Reconstructing paleolakes in Nepenthes Mensae, Mars, using the distribution of putative deltas, coastal-like features, and terrestrial analogs

Nepenthes Mensae is an equatorial region situated north of the Martian dichotomy, northwest of Gale crater. It is characterized by a NW-SE-oriented belt of interconnected depressions, Late Noachian to Early Hesperian in age, with knobby terrains with residual relief. The highlands south of Nepenthes Mensae, Middle Noachian in age, correspond to the Licus Vallis region, which is dissected by drainage networks with valley mouths located along the dichotomy boundary scarp. This work presents a detailed geomorphological analysis of ten fan-shaped and fifty-four coastal-like benches identified in Nepenthes Mensae. The combination of detailed mapping, morphological and morphometric analyses, spatial-altitudinal distribution relationships, crater counting, spectral analysis, and comparison with terrestrial analogs suggest that (1) the fan-shaped and coastal-like benches are likely putative Gilbert-type deltas and paleoshore platforms, respectively, and (2) these features may be attributable to paleoshorelines developed along the margins of an ancient inner sea or interconnected paleolakes. These findings reveal the important morphogenetic role that liquid water played in the evolution of Nepenthes Mensae and Licus Vallis regions during the Late Noachian-Early Hesperian transition, and contribute to contextualize the continuous findings on the environmental and climatic conditions of the nearby Gale crater during such time period

Unravelling the geological and geomorphological evolution of the Terra Cimmeria-Nepenthes Mensae transitional zone, Mars

The Terra Cimmeria-Nepenthes Mensae Transitional Zone comprises two highly contrasting geologic-geomorphic domains bounded by the dichotomy escarpment in the equatorial region of Mars. This research provides insight into the geological and geomorphological evolution of the poorly explored NW Terra Cimmeria and SE Nepenthes Mensae. A detailed study largely based on cartographic work and complemented by multiple analyses focused on crater densities, spectral data and radar profiles reveals that (1) the exposed geological record of this transitional zone formed over a long time-span from the Early Noachian to recent times, (2) the inferred compressional and extensional tectonic stresses shaped the landscape at least from the Late Noachian to Late Hesperian, and (3) extensional tectonics, which post-dated the compressional deformation, has controlled the development and evolution of the 2-km-high dichotomy escarpment, the system of NW-SE-oriented basins that used to host paleolakes from the Late Noachian to Late Hesperian, and the fissure volcanism in their deepest areas. These findings shed light into the fundamental morphogenetic role played by compressional and extensional tectonics, and fluvio-lacustrine activity on the configuration of the landscape in these regions. This work provides a reference geologic-geomorphologic framework for future studies in this area and other sectors along the highland-lowland transitional zone of Mars

Closed depressions in Kotido crater, Arabia Terra, Mars. Possible evidence of evaporite dissolution-induced subsidence

The identification of karst sinkholes in Mars may provide evidence of dissolution processes caused by liquid water and information on paleoclimatic and paleohydrological conditions. This work presents a comprehensive cartographic inventory of 513 closed depressions developed on evaporite-bearing Equatorial Layered Deposits (ELDs) within Kotido crater, Arabia Terra. Detailed mapping, morphometric analyses and spatial distribution relationships reveal a number of features supporting that the depressions correspond to collapse sinkholes related to evaporite dissolution: (1) suitable topographic and litho-structural conditions for the development of a fracture-controlled epigene evaporite karst; (2) presence of open fissures at the foot of the scarped margins; (3) dimensions and frequency-size distributions comparable with those reported on Earth; (4) spatial association with high-permeability zones (i.e., fractures). Some characteristics of the depressions indicate that they have been re-shaped and enlarged by wind erosion: (1) dominant orientation consistent with the prevalent one-directional winds; (2) differing morphological characteristics on the downwind- and upwind-sides; and (3) nested depressions associated with the upwind sector. The relatively fresh appearance of the depressions and the lack of impact craters suggest a poorly constrained Amazonian karstification phase in the region

Characterizing and monitoring a high-risk sinkhole in an urban area underlain by salt through non-invasive methods: Detailed mapping, high-precision leveling and GPR

Two critical aspects for assessing the hazard and managing the risk associated with active sinkholes in developed areas are the precise mapping of the areas affected by ground instability and the quantitative characterization of the ground displacement (kinematic style, spatial-temporal patterns, rates). However, sinkhole site investigations typically provide a static picture of the instability phenomena, and the performance of remediation measures is rarely evaluated using time-series of displacement. This work illustrates the practicality of a non-invasive approach, combining detailed mapping, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and high-precision leveling, for the characterization at different time scales of the ground deformation associated with an active sinkhole in an urban area. The selected highly-active sagging and collapse sinkhole affects four multi-storey buildings in Zaragoza city, Spain, involving direct losses higher than 15 Meuro. GPR data provided information on the internal structure of the sinkhole and the subsidence mechanisms. The boundaries of the ground-deformation zone, established with the GPR data, and especially high-precision leveling, indicate a sinkhole area two times larger than that previously proposed on the basis of airborne imagery and surface deformation features (length from 100 m to 130 m). The leveling profiles reveal an inner rapidly subsiding zone with vertical displacement rates as high as 3 cm/yr, an outer slow settlement ring, and a marginal uplifting bulge with vertical displacement rates that reach 0.6 cm/yr. This phenomenon of marginal bulging is probably a relatively common process in sagging sinkholes, which may have gone unnoticed since its identification requires the use of geodetic methods with utmost accuracy, such as high-precision leveling. Monitoring data indicate that ongoing salt dissolution significantly contributes to the active subsidence and reveal the high impact on the subsidence of water pumping from the evaporitic aquifer and the limited efficiency of a shallow compaction grouting program performed above cavities and karstification zones

Exploiting oxidative phosphorylation to promote the stem and immunoevasive properties of pancreatic cancer stem cells

© The Author(s) 2020Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the fourth leading cause of cancer death, has a 5-year survival rate of approximately 7–9%. The ineffectiveness of anti-PDAC therapies is believed to be due to the existence of a subpopulation of tumor cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are functionally plastic, and have exclusive tumorigenic, chemoresistant and metastatic capacities. Herein, we describe a 2D in vitro system for long-term enrichment of pancreatic CSCs that is amenable to biological and CSC-specific studies. By changing the carbon source from glucose to galactose in vitro, we force PDAC cells to utilize OXPHOS, resulting in enrichment of CSCs defined by increased CSC biomarker and pluripotency gene expression, greater tumorigenic potential, induced but reversible quiescence, increased OXPHOS activity, enhanced invasiveness, and upregulated immune evasion properties. This CSC enrichment method can facilitate the discovery of new CSC-specific hallmarks for future development into targets for PDAC-based therapies.We acknowledge and thank Dr. Nuria Malats and Jaime Villarreal from the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) for RNA sequencing and analysis, funded by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) grant PI18/01347. We thank Patricia Sánchez-Tomero and Marina Ochando-Garmendia for technical assistance and support and Dr. Raúl Sánchez Lanzas for assistance with autophagy experiments. We want to particularly acknowledge the patients and the BioBank Hospital Ramón y Cajal-IRYCIS (PT13/0010/0002) integrated in the Spanish National Biobanks Network for its collaboration and, in particular, Adrián Povo Retana for macrophage isolation. We would also like to thank the Transmission Electron Microscopy Unit Laboratory, part of the UAM Interdepartmental Investigation Service (SIdI); Coral Pedrero for exceptional help with in vivo experiments; and the laboratories of Dr. Amparo Cano and Dr. José González Castaño for reagents and helpful discussions. S.V. was a recipient of an Ayuda de Movilidad del Personal Investigador del IRYCIS, a mobility grant from the Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain, and a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Comunidad de Madrid, Ayudas Para La Contratación De Investigadores Predoctorales Y Posdoctorales (PEJD-2017-PRE/BMD-5062), Madrid, Spain. This study was supported by a Rámon y Cajal Merit Award (RYC-2012-12104) from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (to B.S.); funding from la Beca Carmen Delgado/Miguel Pérez-Mateo from AESPANC-ACANPAN Spain (to B.S.); a Conquer Cancer Now Grant from the Concern Foundation (Los Angeles, CA, USA) (to B.S.); a Coordinated grant (GC16173694BARB) from the Fundación Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) (to B.S.); FIS grants PI18/00757 (to B.S.), PI16/00789 (to M.A.F.-M.), PI18/00267 (to L.G.-B.; co-financed through Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) “Una manera de hacer Europa”); a Miguel Servet award (CP16/00121) (to P.S.); a Max Eder Fellowship of the German Cancer Aid (111746) (to P.C.H.); and the German Research Foundation (DFG, CRC 1279 “Exploiting the human peptidome for Novel Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents”; to P.C.H.)

Geologic map of the Terra Cimmeria-Nepenthes Mensae transitional zone, Mars – 1:1.45Million

ABSTRACTA 1:1.45Million geologic map of NW Terra Cimmeria and SE Nepenthes Mensae (-5°31’–5°38’ N, 119°20’–129°55’ E) is presented here, displaying one of the highland-lowland transitional zones of Mars with greatest contrast and diversity. The Terra Cimmeria-Nepenthes Mensae Transitional Zone comprises two complex and poorly studied geologic domains bounded by the dichotomy escarpment. The map produced in this work displays nineteen geologic units and numerous geomorphic features. Detailed mapping, morphologic and morphometric analyses and Poisson model-derived ages have permitted to constrain the stratigraphy of this transitional zone and reconstruct more accurately its geological history from the Early Noachian to recent times, suggesting a significant period of fluvial activity within the Early Amazonian. The map provides insight into the processes involved in the origin and development of this transitional zone and offers a reference geologic framework for future studies in the region

Cartografía geomorfológica de la región de Nepenthes Mensae, Marte: evidencias de un antiguo mar

Se ha elaborado una cartografía geomorfológica de la región ecuatorial de Nepenthes Mensae, Marte, a una escala de 1:1.500.000, empleando modelos de elevaciones e imágenes de satélite de alta resolución en un Sistema de Información Geográfica (SIG). El análisis geomorfológico ha permitido interpretar numerosas morfologías relictas desarrolladas en un medio litoral, tales como deltas y plataformas de abrasión costera. Dichas morfologías evidencian la existencia de un antiguo mar en la región a una cota de -1.955 ± 25 metros y una edad estimada de 3.860 ± 150 Ma. El nivel del mar descendió conforme cesaba la actividad de las cuencas fluviales

The Detection of Active Sinkholes by Airborne Differential LiDAR DEMs and InSAR Cloud Computing Tools

This research has been supported by MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA, INNOVACIoN Y UNIVERSIDADES, GOBIERNO DE ESPAnA, project CGL2017-85045-P. We thank Terradue and the ESA Network of Resources (NoR) sponsorship for providing access to the Geohazards Exploitation Platform (GEP), for InSAR cloud processing. J.S. has a pre-doctoral contract cofinanced by the Spanish Government and the European Social Fund.InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) cloud computing and the subtraction of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) DEMs (Digital Elevation Models) are innovative approaches to detect subsidence in karst areas. InSAR cloud computing allows for analyzing C-band Envisat and Sentinel S1 SAR images through web platforms to produce displacement maps of the Earth's surface in an easy manner. The subtraction of serial LiDAR DEMs results in the same product but with a different level of accuracy and precision than InSAR maps. Here, we analyze the capability of these products to detect active sinkholes in the mantled evaporite karst of the Ebro Valley (NE Spain). We found that the capability of the displacement maps produced with open access, high-resolution airborne LiDAR DEMs was up to four times higher than InSAR displacement maps generated by the Geohazard Exploitation Platform (GEP). Differential LiDAR maps provide accurate information about the location, active sectors, maximum subsidence rate and growing trend of the most rapid and damaging sinkholes. Unfortunately, artifacts and the subsidence detection limit established at -4 cm/yr entailed important limitations in the precise mapping of the sinkhole edges and the detection of slow-moving sinkholes and small collapses. Although InSAR maps provided by GEP show a worse performance when identifying active sinkholes, in some cases they can serve as a complementary technique to overcome LiDAR limitations in urban areas.MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA, INNOVACIoN Y UNIVERSIDADES, GOBIERNO DE ESPAnA CGL2017-85045-PTerradue and the ESA Network of Resources (NoR) sponsorshipSpanish Government European CommissionEuropean Social Fund (ESF