The Finnish lapphund retinal atrophy locus maps to the centromeric region of CFA9

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dogs have the second largest number of genetic diseases, after humans. Among the diseases present in dogs, progressive retinal atrophy has been reported in more than a hundred breeds. In some of them, the mutation has been identified and genetic tests have allowed the identification of carriers, thus enabling a drastic reduction in the incidence of the disease. The Finnish lapphund is a dog breed presenting late-onset progressive retinal atrophy for which the disease locus remains unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study we mapped the progressive retinal atrophy locus in the Finnish lapphund using a DNA pooling approach, assuming that all affected dogs within the breed share the same identical-by descent-mutation as the cause of the disease (genetic homogeneity). Autosomal recessive inheritance was also assumed, after ruling out, from pedigree analysis, dominant and X-linked inheritance. DNA from 12 Finnish lapphund cases was mixed in one pool, and DNA from 12 first-degree relatives of these cases was mixed to serve as the control pool. The 2 pools were tested with 133 microsatellite markers, 3 of which showed a shift towards homozygosity in the cases. Individual genotyping with these 3 markers confirmed homozygosity for the GALK1 microsatellite only (chromosome 9). Further individual genotyping with additional samples (4 cases and 59 controls) confirmed the association between this marker and the disease locus (p < 0.001). Closely related to this breed are the Swedish lapphund and the Lapponian herder for which a small number of retinal atrophy cases have been reported. Swedish lapphund cases, but not Lapponian herder cases, had the same GALK1 microsatellite genotype as Finnish lapphund cases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The locus for progressive rod-cone degeneration is known to be close to the GALK1 locus, on the telomeric region of chromosome 9, where the retinal atrophy locus of the Finnish lapphund has been mapped. This suggests that the disease in this breed, as well as in the Swedish lapphund, may correspond to progressive rod-cone degeneration. This would increase the number of known dog breeds having this particular form of progressive retinal atrophy.</p

SPITZER observations of the λ Orionis cluster. II. Disks around solar-type and low-mass stars

We present IRAC/MIPS Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the solar-type and the low-mass stellar population of the young (~5Myr) λ Orionis cluster. Combining optical and Two Micron All Sky Survey photometry, we identify 436 stars as probable members of the cluster. Given the distance (450 pc) and the age of the cluster, our sample ranges in mass from 2 M_⊙ to objects below the substellar limit. With the addition of the Spitzer mid-infrared data, we have identified 49 stars bearing disks in the stellar cluster. Using spectral energy distribution slopes, we place objects in several classes: non-excess stars (diskless), stars with optically thick disks, stars with “evolved disks” (with smaller excesses than optically thick disk systems), and “transitional disk” candidates (in which the inner disk is partially or fully cleared). The disk fraction depends on the stellar mass, ranging from ~6% for K-type stars (R_C − J 4). We confirm the dependence of disk fraction on stellar mass in this age range found in other studies. Regarding clustering levels, the overall fraction of disks in the λ Orionis cluster is similar to those reported in other stellar groups with ages normally quoted as ~5Myr

Spitzer Observations of the Lambda Orionis cluster I: the frequency of young debris disks at 5 Myr

We present IRAC/MIPS Spitzer observations of intermediate-mass stars in the 5 Myr old Lambda Orionis cluster. In a representative sample of stars earlier than F5 (29 stars), we find a population of 9 stars with a varying degree of moderate 24um excess comparable to those produced by debris disks in older stellar groups. As expected in debris disks systems, those stars do not exhibit emission lines in their optical spectra. We also include in our study the star HD 245185, a known Herbig Ae object which displays excesses in all Spitzer bands and shows emission lines in its spectrum. We compare the disk population in the Lambda Orionis cluster with the disk census in other stellar groups studied using similar methods to detect and characterize their disks and spanning a range of ages from 3 Myr to 10 Myr. We find that for stellar groups of 5 Myr or older the observed disk frequency in intermediate mass stars (with spectral types from late B to early F) is higher than in low mass stars (with spectral types K and M). This is in contradiction with the observed trend for primordial disks evolution, in which stars with higher stellar masses dissipate their primordial disks faster. At 3 Myr the observed disk frequency in intermediate mass stars is still lower than for low mass stars indicating that second generation dusty disks start to dominate the disk population at 5 Myr for intermediate mass stars. This result agrees with recent models of evolution of solids in the region of the disk where icy objects form (>30 AU), which suggest that at 5-10 Myr collisions start to produce large amount of dust during the transition from runaway to oligarchic growth (reaching sizes of ~500 km) and then dust production peaks at 10-30 Myr, when objects reach their maximum sizes (>1000 km)Comment: 29 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in the Astrophysical Journa

Plan estratégico para una alimentación sostenible, adecuada y sana en los escolares de Remedios, Cuba

The work consists of a plan proposed by the University of Remedios, Cuba, to improve the nutritional level of children and young people in the semi-internships of the municipality, to guarantee the variety and sustainability of agricultural products on the table, as well as their consumption. Thanks to this strong educational work, we contributed to improving the nutritional level of the students; For this, the 17 semi-internal centers of the territory and the four farms that guarantee these products in the educational centers were taken as a sample, they belong to the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP). For the design of the strategic plan, investigative methods were applied, among are observation, survey, interview, and logical history that served to make the initial diagnosis and verify the final results. The work as a whole reveals a sustainable contribution of agricultural products on the table of schoolchildren, achieving a high nutritional level in children, adolescents, and young people of these educational centers with these characteristics of semi-internships from a stable and sustainable consumption of these products since 2020 to 2022 when the strategy was applied.El trabajo consiste en un plan propuesto por la universidad de Remedios, Cuba, para mejorar el nivel nutricional de los niños y jóvenes en los seminternos del municipio, para garantizar la variedad y sostenibilidad de los productos agrícolas en la mesa, así como su consumo. Gracias a este fuerte trabajo educativo se contribuyó a mejorar el nivel nutricional de los educandos; para ello se tomó como muestra a los 17 centros seminternos del territorio y las cuatro fincas que garantizan estos productos en los centros educacionales, las mismas pertenecen a la Asociación Nacional de Agricultores Pequeños (ANAP). Para el diseño del plan estratégico se aplicaron métodos investigativos entre los que se encuentran la observación, la encuesta, la entrevista y el histórico lógico que sirvieron para hacer el diagnóstico inicial y constatar los resultados finales. El trabajo en su conjunto revela una contribución sostenible de productos agrícolas en la mesa de los escolares lográndose un elevado nivel nutricional en los niños, adolescentes y jóvenes de estos centros educacionales con estas características de seminternos a partir de un consumo estable y sostenible de estos productos desde el 2020 hasta el 2022, cuando se aplicó la estrategia.&nbsp

Effectiveness of Fosfomycin for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infections A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance The consumption of broad-spectrum drugs has increased as a consequence of the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli. Finding alternatives for these infections is critical, for which some neglected drugs may be an option. Objective To determine whether fosfomycin is noninferior to ceftriaxone or meropenem in the targeted treatment of bacteremic urinary tract infections (bUTIs) due to MDR E coli. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter, randomized, pragmatic, open clinical trial was conducted at 22 Spanish hospitals from June 2014 to December 2018. Eligible participants were adult patients with bacteremic urinary tract infections due to MDR E coli; 161 of 1578 screened patients were randomized and followed up for 60 days. Data were analyzed in May 2021. Interventions Patients were randomized 1 to 1 to receive intravenous fosfomycin disodium at 4 g every 6 hours (70 participants) or a comparator (ceftriaxone or meropenem if resistant; 73 participants) with the option to switch to oral fosfomycin trometamol for the fosfomycin group or an active oral drug or parenteral ertapenem for the comparator group after 4 days. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was clinical and microbiological cure (CMC) 5 to 7 days after finalization of treatment; a noninferiority margin of 7% was considered. Results Among 143 patients in the modified intention-to-treat population (median [IQR] age, 72 [62-81] years; 73 [51.0%] women), 48 of 70 patients (68.6%) treated with fosfomycin and 57 of 73 patients (78.1%) treated with comparators reached CMC (risk difference, −9.4 percentage points; 1-sided 95% CI, −21.5 to ∞ percentage points; P = .10). While clinical or microbiological failure occurred among 10 patients (14.3%) treated with fosfomycin and 14 patients (19.7%) treated with comparators (risk difference, −5.4 percentage points; 1-sided 95% CI, −∞ to 4.9; percentage points; P = .19), an increased rate of adverse event–related discontinuations occurred with fosfomycin vs comparators (6 discontinuations [8.5%] vs 0 discontinuations; P = .006). In an exploratory analysis among a subset of 38 patients who underwent rectal colonization studies, patients treated with fosfomycin acquired a new ceftriaxone-resistant or meropenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria at a decreased rate compared with patients treated with comparators (0 of 21 patients vs 4 of 17 patients [23.5%]; 1-sided P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance This study found that fosfomycin did not demonstrate noninferiority to comparators as targeted treatment of bUTI from MDR E coli; this was due to an increased rate of adverse event–related discontinuations. This finding suggests that fosfomycin may be considered for selected patients with these infections

PROPUESTA METODOLÓGICA PARA LA EVALUACIÓN DE LA EFICACIA DE LAS MEDIDAS DEL PLAN DE MANEJO AMBIENTAL Y APLICACIÓN A LA SOCIEDAD PORTUARIA RIO CÓRDOBA, EN EL MUNICIPIO DE CIÉNAGA (MAGDALENA)

El trabajo consiste en la elaboración de una metodología para la evaluación de la eficacia aplicable a cualquier PMA, la validación de está en una instalación de ARGOS y finalmente la presentación de los resultados obtenidos. El trabajo se realizó en el Puerto Río Córdoba, este se encuentra ubicado en el departamento del Magdalena, Municipio de Ciénaga, en este se realizan las actividades de recibo, almacenamiento y embarque de carbón.Desde el punto de vista metodológico se utiliza el método dialéctico que es una combinación entre los métodos deductivos y experimental para la elaboración del proyecto, con base en lo anterior se inicia con una detallada revisión de metodologías de evaluación de eficacia y elaboración de indicadores, luego se procede a la aplicación de la misma en una situación práctica, con el fin de identificar la utilidad y aplicabilidad de la herramienta elaborada. La metodología se aplicó en los programas de control de la contaminación atmosférica y en el programa de contaminación hídrica del PMA de la Sociedad Portuaria de Río Córdoba

Carbon dioxide and acetone mixtures as refrigerants for industry heat pumps to supply temperature in the range 150-220 ºC

Industry decarbonization is a key a challenge towards the transition to climate neutrality. Indeed, there is a need to satisfy heat at temperatures higher than 150 °C in relevant industrial sectors by upgrading lower temperature heat flows, such as heat from renewable heat sources, ambient heat or industrial waste heat. High temperature heat pumps (HTHP) can upgrade such heat flows enabling great savings in carbon emissions. New refrigerants are needed to develop HTHPs achieving high performances at high temperatures. This paper proposes the use of a new zeotropic mixture composed of carbon dioxide and acetone as the refrigerant of HTHPs working in the temperature range of 150-220 °C. The new fluid is compared with existing pure refrigerants currently used. The thermodynamic characterization of the CO2/acetone mixtures shows temperature glides below 50 K for CO2 mass fractions up to 10%. The best HTHP performance is shown for the mixture 5% CO2/95% acetone in mass fraction. For instance, such a mixture obtains a COP of 5.63 when the target outlet sink temperature is 200 °C and the temperature difference between the outlet heat sink and the inlet heat source is 70 K, showing an improvement of 46% compared to pure acetone.This work has been supported by the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid-Spain) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of Excellence of University Professors (EPUC3M22), and in the context of the V PRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation).Publicad