Towards a combined use of geophysics and remote sensing techniques for the characterization of a singular building: “El Torreón” (the tower) at Ulaca oppidum (Solosancho, Ávila, Spain)

This research focuses on the study of the ruins of a large building known as “El Torreón” (the Tower), belonging to the Ulaca oppidum (Solosancho, Province of Ávila, Spain). Different remote sensing and geophysical approaches have been used to fulfil this objective, providing a better understanding of the building’s functionality in this town, which belongs to the Late Iron Age (ca. 300–50 BCE). In this sense, the outer limits of the ruins have been identified using photogrammetry and convergent drone flights. An additional drone flight was conducted in the surrounding area to find additional data that could be used for more global interpretations. Magnetometry was used to analyze the underground bedrock structure and ground penetrating radar (GPR) was employed to evaluate the internal layout of the ruins. The combination of these digital methodologies (surface and underground) has provided a new perspective for the improved interpretation of “El Torreón” and its characteristics. Research of this type presents additional guidelines for better understanding of the role of this structure with regards to other buildings in the Ulaca oppidum. The results of these studies will additionally allow archaeologists to better plan future interventions while presenting new data that can be used for the interpretation of this archaeological complex on a larger scale

Comparing post-event and pre-event damage assessment: Information gaps and lessons learnt

Abstract. Post event damage and needs assessment can supply fundamental information to feed risk models, i.e. data to define, calibrate and validate risk models. The lack or low quality of information regarding damage and losses collected in the aftermath of events conditions the quality of pre-event scenarios, thus affecting also the significance and the relevance of cost benefit analyses on mitigation measures to reduce the severity and magnitude of damage that are expected. Data collected in the aftermath of disasters are usually not suitable to this aim. Mostly, data on damage explicative variables (i.e. hazard, exposure, vulnerability and mitigation actions) are missing; damage data themselves can be also unsuitable as they refer to different spatial or temporal scales than those at which damage models work. In such a context, this paper presents results from the European Project IDEA (Improving Damage assessments to Enhance cost-benefit Analyses). The project is a response to the very limited reliability of data currently used to support cost-benefit analyses for natural hazards mitigation. The main objective of IDEA is an improvement of both damage data quality and procedures to collect and manage them. The paper focus in detail on the investigation of how improved damage data can better support the risk-modelling process. To this aim, the flood hitting the Umbria Region (Italy) in 2012 and the earthquake event that stuck the municipality of Lorca (Spain) in 2011 were investigated. Observed damages and damage predictions based on data that were available before the disaster have been compared. The comparison had several objectives: - to verify the reliability of damage models that are currently used for damage estimation and that are proposed in literature; - to identify data gaps in pre-event assessment that could be narrowed by better damage data. This is relevant for showing what data are currently missing in risk modelling but could be obtained at reasonable costs; - to identify sectors for which pre-event damage assessment cannot be carried out or is carried out at the expense of large uncertainties and/or roughness; - to show how improved risk modelling could better feed cost benefit analyses of pre-event mitigation measure

Evaluation of different bowel preparations for small bowel capsule endoscopy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study

To obtain an adequate view of the whole small intestine during capsule endoscopy (CE) a clear liquid diet and overnight fasting is recommended. However, intestinal content can hamper vision in spite of these measures. Our aim was to evaluate tolerance and degree of intestinal cleanliness during CE following three types of bowel preparation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled study. Two-hundred ninety-one patients underwent one of the following preparations: 4 L of clear liquids (CL) (group A; 92 patients); 90 mL of aqueous sodium phosphate (group B; 89 patients); or 4 L of a polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (group C; 92 patients). The degree of cleanliness of the small bowel was classified by blinded examiners according to four categories (excellent, good, fair or poor). The degree of patient satisfaction, gastric and small bowel transit times, and diagnostic yield were measured. RESULTS: The degree of cleanliness did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 0.496). Interobserver concordance was fair (k = 0.38). No significant differences were detected between the diagnostic yields of the CE (P = 0.601). Gastric transit time was 35.7 +/- 3.7 min (group A), 46.1 +/- 8.6 min (group B) and 34.6 +/- 5.0 min (group C) (P = 0.417). Small-intestinal transit time was 276.9 +/- 10.7 min (group A), 249.7 +/- 13.1 min (group B) and 245.6 +/- 11.6 min (group C) (P = 0.120). CL was the best tolerated preparation. Compliance with the bowel preparation regimen was lowest in group C (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: A clear liquid diet and overnight fasting is sufficient to achieve an adequate level of cleanliness and is better tolerated by patients than other forms of preparation

A Rapid FACS-Based Strategy to Isolate Human Gene Knockin and Knockout Clones

Gene targeting protocols for mammalian cells remain inefficient and labor intensive. Here we describe FASTarget, a rapid, fluorescent cell sorting based strategy to isolate rare gene targeting events in human somatic cells. A fluorescent protein is used as a means for direct selection of targeted clones obviating the need for selection and outgrowth of drug resistant clones. Importantly, the use of a promoter-less, ATG-less construct greatly facilitates the recovery of correctly targeted cells. Using this method we report successful gene targeting in up to 94% of recovered human somatic cell clones. We create functional EYFP-tagged knockin clones in both transformed and non-transformed human somatic cell lines providing a valuable tool for mammalian cell biology. We further demonstrate the use of this technology to create gene knockouts. Using this generally applicable strategy we can recover gene targeted clones within approximately one month from DNA construct delivery to obtaining targeted monoclonal cell lines

Underrepresented Populations in Parkinson's Genetics Research: Current Landscape and Future Directions

BACKGROUND: Human genetics research lacks diversity; over 80% of genome-wide association studies have been conducted on individuals of European ancestry. In addition to limiting insights regarding disease mechanisms, disproportionate representation can create disparities preventing equitable implementation of personalized medicine. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review provides an overview of research involving Parkinson's disease (PD) genetics in underrepresented populations (URP) and sets a baseline to measure the future impact of current efforts in those populations. METHODS: We searched PubMed and EMBASE until October 2021 using search strings for "PD," "genetics," the main "URP," and and the countries in Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Inclusion criteria were original studies, written in English, reporting genetic results on PD from non-European populations. Two levels of independent reviewers identified and extracted information. RESULTS: We observed imbalances in PD genetic studies among URPs. Asian participants from Greater China were described in the majority of the articles published (57%), but other populations were less well studied; for example, Blacks were represented in just 4.0% of the publications. Also, although idiopathic PD was more studied than monogenic forms of the disease, most studies analyzed a limited number of genetic variants. We identified just nine studies using a genome-wide approach published up to 2021, including URPs. CONCLUSION: This review provides insight into the significant lack of population diversity in PD research highlighting the immediate need for better representation. The Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) and similar initiatives aim to impact research in URPs, and the early metrics presented here can be used to measure progress in the field of PD genetics in the future. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Leucemia mieloide crónica en paciente pediátrico. Experiencia en nuestro centro

PB-080 Introducción: La Leucemia Mieloide Crónica (LMC) constituye una patología rara en niños constituyendo el 2% de todas las leucemias diagnosticadas en niños menores de 15 años. La presentación clínica suele ser más agresiva que en adultos y la proporción de pacientes con LMC en fase acelerada o blástica es mayor que para pacientes de edad más avanzada. La cifra media de leucocitos al diagnóstico se encuentra en 250 x 109/L, mientras que en adultos es de 80x109/L - 150x109/L. El 90- 95% de los niños con características clínicas y morfológicas de LMC tienen cromosoma Philadelphia positivo. El manejo de la enfermedad se basa en la presentación, la fase en la que se encuentre y los niveles de respuesta al tratamiento. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo en el que se han analizado las características clínicas, de laboratorio y la respuesta al tratamiento de los pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados de LMC en los últimos 10 años en nuestro hospital (hospital de tercer nivel y de referencia de la CCAA de Aragón). Resultados: Uno de ellos no realizó ningún tipo de respuesta al Imatinib con aumento de las copias de BCR/ABL por Biología Molecular a pesar de buenos niveles de Imatinib, por lo que se inició tratamiento con Dasatinib en marzo de 2018, alcanzando en la última reevaluación a los a los 12 meses respuesta citogenética pero sin alcanzar ningún tipo de respuesta molecular. Conclusiones: Como se describe en la literatura, ambos pacientes ..