Autonomous underwater gliders monitoring variability at "choke points" in our ocean system: a case study in Western Mediterranean Sea

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Clasificación de cultivos y de sus medidas agroambientales mediante segmentación de imágenes QuickBird

En la últimas décadas han ido creciendo considerablemente los conocimientos y la sensibilización sobre la protección al medioambiente en muy diversas áreas, entre las que se encuentra la Agricultura. El uso intensivo del laboreo ocasiona graves daños medioambientales como la erosión del suelo, la contaminación de las aguas superficiales (escorrentía y colmatación de embalses), el descenso del contenido de la materia orgánica y de la biodiversidad de los suelos labrados, y el aumento de la emisión de CO2 del suelo a la atmósfera. Actualmente, la Unión Europea sólo subvenciona a los agricultores que cumplen lo que se conoce como “Medidas Agroambientales o de Condicionalidad” cuyo diseño ha estado dentro de las competencias de las Políticas Agrarias Autonómicas, Nacionales y Europeas. Estas medidas consisten en alterar el perfil y la estructura del suelo lo menos posible, dejando éste sin labrar y permanentemente protegido por cubiertas vegetales (rastrojo) en el caso de cultivos herbáceos (ej. trigo, maíz, girasol), o por cubiertas vegetales vivas o inertes (restos de poda) en el caso de cultivos leñosos (principalmente cítricos y olivar). El seguimiento del cumplimiento de estas medidas se realiza a través de visitas presenciales a un 1% de los campos susceptibles de recibir ayudas. Este método es ineficiente y provoca muchos errores con la consiguiente presentación de un ingente número de reclamaciones. Para subsanar esta problemática, en este artículo presentamos los resultados obtenidos en la clasificación de los cultivos y las medidas agroambientales asociadas a éstos en una imagen multiespectral QuickBird tomada a principios de Julio de una zona típica de cultivos en régimen de secano de Andalucía. Se aplicaron 5 métodos de clasificación (Paralelepípedos, P; Mínima Distancia, MD; Distancia de Mahalanobis, MC; Mapeo del Ángulo Espectral, SAM; y Máxima Probabilidad, ML) para la discriminación de rastrojo de trigo quemado y sin quemar, arbolado, carreteras, olivar, cultivos herbáceos de siembra primaveral y suelo desnudo. Además, la imagen es segmentada en objetos para comparar la fiabilidad obtenida aplicando los métodos anteriores partiendo tanto de píxeles como de objetos como Unidades Mínimas de Información (MIU). El análisis de los resultados permite concluir que las clasificaciones de todos los usos de suelo basadas en objetos claramente mejoraron las basadas en píxeles, obteniéndose precisiones (overall accuracy) mayores al 85%. La elección de un método de clasificación u otro influye en gran medida en la precisión de los mapas obtenidos. Debido a que la precisión del mapa temático que necesitamos obtener ha de ser muy elevada para tomar decisiones sobre Conceder / No conceder las ayudas, sería interesante estudiar si el incremento de la resolución espacial que se obtenga gracias a la fusión de imágenes multiespectral y pancromática de QuickBird para obtener una imagen fusionada con resolución espacial de la pancromática (0.7 m) y espectral de la multiespectral (4 bandas) mejora la precisión de cualquiera de los métodos de clasificación estudiadosSoil management in crops is mainly based on intensive tillage operations, which have a great relevancy in terms of increase of atmospheric CO2, desertification, erosion and land degradation. Due to these negative environmental impacts, the European Union only subsidizes cropping systems which require the implementation of certain no-tillage systems and agro-environmental measures, such as keeping the winter cereal residues and non-burning of stubble to reduce erosion, and to increase the organic matter, the fertility of soils and the crop production. Nowadays, the follow-up of these agrarian policy actions is achieved by ground visits to sample targeted farms; however, this procedure is time-consuming and very expensive. To improve this control procedure, a study of the accuracy performance of several classification methods has been examined to verify if remote sensing can offer the ability to efficiently identify crops and their agro-environmental measures in a typical agricultural Mediterranean area of dry conditions. Five supervised classification methods based on different decision rule routines, Parallelepiped (P), Minimum Distance (MD), Mahalanobis Classifier Distance (MC), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), and Maximum Likelihood (ML), were examined to determine the most suitable classification algorithm for the identification of agro-environmental measures such as winter cereal stubble and burnt stubble areas and other land uses such as river side trees, vineyard, olive orchards, spring sown crops, roads and bare soil. An object segmentation of the satellite information was also added to compare the accuracy of the classification results of pixel and object as Minimum Information Unit (MIU). A multispectral QuickBird image taken in early summer was used to test these MIU and classification methods. The resulting classified images indicated that object-based analyses clearly outperformed pixel ones, yielding overall accuracies higher than 85% in most of the classifications. The choice of a classification method can markedly influence the accuracy of classification maps

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in saliva of patients with active infection not associated with periodontal or liver disease severity

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is mainly transmitted by parenteral route, being blood transfusion and intravenous drug use the most frequent risk factors. However, it has been suggested that there are other routes of transmission. There are several studies where HCV RNA has been detected in saliva of patients infected with HCV, and epidemiological studies have proposed the dental treatments as possible risk factors for HCV transmission. The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of HCV RNA in saliva of patients with active infection and associating with periodontal or liver disease. METHODS: Patients with quantifiable HCV-RNA in serum were enrolled in the study. Periodontal disease was assessed using the modified gingival index (MGI). Presence of dental plaque was assessed with the use of disclosing tablets. Patients were clinically and laboratory evaluated to identify the stage of liver disease, the HCV RNA was determinate in saliva by nested RT-PCR. To determine associations between different parameters univariate and multivariate analysis were used. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were included. Of these patients, 21 (46.6%) had hepatitis, 23 (51.1%) had cirrhosis and one patient (2.4%) presented hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Viral loads in serum ranged from 2.31–6.68 log IU/ml with a mean of 5.46 log IU/ml (95% CI 5.23–5.70). HCV RNA was positive in saliva of 29 patients (64.4%) and was not detected in 16 (35.6%). For univariate analysis three independent variables were associated with the detection of HCV-RNA in saliva: gender, viral load and dental plaque and multivariate analysis only one independent variable viral load >5.17 log IU/mL remained significantly associated with the detection of HCV in saliva (p = 0.0002). A statistical difference was observed when viral load was analyzed, log 5.85 IU/mL (95% CI 5.67–6.02) for patients with HCV in saliva vs. log 4.77 IU/mL (95% CI 4.35–5.19) for patients without HCV in saliva (p = 0.0001). The detection of HCV-RNA in saliva was more frequent in patients with relatively high serum viral loads. CONCLUSION: HCV-RNA in saliva was associated with the level of serum viral load but not with periodontal or liver disease severity

Aproximación Proteómica al síndrome de apneas-hipopneas del sueño

Comunicaciones a congreso

Consensus statement on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of angioedema mediated by Bradykinin. Part. II: treatment, follow-up, and special situations

Background: There are no previous Spanish guidelines or consensus statements on bradykinin-induced angioedema. Aim: To draft a consensus statement on the management and treatment of angioedema mediated by bradykinin in light of currently available scientifi c evidence and the experience of experts. This statement will serve as a guideline to health professionals. Methods: The consensus was led by the Spanish Study Group on Bradykinin-Induced Angioedema, a working group of the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. A review was conducted of scientifi c papers on different types of bradykinin-induced angioedema (hereditary and acquired angioedema due to C1 inhibitor defi ciency, hereditary angioedema related to estrogens, angioedema induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors). Several discussion meetings were held to reach the consensus. Results: Treatment approaches are discussed, and the consensus reached is described. Specifi c situations are addressed, namely, pregnancy, contraception, travelling, blood donation, and organ transplantation. Conclusions: A review of and consensus on treatment of bradykinin-induced angioedema is presentedIntroducción: No existen guías previas españolas sobre el manejo del angioedema mediado por bradicinina. Objetivos: Alcanzar un consenso sobre el manejo y tratamiento del angioedema mediado por bradicinina a la luz de la evidencia científi ca disponible y la experiencia de los expertos, que sirva como guía para los profesionales de la salud. Métodos: SGBA/GEAB, un grupo de trabajo de la SEAIC dirigió el consenso. Se realizó una revisión de los documentos científi cos publicados sobre los diferentes tipos de angioedema mediado por bradicinina [angioedema hereditario o adquirido por defi ciencia de inhibidor de la C1 esterasa, angioedema hereditario relacionado con estrógenos (AEH tipo III, AEH-FXII), angioedema inducido por IECA (inhibidores del enzima convertidor de angiotensina]. Hubo varias reuniones del SGBA/GEAB para alcanzar el consenso. Resultados: Se revisan y discuten los diferentes tratamientos disponibles y se describe el consenso alcanzado. Se abordan situaciones específi cas (embarazo, anticoncepción, viajes, hemodonación, trasplante de órganos). Conclusiones: Se presenta una revisión del tratamiento del angioedema mediado por bradicinina y un consenso sobre su tratamiento en EspañaDr. Teresa Caballero is a researcher with the Hospital La Paz Health Research Institute (IdiPaz) program for promoting research activities (2009

Study of Mechanical, Thermal, and Microstructural Properties of Polypropylene/Ceramic Waste Composites

In this work, the effect of reinforcement of the iPP with ceramic waste (CW), and the use of maleic anhydride compatibilizing agent grafted with polyolefin elastomer (POE-g-MAH) are studied. The composites were fabricated by extrusion and injection processes, and their morphology and microstructure, as well as fracture surface and mechanical and thermal properties were analyzed. Characterization by polarized optical microscopy showed that the ceramic waste particles were well-dispersed into the iPP matrix without the presence of agglomerates. However, the POE-g-MAH did not show good compatibility when it was added to the iPP/CW composite. Hardness Rockwell R, tensile and flexural measurements showed that the hardness, Young´s modulus, and flexural modulus increased with the incorporation of CW and without the POE-g-MAH. The ductility of the composites was several decreased with the addition of CW. POE-g-MAH affected the hardness, ductility, strength tensile, Young´s modulus, flexural modulus, and interfacial interaction in the iPP/CW composite. Analysis by X-ray diffraction showed that the CW also acted as a nucleating agent, increasing the crystallization degree, and forming the β-phase. Analysis of the Fourier transformed infrared showed transmittance bands of the iPP, CW, POE-g-MAH and composites. The bands were similar and there were no major changes in characteristic bands of composites, but CW and POE-g-MAH produced changes in the shape and intensity of band peaks of the iPP matrix. The CW addition to the iPP matrix modified the thermal properties of pure iPP, such as the degree of crystallization and melting temperature in the iPP/CW composites. The incorporation of POE-g-MAH decreased the crystallization temperature and crystallinity degree in the iPP/CW composite

Polymorphisms in host immunity modulating genes and risk of invasive aspergillosis: results from the aspBIOmics consortium

Recent studies suggest that immune-modulating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence the risk of developing cancer-related infections. Here, we evaluated whether 36 SNPs within 14 immune-related genes are associated with the risk of Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) and whether genotyping of these variants might improve disease risk prediction. We conducted a case-control association study of 781 immunocompromised patients, 149 of whom were diagnosed with IA. Association analysis showed that the IL4Rrs2107356 and IL8rs2227307 SNPs were associated with an increased risk of IA (OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.20-3.09 and OR=1.73, 1.06-2.81) whereas the IL12Brs3212227 and IFN?rs2069705 variants were significantly associated with a decreased risk of developing the infection (OR=0.60, 0.38-0.96 and OR=0.63, 0.41-0.97). An allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT)-stratified analysis revealed that the effect observed for the IL4Rrs2107356 and IFN?rs2069705 SNPs was stronger in allo-HSCT (OR=5.63, 1.20-3.09 and OR=0.24, 0.10-0.59) than in non-HSCT patients, suggesting that the presence of these SNPs may render patients more vulnerable to infection especially under severe and prolonged immunosuppressive conditions. Importantly, in vitro studies revealed that carriers of the IFN?rs2069705C allele showed a significantly increased macrophage-mediated neutralisation of fungal conidia (P=0.0003) and, under stimulation conditions, produced higher levels of IFN? mRNA (P=0.049) and IFN? and TNFa cytokines (PLPS-96h=0.057, PPHA-96h=0.036 and PLPS+PHA-96h=0.030 and PPHA -72h=0.045, PLPS+PHA-72h=0.018, PLPS-96h=0.058 and PLPS+PHA -96h=0.0058, respectively). Finally, we also observed that the addition of SNPs significantly associated with IA to a model including clinical variables led to a substantial improvement in the discriminatory ability to predict the disease (AUC=0.659 vs. AUC=0.564, PLR=5.2•10-4 and P50.000Perm=9.34•10-5). These findings suggest that the IFN?rs2069705 SNP influences the risk of IA and that predictive models built with IFN?, IL8, IL12p70 and VEGFa variants might be used to predict disease risk and to implement risk-adapted prophylaxis or diagnostic strategies.This study was supported by grants PI12/02688 from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (Madrid, Spain), PIM2010EPA-00756 from the ERA-NET PathoGenoMics (0315900A), and the Collaborative Research Center/Transregio 124 FungiNet. C.C. is supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (SFRH/BPD/96176/2013). This study also was supported by a donation of Consuelo González Moreno, an acute myeloid leukemia survivor. We thank Astella Pharma Inc. for supporting this work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatial Scale, Means and Gradients of Hydrographic Variables Define Pelagic Seascapes of Bluefin and Bullet Tuna Spawning Distribution

Seascape ecology is an emerging discipline focused on understanding how features of the marine habitat influence the spatial distribution of marine species. However, there is still a gap in the development of concepts and techniques for its application in the marine pelagic realm, where there are no clear boundaries delimitating habitats. Here we demonstrate that pelagic seascape metrics defined as a combination of hydrographic variables and their spatial gradients calculated at an appropriate spatial scale, improve our ability to model pelagic fish distribution. We apply the analysis to study the spawning locations of two tuna species: Atlantic bluefin and bullet tuna. These two species represent a gradient in life history strategies. Bluefin tuna has a large body size and is a long-distant migrant, while bullet tuna has a small body size and lives year-round in coastal waters within the Mediterranean Sea. The results show that the models performance incorporating the proposed seascape metrics increases significantly when compared with models that do not consider these metrics. This improvement is more important for Atlantic bluefin, whose spawning ecology is dependent on the local oceanographic scenario, than it is for bullet tuna, which is less influenced by the hydrographic conditions. Our study advances our understanding of how species perceive their habitat and confirms that the spatial scale at which the seascape metrics provide information is related to the spawning ecology and life history strategy of each species

Isolation of human fibroadipogenic progenitors and satellite cells from frozen muscle biopsies

Altres ajuts: Association Française contre les Myopathies (22525)Altres ajuts: Fundación Isabel GemioSkeletal muscle contains multiple cell types that work together to maintain tissue homeostasis. Among these, satellite cells (SC) and fibroadipogenic progenitors cells (FAPs) are the two main stem cell pools. Studies of these cells using animal models have shown the importance of interactions between these cells in repair of healthy muscle, and degeneration of dystrophic muscle. Due to the unavailability of fresh patient muscle biopsies, similar analysis of interactions between human FAPs and SCs is limited especially among the muscular dystrophy patients. To address this issue here we describe a method that allows the use of frozen human skeletal muscle biopsies to simultaneously isolate and grow SCs and FAPs from healthy or dystrophic patients. We show that while the purified SCs differentiate into mature myotubes, purified FAPs can differentiate into adipocytes or fibroblasts demonstrating their multipotency. We find that these FAPs can be immortalized and the immortalized FAPs (iFAPs) retain their multipotency. These approaches open the door for carrying out personalized analysis of patient FAPs and interactions with the SCs that lead to muscle loss