X-ray/gamma-ray flux correlations in the BL Lacs Mrk 421 and 501 using HAWC data

The HAWC gamma ray observatory is located at the Sierra Negra Volcano in Puebla, Mexico, at an altitude of 4,100 meters. HAWC is a wide field of view array of 300 water Cherenkov detectors that are continuously surveying ~ 2sr of the sky, operating since March 2015. The large collected data sample allows HAWC to perform an unbiased monitoring of the BL Lac Mrk 421. This is the closest and brightest known extragalactic high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lac in the gamma-ray/X- ray bands and is extensively monitored by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on-board the Fermi satellite, and the BAT and XRT instruments of the Swift satellite. In this work, we use 25 months of HAWC data together with Swift-XRT data to characterize potential correlations between both wavelengths. This analysis shows that HAWC and Swift-XRT data are correlated even stronger than expected for quasi-simultaneous observations.Comment: Presented at the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2017), Bexco, Busan, Korea. See arXiv:1708.02572 for all HAWC contribution

First approach to understanding riparian wetlands in the Middle Ebro River floodplain (NE, Spain) : structural characteristics and functional dynamics

In Spring of 2005, the relationships between the physical and chemical characteristics of the aquatic and benthic environments and macroinvertebrate assemblages in seven wetlands representative of the floodplain of the Middle Ebro River (NE Spain), were analyzed. The selected wetlands differed in their hydrological connectivity, local environmental conditions and anthropic influence. Through multivariate analyses, two environmental gradients and three main wetland groups were detected. The hydrological connectivity differences generate a heterogenous landscape of structurally and functionally different wetlands in the Ebro Middle floodplain. Confined wetlands, such as older ox bow lakes, showed higher salt and organic matter contents and lower macroinvertebrates' density and biodiversity than did the other wetlands. This suggests that confinement and lack of disturbance events have led to water salinization and eutrophication, habitat homogenization and natural succession of the communities towards more adapted structures with lower biodiversity. Wetlands that still maintain some functional relationship with the river, such as newer ox bow lakes, constructed wetlands, and backwaters, show a higher inorganic nutrient concentration and suspended solids. They also show higher taxa richness and evenness, which suggests that higher disturbance frequencies enhance habitat's heterogeneity and resource availability, and therefore primary and secondary production that allow adapted and opportunistic species to coexist. The progressive flow regulation tends to homogenise this complex system, endangering its conservation. Therefore, the key processes identified here should be taken under consideration for the planning and execution of ecological monitoring, management and restoration.En primavera de 2005 se analizaron las relaciones entre las características físicas y químicas de los medios acuático y bentónico, y la comunidad de macroinvertebrados de 7 humedales representativos de la llanura de inundación del río Ebro (NE de España) en su tramo medio. Los humedales seleccionados se diferenciaron por su grado de conectividad hídrica, condiciones ambientales locales e influencia antrópica. Mediante análisis multivariante, se localizaron dos gradientes ambientales y tres tipos de humedales principales. Las diferencias de conectividad hidrológica generan un mosaico heterogéneo de humedales con diferente estructura y función en la llanura de inundación del Ebro Medio. Los humedales confinados -como los meandros abandonados más antiguos- mostraron mayor contenido de sales y materia orgánica, y menor densidad y diversidad de macroinvertebrados que el resto de humedales. Esto sugiere que el confinamiento y la falta de eventos de perturbación han conducido a la salinización y eutrofización del agua, la homogeneización del hábitat y la sucesión natural de las comunidades hacia estructuras más adaptadas y de menor diversidad. Los humedales que todavía mantienen cierta relación funcional con el río -como los meandros abandonados más recientes, humedales artificiales y "madres"- muestran una mayor concentración de nutrientes inorgánicos y sólidos en suspensión, además de una mayor riqueza de taxones y equitatividad, lo que sugiere que la mayor frecuencia de perturbación favorece la heterogeneidad de hábitat y de recursos, y por tanto la producción primaria y secundaria permitiendo la coexistencia de especies oportunistas y adaptadas. La progresiva regulación de caudales tiende a homogeneizar este complejo sistema poniendo en peligro su conservación. Por tanto, los procesos principales identificados en este estudio deben ser tenidos en cuenta en el diseño de planes de monitoreo, gestión y restauración ecológicas

Fertilidad, desarrollo embrionaria y prolificidad de conejas nulíparas alimentadas con piensos enriquecidos en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados n-3.

Un total de 105 conejas nulíparas se alimentaron ad libitum un mes antes y durante su primera gestación con dos piensos isofibrosos, isoenergéticos e isoproteicos suplementados con dos fuentes de grasa diferentes: 0,75% de manteca para la dieta control (grupo C; n=53) ó 1,5% de un suplemento (Optomega-50; Optivite International Ltd., España) que contenía un 50% de extracto etéreo y 38% de ácidos grasos poli-insaturados (AG n-3) para la dieta experimental (grupo P; n=52). A los 4,5 meses de edad se determinó la fertilidad después de ser inseminadas artificialmente y tratadas con 20 μg de Gonadorelina (Inducel-GnRH, Ovejero) para inducirles la ovulación. Al parto se determinó la duración de la gestación, el número y peso de los gazapos nacidos vivos y muertos. Se escogieron 16 conejas al azar, 8 de cada grupo, y se realizaron ecografías a los 8, 15 y 22 días de gestación en las que se determinó las dimensiones del embrión y de los anejos fetales. La suplementación con AG n-3 no afectó a los resultados productivos determinados ya que se trata de parámetros que en nulíparas son difíciles de mejorar y suelen ser altos. Tampoco se observaron diferencias en las determinaciones ecográficas pero se han podido definir medidas fisiológicas de los fetos y anejos placentarios de gran utilidad para futuros estudios en esta especie

Celiac disease detection using a transglutaminase electrochemical immunosensor fabricated on nanohybrid screen-printed carbon electrodes

Celiac disease is a gluten-induced autoimmune enteropathy characterized by the presence of tissue tranglutaminase (tTG) autoantibodies. A disposable electrochemical immunosensor (EI) for the detection of IgA and IgG type anti-tTG autoantibodies in real patient’s samples is presented. Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) nanostructurized with carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles were used as the transducer surface. This transducer exhibits the excellent characteristics of carbon–metal nanoparticle hybrid conjugation and led to the amplification of the immunological interaction. The immunosensing strategy consisted of the immobilization of tTG on the nanostructured electrode surface followed by the electrochemical detection of the autoantibodies present in the samples using an alkaline phosphatase (AP) labelled anti-human IgA or IgG antibody. The analytical signal was based on the anodic redissolution of enzymatically generated silver by cyclic voltammetry. The results obtained were corroborated with a commercial ELISA kit indicating that the electrochemical immunosensor is a trustful analytical screening tool

Divergent responses to thermogenic stimuli in BAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue from interleukin 18 and interleukin 18 receptor 1-deficient mice

Brown and beige adipocytes recruitment in brown (BAT) or white adipose tissue, mainly in the inguinal fat pad (iWAT), meet the need for temperature adaptation in cold-exposure conditions and protect against obesity in face of hypercaloric diets. Using interleukin18 (Il18) and Il18 receptor 1- knockout (Il18r1-KO) mice, this study aimed to investigate the role of IL18 signaling in BAT and iWAT activation and thermogenesis under both stimuli. Il18-KO, extremely dietary obesity-prone as previously described, failed to develop diet-induced thermogenesis as assessed by BAT and iWAT Ucp1 mRNA levels. Overweight when fed standard chow but not HFD, HFD-fed Il18r1-KO mice exhibited increased iWAT Ucp1 gene expression. Energy expenditure was reduced in pre-obese Il18r1-KO mice and restored upon HFD-challenge. Cold exposure lead to similar results; Il18r1-KO mice were protected against acute body temperature drop, displaying a more brown-like structure, alternative macrophage activation and thermogenic gene expression in iWAT than WT controls. Opposite effects were observed in Il18-KO mice. Thus, Il18 and Il18r1 genetic ablation disparate effects on energy homeostasis are likely mediated by divergent BAT responses to thermogenic stimuli as well as iWAT browning. These results suggest that a more complex receptor-signaling system mediates the IL18 adipose-tissue specific effects in energy expenditure.This work has been supported by European Community (FP7/2007n° 245009: “NeuroFAST”), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PP and MCGG: BFU2007–62683/BFI and PP, MCGG and CD: CIBERobn (CB06/03)) and Xunta de Galicia Grants (MCGG and LL: PGIDIT06PXIB208067PR and GPC2014/030). CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición is an initiative of ISCIIIS

An electrochemical deamidated gliadin antibody immunosensor for celiac disease clinical diagnosis

The first electrochemical immunosensor (EI) for the detection of antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP) is described here. A disposable nanohybrid screen-printed carbon electrode modified with DGP was employed as the transducer's sensing surface. Real serumsampleswere successfully assayed and the results were corroborated with an ELISA kit. The presented EI is a promising analytical tool for celiac disease diagnosis