Dosimetry with gafchromic films based on a new micro-opto-electro-mechanical system

This work presents the first tests performed with radiochromic films and a new Micro‒Opto‒Electro-Mechanical system (MOEMS) for in situ dosimetry evaluation in radiotherapy in real time. We present a new device and methodology that overcomes the traditional limitation of time-delay in radiochromic film analysis by turning a passive detector into an active sensor. The proposed system consists mainly of an optical sensor based on light emitting diodes and photodetectors controlled by both customized electronic circuit and graphical user interface, which enables optical measurements directly. We show the first trials performed in a low‒energy proton cyclotron with this MOEMS by using gafchromic EBT3 films. Results show the feasibility of using this system for in situ dose evaluations. Further adaptation is ongoing to develop a full real‒time active detector by integrating MOEM multi‒arrays and films in flexible printed circuits. Hence, we point to improve the clinical application of radiochromic films with the aim to optimize radiotherapy treatment verifications

Genetic parameter estimations of new traits of morphological quality on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) by using IMAFISH_ML software

In this study, a total of 18 novel productive traits, three related to carcass [cNiT] and fifteen related to morphometric [mNiT]), were measured in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) using Non-invasive Technologies (NiT) as implemented in IMAFISH_ML (MatLab script). Their potential to be used in industrial breeding programs were evaluated in 2348 offspring reared under different production systems (estuarine ponds, oceanic cage, inland tank) at harvest. All animals were photographed, and digitally measured and main genetic parameters were estimated. Heritability for growth traits was medium (0.25–0.37) whereas for NiT traits medium-high (0.24–0.61). In general, genetic correlations between mNiT, cNiT and growth and traits were high and positive. Image analysis artifacts such as fin unfold or shades, that may interfere in the precision of some digital measurements, were discarded as a major bias factor since heritability of NiT traits after correcting them were no significantly different from original ones. Indirect selection of growth traits through NiT traits produced a better predicted response than directly measuring Body Weight (13–23%), demonstrating that this methodological approach is highly cost-effective in terms of accuracy and data processing time.Versión del edito

Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer Syndrome in Spain: Clinical and Genetic Characterization

Simple Summary Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome is a very rare hereditary disorder characterized by cutaneous leiomyomas (CLMs), uterine leiomyomas (ULMs), renal cysts (RCys) and renal cell cancer (RCC), with no data on its prevalence worldwide. No genotype-phenotype associations have been described. The aim of our study was to describe the genotypic and phenotypic features of the largest series of patients with HLRCC from Spain reported to date. Of 27 FH germline pathogenic variants, 12 were not previously reported in databases. Patients with missense pathogenic variants showed higher frequencies of CLMs, ULMs and RCys, than those with loss-of-function variants. The frequency of RCCs (10.9%) was lower than those reported in the previously published series. Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer syndrome (HLRCC) is a very rare hereditary disorder characterized by cutaneous leiomyomas (CLMs), uterine leiomyomas (ULMs), renal cysts (RCys) and renal cell cancers (RCCs). We aimed to describe the genetics, clinical features and potential genotype-phenotype associations in the largest cohort of fumarate hydratase enzyme mutation carriers known from Spain using a multicentre, retrospective study of individuals with a genetic or clinical diagnosis of HLRCC. We collected clinical information from medical records, analysed genetic variants and looked for genotype-phenotype associations. Analyses were performed using R 3.6.0. software. We included 197 individuals: 74 index cases and 123 relatives. CLMs were diagnosed in 65% of patients, ULMs in 90% of women, RCys in 37% and RCC in 10.9%. Twenty-seven different pathogenic variants were detected, 12 (44%) of them not reported previously. Patients with missense pathogenic variants showed higher frequencies of CLMs, ULMs and RCys, than those with loss-of-function variants (p = 0.0380, p = 0.0015 and p = 0.024, respectively). This is the first report of patients with HLRCC from Spain. The frequency of RCCs was lower than those reported in the previously published series. Individuals with missense pathogenic variants had higher frequencies of CLMs, ULMs and RCys

The Impact of Culturing the Organ Preservation Fluid on Solid Organ Transplantation: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Background. We analyzed the prevalence, etiology, and risk factors of culture-positive preservation fluid and their impact on the management of solid organ transplant recipients. Methods. From July 2015 to March 2017, 622 episodes of adult solid organ transplants at 7 university hospitals in Spain were prospectively included in the study. Results. The prevalence of culture-positive preservation fluid was 62.5% (389/622). Nevertheless, in only 25.2% (98/389) of the cases were the isolates considered ?high risk? for pathogenicity. After applying a multivariate regression analysis, advanced donor age was the main associated factor for having culture-positive preservation fluid for high-risk microorganisms. Preemptive antibiotic therapy was given to 19.8% (77/389) of the cases. The incidence rate of preservation fluid?related infection was 1.3% (5 recipients); none of these patients had received preemptive therapy. Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with high-risk culture-positive preservation fluid receiving preemptive antibiotic therapy presented both a lower cumulative incidence of infection and a lower rate of acute rejection and graft loss compared with those who did not have high-risk culture-positive preservation fluid. After adjusting for age, sex, type of transplant, and prior graft rejection, preemptive antibiotic therapy remained a significant protective factor for 90-day infection. Conclusions. The routine culture of preservation fluid may be considered a tool that provides information about the contamination of the transplanted organ. Preemptive therapy for SOT recipients with high-risk culture-positive preservation fluid may be useful to avoid preservation fluid?related infections and improve the outcomes of infection, graft loss, and graft rejection in transplant patients

Mejora de la competitividad del sector de la dorada (Sparus aurata) a través de la selección genética. PNA PROGENSA-III

Trabajo presentado en el XVI Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura, celebrado en Zaragoza (España), del 3 al 5 de octubre de 2017[EN] This project promotes technology developments for gilthead sea bream industrial sector of Spain, to facilitate and normalize the implementation of genetic selection schemes in this species, by defining new technological traits of commercial interest, with new standardized and extensible technological developments that permit, in an economical manner, normalized measuring methods, to study genetic parameters (growth,morphology, carcass and resistance disease), genotype-environment interaction to extend the Spanish production, and guarantee the production levels to the whole production chain. At the same time, improving the breeders management under industrial conditions, the validation of feeding efficiency during the selection processes and location of biomarkers linked and applied in genomic selection.[ES] Con la presente propuesta se pretende desarrollar metodología transferible al sector industrial de dorada en España que facilite y normalice la implementación de esquemas de selección genética en esta especie, mediante la definición de caracteres de interés comercial con nuevos desarrollos tecnológicos que estandaricen y hagan extensible a todo el sector, de manera económica, la medición de caracteres a escala industrial, el estudio de parámetros genéticos para caracteres de interés comercial (crecimiento, morfología, rendimiento y resistencia a enfermedades) en stocks de reproductores de la industria española, la estimación de la interacción genotipo-ambiente para permitir de manera garante la expansión de los rendimientos productivos de la industria Española, la gestión de reproductores bajo los propios condicionantes de la industria, así como la validación de la eficiencia alimenticia de los procesos de selección y búsqueda de biomarcadores asociados y aplicables en los modelos de selección.Este trabajo ha sido financiado a través de las Ayudas a la investigación de los Planes Nacionales de Acuicultura 2016 por el Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medioambiente (MAPAMA) y el Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de Pesca (FEMP).Peer reviewe

Mejora de la competitividad del sector de la dorada (Sparus aurata) a través de la selección genética. PNA PROGENSA-III

This project promotes technology developments for gilthead sea bream industrial sector of Spain, to facilitate and normalize the implementation of genetic selection schemes in this species, by defining new technological traits of commercial interest, with new standardized and extensible technological developments that permit, in an economical manner, normalized measuring methods, to study genetic parameters (growth, morphology, carcass and resistance disease), genotype-environment interaction to extend the Spanish production, and guarantee the production levels to the whole production chain. At the same time, improving the breeders management under industrial conditions, the validation of feeding efficiency during the selection processes and location of biomarkers linked and applied in genomic selectionCon la presente propuesta se pretende desarrollar metodología transferible al sector industrial de dorada en España que facilite y normalice la implementación de esquemas de selección genética en esta especie, mediante la definición de caracteres de interés comercial con nuevos desarrollos tecnológicos que estandaricen y hagan extensible a todo el sector, de manera económica, la medición de caracteres a escala industrial, el estudio de parámetros genéticos para caracteres de interés comercial (crecimiento, morfología, rendimiento y resistencia a enfermedades) en stocks de reproductores de la industria española, la estimación de la interacción genotipo-ambiente para permitir de manera garante la expansión de los rendimientos productivos de la industria Española, la gestión de reproductores bajo los propios condicionantes de la industria, así como la validación de la eficiencia alimenticia de los procesos de selección y búsqueda de biomarcadores asociados y aplicables en los modelos de selección

Search for Eccentric Black Hole Coalescences during the Third Observing Run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass $M>70$ $M_\odot$) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities $0 < e \leq 0.3$ at $0.33$ Gpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$ at 90\% confidence level.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figure