Fingerprinting Chamaesiphon populations as an approach toassess the quality of running waters

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Loza, V.; Morales, A.; Perona, E. and Muñoz-Martín, M. A."Fingerprinting Chamaesiphon populations as an approach toassess the quality of running waters" River Research and Applications 34 (2018): 595-605 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3277. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions."Cyanobacterial communities are highly diverse in freshwaters and respond rapidly tochanging environments. Previous studies have highlighted variations in the structureand composition of epilithic cyanobacterial communities in response to eutrophica-tion in watercourses. In the present study, changes in benthic cyanobacterial commu-nities from Guadalix River (Spain) biofilms were examined using temperature‐gradientgel electrophoresis (TGGE) in conjunction with microscopic examination of field‐fixedsamples, focusing on populations of one of the dominant cyanobacteria:Chamaesiphon. Environmental characteristics were determined in order to character-ize the trophic status of the sampling sites. The presence of cyanobacteria in the riverwas determined from complex TGGE patterns, band extraction, and subsequentsequencing of 16S rDNA gene fragments. The microscopic observations revealed thatthe unicellular genus Chamaesiphon and the filamentous genus Phormidium were dom-inant in the studied locations. Within the 2 genera, 4 Chamaesiphon populations wereidentified (Chamaesiphon fuscus, Chamaesiphon starmachii, Chamaesiphon subglobosus ,and Chamaesiphon polymorphus) and Phormidium was represented at the samplingsites by the Phormidium autumnale morphotype. TGGE banding patterns differedamong samplings sites as a function of water quality. The genetic analysis revealed4 phylotypes within the genus Chamaesiphon and 1 phylotype within the classicP. autumnale clade. Chamaesiphon phylotypes were not equally distributed in all thesampling locations. Some phylotypes were related to low nutrient concentrations,while others were associated with eutrophic conditions. Our results support the useof fingerprints of Chamaesiphon populations obtained by TGGE to examine changesin water quality.This work was supported by Grant CGL2013‐44870‐R from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spai

Body composition and somatotype in professional men's handball according to playing positions

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en 19 jugadores profesionales del Club Balonmano Valladolid. Las mediciones antropométricas fueron realizadas según el protocolo estándar. Se estimaron la masa grasa y ósea, se calculó el somatotipo y se analizaron las diferencias entre las variables en función de la posición. Como resultados, se obtuvo que los pivotes fueron los jugadores más pesados (con mayor porcentaje de masa grasa); los extremos, los más ligeros y los laterales, junto con los pivotes, los más altos. No se observaron diferencias en el IMC en los grupos. En la somatocarta los centrales y laterales se situaron en la zona central; los extremos y los pivotes en la endomorfa-mesomorfa y los porteros en la ecto-endomorfa. Así se evidenció que las variables antropométricas, los datos de composición corporal y la somatocarta de los deportistas confirman las características morfológicas básicas de los jugadores para la posición para la que son más aptosA cross-sectional descriptive study was accomplished in 19 professional players from Valladolid Handball Club. Anthropometric measurements were performed according to standard protocol. Body fat and bone mass were estimated, and the somatotype was calculated. As results, the line players were significantly the heaviest players; the wings were lightest and the backs, with the line players, the tallest. Nevertheless, no significant differences in BMI were observed. Regarding the body composition, the line players showed the highest values of fat-mass. No differences in BMI were observed in the groups. With respect to the somatochart, the center backs and backs were in the central area; wings and line players showed an endomorph-mesomorph development, and goalkeepers were in the ectoendomorph area. As conclusions, anthropometric variables, body composition data and the somatochart of the athletes evaluated confirm the basic morphological characteristics of the players for the position for which they are best suite

The Activity of the Spanish Teratology Information Services (SITTE and SITE) during 2008

Otros Resultados: Actividad TraslacionalWe summarize the activity of the two Teratology Information Services: SITTE (for health professionals) and SITE (for the general population), during 2008. The total number of calls received in both services was 4,910 (943 from SITTE and 3,967 from SITE). This number has increased compared to previous year. The main users of the SITTE (gynecologists 54.96%) and the SITE (pregnant women 79.89%), have asked preponderantly about the use of drugs (70.22% of the SITTE and 37.49% of the SITE phone calls), during ongoing pregnancies at the moment they were calling (82.82% in the SITTE and 85.18% in the SITE). Additionally, we analyze the type of consulted factors and some characteristics of the users to orientate our work more effectively to the actual demand.N

BOOTES-IR: Near IR follow-up GRB observations by a robotic system

“BOOTES-IR” is the extension of the BOOTES experiment, which operates in Southern Spain since 1998, to the near IR (NIR). The goal is to follow up the early stage of the gamma ray burst (GRB) afterglow emission in the NIR, alike BOOTES does already at optical wavelengths. The scientific case that drives the BOOTES-IR performance is the study of GRBs with the support of spacecraft like INTEGRAL, SWIFT and GLAST. Given that the afterglow emission in both, the NIR and the optical, in the instances immediately following a GRB, is extremely bright (reached V = 8.9 in one case), it should be possible to detect this prompt emission at NIR wavelengths too. The combined observations by BOOTES-IR and BOOTES-1 and BOOTES-2 will allow for real time identification of trustworthy candidates to have a high redshift (z > 5). It is expected that, few minutes after a GRB, the IR magnitudes be H ∼ 7–10, hence very high quality spectra can be obtained for objects as far as z = 10 by larger instruments

Antipsychotics and pregnancy: a review of the literature and experience in the ECEMC

Teratología ClínicaThe antipsychotic drugs are medications about which a considerable number of telephone calls are received in our teratology information services (SITTE and SITE). We present a review of the literature about the use of this group of drugs during pregnancy. On the other hand, in order to assess the experience in the CIAC, we have studied the intake of antipsychotics in the ECEMC and the queries made on these medications to both teratology information services. Our results show that the intake of antipsychotics during pregnancy is low. However, the number of queries about this type of drugs is increasing, both in the SITTE and in the SITE, probably because of the concern they generate due to the lack of clear information about their use during pregnancy.N

Next generation flow for minimally-invasive blood characterization of MGUS and multiple myeloma at diagnosis based on circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPC)

Here, we investigated for the first time the frequency and number of circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPC) in peripheral blood (PB) of newly diagnosed patients with localized and systemic plasma cell neoplasms (PCN) using next-generation flow cytometry (NGF) and correlated our findings with the distinct diagnostic and prognostic categories of the disease. Overall, 508 samples from 264 newly diagnosed PCN patients, were studied. CTPC were detected in PB of all active multiple myeloma (MM; 100%), and smoldering MM (SMM) patients (100%), and in more than half (59%) monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) cases (p < 0.0001); in contrast, CTPC were present in a small fraction of solitary plasmacytoma patients (18%). Higher numbers of CTPC in PB were associated with higher levels of BM infiltration and more adverse prognostic features, together with shorter time to progression from MGUS to MM (p < 0.0001) and a shorter survival in MM patients with active disease requiring treatment (p <= 0.03). In summary, the presence of CTPC in PB as assessed by NGF at diagnosis, emerges as a hallmark of disseminated PCN, higher numbers of PB CTPC being strongly associated with a malignant disease behavior and a poorer outcome of both MGUS and MM

Polymorphisms of Pyrimidine Pathway Enzymes Encoding Genes and HLA-B*40∶01 Carriage in Stavudine-Associated Lipodystrophy in HIV-Infected Patients

Altres ajuts: Fundación para la Investigación y Prevención del SIDA en España (FIPSE 36610, 36572/06); Red de Investigación en SIDA (RIS RD12/0017/0005, RD12/0017/0014).To assess in a cohort of Caucasian patients exposed to stavudine (d4T) the association of polymorphisms in pyrimidine pathway enzymes and HLA-B*40∶01 carriage with HIV/Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-associated lipodystrophy syndrome (HALS). Three-hundred and thirty-six patients, 187 with HALS and 149 without HALS, and 72 uninfected subjects were recruited. The diagnosis of HALS was performed following the criteria of the Lipodystrophy Severity Grading Scale. Polymorphisms in the thymidylate synthase (TS) and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes were determined by direct sequencing, HLA-B genotyping by PCR-SSOr Luminex Technology, and intracellular levels of stavudine triphosphate (d4T-TP) by a LC-MS/MS assay method. HALS was associated with the presence of a low expression TS genotype polymorphism (64.7% vs. 42.9%, OR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.53-3.88, P<0.0001). MTHFR gene polymorphisms and HLA-B*40∶01 carriage were not associated with HALS or d4T-TP intracellular levels. Low and high expression TS polymorphisms had different d4T-TP intracellular levels (25.60 vs. 13.60 fmol/10 6 cells, P<0.0001). Independent factors associated with HALS were(OR [95%CI]: (a) Combined TS and MTHFR genotypes (p = 0.006, reference category (ref.): 'A+A'; OR for 'A+B' vs. ref.: 1.39 [0.69-2.80]; OR for 'B+A' vs. ref.: 2.16 [1.22-3.83]; OR for 'B+B' vs. ref.: 3.13, 95%CI: 1.54-6.35), (b) maximum viral load ≥5 log10 (OR: 2.55, 95%CI: 1.56-4.14, P = 0.001), (c) use of EFV (1.10 [1.00-1.21], P = 0.008, per year of use). HALS is associated with combined low-expression TS and MTHFR associated with high activity polymorphisms but not with HLA-B*40∶01 carriage in Caucasian patients with long-term exposure to stavudine

Vulnerable marine ecosystems and biological features of Gazul mud volcano (Gulf of Cádiz): A contribution towards a potential "Gulf of Cádiz" EBSA

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of socioeconomic and scientific importance for oceanographic, geological and biological processes. An interesting feature of the GoC is the presence of a large amount of mud volcanoes (MVs) and diapirs that display different seepage, seabed types, oceanographic settings and biological communities. Detailed exploration of some MVs is still needed for detecting Vulnerable Marine ecosystems (VMEs) that seem to be rare in other areas of the GoC, improving the current knowledge on its biodiversity and ecological attributes. During different expeditions (MEDWAVES-ATLAS, INDEMARES-CHICA 0610 & 0412 and ISUNEPCA 0616) carried out in different years, biological samples and videos were obtained in Gazul MV (Spanish Margin of the GoC). The study of those samples and videos has revealed the presence of several ecologically important VMEs (e.g. 3 species of reef framework-forming corals, coral gardens including solitary scleractinians, gorgonians and antipatharians, as well as deep-sea sponge aggregations and chemosynthesis-related structures) and a large number of species occurring in this MV, including new records for the European margin, threatened species and non-previously described species. The combination of different environmental and anthropogenic factors allowed the present-day persistence of these VMEs in the GoC. Some of Gazul MV biological and ecological attributes fit several criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity for EBSA description (e.g. 1,3,4,6) that, together with those of other areas of the GoC, may contribute to the future potential nomination of an EBSA in this area of the NE Atlantic

Surrounded by sound: noise, rights and environments

Noise was probably the first environmental pollutant (apart from human waste) in the Ancient world. Yet today, by comparison with other environmental matters, noise and protection from its effects are often overlooked, except in specialist fields such as architecture or planning. One major reason for this may be that noise does not possess the same ability to spread that is characteristic of other forms of pollution. Noise is also an unusual form of environmental pollution in having a physical impact – it is ‘heard’ and can be ‘felt’ – but is predominantly interpreted subjectively. The impact and consequences of anthropogenic noise for humans and biodiversity in general, are currently under-investigated in criminology and are under-addressed in both public and private international environmental law. Here we question why noise has not (so far) been explored within green criminology and only tentatively explored within cultural criminology. The objectives are to provide an overview of noise as a topic, connecting media, culture, anti- and pro-social behaviour, and to unearth interconnections between the matter of noise and its implications for the environment