Activations in temporal areas using visual and auditory naming stimuli: A language fMRI study in temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: Verbal fluency functional MRI (fMRI) is used for predicting language deficits after anterior temporal lobe resection (ATLR) for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but primarily engages frontal lobe areas. In this observational study we investigated fMRI paradigms using visual and auditory stimuli, which predominately involve language areas resected during ATLR. METHODS: Twenty-three controls and 33 patients (20 left (LTLE), 13 right (RTLE)) were assessed using three fMRI paradigms: verbal fluency, auditory naming with a contrast of auditory reversed speech; picture naming with a contrast of scrambled pictures and blurred faces. RESULTS: Group analysis showed bilateral temporal activations for auditory naming and picture naming. Correcting for auditory and visual input (by subtracting activations resulting from auditory reversed speech and blurred pictures/scrambled faces respectively) resulted in left-lateralised activations for patients and controls, which was more pronounced for LTLE compared to RTLE patients. Individual subject activations at a threshold of T > 2.5, extent >10 voxels, showed that verbal fluency activated predominantly the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in 90% of LTLE, 92% of RTLE, and 65% of controls, compared to right IFG activations in only 15% of LTLE and RTLE and 26% of controls. Middle temporal (MTG) or superior temporal gyrus (STG) activations were seen on the left in 30% of LTLE, 23% of RTLE, and 52% of controls, and on the right in 15% of LTLE, 15% of RTLE, and 35% of controls. Auditory naming activated temporal areas more frequently than did verbal fluency (LTLE: 93%/73%; RTLE: 92%/58%; controls: 82%/70% (left/right)). Controlling for auditory input resulted in predominantly left-sided temporal activations. Picture naming resulted in temporal lobe activations less frequently than did auditory naming (LTLE 65%/55%; RTLE 53%/46%; controls 52%/35% (left/right)). Controlling for visual input had left-lateralising effects. CONCLUSION: Auditory and picture naming activated temporal lobe structures, which are resected during ATLR, more frequently than did verbal fluency. Controlling for auditory and visual input resulted in more left-lateralised activations. We hypothesise that these paradigms may be more predictive of postoperative language decline than verbal fluency fMRI

3-D modelling of a fossil tufa outcrop. The example of La Peña del Manto (Soria, Spain)

[EN]Classical studies of tufas lack quantitative outcrop descriptions and facies models, and normally do not integrate data from subsurface in the stratigraphic and evolutive analysis. This paper describes themethodology followed to construct one of the first digital outcrop models of fossil tufas. This model incorporates 3-D lines and surfaces obtained from a terrestrial laser scanner, electric resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles, and stratigraphic and sedimentologic data from 18 measured sections. This study has identified seven sedimentary units (from SU-1 to SU-7) which are composed of tufa carbonates (SU-1; 3; 5; 6) and clastics (SU-2; 4; 7). Facies identified occur in different proportions: phytoherm limestones of bryophytes represent 43% of tufa volume, bioclastic limestones 20%, phytoherm limestones of stems 12%, oncolitic limestones 8%, and clastics 15%. Three main architectural elements have been identified: 1) Steeply dipping strata dominated by phytoherm limestones of bryophytes; 2) gently dipping strata dominated by phytoherm limestones of stems; and 3) horizontal strata dominated by bioclastic and oncoid limestones. The alternation of tufa growth and clastic input stages is interpreted as the result of climatic changes during Mid–Late Pleistocene.18.KA4A-463 A.C.01, Universidad de Salamanca CGL2014-54818-P of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)

Fe(II) complexes of pyridine-substituted thiosemicarbazone ligands as catalysts for oxidations with hydrogen peroxide

La reacción de tres complejos [FeII(TSC)2], donde TSC es una ligando de tipo tiosemicarbazona sustituido por piridina, con H2O2 en acetonitrilo no permitía acumular los correspondientes complejos de Fe(III), [FeIII(TSC)2]+. En su lugar, se generaba una mezcla de especies de Fe(II) diamagnéticas de bajo espín. Según los espectros obtenidos por espectrometría de masas, estas especies eran el resultado de la adición secuencial de hasta cinco átomos de oxígeno al complejo. Esta capacidad para la adición de átomos de oxígeno sugirió que dichas especies podrían ser activas para la transferencia de átomos de oxígeno a sustratos externos. Por ello, se evaluó la capacidad de estos complejos para la oxidación de tioanisol y estireno empleando H2O2 como oxidante inicial. Los complejos fueron activos tanto en la oxidación de tioanisol a su sulfóxido como en la de estireno a benzaldehído, con escalas temporales que indicaban la participación de las especies intermedias que contenían los átomos de oxígeno añadidos. Curiosamente, los ligandos libres y el complejo [Zn(Dp44mT)2] también catalizaban la sulfoxidación selectiva del tioanisol, pero eran ineficaces para catalizar la oxidación del estireno a benzaldehído. Estos hallazgos abren nuevas vías para el desarrollo de catalizadores metálicos basados en tiosemicarbazonas en procesos de oxidación de gran interés

Metabolic clustering analysis as a strategy for compound selection in the drug discovery pipeline for leishmaniasis

A lack of viable hits, increasing resistance, and limited knowledge on mode of action is hindering drug discovery for many diseases. To optimize prioritization and accelerate the discovery process, a strategy to cluster compounds based on more than chemical structure is required. We show the power of metabolomics in comparing effects on metabolism of 28 different candidate treatments for Leishmaniasis (25 from the GSK Leishmania box, two analogues of Leishmania box series, and amphotericin B as a gold standard treatment), tested in the axenic amastigote form of Leishmania donovani. Capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry was applied to identify the metabolic profile of Leishmania donovani, and principal components analysis was used to cluster compounds on potential mode of action, offering a medium throughput screening approach in drug selection/prioritization. The comprehensive and sensitive nature of the data has also made detailed effects of each compound obtainable, providing a resource to assist in further mechanistic studies and prioritization of these compounds for the development of new antileishmanial drugs

High resolution AMI Large Array imaging of spinning dust sources: spatially correlated 8 micron emission and evidence of a stellar wind in L675

We present 25 arcsecond resolution radio images of five Lynds Dark Nebulae (L675, L944, L1103, L1111 & L1246) at 16 GHz made with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI) Large Array. These objects were previously observed with the AMI Small Array to have an excess of emission at microwave frequencies relative to lower frequency radio data. In L675 we find a flat spectrum compact radio counterpart to the 850 micron emission seen with SCUBA and suggest that it is cm-wave emission from a previously unknown deeply embedded young protostar. In the case of L1246 the cm-wave emission is spatially correlated with 8 micron emission seen with Spitzer. Since the MIR emission is present only in Spitzer band 4 we suggest that it arises from a population of PAH molecules, which also give rise to the cm-wave emission through spinning dust emission.Comment: accepted MNRA

Parameterization Effects in the analysis of AMI Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Observations

Most Sunyaev--Zel'dovich (SZ) and X-ray analyses of galaxy clusters try to constrain the cluster total mass and/or gas mass using parameterised models and assumptions of spherical symmetry and hydrostatic equilibrium. By numerically exploring the probability distributions of the cluster parameters given the simulated interferometric SZ data in the context of Bayesian methods, and assuming a beta-model for the electron number density we investigate the capability of this model and analysis to return the simulated cluster input quantities via three rameterisations. In parameterisation I we assume that the T is an input parameter. We find that parameterisation I can hardly constrain the cluster parameters. We then investigate parameterisations II and III in which fg(r200) replaces temperature as a main variable. In parameterisation II we relate M_T(r200) and T assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. We find that parameterisation II can constrain the cluster physical parameters but the temperature estimate is biased low. In parameterisation III, the virial theorem replaces the hydrostatic equilibrium assumption. We find that parameterisation III results in unbiased estimates of the cluster properties. We generate a second simulated cluster using a generalised NFW (GNFW) pressure profile and analyse it with an entropy based model to take into account the temperature gradient in our analysis and improve the cluster gas density distribution. This model also constrains the cluster physical parameters and the results show a radial decline in the gas temperature as expected. The mean cluster total mass estimates are also within 1 sigma from the simulated cluster true values. However, we find that for at least interferometric SZ analysis in practice at the present time, there is no differences in the AMI visibilities between the two models. This may of course change as the instruments improve.Comment: 19 pages, 13 tables, 24 figure

HISTORIA CLÍNICA INFORMATIZADA DE ENFERMERÍA EN EL DEPARTAMENTO DE TORREVIEJA SALUD COMO INSTRUMENTO DE GESTIÓN DE CALIDAD

In the information society of the 21st century, it is a fact that the Electronic Clinical History (ECH) is not developed in every country. In Torrevieja Salud Health Department, Alicante (Spain), they work with a unique ECH that includes all divisions, including the nursing ones and an advanced operability level in regards to data management.    Objectives: 1.- To develop all the information sources to facilitate the communication at all levels of care, so any professional in the community or at the hospital can retrieve information about the patient. 2.- To gather the nursing staff and computer technicians knowledge by working together. Methodology: In order to improve the nursing records, they have used a computer program named “FLORENCE”, which is a model of a unique clinical history for the Health Department of Torrevieja. Florence is divided in two environments: Florence Gestión (accountant,-financial, and HH RR scopes) and FLORENCE (clinical assitance scope). This program comes as the result of the teamwork from IT and nursing staff who are knowledgeable of the concerns of the professionals. A product with double value because it combines the nursing methodology and state-of-art technological advances. Conclusions:  Nursing records are valued as an effective instrument to empower the continuation of nursing care and coordinate that care at the best quality, as they are registered in a unique and single program. On the other hand, it ensures constant availability of all the information of the health-disease episodes of a patient, and most importantly, the information is kept confidential.  En la sociedad de la información del siglo XXI, la historia clínica electrónica (HCE) es un hecho que no está por igual desarrollado en todos los países. En el Departamento de Salud de Torrevieja, Alicante, se trabaja con un modelo de HCE único que engloba a todas las áreas incluida  enfermería y en un nivel avanzado de operabilidad en cuanto a manejo de datos.   Objetivos: 1.- Desarrollo de los sistemas de información con el fin de facilitar la comunicación e intercambio de datos entre los distintos profesionales de atención especializada y primaria que componen el Departamento de Salud. 2.- Aunar y optimizar los conocimientos propios  de los profesionales enfermeros e informáticos, a través del trabajo en conjunto.   Metodología: Para llevar a cabo esta mejora en los registros  de enfermería se ha utilizado la aplicación informática, “Florence”, modelo de Historia Clinica Electrónica única y global para el Departamento de Salud de Torrevieja que consta de dos entornos: Florence Gestión (área financiera- contable y  área de recursos humanos) y Florence clínico (área clínico-asistencial).   A través del trabajo en equipo de Informáticos y profesionales de enfermería que conocen el sistema e inquietudes de los profesionales se obtiene un producto doblemente valorado en cuanto a metodología enfermera y suma de los últimos conocimientos tecnológicos. Conclusiones:  Los registros de enfermería se consideran un instrumento efectivo para reflejar toda la información necesaria para poder coordinar y proporcionar unos cuidados de enfermería de máxima calidad al estar almacenados de forma integral. Por otro lado se asegura la disponibilidad de toda la información de los procesos salud-enfermedad de un individuo, asegurando la confidencialidad.

El Niño adversely affected childhood stature and lean mass in northern Peru

El Niño is responsible for natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks worldwide. During the 1997–1998 El Niño, northern Peru endured extreme rainfall and flooding. Since short stature may occur as a result of undernutrition or repeated infections during childhood, both of which are highly prevalent during natural disasters, we sought to determine if the 1997–1998 El Niño had an adverse effect on stature and body composition a decade later. In 2008–2009, we measured height, weight, and bioimpedance in a random sample of 2,095 children born between 1991 and 2001 in Tumbes, Peru

AMI observations of unmatched Planck ERCSC LFI sources at 15.75 GHz

The Planck Early Release Compact Source Catalogue includes 26 sources with no obvious matches in other radio catalogues (of primarily extragalactic sources). Here we present observations made with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Small Array (AMI SA) at 15.75 GHz of the eight of the unmatched sources at declination > +10 degrees. Of the eight, four are detected and are associated with known objects. The other four are not detected with the AMI SA, and are thought to be spurious.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 4 table

4D Reconstruction and Visualization of Cultural Heritage: Analysing our Legacy Through Time

Temporal analyses and multi-temporal 3D reconstruction are fundamental for the preservation and maintenance of all forms of Cultural Heritage (CH) and are the basis for decisions related to interventions and promotion. Introducing the fourth dimension of time into three-dimensional geometric modelling of real data allows the creation of a multi-temporal representation of a site. In this way, scholars from various disciplines (surveyors, geologists, archaeologists, architects, philologists, etc.) are provided with a new set of tools and working methods to support the study of the evolution of heritage sites, both to develop hypotheses about the past and to model likely future developments. The capacity to “see” the dynamic evolution of CH assets across different spatial scales (e.g. building, site, city or territory) compressed in diachronic model, affords the possibility to better understand the present status of CH according to its history. However, there are numerous challenges in order to carry out 4D modelling and the requisite multi-data source integration. It is necessary to identify the specifications, needs and requirements of the CH community to understand the required levels of 4D model information. In this way, it is possible to determine the optimum material and technologies to be utilised at different CH scales, as well as the data management and visualization requirements. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive approach for CH time-varying representations, analysis and visualization across different working scales and environments: rural landscape, urban landscape and architectural scales. Within this aim, the different available metric data sources are systemized and evaluated in terms of their suitability