Bidimensional planar micro-optics for optochemical absorbance sensing

A new approach for developing optochemical absorbance sensors is presented. The method is based on a planar micro-optic circuit in which an optochemically active membrane that responds to selective compounds is deposited in the device, yielding a part of the guiding planar structure. In this way the optical field is confined in the direction transverse to the substrate and controlled in the lateral direction by means of planar micro-optics components. High sensitivity of the device can be easily obtained because of the relatively long light paths through the membrane, and the response time is low because the analyte has to diffuse through a several-micrometer-thin membrane. Experimental results of measurements of the concentration of potassium are also presented to verify the possibilities of these devices as specific absorbance sensors

New pairings and deorphanization among the atypical chemokine receptor family — physiological and clinical relevance

Atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs) form a small subfamily of receptors (ACKR1–4) unable to trigger G protein-dependent signaling in response to their ligands. They do, however, play a crucial regulatory role in chemokine biology by capturing, scavenging or transporting chemokines, thereby regulating their availability and signaling through classical chemokine receptors. ACKRs add thus another layer of complexity to the intricate chemokine–receptor interaction network. Recently, targeted approaches and screening programs aiming at reassessing chemokine activity towards ACKRs identified several new pairings such as the dimeric CXCL12 with ACKR1, CXCL2, CXCL10 and CCL26 with ACKR2, the viral broad-spectrum chemokine vCCL2/vMIP-II, a range of opioid peptides and PAMP-12 with ACKR3 as well as CCL20 and CCL22 with ACKR4. Moreover, GPR182 (ACKR5) has been lately proposed as a new promiscuous atypical chemokine receptor with scavenging activity notably towards CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL12 and CXCL13. Altogether, these findings reveal new degrees of complexity of the chemokine network and expand the panel of ACKR ligands and regulatory functions. In this minireview, we present and discuss these new pairings, their physiological and clinical relevance as well as the opportunities they open for targeting ACKRs in innovative therapeutic strategies

Crustal Architecture at the Collision Zone Between Rivera and North American Plates at the Jalisco Block: Tsujal Project

Processing and analysis of new multichannel seismic records, coincident with wide-angle seismic profiles, acquired in the framework of the TsuJal project allow us to investigate in detail the complex structure of the oceanic domain in the collision zone between Rivera Plate and Block Jalisco at its northern termination. The subducting Rivera Plate, which is overridden by the North American Plate–Jalisco Block, is clearly identified up to 21.5°N (just south of Maria Magdalena Island) as a two clear reflections that we interpret as the interplate and Moho discontinuities. North of the Tres Marias Islands the seismic images display a different tectonic scenario with structures that are consistent with large faulting and rifted margin. A two-dimensional velocity approach for the crustal geometry is achieved using joint refraction/reflection travel time tomography, the uncertainty of the results is assessed by means of Monte Carlo analysis. Our results show an average oceanic crustal thickness of 6–7 km with a moderate increase towards the Jalisco Block, an anomalous thick layers (~3.0 km) displaying a relatively low velocity (~5.5 km/s) underneath Maria Magdalena Rise, and an estimated Moho depth deeper than 15 km in the collision zone between Rivera Plate and Jalisco Block. We have also determined an anomalous crust on the western flank of the Tres Marias Islands, which may be related to the initial phases of continental breakup of the Baja California Peninsula and Mexico mainland. High-resolution bathymetry provides remarkable images of intensive slope instabilities marked by relatively large slides scars of more than 40 km2 extent, and mass-wasting deposits probably triggered by the intense seismicity in the area.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) –FOMIXJalGobierno de EspañaGobierno del Estado de JaliscoUniversidad Nacional Autonoma de MexicoAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España)Programa Ramón y CajalDepto. de Física de la Tierra y AstrofísicaFac. de Ciencias FísicasTRUEpu

Positioning systems in Minkowski space-time: from emission to inertial coordinates

The coordinate transformation between emission coordinates and inertial coordinates in Minkowski space-time is obtained for arbitrary configurations of the emitters. It appears that a positioning system always generates two different coordinate domains, namely, the front and the back emission coordinate domains. For both domains, the corresponding covariant expression of the transformation is explicitly given in terms of the emitter world-lines. This task requires the notion of orientation of an emitter configuration. The orientation is shown to be computable from the emission coordinates for the users of a `central' region of the front emission coordinate domain. Other space-time regions associated with the emission coordinates are also outlined.Comment: 20 pages; 1 figur

Use of NWCSAF NWC/GEO Software Package with MSG, HIMAWARI-8/9 and GOES-13/16 Satellites

Ponencias presentadas en: Joint EUMETSAT/AMS/NOAA Conference 2019 celebrada en Boston del 30 de septiembre al 4 de octubre de 2019

The nowcasting SAF products and services: recent improvements in the new SW packages PPS v2018 and GEO v2018 and future plans

Presentación realizada en la 3rd European Nowcasting Conference, celebrada en la sede central de AEMET en Madrid del 24 al 26 de abril de 2019

Diplopia Is Frequent and Associated with Motor and Non-Motor Severity in Parkinson’s Disease: Results from the COPPADIS Cohort at 2-Year Follow-Up

Malaltia de Parkinson; Fenotip; TremolorEnfermedad de Parkinson; Fenotipo; TemblorParkinson’s disease; Phenotype; TremorBackground and objective: Diplopia is relatively common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) but is still understudied. Our aim was to analyze the frequency of diplopia in PD patients from a multicenter Spanish cohort, to compare the frequency with a control group, and to identify factors associated with it. Patients and Methods: PD patients who were recruited from January 2016 to November 2017 (baseline visit; V0) and evaluated again at a 2-year ± 30 days follow-up (V2) from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort were included in this longitudinal prospective study. The patients and controls were classified as “with diplopia” or “without diplopia” according to item 15 of the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) at V0, V1 (1-year ± 15 days), and V2 for the patients and at V0 and V2 for the controls. Results: The frequency of diplopia in the PD patients was 13.6% (94/691) at V0 (1.9% in controls [4/206]; p < 0.0001), 14.2% (86/604) at V1, and 17.1% (86/502) at V2 (0.8% in controls [1/124]; p < 0.0001), with a period prevalence of 24.9% (120/481). Visual hallucinations at any visit from V0 to V2 (OR = 2.264; 95%CI, 1.269–4.039; p = 0.006), a higher score on the NMSS at V0 (OR = 1.009; 95%CI, 1.012–1.024; p = 0.015), and a greater increase from V0 to V2 on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale–III (OR = 1.039; 95%CI, 1.023–1.083; p < 0.0001) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (OR = 1.028; 95%CI, 1.001–1.057; p = 0.049) scores were independent factors associated with diplopia (R2 = 0.25; Hosmer and Lemeshow test, p = 0.716). Conclusions: Diplopia represents a frequent symptom in PD patients and is associated with motor and non-motor severity.Solano Vila B. has received honoraria for educational presentations and advice service by UCB, Zambon, Teva, Abbvie, Bia

Diplopia is frequent and associated with motor and non-motor severity in parkinson's disease : Results from the COPPADIS cohort at 2-year follow-up

Background and objective: Diplopia is relatively common in Parkinson's disease (PD) but is still understudied. Our aim was to analyze the frequency of diplopia in PD patients from a multicenter Spanish cohort, to compare the frequency with a control group, and to identify factors associated with it. Patients and Methods: PD patients who were recruited from January 2016 to November 2017 (baseline visit; V0) and evaluated again at a 2-year ± 30 days follow-up (V2) from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort were included in this longitudinal prospective study. The patients and controls were classified as "with diplopia" or "without diplopia" according to item 15 of the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) at V0, V1 (1-year ± 15 days), and V2 for the patients and at V0 and V2 for the controls. Results: The frequency of diplopia in the PD patients was 13.6% (94/691) at V0 (1.9% in controls [4/206]; p < 0.0001), 14.2% (86/604) at V1, and 17.1% (86/502) at V2 (0.8% in controls [1/124]; p < 0.0001), with a period prevalence of 24.9% (120/481). Visual hallucinations at any visit from V0 to V2 (OR = 2.264; 95%CI, 1.269-4.039; p = 0.006), a higher score on the NMSS at V0 (OR = 1.009; 95%CI, 1.012-1.024; p = 0.015), and a greater increase from V0 to V2 on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-III (OR = 1.039; 95%CI, 1.023-1.083; p < 0.0001) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (OR = 1.028; 95%CI, 1.001-1.057; p = 0.049) scores were independent factors associated with diplopia (R = 0.25; Hosmer and Lemeshow test, p = 0.716). Conclusions: Diplopia represents a frequent symptom in PD patients and is associated with motor and non-motor severity