The stratigraphy of Cretaceous mudstones in the eastern Fuegian Andes: New data from body and trace fossils

The stratigraphy of Cretaceous marine mudstones in the Fuegian Andes, roughly equivalent to Charles Darwin's clay-slate formation, remains a still unsolved problem. Previous records of Albian, Turonian-Coniacian, and Santonian-Campanian bivalves are combined with new findings of the Late Albian inoceramid Inoceramus anglicus Woods, and the Maastrichtian ammonites Diplomoceras sp., Anagaudryceras sp., Maorites densicostatus (Kilian and Reboul), Maorites sp., and Pachydiscus (Neodesmoceras) sp. to further constrain the Cretaceous stratigraphy of the eastern Fuegian Andes. In addition, new records of distinctive trace fossils and ichnofabric are meaningful for stratigraphic division and delineation of paleoenvironmental settings in these Cretaceous mudstones. The Lower Cretaceous ichnoassemblage of Chondrites targioni (Brongniart) and Zoophycos isp. is consistent with the inferred slope-volcaniclastic apron settings of the Yahgan Formation; Nereites missouriensis (Weller) reflects distal basin plain depositional settings for the Beauvoir Formation. In the Upper Cretaceous, the "Estratos de Buen Suceso" record the earliest extensively bioturbated horizons, reflecting prolonged well-oxygenated bottom conditions. In the Bahía Thetis Formation, organic-rich, channel margin or distal basin slaty mudstones record the last occurrence of inoceramid bivalves in the Austral Basin; the generalized absence of trace fossils is consistent with dysoxic bottom conditions. The thoroughly bioturbated Policarpo Formation, records a marked change in paleoceanographic conditions. The strong contrast in the intensity of bioturbation between the Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian Bahía Thetis Formation, almost devoid of trace fossils, and the highly bioturbated Maastrichtian-Danian Policarpo Formation reflects a change from dysoxic-anoxic to well ventilated conditions, probably associated with a cooling trend of bottom waters in the austral deep oceans.Fil:Olivero, E.B. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Medina, F.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Alturas de equilibrio de líquidos en celdas de Hele-Shaw corrugadas bajo penetración capilar espontánea = Equilibrium heights of liquids in corrugated Hele-Shaw cells under spontaneous capillary penetration

Se presenta un método simple y general para calcular las alturas de equilibrio de un líquido que penetra espontáneamente, por capilaridad, en una celda de Hele-Shaw vertical y corrugada. La corrugación se impuso sobre cada una de las paredes interiores de las placas que forman la celda como funciones coseno y de esta forma se generan canales periódicos verticales. Se encuentra que esta corrugación determina complejos per.les de equilibrio que pueden ser integrados para estimar los volémenes de líquido absorbido, o del aire (gas) desalojado. Se discuten también resultados para celdas corrugadas con una inclinación respecto a la vertical. A simple and general method to calculate the equilibrium heights of a liquid that penetrates spontaneously, due to capillarity, into a corrugated Hele-Shaw cell is presented. A cosine-like corrugation was imposed on each internal face of the plates that made the cell and periodic channels were generated. It were found complex equilibrium heights which allow to evaluate the volumes of absorbed liquid or expelled gas. Equilibrium heights were also evaluated in corrugated tilted cells

Enhancing flame flashback resistance against Combustion Induced Vortex Breakdown and Boundary Layer Flashback in swirl burners

Swirl combustors have proven to be effective flame stabilisers over a wide range of operation conditions thanks to the formation of well-known swirl coherent structures. However, their employment for lean premixed combustion modes while introducing alternative fuels such as high hydrogenated blends results in many combustion instabilities. Under these conditions, flame flashback is considered one of the major instability problems that have the potential of causing considerable damage to combustion systems hardware in addition to the significant increase in pollutant levels. Combustion Induced Vortex Breakdown is considered a very particular mode of flashback instability in swirling flows as this type of flashback occurs even when the fresh mixture velocity is higher than the flame speed, a consequence of the interaction between swirl structures and swirl burner geometries. Improvements in burner geometries and manipulation of swirling flows can increase resistance against this type of flashback. However, increasing resistance against Combustion Induced Vortex Breakdown can lead to augmentation in the propensity of another flashback mechanism, Boundary Layer Flashback. Thus, this paper presents an experimental approach of a combination of techniques that increase Combustion Induced Vortex Breakdown resistance, i.e. by repositioning a central injector and using central air injection, while simultaneously avoiding Boundary Layer Flashback, i.e. by changing the wall boundary layer characteristics using microsurfaces on the nozzle wall. Results show that using these techniques together has promising potentials regarding wider stable operation for swirl combustors, enabling them to burn a broader variety of fuel blends safely, while informing developers of the improvements obtained with the combined techniques

Noncommutative vector bundles over fuzzy CP^N and their covariant derivatives

We generalise the construction of fuzzy CP^N in a manner that allows us to access all noncommutative equivariant complex vector bundles over this space. We give a simplified construction of polarization tensors on S^2 that generalizes to complex projective space, identify Laplacians and natural noncommutative covariant derivative operators that map between the modules that describe noncommuative sections. In the process we find a natural generalization of the Schwinger-Jordan construction to su(n) and identify composite oscillators that obey a Heisenberg algebra on an appropriate Fock space.Comment: 34 pages, v2 contains minor corrections to the published versio

Adaptive downregulation of Cl- /HCO3 - exchange activity in rat hepatocytes under experimental obstructive cholestasis

In obstructive cholestasis, there is an integral adaptive response aimed to diminish the bile flow and minimize the injury of bile ducts caused by increased intraluminal pressure and harmful levels of bile salts and bilirrubin. Canalicular bicarbonate secretion, driven by the anion exchanger 2 (AE2), is an influential determinant of the canalicular bile salt-independent bile flow. In this work, we ascertained whether AE2 expression and/or activity is reduced in hepatocytes from rats with common bile duct ligation (BDL), as part of the adaptive response to cholestasis. After 4 days of BDL, we found that neither AE2 mRNA expression (measured by quantitative real-time PCR) nor total levels of AE2 protein (assessed by western blot) were modified in freshly isolated hepatocytes. However, BDL led to a decrease in the expression of AE2 protein in plasma membrane fraction as compared with SHAM control. Additionally, AE2 activity (J(OH)-, mmol/L/min), measured in primary cultured hepatocytes from BDL and SHAM rats, was decreased in the BDL group versus the control group (1.9 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.2, p<0.005). cAMP-stimulated AE2 activity, however, was not different between SHAM and BDL groups (3.7 +/- 0.3 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.3), suggesting that cAMP stimulated insertion into the canalicular membrane of AE2-containing intracellular vesicles, that had remained abnormally internalized after BDL. In conclusion, our results point to the existence of a novel adaptive mechanism in cholestasis aimed to reduce biliary pressure, in which AE2 internalization in hepatocytes might result in decreased canalicular HCO3- output and decreased bile flow.This work was supported by grants from Spanish Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) [J. M. Banales (FIS PI15/01132, PI18/01075 and Miguel Servet Program CON14/00129) cofinanced by "Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional" (FEDER); "Instituto de Salud Carlos III" [CIBERehd: J. M. Banales], Spain; BIOEF (Basque Foundation for Innovation and Health Research: EiTB Maratoia BIO15/CA/016/BD to J. M. Banales), Department of Health of the Basque Country (J. M. Banales: 2017111010) and Euskadi RIS3 (J. M. Banales: 2016222001, 2017222014, 2018222029). "Fundacion Cientifica de la Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer" (AECC Scientific Foundation, to J. M. Banales). F. A. Crocenzi was recipient of a Young Investigator Scholarship from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Argentina. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Effects of sardine-enriched diet on metabolic control, inflammation and gut microbiota in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot randomized trial.

Nutrition therapy is the cornerstone of treating diabetes mellitus. The inclusion of fish (particularly oily fish) at least two times per week is recommended by current international dietary guidelines for type 2 diabetes. In contrast to a large number of human studies examining the effects of oily fish on different cardiovascular risk factors, little research on this topic is available in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aims of this pilot study were to investigate the effects of a sardine-enriched diet on metabolic control, adiponectin, inflammatory markers, erythrocyte membrane fatty acid (EMFA) composition, and gut microbiota in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. 35 drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to follow either a type 2 diabetes standard diet (control group: CG), or a standard diet enriched with 100 g of sardines 5 days a week (sardine group: SG) for 6 months. Anthropometric, dietary information, fasting glycated hemoglobin, glucose, insulin, adiponectin, inflammatory markers, EMFA and specific bacterial strains were determined before and after intervention. There were no significant differences in glycemic control between groups at the end of the study. Both groups decreased plasma insulin (SG: -35.3%, P = 0.01, CG: -22.6%, P = 0.02) and homeostasis model of assessment--insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (SG: -39.2%, P = 0.007, CG: -21.8%, P = 0.04) at 6-months from baseline. However only SG increased adiponectin in plasma compared to baseline level (+40.7%, P = 0.04). The omega-3 index increased 2.6% in the SG compared to 0.6% in the CG (P = 0.001). Both dietary interventions decreased phylum Firmicutes (SG and CG: P = 0.04) and increased E. coli concentrations (SG: P = 0.01, CG: P = 0.03) at the end of the study from baseline, whereas SG decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P = 0.04) and increased Bacteroides-Prevotella (P = 0.004) compared to baseline. Although enriching diet with 100 g of sardines 5 days a week during 6 months to a type 2 diabetes standard diet seems to have neutral effects on glycemic control in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes, this nutritional intervention could have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, both dietary interventions decreased HOMA-IR and altered gut microbiota composition of drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. Trial number and name of the registry: NCT02294526, ClinicalTrials.gov

Cardiovascular risk factors in patients with spondyloarthritis from Northern European and Mediterranean countries: An ancillary study of the ASAS-COMOSPA project

Objectives: The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors among different phenotypes of spondyloarthritis (SpA); (2) to assess the differences in cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors between two geographical areas, i.e. Northern Europe vs. Mediterranean region; (3) to identify potential predictive factors for high Framingham Risk Score regarding disease features in SpA and geographical area. Methods: Ancillary analysis of the international, multicentric, observational, cross-sectional ASAS-COMOSPA study. Cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors were compared depending on SpA phenotype and geographical regions. Potential factors associated with higher cardiovascular risk (i.e. Framingham Risk Score) were determined by a multiple logistic regression. Results: The most frequent cardiovascular risk factor and cardiovascular disease were smoking (31.2%) and ischemic heart disease (3.2%), respectively. Regarding SpA phenotype, axial SpA patients showed significantly lower prevalence (P < 0.05) of hypertension (19.2% vs. 33.8% vs. 26.6% for axial, peripheral and mixed phenotypes, respectively), type 2 diabetes mellitus (4.3% vs. 8.5% vs. 7.4%), dyslipidemia (13.9% vs. 28.4% vs. 15.2%) and ischemic heart disease (2.4% vs. 7.0% vs. 3.2%). Regarding geographical area, a higher frequency of hypertension (34.7% vs. 19.4%,), dyslipidemia (19.3% vs. 14.4%), obesity (29.3% vs. 20.7%) and ischemic heart disease (6.2% vs. 1.8%) was observed for Northern Europe vs. Mediterranean Region, respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SpA phenotype and geographical area are associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the cardiovascular risk itself, observed in patients in the ASAS-COMOSPA cohort

Consenso colombiano de atención, diagnóstico y manejo de la infección por SARS-COV-2/COVID-19 en establecimientos de atención de la salud Recomendaciones basadas en consenso de expertos e informadas en la evidencia

The “Asociación Colombiana de Infectología” (ACIN) and the “Instituto de Evaluación de Nuevas Tecnologías de la Salud” (IETS) created a task force to develop recommendations for Covid 19 health care diagnosis, management and treatment informed, and based, on evidence. Theses reccomendations are addressed to the health personnel on the Colombian context of health services. © 2020 Asociacion Colombiana de Infectologia. All rights reserved

Genomic analysis of two phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World.

Phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance as important vectors of human disease, transmitting bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens, including the kinetoplastid parasites of the genus Leishmania, the causative agents of devastating diseases collectively termed leishmaniasis. More than 40 pathogenic Leishmania species are transmitted to humans by approximately 35 sand fly species in 98 countries with hundreds of millions of people at risk around the world. No approved efficacious vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and available therapeutic drugs are either toxic and/or expensive, or the parasites are becoming resistant to the more recently developed drugs. Therefore, sand fly and/or reservoir control are currently the most effective strategies to break transmission. To better understand the biology of sand flies, including the mechanisms involved in their vectorial capacity, insecticide resistance, and population structures we sequenced the genomes of two geographically widespread and important sand fly vector species: Phlebotomus papatasi, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, (distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) and Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (distributed across Central and South America). We categorized and curated genes involved in processes important to their roles as disease vectors, including chemosensation, blood feeding, circadian rhythm, immunity, and detoxification, as well as mobile genetic elements. We also defined gene orthology and observed micro-synteny among the genomes. Finally, we present the genetic diversity and population structure of these species in their respective geographical areas. These genomes will be a foundation on which to base future efforts to prevent vector-borne transmission of Leishmania parasites