On the putative presence of eupsophus (Anura: Cycloramphidae) in central Patagonia during the Oligocene

Fossil anuran remains from an outcropping of Oligocene sediments in central Patagonia have been attributed to the extant genus Eupsophus based on their putative similarity to the skeleton of living members of this genus. These remains would represent the only and oldest evidence of the existence not only of Eupsophus, but also of any cycloramphid anuran in Patagonia during the past. Given the scarcity of the anuran fossil record, these fossils have been long considered as significant evidence in the discussion of the evolutionary history of the South American batrachofauna. However, re-examination of these specimens reveals that some skeletal structures were misinterpreted and that these anurans clearly differ from living Eupsophus. Although osteological synapomorphies of this genus are still unknown, there is no evidence to link these fossil remains with the presence of Eupsophus in the Oligocene batrachofauna of Patagonia. © 2012 by The Herpetologists' League, Inc.Fil: Nicoli, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentin

Can We Rely on Open-Source Energy System Optimization Models? The TEMOA-Italy Case Study

Energy system models have become crucial to assess the effectiveness of possible energy policies in pursuing the declared environmental objectives. Among bottom-up models, the tools most widely used by researchers and institutions to perform scenario analyses and policy evaluations rely on commercial software and closed databases, limiting the transparency of the studies. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that open-source tools, relying on open databases, can be used as a valid alternative to commercial tools, getting equivalent results not only for simple case studies as done so far, but also for complex (national, regional, or multi-regional) reference energy systems. Working on the already available open TEMOA optimization framework, a bottom-up technology-rich model is developed here for the Italian reference energy system on an extended TEMOA version, comparable in detail and complexity to the equivalent TIMES framework. The accuracy of the novel TEMOA-Italy model in a business-as-usual scenario is assessed, showing that the average relative differences with respect to the consolidated TIMES-Italy results are in the order of few percent. The open-source model, available on Github, is now ready for the test and implementation of new optimization paradigms, which was not possible in the TIMES framework

Dynamic Accounting for End-Use CO2 Emissions From Low-Carbon Fuels in Energy System Optimization Models

Energy system optimization models are widely used worldwide to assess the effectiveness of decarbonization strategies. The correct accounting of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO2, is crucial in this field. Sectorial emissions are typically computed using commodity-specific factors based on a given (static) fuel composition. For fuels generated by combining fossil and low-carbon commodities, however, the share of the low-carbon component can change throughout the model time horizon. As an alternative to static accounting, this work proposes a dynamic accounting method for the emissions avoided thanks to the contribution of hydrogen, biofuels and synfuels. The static accounting method provides an overestimation of the emission levels compared to the proposed accounting method results, which then helps boost new low-carbon technologies in the future energy mix

Eliminating Barriers: Connecting Seniors to Services in Chittenden County

Introduction. Physical activity programs for older adults help to improve physical, social, and emotional health and reduce impairments in activities of daily living1. In Chittenden county, less than 1⁄3 of older adults participate in programs, while 48% report that they would like to exercise more. Our aim was to identify barriers to participation in physical activity programs by older adults in Chittenden county, such as accessibility, transportation, health, affordability, and social isolation, and to identify strategies to overcome these barriers. Methods. 144 paper and electronic surveys were administered in Chittenden County, Vermont to assess use of group programs among older adults aged ≥ 50 years including transportation, motivation, preferences, advertisement, and barriers to access. A focus group explored aspects of ideal group activities for seniors. Results. 87.9% of respondents were active for two or more hours each week, while 46.5% had participated in group programming in the past 6 months. Group par- ticipation was significantly higher among physically active respondents (p=0.020). Motivators for participation in group activity included health benefits, social aspects, and physical activity, while the most cited barrier to attendance was timing conflicts. Respondents received information about programming via word of mouth, email, and online resources. Discussion. Overall, our findings indicate that the majority of respondents are highly active, however, they frequently experience barriers that prevent them from participating in group programming. We recommend offering flexible scheduling, advertising programming via word of mouth and email, and emphasizing program health benefits.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1260/thumbnail.jp

Wawelia (Anura, Ceratophryidae): una revisión de su posición taxonómica

Wawelia gerholdi Casamiquela es un anuro del Mioceno de Río Negro conocido por una impronta (MLP62-XII-7-1) de postcráneo y una minúscula porción de cráneo ornamentado. Autores previos asignaron tentativamente estos restos a Ceratophryidae, el clado de los escuerzos sudamericanos, señalando la condición juvenil del espécimen y su similitud con Calyptocephalella  Strand. Calyptocephalella, actualmente restringido al centro de Chile, estuvo presente en Patagonia entre el Cretácico y el Mioceno. La realización de un molde de mejor calidad al utilizado previamente y la disponibilidad de una serie ontogenética de Calyptocephalella gayi (Duméril y Bibron) permitieron clarificar algunos aspectos de la anatomía de Wawelia así como incrementar las comparaciones. Wawelia se diferencia de Ceratophryidae y coincide con  Calyptocephalella en la presencia de arcos neurales notablemente anchos y cortos, escápulas con extremos distales expandidos, clavículas largas y fuertemente recurvadas e  iliones con cresta dorsal desarrollada. Igualmente, la mayor extensión de los procesos transversos respecto de las diapófisis sacras, utilizada para asociar Wawelia con Ceratophryidae, también está presente en Calyptocephalella. En síntesis, consideramos que hay evidencia suficiente para descartar la asignación de Wawelia a Ceratophryidae. Notablemente, Wawelia es indiferenciable de los juveniles de  C. gayi de tamaño similar, lo que sugiriere que podría tratarse de un juvenil de Calyptocephalella. Sin embargo, los caracteres sinapomórficos inferidos para Calyptocephalella se encuentran en regiones del esqueleto que no se han preservado en el fósil o cuya morfología podría no ser definitiva dada su condición juvenil, por lo que las mencionadas similitudes no pueden considerarse taxonómicamente concluyentes.Fil: Nicoli, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Muzzopappa, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaXXVII Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de VertebradosLa RiojaArgentinaAsociación Paleontológica Argentin

Projection of Post-Pandemic Italian Industrial Production through Vector AutoRegressive Models

Energy system models for the analysis of future scenarios are mainly driven by the set of energy service demands that define the broad outlines of socio-economic development throughout the model time horizon. Here, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the drivers of the industrial production in six energy-intensive subsectors are addressed using Vector AutoRegressive models. The model results are computed either considering or not considering the effects of the pandemic. The comparison to established pre-pandemic trends allows for validating the robustness of the selected model. The anticipated effect of the pandemic to 2040 shows a long-term reduction by 3% to 10%, according to the different subsector, in the industrial energy service demand. When the computed service demands are used as input to the TIMES-Italy model, which shows good capability to reproduce the energy consumption of the industrial sectors in the period 2006–2020, the impact of the pandemic on energy consumption forecasts can be assessed in a business-as-usual scenario. The results show how the long-term effects of the shock caused by the pandemic could lead, by 2040, to a total industrial energy consumption 5% lower than what was foreseen before the pandemic, while the energy mix remains almost unchanged

The TLR9 ligand CpG ODN 2006 is a poor adjuvant for the induction of de novo CD8+ T-cell responses in vitro

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists have gained traction in recent years as potential adjuvants for the induction of adaptive immune responses. It has nonetheless remained unclear to what extent such ligands can facilitate the priming events that generate antigen-specific effector and/or memory CD8+ T-cell populations. We used an established in vitro model to prime naive precursors from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of various adjuvants, including CpG ODN 2006, a synthetic oligonucleotide TLR9 ligand (TLR9L). Unexpectedly, we found that TLR9L induced a suboptimal inflammatory milieu and promoted the antigen-driven expansion and functional maturation of naive CD8+ T cells ineffectively compared with either ssRNA40 or 2′3′-cGAMP, which activate other pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). TLR9L also inhibited the priming efficacy of 2′3′-cGAMP. Collectively, these results suggest that TLR9L is unlikely to be a good candidate for the optimal induction of de novo CD8+ T-cell responses, in contrast to adjuvants that operate via discrete PRRs

Paleobatracología: el desafío de incorporar la información de la biología molecular

Recientemente análisis basados en información proveniente de secuencias de ADN han brindado un panorama razonablemente resuelto sobre las relaciones filogenéticas de Anura, revelando la no-monofilia de muchos de los agrupamientos a los que tradicionalmente se les ha dado rango familiar. En consonancia, se ha propuesto un nuevo arreglo taxonómico bien sustentado con caracteres moleculares aunque aún con poco soporte morfológico. Esto dificulta la interpretación de los restos fósiles, limitando el alcance de la información que los mismos podrían brindar. Sin embargo, al mismo tiempo, este nuevo marco de relaciones aporta propuestas novedosas acerca de los patrones de diversificación entre los anuros. Así, por ejemplo, Calyptocephalella Strand, conspicuo integrante de asociaciones fósiles en Patagonia y tradicionalmente relacionado con anuros sudamericanos, resulta parte del grupo hermano de un clado que incluye exclusivamente formas australianas. Asimismo, las especies vivientes de Telmatobiinae, al que se atribuyeron numerosos fósiles sudamericanos, resultaron miembros de al menos tres clados diferenciados profundamente, lo que sugiere una diversificación mayor en el continente. Por otra parte, las hipótesis evolutivas resultantes de dichos análisis permiten poner a prueba afirmaciones de homología primaria de caracteres osteológicos tradicionales y, a su vez, estimulan estudios morfológicos bajo una perspectiva diferente. Por ejemplo, queda en evidencia que la exostosis, presente en numerosos restos fósiles de anuros, ha surgido varias veces en el linaje, ligada con frecuencia con otros caracteres usualmente considerados independientes. Todo ello evidencia la necesidad de abordar la problemática evolutiva desde un enfoque multidisciplinario.Fil: Nicoli, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Muzzopappa, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Raul Orencio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Ana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaXXIV Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de VertebradosArgentinaAsociación Paleontológica Argentin

Socioeconomic differences in childhood length/height trajectories in a middle-income country: a cohort study:a cohort study

Published: 8 September 2014Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with shorter adult stature. Few studies have examined socioeconomic differences in stature from birth to childhood and the mechanisms involved, particularly in middle-income former Soviet settings.The sample included 12,463 Belarusian children (73% of the original cohort) born in 1996-1997, with up to 14 stature measurements from birth to 7 years. Linear spline multi-level models with 3 knots at 3, 12 and 34 months were used to analyse birth length and growth velocity during four age-periods by parental educational achievement (up to secondary school, advanced secondary/partial university, completed university) and occupation (manual, non-manual).Girls born to the most (versus least) educated mothers were 0.43 cm (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28, 0.58) longer at birth; for boys, the corresponding difference was 0.30 cm (95% CI: 0.15, 0.46). Similarly, children of the most educated mothers grew faster from birth-3 months and 12-34 months (p-values for trend ≤ 0.08), such that, by age 7 years, girls with the most (versus least) educated mothers were 1.92 cm (95% CI: 1.47, 2.36) taller; after controlling for urban/rural and East/West area of residence, this difference remained at 1.86 cm (95% CI: 1.42, 2.31), but after additionally controlling for mid-parental height, attenuated to 1.10 cm (95% CI: 0.69, 1.52). Among boys, these differences were 1.95 cm (95% CI: 1.53, 2.37), 1.89 cm (95% CI: 1.47, 2.31) and 1.16 cm (95% CI: 0.77, 1.55), respectively. Additionally controlling for breastfeeding, maternal smoking and older siblings did not substantively alter these findings. There was no evidence that the association of maternal educational attainment with growth differed in girls compared to boys (p for interaction = 0.45). Results were similar for those born to the most (versus least) educated fathers, or who had a parent with a non-manual (versus manual) occupation.In Belarus, a middle-income former Soviet country, socioeconomic differences in offspring growth commence in the pre-natal period and generate up to approximately 2 cm difference in height at age 7 years. These associations are partly explained by genetic or other factors influencing parental stature.Current Controlled Trials: NCT01352247 assigned 9 Sept 2005; ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT01561612 received 20 Mar 2012.Rita Patel, Kate Tilling, Debbie A Lawlor, Laura D Howe, Natalia Bogdanovich, Lidia Matush, Emily Nicoli, Michael S Kramer and Richard M Marti

Estrogen Modulates Specific Life and Death Signals Induced by LH and hCG in Human Primary Granulosa Cells In Vitro

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are glycoprotein hormones used for assisted reproduction acting on the same receptor (LHCGR) and mediating different intracellular signaling. We evaluated the pro- and anti-apoptotic effect of 100 pM LH or hCG, in the presence or in the absence of 200 pg/mL 17β-estradiol, in long-term, serum-starved human primary granulosa cells (hGLC) and a transfected granulosa cell line overexpressing LHCGR (hGL5/LHCGR). To this purpose, phospho-extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2), protein kinase B (pAKT), cAMP-responsive element binding protein (pCREB) activation and procaspase 3 cleavage were evaluated over three days by Western blotting, along with the expression of target genes by real-time PCR and cell viability by colorimetric assay. We found that LH induced predominant pERK1/2 and pAKT activation STARD1, CCND2 and anti-apoptotic XIAP gene expression, while hCG mediated more potent CREB phosphorylation, expression of CYP19A1 and procaspase 3 cleavage than LH. Cell treatment by LH is accompanied by increased (serum-starved) cell viability, while hCG decreased the number of viable cells. The hCG-specific, pro-apoptotic effect was blocked by a physiological dose of 17β-estradiol, resulting in pAKT activation, lack of procaspase 3 cleavage and increased cell viability. These results confirm that relatively high levels of steroidogenic pathway activation are linked to pro-apoptotic signals in vitro, which may be counteracted by other factors, i.e., estrogens