Global ecological predictors of the soil priming effect.

Identifying the global drivers of soil priming is essential to understanding C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. We conducted a survey of soils across 86 globally-distributed locations, spanning a wide range of climates, biotic communities, and soil conditions, and evaluated the apparent soil priming effect using 13C-glucose labeling. Here we show that the magnitude of the positive apparent priming effect (increase in CO2 release through accelerated microbial biomass turnover) was negatively associated with SOC content and microbial respiration rates. Our statistical modeling suggests that apparent priming effects tend to be negative in more mesic sites associated with higher SOC contents. In contrast, a single-input of labile C causes positive apparent priming effects in more arid locations with low SOC contents. Our results provide solid evidence that SOC content plays a critical role in regulating apparent priming effects, with important implications for the improvement of C cycling models under global change scenarios

Surface ozone in the Southern Hemisphere : 20 years of data from a site with a unique setting in El Tololo, Chile

The knowledge of surface ozone mole fractions and their global distribution is of utmost importance due to the impact of ozone on human health and ecosystems and the central role of ozone in controlling the oxidation capacity of the troposphere. The availability of long-term ozone records is far better in the Northern than in the Southern Hemisphere, and recent analyses of the seven accessible records in the Southern Hemisphere have shown inconclusive trends. Since late 1995, surface ozone is measured in situ at "El Tololo", a high-altitude (2200ma.s.l.) and pristine station in Chile (30°S, 71°W). The dataset has been recently fully quality controlled and reprocessed. This study presents the observed ozone trends and annual cycles and identifies key processes driving these patterns. From 1995 to 2010, an overall positive trend of ∼ 0.7ppb decade−1 is found. Strongest trends per season are observed in March and April. Highest mole fractions are observed in late spring (October) and show a strong correlation with ozone transported from the stratosphere down into the troposphere, as simulated with a model. Over the 20 years of observations, the springtime ozone maximum has shifted to earlier times in the year, which, again, is strongly correlated with a temporal shift in the occurrence of the maximum of simulated stratospheric ozone transport at the site. We conclude that background ozone at El Tololo is mainly driven by stratospheric intrusions rather than photochemical production from anthropogenic and biogenic precursors. The major footprint of the sampled air masses is located over the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, due to the negligible influence of local processes, the ozone record also allows studying the influence of El Niño and La Niña episodes on background ozone levels in South America. In agreement with previous studies, we find that, during La Niña conditions, ozone mole fractions reach higher levels than during El Niño conditions

Boundary-crossing identities for diffusions having the time-inversion property

We review and study a one-parameter family of functional transformations, denoted by (S (β)) β∈ℝ, which, in the case β<0, provides a path realization of bridges associated to the family of diffusion processes enjoying the time-inversion property. This family includes Brownian motions, Bessel processes with a positive dimension and their conservative h-transforms. By means of these transformations, we derive an explicit and simple expression which relates the law of the boundary-crossing times for these diffusions over a given function f to those over the image of f by the mapping S (β), for some fixed β∈ℝ. We give some new examples of boundary-crossing problems for the Brownian motion and the family of Bessel processes. We also provide, in the Brownian case, an interpretation of the results obtained by the standard method of images and establish connections between the exact asymptotics for large time of the densities corresponding to various curves of each family

Management of UK priority invasive alien plants: a systematic review protocol

Funder: The David and Claudia Harding FoundationAbstract: Background: Invasive alien plant species often have negative environmental and social impacts, such as loss of biodiversity and alteration of ecosystem services. As a result, managing the introduction, establishment, and abundance of invasive species is a major priority. To do this effectively, we need evidence on the effect of management interventions (such as using herbicide or cutting to control invasive plants). This evidence should not only include the effects of these management interventions on invasive alien species, but also on native species and other non-target outcomes such as ecosystem services. Such evidence would allow for comparison of the trade-offs between different management interventions. In the planned review we aim to assess how management interventions to control nine priority invasive alien plants species in England and Wales affect environmental outcomes. These species are: Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Nuttall’s waterweed (Elodea nuttallii), Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria), Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Curly waterweed (Lagarosiphon major), American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus), Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum). Methods: Searches will be in English and use bibliographic databases (Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, and Conservation Evidence) and internet searches (Google Scholar), as well as specialist databases. Our methodology will only use the names of each species (scientific names and common names, including synonyms) as our search string (we will not use qualifiers, such as “AND invasive”). This will give low specificity but will increase the likelihood of capturing all relevant information. We will use predefined criteria for study inclusion and data extraction. We will screen publications in two stages: (1) using titles and abstracts and (2) using full texts. Consistency of inclusion will be checked by two people screening a random sample of 10% of titles and abstracts. This dual-screening will be subject to kappa analysis and any disagreements resolved through discussion. We will use critical appraisal to assess study validity by identifying studies that are potentially prone to bias

ALMA Long Baseline Observations of the Strongly Lensed Submillimeter Galaxy HATLAS J090311.6+003906 at z=3.042

We present initial results of very high resolution Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the $z$=3.042 gravitationally lensed galaxy HATLAS J090311.6+003906 (SDP.81). These observations were carried out using a very extended configuration as part of Science Verification for the 2014 ALMA Long Baseline Campaign, with baselines of up to 15 km. We present continuum imaging at 151, 236 and 290 GHz, at unprecedented angular resolutions as fine as 23 milliarcseconds (mas), corresponding to an un-magnified spatial scale of ~180 pc at z=3.042. The ALMA images clearly show two main gravitational arc components of an Einstein ring, with emission tracing a radius of ~1.5". We also present imaging of CO(10-9), CO(8-7), CO(5-4) and H2O line emission. The CO emission, at an angular resolution of ~170 mas, is found to broadly trace the gravitational arc structures but with differing morphologies between the CO transitions and compared to the dust continuum. Our detection of H2O line emission, using only the shortest baselines, provides the most resolved detection to date of thermal H2O emission in an extragalactic source. The ALMA continuum and spectral line fluxes are consistent with previous Plateau de Bure Interferometer and Submillimeter Array observations despite the impressive increase in angular resolution. Finally, we detect weak unresolved continuum emission from a position that is spatially coincident with the center of the lens, with a spectral index that is consistent with emission from the core of the foreground lensing galaxy.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures and 3 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Nivel de estudios y experiencia de las árbitras y árbitras asistentes de fútbol en España: Primera División Femenin

El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar las características sociodemográficas de las árbitras y árbitras asistentes pertenecientes a la primera división de fútbol femenino en España. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 45 mujeres de nacionalidad española (28.11±4.24 años) y fue dividida en árbitras (n=17) y árbitras asistentes (n=28). Se utilizó un cuestionario ad hoc que contenía 8 ítems y analizaban variables sociales, deportivas y de rendimiento. La muestra se caracteriza por alcanzar una mayor formación universitaria (52.94% en árbitras y 42.86% en árbitras asistentes) y de máster (41.18% y 35.71% respectivamente) frente a Formación Profesional (5.88% en árbitras y 14.29% en árbitras asistentes). Estas, además, mostraron una media de 12.35±6.35 años en el arbitraje de fútbol, mientras que las árbitras asistentes evidenciaron una media de 8.82±4.15 años. En relación a las sesiones de entrenamientos, las árbitras evidenciaron 4-5 sesiones de entrenamiento, mientras que las árbitras asistentes acumularon un total de 4 sesiones a la semana. Las árbitras que participaron en partidos internacionales mostraron una media de 13.77±0.61 años en el arbitraje, mientras que las que no participaron en partidos internacionales tuvieron una media de 8.69±4.12 años. Las árbitras y árbitras asistentes mostraron altos niveles de formación académica universitaria y evidenciaron una corta experiencia en Primera División en Fútbol Femenina. Los resultados muestran la importancia de la experiencia en el desempeño arbitral para alcanzar el máximo nivel en el arbitraje femenino. The objective of this research was to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of the referees and assistant referees belonging to the first division of women''s football in Spain. The sample consisted of 45 women of Spanish nationality (28.11 +/- 4.24 years) and was divided into referees (n=17) and assistant referees (n=28). An ad hoc questionnaire containing 8 items was used and analyzed social, sports and performance variables. The sample is characterized by reaching higher university training (52.94% in female referees and 42.86% in assistant referees) and master''s degree (41.18% and 35.71% respectively) compared to professional training (5.88% in female referees and 14.29% in assistant referees). They also showed a mean of 12.35 +/- 6.35 years in soccer refereeing, while the assistant referees showed a mean of 8.82 +/- 4.15 years. In relation to the training sessions, the referees showed 4-5 training sessions, while the assistant referees accumulated a total of 4 sessions per week. The female referees who participated in international matches showed a mean of 13.77 +/- 0.61 years in arbitration, while those who did not participate in international matches had an average of 8.69 +/- 4.12 years. The referees and assistant referees showed high levels of university academic training, evidenced a short experience in the First Division in Women''s Soccer. The results show the importance of experience in refereeing performance to reach the highest level in female refereeing

LXR Nuclear receptors are transcriptional regulators of dendritic cell chemotaxis

The liver X receptors (LXRs) are ligand-activated nuclear receptors with established roles in the maintenance of lipid homeostasis in multiple tissues. LXRs exert additional biological functions as negative regulators of inflammation, particularly in macrophages. However, the transcriptional responses controlled by LXRs in other myeloid cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs), are still poorly understood. Here we used gain- and loss-of-function models to characterize the impact of LXR deficiency on DC activation programs. Our results identified an LXR-dependent pathway that is important for DC chemotaxis. LXR-deficient mature DCs are defective in stimulus-induced migration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we show that LXRs facilitate DC chemotactic signaling by regulating the expression of CD38, an ectoenzyme important for leukocyte trafficking. Pharmacological or genetic inactivation of CD38 activity abolished the LXR-dependent induction of DC chemotaxis. Using the low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR−/−) LDLR−/− mouse model of atherosclerosis, we also demonstrated that hematopoietic CD38 expression is important for the accumulation of lipid-laden myeloid cells in lesions, suggesting that CD38 is a key factor in leukocyte migration during atherogenesis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that LXRs are required for the efficient emigration of DCs in response to chemotactic signals during inflammation

Efficacy of erlotinib in patients with relapsed gliobastoma multiforme who expressed EGFRVIII and PTEN determined by immunohistochemistry

Epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) alteration is a common feature in most of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Robust response of anti-EGFR treatments has been mostly associated with the EGFR deletion mutant variant III (EGFRvIII) and expression of PTEN. We have performed a prospective trial in order to confirm the efficacy of erlotinib treatment in patients with relapsed GBM who expressed EGFRvIII and PTEN. All patients included in the trial were required to be PTEN (+++), EGFR (+++) and EGFRvIII (+++) positives by immunohistochemistry. This new phase II trial enrolled 40 patients and was design to be stopped in case of fewer than two responses in the first 13 patients. Patient eligibility included histopathology criteria, radiological progression, more than 18 years old, Karnofsky performed status, KPS > 50, and adequate bone marrow and organ function. There was no limit to the number of prior treatments for relapses. No enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs were allowed. The primary endpoints were response and progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS6). Thirteen patients (6 men, 7 women) with recurrent GBM received erlotinib 150 mg/day. Median age was 53 years, median KPS was 80, and median prior treatments for relapses were 2. There was one partial response and three stable diseases (one at 18 months). PFS at 6 months was 20 %. Dose reduction for toxicity was not needed in any patient. Dermatitis was the main treatment-related toxicity, grade 1 in 8 patients and grade 2 in 5 patients. No grade 3 toxicity was observed. Median survival was 7 months (95 % IC 1.41-4.7). As conclusion, monotherapy with erlotinib in GBM relapses patients with high protein expression for PTEN (+++), EGFR (+++), and EGFRvlII (+++) showed low toxicity but minimal efficacy and the trial stopped. © 2013 The Author(s)