Looking for adaptive footprints in the HSP90AA1 ovine gene

BackgroundClimatic factors play an important role in determining species distributions and phenotypic variation of populations over geographic space. Since domestic sheep is managed under low intensive systems animals could have retained some genome adaptive footprints. The gene encoding the Hsp90? has been extensively studied in sheep and some polymorphisms located at its promoter have been associates with differences in the transcription rate of the gene depending on climatic conditions. In this work the relationships among the distribution and frequencies of 11 polymorphisms of the ovine HSP90AA1 gene promoter in 31 sheep breeds and the climatic and geographic variables prevailing in their regions of origin have been studied. Also the promoter sequence has been characterized in 9 species of the Caprinae subfamily. ResultsCorrelations among several climatic variables and allele frequencies of the polymorphisms of the HSP90AA1 gene promoter linked with differences in the transcription activity of the gene under heat stress conditions have been assessed. A group of breeds reared in semi dry climates have high frequencies of the insertion allele of the g.667-668insC associated with the heat stress response. Other group of breeds native to semi arid conditions showed very low frequencies of this same allele. However, in some cases, this previous correlation has not been achieved, revealing the high levels of gene flow among populations occurred following domestication. The Bayesian Test of Beaumont and Balding identified two outlier loci, the g.522A?>?G and g.703_704del(2)A candidates to balancing and directional selection, respectively. Polymorphisms detected in O. aries are also present in several species of the Caprinae subfamily being C. hircus, O. musimon and O. moschatus those sharing the highest number of them with O. aries.ConclusionsDespite domestication, sheep breeds showed some genetic footprints related to climatic variables. Adaptation of breeds to heat climates can suppose a selective advantage to cope with global warming caused by climatic change. Polymorphisms of the HSP90AA1 gene detected in the Ovis aries species are also present in wild species from the Caprinae subfamily, indicating a great antiquity of these mutations and its importance in the adaptation of species to past climatic conditions existing in its native environments.Publishe

Dual-mode chiral self-assembly of cone-shaped subphthalocyanine aromatics

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of the American Chemical Society, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c07291Columnar polymers and liquid crystals obtained from π-conjugated cone-shaped molecules are receiving increasing interest due to the possibility of obtaining unconventional polar organizations that show anisotropic charge transport and unique chiroptical properties. However, and in contrast to the more common planar discotics, the self-assembly of conic or pyramidic molecules in solution remains largely unexplored. Here, we show how a molecular geometry change, from flat to conic, can generate supramolecular landscapes where different self-assembled species, each of them being under thermodynamic equilibrium with the monomer, exist exclusively within distinct regimes. In particular, depending on the solvent nature-aromatic or aliphatic-cone-shaped C3-symmetric subphthalocyanine 1 can undergo self-assembly either as a tail-to-tail dimer, showing monomer-dimer sigmoidal transitions, or as a head-to-tail noncentrosymmetric columnar polymer, exhibiting a nucleation-elongation polymerization mechanism. Moreover, the experimental and theoretical comparison between racemic and enantiopure samples revealed that the two enantiomers (1M and 1P) tend to narcissistically self-sort in the dimer regime, each enantiomer showing a strong preference to associate with itself, but socially self-sort in the polymer regime, favoring an alternate stacking order along the columnsFunding from the Spanish MINECO/MCIU [PGC2018-099568-B-I00, CTQ2017-85393-P, CTQ2017-84727-P, ERA-NET/European Commission/MINECO (UNIQUE, SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund 2 N° 008/ PCI2019-111889-2), and RED2018-102331-T], the Generalitat Valenciana (SEJI/2018/035), and European Feder funds (PGC2018-099568-B-I00) is gratefully acknowledged. IMDEA Nanocien-cia acknowledges support from the “Severo Ochoa” Pro-gramme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, Grant SEV2016-0686

Non-Centrosymmetric Homochiral Supramolecular Polymers of Tetrahedral Subphthalocyanine Molecules

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 54.8 (2015): 2543-2547, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201411272. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-ArchivingA combination of spectroscopy (UV/Vis absorption, emission, and circular dichroism), microscopy (AFM and TEM), and computational studies reveal the formation of non-centrosymmetric homochiral columnar subphthalocyanine assemblies. These assemblies form through a cooperative supramolecular polymerization process driven by hydrogen-bonding between amide groups, π-π stacking, and dipolar interactions between axial B-F bondsFunding from MINECO (CTQ2011-24187, CTQ2011-23659, CTQ2011-23659 and 02, CTQ2012-31914, and CTQ2012-35513-C02-01), CAM (S2013/MIT-2841 FOTO-CARBON), GVA (PROMETEO/2012/053

Inseguridad jurídica en el nuevo estado de alarma y la Co-gobernanza y comunicación entre el gobierno y las comunidades autónomas

El Tribunal Constitucional Español ha resaltado la importancia del principio de seguridad jurídica. Por otro lado se ha constatado la necesidad de aplicar el estado de alarma recogido en el texto constitucional y en la correspondiente Ley Orgánica que lo desarrolla, como elemento necesario para combatir la pandemia mundial del Coronavirus. El presente artículo ofrece un estudio general de las diferentes normas legislativas sanitarias aprobadas a raíz de la pandemia del Covid-19, originadas tanto por el poder ejecutivo del Gobierno de España como por las Comunidades Autónomas, a raíz del tercer estado de alarma decretado en la historia democrática de EspañaThe Spanish Constitutional Court has highlighted the importance of the principle of legal certainty. On the other hand, the need to apply the state of alarm set out in the constitutional text and in the corresponding Organic Law that develops it, as a necessary element to combat the global pandemic of the Coronavirus, has been confirmed. This article offers a general study of the different health legislative norms approved as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, originating both from the executive power of the Spanish Government and from the Autonomous Communities, as a result of the third state of alarm decreed in the democratic history of Spain.Ciencias de la Comunicació

Dogs are resistant to prion infection, due to the presence of aspartic or glutamic acid at position 163 of their prion protein

Unlike other species, prion disease has never been described in dogs even though they were similarly exposed to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. This resistance prompted a thorough analysis of the canine PRNP gene and the presence of a negatively charged amino acid residue in position 163 was readily identified as potentially fundamental as it differed from all known susceptible species. In the present study, the first transgenic mouse model expressing dog prion protein (PrP) was generated and challenged intracerebrally with a panel of prion isolates, none of which could infect them. The brains of these mice were subjected to in vitro prion amplification and failed to find even minimal amounts of misfolded prions providing definitive experimental evidence that dogs are resistant to prion disease. Subsequently, a second transgenic model was generated in which aspartic acid in position 163 was substituted for asparagine (the most common in prion susceptible species) resulting in susceptibility to BSE‐derived isolates. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that the amino acid residue at position 163 of canine cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a major determinant of the exceptional resistance of the canidae family to prion infection and establish this as a promising therapeutic target for prion diseases.MINECO/FEDER. Grant Numbers: AGL2015‐65046‐C2‐1‐R, AGL2008‐05296‐C02 Interreg. Grant Number: POCTEFA EFA148/1

Understanding the role of Ti-rich domains in the stabilization of gold nanoparticles on mesoporous silica-based catalysts

The preparation and stabilization of gold nanoparticles with a precise control of size and dispersion is highly attractive for a variety of applications, and a key aspect is thermal stability of the nanoparticles. This paper focuses on understanding the effect of TiO2-based nanodomains, dispersed on mesoporous silicas, and how they control gold nanoparticle stability. The anatase domains have been incorporated through two different strategies: co-hydrolysis of Si and Ti reagents that directly form the mesoporous material through self-assembling with surfactant micelles, or the post-impregnation of the mesosporous silica with Ti(acac)2. Both strategies lead to different incorporation of the anatase domains: partially embedded inside the silica walls, or occupying the mesopores. We have observed that the inclusion in the pores favors the stability of the final material due to a more favorable gold-support interaction and also due to a stabilizing effect associated with a scaffold effect of the anatase crystals, which hinders the collapse of the mesostructure

Economic evaluation of health services costs during pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 infection in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Spain (2009)

Background: The healthcare and socio-economic burden resulting from influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 in Spain was considerable. Our aim was to estimate and compare the management (resource utilization) and economic healthcare impact in an at-risk group of unvaccinated pregnant women with an unvaccinated group of non-pregnant woman of childbearing age (15-44 yr old). Methods: We addressed this question with a longitudinal, observational, multicentre study. Inputs were the require-ments in managing both groups of women. Outcome measures were healthcare costs. Direct healthcare (including medical utilisation, prescriptions of antivirals, medication, diagnostic tests, and hospitalisation) costs and indirect (productivity loss) costs were considered. Unit of cost was attributed to the frequency of health service resources utili-sation. The mean cost per patient was calculated in this group of women. Results: We found that the influenza clinical pattern was worse in non-pregnant women as they had a high medical risk of 20.4% versus 6.1% of pregnant women. Non-pregnant required more antipyretics and antibiotics, and needed more health service resource utilisation (338 medical visits in non-pregnant women vs. 42 in pregnant women). The total cost of non-pregnant women was higher ( 4,689.4/non-pregnant and 2,945.07/pregnant). Conclusions: Cost per (H1N1) pdm09 was lower for pregnant women, probably due to more preventive measures adopted for their protection in Spain. The highest costs were incurred by hospitalisations/day and work absenteeism for non-pregnant than for pregnant women. These data will allow better future pandemic influenza planning

The promoter effect of Nb species on the catalytic performance of Ir-based catalysts for VOCs total oxidation

12 figures, 2 tables.-- Supporting information available.Ir/TiO2 catalysts promoted by niobium have been synthesized, characterized by different complementary techniques and tested for the total oxidation of a set of alkanes and their mixtures. The addition of appropriate amounts of niobium to Ir/TiO2 catalysts resulted in a remarkable increase in the catalytic activity compared to the Nb-free Ir/TiO2 catalysts. The promotion caused by the presence of niobium has been related to the massive presence of isolated IrOx surface species which, interestingly, present remarkable reducibility and, consequently, excellent catalytic activity. Conversely, the IrOx species formed in the catalyst in the absence of niobium also include IrO2 clusters with lower intrinsic reactivity. Similarly, Nb-loadings exceeding the theoretical monolayer tends to the formation of bulk Nb2O5 species on the titania surface that provokes the formation of IrO2 nanoclusters. A positive influence on the reactivity of non-stoichiometric surface non- Ti3+ species that generates oxygen vacancies is also observed.This work was supported by the Regional Government of Aragon (DGA) under the research groups support programme. We also thank the MAT2017-84118-C2-1-R MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ project and FEDER “Una manera de hacer Europa”. This research was also funded by MINECO-Spain, grant number PRE2018-085211.Peer reviewe

Social factors related to the clinical severity of influenza cases in Spain during the A(H1N1)2009 virus pandemic

Background During the 2009 influenza pandemic, a change in the type of patients most often affected by influenza was observed. The objective of this study was to assess the role of individual and social determinants in hospitalizations due to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection. Methods We studied hospitalized patients (cases) and outpatients (controls) with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data. Variables that might be related to the hospitalization of influenza cases were compared by estimation of the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the variables entered into binomial logistic regression models. Results Hospitalization due to pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infections was associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity (OR: 2.18, 95% CI 1.17 − 4.08), overcrowding (OR: 2.84, 95% CI 1.20 − 6.72), comorbidity and the lack of previous preventive information (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.50 − 4.83). Secondary or higher education was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36 − 0.87) Conclusions In addition to individual factors such as comorbidity, other factors such as educational level, ethnicity or overcrowding were associated with hospitalization due to A (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infections