation water between 2015 and 2023 have been identified as being linked to the collapse of the dam and, potentially, to the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively.

Background: The risk of hepatocarcinoma in HCV cirrhotic patient responders after treatment with DAAs decrease, but HCC still occurs. A correlation between specific miRNAs and the development of hepatocarcinoma have been highlighted. Aim: To investigate miRNA expression in HCV-infected cirrhotic patients treated with DAAs, regarding whether or not they developed HCC at follow-up. Methods: A total of 73 outpatients with HCV-related cirrhosis treated with DAAs were enrolled, 28 of which had HCC. Samples were collected at the start and at the end of treatment. In the screening phase, 172 miRNAs were analyzed at baseline. Differentially expressed miRNAs were validated in the entire cohort. Results: In the validation phase, at baseline and in patients treated for 12 weeks, miR-28-5p was confirmed to be more highly expressed in the HCC group compared to the non-HCC group. In all of the patients treated for 12 weeks, at end of the treatment we found a significant downregulation in miR-132-3p, miR-133b-3p, miR-221-3p and miR-324-3p. In the HCC group, miR-28-5p was significantly downregulated after DAA therapy as well as in HCC patients treated for 24 weeks. Conclusion: In the HCC group, miR28-5p was differently expressed both at baseline and at the end of therapy with DAAs. This difference in expression should suggest its involvement in HCC development.

This study presents the first comprehensive proteomic profile of an Italian strain of Schizophyllum commune, a highly heterogeneous white-rot fungal species with significant potential for industrial, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and clinical applications. Three protein extraction methods and their impact on yield and resulting protein composition have been compared. Results revealed that the combination of Tris–Cl and urea increases the total protein yield and the variety of enzymatic species related to pivotal pathways. Notably, over 2000 proteins were identified, including enzymes involved in the growth and development of mycelium, trehalose biosynthesis, and different types of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). These enzymes are crucial for nutraceutical and agro-industrial applications of S. commune. The multiple-step proteomic approach used could be a model for investigating other fungal species.

Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Objective: To compare early (24 h) spinal cord decompression on neurological recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury. Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA protocol to identify studies published up to December 2022.Prospective cohort studies and controlled trials comparing early versus delayed decompression on neurological recovery were included. Variables included number of patients, level of injury, treatment time, ASIA grade, neurological recovery, use of corticosteroids, and complications. For the meta-analysis, the “forest plot” graph was developed. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I22 and Rob223 tools. Results: Six of the seven studies selected for our review were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 1188 patients (592 patients in the early decompression group and 596 in the delayed decompression group), the mean follow-up was 8 months, in 5 studies used methylprednisolone, the most reported complications were thromboembolic cardiopulmonary events.Five studies showed significant differences in favour of early decompression (risk difference 0.10, 95% confidence interval 0.07–0.14, heterogeneity 46%). The benefit was greatest in cervical and incomplete injuries. Conclusion: There is scientific evidence to recommend early decompression in the first 24 h after traumatic spinal cord injury, as it improves final neurological recovery, and it should be recommended whenever the patient and hospital conditions allow it to be safely done. Resumen: Diseño de estudio: Revisión sistemática y metaanálisis. Objetivo: Comparar descompresión medular precoz ( 24 h) en la recuperación neurológica de pacientes con lesión medular aguda. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática según el protocolo de PRISMA para identificar estudios publicados hasta diciembre de 2022.Se incluyeron solo estudios de cohorte prospectivos y ensayos controlados que comparan la descompresión precoz versus tardía en la recuperación neurológica. Como variables se incluyeron el número de pacientes, el nivel lesionado, el tiempo de tratamiento, el grado de ASIA, la recuperación neurológica, el uso de corticoesteroides y las complicaciones. Para el metaanálisis se desarrolló el gráfico «forest plot». El riesgo de sesgo de los estudios incluidos se evaluó utilizando la herramienta ROBINS-I22 y Rob223. Resultados: Seis de los 7 estudios seleccionados para nuestra revisión fueron incluidos en el metaanálisis, con un total de 1.188 pacientes (592 pacientes en el grupo de descompresión precoz y 596 en el grupo de descompresión tardía), el promedio de seguimiento fue de 8 meses, en 5 estudios utilizaron metilprednisolona, las complicaciones mayormente reportadas fueron los eventos cardiopulmonares tromboembólicos.Cinco estudios mostraron diferencias significativas a favor de la descompresión precoz (diferencia de riesgo: 0,10; intervalo de confianza del 95%: 0,07-0,14 y heterogeneidad: 46%). El beneficio fue mayor en las lesiones cervicales e incompletas. Conclusiones: Existe evidencia científica para recomendar la descompresión precoz en las primeras 24 h tras la lesión medular traumática al mejorar la recuperación neurológica final, y debe recomendarse siempre que las condiciones del paciente y el hospital permitan hacerlo con seguridad.

The final steps of the O2 cascade during exercise depend on the product of the microvascular-to-intramyocyte PO2${P}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ difference and muscle O2 diffusing capacity ( DmO2$D{{\rm{m}}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_2}$ ). Non-invasive methods to determine DmO2$D{{\rm{m}}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_2}$ in humans are currently unavailable. Muscle oxygen uptake (m V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ ) recovery rate constant (k), measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) using intermittent arterial occlusions, is associated with muscle oxidative capacity in vivo. We reasoned that k would be limited by DmO2$D{{\rm{m}}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_2}$ when muscle oxygenation is low (kLOW ), and hypothesized that: (i) k in well oxygenated muscle (kHIGH ) is associated with maximal O2 flux in fibre bundles; and (ii) ∆k (kHIGH  - kLOW ) is associated with capillary density (CD). Vastus lateralis k was measured in 12 participants using NIRS after moderate exercise. The timing and duration of arterial occlusions were manipulated to maintain tissue saturation index within a 10% range either below (LOW) or above (HIGH) half-maximal desaturation, assessed during sustained arterial occlusion. Maximal O2 flux in phosphorylating state was 37.7 ± 10.6 pmol s-1  mg-1 (∼5.8 ml min-1  100 g-1 ). CD ranged 348 to 586 mm-2 . kHIGH was greater than kLOW (3.15 ± 0.45 vs. 1.56 ± 0.79 min-1 , P < 0.001). Maximal O2 flux was correlated with kHIGH (r = 0.80, P = 0.002) but not kLOW (r = -0.10, P = 0.755). Δk ranged -0.26 to -2.55 min-1 , and correlated with CD (r = -0.68, P = 0.015). m V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ k reflects muscle oxidative capacity only in well oxygenated muscle. ∆k, the difference in k between well and poorly oxygenated muscle, was associated with CD, a mediator of DmO2$D{{\rm{m}}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_2}$ . Assessment of muscle k and ∆k using NIRS provides a non-invasive window on muscle oxidative and O2 diffusing capacity. KEY POINTS: We determined post-exercise recovery kinetics of quadriceps muscle oxygen uptake (m V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ ) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in humans under conditions of both non-limiting (HIGH) and limiting (LOW) O2 availability, for comparison with biopsy variables. The m V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ recovery rate constant in HIGH O2 availability was hypothesized to reflect muscle oxidative capacity (kHIGH ) and the difference in k between HIGH and LOW O2 availability (∆k) was hypothesized to reflect muscle O2 diffusing capacity. kHIGH was correlated with phosphorylating oxidative capacity of permeabilized muscle fibre bundles (r = 0.80). ∆k was negatively correlated with capillary density (r = -0.68) of biopsy samples. NIRS provides non-invasive means of assessing both muscle oxidative and oxygen diffusing capacity in vivo.

This study provides the first inter-comparison of different state-of-the-art approaches and frameworks that share a commonality in their utilization of satellite remote-sensing data to quantify irrigation at a regional scale. The compared approaches vary in their reliance on either soil moisture or evapotranspiration data or their joint utilization of both. The two compared frameworks either extract irrigation information from residuals between satellite observations and rainfed hydrological models in a baseline framework or use soil water balance modeling in a soil-moisture-based inversion framework. The inter-comparison is conducted over the lower Ebro catchment in Spain where observed irrigation amounts are available for benchmarking. Our results showed that within the baseline framework, the joint approach using both soil moisture and evapotranspiration (ET) remote-sensing data only differed by +37 mm from the irrigation benchmark (922 mm) during the main irrigation season over 2 years and by +47 and −208 mm for approaches relying solely on soil moisture and ET, respectively. A comparison of the different frameworks showed that the main advantage of the more complex baseline framework was the consistency between soil moisture and ET components within the hydrological model, which made it unlikely that either one ended up representing all irrigation water use. However, the simplicity of the soil-moisture-based inversion framework, coupled with its direct conversion of soil moisture changes into actual water volumes, effectively addresses the key challenges inherent in the baseline framework, which are associated with uncertainties related to an unknown remote-sensing observation depth and the static depth of the soil layers in a conceptual model. The performance of the baseline framework came closest to the irrigation benchmark and was able to account for the precipitation input, which resulted in more plausible temporal distributions of irrigation than what was expected from the benchmark observations.

Context: The occurrence of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is uncommon and is usually identified at an advanced and multifocal stage. Currently, there is growing interest in utilizing endoscopic laser ablation (ELA). Objective: To evaluate the survival rates and perioperative complications of ELA. Evidence acquisition: We performed a literature search through PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The analysis included observational studies that examined the oncological outcomes of patients with UTUC treated with ELA. Evidence synthesis: Neodymium and diode lasers are no longer used due to their high complication rates. Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) and thulium:YAG lasers provided excellent tumor ablation and hemostasis in both the collecting system and the ureter. These lasers offer good disease-free and cancer-specific survival, especially for low-grade tumors. Conclusions: Advancements in laser technology and ablation techniques, and understanding of UTUC tumor biology hold significant promise in improving the use of conservative UTUC treatment, with excellent safety and good oncological outcomes for low-grade diseases. Patient summary: With the advancement of technology, the conservative approach utilizing endoscopic laser ablation for upper tract urothelial tumors has been proved to be both safe and effective, showcasing promising survival rates.

Abstract A reliable and accurate long-term rainfall dataset is an indispensable resource for climatological studies and crucial for application in water resource management, agriculture, and hydrology. SM2RAIN (Soil Moisture to Rain) derived datasets stand out as a unique and wholly independent global product that estimates rainfall from satellite soil moisture observations. Previous studies have demonstrated the SM2RAIN products’ high potential in estimating rainfall around the world. This manuscript describes the SM2RAIN-Climate rainfall product, which uses the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (CCI) soil moisture v06.1 to provide monthly global rainfall for the 24-year period 1998–2021 at 1-degree spatial resolution. The assessment of the proposed rainfall dataset against different existing state-of-the-art rainfall products exhibits the robust performance of SM2RAIN-Climate in most regions of the world. This performance is indicated by correlation coefficients between SM2RAIN-Climate and state-of-the-art products, consistently exceeding 0.8. Moreover, evaluation results indicate the potential of SM2RAIN-Climate as an independent rainfall product from other satellite rainfall products in capturing the pattern of global rainfall trend.

BackgroundGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor-agonists (GLP-1ra), such as semaglutide, have emerged as promising treatments, demonstrating sustained weight reduction and metabolic benefits. This study aims to assess the impact of oral and subcutaneous semaglutide on body composition and metabolic parameters in patients with T2DM and obesity.MethodsA 24-week quasi-experimental retrospective study including adults with T2DM and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) who were treated with either daily-oral or weekly-subcutaneous semaglutide. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, evaluating fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water, skeletal muscle mass, and whole-body phase angle. Analytical parameters included lipid profile and glycaemic control. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v.26.ResultsParticipants (n=88) experienced significant weight loss after treatment with semaglutide (9.5% in subcutaneous, 9.4% in oral, P

Despite the key role of irrigation in the Earth system, we lack fundamental information regarding the distribution of irrigated fields, irrigation timing and the amount of water utilized. In the past years, the SM_Delta and SM_Inversion approaches have been independently developed to provide estimates of irrigation timing and water amounts based on satellite soil moisture data. The SM_Delta approach retrieves irrigation from variations in soil moisture between an individual pixel and the surrounding rainfed area, while the SM_Inversion approach estimates the total amount of water entering the soil, then irrigation is derived by subtracting precipitation. In this study, we perform a comprehensive assessment of irrigation estimates from the SM_Delta and SM_Inversion algorithms based on Sentinel-1 surface soil moisture retrievals at 1 km resolution. Our analysis focuses on the Ebro basin, an irrigated region in Spain covering 83000 km2, during the period 2017–2019. We assess the ability of the two methods to discriminate irrigated and rainfed pixels, then we quantify the agreement of irrigation timing and water volumes with reference irrigation data. An inter-comparison between estimates from the SM_Delta and SM_Inversion methods is carried out considering both temporal and spatial features, i.e., monthly irrigation peaks and spatial irrigation patterns. Finally, we explore two potential applications of satellite-derived irrigation estimates: attributing irrigation water volumes to specific irrigation systems and to individual crops. We observe that both methods erroneously retrieve irrigation over rainfed pixels, and are therefore not suitable to map irrigated and rainfed fields. However, when auxiliary information on irrigated fields is available, we find a satisfactory agreement between district-scale reference data and satellite-retrieved irrigation, using both the SM_Delta and SM_Inversion approaches (Pearson R equal to 0.67 and 0.71, bias equal to −4.99 and −4.75 mm/15 days, respectively). When aggregated in space or time, the irrigation estimates exhibit coherent temporal dynamics and spatial patterns. For instance, estimates from both SM_Delta and SM_Inversion capture the delayed irrigation that occurred in 2018 due to wetter than usual conditions in spring. However, at the pixel-scale, limited consistency exists between irrigation estimates from the two methods due to different assumptions and parameterizations, e.g., use of constant vs pixel-specific soil water capacity (in the SM_Delta and SM_Inversion, respectively). Overall, the study demonstrates the reliability of irrigation estimates derived from the SM_Delta and SM_Inversion approaches, especially when shifting from small spatial and short temporal scales (pixel level, sub-weekly) to larger and longer scales (district level, seasonal). Hence, satellite-based irrigation estimates could inform water resources managers and basin authorities, as well as serve the modelling community by providing reliable information on the timing and the amounts of water employed at the basin level.

In 2018 we celebrated 25 years of development of radar altimetry, and the progress achieved by this methodology in the fields of global and coastal oceanography, hydrology, geodesy and cryospheric sciences. Many symbolic major events have celebrated these developments, e.g., in Venice, Italy, the 15th (2006) and 20th (2012) years of progress and more recently, in 2018, in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 25 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry. On this latter occasion it was decided to collect contributions of scientists, engineers and managers involved in the worldwide altimetry community to depict the state of altimetry and propose recommendations for the altimetry of the future. This paper summarizes contributions and recommendations that were collected and provides guidance for future mission design, research activities, and sustainable operational radar altimetry data exploitation. Recommendations provided are fundamental for optimizing further scientific and operational advances of oceanographic observations by altimetry, including requirements for spatial and temporal resolution of altimetric measurements, their accuracy and continuity. There are also new challenges and new openings mentioned in the paper that are particularly crucial for observations at higher latitudes, for coastal oceanography, for cryospheric studies and for hydrology. The paper starts with a general introduction followed by a section on Earth System Science including Ocean Dynamics, Sea Level, the Coastal Ocean, Hydrology, the Cryosphere and Polar Oceans and the “Green” Ocean, extending the frontier from biogeochemistry to marine ecology. Applications are described in a subsequent section, which covers Operational Oceanography, Weather, Hurricane Wave and Wind Forecasting, Climate projection. Instruments’ development and satellite missions’ evolutions are described in a fourth section. A fifth section covers the key observations that altimeters provide and their potential complements, from other Earth observation measurements to in situ data. Section 6 identifies the data and methods and provides some accuracy and resolution requirements for the wet tropospheric correction, the orbit and other geodetic requirements, the Mean Sea Surface, Geoid and Mean Dynamic Topography, Calibration and Validation, data accuracy, data access and handling (including the DUACS system). Section 7 brings a transversal view on scales, integration, artificial intelligence, and capacity building (education and training). Section 8 reviews the programmatic issues followed by a conclusion.

In 2018 we celebrated 25 years of development of radar altimetry, and the progress achieved by this methodology in the fields of global and coastal oceanography, hydrology, geodesy and cryospheric sciences. Many symbolic major events have celebrated these developments, e.g., in Venice, Italy, the 15th (2006) and 20th (2012) years of progress and more recently, in 2018, in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 25 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry. On this latter occasion it was decided to collect contributions of scientists, engineers and managers involved in the worldwide altimetry community to depict the state of altimetry and propose recommendations for the altimetry of the future. This paper summarizes contributions and recommendations that were collected and provides guidance for future mission design, research activities, and sustainable operational radar altimetry data exploitation. Recommendations provided are fundamental for optimizing further scientific and operational advances of oceanographic observations by altimetry, including requirements for spatial and temporal resolution of altimetric measurements, their accuracy and continuity. There are also new challenges and new openings mentioned in the paper that are particularly crucial for observations at higher latitudes, for coastal oceanography, for cryospheric studies and for hydrology. The paper starts with a general introduction followed by a section on Earth System Science including Ocean Dynamics, Sea Level, the Coastal Ocean, Hydrology, the Cryosphere and Polar Oceans and the “Green” Ocean, extending the frontier from biogeochemistry to marine ecology. Applications are described in a subsequent section, which covers Operational Oceanography, Weather, Hurricane Wave and Wind Forecasting, Climate projection. Instruments’ development and satellite missions’ evolutions are described in a fourth section. A fifth section covers the key observations that altimeters provide and their potential complements, from other Earth observation measurements to in situ data. Section 6 identifies the data and methods and provides some accuracy and resolution requirements for the wet tropospheric correction, the orbit and other geodetic requirements, the Mean Sea Surface, Geoid and Mean Dynamic Topography, Calibration and Validation, data accuracy, data access and handling (including the DUACS system). Section 7 brings a transversal view on scales, integration, artificial intelligence, and capacity building (education and training). Section 8 reviews the programmatic issues followed by a conclusion.