Local genetic structure on breeding grounds of a longdistance migrant passerine: the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) in Spain

P. 36-46Breeding site fidelity can be determined by environmental features, which depending on their heterogeneous distribution may shape the genetic landscape of a population. We used 10 microsatellite loci to study the genetic variation of 83 bluethroats (Luscinia svecica azuricollis) across 14 localities within the Spanish breeding population and assess the relative influence of different habitat characteristics (physiography and vegetation) on genetic differentiation. Based on the genetic variation of this population, we identified 3 geographically consistent genetic clusters that on average showed a higher genetic differentiation than among other north European populations, even those belonging to different subspecies. The inferred genetic clusters occurred in geographic areas that significantly differed in elevation. The highest genetic differentiation was observed between sites at different mountain ranges, as well as between the highest altitude sites in the northeastern locale, whereas vegetation type did not explain a significant percentage of genetic variation. The lack of correlation between geographic and genetic distances suggests that this pattern of genetic structure cannot be explained as a consequence of isolation by distance. Finally, we discuss the importance of preserving areas encompassing high environmental and genetic variation as a means of preserving evolutionary processes and adaptive potentia

Investigating the Role of Micromammals in the Ecology of Coxiella burnetii in Spain

Coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis, is a zoonotic infectious bacterium with a complex ecology that results from its ability to replicate in multiple (in)vertebrate host species. Spain notifies the highest number of Q fever cases to the ECDC annually and wildlife plays a relevant role in C. burnetii ecology in the country. However, the whole picture of C. burnetii hosts is incomplete, so this study seeks to better understand the role of micromammals in C. burnetii ecology in the country. Spleen samples from 816 micromammals of 10 species and 130 vaginal swabs from Microtus arvalis were analysed by qPCR to detect C. burnetii infection and shedding, respectively. The 9.7% of the spleen samples were qPCR positive. The highest infection prevalence (10.8%) was found in Microtus arvalis, in which C. burnetii DNA was also detected in 1 of the 130 vaginal swabs (0.8%) analysed. Positive samples were also found in Apodemus sylvaticus (8.7%), Crocidura russula (7.7%) and Rattus rattus (6.4%). Positive samples were genotyped by coupling PCR with reverse line blotting and a genotype II+ strain was identified for the first time in one of the positive samples from M. arvalis, whereas only partial results could be obtained for the rest of the samples. Acute Q fever was diagnosed in one of the researchers that participated in the study, and it was presumably linked to M. arvalis handling. The results of the study are consistent with previous findings suggesting that micromammals can be infected by C. burnetii. Our findings additionally suggest that micromammals may be potential sources to trace back the origin of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis cases in Europe.This work was supported by grants CGL2011-30274 and CGL2015-71255-P of the Spanish Ministry for the Science and Innovation (MCI), and by the ‘Fundación BBVA’ Research Project TOPIGEPLA (2014 call). This is also a contribution to MCI-funded projects CGL2017-89866-R and E-RTA-2015-0002-C02-02. D.G.-B. was funded by MCI through Juan de la Cierva (FJCI-2016-27875) and ‘Sara Borrell’ (CD19CIII/00011) postdoctoral fellowships. GREFA provided partial financial support and invaluable logistic and workforce support for samplings in NW Spain, along with many students and staff from UAM.S

Magnetic ionic plastic crystal: choline[FeCl4]

A novel organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC) based on a quaternary ammonium cation and a tetrachloroferrate anion has been synthesized with the intention of combining the properties of the ionic plastic crystal and the magnetism originating from the iron incorporated in the anion. The thermal analysis of the obtained OIPC showed a solid?solid phase transition below room temperature and a high melting point above 220 1C, indicating their plastic crystalline behaviour over a wide temperature range, as well as thermal stability up to approximately 200 1C. The magnetization measurements show the presence of three-dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering below 4 K. The results from electrochemical characterization display a solid-state ionic conduction sufficiently high and stable (between 10 2.7 and 10 3.6 S cm 1 from 20 to 180 1C) for electrochemical applications

Remoción de fósforo mediante un humedal de subsuperficial de flujo horizontal

Se estudió la cinética de degradación del fósforo en un humedal sub superficial de flujo horizontal (SSFH), se consideraron secciones sembradas con Phragmites australis (carrizo) y Typha latifolia (tule) y curvas con peralte entre los canales para un flujo homogéneo y sin cortos circuitos. Para las constantes cinéticas de degradación, se calcularon los tiempos de retención hidráulica (TRH) y la concentración de fosfatos en el estiaje de 2017, Para el cálculo del TRH por sitio se utilizaron: coeficientes de Manning, porosidad aparente del sustrato y velocidad de flujo. Se midieron: temperatura, pH, potencial redox, oxígeno disuelto. Se observaron tres secciones en el perfil de las cinéticas, causadas por las curvas del humedal y las regiones de carrizo y tule, se ajustaron las constantes a un estándar de 20°C. El tratamiento del fósforo produjo bajo rendimiento, es necesario completar éste mediante una laguna de oxidación u otro humedal.Phosphorus degradation kinetics were studied in a sub-surface wetland with horizontal flow (SSFH), three sections planted with Phragmites australis (Reeds) and Typha latifolia (Tule) were considered, with curves between channels for a homogeneous flow and without short circuits. For the kinetic constants of degradation, hydraulic retention times (TRH) and concentration of phosphates in the dry season of 2017 were calculated. For the THR calculation per site, the following parameters were used: Manning coefficients, apparent porosity of the substrate and flow velocity. Also were measured: temperature, pH, redox potential, and dissolved oxygen. Three sections were observed in the profile of the kinetics, caused by the curves of the wetland and the regions of reed and Tule; the constants were adjusted to a standard of 20 ° C. The phosphorus treated produced low yield, it is necessary to complete this through an oxidation lagoon or another wetland

Polymer materials derived from the SEAr reaction for gas separation applications

Producción CientíficaA set of linear polymers were synthesized utilizing an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction (SEAr) between biphenyl and ketone containing electron-withdrawing groups (isatin, IS; N-methylisatin, MeIS; and 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one, DF). Optimization of the polycondensation reaction was made to obtain high molecular weight products when using DF, which has not previously been used for linear polymer synthesis. Due to the absence of chemically labile units, these polymers exhibited excellent chemical and thermal stability. Linear SEAr polymers were blended with porous polymer networks derived from IS and MeIS, and both neat/mixed materials were tested as membranes for gas separation. The gas separation properties of both pristine polymers and mixed matrix membranes were good, showing some polymer membrane CO2 permeability values higher than 200 barrer

El impacto del embarazo en el desenlace de pancreatitis biliar aguda

Antecedentes y objetivo: La pancreatitis aguda es una de las condiciones gastrointestinalesmás comunes que requieren hospitalización. Aunque su aparición durante el embarazo es pococomún, representa un reto médico. Actualmente, no existen estudios que comparen los desen-laces clínicos entre mujeres embarazadas con pancreatitis aguda y pacientes no embarazadascon pancreatitis aguda. Nuestro objetivo fue comparar las características y desenlaces clínicosde las mujeres embarazadas y no embarazadas con pancreatitis aguda.Métodos: Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo que incluyó a todas las pacientes admitidas ennuestro hospital con pancreatitis aguda durante un periodo de 10 a˜nos. Se evaluaron y compa-raron los datos demográficos, las características generales y los desenlaces clínicos entre lasmujeres embarazadas y las mujeres no embarazadas con pancreatitis aguda, con una razón de1:5.Resultados: Se trató a 27 pacientes embarazadas con pancreatitis aguda en un periodo de10 a˜nos. La etiología fue biliar en el 96% de los casos y en el 3.4% de los casos la causa fuehipertrigliceridemia (un paciente). La edad media de las pacientes fue de 26.2 a˜nos (rango de15-36 a˜nos). La causa principal de la pancreatitis aguda fue la enfermedad biliar (96%). Laspacientes en el grupo de estudio cursaban su primer, segundo o tercer trimestre del embarazo,con una distribución del 7.4, el 33.3 y el 59.3%, respectivamente. En la comparación entrepacientes embarazadas y no embarazadas con pancreatitis aguda, no existieron diferencias enedad, tiempo de hospitalización (7.37 vs. 10.8, p = 0.814), gravedad (grave, 3.7% vs. 16.7%,p = 0.79), complicaciones locales (0% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.476) o mortalidad (0% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.476). Conclusiones: La evolución clínica de ambos grupos con pancreatitis biliar aguda fue similar,con baja morbimortalidad

Body mass index and disease activity in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases: results of the Cardiovascular in Rheumatology (Carma) Project

Objective: Since obesity has been associated with a higher inflammatory burden and worse response to therapy in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD), we aimed to confirm the potential association between body mass index (BMI) and disease activity in a large series of patients with CIRDs included in the Spanish CARdiovascular in rheuMAtology (CARMA) registry. Methods: Baseline data analysis of patients included from the CARMA project, a 10-year prospective study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) attending outpatient rheumatology clinics from 67 Spanish hospitals. Obesity was defined when BMI (kg/m2) was >30 according to the WHO criteria. Scores used to evaluate disease activity were Disease Activity Score of 28 joints (DAS28) in RA, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in AS, and modified DAS for PsA. Results: Data from 2234 patients (775 RA, 738 AS, and 721 PsA) were assessed. The mean ± SD BMI at the baseline visit were: 26.9 ± 4.8 in RA, 27.4 ± 4.4 in AS, and 28.2 ± 4.7 in PsA. A positive association between BMI and disease activity in patients with RA (β = 0.029; 95%CI (0.01- 0.05); p = 0.007) and PsA (β = 0.036; 95%CI (0.015-0.058); p = 0.001) but not in those with AS (β = 0.001; 95%CI (-0.03-0.03); p = 0.926) was found. Disease activity was associated with female sex and rheumatoid factor in RA and with Psoriasis Area Severity Index and enthesitis in PsA. Conclusions: BMI is associated with disease activity in RA and PsA, but not in AS. Given that obesity is a potentially modifiable factor, adequate control of body weight can improve the outcome of patients with CIRD and, therefore, weight control should be included in the management strategy of these patients

Cardiovascular morbidity and associated risk factors in Spanish patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases attendingrheumatology clinics: Baseline data of the CARMA Project

Objective: To establish the cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and associated risk factors for CV disease (CVD) in Spanish patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) and unexposed individuals attending rheumatology clinics. Methods: Analysis of data from the baseline visit of a 10-year prospective study [CARdiovascular in rheuMAtology (CARMA) project] that includes a cohort of patients with CIRD [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)] and another cohort of matched individuals without CIRD attending outpatient rheumatology clinics from 67 hospitals in Spain. Prevalence of CV morbidity, CV risk factors, and systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE) assessment were analyzed. Results: A total of 2234 patients (775 RA, 738 AS, and 721 PsA) and 677 unexposed subjects were included. Patients had low disease activity at the time of recruitment. PsA patients had more commonly classic CV risk factors and metabolic syndrome features than did the remaining individuals. The prevalence of CVD was higher in RA (10.5%) than in AS (7.6%), PsA (7.2%), and unexposed individuals (6.4%). A multivariate analysis adjusted for the presence of classic CV risk factors and disease duration revealed a positive trend for CVD in RA (OR = 1.58; 95% CI: 0.90-2.76; p = 0.10) and AS (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 0.96-3.27; p = 0.07). Disease duration in all CIRD groups and functional capacity (HAQ) in RA were associated with an increased risk of CVD (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.29-3.56; p = 0.003). Most patients had a moderate CV risk according to the SCORE charts. Conclusions: Despite recent advances in the management of CIRD, incidence of CVD remains increased in Spanish subjects with CIRD attending outpatient rheumatology clinics

Quantifying the Production of Fruit-Bearing Trees Using Image Processing Techniques

[EN] In recent years, the growth rate of world agricultural production and crop yields have decreased. Crop irrigation becomes essential in very dry areas and where rainfall is scarce, as in Egypt. Persimmon needs low humidity to obtain an optimal crop. This article proposes the monitoring of its performance, in order to regulate the amount of water needed for each tree at any time. In our work we present a technique that consists of obtaining images of some of the trees with fruit, which are subsequently treated, to obtain reliable harvest data. This technique allows us to have control and predictions of the harvest. Also, we present the results obtained in a first trial, through which we demonstrate the feasibility of using the system to meet the objectives set. We use 5 different trees in our experiment. Their fruit production is different (between 20 and 47kg of fruit). The correlation coefficient of the obtained regression model is 0.97.This work has been partially supported by European Union through the ERANETMED (Euromediterranean Cooperation through ERANET joint activities and beyond) project ERANETMED3-227 SMARTWATIR by the Conselleria de Educación, Cultura y Deporte with the Subvenciones para la contratación de personal investigador en fase postdoctoral, grant number APOSTD/2019/04, and by the Cooperativa Agrícola Sant Bernat Coop.V.García, L.; Parra-Boronat, L.; Basterrechea-Chertudi, DA.; Jimenez, JM.; Rocher-Morant, J.; Parra-Boronat, M.; García-Navas, JL.... (2019). Quantifying the Production of Fruit-Bearing Trees Using Image Processing Techniques. IARIA XPS Press. 14-19. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/180619S141

Search for neutral Higgs bosons in events with multiple bottom quarks at the Tevatron

The combination of searches performed by the CDF and D0 collaborations at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider for neutral Higgs bosons produced in association with b quarks is reported. The data, corresponding to 2:6 fb 1 of integrated luminosity at CDF and 5:2 fb 1 at D0, have been collected in final states containing three or more b jets. Upper limits are set on the cross section multiplied by the branching ratio varying between 44 pb and 0.7 pb in the Higgs boson mass range 90 to 300 GeV, assuming production of a narrow scalar boson. Significant enhancements to the production of Higgs bosons can be found in theories beyond the standard model, for example, in supersymmetry. The results are interpreted as upper limits in the parameter space of the minimal supersymmetric standard model in a benchmark scenario favoring this decay mode.We thank the Fermilab staff and technical staffs of the participating institutions for their vital contributions and acknowledge support from the DOE and NSF (USA), ARC (Australia), CNPq, FAPERJ, FAPESP and FUNDUNESP (Brazil), NSERC (Canada), NSC, CAS and CNSF (China), Colciencias (Colombia), MSMT and GACR (Czech Republic), the Academy of Finland, CEA and CNRS/ IN2P3 (France), BMBF and DFG (Germany), DAE and DST (India), SFI (Ireland), INFN (Italy), MEXT (Japan), the Korean World Class University Program and NRF (Korea), CONACyT (Mexico), FOM (Netherlands), MON, NRC KI and RFBR (Russia), the Slovak R&D Agency, the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacio´n, and Programa Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (Spain), The Swedish Research Council (Sweden), SNSF (Switzerland), STFC and the Royal Society (United Kingdom), and the A. P Sloan Foundation (USA)