Linking Geoheritage and Traditional Architecture for Mitigating Depopulation in Rural Areas: the Palaeozoic Villages Route (Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain)

Courel Mountains UGGp through the Ribeira Sacra-Courel Local Action Group, municipalities of Quiroga, Ribas de Sil and Folgoso do Courel, Deputy Government of Lugo Province, and the Regional Government of Galicia.The PVR forms part of the tourism programme of the Courel Mountains UGGp. Topographic and vegetation data displayed in the figures are from the Geographical National Institute of Spain. We acknowledge the assistance provided by Dr. Luis González- Menéndez (Spanish Geological Survey). We thank also E. de Boer for proofreading the article. The PVR is possible thanks to the cooperation of local people, companies, and schools, whose promising future is a truly inspiration to the UGGp.The use of stone in traditional architecture represents one of the most relevant links between geological and cultural heritage. As a topic of general interest and easily understandable to all public, this link is a guiding thread for touristic routes mitigating the depopulation trend that affects large inland rural areas, including many areas in UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp). In the northwest of Spain, the Courel Mountains UGGp created the Palaeozoic Villages Route for touristic purposes in 2018, highlighting the relevance of local stones in traditional architecture as a key feature for sustainable development. For the design and creation of this route, seven villages were selected along six criteria: (1) the representativeness of the building stone with the bedrock of the UGGp, (2) the preserved traditional architecture, (3) their link with geoheritage, (4) the scenic beauty of their surroundings, (5) the potential combination with other touristic activities, and (6) the presence of local services. The Palaeozoic Villages Route exhibits four rock types/sections/structures spanning four Palaeozoic periods, as well as different uses for walling and roofing depending on the rock feature. Since 2018, the route experienced an increased revenue of 19% in the touristic sector to the traditional villages, while visitors used up to 61% of the local services of the UGGp for one or more days. In addition, the route reinforces the awareness of depopulation and abandonment of rural villages, fostering the purchase and/or restoration of dwellings as second regular residences in tranquil and scenic environments. In the short to medium term, these actions are expected to reverse or, at least, minimise the loss of population in the UGGp.Courel Mountains UGGp through the Ribeira Sacra-Courel Local Action Groupmunicipality of Quirogamunicipality of Ribas de SilDeputy Government of Lugo ProvinceRegional Government of Galiciamunicipality of Folgoso do Coure

A Large-Area RPC Detector for Muography

A muon telescope equipped with four Resistive Plate Chambers of 2 m$^{2}$ per plane was tested with the muon scattering tomography technique. The telescope was operated during several hours with high atomic number materials located at its center with two detector planes on each side. With an intrinsic efficiency above 98%, spatial resolution around 1 cm and detector planes spaced by 45 cm, it was possible to identify the presence of a 5 cm thick tungsten block in 10 minutes of acquisition. The results obtained after five hours of acquisition are also presented in this communication

Advances Towards a Large-Area, Ultra-Low-Gas-Consumption RPC Detector

Large Resistive Plate Chamber systems have their roots in High Energy Physics experiments at the European Organization for Nuclear Research: ATLAS, CMS and ALICE, where hundreds of square meters of both trigger and timing RPCs have been deployed. These devices operate with complex gas systems, equipped with re-circulation and purification units, which require a fresh gas supply of the order of 6 cm$^{3}$/min/m$^{2}$, creating logistical, technical and financial problems. In this communication, we present a new concept in the construction of RPCs which allowed us to operate a detector at ultra-low gas flow regime. With this new approach, the glass stack is encapsulated in a tight plastic box made of polypropylene, which presents excellent water vapor blocking properties as well as a good protection against atmospheric gases.Comment: submission of the proceedings for the 15th PISA conference PM202

Five-Year Follow-Up of the Argentine Randomized Trial of Coronary Angioplasty With Stenting Versus Coronary Bypass Surgery in Patients With Multiple Vessel Disease (ERACI II)

ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study is to report the five-year follow-up results of the ERACI II trial.BackgroundImmediate and one-year follow-up results of the ERACI II study showed a prognosis advantage of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stents over coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsA total of 450 patients were randomly assigned to undergo either PCI (n = 225); or CABG (n = 225). Only patients with multi-vessel disease were enrolled. Clinical follow-up during five years was obtained in 92% of the total population after hospital discharge. The primary end point of the study was to compare freedom from major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 30 days, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years of follow-up.ResultsAt five years of follow-up, patients initially treated with PCI had similar survival and freedom from non-fatal acute myocardial infarction than those initially treated with CABG (92.8% vs. 88.4% and 97.3% vs. 94% respectively, p = 0.16). Freedom from repeat revascularization procedures (PCI/CABG) was significantly lower with PCI compared with CABG (71.5% vs. 92.4%, p = 0.0002). Freedom from MACE was also significantly lower with PCI compared with CABG (65.3% vs. 76.4%; p = 0.013). At five years similar numbers of patients randomized to each revascularization procedure were asymptomatic or with class I angina.ConclusionsAt five years of follow-up, in the ERACI II study, there were no survival benefits from any revascularization procedure; however patients initially treated with CABG had better freedom from repeat revascularization procedures and from MACE

Nuevos fósiles del Pragiense (Devónico Inferior) del Geoparque Mundial de la UNESCO Montañas do Courel (Lugo, NO de España) y sus implicaciones geológicas

Se presentan los primeros fósiles devónicos reconocidos en el sinclinorio del Sil (Lugo, NO de España), encontrados en rocas calcáreas incluidas en un contexto local cartografiado como pizarras ordovícicas, lo que sugiere la necesidad de abordar una investigación estructural y estratigráfica más detallada. El yacimiento paleontológico se vincula con calizas que contienen una acumulación excepcional de dacrioconáridos aparentemente monoespecífica, un grupo fósil que se reconoce por vez primera en Galicia. La identificación de Nowakia cf. acuaria (Richter) permite atribuir al Pragiense el afloramiento estudiado, y correlacionarlo tentativamente con la parte más alta de la Formación Salas en sus afloramientos del extremo oriental del sinclinorio, ya en la provincial de León. Una interpretación alternativa sería considerar a esta caliza como un olistolito en la base del olistostroma + flysch carbonífero de San Clodio. Atendiendo al interés científico de tipo paleontológico, estratigráfico y estructural, la localidad ha sido inscrita como nuevo Lugar de Interés Geológico del Geoparque Mundial de la UNESCO Montañas do Courel

New Pragian (Lower Devonian) fossils from the Courel Mountains Global UNESCO Geopark (Lugo, NW Spain) and its geological implications

Se presentan los primeros fósiles devónicos reconocidos en el sinclinorio del Sil (Lugo, NO de España), encontrados en rocas calcáreas incluidas en un contexto local cartografiado como pizarras ordovícicas, lo que sugiere la necesidad de abordar una investigación estructural y estratigráfica más detallada. El yacimiento paleontológico se vincula con calizas que contienen una acumulación excepcional de dacrioconáridos aparentemente monoespecífica, un grupo fósil que se reconoce por vez primera en Galicia. La identificación de Nowakia cf. acuaria (Richter) permite atribuir al Pragiense el afloramiento estudiado, y correlacionarlo tentativamente con la parte más alta de la Formación Salas en sus afloramientos del extremo oriental del sinclinorio, ya en la provincial de León. Una interpretación alternativa sería considerar a esta caliza como un olistolito en la base del olistostroma + flysch carbonífero de San Clodio. Atendiendo al interés científico de tipo paleontológico, estratigráfico y estructural, la localidad ha sido inscrita como nuevo Lugar de Interés Geológico del Geoparque Mundial de la UNESCO Montañas do Courel.For the first time, Devonian fossils are recognized in limestonesof the Sil synclinorium (Lugo, NW Spain). Within this tectonic structure, the outcrop was interpreted as belonging to Ordovician shales, although observation of Devonian strata recommended a more detailed stratigraphical and tectonic investigation of the area. The palaeontological site contains an exceptional accumulation of dacryoconarids, apparently monospecific (Nowakia cf. acuaria (Ritchter)), a group never recognized before in Galicia. This species allows the attribution of these limestones to the Pragian (Lower Devonian), which are roughly correlated with the upper part of the Salas Formation of the eastern end of the synclinorium, in León province. An alternative interpretation would be to consider this limestone block as an olistolith at the base of the Carboniferous olistostrome + flysch of San Clodio. Taking into consideration the palaeontological, stratigraphical and structural interest of the outcrop, it has been inscribed as a new Geosite of the Courel Mountains Global UNESCO Geopark.Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEGeoparque Montañas do CourelPlan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovaciónpu

Management of the Palaeozoic Palaeontological Heritage Associated With Metamorphic Bedrocks: Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark (Spain)

The Spanish Courel Mountains UNESCO Global Geopark has strong educational and touristic resources despite limited preservation of Paleozoic invertebrate fossil assemblages within metamorphic rocks. The paleontological sites are managed by means of their inventory and integration in a Geographical Information System, the construction of virtual 3D fossil models, the creation of a fossil collection exhibition, the transport of large boulders with fossils to places such as tourist offices, and hiking trails to see ichnofossils. To enable geoconservation, the Palaeozoic paleontological sites are neither promoted nor frequently visited. Fossils found in the Geopark by paleontologists and fortuitously by local people or hikers are deposited and safeguarded in the Geological Museum and are available for eventual exhibition and paleontological studies

Novel inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis GuaB2 identified by a target based high-throughput phenotypic screen

High-throughput phenotypic screens have re-emerged as screening tools in antibiotic discovery. The advent of such technologies has rapidly accelerated the identification of ‘hit’ compounds. A pre-requisite to medicinal chemistry optimisation programmes required to improve the drug-like properties of a ‘hit’ molecule is identification of its mode of action. Herein, we have combined phenotypic screening with a biased target-specific screen. The inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) protein GuaB2 has been identified as a drugable target in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, however previously identified compounds lack the desired characteristics necessary for further development into lead-like molecules. This study has identified 7 new chemical series from a high-throughput resistance-based phenotypic screen using Mycobacterium bovis BCG over-expressing GuaB2. Hit compounds were identified in a single shot high-throughput screen, validated by dose response and subjected to further biochemical analysis. The compounds were also assessed using molecular docking experiments, providing a platform for their further optimisation using medicinal chemistry. This work demonstrates the versatility and potential of GuaB2 as an anti-tubercular drug target