Aggregation of monitoring datasets for functional diversity estimation

Long-term monitoring data is central for the analysis of biodiversity change and its drivers. Time series allow a more accurate evaluation of diversity indices, trait identification and community turnover. However, evaluating data collected across different monitoring programs remains complicated because of data discrepancies and inconsistencies. Here we propose a method for aggregating datasets using diffusion maps. The method is illustrated by aggregating long-term phytoplankton abundance data from the Wadden Sea and Southern North Sea gathered by two institutions located in Germany and The Netherlands. The aggregated data allowed us to infer species traits, to reconstruct the main trait axis which drives community functionality, ultimately quantifying functional diversity of the individual samples, having used only the co-occurrence of species in samples. Although functional diversity varies greatly among sampling stations, we detect a slight positive trend in German stations, which contrasts with the clear decreasing trend observed in most of the Dutch Wadden Sea stations. At the Terschelling transect, in Southern North Sea, the stations also showed contrasting estimations of functional diversity between off-shore and in-shore stations. Our research provides further evidence that traits and functional diversity can be robustly reconstructed from monitoring data alone, showing that data aggregation can increase the accuracy of this reconstruction, being able to aggregate heterogeneous datasets

Quantum fluctuations as deviation from classical dynamics of ensemble of trajectories parameterized by unbiased hidden random variable

A quantization method based on replacement of c-number by c-number parameterized by an unbiased hidden random variable is developed. In contrast to canonical quantization, the replacement has straightforward physical interpretation as statistical modification of classical dynamics of ensemble of trajectories, and implies a unique operator ordering. We then apply the method to develop quantum measurement without wave function collapse \'a la pilot-wave theory.Comment: 14 pages, accepted in Physica

HSP70 interacting protein prevents the accumulation of inclusions in polyglutamine disease1

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associated with the proteinaceous inclusions that characterise many neurodegenerative diseases. This suggests they may be associated with disease aetiology and/or represents an attempt to remove abnormal protein aggregates. In this study the adenoviral mediated over-expression of HSP70 interacting protein (HIP) alone was shown to significantly reduce inclusion formation in both an in vitro model of Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy and a primary neuronal model of polyglutamine disease. Experiments to determine the mechanism of action showed that: denatured luciferase activity (a measure of protein refolding) was not increased in the presence of HIP alone but was increased when HIP was co-expressed with HSP70 or Heat Shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70); the expression of polyglutamine inclusions in cortical neurons mediated an increase in the levels of HSC70 but not HSP70. Our data suggest that HIP may prevent inclusion formation by facilitating the constitutive HSC70 refolding cycle and possibly by preventing aggregation. HIP expression is not increased following stress and its over-expression may therefore reduce toxic polyglutamine aggregation events and contribute to an effective therapeutic strategy

Comprehensive overview of the analytical methods for determining pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their derived oxides in foods

Producción CientíficaPyrrolizidine alkaloids and their derived oxides are toxins naturally produced by plants when they are exposed to stress factors. In particular, the unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids exhibiting a double bond between the 1,2-positions have caused great interest in recent years since they have pneumotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effects upon ingestion. In this review, focus on their chemical structure justifying their toxicity is provided as well as insight on the recently adopted EU regulatory framework. In addition, to reveal current trends and highlight the research effort in the field, an all-time bibliometric analysis was performed for the first time. It was found that tea, infusions, honey, spices, and cereals are the most common foodstuffs in which pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been detected. In terms of pre-analytical steps, the application of efficient sample preparation is necessary to detect pyrrolizidine alkaloids in complex food matrices. Solvent extraction followed by a clean-up stage, e.g., solid-phase extraction was the most applied option. Focusing on the analytical methods, liquid chromatography combined with various mass spectrometry detectors has been the golden standard in the field. Gas chromatography methods were also applied, but the need for analyte derivatisation has hindered their application. All in all, this review provides an overview on the analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their derived oxides, comprehensively discussing the up-to-date advances and highlighting the analytical challenges to be faced.METROFOOD-CZ research infrastructure project (MEYS Grant No: LM2018100

New genes involved in Angelman syndrome-like: Expanding the genetic spectrum

Síndrome de Angelman; FenotipoSíndrome d'Angelman; FenotipAngelman syndrome; PhenotypeAngelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by severe developmental delay with absence of speech, happy disposition, frequent laughter, hyperactivity, stereotypies, ataxia and seizures with specific EEG abnormalities. There is a 10–15% of patients with an AS phenotype whose genetic cause remains unknown (Angelman-like syndrome, AS-like). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on a cohort of 14 patients with clinical features of AS and no molecular diagnosis. As a result, we identified 10 de novo and 1 X-linked pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 10 neurodevelopmental genes (SYNGAP1, VAMP2, TBL1XR1, ASXL3, SATB2, SMARCE1, SPTAN1, KCNQ3, SLC6A1 and LAS1L) and one deleterious de novo variant in a candidate gene (HSF2). Our results highlight the wide genetic heterogeneity in AS-like patients and expands the differential diagnosis.This work is supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MG, PI16/01411), Asociación Española de Síndrome de Angelman (EG), Institut d’investigació i innovació Parc Taulí I3PT (CA, CIR2016/025, CIR2018/021) and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (XD, SAF2016-14 80255-R). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Impact of gut hormone FGF-19 on type-2 diabetes and mitochondrial recovery in a prospective study of obese diabetic women undergoing bariatric surgery

The ileal-derived hormone, fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF-19), may promote weight loss and facilitate type-2 diabetes mellitus remission in bariatric surgical patients. We investigated the effect of different bariatric procedures on circulating FGF-19 levels and the resulting impact on mitochondrial health in white adipose tissue (AT).Obese and type-2 diabetic women (n = 39, BMI > 35 kg/m2) undergoing either biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), laparoscopic greater curvature plication (LGCP), or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) participated in this ethics approved study. Anthropometry, biochemical, clinical data, serum, and AT biopsies were collected before and 6 months after surgery. Mitochondrial gene expression in adipose biopsies and serum FGF-19 levels were then assessed.All surgeries led to metabolic improvements with BPD producing the greatest benefits on weight loss (↓30%), HbA1c (↓28%), and cholesterol (↓25%) reduction, whilst LGCP resulted in similar HbA1c improvements (adjusted for BMI). Circulating FGF-19 increased in both BPD and LGCP (χ2(2) = 8.088; P = 0.018), whilst, in LAGB, FGF-19 serum levels decreased (P = 0.028). Interestingly, circulating FGF-19 was inversely correlated with mitochondrial number in AT across all surgeries (n = 39). In contrast to LGCP and LAGB, mitochondrial number in BPD patients corresponded directly with changes in 12 of 14 mitochondrial genes assayed (P  LGCP > LAGB), and highlighting mitochondria in AT as a potential target of FGF-19 during diabetes remission

AI-augmented business process management systems: a research manifesto

AI-augmented Business Process Management Systems (ABPMSs) are an emerging class of process-aware information systems, empowered by trustworthy AI technology. An ABPMS enhances the execution of business processes with the aim of making these processes more adaptable, proactive, explainable, and context-sensitive. This manifesto presents a vision for ABPMSs and discusses research challenges that need to be surmounted to realize this vision. To this end, we define the concept of ABPMS, we outline the lifecycle of processes within an ABPMS, we discuss core characteristics of an ABPMS, and we derive a set of challenges to realize systems with these characteristics

Augmented Business Process Management Systems: A Research Manifesto

Augmented Business Process Management Systems (ABPMSs) are an emerging class of process-aware information systems that draws upon trustworthy AI technology. An ABPMS enhances the execution of business processes with the aim of making these processes more adaptable, proactive, explainable, and context-sensitive. This manifesto presents a vision for ABPMSs and discusses research challenges that need to be surmounted to realize this vision. To this end, we define the concept of ABPMS, we outline the lifecycle of processes within an ABPMS, we discuss core characteristics of an ABPMS, and we derive a set of challenges to realize systems with these characteristics.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur

CILAIR-Based Secretome Analysis of Obese Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues Reveals Distinctive ECM Remodeling and Inflammation Mediators

In the context of obesity, strong evidences support a distinctive pathological contribution of adipose tissue depending on its anatomical site of accumulation. Therefore, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) has been lately considered metabolically benign compared to visceral fat (VAT), whose location is associated to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and other associated comorbidities. Under the above situation, the chronic local inflammation that characterizes obese adipose tissue, has acquired a major role on the pathogenesis of obesity. In this work, we have analyzed for the first time human obese VAT and SAT secretomes using an improved quantitative proteomic approach for the study of tissue secretomes, Comparison of Isotope-Labeled Amino acid Incorporation Rates (CILAIR). The use of double isotope-labeling-CILAIR approach to analyze VAT and SAT secretomes allowed the identification of location-specific secreted proteins and its differential secretion. Additionally to the very high percentage of identified proteins previously implicated in obesity or in its comorbidities, this approach was revealed as a useful tool for the study of the obese adipose tissue microenvironment including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and inflammatory status. The results herein presented reinforce the fact that VAT and SAT depots have distinct features and contribute differentially to metabolic disease