Estratigrafía del Cretácico Superior en las cabezeras de los Valles de Ansó y Roncal (Pirineo Occidental)

Se estudian tres columnas estratigráficas del Cretácico superior situadas en el Soum de Léche, Collado de Petrechema y Collado de Petraficha. Abarcan desde el Cenomanense al Maestrichtiense y en ellas se describe su litología y contenido en fósiles a partir del estudio de láminas delgadas. Discordante sobre el Paleozóico se sitúa un tramo de areniscas azóicas que, por su composición, se asemejan a la Fm. Arenas de Utrillas (Albense-Cenomanense inf.). El Cenomanense está representado por calizas y calizas arenosas y arcillosas; presenta un reducido espesor (1 a 3 m) y contiene principalmente Prealveolina y Daxia: El Turonense-Coniaciense, con menos de 5 m, está constituido por biomicritas y se ha caracterizado por la presencia de "Rotalina", Tritaxia y Pithonella. El Santoniense constituye la formación más importante, -conocida como «caliza de los cañones»- con un espesor que llega a superar los 300 m. Se trata de calcarenitas con intracIastos y pellets, con abundante contenido en microfósiles, entre los que destacan Dictyopsella, Dicyclina, Cuneolina, Martiguesia y en la parte superior Lacazina. El Campaniense, con unos 55 m, comienza por calizas con nódulos de sílex o areniscas finas muy calcáreas con Monolepidorbis, a las que siguen calcilutitas arcillosas con Globotruncana y Pithonella. El Maestrichtiense comienza por calizas arcillosas con esquistosidad que contienen Globotruncana, Navarella y Rugoglobigerina, seguidas por una serie turbidítica margoso-areniscosa. Se pone de manifiesto la posible existencia de un hiato entre el Turonense y Coniacense. Los niveles del Albense-Cenomanense inf. presentan una disminución del tamaño de grano hacia el sur. La transgresión cenomanense instaura un régimen de ambiente litoral, que en el Turonense y/o Coniacense se mantiene, evolucionando a un medio de plataforma, posiblemente semiabierta, en el sector meridional. El Santoniense se ha depositado en un medio de plataforma interna carbonática con episodios de carácter arrecifal. Durante el Campaniense y parte del Maestrichtiense el medio es de plataforma externa dando paso a un medio turbidítico. Los nódulos de sílex que presenta el Campaniense en el sector septentrional pasan a silicificaciones dispersas en el sector meridional, aumentando en el mismo sentido la esquistosidad. La recristalización es más manifiesta en los tramos altos del Santoniense del sector meridional. Se muestra también la distribución estratigráfica de los principales micro fósiles determinados en la zona

Observaciones estratigráficas del paso del Jurásico marino a la facies purbeckiense en la región de Santander

En este trabajo se describen los principales rasgos estratigráficos la facies purbeckiense (RAMÍREZ DEL POZO) de Santander y, en especial, del paso de las facies marinas del Dogger a las salobres del Malm, estudiadas sobre tres secciones estratigráficas detalladas realizadas en Ramales y Alceda (Santander) y Aguilar de Campóo (Palencia en su límite con Santander). El paso de las facies marinas del Dogger a las salobres del Malm se realiza, en la región de Santander, mediante una fase detrítica que comienza con un conglomerado de base de cantos calcáreos que, en Ramales y Aguilar de Campóo, contiene cantos procedentes del Dogger, pero que en Alceda puede considerarse como una brecha intraformacional de edad Callovietise-Malm, cuyos intraclastos son de la misma naturaleza que el cemento

Variaciones sedimentarias durante el Eoceno medio en la sierra de Andía (Navarra)

In this paper, tkie stratigraphical and lithological character- istics of the Middle Eocene are established, in the Sierra de Andia (Navarra, Spain). Examples of the cross-stratification are described and the directional data analyzed. A study of the basin evolution is elaborated. It is pro- posed a correlation with the youngest sediments of the Sierra de Urbasa, situated more to the West

Estratigrafía del Aptense y Albense en la zona de Durango (Vizcaya), y estudio de la sedimentación de arcillas con formación de figuras en "bolas concéntricas"

En el Albense inferior de la zona de Durango, que se desarrolla sobre un Aptense formado por calizas organógenas arrecifales, hay unos niveles de arcillas, con desarrollo de figuras en "bolas concéntricas ", intercalados entre calizas arrecifales, que se producen como resultado de la sedimentación fina terrígena en las laderas de los arrecifes, y su transporte a fondos de cuencas interarrecifales de facies "Lagoon" en relación con la destrucción de los arrecifes por el oleaje al cesar la subsidencia. La sedimentación terrígena muy intensa produce, durante el Albense medio, el cese total de la actividad de los organismos constructores de calizas arrecifales. En el Albense superior vuelven a restablecerse temporal y localmente las condiciones favorables para la vida de los organismos coloniales biohermales, y, en los fondos entre estos arrecifes, se depositan nuevamente arcillas con figuras "en bolas concéntricas "

Las capas de "Bulimus" gerundensis Vidal, de la región de Utiel (Valencia)

Se da cuenta de nuevos hallazgos del Bulimus gerundensis, en la región de Utiel, estudiándose su situación estratigráfica, su relación con el Microcodium y su posible utilización paleogeogrifica

Glucose levels as a mediator of the detrimental effect of abdominal obesity on relative handgrip strength in older adults

Excess central adiposity accelerates the decline of muscle strength in older people. Additionally, hyperglycemia, independent of associated comorbidities, is related to the loss of muscle mass and strength, and contributes to functional impairment in older adults. We studied the mediation effect of glucose levels, in the relationship between abdominal obesity and relative handgrip strength (HGS). A total of 1571 participants (60.0% women, mean age 69.1 ± 7.0 years) from 86 municipalities were selected following a multistage area probability sampling design. Measurements included demographic and anthropometric/adiposity markers (weight, height, body mass index, and waist circumference). HGS was measured using a digital dynamometer for three sets and the mean value was recorded. The values were normalized to body weight (relative HGS). Fasting glucose was analyzed by enzymatic colorimetric methods. Mediation analyses were performed to identify associations between the independent variable (abdominal obesity) and outcomes (relative HGS), as well as to determine whether fasting glucose levels mediated the relationship between excess adiposity and relative HGS. A total of 1239 (78.8%) had abdominal obesity. Abdominal obesity had a negative effect on fasting glucose (β = 9.04, 95%CI = 5.87 to 12.21); while fasting glucose to relative HGS was inversely related (β = −0.003, 95%CI = −0.005 to −0.001), p < 0.001. The direct effect of abdominal obesity on relative HGS was statistically significant (β = −0.069, 95%CI = −0.082 to −0.057), p < 0.001. Lastly, fasting glucose levels mediates the detrimental effect of abdominal obesity on relative HGS (indirect effect β = −0.002, 95%CI = −0.004 to −0.001), p < 0.001. Our results suggest that the glucose level could worsen the association between abdominal obesity status and lower HGS. Thus, it is plausible to consider fasting glucose levels when assessing older adults with excess adiposity and/or suspected loss of muscle mass

Comparative Analysis of PvPAP Gene Family and Their Functions in Response to Phosphorus Deficiency in Common Bean

BACKGROUND: Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs) play a vital role in adaptive strategies of plants to phosphorus (P) deficiency. However, their functions in relation to P efficiency are fragmentary in common bean. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Five PvPAPs were isolated and sequenced in common bean. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PvPAPs could be classified into two groups, including a small group with low molecular mass, and a large group with high molecular mass. Among them, PvPAP3, PvPAP4 and PvPAP5 belong to the small group, while the other two belong to the large group. Transient expression of 35S:PvPAPs-GFP on onion epidermal cells verified the variations of subcellular localization among PvPAPs, suggesting functional diversities of PvPAPs in common bean. Quantitative PCR results showed that most PvPAPs were up-regulated by phosphate (Pi) starvation. Among them, the expression of the small group PvPAPs responded more to Pi starvation, especially in the roots of G19833, the P-efficient genotype. However, only overexpressing PvPAP1 and PvPAP3 could result in significantly increased utilization of extracellular dNTPs in the transgenic bean hairy roots. Furthermore, overexpressing PvPAP3 in Arabidopsis enhanced both plant growth and total P content when dNTPs were supplied as the sole external P source. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that PvPAPs in bean varied in protein structure, response to P deficiency and subcellular localization. Among them, both PvPAP1 and PvPAP3 might function as utilization of extracellular dNTPs

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Effectiveness of an mHealth intervention combining a smartphone app and smart band on body composition in an overweight and obese population: Randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT 3 study)

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to an improvement in health markers by helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. mHealth interventions have been widely reported to achieve greater weight loss than other approaches, but their effect on body composition remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to assess the short-term (3 months) effectiveness of a mobile app and a smart band for losing weight and changing body composition in sedentary Spanish adults who are overweight or obese. Methods: A randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted involving the participation of 440 subjects from primary care centers, with 231 subjects in the intervention group (IG; counselling with smartphone app and smart band) and 209 in the control group (CG; counselling only). Both groups were counselled about healthy diet and physical activity. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG was trained to use a smartphone app that involved self-monitoring and tailored feedback, as well as a smart band that recorded daily physical activity (Mi Band 2, Xiaomi). Body composition was measured using the InBody 230 bioimpedance device (InBody Co., Ltd), and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The mHealth intervention produced a greater loss of body weight (–1.97 kg, 95% CI –2.39 to –1.54) relative to standard counselling at 3 months (–1.13 kg, 95% CI –1.56 to –0.69). Comparing groups, the IG achieved a weight loss of 0.84 kg more than the CG at 3 months. The IG showed a decrease in body fat mass (BFM; –1.84 kg, 95% CI –2.48 to –1.20), percentage of body fat (PBF; –1.22%, 95% CI –1.82% to 0.62%), and BMI (–0.77 kg/m2, 95% CI –0.96 to 0.57). No significant changes were observed in any of these parameters in men; among women, there was a significant decrease in BMI in the IG compared with the CG. When subjects were grouped according to baseline BMI, the overweight group experienced a change in BFM of –1.18 kg (95% CI –2.30 to –0.06) and BMI of –0.47 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.80 to –0.13), whereas the obese group only experienced a change in BMI of –0.53 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.86 to –0.19). When the data were analyzed according to physical activity, the moderate-vigorous physical activity group showed significant changes in BFM of –1.03 kg (95% CI –1.74 to –0.33), PBF of –0.76% (95% CI –1.32% to –0.20%), and BMI of –0.5 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.83 to –0.19). Conclusions: The results from this multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial study show that compared with standard counselling alone, adding a self-reported app and a smart band obtained beneficial results in terms of weight loss and a reduction in BFM and PBF in female subjects with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 and a moderate-vigorous physical activity level. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to ensure that this profile benefits more than others from this intervention and to investigate modifications of this intervention to achieve a global effect