A predictive model for the time course of seedling emergence of Phalaris brachystachys (short-spiked canary grass) in wheat fields

Aim of study: A predictive model of the seedling emergence pattern of Phalaris brachystachys Link (short-spiked canary grass) was developed, aimed to contribute to support a more efficient management of this troublesome, competitive weed in winter cereal crops around its native Mediterranean range and in different areas of the world where it is introduced. Area of study: Southern (Andalusia) and northern Spain (Navarra). Material and methods: A model describing the emergence pattern of P. brachystachys in cereal fields based on accumulation of hydro thermal time in soil was developed and validated. For model development, cumulative emergence data were obtained in an experimental field, while an independent validation of the model was conducted with data collected in two commercial wheat fields from climatically contrasting regions of Spain. Main results: The relationship between cumulative emergence and cumulative hydrothermal time (CHT) was well described by a Logistic model. According to model predictions, 50% and 95% seedling emergence takes place at 108 and 160 CHT above base water potential for seed germination, respectively. The model accurately predicted the seedling emergence time course of P. brachystachys in the two commercial wheat fields (R2 = 0.92). Research highlights: This model is a new tool that may be useful to improve the timing of control measures to maximize efficiency in reducing P. brachystachys infestations in cereal crops

Transmission dynamics of HIV-1 subtype B in the Basque Country, Spain

This work was aimed to study the HIV-1 subtype B epidemics in the Basque Country, Spain. 1727 HIV-1 subtype B sequences comprising protease and reverse transcriptase (PR/RT) coding regions, sampled between 2001 and 2008, were analyzed. 156 transmission clusters were detected by means of phylogenetic analyses. Most of them comprised less than 4 individuals and, in total, they included 441 patients. Six clusters comprised 10 or more patients and were further analyzed in order to study their origin and diversification. Four clusters included men who had unprotected homosexual sex (MSM), one group was formed by intravenous drug users (IDUs), and another included both IDUs and people infected through unprotected heterosexual sex (HTs). Most of these clusters originated from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Only one cluster, formed by MSM, originated after 2000. The time between infections was significantly lower in MSM groups than in those containing IDUs (P-value < 0.0001). Nucleoside RT and non-nucleoside RT inhibitor (NRTI and NNRTI)-resistance mutations to antiretroviral treatment were found in these six clusters except the most recent MSM group, but only the IDU clusters presented protease inhibitor (PI)-resistance mutations. The most prevalent mutations for each inhibitor class were PI L90M, NRTI T215D/Y/F, and NNRTI K103N, which were also among the most prevalent resistant variants in the whole dataset. In conclusion, while most infections occur as isolated introductions into the population, the number of infections found to be epidemiologically related within the Basque Country is significant. Public health control measures should be reinforced to prevent the further expansion of transmission clusters and resistant mutations occurring within them

A measles outbreak in children under 15 months of age in La Rioja, Spain, 2005-2006

This paper describes a measles outbreak in La Rioja, Spain, which began in December 2005 and mainly affected children under 15 months of age who were not yet immunised with MMR vaccine. The measles cases were detected by the mandatory reporting system, under which laboratories must report every confirmed measles case. Cases were classified in accordance with the National Measles Elimination Plan: suspected and laboratory-confirmed. In the period 14 December 2005 to 19 February 2006, 29 suspected cases of measles were investigated, and 18 were confirmed. The mean incubation period was 13.8 days (range: 9 to 18). Of the 18 confirmed cases, only two were in adults. MMR vaccination was recommended for all household contacts, as well as for children aged 6 to 14 months who attended the daycare centres where the cases had appeared. At these centres, the second dose of MMR was administered ahead of schedule for children under three years of age. It was recommended that the first dose of MMR vaccine be administered ahead of schedule for all children aged 9 to 14 months. During an outbreak of measles, children aged 6 months or older, who have not previously been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, should receive a first dose as soon as possible, and those who have had a first dose should receive a second dose as soon as possible, provided that a minimum of one month has elapsed between the two doses.We would like to thank the following for their collaboration: the National Centre for Epidemiology; paediatricians and emergency services attached to the La Rioja Public Health System; and the heads of all day-care centres

Observations of the Crab Nebula and Pulsar with the large-sized telescope prototype of the Cherenkov telescope array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a next-generation ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy at very high energies. The Large-Sized Telescope prototype (LST-1) is located at the CTA-North site, on the Canary Island of La Palma. LSTs are designed to provide optimal performance in the lowest part of the energy range covered by CTA, down to ≃20 GeV. LST-1 started performing astronomical observations in 2019 November, during its commissioning phase, and it has been taking data ever since. We present the first LST-1 observations of the Crab Nebula, the standard candle of very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, and use them, together with simulations, to assess the performance of the telescope. LST-1 has reached the expected performance during its commissioning period—only a minor adjustment of the preexisting simulations was needed to match the telescope's behavior. The energy threshold at trigger level is around 20 GeV, rising to ≃30 GeV after data analysis. Performance parameters depend strongly on energy, and on the strength of the gamma-ray selection cuts in the analysis: angular resolution ranges from 0fdg12–0fdg40, and energy resolution from 15%–50%. Flux sensitivity is around 1.1% of the Crab Nebula flux above 250 GeV for a 50 hr observation (12% for 30 minutes). The spectral energy distribution (in the 0.03–30 TeV range) and the light curve obtained for the Crab Nebula agree with previous measurements, considering statistical and systematic uncertainties. A clear periodic signal is also detected from the pulsar at the center of the Nebula.Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)"Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa" programGobierno de España"Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maeztu" program"Juan de la Cierva Incorporacion" program"Atraccion de Talento" program of Comunidad de MadridComunidad de MadridRecovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan from the Spanish StateLa Caixa FoundationJunta de AndaluciaPAIDI 2020Consejeria de Economia, Industria, Comercio y Conocimiento del Gobierno de CanariasGeneralitat de CatalunyaDepto. de Estructura de la Materia, Física Térmica y ElectrónicaFac. de Ciencias FísicasTRUEpu

Ribeiro's typology, genomes, and Spanish colonialism, as viewed from Gran Canaria and Colombia

Four biallelic and six multiallelic Y-chromosome polymorphisms were investigated in 59 Gran Canarian, 60 North African Berber and 46 Spanish subjects. These new data were merged with equivalent literature information to obtain the parental Y-chrosomomal contribution in Gran Canarians, Colombians, and Venezuelans. The results were then compared, for Gran Canarians and Colombians, to those derived from autosomal and mtDNA. In both groups, the Spanish Y-chromosome contribution was much more marked than that estimated using mtDNA. This analysis showed a usual trend in the Spanish Colonial history, characterized by a demographic collapse of the aboriginal population, but with considerable introgression of genes through native women. In accordance to D. Ribeiro's typology for peoples subjected to Colonialism, the Y-chromosomes of these admixed populations are classified as transplanted, their mtDNA as witness, and their autosome sets as new