Heatmaps in soccer: event vs tracking datasets

We investigate how similar heatmaps of soccer players are when constructed from (i) event datasets and (ii) tracking datasets. When using event datasets, we show that the scale at which the events are grouped strongly influences the correlation with the tracking heatmaps. Furthermore, there is an optimal scale at which the correlation between event and tracking heatmaps is the highest. However, even at the optimal scale, correlations between both approaches are moderate. Furthermore, there is high heterogeneity in the players' correlation, ranging from negative values to correlations close to the unity. We show that the number of events performed by a player does not crucially determine the level of correlation between both heatmaps. Finally, we analyzed the influence of the player position, showing that defenders are the players with the highest correlations while forwards have the lowest.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Thermophysical properties of the lanthanide sesquisulfides. IV. Schottky contributions, magnetic, and electronic properties of ϵ‐phase Yb2S3 and Lu2S3

The heat capacities of ϵ‐phase Yb2S3 and Lu2S3 have been determined from 6 to 350 K and their thermodynamic properties evaluated. The resolution of the Schottky and magnetic properties by evaluation of the lattice heat capacity is shown to be in accord with spectroscopically determined energy levels. The lattice heat capacity of Yb2S3 was determined by means of the Komada–Westrum phonon distribution model. Excess heat‐capacity contributions were thus evaluated and analyzed as Schottky and magnetic heat capacities. A phase transition associated with magnetic ordering was detected in the heat capacity of Yb2S3 near 7 K with an entropy content of 0.68R. The entropies at 298.15 K are 22.77R and 19.74R for Yb2S3 and for Lu2S3.  Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70016/2/JCPSA6-98-2-1458-1.pd

Neurogranin and Neurofilament Light Chain as Preclinical Biomarkers in Scrapie

Prion diseases are diagnosed in the symptomatic stage, when the neuronal damage is spread throughout the central nervous system (CNS). The assessment of biological features that allow the detection of asymptomatic cases is needed, and, in this context, scrapie, where pre-symptomatic infected animals can be detected through rectal biopsy, becomes a good study model. Neurogranin (Ng) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are proteins that reflect synaptic and axonal damage and have been studied as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in different neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we evaluated Ng and NfL both at the protein and transcript levels in the CNS of preclinical and clinical scrapie-affected sheep compared with healthy controls and assessed their levels in ovine CSF. The correlation between these proteins and the main neuropathological events in prion diseases, PrPSc deposition and spongiosis, was also assessed. The results show a decrease in Ng and NfL at the protein and gene expression levels as the disease progresses, and significant changes between the control and preclinical animals. On the contrary, the CSF levels of NfL increased throughout the progression of the disease. Negative correlations between neuropathological markers of prion disease and the concentration of the studied proteins were also found. Although further research is needed, these results suggest that Ng and NfL could act as biomarkers for neurodegeneration onset and intensity in preclinical cases of scrapie

Resistance to colistin and production of extended-spectrum ß-lactamases and/or AmpC enzymes in Salmonella isolates collected from healthy pigs in Northwest Spain in two periods: 2008-2009 and 2018

Salmonellosis is a common subclinical infection in pigs and therefore apparently healthy animals may represent a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella for humans. This study estimates and characterizes resistance to two classes of antimicrobials considered of the highest priority within the critically important antimicrobials for humans, i.e. colistin (CR) and 3rd generation cephalosporins (3GC), on a collection of Salmonella isolates from pigs from two periods: between 2008 and 09, when colistin was massively used; and in 2018, after three years under a National Plan against Antibiotic Resistance. Prevalence of CR was low (6 out of 625; 0.96%; 95%CI: 0.44–2.1) in 2008–09 and associated mostly to the mcr-1 gene, which was detected in four S. 4,5,12:i:- isolates. Polymorphisms in the pmrAB genes were detected in a S. 9,12:-:- isolate. No CR was detected in 2018 out of 59 isolates tested. Among 270 Salmonella isolates considered for the assessment of resistance to 3GC in the 2008–2009 sampling, only one Salmonella Bredeney (0.37%; 95%CI: 0.07–2.1) showed resistance to 3GC, which was associated with the blaCMY-2 gene (AmpC producer). In 2018, six isolates out of 59 (10.2%; 95%CI: 4.7–20.5) showed resistance to 3GC, but only two different strains were identified (S. 4,12:i:- and S. Rissen), both confirmed as extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producers. The blaCTX-M-3 and blaTEM-1b genes in S. 4,12:i:- and the blaTEM-1b gene in S. Rissen seemed to be associated with this resistance. Overall, the prevalence of CR in Salmonella appeared to be very low in 2008–2009 despite the considerable use of colistin in pigs at that time, and seemed to remain so in 2018. Resistance to 3GC was even lower in 2008–2009 but somewhat higher in 2018. Resistance was mostly coded by genes associated with mobile genetic elements. Most serotypes involved in these antimicrobial resistances displayed a multidrug resistance pattern and were considered zoonotic

Thermophysical properties of the lanthanide sesquisulfides. II. Schottky contributions and magnetic and electronic properties of γ‐phase Pr2S3, Tb2S3, and Dy2S3

Heat‐capacity measurements by adiabatic equilibrium calorimetry are reported for γ‐phase Pr2S3, Tb2S3, and Dy2S3 between 5 and 350 K. Highly purified samples were prepared and their composition verified by chemical analysis. Precision lattice parameters were determined for each compound and are compared with literature values. The total heat capacity has been resolved into lattice, magnetic, and Schottky components by a volumetric approach. The experimental Schottky contributions accord with the calculated curves based on the crystal‐field splitting of the 2S+1LJ ground state of the lanthanide ions occupying sites of S4 symmetry in the Th3P4 lattice. The individual crystal‐field electronic energy levels have been obtained in part from an analysis of the hot‐band data observed in the absorption spectra of Pr2S3, Tb2S3, and Dy2S3, and from a calculated splitting in which the crystal‐field parameters Bkm, were determined from a lattice‐sum calculation. Molar thermodynamic properties are reported for all three compounds. The entropy at 298.15 K {S0−S0 (7 K)}, is 22.78R, 22.93R, and 23.36R, for γ‐phase Pr2S3, Tb2S3, and Dy2S3, respectively.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70592/2/JCPSA6-95-3-1964-1.pd

Inflammation affects the viability and plasticity of equine mesenchymal stem cells: Possible implications in intra-articular treatments

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are gaining relevance for treating equine joint injuries because of their ability to limit inflammation and stimulate regeneration. Because inflammation activates MSC immunoregulatory function, proinflammatory priming could improve MSC efficacy. However, inflammatory molecules present in synovial fluid or added to the culture medium might have deleterious effects on MSCs. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of inflammatory synovial fluid and proinflammatory cytokines priming on viability and plasticity of equine MSCs. Equine bone marrow derived MSCs (eBM-MSCs) from three animals were cultured for 72 h in media supplemented with: 20% inflammatory synovial fluid (SF); 50 ng/mL IFN-¿ and TNF-a (CK50); and 20 ng/mL IFN-¿ and TNF-a (CK20). Proliferation assay and expression of proliferation and apoptosis-related genes showed that SF exposed-eBM-MSCs maintained their viability, whereas the viability of CK primed-eBM-MSCs was significantly impaired. Tri-lineage differentiation assay revealed that exposure to inflammatory synovial fluid did not alter eBM-MSCs differentiation potential; however, eBM-MSCs primed with cytokines did not display osteogenic, adipogenic or chondrogenic phenotype. The inflammatory synovial environment is well tolerated by eBM-MSCs, whereas cytokine priming negatively affects the viability and differentiation abilities of eBM-MSCs, which might limit their in vivo efficacy

Cosmid-derived markers anchoring the bovine genetic map to the physical map

The mapping strategy for the bovine genome described in this paper uses large insert clones as a tool for physical mapping and as a source of highly polymorphic microsatellites for genetic typing, and was one objective of the BovMap Project funded by the European Union (UE). Eight-three cosmid and phage clones were characterized and used to physically anchor the linkage groups defining all the bovine autosomes and the X Chromosome (Chr). By combining physical and genetic mapping, clones described in this paper have led to the identification of the linkage groups corresponding to Chr 9, 12, 16, and 25. In addition, anchored loci from this study were used to orient the linkage groups corresponding to Chr 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 16, 18, 19, and 28 as identified in previously published maps. Comparison of the estimated size of the physical and linkage maps suggests that the genetic length of the bovine genome may be around 4000 c

Genome-Wide Methylation Profiling in the Thalamus of Scrapie Sheep

Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disorder belonging to the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Scrapie occurs in sheep and goats, which are considered good natural animal models of these TSE. Changes in DNA methylation occur in the central nervous system (CNS) of patients suffering from prion-like neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer''s disease. Nevertheless, potential DNA methylation alterations have not yet been investigated in the CNS of any prion disease model or naturally infected cases, neither in humans nor in animals. Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns were studied in the thalamus obtained from sheep naturally infected with scrapie at a clinical stage (n = 4) and from controls (n = 4) by performing a whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) analysis. Ewes carried the scrapie-susceptible ARQ/ARQ PRNP genotype and were sacrificed at a similar age (4–6 years). Although the average genomic methylation levels were similar between the control and the scrapie animals, we identified 8, 907 significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 39 promoters (DMPs). Gene Ontology analysis revealed that hypomethylated DMRs were enriched in genes involved in transmembrane transport and cell adhesion, whereas hypermethylated DMRs were related to intracellular signal transduction genes. Moreover, genes highly expressed in specific types of CNS cells and those previously described to be differentially expressed in scrapie brains contained DMRs. Finally, a quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation indicated differences in the expression of five genes (PCDH19, SNCG, WDR45B, PEX1, and CABIN1) that matched the methylation changes observed in the genomic study. Altogether, these results suggest a potential regulatory role of DNA methylation in prion neuropathology. Copyright © 2022 Hernaiz, Sanz, Sentre, Ranera, Lopez-Pérez, Zaragoza, Badiola, Filali, Bolea, Toivonen and Martín-Burriel