Intraguild aggressiveness between an alien and a native predatory mite

The predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus, non-native in Europe, can be used legally in several European countries as greenhouse biocontrol agent against thrips species, although this species is also able to feed on whiteflies and gall mites. The first record of the unintended occurrence of A. limonicus in apple orchards in Europe comes from Catalonia (Spain), where A. limonicus is well established in the native predatory mite community since 2011. The dominant species in this community is Amblyseius andersoni, which has a similar life-style as A. limonicus (large, aggressive predator with broad diet range) making intraguild (IG) interactions between the two predators likely. Thus, we tested the IG aggressiveness of native and alien female predators, when provided with IG prey (larvae). Alien females of A. limonicus proved to be highly aggressive IG predators against native larvae of A. andersoni, which were attacked earlier and more frequently than alien larvae by the native predator. Nearly all attacks by the alien predator resulted in the death of native IG prey, whereas about 10% of the alien intraguild prey escaped the attacks of the native predator. Additionally, native IG prey is smaller than alien prey, which should facilitate the overwhelming by the alien predator. We argue that the strong aggressive intraguild behavior of A. limonicus is contributing to its establishment success in the native predatory mite community.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Cartografía histórica y reconstrucción paleotopográfica y geoarqueológica de la ciudad romana de caesar augusta (Zaragoza, España)

En este trabajo se ofrece una aproximación a la reconstrucción de la topografía y las características del terreno de Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza). Esta reconstrucción ha sido modelada integrando en un Sistema de Información Geográfico (SIG) el mapa topográfico de Casañal de 1880 –anterior a las principales transformaciones urbanas ocurridas en la ciudad- e información geomorfológica, geoarqueológica y arqueológica. Caesar Augusta fue fundada por los romanos junto al río Ebro en el siglo I aC sobre un asentamiento ibérico previo (Salduie). El área urbana ocupaba una terraza fluvial cuaternaria en la confluencia de los ríos Ebro y Huerva. Esta terraza se eleva unos 10 m sobre esos ríos, con altitudes que varían entre 200-208 m s.n.m. La topografía actual de la ciudad ha variado sustancialmente a lo largo del tiempo, de modo que no es apropiada para reconstruir la morfología original del terreno donde los romanos fundaron Caesar Augusta . Se ha utilizado ArcGIS 10.0 y sus módulos ArcMap y ArcScene para la gestión y análisis de los datos. Los modelos 3D generados muestran muchos elementos topográficos de detalle que en mapas anteriores pasaban desapercibidos. Estos modelos son complementados con datos de la naturaleza geológica del subsuelo provenientes de observaciones realizadas en diversas excavaciones arqueológicas. El modelo digital del terreno derivado del mapa de Casañal y las informaciones complementarias sólo son válidas para reconstrucciones generales. Sin embargo, ha mejorado nuestro conocimiento sobre muchos elementos romanos de Caesar Augusta (topografía del Decumanus y Cardo maximus , cloacas, fosos, muralla, teatro y foro). Y, es más, es ahora posible comprender mejor la geomorfología y el dinamismo fluvial de la ciudad de Zaragoza. In this paper we provide a reconstruction of the topography and characteristics of the terrain of Caesar Augusta (the Roman name of the present-day city of Zaragoza). This reconstruction has been modelled using GIS and integrating the topographic map drawn by Casañal in 1880 –previous to the main urban transforma-tions-with geomorphological, geoarchaeological and archaeological data. Caesar Augusta was founded by Romans near the Ebro River in the 1st century BC in the same place where there was a previous Iberian settlement (Salduie). The urban area occupied a quaternary fluvial terrace in the confluence of the rivers Ebro and Huerva. The terrace stands about 10 m above these rivers, with a varying height between 208-200 masl. The present-day urban topography has suffered many transformations throughout history; therefore, it is impossible to reconstruct the original morphology of the land where the Romans decided to build their town in the past. We have used ArcGIS Desktop 10.0 and its platforms ArcMap and ArcScene for managing and analysing the data. 3D models show many fine topographic features that in were overlooked previous maps. These models are complemented with information about the underground geologic nature, which is known through the observations made in several archaeological excavations. The model derived from Casañal s map and complementary data is only valid for general reconstructions, but it has enhanced our knowledge of many elements of Caesar Augusta (topography of the Decumanus and Cardo maximus, sewage system, moats, wall, theatre, forum), making it possible to better understand the geomorphology and fluvial evolution of the city of Zaragoza

Grain and seed protein functionality

Editado por Jiménez-López, José Carlos (CSIC

Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

Prompt K_short production in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=0.9 TeV

The production of K_short mesons in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 0.9 TeV is studied with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The luminosity of the analysed sample is determined using a novel technique, involving measurements of the beam currents, sizes and positions, and is found to be 6.8 +/- 1.0 microbarn^-1. The differential prompt K_short production cross-section is measured as a function of the K_short transverse momentum and rapidity in the region 0 < pT < 1.6 GeV/c and 2.5 < y < 4.0. The data are found to be in reasonable agreement with previous measurements and generator expectations.Comment: 6+18 pages, 6 figures, updated author lis

The complex variability of blazars: time-scales and periodicity analysis in S4 0954+65

Among active galactic nuclei, blazars show extreme variability properties. We here investigate the case of the BL Lac object S4 0954+65 with data acquired in 2019–2020 by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) Collaboration. The 2-min cadence optical light curves provided by TESS during three observing sectors of nearly 1 month each allow us to study the fast variability in great detail. We identify several characteristic short-term time-scales, ranging from a few hours to a few days. However, these are not persistent, as they differ in the various TESS sectors. The long-term photometric and polarimetric optical and radio monitoring undertaken by the WEBT brings significant additional information, revealing that (i) in the optical, long-term flux changes are almost achromatic, while the short-term ones are strongly chromatic; (ii) the radio flux variations at 37 GHz follow those in the optical with a delay of about 3 weeks; (iii) the range of variation of the polarization degree and angle is much larger in the optical than in the radio band, but the mean polarization angles are similar; (iv) the optical long-term variability is characterized by a quasi-periodicity of about 1 month. We explain the source behaviour in terms of a rotating inhomogeneous helical jet, whose pitch angle can change in time.Accepted manuscrip

Phylogenomics and the rise of the angiosperms

Angiosperms are the cornerstone of most terrestrial ecosystems and human livelihoods1,2. A robust understanding of angiosperm evolution is required to explain their rise to ecological dominance. So far, the angiosperm tree of life has been determined primarily by means of analyses of the plastid genome3,4. Many studies have drawn on this foundational work, such as classification and first insights into angiosperm diversification since their Mesozoic origins5,6,7. However, the limited and biased sampling of both taxa and genomes undermines confidence in the tree and its implications. Here, we build the tree of life for almost 8,000 (about 60%) angiosperm genera using a standardized set of 353 nuclear genes8. This 15-fold increase in genus-level sampling relative to comparable nuclear studies9 provides a critical test of earlier results and brings notable change to key groups, especially in rosids, while substantiating many previously predicted relationships. Scaling this tree to time using 200 fossils, we discovered that early angiosperm evolution was characterized by high gene tree conflict and explosive diversification, giving rise to more than 80% of extant angiosperm orders. Steady diversification ensued through the remaining Mesozoic Era until rates resurged in the Cenozoic Era, concurrent with decreasing global temperatures and tightly linked with gene tree conflict. Taken together, our extensive sampling combined with advanced phylogenomic methods shows the deep history and full complexity in the evolution of a megadiverse clade

Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy

B cells are frequently found in the margins of solid tumours as organized follicles in ectopic lymphoid organs called tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS)1,2. Although TLS have been found to correlate with improved patient survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), the underlying mechanisms of this association remain elusive1,2. Here we investigate lung-resident B cell responses in patients from the TRACERx 421 (Tracking Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Evolution Through Therapy) and other lung cancer cohorts, and in a recently established immunogenic mouse model for lung adenocarcinoma3. We find that both human and mouse lung adenocarcinomas elicit local germinal centre responses and tumour-binding antibodies, and further identify endogenous retrovirus (ERV) envelope glycoproteins as a dominant anti-tumour antibody target. ERV-targeting B cell responses are amplified by ICB in both humans and mice, and by targeted inhibition of KRAS(G12C) in the mouse model. ERV-reactive antibodies exert anti-tumour activity that extends survival in the mouse model, and ERV expression predicts the outcome of ICB in human lung adenocarcinoma. Finally, we find that effective immunotherapy in the mouse model requires CXCL13-dependent TLS formation. Conversely, therapeutic CXCL13 treatment potentiates anti-tumour immunity and synergizes with ICB. Our findings provide a possible mechanistic basis for the association of TLS with immunotherapy response