Insights into the properties of the Local (Orion) spiral arm. NGC 2302: First results and description of the program

Context. The spiral structure of the Milky Way (MW) is highly uncertain and is the subject of much discussion nowadays. Even the spiral structure close to the Sun and the real nature of the so-called Local or Orion arm are poorly known. Aims. We present the first result from a program that determines the properties of the Local (Orion) spiral arm (LOA), together with a full description of the program. In this context we have made a comprehensive study of the young LOA open cluster NGC 2302, which includes a UBVRI photometric analysis and determination of its kinematic properties - proper motion (PM) and radial velocity (RV) - and of its orbital parameters. Methods. Making a geometric registration of our ad-hoc first- and second-epoch CCD frames (12-year timeframe), we determined the mean PM of NGC 2302 relative to the local field of disk stars, and, through a comparison with the UCAC4 catalog, we transformed this relative PM into an absolute one. Using medium-resolution spectroscopy of 26 stars in the field of NGC 2302, we derived its mean RV.We determined the cluster's structure, center, and radius by means of a density analysis of star counts. Photometric diagrams for several color combinations were built using our data, which allowed us to identify the stellar populations present in the field of NGC 2302 and to carry out our photometric membership analysis. Isochrone fits to the photometric diagrams allowed us to determine the fundamental parameters of NGC 2302, including reddening, distance, and age. The kinematic data and derived distance allowed us to determine the space motion of NGC 2302. This was done by adopting a time-independent, axisymmetric, and fully analytic gravitational potential for the MW. Results. We obtained an absolute PM for NGC 2302 of (μα cos δ μδ) = (-2.09; -2.11) mas yr-1, with standard errors of 0.410 and 0.400 mas yr-1. The mean RV of NGC 2302 turned out to be 31.2 km s-1 with a standard error of 0.7 km s-1. The density analysis revealed a remarkably spherical concentration of stars centered at α2000 = 06:51:51:820, δ2000 = -07:05:10:68 with a radius of 2:50′ Although densely contaminated by field stars, all our photometric diagrams show a recognizable cluster sequence of bright stars (V ≤ 18). The color-color diagrams show the existence of more than one population, each a ected by distinct reddening with the cluster sequence at E(B - V) = 0.23. Isochrone fits displaced for this reddening and for a distance modulus of (m - M)0 = 10.69 (distance, d = 1:40 kpc) indicate an age of log(t) = 7:90-8.00 with a slight tendency toward the younger age. Inspection of the shape of the orbit of NGC 2302 and the resulting orbital parameters indicate that it is a typical population I object.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Astrofísica de La Plat

Enantioselective Synthesis of 2-Amino-1,1-diarylalkanes Bearing a Carbocyclic Ring Substituted Indole through Asymmetric Catalytic Reaction of Hydroxyindoles with Nitroalkenes

[EN] An asymmetric catalytic reaction of hydroxyindoles with nitroalkenes leading to the Friedel-Crafts alkylation in the carbocyclic ring of indole is presented. The method is based on the activating/directing effects of the hydroxy group situated in the carbocyclic ring of the indole providing nitroalkylated indoles functionalizated at the C-4, C-5, and C-7 positions with high yield, regio-, and enantioselectivity. The optically enriched nitroalkanes were transformed efficiently in optically enriched 2-amino-1,1-diarylalkanes bearing a carbocyclic ring substituted indole.Financial support from the MINECO (Gobierno de Espana; CTQ2017-84900-P) is gratefully acknowledged. C.V. thanks MINECO for a JdC contract. J.R.-B. thanks the Ministry of Education for a Collaboration grant. Access to NMR, MS, and X-ray facilities from the Servei Central de Suport a la Investigacio Experimental (SCSIE)-UV is also acknowledgedVila, C.; Rostoll-Berenguer, J.; Sánchez-García, R.; Blay, G.; Fernandez, I.; Muñoz Roca, MDC.; Pedro, JR. (2018). Enantioselective Synthesis of 2-Amino-1,1-diarylalkanes Bearing a Carbocyclic Ring Substituted Indole through Asymmetric Catalytic Reaction of Hydroxyindoles with Nitroalkenes. The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 83(12):6397-6407. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.8b0061263976407831

Constraint algorithm for k-presymplectic Hamiltonian systems. Application to singular field theories

The k-symplectic formulation of field theories is especially simple, since only tangent and cotangent bundles are needed in its description. Its defining elements show a close relationship with those in the symplectic formulation of mechanics. It will be shown that this relationship also stands in the presymplectic case. In a natural way, one can mimick the presymplectic constraint algorithm to obtain a constraint algorithm that can be applied to $k$-presymplectic field theory, and more particularly to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of field theories defined by a singular Lagrangian, as well as to the unified Lagrangian-Hamiltonian formalism (Skinner--Rusk formalism) for k-presymplectic field theory. Two examples of application of the algorithm are also analyzed.Comment: 22 p

Neuronal p38α mediates synaptic and cognitive dysfunction in an Alzheimer’s mouse model by controlling β-amyloid production.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a severe and progressive neuronal loss leading to cognitive dysfunctions. Previous reports, based on the use of chemical inhibitors, have connected the stress kinase p38α to neuroinflammation, neuronal death and synaptic dysfunction. To explore the specific role of neuronal p38α signalling in the appearance of pathological symptoms, we have generated mice that combine expression of the 5XFAD transgenes to induce AD symptoms with the downregulation of p38α only in neurons (5XFAD/p38α∆-N). We found that the neuronal-specific deletion of p38α improves the memory loss and long-term potentiation impairment induced by 5XFAD transgenes. Furthermore, 5XFAD/p38α∆-N mice display reduced amyloid-β accumulation, improved neurogenesis, and important changes in brain cytokine expression compared with 5XFAD mice. Our results implicate neuronal p38α signalling in the synaptic plasticity dysfunction and memory impairment observed in 5XFAD mice, by regulating both amyloid-β deposition in the brain and the relay of this accumulation to mount an inflammatory response, which leads to the cognitive deficits.post-print1848 K

Biological aspects of little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus from Spanish and Portuguese waters.

This study provides information on some biological aspects of Euthynnus alletteratus from the western Mediterranean (Spanish coast) and in the Atlantic Ocean (south of Iberian Peninsula). A total of 1266 individuals were measured between 2003 and 2017. The L-W relationship was calculated with W equal to 0.01242 FL3.058 . Histological analysis of the ovaries and the monthly variation of the gonadosomatic index for both sexes suggested that the spawning season for Euthynnus alletteratus in the western Mediterranean Sea takes place from June to August. The lengths at first maturity (L50) were estimated to be 50.1 cm and 43.4 cm FL for female and male, respectively. Age at first maturity (A50) was calculated

Predicting MHC I restricted T cell epitopes in mice with NAP-CNB, a novel online tool

Lack of a dedicated integrated pipeline for neoantigen discovery in mice hinders cancer immunotherapy research. Novel sequential approaches through recurrent neural networks can improve the accuracy of T-cell epitope binding affinity predictions in mice, and a simplified variant selection process can reduce operational requirements. We have developed a web server tool (NAP-CNB) for a full and automatic pipeline based on recurrent neural networks, to predict putative neoantigens from tumoral RNA sequencing reads. The developed software can estimate H-2 peptide ligands, with an AUC comparable or superior to state-of-the-art methods, directly from tumor samples. As a proof-of-concept, we used the B16 melanoma model to test the system's predictive capabilities, and we report its putative neoantigens. NAP-CNB web server is freely available at http://biocomp.cnb.csic.es/NeoantigensApp/ with scripts and datasets accessible through the download section

Insights into the properties of the Local (Orion) spiral arm. NGC 2302: First results and description of the program

Context. The spiral structure of the Milky Way (MW) is highly uncertain and is the subject of much discussion nowadays. Even the spiral structure close to the Sun and the real nature of the so-called Local or Orion arm are poorly known. Aims. We present the first result from a program that determines the properties of the Local (Orion) spiral arm (LOA), together with a full description of the program. In this context we have made a comprehensive study of the young LOA open cluster NGC 2302, which includes a UBVRI photometric analysis and determination of its kinematic properties - proper motion (PM) and radial velocity (RV) - and of its orbital parameters. Methods. Making a geometric registration of our ad-hoc first- and second-epoch CCD frames (12-year timeframe), we determined the mean PM of NGC 2302 relative to the local field of disk stars, and, through a comparison with the UCAC4 catalog, we transformed this relative PM into an absolute one. Using medium-resolution spectroscopy of 26 stars in the field of NGC 2302, we derived its mean RV.We determined the cluster's structure, center, and radius by means of a density analysis of star counts. Photometric diagrams for several color combinations were built using our data, which allowed us to identify the stellar populations present in the field of NGC 2302 and to carry out our photometric membership analysis. Isochrone fits to the photometric diagrams allowed us to determine the fundamental parameters of NGC 2302, including reddening, distance, and age. The kinematic data and derived distance allowed us to determine the space motion of NGC 2302. This was done by adopting a time-independent, axisymmetric, and fully analytic gravitational potential for the MW. Results. We obtained an absolute PM for NGC 2302 of (μα cos δ μδ) = (-2.09; -2.11) mas yr-1, with standard errors of 0.410 and 0.400 mas yr-1. The mean RV of NGC 2302 turned out to be 31.2 km s-1 with a standard error of 0.7 km s-1. The density analysis revealed a remarkably spherical concentration of stars centered at α2000 = 06:51:51:820, δ2000 = -07:05:10:68 with a radius of 2:50′ Although densely contaminated by field stars, all our photometric diagrams show a recognizable cluster sequence of bright stars (V ≤ 18). The color-color diagrams show the existence of more than one population, each a ected by distinct reddening with the cluster sequence at E(B - V) = 0.23. Isochrone fits displaced for this reddening and for a distance modulus of (m - M)0 = 10.69 (distance, d = 1:40 kpc) indicate an age of log(t) = 7:90-8.00 with a slight tendency toward the younger age. Inspection of the shape of the orbit of NGC 2302 and the resulting orbital parameters indicate that it is a typical population I object.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Astrofísica de La Plat

Macroscopic and microscopic maturity stages. living working document for small tuna species.

Maturity ogives are usually estimated using different methods, including macroscopical and microscopical maturity data. Differences in maturity ogives estimations are found for species and by area/stock. So those differences may be a consequence of the use of different methodological techniques (criteria) or due to different spawning tactics. Taking this into account is essential to guarantee that the maturity criteria for each species are consistent across the laboratories and countries involved in stock assessment. The objective of this document is to show a large amount of detailed photos (macro and microphotographs) of the different gonad stages of Auxis rochei, Sarda sarda and Euthynnus alletteratus, for females and males, which will be an enhancement to the descriptions of maturity stages given in the maturity tables