Hereditary gingival fibromatosis : characteristics and treatment approach

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare disorder characterized by a benign, non-hemorrhagic, fibrous gingival overgrowth that can appear in isolation or as part of a syndrome. Clinically, a pink gingiva with marked stippling can be seen to cover almost all the tooth, in many cases preventing eruption. HGF usually begins during the transition from primary to permanent teeth, giving rise to a condition that can have negative psychological effects at that age. As it does not resolve spontaneously, the treatment of choice is gingivectomy, which can be performed with an internal or external bevel incision, depending on each case and bearing in mind the changes that will take place at the dentogingival junction (DGJ). This paper describes clinical aspects and treatment in two eight-year-old boys with HGF, considering different facets of the surgical approach with conscious sedation in young children

Speleoseismology and palaeoseismicity of Benis Cave (Murcia, SE Spain): coseismic effects of the 1999 Mula earthquake (mb 4.8)

This work describes the coseismic ceiling block collapse within Benis Cave (−213 m; Murcia, SE Spain), associated with the 1999 Mula earthquake (mb=4.8, MSK VII). The collapse occurred at −156 m into the Earthquake Hall, and as a consequence one small gallery became blind. We studied the geology, topography and active tectonic structures relevant to the cave. In addition, we carried out a seismotectonic analysis of the focal mechanism solutions, and also a fault population analysis on slickensides measured in fault planes in the cave. The stress and strain regime is interpreted as being congruent with the palaeoseismic evidence, and agrees with the fault kinematics established for cave galleries developed within fault planes and growth anomalies of coral flowstone. Our analysis suggests that one active segment (NNE–SSW) determined the morphology and topography of the Benis Cave, where strong to moderate palaeoearthquakes (6≤M≤7) took place. As a consequence of this intense seismic activity a small gallery collapsed. A new palaeoseismic structure, or seismothem, has been recognized, namely the effect of palaeoearthquakes affecting the pattern of development of the spatial coral flowstone distribution located at the bottom of the cave

The “hidden side” of intergroup contact: The role of perceived social structure in motivating support for social change among the disadvantaged and the advantaged

Intergroup contact is a powerful prejudice-reduction strategy, but research has also revealed its undesirable effects among the disadvantaged. To unravel these counterintuitive effects, we examine the explanatory role of sociostructural factors (permeability of group boundaries as well as stability and legitimacy of inequality) in the link between intergroup contact and both perceived group discrimination against the disadvantaged and support for collective action. We relied on quasirepresentative or nationwide samples of immigrants (N = 1,539) and host nationals (N = 838), who participated in two survey-based studies. Among the disadvantaged, contact was associated with less awareness of group discrimination and collective action intentions via more perceptions of permeability and/or stability. Among the advantaged, intergroup contact was associated with greater awareness of group discrimination and collective action intentions (primarily) via perceived illegitimacy of existing status disparities. Our findings elucidate the importance of structural factors in understanding the implications of intergroup contact in addressing inequality and inequity, as well as designing contact-based interventions

Remote analysis of an open-pit slope failure: Las Cruces case study, Spain

Slope failures occur in open-pit mining areas worldwide, producing considerable damage in addition to economic loss. Identifying the triggering factors and detecting unstable slopes and precursory displacements ¿which can be achieved by exploiting remote sensing data¿ are critical for reducing their impact. Here we present a methodology that combines digital photogrammetry, satellite radar interferometry, and geo-mechanical modeling, to perform remote analyses of slope instabilities in open-pit mining areas. We illustrate this approach through the back analysis of a massive landslide that occurred in an active open-pit mine in southwest Spain in January 2019. Based on pre- and post-event high-resolution digital elevation models derived from digital photogrammetry, we estimate an entire sliding mass volume of around 14 million m3. Radar interferometry reveals that during the year preceding the landslide, the line of sight accumulated displacement in the slope reached ¿ 5.7 and 4.6 cm in ascending and descending geometry, respectively, showing two acceleration events clearly correlated with rainfall in descending geometry. By means of 3D and 2D stability analyses we located the slope instability, and remote sensing monitoring led us to identify the likely triggers of failure. Las Cruces event can be attributed to delayed and progressive failure mechanisms triggered by two factors: (i) the loss of historical suction due to a pore-water pressure increase driven by rainfall and (ii) the strain-softening behavior of the sliding material. Finally, we discuss the potential of this methodological approach either to remotely perform post-event analyses of mining-related landslides and evaluate potential triggering factors or to remotely identify critical slopes in mining areas and provide pre-alert warning.his work was supported by the Regional Administration of Madrid (Comunidad de Madrid) in the framework of the Industrial PhD Project GEODRON (IND2017/AMB-7789). It was also partially funded by the U-GEOHAZ project, co-funded by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), under the call UCPM-2017-PP-AG, and E-SHAPE project co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreements 820852

InSAR-Based Mapping to Support Decision-Making after an Earthquake

It has long been recognized that earthquakes change the stress in the upper crust around the fault rupture and can influence the behaviour of neighbouring faults and volcanoes. Rapid estimates of these stress changes can provide the authorities managing the post-disaster situation with valuable data to identify and monitor potential threads and to update the estimates of seismic and volcanic hazard in a region. Here we propose a methodology to evaluate the potential influence of an earthquake on nearby faults and volcanoes and create easy-to-understand maps for decision-making support after large earthquakes. We apply this methodology to the Mw 7.8, 2016 Ecuador earthquake. Using Sentinel-1 Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and continuous GPS data, we measure the coseismic ground deformation and estimate the distribution of slip over the fault rupture. We also build an alternative source model using the Global Centroid Moment Tensor (CMT) solution. Then we use these models to evaluate changes of static stress on the surrounding faults and volcanoes and produce maps of potentially activated faults and volcanoes. We found, in general, good agreement between our maps and the seismic and volcanic events that occurred after the Pedernales earthquake. We discuss the potential and limitations of the methodology.This work is supported by the European Commission, Directorate-General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) under the SAFETY (Sentinel for Geohazards regional monitoring and forecasting) project (ECHO/SUB/2015/718679/Prev02) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under INTERGEOSIMA (CGL2013-47412) and ACTIVESTEP (CGL2017-83931-C3), QUAKESTEP (1-P) + 3GEO(2-P) + GEOACTIVA (3-P) projects

FaRIF Transcription Factor Plays a Key Role in the Regulation of Fruit Ripening in the Cultivated Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa

Strawberry is becoming a model for studying the molecular mechanism of ripening in non-climacteric fruits. However, a limited number of transcriptional regulators of this process have been identified so far. In this study, we have identified and characterized a gene encoding for a NAC transcription factor (TF), named as FaRIF (Ripening Inducing Factor). FaRIF expression presents a fruit-specific pattern, which is upregulated during ripening. In order to functionally characterize this TF, we have generated silencing (35S::RIF-RNAi) and overexpressing (35S::RIF-GFP) stable transgenic lines. While the RNAi lines showed an apparent delay of fruit ripening, the overexpressing lines displayed an acceleration of this process. Transcriptomic analysis, by RNA-seq, of the silenced lines showed a significantly altered expression of genes involved in the flavonoids pathway, as well as genes of the metabolism of the main sugars of the fruit. Metabolomics analysis confirmed these changes in the transgenic fruits. Both, transcriptomic and metabolomics data, were in agreement with the general phenotype observed in the fruits of the FaRIF-silenced lines. All together, our results support a main role of FaRIF in the control of relevant ripening-associated processes in strawberry fruit.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Application of multi-sensor advanced DInSAR analysis to severe land subsidence recognition: Alto Guadalentín Basin (Spain)

Multi-sensor advanced DInSAR analyses have been performed and compared with two GPS station measurements, in order to evaluate the land subsidence evolution in a 20-year period, in the Alto Guadalentín Basin where the highest rate of man-induced subsidence (> 10 cm yr−1) of Europe had been detected. The control mechanisms have been examined comparing the advanced DInSAR data with conditioning and triggering factors (i.e. isobaths of Plio-Quaternary deposits, soft soil thickness and piezometric level).This work is financially supported by the DORIS project (Ground Deformation Risk Scenarios: an Advanced Assessment Service) funded by the EC-GMES-FP7 initiative (Grant Agreement 423 no. 242212). ALOS PALSAR images were provided by the project JAXA-1209. Part of this work is supported by the Spanish Government under project TEC2011-28201-C02-02 and TIN2014-55413-C2-2-P and by the project 15224/PI/10 from the Regional Agency of Science and Technology in Murcia. Additional funding was obtained from the Spanish Research Program through the projects AYA2010-17448, ESP2013-47780-C2-1-R and ESP2013-47780-C2-2-Rand by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through the project PRX14/00100

Elastic scattering and α -particle production in 6 He + 208 Pb collisions at 22 MeV

Experimental results of the elastic scattering of 6He on 208Pb at E LAB=22 MeV, measured at the CRC facility (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium), are presented, including results on the 4He production channel. These data were taken with full angular coverage and high angular resolution. Both experimental cross sections are compared with continuum discretized coupled channels and distorted-wave Born approximation calculations, where direct breakup and transfer to the continuum processes are considered. The elastic data confirm the absence of the Coulomb rainbow, while the distribution of α particles indicates that such production is mostly generated by transfer to the continuum.MICINN FPA2005-04460 FPA200502379 FPA2006-13807-c02-01 FPA2007-63074 FPA2009-07653 FPA2009-07387 FPA2010-22131-C02-01Junta de Andalucía FQM-4964Programa Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-00042Comisión Europea HPRI-CT-1999-0011

The NAC transcription factor FaRIF is a key regulator of fruit ripening in strawberry

In contrast to climacteric fruits such as tomato, the knowledge on key regulatory genes controlling the ripening of strawberry, a non-climacteric fruit, is still limited. NAC transcription factors are proteins that mediate different developmental processes in plants. In this work, we have identified and characterized FaRIF (Ripening Inducing Factor), a novel NAC transcription factor which is highly expressed and induced in strawberry receptacles during ripening. Functional analysis establishing stable transgenic lines with RNAi, driven by either the constitutive 35S or the ripe receptacle-specific EXP2 promoters, and overexpression constructs showed that FaRIF controls critical ripening-related processes such as fruit softening and pigment and sugars accumulation. Physiological, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of receptacles of FaRIFsilenced and overexpression lines point to FaRIF as a key regulator of strawberry fruit ripening from early developmental stages, controlling ABA biosynthesis and signaling, cell wall degradation and modification, the phenylpropanoid pathway, and the balance of the aerobic/anaerobic metabolism, being therefore a target to be modified/edited to control the quality of strawberry fruits.ERC Starting Grant ERC-2014-StG 63813

Identification and characterization of the NAC transcription factor FaRIF, a key regulator of strawberry fruit ripening

Strawberry is becoming a model for studying the molecular mechanism of ripening in non-climacteric fruits. However, a limited number of transcriptional regulators of this process have been identified so far. In this study, we have identified and characterized a gene encoding for a NAC transcription factor (TF), named as FaRIF (Ripening Inducing Factor). FaRIF expression presents a fruit-specific pattern, which is upregulated during ripening. In order to functionally characterize this TF, we have generated silencing and overexpressing stable transgenic lines. While the RNAi lines showed an apparent delay of fruit ripening, the overexpressing lines displayed an acceleration of this process. Transcriptomic analysis of the silenced lines showed a significantly altered expression of genes involved in development, hormone metabolism, flavonoid pathway, and cell-wall disassembly, being many of these confirmed by phenotypical and metabolomics analysis. Our results support a main role of FaRIF in the control of relevant ripening-associated processes in strawberry fruit