Supporting Diversity in Science through Social Networking

In this Community Page, we learn how a scientific community leverages social networking tools to connect a group of dispersed scientific researchers in Ciencia Puerto Rico; this effort fosters innovative research and educational collaborations and changes the way scientists interact with the public

Tumor-derived interleukin-10 as a prognostic factor in stage III patients undergoing adjuvant treatment with an autologous melanoma cell vaccine.

OBJECTIVES: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) downregulates T-cell-mediated immune responses. We studied the association between IL-10 production by freshly isolated melanoma cell suspensions in vitro and overall survival in patients undergoing adjuvant treatment with a vaccine prepared from the same autologous melanoma cells modified with a hapten, dinitrophenyl (DNP). METHODS: Forty-four patients with cutaneous melanoma (29 stage III and 15 stage IV) were prospectively evaluated. Tumor cells were extracted from metastatic deposits for production of DNP-modified autologous melanoma cell vaccine. Small aliquots of the melanoma cell suspensions were separated prior to vaccine processing and cultured overnight for IL-10 production. Based on a blind assessment of the distribution of IL-10 levels in the culture supernatants, a cutoff of 200 pg/ml was used to define high versus low IL-10 producers. Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival curves were compared with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Out of 44 patients, 29 were low and 15 were high IL-10 producers. The median OS was significantly worse for high compared with low IL-10 producers (10.5 months vs. 42 months; P = 0.022). In stage III patients, the multivariate hazard ratio for high versus low IL-10 producers was 2.92 (95% CI, 1.04-8.20; P = 0.041). The corresponding hazard ratio in stage IV patients was 0.92 (95% CI, 1.04-8.20; P = 0.888). CONCLUSIONS: High IL-10 production in the tumor microenvironment could be a determinant of clinical outcomes in stage III melanoma patients receiving autologous melanoma cell vaccine

Spatio-temporal analysis of maximum and minimum temperatures over Levant region (1987-2017)

Ponencia presentada en: XI Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Cartagena entre el 17 y el 19 de octubre de 2018.[ES]El objetivo de este estudio es analizar los cambios espaciales y temporales en los promedios anuales y estacionales de las temperaturas máxima y mínima en la región del Levante durante 1987-2017. Estos promedios se calcularon a partir de datos diarios para cada estación y para toda la región de Levante. Las tendencias espaciales y temporales para tres variables se calcularon utilizando la prueba no paramétrica de Mann-Kendall. Además, la diferencia de medias anuales y estacionales entre los dos períodos 1987-2000 y 2001-2011 se evaluó mediante el uso de la prueba U no paramétrica de Mann-Whitney. Durante 1987-2017, la región de Levante fue testigo de un calentamiento significativo en las temperaturas máximas y mínimas anuales de 0.33 y 0.30ºC/década, respectivamente. Además, la primavera mostró una tendencia al calentamiento muy fuerte y significativa en comparación con otras estaciones en 0.53ºC/década para la temperatura máxima y en 0.51ºC/década para la temperatura mínima. La temperatura máxima y mínima anual, de primavera y verano han aumentado significativamente en esta región durante 2001-2017 en comparación con el período 1987-2000. Las tendencias decrecientes mostraron un patrón muy aislado y aleatorio en comparación con las tendencias de calentamiento amplias, intensivas y coherentes en los promedios anuales y estacionales de la temperatura máxima y mínima. Las tasas de calentamiento en Jordania fueron generalmente las más altas.[EN]This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal variability of the annual and seasonal maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperatures, along with the diurnal temperature range (DTR) over the entire Levant region for the period 1987-2017. The temporal trends for these three variables were calculated at the annual and seasonal scales by using the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test. Furthermore, the difference of the means between the two periods (1987-2000 and 2001-2017) were assessed by using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. During 1987-2017, the Levant region suffered a significant warming for the annual maximum and minimum temperatures around 0.33 and 0.30ºC\decade, respectively. In addition, spring showed very strong and significant warming trend (around 0.53ºC/decade for Tmax and 0.51ºC/decade for Tmin) compared with the other seasons. The annual, spring and summer means of Tmax and Tmin have significantly increased over the Levant region during 2001-2017 compared with the period 1987-2000. Spatially, the decreasing trends showed very isolated and random patterns compared with the broad, intensive and coherent warming trends at annual and seasonal time scales. The warming over Jordan was generally the highest.This work has been financed by the projects P11-RNM-7941 (Junta de Andalucía), CGL2013-48539-R (MINECO-Spain, FEDER) and CGL2017-89836-R (MINECO-Spain, FEDER)

In Situ Characterization of Follicular Helper CD4 T Cells Using Multiplexed Imaging.

Follicular helper CD4 T (Tfh) cells play an essential role in the formation of germinal centers (GCs), where mature B cells proliferate, differentiate, and provide long-term protective humoral responses. Despite the extensive phenotypic characterization and identification of human Tfh cell subsets, their spatial positioning at tissue level is not well understood. Here, we describe a quantitative multiplexed immunofluorescence approach allowing for the comprehensive in situ characterization of Tfh cells in human tonsils and lymph nodes (LNs) from individuals with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). We have developed eight multiplexed panels comprising a spectrum of Tfh cell markers, like PD-1, CXCR5, and ICOS, along with transcription factors (Bcl6, Tbet, GATA3), to assess their expression, frequencies, spatial distribution and co-localization in a quantitative manner. Combined analysis of relevant markers revealed the presence of several Tfh cell subsets at tissue level based on the differential expression of surface receptors, nuclear factors as well as their distinct localization within the follicular areas. Interestingly, we found a considerable amount of tonsillar Tfh cells expressing high levels of the Th2 regulator GATA3. The co-expression of GATA3, CXCR5, and BCL6, points to an important role of GATA3 for the generation of effector human Tfh cells. Furthermore, our data revealed significantly different Tfh cell profile signatures between health and disease. Therefore, our imaging platform generates meaningful information for the in situ characterization of human Tfh cells and could provide the base for future studies aiming to a comprehensive understanding of Tfh cell tissue heterogeneity

Spatio-temporal analysis for extreme temperature indices over the Levant region

The temporal and spatial trends of 16 climate extreme indices based on daily maximum and minimum temperatures during the period 1987-2016 at 28 stations distributed across Israel and Palestine in the Levant region were annually and seasonally analysed. The Man-Kendall test and the Sen's slope estimator were employed for the trend analysis. Results showed that the region has significantly experienced a dominant warming trend for the last three decades, with more intense changes for minimum temperatures than for maximum. At annual scale, maximum values of minimum temperatures exhibited significant increasing trends up to 0.68{\deg}C/decade. Changes detected were more pronounced than those for the absolute extreme temperature indices, with 93 and 89% of stations significantly showed increasing trends in TX90p and TN90p, respectively. The duration and fixed threshold extreme indices confirmed the trend toward a warming, with the 86% of the stations exhibited significant increasing trends in the annual SU25 and TR20. Moreover, 57% of stations showed significant increasing trends in their SU30 index. At seasonal scale, the analysis of trends for extreme temperature indices showed intense and broad significant increasing trends in all absolute extreme temperature indices. In summer, more than 75% of total stations exhibited significant increasing trends for warm days and warm nights. In winter and spring, 71% of the total stations also showed significant increasing trends in SU25 index, whereas the percentage of stations reached 82% in summer and 64% in autumn for significant increasing trends in TR20 index. Finally, the influence of large-scale circulation patterns on temperature extremes was examined. The results highlighted the presence of significant correlations between most of the selected extreme temperature indices and the North Sea-Caspian pattern at annual and seasonal scales

EVALUACIÓN DE HÍBRIDOS DE CRUZAS SIMPLES USANDO LÍNEAS ÉLITE DE MAÍZ CON CARACTERÍSTICAS FORRAJERAS SOBRESALIENTES PARA UNA REGIÓN ÁRIDA DE MÉXICO

The Comarca Lagunera region is the most important area of maize forage in México. In this region; which is shared by the Mexican States of Coahuila and Durango, are used a great amount of hybrids and varieties of maize imported from other countries. Generally, these genotypes are not completely adapted to the soil and/or climatic conditions of the region. These antecedents lead scientists to pursuit for genotypes with the best adaptation to such conditions. The present investigation was carried out with the aim to find the best hybrids from the crosses of ten self-pollinating landraces following a diallel mating design. The landraces were obtained from different institutions: a) the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), b) the “Antonio Narro” Agrarian Autonomist University (UAAAN), and c) the National Institute of Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Research (INIFAP). The following variables were evaluated from the hybrids: whole plant fresh matter yield (FMY), whole plant dry matter (DMY), fresh fruit yield (FFY) fresh stem yield (FSY), and fresh foliar yield (FLY). All variables reported as t ha-1. The Griffing statistical analysis was used to determine the general combining ability (GCA), and the specific combining ability (SCA). The highest values of GCA were obtained for the landraces M7, M8, and M9. The hybrids with highest SCA were: M5xM7, M2xM7, M6x10, M4xM8, M5xM8, M8xM10, M2xM5, M1xM10 and M6xM9. Two of these hybrids (M5xM7 and M2xM7) also showed the highest values for FMY and DMY. In conclusion, there is enough variability on FMY and DMY to believe on the possibility to find the most appropriate hybrid for the targeted region, and also to extend the breeding program to other arid lands in México   La Comarca Lagunera es la zona productora de maíz forrajero más importante en México. En esta región; la cual implica un área compartida por los estados mexicanos de Coahuila y Durango, son utilizados una importante cantidad de híbridos y genotipos de maíz importados de otros países. En lo general, esos genotipos no están ampliamente adaptados a las condiciones de suelo y/o clima de esta localidad. Esos antecedentes guían a los científicos a buscar los genotipos que presenten la mejor adaptación a tales condiciones. El presente trabajo de investigación fue realizado con la finalidad de encontrar los mejores híbridos provenientes de la cruza mediante un diseño dialélico de diez líneas autógamas. Las líneas fueron obtenidas de diferentes instituciones: a) el Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT), b) la Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro (UAAAN), y c) el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP). Las variables evaluadas en los híbridos fueron las siguientes: rendimiento de materia fresca total (FMY), rendimiento de materia seca (DMY), producción total de elote (FFY), producción total de tallo (FSY), y producción total de hoja (FLY). Todas las variables fueron determinadas en  t ha-1.  El análisis estadístico de Griffing fue utilizado para calcular los efectos de aptitud combinatoria general (GCA) y aptitud combinatoria específica (SCA). Los valores más altos de GCA fueron obtenidos por las líneas P7, P8 y P9, para todas las variables estudiadas Los híbridos con mejores rendimientos tanto en FMY, como de DMY fueron: M5xM7, M7xM8, M2xM7, M7xM9, M9xM10, M4xM8 y M8xM9. Las cruzas con mayor SCA para FMY fueron: M5xM7, M2xM7, M6x10, M4xM8, M5xM8, M8xM10, M2xM5, M1xM10 y M6xM9. De estas cruzas, los híbridos provenientes de M5xM7 y M2xM7 coinciden con los mayores valores de rendimiento, tanto en fresco (FMY) como en seco (DMY). Se concluye que existe suficiente variabilidad en FMY y DMY para creer en la posibilidad de encontrar el hibrido más apropiado para la región de estudio a otras zonas áridas de México.

Effect of substrates formulated with organic materials on yielding, commercial and phytochemical quality, and benefit-cost ratio of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) produced under greenhouse conditions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of substrates formulated with different blends of sand-solarized manure and sand-vermicompost over yield, commercial and phytochemical quality of greenhouse tomatoes, and in addition to determine their benefit-cost (B/C) ratio for organic production of tomato. Six substrates were established consisting in blends of sand with 20, 30 or 40% of solarized manure (SM20, SM30 and SM40), and 20, 30 and 40% of vermicompost (VC20, VC30 and VC40), and control (TA) of sand fertilized with Steiner solution. Fruit yielding, commercial (fruit size, equatorial and longitudinal diameter, firmness, and soluble solids content), and nutraceutical quality (phenolic and lycopene content) were evaluated. In addition, cost-benefit (B/C) ratio of treatments was compared. Micro morphological analysis of the organic materials showed microscopic differences that could affect substrate functional properties. Substrate type affect yielding, and VC40 substrate had a higher yield than SM substrates, but SM20 had the highest phenolic and lycopene content in fruit, in addition to the highest cost-benefit production ratio (2.31). These results confirm that substrates formulated with blends of sand and either SM or VC can be used for organic production of tomato fruits with an adequate commercial and phytochemical quality without affecting yield, additionally to the economic advantages of such substrates for protected agriculture systems