A facultative mutualism between habitat-forming species enhances the resistance of rocky shore communities to heat waves

Heat waves have increased in frequency, duration, and magnitude in recent decades, causing mass mortality events in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Arguably, mass mortalities of habitat-forming organisms – i.e., dominant sessile organisms that define habitats via their own physical structure – would be amongst the most dramatic impact of heat waves because of their negative, cascading consequences on their associated biodiversity. However, the resistance of habitat-forming organisms to heat waves can be enhanced if they associate with secondary habitat formers able to tolerate and modulate extreme heat levels. Here we show that a seaweed of the Porphyra/Pyropia (P/P) clade can shield primary habitat-forming mussels, Brachidontes rodriguezii, from the impacts of extreme temperatures in a southwestern Atlantic rocky intertidal shore. By means of P/P removal experiments and surveys, we illustrate that P/P cover (a) buffers temperatures in the understory mussel beds during daytime air exposure periods in the summer, (b) reduces mussel mortality and leads to increased mussel body condition during warm summer periods, and (c) can prevent mass mortality of mussels during the course of a heat wave. Additionally, by means of a mussel removal experiment we illustrate that mussel cover is critical for P/P establishment, which is in consonance with the remarkably higher P/P densities and cover observed in mussel beds relative to exposed rock surfaces across a ~70 km coastal range. Collectively, these findings reveal a facultative mutualism where mussels provide a favorable substrate for P/P colonization and P/P attenuates heat mediated mortality on mussels. The ability of P/P to enhance the resistance of mussel beds to extreme heat events and the occurrence of similar P/P-mussel associations during spring-summer at globally dispersed sites suggests a widespread importance of P/P for the stability of mussel beds and their associated communities under warming climates.Fil: Gutierrez, Jorge Luis Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario; Argentina. Estación Biológica las Brusquitas; ArgentinaFil: Bagur D'andrea, María Sol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Estación Biológica las Brusquitas; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzo, Rodrigo Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. University Of Plymouth; Reino UnidoFil: Palomo, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Estación Biológica las Brusquitas; Argentin

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Plasma lipid profiles discriminate bacterial from viral infection in febrile children

Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection are often non-specific, and there is no definitive test for the accurate diagnosis of infection. The 'omics' approaches to identifying biomarkers from the host-response to bacterial infection are promising. In this study, lipidomic analysis was carried out with plasma samples obtained from febrile children with confirmed bacterial infection (n = 20) and confirmed viral infection (n = 20). We show for the first time that bacterial and viral infection produces distinct profile in the host lipidome. Some species of glycerophosphoinositol, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine and cholesterol sulfate were higher in the confirmed virus infected group, while some species of fatty acids, glycerophosphocholine, glycerophosphoserine, lactosylceramide and bilirubin were lower in the confirmed virus infected group when compared with confirmed bacterial infected group. A combination of three lipids achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.911 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.98). This pilot study demonstrates the potential of metabolic biomarkers to assist clinicians in distinguishing bacterial from viral infection in febrile children, to facilitate effective clinical management and to the limit inappropriate use of antibiotics

The Lopingian palynological Guttulapollenites hannonicus–Cladaitina veteadensis assemblage zone of Argentina, stratigraphical implications for Gondwana

The Lopingian Series, especially the Changhsingian Stage are here recognized for the first time in South America, in conjunction with the proposition of a new biostratigraphic unit for the uppermost Permian. The palynoflora recovered from the type section of the La Veteada Formation, La Rioja Province, Paganzo Basin, Argentina, allows the definition of the Guttulapollenites hannonicus–Cladaitina veteadensis (HV) Assemblage Zone. It is characterized by the appearance of Guttulapollenites hannonicus, Cladaitina veteadensis, Secarisporites imperialis, Densoisporites complicatus and Syndesmorion stellatum, together with Reduviasporonites chalastus, Klausipollenites spp., Minutosaccus acutus, Scheuringipollenites ovatus, Triadispora crassa, Vitreisporites pallidus, V. microsaccus, Corisaccites alutas, Staurosaccites cordubensis, scarse Vittatina simplex and Weylandites spp.; its descreteness is supported by various statistical analyses. The new HV Zone contains the co-occurrence of species characteristic both of the Permian (Syndesmorion stellatum, Jugasporites spp., Striomonosaccites circularis, S. triangularis, Lueckisporites angoulensis, L. crassus, L. balmei, Lunatisporites variesectus, L. globus, Protohaploxypinus suchonensis, Striatopocarpites phaleratus) and the Triassic (Densoisporites spp., Lundbladispora brevicula, L. obsoleta, L. springsurensis, L. wilmotti, Ringosporites fossulatus, Goubinispora morondavensis, Minutosaccus potoniei, M. schizeatus). Therefore, it likely represents a flora developed close to the extinction of end Permian event. The HV Zone is herein referring to the latest Lopingian (Changhsingian stage) without discard that it could probably extends to lowermost Triassic in age.Fil: Gutierrez, Pedro Raul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Zavattieri, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Noetinger, Maria Sol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentin

Condensador de 4 etapas para gas de pirólisis para obtención de aceite

La pirólisis es un proceso en el cual se descompone materia orgánica u otros materiales a altas temperaturas en ausencia de oxígeno generando una corriente gaseosa como principal efluente. Esta corriente egresa del reactor a 400 ºC aproximadamente y está compuesta por gases volátiles y no volátiles, los cuales, al disminuir la temperatura condensan y forman aceites conalto poder calorífico. El objetivo de este trabajo es diseñar un condensador de calor siguiendo la tipología de tubo y coraza capaz de ser utilizado en un proceso de pirólisis para extraer calor, deforma que todos aquellos compuestos no volátiles presentes en la corriente condensen en forma de aceite. Para esto se diseñó un equipo que cumpla con las condiciones necesarias para enfriar la corriente gaseosa generada en el reactor al introducir 10 kg de neumáticos en desuso. Una vez obtenidas las dimensiones del equipo se procede a realizar pruebas tales como el cálculo dela presión interna sobre las paredes del intercambiador, análisis de deformaciones por temperaturas, pérdida de carga y simulación de flujo de partículas utilizando mecánica computacional, además de un análisis exhaustivo del material a utilizar. De esta investigación se obtuvo como resultado un aparato condensador cuyas dimensiones son 1000 mm de largo y 200mm de diámetro con 4 salidas para distintas clases de aceites dependiendo de su temperatura de condensación. Para maximizar la zona de contacto se introducen 7 deflectores longitudinales,que aumentaran la trayectoria del gas dentro de la coraza, mientras que el agua utilizada como agente refrigerante circula por 10 tubos a contracorriente. En este trabajo se modeló y diseñó exitosamente un condensador especial para gas pirolítico.Fil: Gutierrez, Maria Sol. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Lozano Rus, Mercedes. Canale SRL; ArgentinaFil: Magallanes, Leisa Maria. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Canale, Norberto. Canale SRL; ArgentinaFil: Molisani Yolitti, Leonardo. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Gayol, Maria Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaVIII Congreso Argentino de Ingeniería Mecánica; III Congreso Argentino de Ingeniería FerroviariaSanta FeArgentinaUniversidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Santa FeForo Docente del Área Mecánica de las Ingeniería

Modulating Charge-Carrier Dynamics in Mn-Doped All-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots through the Doping-Induced Deep Trap States

Transition-metal ion doping has been demonstrated to be effective for tuning the photoluminescence properties of perovskite quantum dots (QDs). However, it would inevitably introduce defects in the lattice. As the Mn concentration increases, the Mn dopant photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) first increases and then decreases. Herein the influence of the dopant and the defect states on the photophysics in Mn-doped CsPbCl3 QDs was studied by time-resolved spectroscopies, whereas the energy levels of the possible defect states were analyzed by density functional theory calculations. We reveal the formation of deep interstitials defects (Cli) by Mn2+ doping. The depopulation of initial QD exciton states is a competition between exciton-dopant energy transfer and defect trapping on an early time scale (<100 ps), which determines the final PLQY of the QDs. The present work establishes a robust material optimization guideline for all of the emerging applications where a high PLQY is essential

Exploring the light-induced dynamics in solvated metallogrid complexes with femtosecond pulses across the electromagnetic spectrum

Oligonuclear complexes of d4–d7 transition metal ion centers that undergo spin-switching have long been developed for their practical role in molecular electronics. Recently, they also have appeared as promising photochemical reactants demonstrating improved stability. However, the lack of knowledge about their photophysical properties in the solution phase compared to mononuclear complexes is currently hampering their inclusion into advanced light-driven reactions. In the present study, the ultrafast photoinduced dynamics in a solvated [2 × 2] iron(II) metallogrid complex are characterized by combining measurements with transient optical-infrared absorption and x-ray emission spectroscopy on the femtosecond time scale. The analysis is supported by density functional theory calculations. The photocycle can be described in terms of intra-site transitions, where the FeII centers in the low-spin state are independently photoexcited. The Franck–Condon state decays via the formation of a vibrationally hot high-spin (HS) state that displays coherent behavior within a few picoseconds and thermalizes within tens of picoseconds to yield a metastable HS state living for several hundreds of nanoseconds. Systematic comparison with the closely related mononuclear complex [Fe(terpy)2]2+ reveals that nuclearity has a profound impact on the photoinduced dynamics. More generally, this work provides guidelines for expanding the integration of oligonuclear complexes into new photoconversion schemes that may be triggered by ultrafast spin-switching

Revealing Hot and Long-Lived Metastable Spin States in the Photoinduced Switching of Solvated Metallogrid Complexes with Femtosecond Optical and X-ray Spectroscopies

An atomistic understanding of the photoinduced spin-state switching (PSS) within polynuclear systems of d4–d7 transition metal ion complexes is required for their rational integration into light-driven reactions of chemical and biological interest. However, in contrast to mononuclear systems, the multidimensional dynamics of the PSS in solvated molecular arrays have not yet been elucidated due to the expected complications associated with the connectivity between the metal centers and the strong interactions with the surroundings. In this work, the PSS in a solvated triiron(II) metallogrid complex is characterized using transient optical absorption and X-ray emission spectroscopies on the femtosecond time scale. The complementary measurements reveal the photoinduced creation of energy-rich (hot) and long-lived quintet states, whose dynamics differ critically from their mononuclear congeners. This finding opens major prospects for developing novel schemes in solution-phase spin chemistry that are driven by the dynamic PSS process in compact oligometallic arrays