Holocene landscapes in the Serra de Arga (NW Portugal)

El diagrama polínico obtenido permite conocer la dinámica de la vegetación y los cambios en el paisaje durante el Holoceno en el entorno de la Serra de Arga. Las fechas obtenidas, permiten situar el inicio de la secuencia en relación con el evento climático GH-8.2 registrado en las secuencias de hielo de Groenlandia. Tras esta fase de regresión se registra una recuperación del bosque correlacionable con el óptimo climático de Holoceno y en la cual se constata el predominio de los robledales. Tras un corto episodio en el que se produce un hiato sedimentario, la secuencia se reanuda en una fase de marcada deforestación tras la cual se registra un fuerte incremento de Pinus relacionado con la proliferación de plantaciones forestales.The pollen diagram obtained allow us to understand the dynamics of vegetation and landscape changes during the Holocene in the vicinity of the Serra de Arga. The dates obtained are used to place the beginning of the sequence in relation to GH-8.2 climate event recorded in Greenland ice cores. After this phase of regression there is a forest recovery coincident with the Holocene climatic optimum in which notes the predominance of oak. After a short episode in which there is a sedimentary hiatus, the sequence is resumed in a phase of marked deforestation after which records a sharp increase in Pinus associated with the proliferation of forest plantations.Fundação Calouste Gulbenkia

Synthesis of slow-wave structures based on capacitive-loaded lines through aggressive space mapping (ASM)

This article is focused on the automated synthesis of slow-wave structures based on microstrip lines loaded with patch capacitors. Thanks to the presence of the shunt capacitors, the effective capacitance of the line is enhanced, and the phase velocity of the structure can be made significantly smaller than the one of the unloaded line. The target is to achieve the layout of the slow-wave structure able to provide the required slow-wave ratio, characteristic (Bloch) impedance and electrical length (i.e., the usual specifications in the design of slow-wave transmission lines). To this end, a two-step synthesis method, based on the aggressive space mapping (ASM) algorithm, is proposed for the first time. Through the first ASM algorithm, the circuit schematic providing the target specifications is determined. Then, the second ASM optimizer is used to generate the layout of the structure. To illustrate the potential of the proposed synthesis method, three application examples are successfully reported. The two-step ASM algorithm is able to provide the layout of the considered structures from the required specifications, without the need of an external aid in the process.This work has been supported by MINECO-Spain (projects TEC2010-17512 METATRANSFER, TEC2010-21520-C04-01, TEC2013-47037-C5-1-R, CONSOLIDER EMET CSD2008-00066, TEC2013-40600-R and TEC2013-49221-EXP), Generalitat de Catalunya (project 2014SGR-157), Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats (who has awarded Ferran Martin) and FEDER Funds. Marco Orellana acknowledges the support of the Universidad de Costa Rica, MICITT and CONICIT to study at the Univesitat Autonoma de Barcelona.Orellana, M.; Selga, J.; Sans, M.; Rodriguez Perez, AM.; Boria Esbert, VE.; Martín Antolín, JF. (2015). Synthesis of slow-wave structures based on capacitive-loaded lines through aggressive space mapping (ASM). International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering. 25(7):629-638. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmce.20901S629638257F. Martín J. Bonache M. Durán-Sindreu J. Naqui F. Paredes G. Zamora 1 25Gorur, A. (1994). A novel coplanar slow-wave structure. IEEE Microwave and Guided Wave Letters, 4(3), 86-88. doi:10.1109/75.275589Sor, J., Qian, Y., & Itoh, T. (2001). Miniature low-loss CPW periodic structures for filter applications. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 49(12), 2336-2341. doi:10.1109/22.971618Shau-Gang Mao, & Ming-Yi Chen. (2001). A novel periodic electromagnetic bandgap structure for finite-width conductor-backed coplanar waveguides. IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, 11(6), 261-263. doi:10.1109/7260.928932Martín, F., Falcone, F., Bonache, J., Lopetegi, T., Laso, M. A. G., & Sorolla, M. (2003). New CPW low-pass filter based on a slow wave structure. 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(2007). Space-Mapping Optimization With Adaptive Surrogate Model. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 55(3), 541-547. doi:10.1109/tmtt.2006.890524S. Koziel Q.S. Cheng J.W. Bandler 1995 1998Koziel, S., Bandler, J. W., & Cheng, Q. S. (2010). Robust Trust-Region Space-Mapping Algorithms for Microwave Design Optimization. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 58(8), 2166-2174. doi:10.1109/tmtt.2010.2052666Q.S. Cheng J.W. Bandler N.K. Nikolova S. Koziel 1 4L.J. Rogla J.E. Rayas-Sanchez V.E. Boria J. Carbonell 111 114P.J. Bradley 1 4P.J. Bradley 1 17 2013J. Selga A. Rodríguez V.E. Boria F. MartínJ. Selga A. Rodríguez J. Naqui M. Durán-Sindreu V.E. Boria F. Martín 2013J. Selga M. Sans A. Rodríguez J. Bonache V. Boria F. Martín 1 4Sans, M., Selga, J., Rodriguez, A., Bonache, J., Boria, V. E., & Martin, F. (2014). Design of Planar Wideband Bandpass Filters From Specifications Using a Two-Step Aggressive Space Mapping (ASM) Optimization Algorithm. 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Neuroinflammation and Neurotransmission Mechanisms Involved in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Some classical psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism, major depression, bipolar and obsessive‐compulsive disorders, have been related to neuroinflammatory process, immunological abnormalities, and neurotransmission impairment beyond genetic mutations. Neuroinflammation is mostly regulated by glial cells, which respond to physiological and pathological stimuli by anti‐ and pro‐inflammatory cytokine and chemokine signaling; moreover, recent studies have indicated that glial cells also respond to the neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters regulate many biological processes, such as cell proliferation and synaptogenesis, which contribute to the formation of functional circuits. Alterations in the neurotransmission can lead to many pathological changes that occur in brain disorders. For example, studies have shown that neuroinflammation can alter the metabolism of glutamate as well as the function of its transporters, resulting in cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric impairments. Cytokines as IL‐1β and IL‐6 appear to have an important influence in the dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurons. These data together suggest that glial cells via cytokines and abnormal regulation of neurotransmitters can influence psychiatric disorders. The present knowledge about this issue does not allow answering whether neuroinflammation is the cause or the consequence of neurotransmission imbalance and emphasizes the importance to improve in vivo imaging methods and models to elucidate this enigma

Origin, distribution, and potential risk factors associated with influenza A virus in swine in two production systems in Guatemala

Background: Guatemala is the country with the largest swine production in Central America; however, evidence of influenza A virus (IAV) in pigs has not been clearly delineated. Objectives: In this study, we analyzed the presence and spatial distribution of IAV in commercial and backyard swine populations. Methods: Samples from two nationwide surveys conducted in 2010 and 2011 were tested using virological (rRT-PCR and virus isolation) and serological (ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition) assays to detect IAV. Results: Influenza A virus was detected in 15.7% of the sampled pigs (30.6% of herds) in 2010 and in 11.7% (24.2% of herds) in 2011. The percentage of seropositive pigs was 10.6% (16.1% of herds) and 1.4% (3.1% of herds) for each year, respectively. Three pandemic H1N1 and one seasonal human-like H3N2 viruses were isolated. Antibodies against viruses from different genetic clusters were detected. No reassortant strains with swine viruses were detected. The H3N2 virus was closely related to human viruses that circulated in Central America in 2010, distinct to the most recent human seasonal vaccine lineages. Spatial clusters of rRT-PCR positive herds were detected each year by scan statistics. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate circulation of IAV throughout Guatemala and identify commercial farms, animal health status, and age as potential risk factors associated with IAV infection and exposure. Detection of human-origin viruses in pigs suggests a role for humans in the molecular epidemiology of IAV in swine in Guatemala and evidences gaps in local animal and human surveillance

Increased hypothalamic anti‐inflammatory mediators in non‐diabetic insulin receptor substrate 2‐deficient mice

© 2021 by the authors.Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 2 is a key mediator of insulin signaling and IRS-2 knockout (IRS2−/−) mice are a preclinical model to study the development of diabetes, as they develop peripheral insulin resistance and beta-cell failure. The differential inflammatory profile and insulin signaling in the hypothalamus of non-diabetic (ND) and diabetic (D) IRS2−/− mice might be implicated in the onset of diabetes. Because the lipid profile is related to changes in inflammation and insulin sensitivity, we analyzed whether ND IRS2−/− mice presented a different hypothalamic fatty acid metabolism and lipid pattern than D IRS2−/− mice and the relationship with inflammation and markers of insulin sensitivity. ND IRS2−/− mice showed elevated hypothalamic anti-inflammatory cytokines, while D IRS2−/− mice displayed a proinflammatory profile. The increased activity of enzymes related to the pentose-phosphate route and lipid anabolism and elevated polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were found in the hypothalamus of ND IRS2−/− mice. Conversely, D IRS2−/− mice have no changes in fatty acid composition, but hypothalamic energy balance and markers related to anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties were reduced. The data suggest that the concurrence of an anti-inflammatory profile, increased insulin sensitivity and polyunsaturated fatty acids content in the hypothalamus may slow down or delay the onset of diabetes.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation with the help of European FEDER funding (grant numbers FIS PI19/00166, BFU 2017-82565-C2-1-R, and RTI2018-094052-B-100), Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (S2017/BMD-3684) and the Network Center for Biomedical Research on Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) and Diabetes (CIBERDEM) Instituto Carlos III. S.C. was supported by CIBEROBN and A.G.M. by Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús

A Novel NFIX-STAT6 Gene Fusion in Solitary Fibrous Tumor: A Case Report

Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare subtype of soft-tissue sarcoma with a wide spectrum of histopathological features and clinical behaviors, ranging from mildly to highly aggressive tumors. The defining genetic driver alteration is the gene fusion NAB2–STAT6, resulting from a paracentric inversion within chromosome 12q, and involving several different exons in each gene. STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6) nuclear immunostaining and/or the identification of NAB2–STAT6 gene fusion is required for the diagnostic confirmation of solitary fibrous tumor. In the present study, a new gene fusion consisting of Nuclear Factor I X (NFIX), mapping to 19p13.2 and STAT6, mapping to 12q13.3 was identified by targeted RNA-Seq in a 74-year-old female patient diagnosed with a deep-seated solitary fibrous tumor in the pelvis. Histopathologically, the neoplasm did not display nuclear pleomorphism or tumor necrosis and had a low proliferative index. A total of 378 unique reads spanning the NFIXexon8–STAT6exon2 breakpoint with 55 different start sites were detected in the bioinformatic analysis, which represented 59.5% of the reads intersecting the genomic location on either side of the breakpoint. Targeted RNA-Seq results were validated by RT-PCR/ Sanger sequencing. The identification of a new gene fusion partner for STAT6 in solitary fibrous tumor opens intriguing new hypotheses to refine the role of STAT6 in the sarcomatogenesis of this entity

Increased adipose tissue lymphatic vessel density inhibits thermogenesis through elevated neurotensin levels

During cold exposure, white adipose tissue can remodel to dissipate energy as heat under cold similar to thermogenic brown adipose tissue. This “browning” and the regulation of body temperature is under the control of neural and hormonal signaling. It was recently discovered that neurotensin, a small neuropeptide, not only acts to inhibit thermogenesis, but also that lymphatic vessels may be a surprisingly potent source of neurotensin production. We hypothesized that the induction of adipose tissue lymphangiogenesis would therefore increase tissue neurotensin levels and impair thermogenesis.Methods: We utilized AdipoVD mice that have inducible expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D, a potent lymphangiogenic stimulator, specifically in adipose tissue. Overexpression of VEGF-D induced significant lymphangiogenesis in both white and brown adipose tissues of AdipoVD mice.Results: Obese Adipo-VD mice demonstrated no differences in adipose morphology or browning under room temperature conditions compared to controls but did express significantly higher levels of neurotensin in their adipose tissues. Upon acute cold exposure, AdipoVD mice were markedly cold intolerant; inhibition of neurotensin signaling ameliorated this cold intolerance as AdipoVD mice were then able to maintain body temperature on cold challenge equivalent to their littermates.Conclusion: In total, these data demonstrate that adipose tissue lymphatic vessels are a potent paracrine source of neurotensin and that lymphangiogenesis therefore impairs the tissues’ thermogenic ability

High-Dimensional Analysis of Single-Cell Flow Cytometry Data Predicts Relapse in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is one of the most common cancers in childhood, with 20% of patients eventually relapsing. Flow cytometry is routinely used for diagnosis and follow-up, but it currently does not provide prognostic value at diagnosis. The volume and the high-dimensional character of this data makes it ideal for its exploitation by means of Artificial Intelligence methods. We collected flow cytometry data from 56 patients from two hospitals. We analysed differences in intensity of marker expression in order to predict relapse at the moment of diagnosis. We finally correlated this data with biomolecular information, constructing a classifier based on CD38 expression. Artificial intelligence methods may help in unveiling information that is hidden in high-dimensional oncological data. Flow cytometry studies of haematological malignancies provide quantitative data with the potential to be used for the construction of response biomarkers. Many computational methods from the bioinformatics toolbox can be applied to these data, but they have not been exploited in their full potential in leukaemias, specifically for the case of childhood B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. In this paper, we analysed flow cytometry data that were obtained at diagnosis from 56 paediatric B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia patients from two local institutions. Our aim was to assess the prognostic potential of immunophenotypical marker expression intensity. We constructed classifiers that are based on the Fisher's Ratio to quantify differences between patients with relapsing and non-relapsing disease. We also correlated this with genetic information. The main result that arises from the data was the association between subexpression of marker CD38 and the probability of relapse