Space.time interpolation of daily air temperatures

We propose a model to describe the mean function as well as the spatio-temporal covariance structure of 15 years of both maximum and minimum daily temperature data from 190 stations throughout the region of Catalonia (Spain), with daily data covering the period 1994-2008. Our aim is threefold: (a) estimation of the long-term trend of maximum and minimum temperatures; (b) assessing the spatial and temporal variability of temperatures, and (c) interpolation of the spatial temperatures at any given time. Long-term trend, annual harmonics and winds were considered as explanatory vari- ables of the mean function. The parameters associated with these variables were allowed to vary between stations and within each year. We controlled temporal autocorrelation by means of ARMA models. For the spatial covariance structure we used the Mat ern family of covariance functions and a nugget term. Spatio-temporal models were built as Bayesian hierarchical models with two stages following the integrated nested place Laplace approximation (INLA) for Bayesian inference. For the nal model estimation we used a two-stage approach, in which we rst assumed the stations were spatially independent, and then we modeled the spatio-temporal covariance using the interim posterior from the residuals of the model in the rst-stage as prior distributions of replications of a spatial process. We allowed all spatial parameters to also vary with time

Aplicación de las Nuevas Tecnologías GPS-GPRS para el estudio del comportamiento y mejora de la producción de la raza de lidia

La dehesa es un ecosistema agroforestal único que aúna un óptimo rendimiento económico con una menor incidencia en el medio. En la Península Ibérica hay unas 500.000 hectáreas de dehesas concentradas en Andalucía, Castilla y León, Extremadura, Castilla La Mancha y Madrid. La raza de Lidia es, dentro de las razas autóctonas, por su rusticidad y adaptación, una de las que mejor aprovechan y conservan la dehesa. Las condiciones de cría en grandes fincas (400-500 hectáreas de media), el espacio por cabeza (entre una y seis hectáreas por animal), la movilidad que le da su menor tamaño con respecto a otras razas y su crecimiento en libertad con mínima presencia humana la ha hecho indispensables para el mantenimiento del ecosistema de la dehesa. Con este trabajo pretendemos aplicar una tecnología innovadora como es el GPS-GPRS a la monitorización de la etología del ganado de la raza de Lidia durante todos los periodos de su vida y especialmente en aquellos momentos en los que el animal se ve sometido a diferentes prácticas de manejo. Para ello, se implementará la tecnología de GPS que permite el posicionamiento relativo de un objetivo mediante la captación de la señal de diferentes satélites específicos, lo que proporcionará información precisa sobre: el desplazamiento del ganado en un periodo determinado, las distancias recorridas, el territorio pastoreado, las áreas más querenciosas, su ritmo circadiano, las pautas de comportamiento, etc. Así mismo, el dispositivo incorporará sensores de parámetros biológicos como la temperatura ó el ritmo cardíaco, etc. La implementación de este sistema permitirá, a través del posicionamiento, realizar la óptima gestión de los recursos pastables de la dehesa, permitiendo ahorrar costes en alimentación, infraestructuras y personal, y ofrecer, en un futuro cercano, una atractiva herramienta al ganadero para realizar el control remoto de sus reses

On Love-type waves in a finitely deformed magnetoelastic layered half-space

In this paper, the propagation of Love-type waves in a homogeneously and finitely deformed layered half-space of an incompressible non-conducting magnetoelastic material in the presence of an initial uniform magnetic field is analyzed. The equations and boundary conditions governing linearized incremental motions superimposed on an underlying deformation and magnetic field for a magnetoelastic material are summarized and then specialized to a form appropriate for the study of Love-type waves in a layered half-space. The wave propagation problem is then analyzed for different directions of the initial magnetic field for two different magnetoelastic energy functions, which are generalizations of the standard neo-Hookean and Mooney–Rivlin elasticity models. The resulting wave speed characteristics in general depend significantly on the initial magnetic field as well as on the initial finite deformation, and the results are illustrated graphically for different combinations of these parameters. In the absence of a layer, shear horizontal surface waves do not exist in a purely elastic material, but the presence of a magnetic field normal to the sagittal plane makes such waves possible, these being analogous to Bleustein–Gulyaev waves in piezoelectric materials. Such waves are discussed briefly at the end of the paper

Subnational inequalities in years of life lost and associations with socioeconomic factors in pre-pandemic Europe, 2009–19:an ecological study

Background: Health inequalities have been associated with shorter lifespans. We aimed to investigate subnational geographical inequalities in all-cause years of life lost (YLLs) and the association between YLLs and socioeconomic factors, such as household income, risk of poverty, and educational attainment, in countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this ecological study, we extracted demographic and socioeconomic data from Eurostat for 1390 small regions and 285 basic regions for 32 countries in the EEA, which was complemented by a time-trend analysis of subnational regions within the EEA. Age-standardised YLL rates per 100 000 population were estimated from 2009 to 2019 based on methods from the Global Burden of Disease study. Geographical inequalities were assessed using the Gini coefficient and slope index of inequality. Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed by investigating the association between socioeconomic factors (educational attainment, household income, and risk of poverty) and YLLs in 2019 using negative binomial mixed models. Findings: Between Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2019, YLLs lowered in almost all subnational regions. The Gini coefficient of YLLs across all EEA regions was 14·2% (95% CI 13·6–14·8) for females and 17·0% (16·3 to 17·7) for males. Relative geographical inequalities in YLLs among women were highest in the UK (Gini coefficient 11·2% [95% CI 10·1–12·3]) and among men were highest in Belgium (10·8% [9·3–12·2]). The highest YLLs were observed in subnational regions with the lowest levels of educational attainment (incident rate ratio [IRR] 1·19 [1·13–1·26] for females; 1·22 [1·16–1·28] for males), household income (1·35 [95% CI 1·19–1·53]), and the highest poverty risk (1·25 [1·18–1·34]). Interpretation: Differences in YLLs remain within, and between, EEA countries and are associated with socioeconomic factors. This evidence can assist stakeholders in addressing health inequities to improve overall disease burden within the EEA. Funding: Research Council of Norway; Development, and Innovation Fund of Hungary; Norwegian Institute of Public Medicine; and COST Action 18218 European Burden of Disease Network.</p

Subnational inequalities in years of life lost and associations with socioeconomic factors in pre-pandemic Europe, 2009–19:an ecological study

Background: Health inequalities have been associated with shorter lifespans. We aimed to investigate subnational geographical inequalities in all-cause years of life lost (YLLs) and the association between YLLs and socioeconomic factors, such as household income, risk of poverty, and educational attainment, in countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this ecological study, we extracted demographic and socioeconomic data from Eurostat for 1390 small regions and 285 basic regions for 32 countries in the EEA, which was complemented by a time-trend analysis of subnational regions within the EEA. Age-standardised YLL rates per 100 000 population were estimated from 2009 to 2019 based on methods from the Global Burden of Disease study. Geographical inequalities were assessed using the Gini coefficient and slope index of inequality. Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed by investigating the association between socioeconomic factors (educational attainment, household income, and risk of poverty) and YLLs in 2019 using negative binomial mixed models. Findings: Between Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2019, YLLs lowered in almost all subnational regions. The Gini coefficient of YLLs across all EEA regions was 14·2% (95% CI 13·6–14·8) for females and 17·0% (16·3 to 17·7) for males. Relative geographical inequalities in YLLs among women were highest in the UK (Gini coefficient 11·2% [95% CI 10·1–12·3]) and among men were highest in Belgium (10·8% [9·3–12·2]). The highest YLLs were observed in subnational regions with the lowest levels of educational attainment (incident rate ratio [IRR] 1·19 [1·13–1·26] for females; 1·22 [1·16–1·28] for males), household income (1·35 [95% CI 1·19–1·53]), and the highest poverty risk (1·25 [1·18–1·34]). Interpretation: Differences in YLLs remain within, and between, EEA countries and are associated with socioeconomic factors. This evidence can assist stakeholders in addressing health inequities to improve overall disease burden within the EEA. Funding: Research Council of Norway; Development, and Innovation Fund of Hungary; Norwegian Institute of Public Medicine; and COST Action 18218 European Burden of Disease Network.</p

The current status of species recognition and identification in Aspergillus

The species recognition and identification of aspergilli and their teleomorphs is discussed. A historical overview of the taxonomic concepts starting with the monograph of Raper & Fennell (1965) is given. A list of taxa described since 2000 is provided. Physiological characters, particularly growth rates and the production of extrolites, often show differences that reflect phylogenetic species boundaries and greater emphasis should be placed on extrolite profiles and growth characteristics in species descriptions. Multilocus sequence-based phylogenetic analyses have emerged as the primary tool for inferring phylogenetic species boundaries and relationships within subgenera and sections. A four locus DNA sequence study covering all major lineages in Aspergillus using genealogical concordance theory resulted in a species recognition system that agrees in part with phenotypic studies and reveals the presence of many undescribed species not resolved by phenotype. The use of as much data from as many sources as possible in making taxonomic decisions is advocated. For species identification, DNA barcoding uses a short genetic marker in an organism”s DNA to quickly and easily identify it to a particular species. Partial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 sequences, which are used for barcoding animal species, were found to have limited value for species identification among black aspergilli. The various possibilities are discussed and at present partial β-tubulin or calmodulin are the most promising loci for Aspergillus identification. For characterising Aspergillus species one application would be to produce a multilocus phylogeny, with the goal of having a firm understanding of the evolutionary relationships among species across the entire genus. DNA chip technologies are discussed as possibilities for an accurate multilocus barcoding tool for the genus Aspergillus

A growth factor-expressing macrophage subpopulation orchestrates regenerative inflammation via GDF-15

Muscle regeneration is the result of the concerted action of multiple cell types driven by the temporarily controlled phenotype switches of infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages. Pro-inflammatory macrophages transition into a phenotype that drives tissue repair through the production of effectors such as growth factors. This orchestrated sequence of regenerative inflammatory events, which we termed regeneration-promoting program (RPP), is essential for proper repair. However, it is not well understood how specialized repair-macrophage identity develops in the RPP at the transcriptional level and how induced macrophage-derived factors coordinate tissue repair. Gene expression kinetics-based clustering of blood circulating Ly6C(high), infiltrating inflammatory Ly6C(high), and reparative Ly6C(low) macrophages, isolated from injured muscle, identified the TGF-β superfamily member, GDF-15, as a component of the RPP. Myeloid GDF-15 is required for proper muscle regeneration following acute sterile injury, as revealed by gain- and loss-of-function studies. Mechanistically, GDF-15 acts both on proliferating myoblasts and on muscle-infiltrating myeloid cells. Epigenomic analyses of upstream regulators of Gdf15 expression identified that it is under the control of nuclear receptors RXR/PPARγ. Finally, immune single-cell RNA-seq profiling revealed that Gdf15 is coexpressed with other known muscle regeneration-associated growth factors, and their expression is limited to a unique subpopulation of repair-type macrophages (growth factor-expressing macrophages [GFEMs])

Emericella quadrilineata as Cause of Invasive Aspergillosis

This opportunistic fungus is frequently misidentified because of its morphologic similarity to E. nidulans

Subnational inequalities in years of life lost and associations with socioeconomic factors in pre-pandemic Europe, 2009–19: an ecological study

Background: Health inequalities have been associated with shorter lifespans. We aimed to investigate subnational geographical inequalities in all-cause years of life lost (YLLs) and the association between YLLs and socioeconomic factors, such as household income, risk of poverty, and educational attainment, in countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this ecological study, we extracted demographic and socioeconomic data from Eurostat for 1390 small regions and 285 basic regions for 32 countries in the EEA, which was complemented by a time-trend analysis of subnational regions within the EEA. Age-standardised YLL rates per 100 000 population were estimated from 2009 to 2019 based on methods from the Global Burden of Disease study. Geographical inequalities were assessed using the Gini coefficient and slope index of inequality. Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed by investigating the association between socioeconomic factors (educational attainment, household income, and risk of poverty) and YLLs in 2019 using negative binomial mixed models. Findings: Between Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2019, YLLs lowered in almost all subnational regions. The Gini coefficient of YLLs across all EEA regions was 14·2% (95% CI 13·6–14·8) for females and 17·0% (16·3 to 17·7) for males. Relative geographical inequalities in YLLs among women were highest in the UK (Gini coefficient 11·2% [95% CI 10·1–12·3]) and among men were highest in Belgium (10·8% [9·3–12·2]). The highest YLLs were observed in subnational regions with the lowest levels of educational attainment (incident rate ratio [IRR] 1·19 [1·13–1·26] for females; 1·22 [1·16–1·28] for males), household income (1·35 [95% CI 1·19–1·53]), and the highest poverty risk (1·25 [1·18–1·34]). Interpretation: Differences in YLLs remain within, and between, EEA countries and are associated with socioeconomic factors. This evidence can assist stakeholders in addressing health inequities to improve overall disease burden within the EEA. Funding: Research Council of Norway; Development, and Innovation Fund of Hungary; Norwegian Institute of Public Medicine; and COST Action 18218 European Burden of Disease Network