La Misión de oportunidad SMOS de la serie Earth Explorer. Radiometría por síntesis de apertura para la medida de la humedad del suelo y la salinidad del océano

Desde medi ados de los años 80, di versas Agencias Espaciales han prestado una atención a los ll amados radiómetros interferométricos por síntesis de apertura. Estos in strumentos ofrecen por primera vez un salto cuantitativo importante en resolución espac ial como para permitir monitorizar la superfi cie terrestre a frecuencias bajas de microondas (banda L). En esta banda de frecuencias (1.4 GHz) existe la máxima sensibilidad de la temperatura de brillo tanto a la humedad del terreno, como a la salinidad del océano. En los radiómetros clásicos, la resolución espacial viene dada por el ancho de haz de la antena que, al ser escaneada, forma la imagen de temperatura de brillo. Por ello, para alcanzar la resolución espacial deseada (30-50 km como máximo, 10-20 km ideal) 'desde un satélite en órbita baja, las antenas requeridas tienen unas dimensiones inaceptablemente grandes: entre 10 y 20 metros de diámetro. Durante los años 90, la Agencia Europea del Espacio (ESA) llevó a cabo una serie de estudios tecnológicos con vistas a desarrollar un radiómetro por síntesis de apertura bidimensional en banda L. A este proyecto se le llamó MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer by Aperture Synthesis). En Noviembre de 1998, la mi sión SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) basada en el concepto derivado de los estudios del proyecto MIRAS, fue propuesta como respuesta a un anuncio de «Misiones de Oportunidad Earth Exploren) lanzado por la ESA [1). En Mayo de 1999, después de un proceso de selección de 27 propuestas, la ESA aprobó la mi sión SMOS en segundo lugar para una fase A extendida. Este artículo describe brevemente la moti vación de esta misión , los principios de funcionamiento de dicho in strumento y las actividades en las que ha participado y participa un grupo de profesores del Departament de Teoria del Senyal i Comunicacions, de la Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya.Peer Reviewe

Tailoring magnetic fields in inaccessible regions

Controlling magnetism, essential for a wide range of technologies, is impaired by the impossibility of generating a maximum of magnetic field in free space. Here, we propose a strategy based on negative permeability to overcome this stringent limitation. We experimentally demonstrate that an active magnetic metamaterial can emulate the field of a straight current wire at a distance. Our strategy leads to an unprecedented focusing of magnetic fields in empty space and enables the remote cancellation of magnetic sources, opening an avenue for manipulating magnetic fields in inaccessible regions

Exploration of the Drosophila buzzatii transposable element content suggests underestimation of repeats in Drosophila genomes

Altres ajuts: This work was supported by grant R01GM077582 to C.F from the National Institutes of Health, and by PIF-UAB fellowship to N.R.Many new Drosophila genomes have been sequenced in recent years using new-generation sequencing platforms and assembly methods. Transposable elements (TEs), being repetitive sequences, are often misassembled, especially in the genomes sequenced with short reads. Consequently, the mobile fraction of many of the new genomes has not been analyzed in detail or compared with that of other genomes sequenced with different methods, which could shed light into the understanding of genome and TE evolution. Here we compare the TE content of three genomes: D. buzzatii st-1, j-19, and D. mojavensis. We have sequenced a new D. buzzatii genome (j-19) that complements the D. buzzatii reference genome (st-1) already published, and compared their TE contents with that of D. mojavensis. We found an underestimation of TE sequences in Drosophila genus NGS-genomes when compared to Sanger-genomes. To be able to compare genomes sequenced with different technologies, we developed a coverage-based method and applied it to the D. buzzatii st-1 and j-19 genome. Between 10.85 and 11.16 % of the D. buzzatii st-1 genome is made up of TEs, between 7 and 7,5 % of D. buzzatii j-19 genome, while TEs represent 15.35 % of the D. mojavensis genome. Helitrons are the most abundant order in the three genomes. TEs in D. buzzatii are less abundant than in D. mojavensis, as expected according to the genome size and TE content positive correlation. However, TEs alone do not explain the genome size difference. TEs accumulate in the dot chromosomes and proximal regions of D. buzzatii and D. mojavensis chromosomes. We also report a significantly higher TE density in D. buzzatii and D. mojavensis X chromosomes, which is not expected under the current models. Our easy-to-use correction method allowed us to identify recently active families in D. buzzatii st-1 belonging to the LTR-retrotransposon superfamily Gypsy. The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2648-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Analysis of Drosophila buzzatii transposable elements

Los elementos transponibles son unidades genéticas capaces de insertarse en otras regiones de los genomas en los que habitan y están presentes en casi todas las especies eucariotas estudiadas. El interés del análisis de los elementos transponibles no se debe únicamente a su consideración de parásitos intragenómicos. Los elementos transponibles suponen una enorme fuente de variabilidad para los genomas de sus hospedadores, y son por lo tanto claves para comprender su evolución. En este trabajo hemos abordado el análisis de los elementos transponibles de Drosophila buzzatii desde dos enfoques distintos, el estudio detallado de una única familia de elementos transponibles y el análisis global de todos los elementos presentes en el genoma. El estudio de inversiones cromosómicas en D. buzzatii llevó a la descripción del elemento transponible no autónomo, BuT5, que posteriormente se descubrió como elemento causante de inversiones polimórficas en D. mojavensis y D. uniseta. En este trabajo hemos caracterizado el elemento transponible BuT5 y hemos descrito su elemento maestro. BuT5 se encuentra en 38 especies del grupo de especies de D. repleta. El elemento autónomo que moviliza a BuT5 es un elemento P, del que hemos descrito 3 copias parciales en el genoma secuenciado de D. mojavensis y una copia completa en D. buzzatii. La copia completa y putativamente activa tiene 3386 pares de bases y codifica una transposasa de 822 residuos en siete exones. Por otra parte hemos anotado, clasificado y comparado los elementos transponibles presentes en los genomas de dos cepas de D. buzzatii secuenciadas recientemente con tecnología de nueva generación, y en el de D. mojavensis, la especie filogenéticamente más cercana secuenciada, en este caso mediante tecnología Sanger. Los elementos transponibles representan el 8.43%, el 4.15% y el 15.35% de los ensamblajes de los genomas de D. buzzatii st-1, j-19 y D. mojavensis respectivamente. Adicionalmente hemos detectado un sesgo en el contenido de elementos transponibles de los genomas secuenciados mediante tecnología de nueva generación, comparado con el contenido en los genomas secuenciados con tecnología Sanger. Hemos desarrollado un método basado en la cobertura que nos ha permitido corregir este sesgo en el genoma de D. buzzatii st-1 y contar con estimas mas realistas del contenido en elementos transponibles. Así hemos determinado que el contenido en elementos transponibles en D. buzzatii st-1 es de entre el 10.85% y el 11.16% del genoma. Adicionalmente las estimas nos han permitido inferir que el orden de los Helitrones ha experimentado múltiples ciclos de actividad y que las superfamilias Gypsy y BelPao han sido recientemente activas en D. buzzatii.Transposable genetic elements are genetic units able to insert themselves in other regions of the genomes they inhabit, and are present in almost all eukaryotes analyzed. The interest of transposable element analysis, it is not only because its consideration as intragenomic parasites. Transposable elements are an enormous source of variability for the genomes of their hosts, and are therefore key to understanding its evolution. In this work we addressed the analysis of Drosophila buzzatii transposable elements from two different approaches, the detailed study of one family of transposable elements and global analysis of all elements present in the genome. The study of chromosomal inversions in D. buzzatii led to the description of the non-autonomous transposable element, BuT5, which was later found to cause polymorphic chromosomal inversions in D. mojavensis and D. uniseta. In this work we have characterized the transposable element BuT5 and we have described its master element. BuT5 is found in 38 species of the group of species D. repleta. The autonomous element that mobilizes BuT5 is a P element, we described three partial copies in the sequenced genome of D. mojavensis and a complete copy in D. buzzatii. The full-length and putatively active copy has 3386 base pairs and encodes a transposase of 822 residues in seven exons. Moreover we have annotated, classified and compared the transposable elements present in the genomes of two strains of D. buzzatii, st-1 and j-19, recently sequenced with next-generation sequencing technology, and in the D. mojavensis, the phylogenetically closest species sequenced, in this case with Sanger technology. Transposable elements make up for 8.43%, the 4.15% and 15.35% of the assemblies of the genomes of D. buzzatii st-1, j-19 and D. mojavensis respectively. Additionally, we have detected a bias in the transposable elements content of genomes sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology, compared with the content in genomes sequenced with Sanger technology. We have developed a method based on the coverage that allowed us to correct this bias in the genome of D. buzzatii st-1 and have more realistic estimates of the content in transposable elements. Using this method we have determined that the transposable element content in D. buzzatii st-1 is between 10.85% and 11.16%. Additionally, the estimates allowed us to infer that the Helitrons order has undergone multiple cycles of activity and that the superfamily Gypsy and BelPao have recently been active in D. buzzatii

Cytology Smears : An Enhanced Alternative Method for Colorectal Cancer pN Stage-A Multicentre Study

Recurrence of stage II (pT3-T4 pN0) colorectal cancer (CRC) occurs in about 15% of patients and it is often due to undetected lymph node (LN) metastases with conventional pathology haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) LN analysis. Despite more sensitive molecular methods of LN staging having proved to have prognostic value in stage II CRC, we aimed at determining whether the pN stage could be better assessed with LN cytology smears. We analysed 3936 LNs from 217 CRC surgical resections, using three methods, H&E, cytology smears, and the One Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) molecular assay. We compared the pN stages obtained from both H&E and cytology, as well as with the OSNA results. We concluded that LN analysis with cytology smears not only enables performing the pN stage, but detects more LN metastases than H&E, with a similar detection rate to molecular methods. Cytology LN analysis would allow a better patient therapeutic management. Stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence remains a clinical problem. Some of these patients are true stage III CRC with a pN0 pathology stage. This large prospective multicentre cohort study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic ability of lymph node (LN) cytology smears to perform the pN stage and compare it with the conventional haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) pathology pN stage. Additionally, we used the One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA), a high-sensitive molecular method of LN staging. A total of 3936 fresh LNs from 217 CRC surgical specimens were examined by three methods, H&E, LN cytology smears, and OSNA. H&E detected 29% of patients with positive LNs, cytology smears 35%, and OSNA 33.2% (p < 0.0001). H&E and cytology concordantly classified 92.2% of tumours, and 88.5% between OSNA and H&E. Cytology had 96.8% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity to discriminate positive/negative patients compared to H&E (p = 0.004), and 87.3% sensitivity and 89% specificity when compared to OSNA (p = 0.56). Patients with positive LNs detected by any of the three methods had significantly worse disease-free and overall survival. We conclude that pN stage accuracy for detecting positive LNs is superior with LN cytological smears than with conventional H&E, which would enable a better pN stage and management of early-stage CRC patients

Cytology Smears: An enhanced alternative method for colorectal cancer pN Stage-A multicentre study

Stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence remains a clinical problem. Some of these patients are true stage III CRC with a pN0 pathology stage. This large prospective multicentre cohort study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic ability of lymph node (LN) cytology smears to perform the pN stage and compare it with the conventional haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) pathology pN stage. Additionally, we used the One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA), a high-sensitive molecular method of LN staging. A total of 3936 fresh LNs from 217 CRC surgical specimens were examined by three methods, H&E, LN cytology smears, and OSNA. H&E detected 29% of patients with positive LNs, cytology smears 35%, and OSNA 33.2% (p < 0.0001). H&E and cytology concordantly classified 92.2% of tumours, and 88.5% between OSNA and HΕ Cytology had 96.8% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity to discriminate positive/negative patients compared to H&E (p = 0.004), and 87.3% sensitivity and 89% specificity when compared to OSNA (p = 0.56). Patients with positive LNs detected by any of the three methods had significantly worse disease-free and overall survival. We conclude that pN stage accuracy for detecting positive LNs is superior with LN cytological smears than with conventional H&E, which would enable a better pN stage and management of early-stage CRC patients.This research was funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria grant number PI17/01304, PI20/00863, awarded to MC and JC. We acknowledge the Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Generalitat de Catalunya, GRC 2017SGR653,). This article is based upon work from COST Action CA17118, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). www.cost.eu. SL holds a PFIS grand from Instituto de Salud Carlos iii and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (FI18/00221)

De campañas de medidas a productos de salinidad: un tributo a las contribuciones de Jordi Font a la mision SMOS

This article summarizes some of the activities in which Jordi Font, research professor and head of the Department of Physical and Technological Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC, Spanish National Research Council) in Barcelona, has been involved as co-Principal Investigator for Ocean Salinity of the European Space Agency Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Earth Explorer Mission from the perspective of the Remote Sensing Lab at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. We have probably left out some of his many contributions to salinity remote sensing, but we hope that this review will give an idea of the importance of his work. We focus on the following issues: 1) the new accurate measurements of the sea water dielectric constant, 2) the WISE and EuroSTARRS field experiments that helped to define the geophysical model function relating brightness temperature to sea state, 3) the FROG 2003 field experiment that helped to understand the emission of sea foam, 4) GNSS-R techniques for improving sea surface salinity retrieval, 5) instrument characterization campaigns, and 6) the operational implementation of the Processing Centre of Levels 3 and 4 at the SMOS Barcelona Expert Centre.Este artículo resume algunas de las actividades en las que Jordi Font, profesor de investigación y jefe del Departamento de Física y Tecnología Oceanográfica, del Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC) en Barcelona, ha estado desarrollando como co-Investigador Principal de la parte de la misión SMOS de la ESA, una misión Earth Explorer, desde la perspectiva del Remote Sensing Lab, de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Seguramente, estamos olvidando algunas de sus muchas contribuciones a la teledetección de la salinidad, pero esperamos que esta revisión dé una idea de la importancia de su trabajo. Este artículo se focaliza en los siguientes puntos: 1) las medidas de alta calidad de la constante dieléctrica del agua marina, 2) las campañas de medidas WISE y EuroSTARRS que ayudaron a la definición del modelo geofísico relacionando la temperatura de brillo con el estado del mar, 3) la campaña de medidas FROG 2003 que ayudó a entender la emisión de la espuma marina 4) presentación de las técnicas de GNSS-R para la mejora de la recuperación de la salinidad superficial 5) campañas para la caracterización del instrumento y 6) la implantación del centro de procesado operacional de niveles 3 y 4 en el SMOS Barcelona Expert Centre

Improving the detection of infectious diseases in at-risk migrants with an innovative integrated multi-infection screening digital decision support tool (IS-MiHealth) in primary care : a pilot cluster-randomized-controlled trial

There are major shortfalls in the identification and screening of at-risk migrant groups. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new digital tool (IS-MiHealth) integrated into the electronic patient record system of primary care centres in detecting prevalent migrant infections. IS-MiHealth provides targeted recommendations to health professionals for screening multiple infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, active tuberculosis (TB), Chagas disease, strongyloidiasis and schistosomiasis, based on patient characteristics (including variables of country of origin, age and sex). A pragmatic pilot cluster-randomized-controlled trial was deployed from March to December 2018. Eight primary care centres in Catalonia, Spain, were randomly allocated 1:1 to use of the digital tool for screening, or to routine care. The primary outcome was the monthly diagnostic yield of all aggregated infections. Intervention and control sites were compared before and after implementation with respect to their monthly diagnostic yield using regression models. This study is registered on international standard randomised controlled trial number (ISRCTN) (ISRCTN14795012). A total of 15 780 migrants registered across the eight centres had at least one visit during the intervention period (March-December 2018), of which 14 598 (92.51%) fulfilled the criteria to be screened for at least one infection. There were 210 (2.57%) individuals from the intervention group with new diagnoses compared with 113 (1.49%) from the control group [odds ratio: 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63-2.64, P < 0.001]. The intervention centres raised their overall monthly diagnosis rate to 5.80 (95% CI 1.23-10.38, P = 0.013) extra diagnoses compared with the control centres. This monthly increase in diagnosis in intervention centres was also observed if we consider all cases together of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and active TB cases [2.72 (95% CI 0.43-5.00); P = 0.02] and was observed as well for the parasitic infections' group (Chagas disease, strongyloidiasis and schistosomiasis) 2.58 (95% CI 1.60-3.57; P < 0.001). The IS-MiHealth increased screening rate and diagnostic yield for key infections in migrants in a population-based primary care setting. Further testing and development of this new tool is warranted in larger trials and in other countries