Integrating an epidemic spread model with remote sensing for Xylella fastidiosa detection

Trabajo presentado en la 3rd European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa (Building knowledge, protecting plant health), celebrada online el 29 y 30 de abril de 2021.Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) causes plant diseases that lead to massive economic losses in agricultural crops, making it one of the pathogens of greatest concern to agriculture nowadays. Detecting Xf at early stages of infection is crucial to prevent and manage outbreaks of this vector-borne bacterium. Recent remote sensing (RS) studies at different scales have shown that Xf-infected olive trees have distinct spectral features in the visible and infrared regions (VNIR). However, RS-based forecasting of Xf outbreaks requires tools that account for their spatiotemporal dynamics. Here, we show how coupling a spatial Xf-spread model with the probability of Xf-infection predicted by an RS-driven modeling algorithm based on a Support Vector Machine (RS-SVM) helps detecting the spatial Xf distribution in a landscape. To optimize such model, we investigated which RS plant traits (i.e., pigments, structural or leaf protein content) derived from high-resolution hyperspectral imagery and biophysical modelling are most responsive to Xf infection and damage. For that, we combined a field campaign in almond orchards in Alicante province (Spain) affected by Xf (n=1,426 trees), with an airborne campaign over the same area to acquire high-resolution thermal and hyperspectral images in the visible-near-infrared (400-850 nm) and short-wave infrared regions (SWIR, 950-1700 nm). We found that coupling the epidemic spread model and the RS-based model increased accuracy by around 5% (OA = 80%, kappa = 0.48 and AUC = 0.81); compared to the best performing RS-SVM model (OA = 75%; kappa = 0.50) that included as predictors leaf protein content, nitrogen indices (NIs), fluorescence and a thermal indicator, alongside pigments and structural parameters. The parameters with the greatest explanatory power of the RS model were leaf protein content together with NI (28%), followed by chlorophyll (22%), structural parameters (LAI and LIDFa), and chlorophyll indicators of photosynthetic efficiency. In the subset of almond trees where the presence of Xf was tested by qPCR (n=318 tress), the combined RS-spread model yielded the best performance (OA of 71% and kappa = 0.33). Conversely, the best-performing RS-SVM model and visual inspections produced OA and kappa values of 65% and 0.31, respectively. This study shows for the first time the potential of combining spatial epidemiological models and remote sensing to monitor Xf-disease distribution in almond trees

Detection of Xylella fastidiosa in almond orchards by synergic use of an epidemic spread model and remotely sensed plant traits

The early detection of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) infections is critical to the management of this dangerous plan pathogen across the world. Recent studies with remote sensing (RS) sensors at different scales have shown that Xf-infected olive trees have distinct spectral features in the visible and infrared regions (VNIR). However, further work is needed to integrate remote sensing in the management of plant disease epidemics. Here, we research how the spectral changes picked up by different sets of RS plant traits (i.e., pigments, structural or leaf protein content), can help capture the spatial dynamics of Xf spread. We coupled a spatial spread model with the probability of Xf-infection predicted by a RS-driven support vector machine (RS-SVM) model. Furthermore, we analyzed which RS plant traits contribute most to the output of the prediction models. For that, in almond orchards affected by Xf (n = 1426 trees), we conducted a field campaign simultaneously with an airborne campaign to collect high-resolution thermal images and hyperspectral images in the visible-near-infrared (VNIR, 400–850 nm) and short-wave infrared regions (SWIR, 950–1700 nm). The best performing RS-SVM model (OA = 75%; kappa = 0.50) included as predictors leaf protein content, nitrogen indices (NIs), fluorescence and a thermal indicator (Tc), alongside pigments and structural parameters. Leaf protein content together with NIs contributed 28% to the explanatory power of the model, followed by chlorophyll (22%), structural parameters (LAI and LIDFa), and chlorophyll indicators of photosynthetic efficiency. Coupling the RS model with an epidemic spread model increased the accuracy (OA = 80%; kappa = 0.48). In the almond trees where the presence of Xf was assayed by qPCR (n = 318 trees), the combined RS-spread model yielded an OA of 71% and kappa = 0.33, which is higher than the RS-only model and visual inspections (both OA = 64–65% and kappa = 0.26–31). Our work demonstrates how combining spatial epidemiological models and remote sensing can lead to highly accurate predictions of plant disease spatial distribution.Data collection was partially supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program through grant agreements POnTE (635646) and XF-ACTORS (727987). R. Calderón was supported by a post-doctoral research fellowship from the Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundation (Spain)

Transcriptomic Profiles of Senegalese Sole Infected With Nervous Necrosis Virus Reassortants Presenting Different Degree of Virulence

Betanodaviruses [nervous necrosis virus (NNV)] are the causative agent of the viral encephalopathy and retinopathy, a disease that affects cultured Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis). NNV reassortants, combining genomic segments from redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) and striped jack nervous necrosis virus (SJNNV) genotypes, have been previously isolated from several fish species. The wild-type reassortant wSs160.03, isolated from Senegalese sole, has been proven to be more virulent to sole than the parental genotypes (RGNNV and SJNNV), causing 100% mortality. Mutations at amino acids 247 (serine to alanine) and 270 (serine to asparagine) in the wSs160.03 capsid protein have allowed us to obtain a mutant reassortant (rSs160.03247+270), which provokes a 40% mortality decrease. In this study, the RNA-Seq technology has been used to comparatively analyze Senegalese sole transcriptomes in two organs (head kidney and eye/brain) after infection with wild-type and mutant strains. A total of 633 genes were differentially expressed (DEGs) in animals infected with the wild-type isolate (with higher virulence), whereas 393 genes were differentially expressed in animals infected with the mutant strain (37.9% decrease in the number of DEGs). To study the biological functions of detected DEGs involved in NNV infection, a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed. Different GO profiles were obtained in the following subclasses: (i) biological process; (ii) cellular component; and (iii) molecular function, for each viral strain tested. Immune response and proteolysis have been the predominant biological process after the infection with the wild-type isolate, whereas the infection with the mutant strain induces proteolysis in head kidney and inhibition of vasculogenesis in nervous tissue. Regarding the immune response, genes coding for proteins acting as mediators of type I IFN expression (DHX58, IRF3, IRF7) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISG15, Mx, PKR, Gig1, ISG12, IFI44, IFIT-1, to name a few) were upregulated in animals infected with the wild-type isolate, whereas no-differential expression of these genes was observed in samples inoculated with the mutant strain. The different transcriptomic profiles obtained could help to better understand the NNV pathogenesis in Senegalese sole, setting up the importance as virulence determinants of amino acids at positions 247 and 270 within the RNA2 segment

CD56neg NK cells are not completely dysfunctional

Natural killer (NK) cells are usually identified by the absence of other lineage markers, due to the lack of cell-surface-specific receptors. CD56neg NK cells, classically identified as CD56negCD16+, are very scarce in the peripheral blood of healthy people but they expand in some pathological conditions. However, studies on CD56neg NK cells had revealed different results regarding the phenotype and functionality. This could be due to, among others, the unstable expression of CD16, which hinders CD56neg NK cells' proper identification. Hence, we aim to determine an alternative surface marker to CD16 to better identify CD56neg NK cells. We have found that NKp80 is superior to CD16. Furthermore, we found differences between the functionality of CD56negNKp80+ and CD56negCD16+, suggesting that the effector functions of CD56neg NK cells are not as diminished as previously thought. We proposed NKp80 as a noteworthy marker to identify and accurately re-characterize human CD56neg NK cells.This study was supported by grants from AECC-Spanish Association Against Cancer (PROYE16074BORR), “Plan Estatal de I+D+I 2013–2016, ISCIII-Subdirección de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación-Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (Grant PI13/00889)”, Marie Curie Actions, Career Integration Grant, European Commission (Grant CIG 631674) and Basque Foundation for Research and Innovation-EiTB Maratoia (BIO14/TP/003)

Feasibility and short-term outcomes in liver-first approach: a Spanish snapshot study (the RENACI Project)

(1) Background: The liver-first approach may be indicated for colorectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastases to whom preoperative chemotherapy opens a potential window in which liver resection may be undertaken. This study aims to present the data of feasibility and short-term outcomes in the liver-first approach. (2) Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in Spanish hospitals that had a medium/high-volume of HPB surgeries from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2020. (3) Results: In total, 40 hospitals participated, including a total of 2288 hepatectomies, 1350 for colorectal liver metastases, 150 of them (11.1%) using the liver-first approach, 63 (42.0%) in hospitals performing <50 hepatectomies/year. The proportion of patients as ASA III was significantly higher in centers performing ≥50 hepatectomies/year (difference: 18.9%; p = 0.0213). In 81.1% of the cases, the primary tumor was in the rectum or sigmoid colon. In total, 40% of the patients underwent major hepatectomies. The surgical approach was open surgery in 87 (58.0%) patients. Resection margins were R0 in 78.5% of the patients. In total, 40 (26.7%) patients had complications after the liver resection and 36 (27.3%) had complications after the primary resection. One-hundred and thirty-two (89.3%) patients completed the therapeutic regime. (4) Conclusions: There were no differences in the surgical outcomes between the centers performing <50 and ≥50 hepatectomies/year. Further analysis evaluating factors associated with clinical outcomes and determining the best candidates for this approach will be subsequently conducted

Long-term outcomes of high-risk HR-positive and HER2-negative early breast cancer patients from GEICAM adjuvant studies and El Álamo IV registry

Purpose The monarchE trial showed that the addition of abemaciclib improves efficacy in patients with high-risk early breast cancer (EBC). We analyzed the long-term outcomes of a population similar to the monarchE trial to put into context the potential benefit of abemaciclib. Methods HR-positive/HER2-negative EBC patients eligible for the monarchE study were selected from 3 adjuvant clinical trials and a breast cancer registry. Patients with ≥ 4 positive axillary lymph nodes (N +) or 1–3 N + with tumor size ≥ 5 cm and/or histologic grade 3 and/or Ki67 ≥ 20%, who had undergone surgery with curative intent and had received anthracyclines ± taxanes and endocrine therapy in the neoadjuvant and /or adjuvant setting were included. We performed analysis of Invasive Disease-Free Survival (iDFS), Distant Disease-Free Survival (dDFS) and Overall Survival (OS) at 5 and 10 years, as well as yearly (up to 10) of Invasive Relapse Rate (IRR), Distant Relapse Rate (DRR) and Death Rate (DR). Results A total of 1,617 patients were analyzed from the GEICAM-9906 (312), GEICAM-2003–10 (210), and GEICAM-2006–10 (160) trials plus 935 from El Álamo IV. With a median follow-up of 10.1 years, the 5 and 10 years iDFS rates were 75.2% and 57.0%, respectively. The dDFS and OS rates at 5 years were 77.4% and 88.8% and the respective figures at 10 years were 59.7% and 70.9%. Conclusions This data points out the need for new therapies for those patients. A longer follow-up of the monarchE study to see the real final benefit with abemaciclib is warranted

Quince (Cydonia oblonga) in vitro plant root formation through an automated temporary inmersion system, and its acclimation

Artículo científicoQuince (Cydonia oblonga) is a non-traditional fruit tree found in Costa Rica that has therapeutic and nutritional properties; however its slow growth and root formation prevents the production of a homogeneous population when using conventional farming techniques. Hence, the aim of this research project was to generate uniform plant material in a reduced time span using a temporary immersion bioreactor system (RITAS ®). A semisolid rooting MS culture medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L-1 NAA; 0.3 mg L-1 IBA and 3% sucrose (pH 6.5), developed in the Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología (CIB), Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR), in Cartago, was used as a reference medium. Four different variations in the sucrose concentration (1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) were performed in liquid medium. Each trial was evaluated with in vitro plants which had been previously exposed to the culture medium of the corresponding treatments, in a stationary mode and for a 15 day long period, and with in vitro plants without any previous treatment (a total of eight treatments). The comparison of the root formation percentages evidenced the clear effect of sucrose concentration used, with the best results obtained when using the 2% sucrose trial with no pre-treatment (73.3%). The in vitro plants were acclimated in cylinders made out of peat, have previously been disinfected with fungicide, and placed in a humidity chamber at a 20.5°C average temperature and a 75,5% relative humidity for the establishment of weekly fertilizing cycles. The acclimation process generated an 80% survival rate, since several seedlings experienced stem strangulation caused by a fungal attack. The conidiophores identified through optical and scanning electron microscopy evidenced the presence of Cladosporium spp., which was controlled with carbendazim and iprodione fungicides

Numerical and physical assessment of control measures to mitigate fugitive dust emissions from harbor activities

In recent years, the industrial demand for petcoke—a solid residue derived from the refinement of crude oil—has been growing due to its low cost. The use of petcoke is causing environmental concern associated with its high level of contaminants and air pollutant emissions, mainly particulate matter (PM). Given the impact of petcoke on the environment and human health, increased attention has been given to its production, storage, transportation, and application processes. The main goal of this work was to assess the effectiveness of placing a barrier to reduce PM emissions from petcoke in a harbor area. The Port of Aveiro, Portugal, was used as case study. Firstly, wind tunnel experiments were performed for different types of barrier to (i) assess the effect on PM emissions of different types of barriers, namely solid, porous, and raised porous barriers; (ii) determine the optimal size and location of the barrier to achieve maximum reduction of PM emissions; and (iii) estimate the impact of placing such barrier in the attenuation of petcoke emissions over the harbor area. Secondly, the numerical model VADIS (pollutant DISpersion in the atmosphere under VAriable wind conditions) was run to evaluate the effect of implementing the barrier on the local air quality. Results showed that the best solution would be the implementation of two solid barriers: a main barrier of 109 m length plus a second barrier of 30 m length. This measure produced the best results in terms of reduction of the dispersion of particulate matter from the petcoke stockpile and minimization of the PM concentrations in the harbor surrounding area.publishe

Oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea en el paciente COVID-19: resultados del Registro Español ECMO-COVID de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular (SECCE)

Background and aim: COVID-19 patients with severe heart or respiratory failure are potential candidates for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Indications and management of these patients are unclear. Our aim is to describe the results of a prospective registry of COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO. Methods: An anonymous prospective registry of COVID-19 patients treated with veno-arterial (V-A) or veno-venous (V-V) ECMO was created on march 2020. Clinical, analytical and respiratory preimplantation variables, implantation data and post-implantation course data were recorded. The primary endpoint was all cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary events were functional recovery and the combined endpoint of mortality and functional recovery in patients followed at least 3 months after discharge. Results: Three hundred and sixty-six patients from 25 hospitals were analyzed, 347 V-V ECMO and 18 V-A ECMO patients (mean age 52.7 and 49.5 years respectively). Patients with V-V ECMO were more obese, had less frequently organ damage other than respiratory failure and needed less inotropic support; Thirty three percent of V-A ECMO and 34.9% of V-A ECMO were discharged (P = NS). Hospital mortality was non-significantly different, 56.2% versus 50.9% respectively, mainly during ECMO therapy and mostly due to multiorgan failure. Other 51 patients (14%) remained admitted. Mean follow-up was 196 +/- 101.7 days (95%CI: 170.8-221.6). After logistic regression, body weight (OR 0.967, 95%CI: 0.95-0.99, P = 0.004) and ECMO implantation in the own centre (OR 0.48, 95%CI: 0.27-0.88, P = 0.018) were protective for hospital mortality. Age (OR 1.063, 95%CI: 1.005-1.12, P = 0.032), arterial hypertension (3.593, 95%CI: 1.06-12.19, P = 0.04) and global (2.44, 95%CI: 0.27-0.88, P = 0.019), digestive (OR 4,23, 95%CI: 1.27-14.07, P = 0.019) and neurological (OR 4.66, 95%CI: 1.39-15.62, P = 0.013) complications during ECMO therapy were independent predictors of primary endpoint occurrence. Only the post-discharge day at follow-up was independent predictor of both secondary endpoints occurrence. Conclusions: Hospital survival of severely ill COVID-19 patients treated with ECMO is near 50%. Age, arterial hypertension and ECMO complications are predictors of hospital mortality, and body weight and implantation in the own centre are protective. Functional recovery is only predicted by the follow-up time after discharge. A more homogeneous management of these patients is warranted for clinical results and future research optimization. (C) 2022 Sociedad Espanola de Cirugia Cardiovascular y Endovascular. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U

Atopic dermatitis and indoor use of energy sources in cooking and heating appliances

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) prevalence has considerably increased worldwide in recent years. Studying indoor environments is particularly relevant, especially in industrialised countries where many people spend 80% of their time at home, particularly children. This study is aimed to identify the potential association between AD and the energy source (biomass, gas and electricity) used for cooking and domestic heating in a Spanish schoolchildren population. Methods: As part of the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) phase III study, a cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted with 21,355 6-to-7-year-old children from 8 Spanish ISAAC centres. AD prevalence, environmental risk factors and the use of domestic heating/cooking devices were assessed using the validated ISAAC questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (cOR, aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained. A logistic regression analysis was performed (Chi-square test, p-value < 0.05). Results: It was found that the use of biomass systems gave the highest cORs, but only electric cookers showed a significant cOR of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01-1.27). When the geographical area and the mother’s educational level were included in the logistic model, the obtained aOR values differed moderately from the initial cORs. Electric heating was the only type which obtained a significant aOR (1.13; 95% CI: 1.00-1.27). Finally, the model with all selected confounding variables (sex, BMI, number of siblings, mother’s educational level, smoking habits of parents, truck traffic and geographical area), showed aOR values which were very similar to those obtained in the previous adjusted logistic analysis. None of the results was statistically significant, but the use of electric heating showed an aOR close to significance (1.14; 95% CI: 0.99-1.31). Conclusion: In our study population, no statistically significant associations were found between the type of indoor energy sources used and the presence of AD