New features in the ionic states of N2O4: Experimental and theoretical study

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study focused on the ionic states of the N2O4 molecule. Experimental results regarding photoionization induced by the synchrotron radiation SOLEIL in the 13.5-15.5 eV energy range were obtained using the electron-ion velocity vector correlation method. The potential energy curves for the dissociation of the N-N bond were computed within ab initio multireference wave functions based methods (CASSCF and CASPT2) for the first electronic states of N2O 4 and N2O4

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with azirines

Substituted 1,3-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes with two contiguous quaternary stereocentres are readily prepared by catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of α-substituted iminoesters with azirines. High diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) are achieved using CuI/(R)-Fesulphos as the catalytic systemWe thank the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Grant CTQ2015-66954-P, MINECO/FEDER, UE) and FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades – Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Grant PGC2018-098660-B-I00) for financial suppor

Structural coronary artery remodelling in the rabbit fetus as a result of intrauterine growth restriction

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a fetal condition that affects up to 10% of all pregnancies and is associated with cardiovascular structural and functional remodelling that persists postnatally. Some studies have reported an increase in myocardial coronary blood flow in severe IUGR fetuses which has been directly associated to the dilatation of the coronary arteries. However, a direct measurement of the coronaries’ lumen diameter in IUGR has not been reported before. The aim of this paper is to perform, for the first time, a quantitative analysis of the effects of IUGR in cardiac geometry and coronary vessel size in a wellknown rabbit model of IUGR using synchrotron-based X-ray Phase Contrast Tomography Imaging (X-PCI). Eight rabbit fetal hearts were imaged non-destructively with X-PCI. 3D reconstructions of the coronary arterial tree were obtained after semi-automatic image segmentation. Different morphometric features including vessel lumen diameter of the three main coronaries were automatically quantified. IUGR fetuses had more globular hearts and dilated coronary arteries as compared to controls. We have quantitatively shown that IUGR leads to structural coronary vascular tree remodelling and enlargement as an adaptation mechanism in response to an adverse environment of restricted oxygen and nutrients and increased perfusion pressure

The Campo de Dalias GNSS Network Unveils the Interaction between Roll-Back and Indentation Tectonics in the Gibraltar Arc

The Gibraltar Arc includes the Betic and Rif Cordilleras surrounding the Alboran Sea; it is formed at the northwest–southeast Eurasia–Nubia convergent plate boundary in the westernmost Mediterranean. Since 2006, the Campo de Dalias GNSS network has monitored active tectonic deformation of the most seismically active area on the north coast of the Alboran Sea. Our results show that the residual deformation rates with respect to Eurasia range from 1.7 to 3.0 mm/year; roughly homogenous west-southwestward displacements of the northern sites occur, while the southern sites evidence irregular displacements towards the west and northwest. This deformation pattern supports simultaneous east-northeast–west-southwest extension, accommodated by normal and oblique faults, and north-northwest–south-southeast shortening that develops east-northeast–west-southwest folds. Moreover, the GNSS results point to dextral creep of the main northwest–southeast Balanegra Fault. These GNNS results thus reveal, for the first time, present-day interaction of the roll-back tectonics of the Rif–Gibraltar–Betic slab in the western part of the Gibraltar Arc with the indentation tectonics affecting the eastern and southern areas, providing new insights for improving tectonic models of arcuate orogens.Junta de Andalucia; European Regional Development Fund; grant numbers: AGORA P18-RT-3275, PAPEL B-RNM-301-UGR18. Programa Operativo FEDER-Andalucia 2014–2020 Project ref. 1263446; University of Jaén; CEACTEMA; grant number: POAIUJA 21/22. Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Board); grant numbers: RNM-148, RNM-282, RNM-370. V.T.S. was supported by the FPU PhD grant (16/04038)

Understanding the complex geomorphology of a deep sea area affected by continental tectonic indentation: The case of the Gulf of Vera (Western Mediterranean)

19 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, supplementary data https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108126.-- Data availability: Casas, D., & UTM-CSIC. (2018). FAUCES-1 Cruise, RV Sarmiento de Gamboa [Data set]. UTM-CSIC. doi: 10.20351/29SG20170925 Comas, M. & UTM-CSIC. TOPOMED-GASBATS. Cruise, RV Sarmiento de Gamboa [Data set]. UTM-CSIC.doi: 10.20351/29SG20120517We present a multidisciplinary study of morphology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, tectonic structure, and physical oceanography to report that the complex geomorphology of the Palomares continental margin and adjacent Algerian abyssal plain (i.e., Gulf of Vera, Western Mediterranean), is the result of the sedimentary response to the Aguilas Arc continental tectonic indentation in the Eurasian–Africa plate collision. The indentation is imprinted on the basement of the margin with elongated metamorphic antiforms that are pierced by igneous bodies, and synforms that accommodate the deformation and create a complex physiography. The basement is partially covered by Upper Miocene deposits sealed by the regional Messinian Erosive Surface characterized by palaeocanyons that carve the modern margin. These deposits and outcropping basement highs are then covered and shaped by Plio-Quaternary contourites formed under the action of the Light Intermediate and Dense Deep Mediterranean bottom currents. Even though bottom currents are responsible for the primary sedimentation that shapes the margin, 97% of this region's seafloor is affected by mass-movements that modified contourite sediments by eroding, deforming, faulting, sliding, and depositing sediments. Mass-movement processes have resulted in the formation of recurrent mass-flow deposits, an enlargement of the submarine canyons and gully incisions, and basin-scale gravitational slides spreading above the Messinian Salinity Crisis salt layer. The Polopo, Aguilas and Gata slides are characterized by an extensional upslope domain that shapes the continental margin, and by a downslope contractional domain that shapes the abyssal plain with diapirs piercing (hemi)pelagites/sheet-like turbidites creating a seafloor dotted by numerous crests. The mass movements were mostly triggered by the interplay of the continental tectonic indentation of the Aguilas Arc with sedimentological factors over time. The indentation, which involves the progressively southeastward tectonic tilting of the whole land-sea region, likely generated a quasi-continuous oversteepening of the entire margin, thus reducing the stability of the contourites. In addition, tectonic tilting and subsidence of the abyssal plain favoured the flow of the underlying Messinian Salinity Crisis salt layer, contributing to the gravitational instability of the overlying sediments over large areas of the margin and abyssal plainThis research has been funding by the Spanish projects: DAMAGE (CGL2016-80687-RAEI/FEDER) and FAUCES (CTM2015-65461-C2-1-R); and the Junta de Andalucía projects: RNM-148 (AGORA) P18-RT-3275 and PAPEL (B-RNM-301-UGR18). [...] This work acknowledges to IGCP 640 - S4LIDE (Significance of Modern and Ancient Submarine Slope LandSLIDEs), and to the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S

Simultaneous infections by different Salmonella strains in mesenteric lymph nodes of finishing pigs

Background: Salmonellosis is a major worldwide zoonosis, and Salmonella-infected finishing pigs are considered one of the major sources of human infections in developed countries. Baseline studies on salmonellosis prevalence in fattening pigs in Europe are based on direct pathogen isolation from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). This procedure is considered the most reliable for diagnosing salmonellosis in apparently healthy pigs. The presence of simultaneous infections by different Salmonella strains in the same animal has never been reported and could have important epidemiological implications. Results: Fourteen finishing pigs belonging to 14 farms that showed high salmonellosis prevalence and a variety of circulating Salmonella strains, were found infected by Salmonella spp, and 7 of them were simultaneously infected with strains of 2 or 3 different serotypes. Typhimurium isolates showing resistance to several antimicrobials and carrying mobile integrons were the most frequently identified in the colonized MLN. Four animals were found infected by Salmonella spp. of a single serotype (Rissen or Derby) but showing 2 or 3 different antimicrobial resistance profiles, without evidence of mobile genetic element exchange in vivo. Conclusion: This is the first report clearly demonstrating that pigs naturally infected by Salmonella may harbour different Salmonella strains simultaneously. This may have implications in the interpretation of results from baseline studies, and also help to better understand human salmonellosis outbreaks and the horizontal transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes.The work was financed by Gobierno de Navarra (project reference IIQ14064.RI1) and INIA (project reference RTA2007-65). Contracts were funded by UPNA (VG postdoctoral contract, and AZB predoctoral fellowship), EMUNDUS18 program (SS) and CSIC in collaboration with the European Social Fund (BSR “Programa JAE-Doc” contract)

Understanding the complex geomorphology of a deep sea area affected by continental tectonic indentation: the case of the Gulf of Vera (Western Mediterranean)

We present a multidisciplinary study of morphology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, tectonic structure, and physical oceanography to report that the complex geomorphology of the Palomares continental margin and adjacent Algerian abyssal plain (i.e., Gulf of Vera, Western Mediterranean), is the result of the sedimentary response to the Aguilas Arc continental tectonic indentation in the Eurasian–Africa plate collision. The inden tation is imprinted on the basement of the margin with elongated metamorphic antiforms that are pierced by igneous bodies, and synforms that accommodate the deformation and create a complex physiography. The basement is partially covered by Upper Miocene deposits sealed by the regional Messinian Erosive Surface characterized by palaeocanyons that carve the modern margin. These deposits and outcropping basement highs are then covered and shaped by Plio-Quaternary contourites formed under the action of the Light Intermediate and Dense Deep Mediterranean bottom currents. Even though bottom currents are responsible for the primary sedimentation that shapes the margin, 97% of this region's seafloor is affected by mass-movements that modified contourite sediments by eroding, deforming, faulting, sliding, and depositing sediments. Mass-movement processes have resulted in the formation of recurrent mass-flow deposits, an enlargement of the submarine canyons and gully incisions, and basin-scale gravitational slides spreading above the Messinian Salinity Crisis salt layer. The Polopo, Aguilas and Gata slides are characterized by an extensional upslope domain that shapes the continental margin, and by a downslope contractional domain that shapes the abyssal plain with diapirs piercing (hemi)pelagites/sheet-like turbidites creating a seafloor dotted by numerous crests. The mass movements were mostly triggered by the interplay of the continental tectonic indentation of the Aguilas Arc with sedimentological factors over time. The indentation, which involves the progressively southeastward tectonic tilting of the whole land-sea region, likely generated a quasi-continuous oversteepening of the entire margin, thus reducing the stability of the contourites. In addition, tectonic tilting and subsidence of the abyssal plain favoured the flow of the underlying Messinian Salinity Crisis salt layer, contributing to the gravitational instability of the overlying sediments over large areas of the margin and abyssal plain

Calibration test of PET scanners in a multi-centre clinical trial on breast cancer therapy monitoring using 18F-FLT.

UNLABELLED: A multi-centre trial using PET requires the analysis of images acquired on different systems We designed a multi-centre trial to estimate the value of 18F-FLT-PET to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. A calibration check of each PET-CT and of its peripheral devices was performed to evaluate the reliability of the results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 11 centres were investigated. Dose calibrators were assessed by repeated measurements of a 68Ge certified source. The differences between the clocks associated with the dose calibrators and inherent to the PET systems were registered. The calibration of PET-CT was assessed with an homogeneous cylindrical phantom by comparing the activities per unit of volume calculated from the dose calibrator measurements with that measured on 15 Regions of Interest (ROIs) drawn on 15 consecutive slices of reconstructed filtered back-projection (FBP) images. Both repeatability of activity concentration based upon the 15 ROIs (ANOVA-test) and its accuracy were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference for dose calibrator measurements (median of difference -0.04%; min = -4.65%; max = +5.63%). Mismatches between the clocks were less than 2 min in all sites and thus did not require any correction, regarding the half life of 18F. For all the PET systems, ANOVA revealed no significant difference between the activity concentrations estimated from the 15 ROIs (median of difference -0.69%; min = -9.97%; max = +9.60%). CONCLUSION: No major difference between the 11 centres with respect to calibration and cross-calibration was observed. The reliability of our 18F-FLT multi-centre clinical trial was therefore confirmed from the physical point of view. This type of procedure may be useful for any clinical trial involving different PET systems