Lidar and Radar Signal Simulation: Stability Assessment of the Aerosol–Cloud Interaction Index

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projects CGL2016-81092-R, PID2020-120015RB-I00 and RTI2018-101154-A-I00, the Regional Government of Andalusia through project AEROPRE (P18-RT-3820), and by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports and Spanish Ministry of universities through grant FPU19/05340. The financial support for EARLINET in the ACTRIS.IMP 871115 (H2020-INFRADEV-2018-2020) is gratefully acknowledged. This work is related to activities within the COST Action CA18235 PROBE (PROfiling the atmospheric Boundary layer at European scale). The authors thank the University of Granada, Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucia 2014-2020 through project DEM3TRIOS (A-RNM-430-UGR20). Juan Antonio Bravo-Aranda received funding from the Marie Skodowska-Curie Action Cofund 2016 EU project-Athenea3i under grant agreement no. 754446. Maria J. Granados-Munoz project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skodowska-Curie grant agreement No 796539. The financial support for UGR and FEDER funds through project B-RNM-496-UGR18 is gratefully acknowledged.Aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) are in the spotlight of atmospheric science since the limited knowledge about these processes produces large uncertainties in climate predictions. These interactions can be quantified by the aerosol-cloud interaction index (ACI index), which establishes a relationship between aerosol and cloud microphysics. The experimental determination of the ACI index through a synergistic combination of lidar and cloud radar is still quite challenging due to the difficulties in disentangling the aerosol influence on cloud formation from other processes and in retrieving aerosol-particle and cloud microphysics from remote sensing measurements. For a better understanding of the ACI and to evaluate the optimal experimental conditions for the measurement of these processes, a Lidar and Radar Signal Simulator (LARSS) is presented. LARSS simulate vertically-resolved lidar and cloud-radar signals during the formation process of a convective cloud, from the aerosol hygroscopic enhancement to the condensation droplet growth. Through LARSS simulations, it is observed a dependence of the ACI index with height, associated with the increase in number (ACINd) and effective radius (ACIreff) of the droplets with altitude. Furthermore, ACINd and ACIreff for several aerosol types (such as ammonium sulfate, biomass burning, and dust) are estimated using LARSS, presenting different values as a function of the aerosol model. Minimum ACINd values are obtained when the activation of new droplets stops, while ACIreff reaches its maximum values several meters above. These simulations are carried out considering standard atmospheric conditions, with a relative humidity of 30% at the surface, reaching the supersaturation of the air mass at 3500 m. To assess the stability of the ACI index, a sensitivity study using LARSS is performed. It is obtained that the dry modal aerosol radius presents a strong influence on the ACI index fluctuations of 18% cause an ACI variability of 30% while the updraft velocity within the cloud and the wet modal aerosol radius have a weaker impact. LARSS ACI index uncertainty is obtained through the Monte Carlo technique, obtaining ACIreff uncertainty below 16% for the uncertainty of all LARSS input parameters of 10%. Finally, a new ACI index is introduced in this study, called the remote-sensing ACI index (ACIRs), to simplify the quantification of the ACI processes with remote sensors. This new index presents a linear relationship with the ACIreff, which depends on the Angstrom exponent. The use of ACIRs to derive ACIreff presents the advantage that it is possible to quantify the aerosol-cloud interaction without the need to perform microphysical inversion retrievals, thus reducing the uncertainty sources.Spanish Government CGL2016-81092-R PID2020-120015RB-I00 RTI2018-101154-A-I00Junta de Andalucia P18-RT-3820Spanish Government FPU19/05340EARLINET in the ACTRIS.IMP 871115University of Granada, Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucia through project DEM3TRIOS A-RNM-430-UGR20European Commission 754446 796539UGREuropean Commission B-RNM-496-UGR1

Genetic polymorphisms in the cag pathogenicity island of Helicobacter pylori and risk of stomach cancer and high‐grade premalignant gastric lesions

AbstractHelicobacter pylori (Hp) infects the stomach of about half of the human population and is strongly associated with the risk of gastric cancer (GC) and its premalignant precursors. The cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) is a region of the Hp genome encoding for key molecular machinery involved in the infection process. Following a sequencing study, we selected 50 genetic polymorphisms located in seven cagPAI genes and tested their associations with the risk of advanced gastric premalignant lesions and GC in 1220 subjects from various Latin American populations showing the whole spectrum of phenotypes from gastritis to GC. We found that three polymorphisms of cagA are associated with the risk of advanced gastric premalignant lesions (incomplete intestinal metaplasia [ie, Type 2 and 3] or dysplasia), and that six polymorphisms located in cagA, cagL and cagI were associated with risk of GC. When corrected for multiple testing none of the associations were statistically significant. However, scores built by integrating the individual polymorphisms were significantly associated with the risk of advanced gastric premalignant lesions and GC. These results have the potential of establishing markers for risk stratification in the general population, in view of targeting Hp eradication to high‐risk population groups

Propuesta de reestructuración académico-administrativa de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Surcolombiana

Through the  Agreement No. 0038 of November 22, 1994, the Board of the education faculty created the Restructuring Commission of the school, composed by the professors who signed this document, with the central purpose of preparing a proposal for the Faculty of Education.academic-administrative restructuring. The commission considered it precise to take up again as a theoretical reference, some documents related to the process that is the object of its function, and that is how it made each of its members responsible for the illustration of any of the following documentary elaborations. Implications of Law 115 and its regulatory decree 1860 against the Faculties of Education; Proposal of Reform of the Normal ones and of the Faculty of Education of the USCO; the School, the Teacher and his training; proposal of academic-administrative restructuring of the USCO (conciliation commission); Report of the Science, Education and Development Mission, the university accreditation process.Mediante Acuerdo No. 0038 del 22 de noviembre de 1994, el Consejo de Facultad de Educación creó la comisión de Reestructuración de la Facultad, integrada por los profesores firmantes de este documento, con el propósito central de elaborar una propuesta de Reestructuración académico-administrativa de la Facultad de Educación.La comisión consideró oportuno retomar como referente teórico, algunos documentos relacionados con el proceso objeto de su función, y fue así como responsabilizó a cada uno de sus miembros de la ilustración de alguna de las siguientes elaboraciones documentales. Implicaciones de la Ley 115 y su decreto reglamentario 1860 frente a las Facultades de Educacióm; propuesta de Reforma de las Normales y de la Facultad de Educación de la USCO; la Escuela, el Maestro y su formación; propuesta de reestructuración académico-administrativa de la USCO (comisión de concertación); Informe de la Misión de Ciencia, Educación y Desarrollo, el proceso de acreditación universitaria

Importación de plaguicidas y peligros en salud en América Central durante el periodo 2005 - 2009

Agricultural pesticides imported in Central America were analyzed, for period the 2005-2009 in order to monitor health hazards. The methodology used has already been published for the analysis of the period 2000-2004 (Bravo et al., 2011). During 2005-2009, 353 active ingredients (ai) were imported in an average annual amount of 39 000 ton ai. Fourteen ai imported in quantities ≥ ton ai 2000 accounted for 77% of imports. The biocidal actions most used were fungicides and herbicides. In these actions, the chemical groups most imported were dithiocarbamates and phenoxyacid the fosfonoglicinas and bipyridyls respectively. The imported quantity of hazardous pesticides corresponded to 27% ai with extremely high acute toxicity, 35% with 2 or more topical effects of moderate to severe and 47% with 4 or more chronic effects. Internationally regulated pesticides amounted to 19% of total imports. Guatemala was the country with highest amount of imported pesticides and Costa Rica continued leading indicators such as kg ai / capita kg ai / rural inhabitant kg ai / agricultural worker kg ai / ha farm. Data indicate that populations in Central America continue to be exposed to health dangers of imported pesticides.Se analizaron datos de importación de plaguicidas agrícolas en América Central, para el quinquenio 2005-2009 para el monitoreo de peligros en salud. La metodología usada ya fue publicada para el análisis del quinquenio 2000-2004 (Bravo et al., 2011). Durante este segundo quinquenio, se importaron 353 ingredientes activos (ia), en una cantidad promedio anual de 39 000 ton ia. Catorce ia se importaron en cantidades ≥ 2 000 ton ia y representaron el 77% de la importación. Las acciones biocidas más usadas fueron los fungicidas y los herbicidas. En estas acciones, los grupos químicos más importados fueron los ditiocarbamatos  y los fenoxiácidos, las fosfonoglicinas y los bipiridilos, respectivamente. La cantidad importada de plaguicidas peligrosos correspondió en un 27% a ia con toxicidad aguda alta a extrema, 35% con 2 o más efectos tópicos de moderados a severos y 47% con  4 o más efectos crónicos. Los plaguicidas regulados internacionalmente corresponden al 19% del total importado. Guatemala fue el país que más plaguicidas importó y Costa Rica continuó liderando indicadores como: kg i.a./habitante, kg i.a./habitante rural, kg ia/trabajador agrícola, kg ia/ha agrícola. Los datos indicaron que las poblaciones en América Central continúan expuestas a peligros de salud por los plaguicidas importados

El fenómeno del dopaje desde la perspectiva de las ciencias sociales. V.2

El volumen recoge una selección de las comunicaciones presentadas al 5º Congreso Internacional "Deporte, Dopaje y Sociedad", organizado conjuntamente por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid y por la Agencia Española de Protección de la Salud en el Deporte (AEPSAD)

Regulation of cell death receptor S-nitrosylation and apoptotic signaling by Sorafenib in hepatoblastoma cells

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a relevant role during cell death regulation in tumor cells. The overexpression of nitric oxide synthase type III (NOS-3) induces oxidative and nitrosative stress, p53 and cell death receptor expression and apoptosis in hepatoblastoma cells. S-nitrosylation of cell death receptor modulates apoptosis. Sorafenib is the unique recommended molecular-targeted drug for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study was addressed to elucidate the potential role of NO during Sorafenib-induced cell death in HepG2 cells. We determined the intra- and extracellular NO concentration, cell death receptor expression and their S-nitrosylation modifications, and apoptotic signaling in Sorafenib-treated HepG2 cells. The effect of NO donors on above parameters has also been determined. Sorafenib induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. However, low concentration of the drug (10nM) increased cell death receptor expression, as well as caspase-8 and -9 activation, but without activation of downstream apoptotic markers. In contrast, Sorafenib (10 µM) reduced upstream apoptotic parameters but increased caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in HepG2 cells. The shift of cell death signaling pathway was associated with a reduction of S-nitrosylation of cell death receptors in Sorafenib-treated cells. The administration of NO donors increased S-nitrosylation of cell death receptors and overall induction of cell death markers in control and Sorafenib-treated cells. In conclusion, Sorafenib induced alteration of cell death receptor S-nitrosylation status which may have a relevant repercussion on cell death signaling in hepatoblastoma cells.Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI13/00021Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2012-32056Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía BIO-0216Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía CTS-6264Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía PI13/ 0002

Expression of HMGCS2 in intestinal epithelial cells is downregulated in inflammatory bowel disease associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress.

INTRODUCTION The Unfolded Protein Response, a mechanism triggered by the cell in response to Endoplasmic reticulum stress, is linked to inflammatory responses. Our aim was to identify novel Unfolded Protein Response-mechanisms that might be involved in triggering or perpetuating the inflammatory response carried out by the Intestinal Epithelial Cells in the context of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. METHODS We analyzed the transcriptional profile of human Intestinal Epithelial Cell lines treated with an Endoplasmic Reticulum stress inducer (thapsigargin) and/or proinflammatory stimuli. Several genes were further analyzed in colonic biopsies from Ulcerative Colitis patients and healthy controls. Lastly, we generated Caco-2 cells lacking HMGCS2 by CRISPR Cas-9 and analyzed the functional implications of its absence in Intestinal Epithelial Cells. RESULTS Exposure to a TLR ligand after thapsigargin treatment resulted in a powerful synergistic modulation of gene expression, which led us to identify new genes and pathways that could be involved in inflammatory responses linked to the Unfolded Protein Response. Key differentially expressed genes in the array also exhibited transcriptional alterations in colonic biopsies from active Ulcerative Colitis patients, including NKG2D ligands and the enzyme HMGCS2. Moreover, functional studies showed altered metabolic responses and epithelial barrier integrity in HMGCS2 deficient cell lines. CONCLUSION We have identified new genes and pathways that are regulated by the Unfolded Protein Response in the context of Inflammatory Bowel Disease including HMGCS2, a gene involved in the metabolism of Short Chain Fatty Acids that may have an important role in intestinal inflammation linked to Endoplasmic Reticulum stress and the resolution of the epithelial damage.This work was supported by grants from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN) from Spain [SAF2016-78711R and PID202-11794 to EM-N and FJC]; Comunidad de Madrid [B2017/BMD-3727 to EMN and FJC]; Comunidad de Madrid (REACT-UE, ANTICIPA-CM Ref. PR38/21-24) to E.M-N and HORIZON-HLTH-2022-STAYHLTH-02 under agreement No 101095679 to FJC the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program [ERC-2016- Consolidator Grant 725091 to DS]; MCIN/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033 [PID2019-108157RB to DS]; la Caixa Foundation (ID 100010434) [LCF/BQ/PR20/11770008 to SW]; Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) [PI18/00348 to VE]; ISCIII [PI21/01641 to RT-R]; Spanish National Research and Development Plan, ISCIII and FEDER [PI17/02303 and PI20/01837 to SR-P]; Proyecto Desarrollo Tecnológico [DTS19/00111 to SR-P], AEI/MICIU EXPLORA Project [BIO2017-91272-EXP to SR-P]; Programa Estratégico Instituto de Biologıa y Gene ́ ́ tica Molecular (IBGM), Junta de Castilla y León (CCVC8485) [PID2019-104218RB-I00 to DB]; NIH [DK088199 to RB] and Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM 920631) [CT42/ 18-CT43/18 and EB15/21 to BM-A].S

Pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma. Postoperative outcome after surgical treatment in a Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) occasionally spreads to the pancreas. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the short and long-term results of a multicenter series in order to determine the effect of surgical treatment on the prognosis of these patients. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Variables related to the primary tumor, demographics, clinical characteristics of metastasis, location in the pancreas, type of pancreatic resection performed and data on short and long-term evolution after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 116 patients. The mean time between nephrectomy and pancreatic metastases' resection was 87.35 months (ICR: 1.51-332.55). Distal pancreatectomy was the most performed technique employed (50 %). Postoperative morbidity was observed in 60.9 % of cases (Clavien-Dindo greater than IIIa in 14 %). The median follow-up time was 43 months (13-78). Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 96 %, 88 %, and 83 %, respectively. The disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 73 %, 49 %, and 35 %, respectively. Significant prognostic factors of relapse were a disease free interval of less than 10 years (2.05 [1.13-3.72], p 0.02) and a history of previous extrapancreatic metastasis (2.44 [1.22-4.86], p 0.01). Conclusions: Pancreatic resection if metastatic RCC is found in the pancreas is warranted to achieve higher overall survival and disease-free survival, even if extrapancreatic metastases were previously removed. The existence of intrapancreatic multifocal compromise does not always warrant the performance of a total pancreatectomy in order to improve survival. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Repeated pancreatic resection for pancreatic metastases from renal cell Carcinoma: A Spanish multicenter study (PANMEKID)

Background and objectives: Recurrent isolated pancreatic metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) after pancreatic resection is rare. The purpose of our study is to describe a series of cases of relapse of pancreatic metastasis from renal cancer in the pancreatic remnant and its surgical treatment with a repeated pancreatic resection, and to analyse the results of both overall and disease -free survival. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for RCC pancreatic metastases, from January 2010 to May 2020. Patients were grouped into two groups depending on whether they received a single pancreatic resection (SPS) or iterative pancreatic resection. Data on short and long-term outcome after pancreatic resection were collected. Results: The study included 131 pancreatic resections performed in 116 patients. Thus, iterative pancreatic surgery (IPS) was performed in 15 patients. The mean length of time between the first pancreatic surgery and the second was 48.9 months (95 % CI: 22.2-56.9). There were no differences in the rate of postoperative complications. The DFS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 86 %, 78 % and 78 % vs 75 %, 50 % and 37 % in the IPS and SPS group respectively (p = 0.179). OS rates at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years were 100 %, 100 %, 100 % and 75 % in the IPS group vs 95 %, 85 %, 80 % and 68 % in the SPS group (p = 0.895). Conclusion: Repeated pancreatic resection in case of relapse of pancreatic metastasis of RCC in the pancreatic remnant is justified, since it achieves OS results similar to those obtained after the first resection