Nonequilibrium chiral perturbation theory and pion decay functions

We extend chiral perturbation theory to study a meson gas out of thermal equilibrium. Assuming that the system is initially in equilibrium at T-i < T-c and working within the Schwinger-Keldysh contour technique, we define consistently the time-dependent temporal and spatial pion decay functions, the counterparts of the pion decay constants, and calculate them to next to leading order. The link with curved space-time QFT allows to establish nonequilibrium renormalisation. The short-time behaviour and the applicability of our model to a heavy-ion collision plasma are also discussed in this work

Novel types of anti-ecloud surfaces

In high power RF devices for space, secondary electron emission appears as the main parameter governing the multipactor effect and as well as the e-cloud in large accelerators. Critical experimental activities included development of coatings with low secondary electron emission yield (SEY) for steel (large accelerators) and aluminium (space applications). Coatings with surface roughness of high aspect ratio producing the so-call secondary emission suppression effect appear as the selected strategy. In this work a detailed study of the SEY of these technological coatings and also the experimental deposition methods (PVD and electrochemical) are presented. The coating-design approach selected for new low SEY coatings include rough metals (Ag, Au, Al), rough alloys (NEG), particulated and magnetized surfaces, and also graphene like coatings. It was found that surface roughness also mitigate the SEY deterioration due to aging processes.Comment: 4 pages, contribution to the Joint INFN-CERN-EuCARD-AccNet Workshop on Electron-Cloud Effects: ECLOUD'12; 5-9 Jun 2012, La Biodola, Isola d'Elba, Italy; CERN Yellow Report CERN-2013-002, pp.153-15

The status of chestnut cultivation and utilization in the Canary Islands

Chestnut was introduced to the Canary Islands at the beginning of the 16th century during the time of the Spanish Conquest. It was utilised by the conquerors as a means of claiming property for communal lands. From that time until today, chestnut has been an important crop in the Canary Islands. It is important both as a source of food and timber and has contributed to the subsistence of the population, particularly at times when both resources were scarce. Nowadays it is mainly cultivated on the Islands of Tenerife (around 1300 ha) and La Palma. On other islands, such as Gran Canaria, La Gomera and El Hierro, semi-wild chestnut forests and small plots where farmers collect fruit still exist. Morphological and molecular marker (SSRs) studies have shown a great variability within the local population of chestnut trees in the Canaries. The main use for chestnut is fruit consumption, but it was also utilised in the past as an exchange commodity to obtain fish and other food. The fruit is consumed in many different ways, mainly toasted or roasted, but also cooked in soups, fish or meat dishes and even as an ingredient for the typical Canary Islands’ sweet ‘morcillas’ (a type of sausage). The wood of the tree has been used for furniture, with some shoots being utilised for basket making, and also as cattle food. The trunk of the chestnut has also been used to obtain cork or as a bee hive. Recent efforts to add value to chestnut cultivation in the Canary Islands have included the creation of a Chestnut Farmers Association in Tenerife that commercializes their products under a brand name

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in rats and sand flies in the urban sewers of Barcelona, Spain

Background: Classically, dogs have been considered to be the only reservoir of leishmaniasis in urban areas. However, in a previous study, we found a 33.3% prevalence of Leishmania infantum in the spleens of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) sampled in the underground sewer system of the city of Barcelona (Spain). The aim of the present study was to verify, using molecular methods, the potential reservoir role of these rats in the same sewer system. Methods: A sensitive real-time PCR (qPCR) assay, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were carried out to identify and quantify the presence of L. infantum DNA in sand fly individuals captured in the same underground sewer system of Barcelona as in our previous study and in the spleens and ears of rats captured in the same sewer system. Results: Leishmania infantum DNA was found in 14 of the 27 (51.9%) sand flies identified as Phlebotomus perniciosus, and 10 of the 24 (41.7%) rats studied were infected. Leishmania infantum was found in the spleens (70%) and in the ears (40%) of the infected rats. Quantitative results revealed the presence of high loads of L. infantum in the rats studied (> 3 × 10 parasites/g ear tissue) and among the sand flies (> 34 × 10 parasites in 1 individual). Conclusions: The molecular methods used in this study demonstrated a high prevalence of L. infantum in the underground sewer populations of both R. norvegicus and P. perniciosus. These results suggest that sewer rats, in addition to dogs, are likely to act as reservoirs of leishmaniasis in cities, where sewer systems seem to offer the ideal scenario for the transmission of leishmaniasis. Therefore, to achieve the WHO 2030 target on the elimination of leishmaniasis as a public health problem successfully, an efficient control strategy against leishmaniasis in rats and sand flies should be implemented, particularly in the sewer systems of urban areas of endemic countries. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Multidisciplinary management of head and neck cancer: First expert consensus using Delphi methodology from the Spanish Society for Head and Neck Cancer (part 1)

Head and neck cancer is one of the most frequent malignances worldwide. Despite the site-specific multimodality therapy, up to half of the patients will develop recurrence. Treatment selection based on a multidisciplinary tumor board represents the cornerstone of head and neck cancer, as it is essential for achieving the best results, not only in terms of outcome, but also in terms of organ-function preservation and quality of life. Evidence-based international and national clinical practice guidelines for head and neck cancer not always provide answers in terms of decision-making that specialists must deal with in their daily practice. This is the first Expert Consensus on the Multidisciplinary Approach for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) elaborated by the Spanish Society for Head and Neck Cancer and based on a Delphi methodology. It offers several specific recommendations based on the available evidence and the expertise of our specialists to facilitate decision-making of all health-care specialists involved.Merck Health Foundatio

The prognosis of noncutaneous, nonlymphomatous malignancy after heart transplantation: data from the spanish post-heart transplant tumour registry

[Abstract] Introduction. Malignancy is a major complication in the management of solid organ transplant patients. Skin cancers show a better prognosis than other neoplasms, but not all others are equal: Ideally, patient management must take into account the natural history of each type of cancer in relation to the transplanted organs. We sought to determine the prognosis of various groups of noncutaneous nonlymphomatous (NCNL) cancers after heart transplantation (HT). Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the records of the Spanish Post-Heart-Transplant Tumour Registry, which collects data on posttransplant tumors in all patients who have undergone HT in Spain since 1984. Data were included in the study up to December 2008. We considered only the first NCNL post-HT tumors. Results. Of 4359 patients, 375 developed an NCNL cancer. The most frequent were cancers of the lung (n = 97; 25.9%); gastrointestinal tract (n = 52; 13.9%); prostate gland (n = 47; 12.5%; 14.0% of men), bladder (n = 32; 8.5%), liver (n = 14; 3.7%), and pharynx (n = 14; 3.7%), as well as Kaposi's sarcoma (n = 11; 2.9%). The corresponding Kaplan-Meier survival curves differed significantly (P < .0001; log-rank test), with respective survival rates of 47%, 72%, 91%, 73%, 36%, 64%, and 73% at 1 year versus 26%, 62%, 89%, 56%, 21%, 64%, and 73% at 2 years; and 15%, 51%, 77%, 42%, 21%, 64%, and 52% at 5 years post-diagnosis, respectively. Conclusion. Mortality among HT patients with post-HT NCNL solid organ cancers was highest for cancers of the liver or lung (79%–85% at 5 years), and lowest for prostate cancer (23%)

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñaña

Alimentación de la boga del Guadiana (Chondrostoma polylepis wi/lkommi, Stein. 1866) en la interfase río-embalse de Sierra Boyera (Córdoba. España)Predación del búho real (Bubo bubo) sobre la perdiz roja (Alectoris rufa): selección de edad y sexoAlimentación de la nutria (Lutra lufra L, 1758)en el Nordeste de la Península IbéricaDatos sobre la distribución espacialde micromamíferos en el Parque Nacionalde DoñanaGuía para el reconocimiento microscópico de los pelos de los mamíferos de la Patagonia.Sobre la distribución geográfica de Anaecypris hispanica (STEINDACHNER, 1866) (OSTEICHTHYES, CYPRINIDAE)Cronología del periodo reproductor de Rana temporaria L. en La Coruña (NW de España).Un nuevo caso de melanismo en Natrix natrix (LINNAEUS 1758) procedente de Fuente Dé (Santander)Nuevas citas de anfibios y reptiles para el SE de la Península Ibérica.Datos sobre la dieta invernal del Búho chico (Asia atus) en la provinvia de LeónLa Distribucióndel Mara (Dolichotis patagonum) según criterios ecológicos e históricosSolapamiento entre la dieta de la cabra montés (Capra pyrenaica) y la del muflón (Ovis musimon)Nota sobre dietas de carnívoros e índices de abundancia en una Reserva de caza del norte de España.Discriminación osteométrica en el géneroTalpa (LINNEO, 1758), en el norte IbéricoObservaciones sobre el comportamiento depredativo de algunos colúbridos Ibéricos en estado salvajePeer reviewe

Development of a Novel Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor : A Paradigm for an Affordable CAR T Cell Production at Academic Institutions

Genetically modifying autologous T cells to express an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has shown impressive response rates for the treatment of CD19+ B cell malignancies in several clinical trials (CTs). Making this treatment available to our patients prompted us to develop a novel CART19 based on our own anti-CD19 antibody (A3B1), followed by CD8 hinge and transmembrane region, 4-1BB- and CD3z-signaling domains. We show that A3B1 CAR T cells are highly cytotoxic and specific against CD19+ cells in vitro, inducing secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CAR T cell proliferation. In vivo, A3B1 CAR T cells are able to fully control disease progression in an NOD.Cg-Prkdc Il2rd/SzJ (NSG) xenograph B-ALL mouse model. Based on the pre-clinical data, we conclude that our CART19 is clearly functional against CD19+ cells, to a level similar to other CAR19s currently being used in the clinic. Concurrently, we describe the implementation of our CAR T cell production system, using lentiviral vector and CliniMACS Prodigy, within a medium-sized academic institution. The results of the validation phase show our system is robust and reproducible, while maintaining a low cost that is affordable for academic institutions. Our model can serve as a paradigm for similar institutions, and it may help to make CAR T cell treatment available to all patients

ATP5H/KCTD2 locus is associated with Alzheimer's disease risk

To identify loci associated with Alzheimer disease, we conducted a three-stage analysis using existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping in a new sample. In Stage I, all suggestive single-nucleotide polymorphisms (at P<0.001) in a previously reported GWAS of seven independent studies (8082 Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases; 12 040 controls) were selected, and in Stage II these were examined in an in silico analysis within the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology consortium GWAS (1367 cases and 12904 controls). Six novel signals reaching P<5 × 10-6 were genotyped in an independent Stage III sample (the Fundació ACE data set) of 2200 sporadic AD patients and 2301 controls. We identified a novel association with AD in the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, H+ transporting, mitochondrial F0 (ATP5H)/Potassium channel tetramerization domain-containing protein 2 (KCTD2) locus, which reached genome-wide significance in the combined discovery and genotyping sample (rs11870474, odds ratio (OR)=1.58, P=2.6 × 10 -7 in discovery and OR=1.43, P=0.004 in Fundació ACE data set; combined OR=1.53, P=4.7 × 10 -9). This ATP5H/KCTD2 locus has an important function in mitochondrial energy production and neuronal hyperpolarization during cellular stress conditions, such as hypoxia or glucose deprivation

Threat of allergenic airborne grass pollen in Szczecin, NW Poland: the dynamics of pollen seasons, effect of meteorological variables and air pollution

The dynamics of Poaceae pollen season, in particularly that of the Secale genus, in Szczecin (western Poland) 2004–2008 was analysed to establish a relationship between the meteorological variables, air pollution and the pollen count of the taxa studied. Consecutive phases during the pollen season were defined for each taxon (1, 2.5, 5, 25, 50, 75, 95, 97.5, 99% of annual total), and duration of the season was determined using the 98% method. On the basis of this analysis, the temporary differences in the dynamics of the seasons were most evident for Secale in 2005 and 2006 with the longest main pollen season (90% total pollen). The pollen season of Poaceae started the earliest in 2007, when thermal conditions were the most favourable. Correlation analysis with meteorological factors demonstrated that the relative humidity, mean and maximum air temperature, and rainfall were the factors influencing the average daily pollen concentrations in the atmosphere; also, the presence of air pollutants such as ozone, PM10 and SO2 was statistically related to the pollen count in the air. However, multiple regression models explained little part of the total variance. Atmospheric pollution induces aggravation of symptoms of grass pollen allergy