2D-cadmium MOF and gismondine-like zinc coordination network based on the N-(2-tetrazolethyl)-4′-glycine linker

We have designed and synthesized two new metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) using the novel N-(2-tetrazolethyl)-4′-glycine spacer (TeGly)2−. These materials exhibit intense photoluminescence.This work was supported by the MEC of Spain (Project CTQ2011-24478) and the Junta de Andalucía (FQM-1484). D. F.-J. thanks the Royal Society for a University Research Fellowship.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the Royal Society of Chemistry via http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5NJ00011

Problematic Internet Use in University Students: associated factors and differences of gender

El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un análisis descriptivo del uso problemático de Internet en estudiantes universitarios, evaluando la posible asociación con problemas de salud y conductas adictivas, así como diferencias de género en los tipos utilización. Un total de 2780 alumnos participaron en el estudio entre los años 2011 – 2014, siendo un 29% varones (edad 20.8 ± 5.1 años) y un 71% mujeres (edad de 20.3 ± 4.4 años). La prevalencia de uso problemático de Internet evaluada mediante el Internet Addiction Test fue del 6.08%. Ser menor de 21 años y cursar titulaciones diferentes a ciencias de la salud fueron factores asociados a una mayor frecuencia de este problema, no existiendo diferencias en función del sexo o tipo de domicilio. Los resultados muestran una asociación significativa con algunos problemas de salud (migrañas, dolor lumbar, sobrepeso u obesidad, descanso insuficiente), aspectos psicológicos (riesgo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, riesgo de trastorno mental, depresión), problemas familiares y discriminación; no encontrándose asociaciones con consumo de sustancias adictivas (alcohol, tabaco o cannabis). Respecto al tiempo de uso de Internet, las horas de conexión semanales fueron significativamente mayores en las mujeres que en los hombres, tanto en el tiempo total como por motivos de ocio. El análisis del perfil de utilización en usuarios problemáticos reveló que los varones se relacionan más con aspectos de ocio como los juegos o las compras online y las mujeres con aspectos de socialización, como el chat o las redes sociales

Significant differences in the use of healthcare resources of native-born and foreign born in Spain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the last decade, the number of foreign residents in Spain has doubled and it has become one of the countries in the European Union with the highest number of immigrants There is no doubt that the health of the immigrant population has become a relevant subject from the point of view of public healthcare. Our study aimed at describing the potential inequalities in the use of healthcare resources and in the lifestyles of the resident immigrant population of Spain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional, epidemiological study from the Spanish National Health Survey (NHS) in 2006, from the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. We have worked with individualized secondary data, collected in the Spanish National Health Survey carried out in 2006 and 2007 (SNHS-06), from the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. The format of the SNHS-06 has been adapted to the requirements of the European project for the carrying out of health surveys.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The economic immigrant population resident in Spain, present diseases that are similar to those of the indigenous population. The immigrant population shows significantly lower values in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and physical activity (OR = 0.76; CI 95%: 0.65–0.89, they nonetheless perceive their health condition as worse than that reported by the autochthonous population (OR = 1.63, CI 95%: 1.34–1.97). The probability of the immigrant population using emergency services in the last 12 months was significantly greater than that of the autochthonous population (OR = 1.31, CI 95%: 1.12–1.54). This situation repeats itself when analyzing hospitalization data, with values of probability of being hospitalized greater among immigrants (OR = 1.39, CI 95%: 1.07–1.81).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The economic immigrants have better parameters in relation to lifestyles, but they have a poor perception of their health. Despite the fact that immigrant population shows higher percentages of emergency attendance and hospitalization than the indigenous population, with respect to the use of healthcare resources, their usage of healthcare resources such as drugs, influenza vaccinations or visits to the dentist is lower.</p

Natural History of MYH7-Related Dilated Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Variants in myosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7) are responsible for disease in 1% to 5% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM); however, the clinical characteristics and natural history of MYH7-related DCM are poorly described. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the phenotype and prognosis of MYH7-related DCM. We also evaluated the influence of variant location on phenotypic expression. METHODS: We studied clinical data from 147 individuals with DCM-causing MYH7 variants (47.6% female; 35.6 ± 19.2 years) recruited from 29 international centers. RESULTS: At initial evaluation, 106 (72.1%) patients had DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction: 34.5% ± 11.7%). Median follow-up was 4.5 years (IQR: 1.7-8.0 years), and 23.7% of carriers who were initially phenotype-negative developed DCM. Phenotypic expression by 40 and 60 years was 46% and 88%, respectively, with 18 patients (16%) first diagnosed at <18 years of age. Thirty-six percent of patients with DCM met imaging criteria for LV noncompaction. During follow-up, 28% showed left ventricular reverse remodeling. Incidence of adverse cardiac events among patients with DCM at 5 years was 11.6%, with 5 (4.6%) deaths caused by end-stage heart failure (ESHF) and 5 patients (4.6%) requiring heart transplantation. The major ventricular arrhythmia rate was low (1.0% and 2.1% at 5 years in patients with DCM and in those with LVEF of ≤35%, respectively). ESHF and major ventricular arrhythmia were significantly lower compared with LMNA-related DCM and similar to DCM caused by TTN truncating variants. CONCLUSIONS: MYH7-related DCM is characterized by early age of onset, high phenotypic expression, low left ventricular reverse remodeling, and frequent progression to ESHF. Heart failure complications predominate over ventricular arrhythmias, which are rare

Response of Quercus ilex seedlings to Phytophthora spp. root infection in a soil infestation test

[EN] Phytophthora species are the main agents associated with oak (Quercus spp.) decline, together with the changing environmental conditions and the intensive land use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of Quercus ilex to the inoculation with eight Phytophthora species. Seven to eight month old Q. ilex seedlings grown from acorns, obtained from two Spanish origins, were inoculated with P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. megasperma, P. nicotianae, P. plurivora, P. psychrophila and P. quercina. All Phytophthora inoculated seedlings showed decline and symptoms including small dark necrotic root lesions, root cankers, and loss of fine roots and tap root. The most aggressive species were P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. plurivora and P. psychrophila followed by P. megasperma., while Phytophthora quercina and P. nicotianae were the less aggressive species. Results obtained confirm that these Phytophthora species could constituted a threat to Q. ilex ecosystems and the implications are further discussed.The authors are grateful to A. Solla and his team from the Centro Universitario de Plasencia-Universidad de Extremadura (Spain) for helping in the acorns collection and to the CIEF (Centro para la Investigación y Experimentación Forestal, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain) for providing the acorns. This research was supported by funding from the project AGL2011- 30438-C02-01 (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain).Mora-Sala, B.; Abad Campos, P.; Berbegal Martinez, M. (2018). Response of Quercus ilex seedlings to Phytophthora spp. root infection in a soil infestation test. European Journal of Plant Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-018-01650-6SÁlvarez, L. A., Pérez-Sierra, A., Armengol, J., & García-Jiménez, J. (2007). Characterization of Phytophthora nicotianae isolates causing collar and root rot of lavender and rosemary in Spain. Journal of Plant Pathology, 89, 261–264.Balci, Y., & Halmschlager, E. (2003a). Incidence of Phytophthora species in oak forests in Austria and their possible involvement in oak decline. Forest Pathology, 33, 157–174.Balci, Y., & Halmschlager, E. (2003b). Phytophthora species in oak ecosystems in Turkey and their association with declining oak trees. Plant Pathology, 52, 694–702.Brasier, C. M. (1992a). Oak tree mortality in Iberia. Nature, 360, 539.Brasier, C. M. ((1992b)). Phytophthora cinnamomi as a contributory factor on European oak declines. In N. by Luisi, P. Lerario, & A. B. Vannini (Eds.), Recent Advances in Studies on Oak Decline. Proc. Int. Congress, Brindisi, Italy, September 13-18, 1992 (pp. 49–58). Italy: Università degli Studi.Brasier, C. M. (1996). Phytophthora cinnamomi and oak decline in southern Europe. Environmental constraints including climate change. Annales des Sciences Forestieres, 53, 347–358.Brasier, C. M. (2008). The biosecurity threat to the UK and global environment from international trade in plants. Plant Pathology, 57, 792–808.Brasier, C. M., Hamm, P. B., & Hansen, E. M. (1993a). Cultural characters, protein patterns and unusual mating behaviour of P. gonapodyides isolates from Britain and North America. Mycological Research, 97, 1287–1298.Brasier, C. M., Robredo, F., & Ferraz, J. F. P. (1993b). Evidence for Phytophthora cinnamomi involvement in Iberian oak decline. Plant Pathology, 42, 140–145.Camilo-Alves, C. S. P., Clara, M. I. E., & Ribeiro, N. M. C. A. (2013). Decline of Mediterranean oak trees and its association with Phytophthora cinnamomi: a review. European Journal of Forest Research, 132, 411–432.Català, S., Berbegal, M., Pérez-Sierra, A., & Abad-Campos, P. (2017). Metabarcoding and development of new real-time specific assays reveal Phytophthora species diversity in holm oak forests in eastern Spain. Plant Pathology, 66, 115–123.Collett, D. (2003). Modelling survival data in medical research (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: Chapman & Hall/CRC, 410 pp.Corcobado, T., Cubera, E., Pérez-Sierra, A., Jung, T., & Solla, A. (2010). First report of Phytophthora gonapodyides involved in the decline of Quercus ilex in xeric conditions in Spain. New Disease Reports, 22, 33.Corcobado, T., Cubera, E., Moreno, G., & Solla, A. (2013). Quercus ilex forests are influenced by annual variations in water table, soil water deficit and fine root loss caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 169, 92–99.Corcobado, T., Vivas, M., Moreno, G., & Solla, A. (2014). Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in declining and non-declining Quercus ilex trees infected with or free of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Forest Ecology and Management, 324, 72–80.Corcobado, T., Miranda-Torres, J. J., Martín-García, J., Jung, T., & Solla, A. (2017). Early survival of Quercus ilex subspecies from different populations after infections and co-infections by multiple Phytophthora species. Plant Pathology, 66, 792–804.Erwin, D. C., & Ribeiro, O. K. (1996). Phytophthora diseases worldwide. St. Paul, Minnesota,USA: APS Press, American Phytopathological. Society 562pp.Gallego, F. J., Perez de Algaba, A., & Fernandez-Escobar, R. (1999). Etiology of oak decline in Spain. European Journal of Forest Pathology, 29, 17–27.Hansen, E., & Delatour, C. (1999). Phytophthora species in oak forests of north-east France. Annals of Forest Science, 56, 539–547.Hardham, A. R., & Blackman, L. M. (2010). Molecular cytology of Phytophthora plant interactions. Australasian Plant Pathology, 39, 29.Hernández-Lambraño, R. E., González-Moreno, P., & Sánchez-Agudo, J. Á. (2018). Environmental factors associated with the spatial distribution of invasive plant pathogens in the Iberian Peninsula: The case of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Forest Ecology and Management, 419, 101–109.Jankowiak, R., Stępniewska, H., Bilański, P., & Kolařík, M. (2014). Occurrence of Phytophthora plurivora and other Phytophthora species in oak forests of southern Poland and their association with site conditions and the health status of trees. Folia Microbiologica, 59, 531–542.Jeffers, S. N., & Aldwinckle, H. S. (1987). Enhancing detection of Phytophthora cactorum in naturally infested soil. Phytopathology, 77, 1475–1482.Jiménez, A. J., Sánchez, E. J., Romero, M. A., Belbahri, L., Trapero, A., Lefort, F., & Sánchez, M. E. (2008). Pathogenicity of Pythium spiculum and P. sterilum on feeder roots of Quercus rotundifolia. Plant Pathology, 57, 369.Jönsson, U. (2006). A conceptual model for the development of Phytophthora disease in Quercus robur. New Phytologist, 171, 55–68.Jönsson, U., Jung, T., Rosengren, U., Nihlgard, B., & Sonesson, K. (2003). Pathogenicity of Swedish isolates of Phytophthora quercina to Quercus robur in two different soils. New Phytologist, 158, 355–364.Jung, T., & Burgess, T. I. (2009). Re-evaluation of Phytophthora citricola isolates from multiple woody hosts in Europe and North America reveals a new species, Phytophthora plurivora sp. nov. Persoonia, 22, 95–110.Jung, T., Blaschke, H., & Neumann, P. (1996). Isolation, identification and pathogenicity of Phytophthora species from declining oak stands. European Journal of Forest Pathology, 26, 253–272.Jung, T., Cooke, D. E. L., Blaschke, H., Duncan, J. M., & Oßwald, W. (1999). Phytophthora quercina sp. nov., causing root rot of European oaks. Mycological Research, 103, 785–798.Jung, T., Blaschke, H., & Oßwald, W. (2000). Involvement of soilborne Phytophthora species in Central European oak decline and the effect of site factors on the disease. Plant Pathology, 49, 706–718.Jung, T., Hansen, E. M., Winton, L., Oßwald, W., & Delatour, C. (2002). Three new species of Phytophthora from European oak forests. Mycological Research, 106, 397–411.Jung, T., Orlikowski, L., Henricot, B., Abad-Campos, P., Aday, A. G., Aguín Casal, O., Bakonyi, J., Cacciola, S. O., Cech, T., Chavarriaga, D., Corcobado, T., Cravador, A., Decourcelle, T., Denton, G., Diamandis, S., Dogmus-Lehtijärvi, H. T., Franceschini, A., Ginetti, B., Glavendekic, M., Hantula, J., Hartmann, G., Herrero, M., Ivic, D., Horta Jung, M., Lilja, A., Keca, N., Kramarets, V., Lyubenova, A., Machado, H., Magnano di San Lio, G., Mansilla Vázquez, P. J., Marçais, B., Matsiakh, I., Milenkovic, I., Moricca, S., Nagy, Z. Á., Nechwatal, J., Olsson, C., Oszako, T., Pane, A., Paplomatas, E. J., Pintos Varela, C., Prospero, S., Rial Martínez, C., Rigling, D., Robin, C., Rytkönen, A., Sánchez, M. E., Scanu, B., Schlenzig, A., Schumacher, J., Slavov, S., Solla, A., Sousa, E., Stenlid, J., Talgø, V., Tomic, Z., Tsopelas, P., Vannini, A., Vettraino, A. M., Wenneker, M., Woodward, S., & Peréz-Sierra, A. (2016). Widespread Phytophthora infestations in European nurseries put forest, semi-natural and horticultural ecosystems at high risk of Phytophthora diseases. Forest Pathology, 46, 134–163.Kroon, L. P., Brouwer, H., de Cock, A. W., & Govers, F. (2012). The genus Phytophthora anno 2012. Phytopathology, 102, 348–364.Linaldeddu, B. T., Scanu, B., Maddau, L., & Franceschini, A. (2014). Diplodia corticola and Phytophthora cinnamomi: the main pathogens involved in holm oak decline on Caprera Island (Italy). Forest Pathology, 44, 191–200.Luque, J., Parladé, J., & Pera, J. (2000). Pathogenicity of fungi isolated from Quercus suber in Catalonia (NE Spain). Forest Pathology, 30, 247–263.Luque, J., Parladé, J., & Pera, J. (2002). Seasonal changes in susceptibility of Quercus suber to Botryosphaeria stevensii and Phytophthora cinnamomi. Plant Pathology, 51, 338–345.MAGRAMA. (2014). Diagnóstico del Sector Forestal Español. Análisis y Prospectiva - Serie Agrinfo/Medioambiente n° 8. Ed. Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. In NIPO: 280-14-081-9.Martín-García, J., Solla, A., Corcobado, T., Siasou, E., & Woodward, S. (2015). Influence of temperature on germination of Quercus ilex in Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. gonapodyides, P. quercina and P. psychrophila infested soils. Forest Pathology, 45, 215–223.Maurel, M., Robin, C., Capron, G., & Desprez-Loustau, M. L. (2001). Effects of root damage associated with Phytophthora cinnamomi on water elations, biomass accumulation, mineral nutrition and vulnerability to water deficit of five oak and chestnut species. Forest Pathology, 31, 353–369.McKinney, H. H. (1923). Influence of soil temperature and moisture on infection of wheat seedlings by Helminthosporium sativum. Journal of Agricultural Research, 26, 195–217.Moralejo, E., Pérez-Sierra, A., Álvarez, L. A., Belbahri, L., Lefort, F., & Descals, E. (2009). Multiple alien Phytophthora taxa discovered on diseased ornamental plants in Spain. Plant Pathology, 58, 100–110.Mora-Sala, B., Berbegal, M., & Abad-Campos, P. (2018). The use of qPCR reveals a high frequency of Phytophthora quercina in two Spanish holm oak areas. Forests, 9(11):697. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9110697 .Moreira, A. C., & Martins, J. M. S. (2005). Influence of site factors on the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi in cork oak stands in Portugal. Forest Pathology, 35, 145–162.Mrázková, M., Černý, K., Tomosovsky, M., Strnadová, V., Gregorová, B., Holub, V., Panek, M., Havrdová, L., & Hejná, M. (2013). Occurrence of Phytophthora multivora and Phytophthora plurivora in the Czech Republic. Plant Protection Science, 49, 155–164.Navarro, R. M., Gallo, L., Sánchez, M. E., Fernández, P., & Trapero, A. (2004). Efecto de distintas fertilizaciones de fósforo en la resistencia de brinzales de encina y alcornoque a Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Investigación Agraria. Sistemas y Recursos Forestales, 13, 550–558.Panabières, F., Ali, G., Allagui, M., Dalio, R., Gudmestad, N., Kuhn, M., Guha Roy, S., Schena, L., & Zampounis, A. (2016). Phytophthora nicotianae diseases worldwide: new knowledge of a long-recognised pathogen. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 55, 20–40.Pérez-Sierra, A., & Jung, T. (2013). Phytophthora in woody ornamental nurseries. In: Phytophthora: A global perspective (pp. 166-177). Ed. by Lamour, K. Wallingford: CABI.Pérez-Sierra, A., Mora-Sala, B., León, M., García-Jiménez, J., & Abad-Campos, P. (2012). Enfermedades causadas por Phytophthora en viveros de plantas ornamentales. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal-Plagas, 38, 143–156.Pérez-Sierra, A., López-García, C., León, M., García-Jiménez, J., Abad-Campos, P., & Jung, T. (2013). Previously unrecorded low-temperature Phytophthora species associated with Quercus decline in a Mediterranean forest in eastern Spain. Forest Pathology, 43, 331–339.Redondo, M. A., Pérez-Sierra, A., & Abad-Campos, P. (2015). Histology of Quercus ilex roots during infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Trees - Structure and Function, 29, 1943–5197.Ríos, P., Obregón, S., de Haro, A., Fernández-Rebollo, P., Serrano, M. S., & Sánchez, M. E. (2016). Effect of Brassica Biofumigant Amendments on Different Stages of the Life Cycle of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Journal of Phytopathology, 164, 582–594.Rizzo, D. M., Garbelotto, M., Davidson, J. M., Slaughter, G. W., & Koike, S. T. (2002). Phytophthora ramorum as the cause of extensive mortality of Quercus spp. and Lithocarpus densiflorus in California. Plant Disease, 86, 205–214.Robin, C., Desprez-Loustau, M. L., Capron, G., & Delatour, C. (1998). First record of Phytophthora cinnamomi on cork and holm oaks in France and evidence of pathogenicity. Annales Des Sciences Forestieres, 55, 869–883.Robin, C., Capron, G., & Desprez-Loustau, M. L. (2001). Root infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi in seedlings of three oak species. Plant Pathology, 50, 708–716.Rodríguez-Molina, M. C., Torres-Vila, L. M., Blanco-Santos, A., Núñez, E. J. P., & Torres-Álvarez, E. (2002). Viability of holm and cork oak seedlings from acorns sown in soils naturally infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi. Forest Pathology, 32, 365–372.Romero, M. A., Sánchez, J. E., Jiménez, J. J., Belbahri, L., Trapero, A., Lefort, F., & Sánchez, M. E. (2007). New Pythium taxa causing root rot in Mediterranean Quercus species in southwest Spain and Portugal. Journal of Phytopathology, 115, 289–295.Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres J. M. (2001). Guía de las plantas ornamentales. S.A. Mundi-Prensa Libros. ISBN 9788471149374. 688 pp.Sánchez, M. E., Caetano, P., Ferraz, J., & Trapero, A. (2002). Phytophtora disease of Quercus ilex in south-western Spain. Forest Pathology, 32, 5–18.Sánchez, M. E., Sánchez, J. E., Navarro, R. M., Fernández, P., & Trapero, A. (2003). Incidencia de la podredumbre radical causada por Phytophthora cinnamomi en masas de Quercus en Andalucía. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal-Plagas, 29, 87–108.Sánchez, M. E., Andicoberry, S., & Trapero, A. (2005). Pathogenicity of three Phytophthora spp. causing late seedling rot of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota. Forest Pathology, 35, 115–125.Sánchez, M. E., Caetano, P., Romero, M. A., Navarro, R. M., & Trapero, A. (2006). Phytophthora root rot as the main factor of oak decline in southern Spain. In: Progress in Research on Phytophthora Diseases of Forest Trees. Proceedings of the Third International IUFRO Working Party S07.02.09. Meeting at Freising. Germany 11-18 September 2004. Brasier C. M., Jung T., Oßwald W. (Eds). Forest Research. Farnham, UK. pp. 149-154.Scanu, B., Linaldeddu, B. T., Deidda, A., & Jung, T. (2015). Diversity of Phytophthora species from declining Mediterranean maquis vegetation, including two new species, Phytophthora crassamura and P. ornamentata sp. nov. PLoS ONE, 10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143234 .Schmitthenner, A. F., & Canaday, C. H. (1983). Role of chemical factors in the development of Phytophthora diseases. In: Phytophthora. Its biology, taxonomy, ecology, and pathology (pp.189-196). Ed. by Erwin D. C., Bartnicki-Garcia S., Tsao P. H. St. Paul, : The American Phytopathological Society.Scibetta, S., Schena, L., Chimento, A., Cacciola, S. A., & Cooke, D. E. L. (2012). A molecular method to assess Phytophthora diversity in environmental samples. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 88, 356–368.Sena, K., Crocker, E., Vincelli, P., & Barton, C. (2018). Phytophthora cinnamomi as a driver of forest change: Implications for conservation and management. Forest Ecology and Management, 409, 799–807.Thines, M. (2013). Taxonomy and phylogeny of Phytophthora and related oomycetes In: Phytophthora: A global perspective (pp. 11-18). Ed. by Lamour, K. Wallingford: CABI.Tsao, P. H. (1990). Why many Phytophthora root rots and crown rots of tree and horticultural crops remain undetected. EPPO Bulletin, 20, 11–17.Tuset, J. J., Hinarejos, C., Mira, J. L., & Cobos, M. (1996). Implicación de Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands en la enfermedad de la seca de encinas y alcornoques. Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal-Plagas, 22, 491–499.Vettraino, A. M., Barzanti, G. P., Bianco, M. C., Ragazzi, A., Capretti, P., Paoletti, E., & Vannini, A. (2002). Occurrence of Phytophthora species in oak stands in Italy and their association with declining oak trees. Forest Pathology, 32, 19–28.Xia, K., Hill, L. M., Li, D. Z., & Walters, C. (2014). Factors affecting stress tolerance in recalcitrant embryonic axes from seeds of four Quercus (Fagaceae) species native to the USA or China. Annals of Botany, 114, 1747–1759

New insights into the neolithisation process in southwest Europe according to spatial density analysis from calibrated radiocarbon dates

The agricultural way of life spreads throughout Europe via two main routes: the Danube corridor and the Mediterranean basin. Current archaeological literature describes the arrival to the Western Mediterranean as a rapid process which involves both demic and cultural models, and in this regard, the dispersal movement has been investigated using mathematical models, where the key factors are time and space. In this work, we have created a compilation of all available radiocarbon dates for the whole of Iberia, in order to draw a chronological series of maps to illustrate temporal and spatial patterns in the neolithisation process. The maps were prepared by calculating the calibrated 14C date probability density curves, as a proxy to show the spatial dynamics of the last hunter-gatherers and first farmers. Several scholars have pointed out problems linked with the variability of samples, such as the overrepresentation of some sites, the degree of regional research, the nature of the dated samples and above all the archaeological context, but we are confident that the selected dates, after applying some filters and statistical protocols, constitute a good way to approach settlement spatial patterns in Iberia at the time of the neolithisation process

A Broad Assessment of Factors Determining Culicoides imicola Abundance: Modelling the Present and Forecasting Its Future in Climate Change Scenarios

Bluetongue (BT) is still present in Europe and the introduction of new serotypes from endemic areas in the African continent is a possible threat. Culicoides imicola remains one of the most relevant BT vectors in Spain and research on the environmental determinants driving its life cycle is key to preventing and controlling BT. Our aim was to improve our understanding of the biotic and abiotic determinants of C. imicola by modelling its present abundance, studying the spatial pattern of predicted abundance in relation to BT outbreaks, and investigating how the predicted current distribution and abundance patterns might change under future (2011–2040) scenarios of climate change according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. C. imicola abundance data from the bluetongue national surveillance programme were modelled with spatial, topoclimatic, host and soil factors. The influence of these factors was further assessed by variation partitioning procedures. The predicted abundance of C. imicola was also projected to a future period. Variation partitioning demonstrated that the pure effect of host and topoclimate factors explained a high percentage (>80%) of the variation. The pure effect of soil followed in importance in explaining the abundance of C. imicola. A close link was confirmed between C. imicola abundance and BT outbreaks. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to consider wild and domestic hosts in predictive modelling for an arthropod vector. The main findings regarding the near future show that there is no evidence to suggest that there will be an important increase in the distribution range of C. imicola; this contrasts with an expected increase in abundance in the areas where it is already present in mainland Spain. What may be expected regarding the future scenario for orbiviruses in mainland Spain, is that higher predicted C. imicola abundance may significantly change the rate of transmission of orbiviruses

A catastrophic tropical drought kills hydraulically vulnerable tree species.

Drought-related tree mortality is now a widespread phenomenon predicted to increase in magnitude with climate change. However, the patterns of which species and trees are most vulnerable to drought, and the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive, in part due to the lack of relevant data and difficulty of predicting the location of catastrophic drought years in advance. We used long-term demographic records and extensive databases of functional traits and distribution patterns to understand the responses of 20 to 53 species to an extreme drought in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Costa Rica, which occurred during the 2015 El Niño Southern Oscillation event. Overall, species-specific mortality rates during the drought ranged from 0% to 34%, and varied little as a function of tree size. By contrast, hydraulic safety margins correlated well with probability of mortality among species, while morphological or leaf economics spectrum traits did not. This firmly suggests hydraulic traits as targets for future research

Plio-Pleistocene climatic change had a major impact on the assembly and disassembly processes of Iberian rodent communities

Comprehension of changes in community composition through multiple spatio-temporal scales is a prime challenge in ecology and palaeobiology. However, assembly, structuring and disassembly of biotic metacommunities in deep-time is insufficiently known. To address this, we used the extensively sampled Iberian Plio-Pleistocene fossil record of rodent faunas as our model system to explore how global climatic events may alter metacommunity structure. Through factor analysis, we found five sets of genera, called faunal components, which co-vary in proportional diversity over time. These faunal components had different spatio-temporal distributions throughout the Plio-Pleistocene, resulting in non-random changes in species assemblages, particularly in response to the development of the Pleistocene glaciations. Three successive metacommunities with distinctive taxonomic structures were identified as a consequence of the differential responses of their members to global climatic change: (1) Ruscinian subtropical faunas (5.3–3.4 Ma) dominated by a faunal component that can be considered as a Miocene legacy; (2) transition faunas during the Villafranchian–Biharian (3.4–0.8 Ma) with a mixture of different faunal components; and (3) final dominance of the temperate Toringian faunas (0.8–0.01 Ma) that would lead to the modern Iberian assemblage. The influence of the cooling global temperature drove the reorganisation of these rodent metacommunities. Selective extinction processes due to this large-scale environmental disturbance progressively eliminated the subtropical specialist species from the early Pliocene metacommunity. This disassembly process was accompanied by the organisation of a diversified metacommunity with an increased importance of biome generalist species, and finally followed by the assembly during the middle–late Pleistocene of a new set of species specialised in the novel environments developed as a consequence of the glaciations