Detection of Anomalous Microwave Emission in the Pleiades Reflection Nebula with WMAP and the COSMOSOMAS Experiment

We present evidence for anomalous microwave emission (AME) in the Pleiades reflection nebula, using data from the seven-year release of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and from the COSMOSOMAS experiment. The flux integrated in a 1-degree radius around R.A.=56.24^{\circ}, Dec.=23.78^{\circ} (J2000) is 2.15 +/- 0.12 Jy at 22.8 GHz, where AME is dominant. COSMOSOMAS data show no significant emission, but allow to set upper limits of 0.94 and 1.58 Jy (99.7% C.L.) respectively at 10.9 and 14.7 GHz, which are crucial to pin down the AME spectrum at these frequencies, and to discard any other emission mechanisms which could have an important contribution to the signal detected at 22.8 GHz. We estimate the expected level of free-free emission from an extinction-corrected H-alpha template, while the thermal dust emission is characterized from infrared DIRBE data and extrapolated to microwave frequencies. When we deduct the contribution from these two components at 22.8 GHz the residual flux, associated with AME, is 2.12 +/- 0.12 Jy (17.7-sigma). The spectral energy distribution from 10 to 60 GHz can be accurately fitted with a model of electric dipole emission from small spinning dust grains distributed in two separated phases of molecular and atomic gas, respectively. The dust emissivity, calculated by correlating the 22.8 GHz data with 100-micron data, is found to be 4.36+/-0.17 muK/MJy/sr, a value that is rather low compared with typical values in dust clouds. The physical properties of the Pleiades nebula indicate that this is indeed a much less opaque object than others were AME has usually been detected. This fact, together with the broad knowledge of the stellar content of this region, provides an excellent testbed for AME characterization in physical conditions different from those generally explored up to now.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 12 pages, 8 figure

Pharmacological manipulation of GABA-driven activity in ovo disrupts the development of dendritic morphology but not the maturation of spinal cord network activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the adult nervous system, GABA acts as a major inhibitory neurotransmitter; however, at early stages of neurodevelopment, GABA receptor activation leads to membrane depolarization and accumulation of [Ca²⁺]_i. The role of excitatory GABAergic neurotransmission in the development of the nervous system is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of excitatory GABA-driven activity in regulating the dendritic morphology and network function in the developing chicken spinal cord.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both bicuculline, a GABA receptor antagonist, and muscimol, a GABA agonist, inhibit the generation of spontaneous network activity in the isolated spinal cord at E8 or E10, indicating that altering GABA receptor activation disrupts the generation of spontaneous network activity in the chicken spinal cord. Treatment of chicken embryos with bicuculline or muscimol between E5 and E8 (or between E8 and E10), inhibits the dendritic outgrowth of motoneurons when compared to vehicle-treated embryos. The inhibitory effect of bicuculline or muscimol on the dendritic morphology of motoneurons was likely due to inhibition of GABA-driven network activity since a similar effect was also observed following reduction of network activity by Kir2.1 overexpression in the spinal cord. The inhibitory effect of bicuculline or muscimol was not caused by an adverse effect on cell survival. Surprisingly, chronic treatment of chicken embryos with bicuculline or muscimol has no effect on the shape and duration of the episodes of spontaneous activity, suggesting that maturation of network activity is not altered by disruption of the dendritic outgrowth of motoneurons.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together, these findings indicate that excitatory GABA receptor activation regulates the maturation of dendritic morphology in the developing spinal cord by an activity-dependent mechanism. However, inhibition of dendritic outgrowth caused by disruption of GABA-driven activity does not alter the maturation of spontaneous electrical activity generated by spinal cord networks, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms can reverse any adverse effect of dendritic morphology on network function.</p

Estudio clínico y genético de encefalopatía epiléptica y del desarrollo en pacientes pediátricos argentinos

Introduction: The aim of this study was to extend our knowledge of the genetic background ofArgentinean pediatric patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) applying a next generation sequencing (NGS) panel. Methods: Thirty one patients with DEE were studied, including these phenotypes: Dravet syndrome (n:7), Dravet like syndrome (n:3), West syndrome (WS) (n:6), WS that evolved to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) (n:4), epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (n:2), continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep evolving to LGS (n:1), LGS (n:1), myoclonic status in non-progressive encephalopathy (n:1), myoclonic atonic epilepsy (n:1), epileptic encephalopathy with multifocal spikes (n:1) and unclassified epileptic Encephalopathy (n:4). Fifty-two genes frequently associated with DEE were studied by NGS in genomic DNA from peripheral blood. Results: Relevant variants were detected in 12 cases; 6 novel pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, 6 previously reported as pathogenic and 1 variant of unknown significance. Single-nucleotide heterozygous variants were identified in the SCN1A (5), GABRG2 (1), STXBP1 (2) genes, a mosaic variant in SCN2A (1) and a homozygous variant in SCN1B (1). Additionally, a heterozygous deletion involving the SCN1A, SCN2A and SCN3A genes (1), and the most frequent triplet repeat expansion in the ARX gene (1) were detected. Discussion: Genetic diagnosis was made in 39% of patients. We emphasize the importance of considering mosaic variants, copy number variants and hereditary forms when designing and interpreting molecular studies, to optimize diagnosis and management of patients. Approximately 42% of the detected variants were novel, expanding the knowledge of the molecular basis of DEEs in Latin-American patients.Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue ampliar el conocimiento de las bases moleculares de las encefalopatías epilépticas y del desarrollo (EED) en pacientes pediátricos argentinos aplicando un panel de secuenciación de nueva generación (NGS). Métodos: Se analizaron 31 pacientes con los fenotipos clínicos de síndrome de Dravet (n:7), síndrome símil Dravet (n:3), síndrome de West (SW) (n:6), SW que evoluciona a síndrome de Lennox Gastaut (SLG)(N:4), epilepsia de la infancia con crisis focales migratorias (n:2), actividad de punta onda continua durante el sueño que evolucionan a SLG (n:1), SLG (n:1), encefalopatía no progresiva con estatus mioclónico (n:1), epilepsia mioclónica atónica (n:1), encefalopatía epiléptica con espigas multifocales (n:1) y encefalopatía epiléptica indeterminada (n:4). Se estudiaron los 52 genes más frecuentemente asociados a EED a través de NGS, en ADN extraído de sangre periférica. Resultados: Se identificaron variantes relevantes en 12 casos, de las cuales 5 fueron nuevas y 6 previamente reportadas como patogénicas o posiblemente patogénicas, mientras que una variante fue clasificada como de significado incierto. Variantes heterocigotas, de nucleótido único, se identificaron en los genes SCN1A (5), GABRG2 (1), STXBP1 (2), una variante en mosaico en SCN2A (1) y otra homocigota en SCN1B (1). Además, se detectó una deleción que involucra a los genes SCN1A, SCN2A y SCN3A (1) y la expansión de repeticiones de tripletes más frecuente en el gen ARX (1). Discusión: Se alcanzó el diagnóstico molecular en el 39% de los pacientes. Remarcamos la importancia de considerar variantes en mosaico, variantes en el número de copias y formas heredadas al momento de diseñar e interpretar los estudios moleculares, de tal forma de optimizar el diagnóstico y seguimiento de los pacientes con EED. Cabe destacar, que el 42% de las variantes detectadas fueron nuevas, ampliando nuestro conocimiento sobre las bases moleculares de las EED en población latino americana.Fil: Juanes, Matías Hernan. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Loos, Mariana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Reyes, Gabriela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Veneruzzo, Gabriel Martin. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Francisco Martin. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Aschettino, Gioavana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Calligaris, Silvana Debora. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Martín, María Eugenia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Foncuberta, María Eugenia. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Cristina Noemí. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Caraballo, Roberto Horacio. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Interacciones parasiticas entre Nosema spp y Varroa Destructor en Colonias de Apis Meliffera

The European honey bee Apis mellifera is affected by many parasites and pathogens that modify its immune system being the most destructive ectoparasitc mite Varroa destructor. The parasitic disease caused by this mite results in high mortality levels in honeybee colonies without acaricide treatment. In addition, the microsporidium Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae produce serious damages to the colonies. Taking into account that the sporulation dynamics of the microsporidium can be affected by several factors the objective of this investigation was to analyze if there are parasitic interactions between V. destructor and Nosema spp. when both parasites co-infect A. mellifera colonies. Studies were carried out in an apiary in the Entre Ríos province, Argentina. The apiary was sampled for a 10 month period. Parameters recorded per hive in fi eld examination were: (a) adult bee population (estimated as number of combs covered with adult bees); (b) brood area (estimated as number of combs covered by at least a 50 % of brood cells); (c) number of honey combs; (d) the V. destructor presence (a colony was considered parasitized by V. destructor when phoretic mite infestation was higher than 1 %) and (e) number of Nosema spp. spores (parasite abundance). Abundance of Nosema (ANij) per colony was analyzed using the mixed general additive model (GAM) with variable intercept. The fi nal data modeling confi rmed that Nosema abundance is explained by the time and by the interaction between the month and the V. destructor infestation. Possible causes explaining this ecological relationship between V. destructor and Nosema spp. populations were discussed.La abeja Europea Apis mellifera es afectada por muchos parásitos y patógenos que modifi can su sistema inmune siendo el más destructivo el ácaro ectoparasítico Varroa destructor. La enfermedad parasitaria causada por este ácaro resulta en altos niveles de mortalidad en colonias de abejas melíferas sin tratamiento acaricida. Adicionalmente, los microsporidium Nosema apis y Nosema ceranae producen serios daños a las colonias. Tomando en consideración que la esporulación dinámica del microsporidium puede ser afectada por diversos factores, el objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar si existe interacción parasítica entre V. destructor y Nosema spp., cuando ambos parásitos co-infectan las colonias de A. mellifera. Los estudios fueron realizados en un apiario de la Provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina. El apiario fue muestreado en un periodo de 10 meses. Durante cada revisión en campo, los siguientes parámetros por colonia fueron registrados: (a) población adulta de abejas (estimada como el número de panales cubiertos con abejas adultas); (b) área de cría (estimada como el número de panales cubiertos con al menos el 50% de celdas de cría); (c) número de panales de miel; (d) presencia de Varroa destructor (una colonia fue considerada parasitada por Varroa destructor cuando la infestación de ácaros foréticos era mayor del 1%) y el número de esporas de Nosema spp. (abundancia de parásitos). La abundancia de Nosema (ANij) por colonia fue analizada usando el Modelo estadístico Mixed General Additive model (GAM) con intercepto variable. Los datos fi nales modelados confi rmaron que la abundancia de Nosema es explicada por el tiempo y por la interacción entre el mes y la infestación de V. destructor. Posibles causas que podrían explicar esta relación ecológica entre las poblaciones de V. destructor and Nosema spp. fueron estudiadas.Fil: Mariani, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Maggi, Matías Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Porrini, Martín Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Caraballo, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Brasesco, Maria Constanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Barrios, Carlos. Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado"; VenezuelaFil: Principal, Judith. Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado"; VenezuelaFil: Eguaras, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Interacciones parasiticas entre Nosema spp y Varroa Destructor en Colonias de Apis Meliffera

The European honey bee Apis mellifera is affected by many parasites and pathogens that modify its immune system being the most destructive ectoparasitc mite Varroa destructor. The parasitic disease caused by this mite results in high mortality levels in honeybee colonies without acaricide treatment. In addition, the microsporidium Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae produce serious damages to the colonies. Taking into account that the sporulation dynamics of the microsporidium can be affected by several factors the objective of this investigation was to analyze if there are parasitic interactions between V. destructor and Nosema spp. when both parasites co-infect A. mellifera colonies. Studies were carried out in an apiary in the Entre Ríos province, Argentina. The apiary was sampled for a 10 month period. Parameters recorded per hive in fi eld examination were: (a) adult bee population (estimated as number of combs covered with adult bees); (b) brood area (estimated as number of combs covered by at least a 50 % of brood cells); (c) number of honey combs; (d) the V. destructor presence (a colony was considered parasitized by V. destructor when phoretic mite infestation was higher than 1 %) and (e) number of Nosema spp. spores (parasite abundance). Abundance of Nosema (ANij) per colony was analyzed using the mixed general additive model (GAM) with variable intercept. The fi nal data modeling confi rmed that Nosema abundance is explained by the time and by the interaction between the month and the V. destructor infestation. Possible causes explaining this ecological relationship between V. destructor and Nosema spp. populations were discussed.La abeja Europea Apis mellifera es afectada por muchos parásitos y patógenos que modifi can su sistema inmune siendo el más destructivo el ácaro ectoparasítico Varroa destructor. La enfermedad parasitaria causada por este ácaro resulta en altos niveles de mortalidad en colonias de abejas melíferas sin tratamiento acaricida. Adicionalmente, los microsporidium Nosema apis y Nosema ceranae producen serios daños a las colonias. Tomando en consideración que la esporulación dinámica del microsporidium puede ser afectada por diversos factores, el objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar si existe interacción parasítica entre V. destructor y Nosema spp., cuando ambos parásitos co-infectan las colonias de A. mellifera. Los estudios fueron realizados en un apiario de la Provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina. El apiario fue muestreado en un periodo de 10 meses. Durante cada revisión en campo, los siguientes parámetros por colonia fueron registrados: (a) población adulta de abejas (estimada como el número de panales cubiertos con abejas adultas); (b) área de cría (estimada como el número de panales cubiertos con al menos el 50% de celdas de cría); (c) número de panales de miel; (d) presencia de Varroa destructor (una colonia fue considerada parasitada por Varroa destructor cuando la infestación de ácaros foréticos era mayor del 1%) y el número de esporas de Nosema spp. (abundancia de parásitos). La abundancia de Nosema (ANij) por colonia fue analizada usando el Modelo estadístico Mixed General Additive model (GAM) con intercepto variable. Los datos fi nales modelados confi rmaron que la abundancia de Nosema es explicada por el tiempo y por la interacción entre el mes y la infestación de V. destructor. Posibles causas que podrían explicar esta relación ecológica entre las poblaciones de V. destructor and Nosema spp. fueron estudiadas.Fil: Mariani, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Maggi, Matías Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Porrini, Martín Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; ArgentinaFil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Caraballo, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Brasesco, Maria Constanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Barrios, Carlos. Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado"; VenezuelaFil: Principal, Judith. Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado"; VenezuelaFil: Eguaras, Martin Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Inhibition of Electrical Activity by Retroviral Infection with Kir2.1 Transgenes Disrupts Electrical Differentiation of Motoneurons

Network-driven spontaneous electrical activity in the chicken spinal cord regulates a variety of developmental processes including neuronal differentiation and formation of neuromuscular structures. In this study we have examined the effect of chronic inhibition of spinal cord activity on motoneuron survival and differentiation. Early spinal cord activity in chick embryos was blocked using an avian replication-competent retroviral vector RCASBP (B) carrying the inward rectifier potassium channel Kir2.1. Chicken embryos were infected with one of the following constructs: RCASBP(B), RCASBP(B)-Kir2.1, or RCASBP(B)-GFP. Infection of chicken embryos at E2 resulted in widespread expression of the viral protein marker p27 gag throughout the spinal cord. Electrophysiological recordings revealed the presence of functional Kir2.1 channels in RCASBP(B)-Kir2.1 but not in RCASBP(B)-infected embryos. Kir2.1 expression significantly reduced the generation of spontaneous motor movements in chicken embryos developing in ovo. Suppression of spontaneous electrical activity was not due to a reduction in the number of surviving motoneurons or the number of synapses in hindlimb muscle tissue. Disruption of the normal pattern of activity in chicken embryos resulted in a significant downregulation in the functional expression of large-conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. Reduction of spinal cord activity also generates a significant acceleration in the inactivation rate of A-type K+ currents without any significant change in current density. Kir2.1 expression did not affect the expression of voltage-gated Na+ channels or cell capacitance. These experiments demonstrate that chronic inhibition of chicken spinal cord activity causes a significant change in the electrical properties of developing motoneurons

Novel strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical glycosyl disulfides

yesNovel strategies for the efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical glycosyl disulfides are reported. Glycosyl disulfides are increasingly important as glycomimetics and molecular probes in glycobiology. Sialosyl disulfides are synthesised directly from the chlorosialoside Neu5Ac2Cl, proceeding via a thiol-disulfide exchange reaction between the sialosyl thiolate and symmetrical disulfides. This methodology was adapted and found to be successfully applicable to the synthesis of unsymmetrical glucosyl disulfides under mild conditions

Linkages between sediment composition, wave climate and beach profile variability at multiple timescales

The paper analyses, compares and contrasts cross-shore morphodynamic behaviour of four diverse beaches that have very different regional settings, wave climates and sediment characteristics, with the aid of rarely available long term measurements of beach profiles and incident waves. The beaches investigated are Narrabeen Beach, New South Wales, Australia; Milford-on-Sea Beach, Christchurch Bay, UK; Hasaki Coast, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan; and Joetsu-Ogata Coast, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. A statistical analysis, equilibrium beach profile analysis and Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis are used to investigate, compare and contrast spatial and temporal variability of cross shore beach profiles of the selected beaches at short-, medium- and long-term timescales. All beaches show evidence of multi-timescale morphodynamic change. Narrabeen Beach profile has the highest sensitivity to local weather patterns. Milford-on-Sea, Joetsu-Ogata and Hasaki profiles are sensitive to seasonal variation of the wave climate however, they also show some correlations with regional climate variabilities. The nature of sediment exchange across the profile, which contributes to profile shape change with time, is found to be related to sediment characteristics across the profile. At Milford-on-Sea and Joetsu-Ogata, both of which have composite profiles, sediment exchange between the upper beach and the inter-tidal zone dominates profile change, irrespective of the distinct differences in sediment composition found in the two beaches. On the other hand in Narrabeen and Hasaki where beach sediment comprises medium to find sand, sediment exchange and hence profile change occur mainly in intertidal and subtidal zones