Biofacies analysis of Hettangian-Sinemurian bivalve/brachiopod associations from the Neuquén Basin (Argentina)

Based upon extensive sampling with strict stratigraphical control on Hettangian and Sinemurian deposits cropping out at the river Atuel region (southwest Mendoza Province), the presence of all bivalve and brachiopod genera was recorded. Data gathered from the analysed interval were processed by multivariate analysis and the resulting Q-mode dendrogram was used to discriminate five associations (i.e. Entolium-limoids, Pholadomya-Pinna-Pleuromya, Weyla-Gryphaea, Lywea and Cardinioides). These are not in simple stratigraphical succession but are recurrent, reflecting palaeosynecological and biofacies influences. The palaeoenvironmental implications of these associations are analysed, as well as their geographical and stratigraphical distributions in the studied sections (Arroyo Malo, El Pedrero and Las Chilcas). The Cardinioides association is controlled by palaeosalinity and corresponds to a paralic/estuarine environment, of restricted geographical and stratigraphical distribution, whereas the remaining associations correspond to normal marine shelf to littoral environments. The Lywea association is interpreted as allochthonous and probably an impoverished subset derived from the diverse Weyla-Gryphaea association. On the basis of the palaeoautecological characteristics of the taxa involved in terms of guilds represented in these benthonic associations, it is concluded that most of the associations were dominated by the epifauna, whereas in the Pholadomya-Pinna-Pleuromya association the infauna and semi-infauna were particularly conspicuous and diverse, and the Cardinioides association was characterized by shallow infauna. Typical basinal biofacies from deeper, off-shore environments, and fresh-water biofacies, are both missing

On the onset of Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) volcanism, and environmental and carbon-cycle change at the Triassic–Jurassic transition (Neuquén Basin, Argentina)

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThe Triassic–Jurassic transition is characterized by the end-Triassic mass extinction approximately synchronous with the onset of emplacement of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), and associated with a major negative carbon-isotope excursion (CIE) affecting the ocean–atmosphere system. Here, we present new data (total organic carbon, pyrolysis analysis, carbon-isotopes from bulk organic matter, elemental mercury, and other elemental contents) from a southern-hemisphere Triassic–Jurassic boundary succession in the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. The end-Triassic mass extinction there coincides with a relatively small (2–3‰) negative CIE in bulk organic matter, and we present a model that suggests that extreme aridity across the western Pangaean landmass may have resulted in rather limited terrestrial organic-matter flux to the sedimentary realm in eastern Panthalassic marine basins, hypothetically reducing the magnitude of the observed negative CIE in δ13CTOC. Increased deposition of sedimentary Hg (and Hg/TOC and Hg/Zr) in the marine Neuquén Basin began stratigraphically before the negative CIE associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction, and thus before the commencement, in North America and Africa, of CAMP-related basaltic volcanism, but possibly coinciding with the early emplacement of CAMP-associated intrusives (dykes and sills). This relative chronology suggests thermal alteration of intruded country rocks and/or intrusive magmatic degassing of Hg as potential major sources of elevated Hg fluxes to the atmosphere at this time. The Neuquén Basin experienced the development of dysoxic–anoxic marine conditions across the Triassic–Jurassic transition, enabling increased preservation of organic matter. Simple mass-balance calculations show that enhanced carbon burial rates can explain the inferred evolution of the global exogenic carbon cycle across this time-interval.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)University of OxfordShell International Exploration and Production BVCONICET (National Research Council of Argentina

Measurement of the lateral distribution function of UHECR air showers with the Pierre Auger Observatory

We describe how the lateral distribution function (LDF) is measured using the large sample of events recorded with the surface detector (SD) array and with a small sample observed with the fluorescence detectors (FD). For hybrid events, in which SD and FD measurements of the same shower are available, the core position is much better constrained than for SD-onlyevents, thus providing an important cross-check on the LDF determined from SD measurements alone. [Segmento extraído de la ponencia]Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

New age constraints on the Lower Jurassic Pliensbachian-Toarcian Boundary at Chacay Melehue (Neuquén Basin, Argentina)

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordThe Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary interval is characterized by a ~ 3‰ negative carbon-isotope excursion (CIE) in organic and inorganic marine and terrestrial archives from sections in Europe, such as Peniche (Portugal) and Hawsker Bottoms, Yorkshire (UK). A new high-resolution organic-carbon isotope record, illustrating the same chemostratigraphic feature, is presented from the Southern Hemisphere Arroyo Chacay Melehue section, Chos Malal, Argentina, corroborating the global significance of this disturbance to the carbon cycle. The negative carbon-isotope excursion, mercury and organic-matter enrichment are accompanied by high-resolution ammonite and nannofossil biostratigraphy together with U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS geochronology derived from intercalated volcanic ash beds. A new age of ~ 183.73 + 0.35/- 0.50 Ma for the Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary, and 182.77 + 0.11/- 0.15 for the tenuicostatum-serpentinum zonal boundary, is assigned based on high-precision U-Pb zircon geochronology and a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) stratigraphic age model.Scholarship Coordination Office, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesKhalifa UniversityShell International Exploration & Production B.V.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)NIGFS

Should inflammatory bowel disease clinicians provide their patients with e-Health resources?: patients' and professionals' perspectives

[Abstract] Introduction: The internet is emerging as a source of information for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, it is not always reliable and may cause anxiety. We aim to assess patients' information habits and patients' and professionals' perceptions of a national website integrated as an educational resource for the IBD unit. Methods: Patients aged 18-65 years, comfortable with the internet, and attending follow-ups at participating IBD units (March-June 2019) and their professionals were invited to evaluate a recommended website through an online survey. Results: Three hundred eighty-nine patients and 95 professionals completed the survey. The internet (n = 109; 27.4%) was the second preferred source of information after the health care team (n = 229; 57.5%). Eighty percent of patients searched the internet for information on their disease and 28.6% did so at least once a week (n = 114), especially newly diagnosed ones (<2 years). Patients valued a website recommended by their professional (n = 379; 95.2%) and endorsed by the National Working Group (n = 377; 94.7%). They would attend online educational initiatives on the website (n = 279; 70.1%) and complete periodical surveys to improve its usefulness (n = 338; 84.9%). According to IBD professionals, this type of website is the best patient source of supplementary information (n = 76; 80%) and they "prescribe" it to most patients (67.0 ± 25.2%), especially the newly diagnosed patients (52.7 ± 26.5%). It effectively integrates routine face-to-face education (n = 95; 100%). Conclusions: Patients of IBD units, especially newly diagnosed ones, appreciate a trusted e-Health resource to back up professional information. The favorable opinion of patients and professionals will allow its use in training interventions

Anisotropy studies around the galactic centre at EeV energies with the Auger Observatory

Data from the Pierre Auger Observatory are analyzed to search for anisotropies near the direction of the Galactic Centre at EeV energies. The exposure of the surface array in this part of the sky is already significantly larger than that of the fore-runner experiments. Our results do not support previous findings of localized excesses in the AGASA and SUGAR data. We set an upper bound on a point-like flux of cosmic rays arriving from the Galactic Centre which excludes several scenarios predicting sources of EeV neutrons from Sagittarius $A$. Also the events detected simultaneously by the surface and fluorescence detectors (the `hybrid' data set), which have better pointing accuracy but are less numerous than those of the surface array alone, do not show any significant localized excess from this direction.Comment: Matches published versio

Biological significance of monoallelic and biallelic BIRC3 loss in del(11q) chronic lymphocytic leukemia progression

© The Author(s) 2021.BIRC3 is monoallelically deleted in up to 80% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases harboring del(11q). In addition, truncating mutations in the remaining allele of this gene can lead to BIRC3 biallelic inactivation, which has been shown to be a marker for reduced survival in CLL. Nevertheless, the biological mechanisms by which these lesions could contribute to del(11q) CLL pathogenesis and progression are partially unexplored. We implemented the CRISPR/Cas9-editing system to generate isogenic CLL cell lines harboring del(11q) and/or BIRC3 mutations, modeling monoallelic and biallelic BIRC3 loss. Our results reveal that monoallelic BIRC3 deletion in del(11q) cells promotes non-canonical NF-κB signaling activation via RelB-p52 nuclear translocation, being these effects allelic dose-dependent and therefore further enhanced in del(11q) cells with biallelic BIRC3 loss. Moreover, we demonstrate ex vivo in primary cells that del(11q) cases including BIRC3 within their deleted region show evidence of non-canonical NF-κB activation which correlates with high BCL2 levels and enhanced sensitivity to venetoclax. Furthermore, our results show that BIRC3 mutations in del(11q) cells promote clonal advantage in vitro and accelerate leukemic progression in an in vivo xenograft model. Altogether, this work highlights the biological bases underlying disease progression of del(11q) CLL patients harboring BIRC3 deletion and mutation.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias PI15/01471, PI18/01500, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) “Una manera de hacer Europa”, “Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León” (SA271P18), “Proyectos de Investigación del SACYL”, Spain GRS 2062/A/19, GRS 1847/A/18, GRS1653/A17,“Fundación Memoria Don Samuel Solórzano Barruso” (FS/23-2018), by grants (RD12/0036/0069) from Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer (RTICC), Universidad de Salamanca (Programa XIII), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC CB16/12/00233) and SYNtherapy “Synthetic Lethality for Personalized Therapy-based Stratification In Acute Leukemia” (ERAPERMED2018-275); ISCIII (AC18/00093), co-funded by ERDF/ESF, “Investing in your future”. M.Q.Á. and A.E.R.V. are supported with a research grant by FEHH (“Fundación Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia”); M.H.S. holds a Sara Borrell postdoctoral contract (CD19/00222) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). C.P.C. was supported by an “Ayuda predoctoral en Oncología” (AECC) and is a recipient of a PFIS grant (FI19/00191) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PFIS grant and Sara Borrell postdoctoral contrat are co-founded by Fondo Social Europeo (FSE) “El Fondo Social Europeo invierte en tu futuro”; J.L.O. and R.B.S. are supported by a grant from the University of Salamanca (“Contrato postdoctoral programa II”)

Nomogram-based prediction of survival in patients with advanced oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma receiving first-line chemotherapy: a multicenter prospective study in the era of trastuzumab

Background: To develop and validate a nomogram and web-based calculator to predict overall survival (OS) in Caucasian-advanced oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (AOA) patients undergoing first-line combination chemotherapy. Methods: Nine hundred twenty-four AOA patients treated at 28 Spanish teaching hospitals from January 2008 to September 2014 were used as derivation cohort. The result of an adjusted-Cox proportional hazards regression was represented as a nomogram and web-based calculator. The model was validated in 502 prospectively recruited patients treated between October 2014 and December 2016. Harrell's c-index was used to evaluate discrimination. Results: The nomogram includes seven predictors associated with OS: HER2-positive tumours treated with trastuzumab, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, number of metastatic sites, bone metastases, ascites, histological grade, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Median OS was 5.8 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.5–6.6), 9.4 (95% CI, 8.5–10.6), and 14 months (95% CI, 11.8–16) for high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups, respectively (P<0.001), in the derivation set and 4.6 (95% CI, 3.3–8.1), 12.7 (95% CI, 11.3–14.3), and 18.3 months (95% CI, 14.6–24.2) for high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups, respectively (P<0.001), in the validation set. The nomogram is well-calibrated and reveals acceptable discriminatory capacity, with optimism-corrected c-indices of 0.618 (95% CI, 0.591–0.631) and 0.673 (95% CI, 0.636–0.709) in derivation and validation groups, respectively. The AGAMENON nomogram outperformed the Royal Marsden Hospital (c-index=0.583; P=0.00046) and Japan Clinical Oncology Group prognostic indices (c-index=0.611; P=0.03351). Conclusions: We developed and validated a straightforward model to predict survival in Caucasian AOA patients initiating first-line polychemotherapy. This model can contribute to inform clinical decision-making and optimise clinical trial design

Measurement of the lateral distribution function of UHECR air showers with the Pierre Auger Observatory

We describe how the lateral distribution function (LDF) is measured using the large sample of events recorded with the surface detector (SD) array and with a small sample observed with the fluorescence detectors (FD). For hybrid events, in which SD and FD measurements of the same shower are available, the core position is much better constrained than for SD-onlyevents, thus providing an important cross-check on the LDF determined from SD measurements alone. [Segmento extraído de la ponencia]Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

La secuenciación masiva dirigida revela que los pacientes con leucemia linfática crónica y reordenamiento de igh presentan mutaciones en los genes POT1, EGR2, BRAF, IGLL5 Y MGA

Abstract [CO-081] Introducción: La traslocación de la región 14q32, que contiene el gen de la cadena pesada de las inmunoglobulinas (IGH), aparece en el 4-9% de pacientes de leucemia linfática crónica(LLC). Aunque algunos estudios le atribuyen a este subgrupo un pronóstico desfavorable, sus características clínicas y biológicas no se conocen en profundidad. La secuenciación masiva (NGS) ha mejorado notablemente el conocimiento de la heterogeneidad genética y clínica de la LLC, por lo que nos planteamos el análisis del perfil mutacional de estos pacientes para definir mejor su pronóstico. Métodos: Se analizaron 231 pacientes de LLC, de los cuales 42 presentaban traslocación de 14q32. En todos los casos se disponía de datos clínicos y FISH. Se diseñó un panel personalizado de 54 genes, seleccionados por su frecuencia e implicación en la patogenia de la enfermedad. La secuenciación se realizó en la plataforma NextSeq(Illumina). El panel cubre el 97% de las regiones (>100X) con una profundidad de 606 lecturas/base, permitiendo la detección de variantes presentes en >3% de las células..