Biomechanical Finite Element Method Model of the Proximal Carpal Row and Experimental Validation

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education Grants DPI2017-83859-R, EQC2018-004508-P, and UNGR15-CE-3664; Ministry of Health Grants DTS15/00093 and PI16/00339; and Junta de Andalucia Grants, B-TEP-026-UGR18, IE2017-5537, P18-RT-1653, PI-0107-2017, and PIN-0030-2017.The Finite Element Method (FEM) models are valuable tools to create an idea of the behavior of any structure. The complexity of the joints, materials, attachment areas, and boundary conditions is an open issue in biomechanics that needs to be addressed. Scapholunate instability is the leading cause of wrist pain and disability among patients of all ages. It is needed a better understanding of pathomechanics to develop new effective treatments. Previous models have emulated joints like the ankle or the knee but there are few about the wrist joint. The elaboration of realistic computational models of the carpus can give critical information to biomedical research and surgery to develop new surgical reconstructions. Hence, a 3D model of the proximal carpal row has been created through DICOM images, making a reduced wrist model. The materials, contacts, and ligaments definition were made via open-source software to extract results and carry on a reference comparison. Thus, considering the limitations that a reduced model could carry on (unbalanced forces and torques), the stresses that result in the scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) lead us to a bones relative displacement, which support the kinematics hypothesis in the literature as the distal carpal row moves as a rigid solid with the capitate bone. Also, experimental testing is performed, successfully validating the linear strength values of the scapholunate ligament from the literature.Ministry of Education Grants DPI2017-83859-R EQC2018-004508-P UNGR15-CE-3664Ministry of Health Grants DTS15/00093 PI16/00339Junta de Andalucia B-TEP-026-UGR18 IE2017-5537 P18-RT-1653 PI-0107-2017 PIN-0030-201

FIREMAP: Cloud-based software to automate the estimation of wildfire-induced ecological impacts and recovery processes using remote sensing techniques

[EN] The formulation and planning of integrated fire management strategies must be strengthened by decision support systems about fire-induced ecological impacts and ecosystem recovery processes, particularly in the context of extreme wildfire events that challenge land management initiatives. Wildfire data collection and analysis through remote sensing earth observations is of utmost importance for this purpose. However, the needs of land managers are not always met because the exploitation of the full potential of remote sensing techniques requires a high level of technical expertise. In addition, data acquisition and storage, database management, networking, and computing requirements may present technical difficulties. Here, we present FIREMAP software, which leverages the potential of Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud-based platform, an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI), and the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) wildfire database for wildfire analyses through remote sensing techniques and data collections. FIREMAP software allows automatic computing of (i) machine learning-based burned area (BA) detection algorithms to facilitate the mapping of (historical) fire perimeters, (ii) fire severity spectral indices, and (iii) post-fire recovery trajectories through the inversion of physically-based radiative transfer models. We introduce (i) the FIREMAP platform architecture and the GUI, (ii) the implementation of well-established algorithms for wildfire science and management in GEE, (iii) the validation of the algorithm implementation in fifteen case-study wildfires across the western Mediterranean Basin, and (iv) the near-future and long-term planned expansion of FIREMAP featuresSIThis study was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation in the framework of LANDSUSFIRE project (PID2022-139156OB-C21) within the National Program for the Promotion of Scientific-Technical Research (2021-2023), and with Next-Generation Funds of the European Union (EU) in the framework of the FIREMAP project (TED2021-130925B-I00); and by the Regional Government of Castile and León in the framework of the IA-FIREXTCyL project (LE081P23). Víctor Fernández-García was supported by a Margarita Salas post-doctoral fellowship from the Ministry of Universities of Spain, financed with European Union-NextGenerationEU and Ministerio de Universidades Fund

Microvesicles from indoxyl sulfate-treated endothelial cells induce vascular calcification in vitro

Vascular calcification (VC), an unpredictable pathophysiological process and critical event in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), is the leading cause of morbi-mortality and disability in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients worldwide. Currently, no diagnostic method is available for identifying patients at risk of VC development; the pathology is detected when the process is irreversible. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from endothelial cells might promote VC. Therefore, their evaluation and characterization could be useful for designing new diagnostic tools. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether microvesicles (MVs) from endothelial cells damaged by uremic toxin and indoxyl sulfate (IS) could induce calcification in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VMSCs). Besides, we have also analyzed the molecular mechanisms by which these endothelial MVs can promote VC development. Endothelial damage has been evaluated according to the percentage of senescence in endothelial cells, differential microRNAs in endothelial cells, and the amount of MVs released per cell. To identify the role of MVs in VC, VSMCs were treated with MVs from IS-treated endothelial cells. Calcium, inflammatory gene expression, and procalcification mediator levels in VSMCs were determined. IS-treated endothelial cells underwent senescence and exhibited modulated microRNA expression and an increase in the release of MVs. VSMCs exposed to these MVs modulated the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and some mediators involved in calcification progression. MVs produced by IS-treated endothelial cells promoted calcification in VSMCs.Instituto de Salud Carlos IIISociedad Española de NefrologíaUniversidad de AlcaláGrupo SantanderUniversity fo California San Dieg

CCDC 1473649: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122

CCDC 1473653: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122

CCDC 1473652: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122

CCDC 1473654: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122

CCDC 1439096: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122

CCDC 1473650: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122

CCDC 1439097: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Mónica Giménez-Marqués, Néstor Calvo Galve, Miguel Palomino, Susana Valencia, Fernando Rey, Germán Sastre, Iñigo J. Vitórica-Yrezábal, Mónica Jiménez-Ruiz, J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, Miguel A. González, José L. Jordá, Eugenio Coronado, Guillermo Mínguez Espallargas|2017|Chemical Science|8|3109|doi:10.1039/C6SC05122