On the ribbon graphs of links in real projective space

Every link diagram can be represented as a signed ribbon graph. However, different link diagrams can be represented by the same ribbon graphs. We determine how checkerboard colourable diagrams of links in real projective space, and virtual link diagrams, that are represented by the same ribbon graphs are related to each other. We also find moves that relate the diagrams of links in real projective space that give rise to (all-A) ribbon graphs with exactly one vertex

Estrategias de intervención comunitaria para la reducción del riesgo asociado al volcán Lanín

El Parque Nacional Lanín ocupa una superficie de 412.000 ha ubicadas al suroeste de la provincia del Neuquén, en la República Argentina (Fig.1). El límite oeste del área protegida sigue la línea de frontera con la República de Chile. Hacia el norte el límite está constituido en su mayor parte por rasgos naturales (costa norte del lago Ñorquinco, río Pulmarí, costa norte del lago Pilhue). Al este del Parque se encuentran las ciudades de Aluminé, Junín de los Andes y San Martín de los Andes. Finalmente, hacia el sur, el Parque Lanín limita con el Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, siguiendo en su mayor parte líneas catastrales. El volcán Lanín, que le da el nombre al Parque, es un estratovolcán de edad pleistocena media a holocena (aprox. entre 200.000 y 600 años) (Lara, 2004), posee una altura de 3.728 m.s.n.m y forma parte de la cadena volcánica de orientación noroeste-sureste que incluye los volcanes Villarrica, Quetrupillán y Lanín. La erupción más reciente ocurrió hace menos de mil años (ca. <1.000 años, Lara, 2004)

Estudio de Peligrosidad Geológica de la Localidad de El Chaltén y de Procesos de Remoción en Masa de la Ladera Norte del Cerro Solo, Provincia de Santa Cruz

Fil: Baldi, Adriana. Ministerio de Producción y Trabajo. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales; Argentina.Fil: Bedmar, José. Ministerio de Producción y Trabajo. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales; Argentina.Fil: Kaufman, J. Ministerio de Producción y Trabajo. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales; Argentina.Fil: Oliva, J. Ministerio de Producción y Trabajo. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales; Argentina.Fil: Villegas, D. Ministerio de Producción y Trabajo. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales; Argentina.Esta es la versión preliminar de lo que luego se convirtió en una contribución técnica de peligrosidad geológica. La misma puede encontrarse en: https://repositorio.segemar.gov.ar/handle/308849217/3616Con el fin de fortalecer y optimizar las acciones destinadas al manejo del riesgo desde todas sus dimensiones (análisis, prevención, preparación y respuesta), el Sistema Nacional de Gestión Integral del Riesgo (SINAGIR) solicitó al Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR) una evaluación de peligrosidad geológica de la localidad de El Chaltén y el análisis particular de peligrosidad por remoción en masa de la ladera norte del cerro Solo, provincia de Santa Cruz. El pedido surge debido a la existencia de procesos geológicos activos y ante la necesidad de estimar el grado de afectación sobre el área. La incidencia de los procesos depende de diversos aspectos tales como tipo de evento, magnitud, relaciones espaciales entre la actividad antrópica y el lugar de ocurrencia y extensión del fenómeno. El principal objetivo del desarrollo de cartografía de peligrosidad es mejorar el conocimiento del medio físico, para definir y zonificar las potenciales amenazas, que será de utilidad para: - La identificación de zonas prioritarias para estudios más detallados; - Establecer pautas de ordenamiento territorial y usos sugeridos del suelo; - Toma de decisiones de los organismos nacionales, provinciales y municipales orientadas a la elaboración de planes de prevención y de mitigación de desastres; - Contribuir al Inventario Nacional de Peligros y Riesgos Geológicos de la República Argentina, identificando y describiendo los sitios detectados en la base de datos del SEGEMAR y - Conocer el diagnóstico de la situación actual de la ladera del cerro Solo

Improving quality of breast cancer surgery through development of a national breast cancer surgical outcomes (BRCASO) research database

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Common measures of surgical quality are 30-day morbidity and mortality, which poorly describe breast cancer surgical quality with extremely low morbidity and mortality rates. Several national quality programs have collected additional surgical quality measures; however, program participation is voluntary and results may not be generalizable to all surgeons. We developed the Breast Cancer Surgical Outcomes (BRCASO) database to capture meaningful breast cancer surgical quality measures among a non-voluntary sample, and study variation in these measures across providers, facilities, and health plans. This paper describes our study protocol, data collection methods, and summarizes the strengths and limitations of these data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We included 4524 women ≥18 years diagnosed with breast cancer between 2003-2008. All women with initial breast cancer surgery performed by a surgeon employed at the University of Vermont or three Cancer Research Network (CRN) health plans were eligible for inclusion. From the CRN institutions, we collected electronic administrative data including tumor registry information, Current Procedure Terminology codes for breast cancer surgeries, surgeons, surgical facilities, and patient demographics. We supplemented electronic data with medical record abstraction to collect additional pathology and surgery detail. All data were manually abstracted at the University of Vermont.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The CRN institutions pre-filled 30% (22 out of 72) of elements using electronic data. The remaining elements, including detailed pathology margin status and breast and lymph node surgeries, required chart abstraction. The mean age was 61 years (range 20-98 years); 70% of women were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, 20% with ductal carcinoma in situ, and 10% with invasive lobular carcinoma.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The BRCASO database is one of the largest, multi-site research resources of meaningful breast cancer surgical quality data in the United States. Assembling data from electronic administrative databases and manual chart review balanced efficiency with high-quality, unbiased data collection. Using the BRCASO database, we will evaluate surgical quality measures including mastectomy rates, positive margin rates, and partial mastectomy re-excision rates among a diverse, non-voluntary population of patients, providers, and facilities.</p

Mapping patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer: An explorative cross-sectional study of individuals with reported positive "exceptional" experiences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>While the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is common and widespread, levels of commitment to CAM vary. "Committed" CAM use is important to investigate, as it may be associated with elevated risks and benefits, and may affect use of biomedically-oriented health care (BHC). Multiple methodological approaches were used to explore and map patterns of CAM use among individuals postulated to be committed users, voluntarily reporting exceptional experiences associated with CAM use after cancer diagnosis.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The verbatim transcripts of thirty-eight unstructured interviews were analyzed in two steps. First, manifest content analysis was used to elucidate and map participants' use of CAM, based on the National Center for Complementary Medicine (NCCAM)'s classification system. Second, patterns of CAM use were explored statistically using principal component analysis.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The 38 participants reported using a total of 274 specific CAM (median = 4) consisting of 148 different therapeutic modalities. Most reported therapies could be categorized using the NCCAM taxonomy (n = 224). However, a significant number of CAM therapies were not consistent with this categorization (n = 50); consequently, we introduced two additional categories: <it>Spiritual/health literature </it>and <it>Treatment centers</it>. The two factors explaining the largest proportion of variation in CAM usage patterns were a) number of CAM modalities used and b) a category preference for <it>Energy therapies </it>over the categories <it>Alternative Medical Systems </it>and <it>Treatment centers </it>or vice versa.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We found considerable heterogeneity in patterns of CAM use. By analyzing users' own descriptions of CAM in relation to the most commonly used predefined professional taxonomy, this study highlights discrepancies between user and professional conceptualizations of CAM not previously addressed. Beyond variations in users' reports of CAM, our findings indicate some patterns in CAM usage related to number of therapies used and preference for different CAM categories.</p

siRNA Silencing of Proteasome Maturation Protein (POMP) Activates the Unfolded Protein Response and Constitutes a Model for KLICK Genodermatosis

Keratosis linearis with ichthyosis congenita and keratoderma (KLICK) is an autosomal recessive skin disorder associated with a single-nucleotide deletion in the 5′untranslated region of the proteasome maturation protein (POMP) gene. The deletion causes a relative switch in transcription start sites for POMP, predicted to decrease levels of POMP protein in terminally differentiated keratinocytes. To investigate the pathophysiology behind KLICK we created an in vitro model of the disease using siRNA silencing of POMP in epidermal air-liquid cultures. Immunohistochemical analysis of the tissue constructs revealed aberrant staining of POMP, proteasome subunits and the skin differentiation marker filaggrin when compared to control tissue constructs. The staining patterns of POMP siRNA tissue constructs showed strong resemblance to those observed in skin biopsies from KLICK patients. Western blot analysis of lysates from the organotypic tissue constructs revealed an aberrant processing of profilaggrin to filaggrin in samples transfected with siRNA against POMP. Knock-down of POMP expression in regular cell cultures resulted in decreased amounts of proteasome subunits. Prolonged silencing of POMP in cultured cells induced C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression consistent with an activation of the unfolded protein response and increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The combined results indicate that KLICK is caused by reduced levels of POMP, leading to proteasome insufficiency in differentiating keratinocytes. Proteasome insufficiency disturbs terminal epidermal differentiation, presumably by increased ER stress, and leads to perturbed processing of profilaggrin. Our findings underline a critical role for the proteasome in human epidermal differentiation

Normativa para la Cartografía de Peligrosidad Geológica de la República Argentina a Escala 1:250.000

Fil: Fernández, D. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Coppolecchia, M. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Balbi, A.B. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Barber, E.L.G. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Bedmar, J.M. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Boujon, P.S. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Cabrera, N.R. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Chávez, R.A. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Elissondo, M. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Jones, M.E. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Kaufman, J.F. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Pereyra, F.X. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Rosas, M.A. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Róvere, E.I. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Tello, N.E. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Tobío, M.I. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Villegas, D.C. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.Fil: Tejedo, A.G. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Peligrosidad Geológica; Argentina.El presente documento constituye la normativa para la realización de las cartas de peligrosidad geológica de la República Argentina. Se trata de elaborar mapas integrados a mediana escala, 1:250.000, que incluyan la información básica necesaria para la estimación de la peligrosidad del territorio, como consecuencia de la actuación de determinados procesos geológicos que pueden suponer riesgos para las personas, infraestructuras y bienes. Así mismo las cartas servirán de orientación para los trabajos de estimación del riesgo geológico. Los mapas tendrán un uso directo para la localización y delimitación de las zonas bajo peligro geológico, e indirecto para los trabajos de ordenación del territorio y de toma de medidas predictivas y preventivas adecuadas, en función del tipo de proceso de que se trate. Con respecto al contenido, los mapas incluirán dos tipos diferentes de información: - Descriptiva: representación de los procesos geológicos actuales o antiguos que afectan o han afectado a personas, edificaciones y obras de infraestructura, y han promovido pérdidas económicas. - Interpretativa: representación de las zonas que pueden verse afectadas por procesos geodinámicos en el futuro, en base a los factores que controlan y condicionan la ocurrencia espacial de los procesos. Esta zonificación indicará la peligrosidad espacial o susceptibilidad del territorio ante la ocurrencia de procesos naturales que pueden constituir amenazas, daños y pérdidas económicas y humanas. La escala de los mapas será 1:250.000, por lo que la información contenida, tanto la descriptiva como la interpretativa, deberá ajustarse a la misma, resultando mapas indicativos de la actividad y potencialidad de peligros naturales. Los procesos geológicos considerados en los mapas serán: - Movimientos de laderas - Hundimientos del terreno - Procesos erosivos y sedimentarios - Inundaciones y anegamientos - Degradación de suelos - Sismicidad - Vulcanismo Este documento incluye las indicaciones y normas generales y particulares para la realización de los mapas

Exploring the link between MORF4L1 and risk of breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Proteins encoded by Fanconi anemia (FA) and/or breast cancer (BrCa) susceptibility genes cooperate in a common DNA damage repair signaling pathway. To gain deeper insight into this pathway and its influence on cancer risk, we searched for novel components through protein physical interaction screens. METHODS: Protein physical interactions were screened using the yeast two-hybrid system. Co-affinity purifications and endogenous co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to corroborate interactions. Biochemical and functional assays in human, mouse and Caenorhabditis elegans models were carried out to characterize pathway components. Thirteen FANCD2-monoubiquitinylation-positive FA cell lines excluded for genetic defects in the downstream pathway components and 300 familial BrCa patients negative for BRCA1/2 mutations were analyzed for genetic mutations. Common genetic variants were genotyped in 9,573 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers for associations with BrCa risk. RESULTS: A previously identified co-purifying protein with PALB2 was identified, MRG15 (MORF4L1 gene). Results in human, mouse and C. elegans models delineate molecular and functional relationships with BRCA2, PALB2, RAD51 and RPA1 that suggest a role for MRG15 in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Mrg15-deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts showed moderate sensitivity to γ-irradiation relative to controls and reduced formation of Rad51 nuclear foci. Examination of mutants of MRG15 and BRCA2 C. elegans orthologs revealed phenocopy by accumulation of RPA-1 (human RPA1) nuclear foci and aberrant chromosomal compactions in meiotic cells. However, no alterations or mutations were identified for MRG15/MORF4L1 in unclassified FA patients and BrCa familial cases. Finally, no significant associations between common MORF4L1 variants and BrCa risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers were identified: rs7164529, Ptrend = 0.45 and 0.05, P2df = 0.51 and 0.14, respectively; and rs10519219, Ptrend = 0.92 and 0.72, P2df = 0.76 and 0.07, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While the present study expands on the role of MRG15 in the control of genomic stability, weak associations cannot be ruled out for potential low-penetrance variants at MORF4L1 and BrCa risk among BRCA2 mutation carriers.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Transancestral mapping and genetic load in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with marked gender and ethnic disparities. We report a large transancestral association study of SLE using Immunochip genotype data from 27,574 individuals of European (EA), African (AA) and Hispanic Amerindian (HA) ancestry. We identify 58 distinct non-HLA regions in EA, 9 in AA and 16 in HA (B50% of these regions have multiple independent associations); these include 24 novel SLE regions (Po5 10 8), refined association signals in established regions, extended associations to additional ancestries, and a disentangled complex HLA multigenic effect. The risk allele count (genetic load) exhibits an accelerating pattern of SLE risk, leading us to posit a cumulative hit hypothesis for autoimmune disease. Comparing results across the three ancestries identifies both ancestry-dependent and ancestry-independent contributions to SLE risk. Our results are consistent with the unique and complex histories of the populations sampled, and collectively help clarify the genetic architecture and ethnic disparities in SL

Climate Change, Coral Reef Ecosystems, and Management Options for Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) provide place-based management of marine ecosystems through various degrees and types of protective actions. Habitats such as coral reefs are especially susceptible to degradation resulting from climate change, as evidenced by mass bleaching events over the past two decades. Marine ecosystems are being altered by direct effects of climate change including ocean warming, ocean acidification, rising sea level, changing circulation patterns, increasing severity of storms, and changing freshwater influxes. As impacts of climate change strengthen they may exacerbate effects of existing stressors and require new or modified management approaches; MPA networks are generally accepted as an improvement over individual MPAs to address multiple threats to the marine environment. While MPA networks are considered a potentially effective management approach for conserving marine biodiversity, they should be established in conjunction with other management strategies, such as fisheries regulations and reductions of nutrients and other forms of land-based pollution. Information about interactions between climate change and more “traditional” stressors is limited. MPA managers are faced with high levels of uncertainty about likely outcomes of management actions because climate change impacts have strong interactions with existing stressors, such as land-based sources of pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing practices, invasive species, and diseases. Management options include ameliorating existing stressors, protecting potentially resilient areas, developing networks of MPAs, and integrating climate change into MPA planning, management, and evaluation