Modelling Global Fossil CO2 Emissions with a Lognormal Distribution: A Climate Policy Tool

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have emerged as a critical issue with profound impacts on the environment, human health, and the global economy. The steady increase in atmospheric CO2 levels, largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, has become a major contributor to climate change and its associated catastrophic effects. To tackle this pressing challenge, a coordinated global effort is needed, which necessitates a deep understanding of emissions patterns and trends. In this paper, we explore the use of statistical modelling, specifically the lognormal distribution, as a framework for comprehending and predicting CO2 emissions. We build on prior research that suggests a complex distribution of emissions and seek to test the hypothesis that a simpler distribution can still offer meaningful insights for policy-makers. We utilize data from three comprehensive databases and analyse six candidate distributions (exponential, Fisk, gamma, lognormal, Lomax, Weibull) to identify a suitable model for global fossil CO2 emissions. Our findings highlight the adequacy of the lognormal distribution in characterizing emissions across all countries and years studied. Furthermore, to provide additional support for this distribution, we provide statistical evidence supporting the applicability of Gibrat's law to those CO2 emissions. Finally, we employ the lognormal model to predict emission parameters for the coming years and propose two policies for reducing total fossil CO2 emissions. Our research aims to provide policy-makers with accurate and detailed information to support effective climate change mitigation strategies.Comment: 28 pages, 6 figure

The dilemmas of parental mediation: continuities from parenting in general

This article examines how much parent-child interactions around the online world reflect broader, more long-standing parent-child relations and parenting dilemmas. It does so through exploring the meanings that parents give to their parenting practices and the beliefs that underlie parental mediation their children's online activities as well as the reasons for any differences between their broader normative approach to parental mediation and their actual practices. Qualitative in-depth interviews conducted with 26 Spanish parents of children aged 9 to 16-years-old found that many parents favoured the managed progression of children towards more autonomy and gave reasons why it was important to trust older children. However, the analysis explores a range of dilemmas parents experience when trying to implement these ideals, where issues of privacy, trust and managing that progression all proved to be problematic

PTGDR gene in asthma: a functional, genetic, and epigenetic study.

[EN] Asthma affects more than 300 million individuals in the world. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of the genetic component. The aim of this study is to develop a holistic approach, including genetic, epigenetic, and expression analysis to study the Prostaglandin D2 receptor gene (PTGDR) in asthmatic patients. In this study, 637 Caucasian individuals were included. Genetic variants were characterized by sequencing, and haplotype and diplotype combinations were established. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were performed with different promoter variants. An epigenetic analysis of PTGDR was for the first time developed by MassArray assays, and gene expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The -197T > C (Fisher's P = 0.028) and -613C > T (Fisher's P T SNP determined variations in the EMSAs. Moreover, consistent differences in the methylation and expression patterns were observed between asthmatic patients and controls determining a 2.34-fold increase of PTGDR gene expression in asthmatic patients. Genetic combinations described have functional implications in the PTGDR promoter activity by changing the transcription factors affinity that will help characterize different risk groups. The differences observed in the transcription factors affinity and in the methylation pattern bring insight into different transcription regulation in these patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in which the implication of genetic and epigenetic factors of PTGDR has been characterized pointing to putative therapeutic targets.Spanish Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS); Junta de Castilla y Leó

Diversidad genética de cultivares de caña de azúcar determinada por marcadores de ADN y caracteres morfológicos

Un mejor conocimiento de la diversidad genética de la caña de azúcar proveerá información útil sobre el valor de los genotipos para los programas de mejoramiento y contribuirá tanto a hacer un más eficiente uso y conservación de los recursos genéticos, como a asegurar los derechos de propiedad intelectual de los creadores de nuevas variedades. Si bien los descriptores morfológicos constituyen las herramientas más tradicionales para caracterizar a las variedades, pueden presentar variaciones fenotípicas causadas por factores ambientales. Por este motivo los marcadores moleculares son cada vez más importantes en la identificación de genotipos y la estimación de la diversidad, debido a su precisión, abundancia e independencia de factores ambientales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar genotipos empleados como padres en el Programa de Mejoramiento de la Caña de Azúcar de la Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC), usando marcadores moleculares (AFLP y SSR) y caracteres morfológicos y comparando los datos obtenidos con dos programas informáticos estadísticos (NTSys e InfoStat). Todos los cultivares se agruparon en un mismo grupo con ambos programas, cuando se emplearon al menos 150 datos. Probablemente debido al intercambio regular de germoplasma, no se observó una clara diferenciación genética entre los genotipos locales y las variedades de los EE. UU., que se agruparon juntos. Aunque los caracteres morfológicos reflejan solamente la semejanza externa, la topología del dendrograma no se modificó cuando se combinaron datos moleculares y morfológicos. Estos resultados sugieren que ambos métodos de caracterización deberían ser utilizados para estimar la diversidad genética y que los marcadores moleculares deberían ser incluidos a un nivel internacional, para proteger las nuevas variedades de caña de azúcar.Better knowledge of sugarcane genetic diversity will provide useful information concerning genotypic value for breeding programs and should help to improve the use and conservation of genetic resources and the protection of sugarcane varieties by intellectual property rights. Morphological descriptors are traditional tools to characterise varieties; however, they vary phenotypically because of environmental effects. Therefore, molecular markers have become increasingly important for identifying genotypes and estimating diversity, as they are accurate, readily available, and are not affected by the environment. The aim of this research was to evaluate genotypes used as parental materials in the Sugarcane Breeding Program of Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC), Argentina, by using molecular markers (AFLP and SSR) and morphological traits, and by comparing the data obtained with two statistical software programs (NTSys and InfoStat). All cultivars grouped in one main cluster of the dendrogram when using both programs and at least 150 data points. Local Argentine genotypes grouped together with US-varieties and no clear genetic differentiation was found, probably due to regular germplasm exchange. Although morphological traits reflected external resemblance only, the topology of the dendrogram was not modified when combining both molecular and morphological data. These results suggest that both characterisation methods should be used to estimate genetic diversity. Molecular markers should be included internationally for sugarcane variety protection.Fil: Perera, María Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Arias, Marta E.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Costilla, Diego D.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Luque, Catalina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: García, María B.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Racedo, Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Cuenya, María Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Filippone, María Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Castagnaro, Atilio Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin

A subset of low density granulocytes is associated with vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease patients

Inflammation is central to chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis and vascular outcomes, but the exact players remain unidentified. Since low density granulocytes (LDGs) are emerging mediators in inflammatory conditions, we aimed to evaluate whether LDGs may be altered in CKD and related to clinical outcomes as biomarkers. To his end, LDGs subsets were measured in peripheral blood by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy in 33 CKD patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and 15 healthy controls (HC). Analyses were replicated in an additional cohort. DEF3 (marker of early granulopoiesis) gene expression on PBMCs was quantified by qPCR. Total CD15+ LDGs and both CD14lowCD16+ and CD14−CD16− subsets were expanded in CKD. The relative frequency of the CD14−CD16− subpopulation was higher among the CD15+ pool in CKD. This alteration was stable over-time. The increased CD14−CD16−CD15+ paralleled Kauppila scores and DEF3 expression, whereas no association was found with CD14lowCD16+ CD15+. Both subsets differed in their CD11b, CD10, CD35, CD31, CD62L, IFNAR1 and CD68 expression, FSC/SSC features and nuclear morphology, pointing to different origins and maturation status. In conclusion, LDGs were expanded in CKD showing a skewed distribution towards a CD14−CD16−CD15+ enrichment, in association with vascular calcification. DEF3 expression in PBMC can be a marker of LDG expansion.Fil: Rodríguez Carrio, Javier. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA). Bone and Mineral Research Unit; España. Universidad de Oviedo; EspañaFil: Carrillo López, Natalia. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Ulloa, Catalina. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Seijo, Mariana. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez García, Minerva. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Rodríguez Suárez, Carmen. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Díaz-Corte, Carmen. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Cannata Andía, Jorge B.. Universidad de Oviedo; España. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; EspañaFil: Suárez, Ana. Universidad de Oviedo; EspañaFil: Dusso, Adriana. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias; Españ

Barley-ß-glucans reduce systemic inflammation, renal injury and aortic calcification through ADAM17 and neutral-sphingomyelinase2 inhibition

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperphosphatemia-induced inflammation aggravates vascular calcification (VC) by increasing vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic differentiation, ADAM17-induced renal and vascular injury, and TNFα-induction of neutral-sphingomyelinase2 (nSMase2) to release pro-calcifying exosomes. This study examined anti-inflammatory β-glucans efficacy at attenuating systemic inflammation in health, and renal and vascular injury favoring VC in hyperphosphatemic CKD. In healthy adults, dietary barley β-glucans (Bβglucans) reduced leukocyte superoxide production, inflammatory ADAM17, TNFα, nSMase2, and pro-aging/pro-inflammatory STING (Stimulator of interferon genes) gene expression without decreasing circulating inflammatory cytokines, except for γ-interferon. In hyperphosphatemic rat CKD, dietary Bβglucans reduced renal and aortic ADAM17-driven inflammation attenuating CKD-progression (higher GFR and lower serum creatinine, proteinuria, kidney inflammatory infiltration and nSMase2), and TNFα-driven increases in aortic nSMase2 and calcium deposition without improving mineral homeostasis. In VSMC, Bβglucans prevented LPS- or uremic serum-induced rapid increases in ADAM17, TNFα and nSMase2, and reduced the 13-fold higher calcium deposition induced by prolonged calcifying conditions by inhibiting osteogenic differentiation and increases in nSMase2 through Dectin1-independent actions involving Bβglucans internalization. Thus, dietary Bβglucans inhibit leukocyte superoxide production and leukocyte, renal and aortic ADAM17- and nSMase2 gene expression attenuating systemic inflammation in health, and renal injury and aortic calcification despite hyperphosphatemia in CKD.A grant to A.S.D. and M.J.M. from IRBLleida and Agrotecnio Research collaborative projects from the Consell Social at Lleida University supported initial work, Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by European Union (ERDF/FEDER) (FIS PI11/00259, PI14/01452, PI17/02181), Plan de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2013–2017 y 2018–2022 del Principado de Asturias (GRUPIN14-028, IDI-2018-000152), RedInRen from ISCIII (ISCIII-RETIC REDINREN RD16/0009). Investigator support included: NC-L by GRUPIN14-028 and IDI-2018-000152, LM-A by GRUPIN14-028, SP by FICYT; MVA and PV by Educational Grant 2 A/2015 from ERA-EDTA CKD-MBD Working Group; PV and AC by ERA-EDTA fellowships 2011 and 2012; JR-C by MINECO (“Juan de la Cierva” program, FJCI-2015-23849); A.S.D. by Asociación Investigación de Fisiología Aplicada. A.S.D. and M.J.M. are members of the Campus Iberus (Ebro Valley Campus of International Excellence)

Reproductive traits of the round sardinella in the Canary Islands (Spain, NW Africa)

The present study aims to investigate the reproductive biology of the small pelagic Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 in the Canary Islands, to enable its reliable assessment and advise on appropriate management measures for a fishing resource showing a declining trend in landings. Reproductive biology and sexual patterns of round sardinella were examined from monthly random samples of commercial catches landed by the artisanal purse-seine fleet. The landings' length frequencies, ranging between 9–32 cm (based on the total lengths, TL), were recorded from 2013–2019. The overall mean value of TL was 20.9 cm, with annual mean values between 20–22 cm, except in 2016 (TL = 19 cm). The overall sex ratio M:F was 1:0.92, with males significantly predominant. Sex ratios fluctuated as a function of size and month: females were more abundant in the larger length classes, as well as before and after spawning, whereas males were more abundant in the smaller length classes and during spawning. Based on gonad maturity stages and gonadosomatic index, round sardinella spawns during almost all the year, with a peak in January–February and a resting period during October–November. The length at first maturity was estimated at TL of 18.2 cm, notably smaller than the value obtained for the NW African coastal waters where the demographic structure in round sardinellas' landings is totally different.Versión del edito

Very low frequency Syndromes

Dismorfología, Citogenética y Clínica: Resultados de estudios sobre los datos del ECEMCThe aim of this chapter is to summarize updated knowledge about the clinical characteristics, etiology, genetic and molecular aspects, as well as mechanisms involved in syndromes having very low frequency, in order to promote their better recognition. During the last five years, a total of 30 syndromes have been published in this chapter of the Boletín del ECEMC. This issue includes the following selected syndromes: Crouzon, Pfeiffer, Apert, Saethre-Chotzen, Carpenter and Muenke. All share craniosynostosis as the main clinical feature but also present with other birth defects, the most important being limb malformations, specially syndactyly and polydactyly. Over 100 syndromes with craniosynostosis have been described, usually involving multiple sutures, and several of them are associated with limb malformations. The clinical overlapping between those syndromes makes difficult to perform a neonatal diagnosis, based on their clinical findings. However, molecular genetic testing, specifically of the FRGR1-3 and TWIST1 genes, could help to establish the diagnosis of some of them. Early diagnosis is important for establishing the most suitable treatment for each patient, as well as to offer an accurate genetic counselling and the possibility of preimplantational and/or prenatal diagnosis.N