Reconstruction of global solar radiation time series from 1933 to 2013 at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory

This paper presents the reconstruction of the 80-year time series of daily global solar radiation (GSR) at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO) located in Tenerife (The Canary Islands, Spain). For this purpose, we combine GSR estimates from sunshine duration (SD) data using the Ångström–Prescott method over the 1933/1991 period, and GSR observations directly performed by pyranometers between 1992 and 2013. Since GSR measurements have been used as a reference, a strict quality control has been applied based on principles of physical limits and comparison with LibRadtran model. By comparing with high quality GSR measurements, the precision and consistency over time of GSR estimations from SD data have been successfully documented. We obtain an overall root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.2% and an agreement between the variances of GSR estimations and GSR measurements within 92%. Nonetheless, this agreement significantly increases when the GSR estimation is done considering different daily fractions of clear sky (FCS).Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) for projects CGL2011-23413, CGL2012-33576 and CGL2012-37505 is acknowledged

Long-term in global solar radiation at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory from 1933-2013

Póster elaborado para el 13th BSRN Scientific Review and Workshop celebrado en Bolonia del 9-12 de septiembre de 201

Long-term recovering of global solar radiation from 1993 to 2013 at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory [Póster]

Póster elaborado para el International Symposium CLIMA-ES 2015 celebrado en Tortosa, Spain, los días 11-13 March 2015.Solar radiation controls the energy radiative balance in the Earth and, thus, our weather and climate. For this reason, its study has been one of the main objectives of the research community during the last decades. Recently, the focus is on evaluating long-term trends of solar radiation reaching the Earth‟s surface as well as on identifying the variability driven by the climate change. Observational evidences of changes on global solar radiation (GSR) trends have already been reported at a global scale. In this context, the goal of this work is to perform a reconstruction of the GSR time series between 1933 and 2013 at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZA) located in Tenerife (28.3°N, 16.5°W, 2373 m a.s.l., Spain). For this purpose, we combine GSR estimates from sunshine duration (SD) data using the Ångström–Prescott method over the 1933/1991 period, and GSR observations directly performed by different pyranometers between 1992 and 2013.This work was developed under the Specific Agreement of Collaboration between the Meteorological State Agency (AEMET) of Spain and the University of Valladolid. Financial supports from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) for projects CGL2011-23413, CGL2012-33576 and CGL2012-37505 are gratefully acknowledged

Inhibition of intermediate-conductance calcium-activated K channel (KCa3.1) and fibroblast mitogenesis by a-linolenic acid and alterations of channel expression in the lysosomal storage disorders, fabry disease, and niemann pick C

The calcium/calmodulin-gated KCa3.1 channel regulates normal and abnormal mitogenesis by controlling K+-efflux, cell volume, and membrane hyperpolarization-driven calcium-entry. Recent studies suggest modulation of KCa3.1 by omega-3 fatty acids as negative modulators and impaired KCa3.1 functions in the inherited lysosomal storage disorder (LSD), Fabry disease (FD). In the first part of present study, we characterize KCa3.1 in murine and human fibroblasts and test the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on fibroblast proliferation. In the second, we study whether KCa3.1 is altered in the LSDs, FD, and Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). Our patch-clamp and mRNA-expression studies on murine and human fibroblasts show functional expression of KCa3.1. KCa currents display the typical pharmacological fingerprint of KCa3.1: Ca2+-activation, potentiation by the positive-gating modulators, SKA-31 and SKA-121, and inhibition by TRAM-34, Senicapoc (ICA-17043), and the negative-gating modulator, 13b. Considering modulation by omega-3 fatty acids we found that a-linolenic acid (a-LA) and docosahexanenoic acid (DHA) inhibit KCa3.1 currents and strongly reduce fibroblast growth. The a-LA-rich linseed oil and ¿-LA-rich borage oil at 0.5% produce channel inhibition while a-LA/¿-LA-low oils has no anti-proliferative effect. Concerning KCa3.1 in LSD, mRNA expression studies, and patch-clamp on primary fibroblasts from FD and NPC patients reveal lower KCa3.1-gene expression and membrane expression than in control fibroblasts. In conclusion, the omega-3 fatty acid, a-LA, and a-LA/¿-LA-rich plant oils, inhibit fibroblast KCa3.1 channels and mitogenesis. Reduced fibroblast KCa3.1 functions are a feature and possible biomarker of cell dysfunction in FD and NPC and supports the concept that biased lipid metabolism is capable of negatively modulating KCa3.1 expression

Descripción de una nueva variante asociada a porfiria cutánea tarda

Poster [PC-093] La porfiria cutánea tarda (PCT) se debe a una alteración en la función de la enzima uroporfirógeno descarboxilasa, necesaria para la correcta síntesis del grupo hemo. Clínicamente, se caracteriza por fotosensibilidad y un cuadro de fragilidad cutánea que suele aparecer entre los 20 y los 40 años, siendo más frecuente en varones. También se asocia a afectación hepática. La PCT hereditaria es la responsable del 20% de los casos, causándola mutaciones en el gen UROD (MIM*613521) con un patrón autosómico dominante. El presente trabajo describe un paciente de 48 años sin antecedentes de hepatopatía crónica, enolismo o contacto con otros tóxicos, con erosiones dérmicas en zonas fotoexpuestas, hirsutismo malar y una concentración de uroporfirina en orina de 1.360, 97 mcg/24h. Concentración de hierro sérico, ferritina y enzimas hepáticas normales en sangre, VHB, VHC negativos, gen HFE normal. En resonancia magnética hepática se observa un incremento moderado (54mmol/g) en los depósitos de hierro. El análisis mediante secuenciación tipos “Sanger” del gen UROD completo detecta tres variantes, una de ellas con baja frecuencia poblacional y sin efecto descrito. Se ha analizado la presencia de esta variante en 21 sujetos control de población ibérica, no observándose en ninguno de ellos. Además, se ha analiza su efecto mediante 5 predictores bioinformáticos, indicando todos ellos que puede tratarse de una variante asociada a patogenicidad. El estudio en familiares de primer grado indica que un hijo del caso índice también presenta la variante. Los resultados del estudio, así como la baja frecuencia poblacional y las manifestaciones clínicas del paciente nos llevan a la conclusión de que esta variante, cuyo efecto no se conocía, se asocia a la porfiria cutánea tarda hereditaria. El hijo del caso presentado es un varón joven que puede no haber desarrollado todavía la sintomatología

Habitat selection and diet of Western Capercaillie

P. 260-272Ecological features and conservation requirements of populations at the latitudinal limits of a species’ geographical range frequently differ from those in other parts of the range. Identifying such differences is key to implementing effective conservation strategies for threatened range-edge populations especially, in the context of rapid global warming, at the lower-latitude range edge. We studied habitat selection and diet of the endangered Cantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus in a recently discovered population at the southernmost edge of the sub-species’ range. This is the only Western Capercaillie population in the Mediterranean biogeographical region. We combined non-systematic surveys based on questionnaires, reports and field sampling with data from radiotracking to assess habitat selection. Diet was surveyed by micro-histological methods from droppings collected in the new population, which inhabits Pyrenean Oak Quercus pyrenaica forests and Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris plantations, and in two Cantabrian populations inhabiting Eurosiberian forests. Capercaillie preferred large (> 500 ha) and medium-sized (100–500 ha) Pyrenean Oak forest fragments and large Scots Pine plantations. Forest fragments smaller than 100 ha and non-forested habitats were always avoided. Diet differed markedly between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian populations. Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus is common in the diet of most Capercaillie populations but was scarce in the study area and so was rare in the diet of the new population. Instead, Rockrose Halimium lasianthum was described for the first time as a major food resource for the Capercaillie and was consumed in autumn and winter. Pine needles were also heavily consumed in winter. We document for the first time the strong preference of Capercaillie for Pyrenean Oak forests and a moderately high consumption of the leaves, buds and acorns of this tree species throughout the year. Habitat selection and diet of this Mediterranean population differ from those of the core Cantabrian and other populations. Our results suggest a wider environmental tolerance (phenotypic plasticity) in the species than previously recognized. We advocate specific protection for this unique range-edge Capercaillie population and its Pyrenean Oak forest habitatS

Data on clinical characteristics of a heart failure patients’ cohort with reduced ejection fraction and analysis of the circulating values of five different heart failure biomarkers; high sensitivity troponin T, galectin-3, C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, soluble AXL and BNP

AbstractIn this article, the full description of a heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF_REF) cohort of 192 patients is provided. Tables with the baseline demographic, prior history, ECG parameters, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory values and pharmacological treatment of these patients are included. Also, the quartile values of the analyzed circulating biomarkers: high sensitivity Troponin T (hs-TnT), galectin-3 (Gal-3), C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (CICP), soluble AXL (sAXL) and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) are given. The main demographic and clinical features of the patients’ subgroups that have hs-TnT, Gal-3, CICP or BNP above the third quartile are described. Tables with Pearson correlation analysis of the HF_REF patients’ biomarker levels are included. And Pearson correlation analysis of the HF_REF patients’ hs-TnT, Gal-3, CICP levels with patients’ biochemical parameters, blood count and inflammation parameters are also described. These data are related to the research articles (AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is increased in patients with heart failure (M. Batlle, P. Recarte-Pelz, E. Roig, M.A. Castel, M. Cardona, M. Farrero, et al., 2014) [1] and Use of serum levels of high sensitivity troponin T, galectin-3 and C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen at long term follow-up in Heart Failure patients with reduced ejection fraction: comparison with soluble AXL and BNP (M. Batlle, B. Campos, M. Farrero, M. Cardona, B. González, M.A. Castel, et al., 2016) [2]

Prediction of poor outcome in clostridioides difficile infection: A multicentre external validation of the toxin B amplification cycle

Producción CientíficaClassification of patients according to their risk of poor outcomes in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) would enable implementation of costly new treatment options in a subset of patients at higher risk of poor outcome. In a previous study, we found that low toxin B amplification cycle thresholds (Ct) were independently associated with poor outcome CDI. Our objective was to perform a multicentre external validation of a PCR-toxin B Ct as a marker of poor outcome CDI. We carried out a multicentre study (14 hospitals) in which the characteristics and outcome of patients with CDI were evaluated. A subanalysis of the results of the amplification curve of real-time PCR gene toxin B (XpertTM C. difficile) was performed. A total of 223 patients were included. The median age was 73.0 years, 50.2% were female, and the median Charlson index was 3.0. The comparison of poor outcome and non–poor outcome CDI episodes revealed, respectively, the following results: median age (years), 77.0 vs 72.0 (p = 0.009); patients from nursing homes, 24.4% vs 10.8% (p = 0.039); median leukocytes (cells/μl), 10,740.0 vs 8795.0 (p = 0.026); and median PCR-toxin B Ct, 23.3 vs 25.4 (p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis showed that a PCR-toxin B Ct cut-off <23.5 was significantly and independently associated with poor outcome CDI (p = 0.002; OR, 3.371; 95%CI, 1.565–7.264). This variable correctly classified 68.5% of patients. The use of this microbiological marker could facilitate early selection of patients who are at higher risk of poor outcome and are more likely to benefit from newer and more costly therapeutic options