Erosión minera en la cuenca del arroyo Peñalén (Parque Natural del Alto Tajo, Guadalajara)

Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Harmonization of categorical maps by alignment processes and thematic consistency analysis

Nicolau, R., Basos, N., Marcelino, F., Caetano, M., & M. C. Pereira, J. (2020). Harmonization of categorical maps by alignment processes and thematic consistency analysis. AIMS Geosciences, 6(4), 473-490. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2020026This paper describes an approach for harmonizing historical vector categorical maps with related modern maps. The approach aims at the correction of geometric distortions and semantic disagreements using alignment processes and analysis of thematic coherence. The harmonized version of the map produced by this approach can already be overlaid with other maps, what was unfeasible with the original map. The positional errors of the old map are reduced by two consecutive geometric adjustments, which use transformations usually available in most GIS software. The thematic consistency between the old and the modern map is achieved by harmonizing their classification systems and by the inclusion of specific contents missing in the early map, but represented in the modern map (e.g. small rivers). This approach was tested in the geometric and thematic harmonization of the Portuguese Land Cover/Land Use (LCLU) map for 1990 (COS90). In this test, the 1995 orthorectified aerial images and the 1995 LCLU map (COS95) were used as reference sources of higher positional accuracy, to align the COS90 map. COS90 was firstly adjusted with the 1995 aerial images by an NTV2 grid transformation, developed by the authors. Then, for reduction of the local distortions, the map resulting from the first transformation was aligned with the COS95 by a rubber-sheeting linear interpolation transformation. This geometric harmonization enabled a decrease of the Root Mean Square Error of COS90 from 204 meters to 13 meters. The thematic harmonization of COS90 enabled its comparison with modern related maps, and the integration of 201 river sections, that were missing because the specifications used in the production of the original map did not allow their representation.publishersversionpublishe

Hacia una Minería Sostenible en el 95 entorno del Parque Natural del Alto Tajo. La escombrera experimental de la mina ‘El Machorro’(Poveda de la Sierra, Guadalajara)

Por su situación en el entorno de un espacio natural protegido, y sobre una ladera de pendiente y longitud elevadas, la restauración de la mina El Machorro constituye un importante reto científico y profesional. La empresa propietaria de esta mina, CAOBAR S.A., tiene entre sus objetivos demostrar la compatibilidad de la actividad minera con la conservación del medio ambiente. Por todo ello está acometiendo sucesivas revisiones de su Plan de Restauración del Espacio Natural (PREN), tratando de incorporar las mejores prácticas internacionales al respecto. Todo ello en colaboración con las universidades Complutense y de Alcalá (Madrid) y bajo la supervisión de la Dirección del Parque Natural del Alto Tajo. Una de las acciones más destacadas a ese respecto ha sido la construcción de una escombrera experimental, específicamente diseñada para mejorar la restauración de los terrenos afectados por la mina. En ella se estudia el comportamiento erosivo que tienen diferentes diseños de escombreras mediante la combinación de: (a) distintas topografías (cóncava y en terrazas); (b) distintos tipos de sustrato (estériles, coluviones y suelos originales); y (c) distintos tipos de revegetación (como hidrosiembras). En la comunicación se describen los detalles de la puesta en funcionamiento de esta escombrera experimental, así como los resultados obtenidos para el periodo 1 de noviembre de 2008 a 31 de marzo de 2009

CYP2C19 and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms are differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies have reported the clinical importance of <it>CYP2C19 </it>and <it>ABCB1 </it>polymorphisms in an individualized approach to clopidogrel treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequencies of <it>CYP2C19 </it>and <it>ABCB1 </it>polymorphisms and to identify the clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes according to ethnic groups in a sample of individuals representative of a highly admixtured population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and eighty-three Amerindians and 1,029 subjects of the general population of 4 regions of the country were included. Genotypes for the <it>ABCB1</it>c.C3435T (rs1045642), <it>CYP2C19*2 </it>(rs4244285), <it>CYP2C19*3 </it>(rs4986893), <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>(rs28399504), <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>(rs56337013), and <it>CYP2C19*17 </it>(rs12248560) polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by high resolution melting analysis. The <it>CYP2C19*3</it>, <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>variants were genotyped in a subsample of subjects (300 samples randomly selected).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>CYP2C19*3 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>variant alleles were not detected and the <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>variant allele presented a frequency of 0.3%. The allelic frequencies for the <it>ABCB1</it>c.C3435T, <it>CYP2C19*2 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*17 </it>polymorphisms were differently distributed according to ethnicity: Amerindian (51.4%, 10.4%, 15.8%); Caucasian descent (43.2%, 16.9%, 18.0%); Mulatto (35.9%, 16.5%, 21.3%); and African descent (32.8%, 20.2%, 26.3%) individuals, respectively. As a result, self-referred ethnicity was able to predict significantly different clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes prevalence even for a highly admixtured population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate the existence of inter-ethnic differences in the <it>ABCB1 </it>and <it>CYP2C19 </it>variant allele frequencies in the Brazilian general population plus Amerindians. This information could help in stratifying individuals from this population regarding clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes and design more cost-effective programs towards individualization of clopidogrel therapy.</p

Multidrug resistance 1 gene polymorphisms may determine Crohn's disease behavior in patients from Rio de Janeiro

OBJECTIVES: Conflicting data from studies on the potential role of multidrug resistance 1 gene polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel disease may result from the analysis of genetically and geographically distinct populations. Here, we investigated whether multidrug resistance 1 gene polymorphisms are associated with inflammatory bowel diseases in patients from Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: We analyzed 123 Crohn's disease patients and 83 ulcerative colitis patients to determine the presence of the multidrug resistance 1 gene polymorphisms C1236T, G2677T and C3435T. In particular, the genotype frequencies of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients were analyzed. Genotype-phenotype associations with major clinical characteristics were established, and estimated risks were calculated for the mutations. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the genotype frequencies of the multidrug resistance 1 G2677T/A and C3435T polymorphisms between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. In contrast, the C1236T polymorphism was significantly more common in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis (p = 0.047). A significant association was also found between the multidrug resistance 1 C3435T polymorphism and the stricturing form of Crohn's disease (OR: 4.13; p = 0.009), whereas no association was found with penetrating behavior (OR: 0.33; p = 0.094). In Crohn's disease, a positive association was also found between the C3435T polymorphism and corticosteroid resistance/refractoriness (OR: 4.14; p = 0.010). However, no significant association was found between multidrug resistance 1 gene polymorphisms and UC subphenotypic categories. CONCLUSION: The multidrug resistance 1 gene polymorphism C3435T is associated with the stricturing phenotype and an inappropriate response to therapy in Crohn's disease. This association with Crohn's disease may support additional pathogenic roles for the multidrug resistance 1 gene in regulating gut-microbiota interactions and in mediating fibrosis. Understanding the effects of several drugs associated with multidrug resistance 1 gene variants may aid in the selection of customized therapeutic regimens

The Role of Invasive Therapies in Elderly Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

INTRODUCTION: In elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction, very little is known about the role of surgical myocardial revascularization and percutaneous coronary intervention (invasive therapies - IT), especially in the context of long-term outcomes after hospital discharge. METHODS: We analyzed 1588 patients with MI who had been included prospectively in a databank and followed for up to 7.5 years. In this population, 548 patients were >70 years old (elderly group - EG), and 1040 were <70 years of age (younger group - YG); 1088 underwent IT during hospitalization, and the remaining 500 were treated medically (conservative therapy - CT). Patients were monitored either by visit or by phone at least once a year. A standard questionnaire was administered to all patients. The impact of IT was analyzed with both non-adjusted and adjusted models. RESULTS: By the end of the follow-up period, the survival rates for the IT and CT groups were, respectively, 71.9% versus 47.2% in the global population (hazard ratio=0.55, P<0.001), 81.5% versus 66.6% in the YG (hazard ratio=0.68, P=0.018) and 48.8% versus 20.3% in the EG (hazard ratio=0.58, P<0.001). In the adjusted models, the hazard ratios were 0.62 (P<0.001) in the global population, 0.74 in the YG (P=0.073) and 0.64 (P=0.001) in the EG. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up of patients with myocardial infarction revealed that IT during the in-hospital phase was at least as effective in elderly patients as in younger patients

New insights for diagnosis of Pineapple Fusariosis by MALDI-TOF MS technique

Fusarium is one of the most economically important fungal genus, since it includes many pathogenic species which cause a wide range of plant diseases. Morphological or molecular biology identification of Fusarium species is a limiting step in the fast diagnosis and treatment of plant disease caused by these fungi. Mass spectrometry by matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionisation-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-based fingerprinting approach was applied to the fungal growth monitoring and direct detection of strain Fusarium guttiforme E-480 inoculated in both pineapple cultivars Pérola and Imperial side shoots, that are susceptible and resistant, respectively, to this fungal strain. MALDI-TOF MS technique was capable to detect fungal molecular mass peaks in the susceptible pineapple stem side shoot tissue. It is assumed that these molecular masses are mainly constituted by ribosomal proteins. MALDI-TOF-based fingerprinting approach has herein been demonstrated to be sensitive and accurate for the direct detection of F. guttiforme E-480 molecular masses on both susceptible and resistant pineapple side stem free of any pre-treatment. According to the results obtained, the changing on molecular mass peaks of infected susceptible pineapple tissue together with the possibility of fungal molecular masses analysis into this pineapple tissue can be a good indication for an early diagnosis by MALDI-TOF MS of pineapple fusariosis

Creatine Kinase Elevation in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients on Tolvaptan Treatment

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary cause of end-stage kidney disease. Currently, tolvaptan is the only treatment that has proven to delay disease progression. The most notable side effect of this therapy is drug-induced liver injury; however, recently, there have been two reports of creatine kinase (CK) elevation in ADPKD patients on tolvaptan treatment. We set out to monitor and determine the actual incidence of CK elevation and evaluate its potential association with other clinical factors. This is an observational retrospective multicenter study performed in rapidly progressive ADPKD patients on tolvaptan treatment from Barcelona, Spain. Laboratory tests, demographics, treatment dose, and reported symptoms were collected from October 2018 to March 2021. Ninety-five patients initiated tolvaptan treatment during follow-up. The medication had to be discontinued in 31 (32.6%) patients, primarily due to aquaretic effects (12.6%), elevated liver enzymes (8.4%), and symptomatic or persistently elevated CK levels (3.2%). Moreover, a total of 27 (28.4%) patients had elevated CK levels, with most of them being either transient (12.6%), mild and asymptomatic (4.2%), or resolved after dose reduction (3.2%) or temporary discontinuation (2.1%). We pre­sent the largest cohort that has monitored CK levels in a real-life setting, finding them elevated in 28.4% of patients. More research and monitoring will help us understand the clinical implications and the pathophysiological mechanism of CK elevation in this population