Unlocking rivers' hidden diversity and ecological status using DNA metabarcoding in Northwest Spain.

Rivers are crucial ecosystems supporting biodiversity and human well-being, yet they face increasing degradation globally. Traditional river biomonitoring methods based on morphological identification of macroinvertebrates present challenges in terms of taxonomic resolution and scalability. This study explores the application of DNA metabarcoding analysis in both bulk and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples for comprehensive assessment of macrozoobenthic biodiversity, detection of invasive and endangered species, and evaluation of river ecological status in northwestern Spain. DNA metabarcoding of homogenized bulk samples and water eDNA revealed a mean of 100 and 87 macrozoobenthos species per sample respectively. However, the specific composition was significantly different with only 27.3% of the total species being shared. It was not possible to identify all the OTUs to species level; only 17.43% and 49.4% of the OTUs generated could be identified to species level in the bulk and eDNA samples, respectively. Additionally, a total of 11 exotic species (two first records for the Iberian Peninsula and another three first records for Asturias region) and one endangered species were detected by molecular tools. Molecular methods showed significant correlations with morphological identification for EQR values (Ecological Quality Ratio) of IBMWP index, yet differences in inferred river ecological status were noted, with bulk samples tending to indicate higher status. Overall, DNA metabarcoding offers a promising approach for river biomonitoring, providing insights into biodiversity, invasive species, and ecological status within a single analysis. Further optimization and intercalibration are required for its implementation in routine biomonitoring programmes, but its scalability and multi-tasking capabilities position it as a valuable tool for integrated monitoring of river ecosystems.

Social anxiety and academic performance during COVID-19 in schoolchildren.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the perception of schoolchildren whether their academic performance improved or worsened during the pandemic, analyzing their social anxiety, gender, use of masks in the classroom, and school year. The total sample was 107 primary school students (25 in the fourth, 40 in the fifth and 42 in the sixth grade), with a mean age of 10.51 years old (SD = 1). The gender were 58 girls and 49 boys, from a school in the province of La Coruña (Spain). The study was based on a quantitative methodology, and the design was cross-sectional, descriptive, observational and correlational. The social anxiety questionnaire (CASO-N24) was used to assess social anxiety, and an ad hoc self-report register was elaborated to evaluate sociodemographic variables. The results indicated that 44.8% of the schoolchildren considered that the pandemic had neither improved nor worsened their academic performance. Although 38.3% considered that high and very high social anxiety increased progressively as the school year progressed, both in boys and girls. Besides, the schoolchildren who presented very low and low social anxiety improved their grades in Physical Education, while those who presented high social anxiety worsened them. In conclusion, having a low social anxiety, lower grades before the pandemic and higher grades after, makes children perceive an improvement in their academic performance during the pandemic.

Satisfaction and tolerance with office hysteroscopic tubal sterilization.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate women's satisfaction and tolerance of hysteroscopic sterilization. DESIGN: Prospective analysis of case series. SETTING: Gynecology department in a teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): A total of 1,630 women who underwent hysteroscopic sterilization by placement of Essure microinserts (Conceptus, Inc., Mountain View, CA) from January 2003 to June 2006. INTERVENTION(S): Transvaginal ultrasound examination, pelvic x-ray examination, and hysterosalpingography 3 months after sterilization with Essure microinserts. Satisfaction was assessed by a visual analog scale. Adverse effects and tolerance also were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Transvaginal ultrasound and pelvic x-ray confirmation of correct localization of microinserts and patient's satisfaction and tolerance after a 3-month follow-up. RESULT(S): The rate of successful insertion was 99%. Most of women returned to their daily activities on the same day of insertion, and 86.5% considered the procedure painless or scarcely painful. All the patients were highly satisfied after hysteroscopic sterilization: 91% of subjects by visual analog scale (on a 0 to 10 scale) rated the method at 10 (high satisfaction degree), and none of the subjects rated it under 8. For patients, the most valuable aspects of the procedure were absence of surgery room (52.7%), method's quickness and comfort (19.9%), and permanent sterilization (18.2%). More than 97% of the patients said that they would recommend the procedure to others. CONCLUSION(S): This study provides evidence that Essure microinserts can be placed in a usual gynecologic consultation room in standard conditions without any type of anesthesia or sedation and are associated with great overall patient satisfaction. Women also have high tolerance for the procedure and describe minor postoperative pain.