Short range order of CCl4: RMC and MD methods

The main objective of this paper is to present a method to fully determine the six degrees of freedom regarding position and orientation of a neighboring molecule around a central one, i.e. the g(rCM,¿) distribution function. This is accomplished by completely determining the short range structure of liquid carbon tetrachloride, while employing results from two different methods, Molecular Dynamics (MD) [1] and Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) [2]. Exclusively, the structural ordering of the first four molecules will be detailed.Postprint (published version

Suitability of real-time quantitative PCR to estimate the relative telomere length in European Hake (Merluccius merluccius Linnaeus, 1758)

Telomere length measurement has been proposed as a promising tool to estimate the age of individuals in natural populations. We used real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to measure relative telomere length in four tissues (brain, kidney, liver and muscle) of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in different groups based upon body length an otolith age estimate. We observed a high level of inter-individual differences in the measurements of relative telomere length in hakes of similar age and body length groups. The results of qPCR analysis showed a great variability in all measures and a lack of repeatability and reproducibility with significant statistical differences in the results of the different assays. The paper discusses the technical reasons for the variability in qPCR obtained in this work and by other authors

Bioavailability, mobility and leaching of phosphorus in a Mediterranean agricultural soil (ne Spain) amended with different doses of biosolids

The precipitation of sparingly soluble calcium phosphate in calcareous soils decreases the bioavailability of macronutrients, which makes their addition by way of fertilisers necessary. Sludge resulting from treating urban wastewater does not only provide significant amounts of phosphorus, but also helps lower the pH, thus increasing its bioavailability. The loss of part of soil nutrients due to irrigation or rain can contaminate groundwater. In order to assess the movement of phosphorus, a experiment was conducted on percolation columns, to which different doses of wastes were applied. The pH decreased by as much as 0.89 units, as well as the assimilable and soluble P, in intervals of 20 cm of depth, obtaining maximum values of 254 mg P kg-1 and 1455 lg P kg-1 respectively, and the P present in the leached water collected, which did not surpass 95 lg PL-1. The intent was to learn which was the majoritarian inorganic formed crystalline phase that immobilised the movement of phosphorus through the percolation column. The results obtained by the diffraction of X-rays are not conclusive, although they point to the formation of octacalcium phosphate. The diffractograms of the studied samples have similar diffraction lines to those of apatites

Measurement of the radiative neutron capture cross section of 206 Pb and its astrophysical implications

The (n,γ) cross section of 206Pb has been measured at the CERN n_TOF facility with high resolution in the energy range from 1 eV to 620 keV by using two optimized 6C6D detectors. In the investigated energy interval about 130 resonances could be observed, from which 61 had enough statistics to be reliably analyzed via the R-matrix analysis code SAMMY. Experimental uncertainties were minimized, in particular with respect to (i) angular distribution effects of the prompt capture γ-rays, and to (ii) the TOF-dependent background due to sample-scattered neutrons. Other background components were addressed by background measurements with an enriched 208Pb sample. The effect of the lower energy cutoff in the pulse height spectra of the 6C6D detectors was carefully corrected via Monte Carlo simulations. Compared to previous 206Pb values, the Maxwellian averaged capture cross sections derived from these data are about 20% and 9% lower at thermal energies of 5 keV and 30 keV, respectively. These new results have a direct impact on the s-process abundance of 206Pb, which represents an important test for the interpretation of the cosmic clock based on the decay of 238U

Analyses of allele-specific gene expression in highly divergent mouse crosses identifies pervasive allelic imbalance

Complex human traits are influenced by variation in regulatory DNA through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Since regulatory elements are conserved between humans and mice, a thorough annotation of cis regulatory variants in mice could aid in this process. Here we provide a detailed portrait of mouse gene expression across multiple tissues in a three-way diallel. Greater than 80% of mouse genes have cis regulatory variation. These effects influence complex traits and usually extend to the human ortholog. Further, we estimate that at least one in every thousand SNPs creates a cis regulatory effect. We also observe two types of parent-of-origin effects, including classical imprinting and a novel, global allelic imbalance in favor of the paternal allele. We conclude that, as with humans, pervasive regulatory variation influences complex genetic traits in mice and provide a new resource toward understanding the genetic control of transcription in mammals

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPPT). Still an unsolved enigma

Solid pseudo-papillary tumor (SPPT) is a rare cystic tumor of the pancreas (1-3% of exocrine tumors of the pancreas) which shows an “enigmatic” behavior on the clinical and molecular pattern. A retrospective analysis of the citological studies and resected specimens of pancreatic cystic tumors from May 1996 to February 2010 was carried out. Three cases of SPPT were found, which are the objective of this study. The diagnosis was established upon occasional finding in the abdominal CT, in spite of sizing between 3 and 6 cm of diameter. In the three cases the preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by citology and specific immunohistochemical staining. Cases 2 and 3 showed strong immunoreactivity for Beta-Catenina and E-Cadherina staining. Radical resection (R0) was carried out in the three cases. A young male –21 years of age (case 1)- who had duodenal infiltration and two lymph nodes metastases died of hepatic and peritoneal recurrence 20 months following surgery. The other two cases are free of disease. The current review of the literature reports roughly 800 cases since the first report in 1959, and shows the enigmatic character of this tumor regarding the cellular origin, molecular pathways, prognostic factors and clinical behavior

Llisses, orades i alguna anguila. L'ictiofauna mesolítica de les Coves de Santa Maira (Castell de Castells, La Marina Alta, Alacant)

There are several marine remains throughout the Coves de Santa Maira archaeological sequence which are indicative of relationships with the coastal lowlands. We studied the Mesolithic remains of fish and molluscs species found so far. It is a small sample, but interesting because it has allowed us to analyze the areas of obtaining these marine resources and suggest any reflection on their significance within the techno-economic transformation processes of the later prehistoric foragers

Impactos del cambio climático sobre los rendimientos del arroz (Oryza sativa L.) en la Zona Llanos, Colombia

The effects of climate change on strategic sectors of local economies have become a priority for governments, scientists and academics in recent decades. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to estimate the relationship of dryland rice yields with climatic and economic variables. For this, the ordinary least squares method was applied, using a database corresponding to the period 1990 to 2016 of the rice producing area called Llanos in Colombia. Among the results it is highlighted that the maximum temperature has significant effects, while deficits or excess rainfall have a negative impact on rice yield. Likewise, cultural tasks such as preparing the land have adverse effects on rice yield, while the use of fertilizers positively affects them. Finally, it is concluded that the impacts of climate change on production yields will depend on the magnitude of the change in climate variables, as well as adaptation strategies that lead to the development of good agricultural practices and efficient use of resources.Los efectos del cambio climático sobre sectores estratégicos de las economías locales se han convertido en una prioridad de los gobiernos, científicos y académicos en las últimas décadas. En este sentido, el objetivo del presente estudio consistió en estimar la relación de los rendimientos del arroz secano con variables de tipo climáticas y económicas. Para esto, se aplicó el método de mínimos cuadrados ordinarios, utilizando una base de datos correspondiente al periodo 1990 a 2016 de la zona productora de arroz denominada Llanos en Colombia.  Entre los resultados se destaca que la temperatura máxima tiene efectos significativos, mientras que déficits o exceso de las precipitaciones tienen un impacto negativo en el rendimiento del arroz. Asimismo, labores culturales como la preparación del terreno presenta efectos adversos sobre el rendimiento del arroz, mientras que el uso de fertilizantes los afecta positivamente. Finalmente, se concluye que los impactos del cambio climático sobre los rendimientos de la producción dependerán de la magnitud del cambio de las variables climáticas, así como las estrategias de adaptación que conduzcan al desarrollo de buenas prácticas agrícolas y uso eficiente de los recursos

Elaboration of a teaching program in development cooperation in the University of Alcalá

COOPUAH, a group of teachers and researchers of the University of Alcalá (UAH), who belong to different disciplines, consider that the training offered to students in Development Cooperation by their institution has some deficiencies. The group pursues the general objective of reflecting about and evaluating in particular how this field is included in the university curricula in order to propose a teaching program that could fill the that gap. The main results highlight that the current teaching offer is insufficient, it comes from the environmental and health sciences fields, and in organizational level, is concentrated in the 2nd semester. We therefore believe that we need a multidisciplinary work to expand this teaching offer, redistribute it both semesters, and to offer a program addressed to all students of the University of Alcalá and recognized officially by the institutio