Evaluation of a Bayesian Algorithm to Detect Burned Areas in the Canary Islands’ Dry Woodlands and Forests Ecoregion Using MODIS Data

Burned Area (BA) is deemed as a primary variable to understand the Earth’s climate system. Satellite remote sensing data have allowed for the development of various burned area detection algorithms that have been globally applied to and assessed in diverse ecosystems, ranging from tropical to boreal. In this paper, we present a Bayesian algorithm (BY-MODIS) that detects burned areas in a time series of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from 2002 to 2012 of the Canary Islands’ dry woodlands and forests ecoregion (Spain). Based on daily image products MODIS, MOD09GQ (250 m), and MOD11A1 (1 km), the surface spectral reflectance and the land surface temperature, respectively, 10 day composites were built using the maximum temperature criterion. Variables used in BY-MODIS were the Global Environment Monitoring Index (GEMI) and Burn Boreal Forest Index (BBFI), alongside the NIR spectral band, all of which refer to the previous year and the year the fire took place in. Reference polygons for the 14 fires exceeding 100 hectares and identified within the period under analysis were developed using both post-fire LANDSAT images and official information from the forest fires national database by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment of Spain (MAPAMA). The results obtained by BY-MODIS can be compared to those by official burned area products, MCD45A1 and MCD64A1. Despite that the best overall results correspond to MCD64A1, BY-MODIS proved to be an alternative for burned area mapping in the Canary Islands, a region with a great topographic complexity and diverse types of ecosystems. The total burned area detected by the BY-MODIS classifier was 64.9% of the MAPAMA reference data, and 78.6% according to data obtained from the LANDSAT images, with the lowest average commission error (11%) out of the three products and a correlation (R2) of 0.82. The Bayesian algorithm—originally developed to detect burned areas in North American boreal forests using AVHRR archival data Long-Term Data Record—can be successfully applied to a lower latitude forest ecosystem totally different from the boreal ecosystem and using daily time series of satellite images from MODIS with a 250 m spatial resolution, as long as a set of training areas adequately characterising the dynamics of the forest canopy affected by the fire is defined

Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) is an upstream nucleosomal kinase required for the assembly of 53BP1 foci in response to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage

Cellular responses to DNA damage require the formation of protein complexes in a highly organized fashion. The complete molecular components that participate in the sequential signaling response to DNA damage remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) in resting cells plays an important role in the formation of ionizing radiationinduced foci that assemble on the 53BP1 scaffold protein during the DNA damage response. The kinase VRK1 is activated by DNA double strand breaks induced by ionizing radiation (IR) and specifically phosphorylates 53BP1 in serum-starved cells. VRK1 knockdown resulted in the defective formation of 53BP1 foci in response to IR both in number and size. This observed effect on 53BP1 foci is p53- and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-independent and can be rescued with VRK1 mutants resistant to siRNA. VRK1 knockdown also prevented the activating phosphorylation of ATM, CHK2, and DNA-dependent protein kinase in response to IR. VRK1 activation in response to DNA damage is a novel and early step in the signaling of mammalian DNA damage responses.This work was supported in part by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Grants SAF2010-14935 and CSD2007-0017, Junta de Castilla y León Grants CSI006A11-2 and GR-15, and the Kutxa-Fundación Inbiomed. Supported by Junta para la Ampliación de Estudios-CSIC-Fondo Social Europeo fellowships.Peer Reviewe

The influence of untreated sugarcane bagasse ash on the microstructural and mechanical properties of mortars

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effects of the addition of untreated sugarcane bagasse ash (UtSCBA) on the microstructural and mechanical properties of mortars. The SCBA was sieved for only five minutes through a No. 200 ASTM mesh, and fully characterized by chemical composition analysis, laser ray diffraction, the physical absorption of gas, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Mortar mixtures with 0, 10 and 20% UtSCBA as cement replacement and a constant 0.63 water/cementitious material ratio were prepared. Fresh properties of the mortars were obtained. The microstructural characteristics of the mortars at 1, 7, 28, 90 and 600 days were evaluated by SEM and XRD. The compressive strengths of the mortars at the same ages were then obtained. The results show that the addition of 10 and 20% UtSCBA caused a slight decrease in workability of the mortars but improved their microstructure, increasing the long-term compressive strength. Keywords: Pozzolan, waste treatment, mortar, hydration products, compressive strength RESUMEN: Influencia de la ceniza de bagazo de caña sin tratamiento en la microestructura y propiedades mecánicas de morteros. En esta investigación se evaluó el efecto de la adición de ceniza de bagazo de caña (CBC) en la microestructura de morteros. La CBC fue tamizada durante 5 minutos a través de la malla No. 200 ASTM y evaluada mediante pruebas de análisis químico, difracción láser, absorción física de gases, Microscopia Electrónica de Barrido (MEB) y Difracción de Rayos X (DRX). Se elaboraron mezclas de mortero con 0, 10 y 20% de CBC como sustituto parcial del cemento manteniendo una relación agua/materiales-cementantes de 0.63. Se realizaron pruebas en estado fresco y pruebas de caracterización microestructural a través de MEB y DRX y de resistencia a la compresión a edades de 1, 7, 28, 90 y 600 días. Los resultados muestran que la adición de 10 y 20% de CBC decrementa la trabajabilidad de los morteros, sin embargo, mejora su microestructura e incrementa su resistencia a la compresión a edades tardías. Palabras clave: Puzolana, Tratamiento de residuos, Mortero, Productos de hidratación, Resistencia a la compresió

The nature of dust in compact Galactic planetary nebulae from Spitzer spectra

We present the Spitzer/IRS spectra of 157 compact Galactic PNe. These young PNe provide insight on the effects of dust in early post-AGB evolution, before much of the dust is altered or destroyed by the hardening stellar radiation field. Most of the selected targets have PN-type IRS spectra, while a few turned out to be misclassified stars. We inspected the group properties of the PN spectra and classified them based on the different dust classes (featureless, carbon-rich dust; oxygen-rich dust; mixed-chemistry dust) and subclasses (aromatic and aliphatic; crystalline and amorphous). All PNe are characterized by dust continuum and more than 80% of the sample shows solid state features above the continuum, in contrast with the Magellanic Cloud sample where only ~40% of the entire sample displays solid state features; this is an indication of the strong link between dust properties and metallicity. The Galactic PNe that show solid state features are almost equally divided among the CRD, ORD, and MCD. We analyzed dust properties together with other PN properties and found that (i) there is an enhancement of MCD PNe toward the Galactic center; (ii) CRD PNe could be seen as defining an evolutionary sequence, contrary to the ORD and MCD PNe; (iii) C- and O-rich grains retain different equilibrium temperatures, as expected from models; (iv) ORD PNe are highly asymmetric and CRD PNe highly symmetric; point-symmetry is statistically more common in MCD. We find that the Galactic Disk sample does not include MCD PNe, and the other dust classes are differently populated from high to low metallicity environments. The MCPNe seem to attain higher dust temperatures at similar evolutionary stages, in agreement with the observational findings of smaller dust grains in low metallicity interstellar environments.Comment: The Astrophysical Journal, in press (76 pages, 36 figures and 6 Tables

Pathogenic convergence of CNVs in genes functionally associated to a severe neuromotor developmental delay syndrome.

Background Complex developmental encephalopathy syndromes might be the consequence of unknown genetic alterations that are likely to contribute to the full neurological phenotype as a consequence of pathogenic gene combinations. Methods To identify the additional genetic contribution to the neurological phenotype, we studied as a test case a boy, with a KCNQ2 exon-7 partial duplication, by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray to detect copy-number variations (CNVs). Results The proband presented a cerebral palsy like syndrome with a severe motor and developmental encephalopathy. The SNP array analysis detected in the proband several de novo CNVs, nine partial gene losses (LRRC55, PCDH9, NALCN, RYR3, ELAVL2, CDH13, ATP1A2, SLC17A5, ANO3), and two partial gene duplications (PCDH19, EFNA5). The biological functions of these genes are associated with ion channels such as calcium, chloride, sodium, and potassium with several membrane proteins implicated in neural cell-cell interactions, synaptic transmission, and axon guidance. Pathogenically, these functions can be associated to cerebral palsy, seizures, dystonia, epileptic crisis, and motor neuron dysfunction, all present in the patient. Conclusions Severe motor and developmental encephalopathy syndromes of unknown origin can be the result of a phenotypic convergence by combination of several genetic alterations in genes whose physiological function contributes to the neurological pathogenic mechanism.post-print783 K

Spatial characterization of glacial and periglacial landforms in the highlands of Sierra Nevada (Spain)

Sierra Nevada constitutes the southernmost and highest massif in the Iberian Peninsula, with elevations exceeding 3000m. Two large glacial advances were recorded during the Last Glaciation and several minor advances occurred until the Early Holocene. Since then, periglacial activity has prevailed above 2500m. Here, we present a new and more accurate geomorphological map of the highlands of Sierra Nevada, integrating in a GIS environment i) high resolution satellite imagery, ii) topographic data, and iii) field observations. This approach has allowed a better characterization of the spatial extent of cold-climate morphogenic processes and associated landforms formed during the Last Glaciation and subsequent deglaciation. Despite its extension and high altitude, the steep relief of Sierra Nevada and its southern location conditioned a significantly lower glaciated surface (104.6km2) with respect to other Iberian massifs. We have also inferred the paleoclimatic conditions of the study area through the calculation of Equilibrium Line Altitudes (ELAs). The distribution of the lowest moraines suggests an ELA for the maximum glacial extent at 2525m in the northern slope and 2650m in the southern side, increasing towards the east. Local ELA differences are related to: (i) the influence of the warmer Mediterranean Sea in contrast to the cooler Atlantic Ocean, (ii) the climate with more continental characteristics on the northern slope, and (iii) the microscale control of the local topography. Mean annual air temperatures in the ice-free summit plateaus were between -4/-6°C during the maximum local glacial extent, determining permafrost conditions with intense periglacial dynamics. Rock glaciers and protalus lobes developed until 2500m, the lowest boundary for permafrost regime. The distribution of other glacial and periglacial landforms within the limits of the maximum ice extent provides evidence to better understand the extent of subsequent glacial stages and post-glacial landscape evolution in Sierra Nevada.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

La restauración de Sambucus palmensis en La Gomera: Conservación genética y modelización de nicho climático

La conservación de especies vegetales amenazadas a menudo conlleva la restauración de sus poblaciones naturales, ya sea mediante el refuerzo de las poblaciones existentes, la reintroducción de poblaciones extintas o la introducción de nuevos núcleos. Antes de comenzar acciones de restauración, es esencial conocer la biología de las especies con el fin de determinar los factores más importantes que limitan el crecimiento de la población fundadora (Heywood & Iriondo, 2003

Effect of the inclusion of herbal phosphatidylcholine on palatability, digestibility and metabolisable energy of the diet in dogs

This study aimed to evaluate the palatability, nutrient digestibility, metabolisable energy (ME) and faecal characteristics of diets in dogs fed increasing levels of herbal phosphatidylcholine (herbal mix) versus an unsupplemented diet (with only 377 mg choline provided by 1 kg food) or choline chloride1 (2000 mg choline/kg food) in 40 adult dogs. In experiment 1, a palatability test was conducted to make two pairwise comparisons: 0 versus 200; and 0 versus 400 mg/kg herbal mix. In experiment 2, a digestibility test was performed to evaluate herbal mix at 0, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg and 2000 mg choline provided by choline chloride. Results from experiment 1 indicated that the dogs preferred diets containing herbal mix to the unsupplemented diet (P<0.05). In experiment 2, nutrient digestibility and faecal characteristics were not influenced by the treatment (P<0.059). The inclusion of 400 mg/kg of herbal mix increased the ME (quadratic effect, P<0.01). In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that the inclusion of a herbal mix rich in phosphatidylcholine (1.6%) and other methylated metabolites at 400 mg/kg can fully replace choline chloride in dog diets

Automatic linguistic reporting of customer activity patterns in open malls

In this work, we present a complete system to produce an automatic linguistic reporting about the customer activity patterns inside open malls, a mixed distribution of classical malls joined with the shops on the street. These reports can assist to design marketing campaigns by means of identifying the best places to catch the attention of customers. Activity patterns are estimated with process mining techniques and the key information of localization. Localization is obtained with a parallelized solution based on WiFi fingerprint system to speed up the solution. In agreement with the best practices for human evaluation of natural language generation systems, the linguistic quality of the generated report was evaluated by 41 experts who filled in an online questionnaire. Results are encouraging, since the average global score of the linguistic quality dimension is 6.17 (0.76 of standard deviation) in a 7-point Likert scale. This expresses a high degree of satisfaction of the generated reports and validates the adequacy of automatic natural language textual reports as a complementary tool to process model visualization. © 2021, The Author(s)

Association of objectively measured physical fitness during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal outcomes. The GESTAFIT Project

Aim To analyse i) the association of physical fitness during early second trimester and late pregnancy with maternal and neonatal outcomes; and ii) to investigate whether physical fitness is associated with the type of birth (vaginal or caesarean section). Methods Pregnant women from the GESTAFIT Project (n = 159) participated in this longitudinal study. Maternal physical fitness including upper- and lower-body strength, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and flexibility were measured through objective physical fitness tests at the 16th and 34th gestational weeks. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected from obstetric medical records. Umbilical arterial and venous blood gas pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and oxygen (PO2), were assessed. Results At the 16th week, greater upper-body muscle strength was associated with greater neonatal birth weight (r = 0.191, p<0.05). Maternal flexibility was associated with a more alkaline arterial pH (r = 0.220, p<0.05), higher arterial PO2 (r = 0.237, p<0.05) and lower arterial PCO2 (r = -0.331, p<0.01) in umbilical cord blood. Maternal CRF at the 16th gestational week was related to higher arterial umbilical cord PO2 (r = 0.267, p<0.05). The women who had caesarean sections had lower CRF (p<0.001) at the 16th gestational week and worse clustered overall physical fitness, both at the 16th (-0.227, p = 0.003, confidence interval (CI): -0.376, -0.078) and 34th gestational week (-0.223; p = 0.018; CI: -0.432, -0.015) compared with the women who had vaginal births. Conclusion Increasing physical fitness during pregnancy may promote better neonatal outcomes and is associated with a decrease in the risk of caesarean section. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02582567) on October 20, 2015.This study was part of VAA fellowship from the Andalucı´a Talent-Hub Program, launched by the Andalusian Knowledge Agency, co-funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (COFUND–Grant Agreement nº291780) and the Junta de Andalucı´a. ICR (grant number: FPU13/01993) was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education. This study was also partially funded by the Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucı´a (PI-0395-2016) and the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacio´n 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript