De Bilbilis a Huérmeda. Santa Bárbara y San Paterno en la Edad Media. Siglos V-XV: evidencias materiales y patrimonio monumental

Este artículo presenta los resultados del proyecto de investigación que se ha desarrollado entre los años 2015 y 2016 en el Museo de Calatayud, relativo a los niveles de ocupación humana que hubo en Bilbilis y en Huérmeda durante la Edad Media (siglos V-XV), centrándolo en el estudio de las evidencias que aporta la arqueología y el análisis de la cultura material, combinado con la identificación de los testimonios escritos y documentales de ambos lugares en relación con Calatayud. El resultado es un diagrama general que recoge datos sobre: la mansio tardo-antigua del siglo IV-V, el eremitorio rupestre del siglo VI, la arquitectura militar ocupada entre los siglos IX y XIV (Castillejo de la Peña Mora, atalayas de Bámbola y Peña Mora, torre de Anchís), el poblado del siglo XII con su Iglesia, dedicada a Santa Bárbara, y la necrópolis, y el sistema urbano del pueblo de Huérmeda, cuya Iglesia, dedicada a San Gil, es un ejemplo interesante de arquitectura mudéjar del siglo XV

Coverage optimization and power reduction in SFN using simulated annealing

An approach that predicts the propagation, models the terrestrial receivers and optimizes the performance of single frequency networks (SFN) for digital video broadcasting in terms of the final coverage achieved over any geographical region, enhancing the most populated areas, is proposed in this paper. The effective coverage improvement and thus, the self-interference reduction in the SFN is accomplished by optimizing the internal static delays, sector antenna gain, and both azimuth and elevation orientation for every transmitter within the network using the heuristic simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. Decimation and elevation filtering techniques have been considered and applied to reduce the computational cost of the SA-based approach, including results that demonstrate the improvements achieved. Further representative results for two SFN in different scenarios considering the effect on the final coverage of optimizing any of the transmitter parameters previously outlined or a combination of some of them are reported and discussed in order to show both, the performance of the method and how increasing gradually the complexity of the model for the transmitters leads to more realistic and accurate results.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under Projects TEC2008-02730 and TEC2012-33321. The work of M. Lanza and Á. L. Gutiérrez was supported by a Pre-Doctoral Grant from the University of Cantabria

Determination of lithic raw materials in Cantabrian Spain during Greenland Stadial 2: The Magdalenian of Tito Bustillo Cave (Ribadesella, Asturias)

The lithic assemblage studied here comes from the space known as the ' Area de Estancia in Tito Bustillo Cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain), a representative Magdalenian site. The remains were found in Sub-level 1c2 in the Lower Complex (1LC), which was excavated by J.A. Moure Romanillo from 1981 to 1983 and is associated with abundant evidence of osseous industry, fauna, portable art, etc. The present study is especially innovative because it introduces a holistic approach to the understanding of the management of lithic resources by hunter -gatherer groups in the late Pleistocene. It establishes the two main groups of raw materials in the assemblage (flint and quartzite) and the different types through a petrographic description, and the different procurement strategies that were employed. Some preliminary results about the functionality of these tools are also offered. The occupants of this cave during the Greenland Stadial 2 traced a diversified and complex dynamic of exploitation of lithic resources that combined both the most immediate, easily available and in greater volume (for example, quartzite and Pilon similar to a flint), and the most distant, of good knapping quality (Flysch flint, funda-mentally). This circulation of raw materials is parallel to the patterns detected in other deposits in the region with a similar chronology. Significant differences are observed in the knapping schemes between raw materials based on the production of blanks for the manufacture of tools, whose typological classification and analysis of use-wear makes us propose a specialized and little diversified functionality, which is usually related to that of temporary occupations.This research was undertaken in the context of Ph.D. scholarship Junta de Castilla y León and Fondo Social Europeo (S. Martín-Jarque), and of the Spanish projects PID2020-114462 GB-100 and PID2020-118359 GB-I00 both funded by the Programa Estatal de Fomento de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico, of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. A. Prieto is a postdoctoral researcher supported by the UPV/EHU and the Spanish Ministry of Science with UE-Next-Generation funds (María Zambrano Fellowship). His research was also supported by the PID2021-126937NB-I00 and the HAR2017-82493-C3-1-P Spanish Ministry of Science projects

A ventromedial prefrontal dysrhythmia in obsessive-compulsive disorder is attenuated by nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has consistently been linked to abnormal frontostriatal activity. The electrophysiological disruption in this circuit, however, remains to be characterized. Objective/hypothesis: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the neuronal synchronization in OCD patients. We predicted aberrant oscillatory activity in frontal regions compared to healthy control subjects, which would be alleviated by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Methods: We compared scalp EEG recordings from nine patients with OCD treated with NAc-DBS with recordings from healthy controls, matched for age and gender. Within the patient group, EEG activity was compared with DBS turned off vs. stimulation at typical clinical settings (3.5 V, frequency of stimulation 130 Hz, pulse width 60 ms). In addition, intracranial EEG was recorded directly from depth macro electrodes in the NAc in four OCD patients. Results: Cross-frequency coupling between the phase of alpha/low beta oscillations and amplitude of high gamma was significantly increased over midline frontal and parietal electrodes in patients when stimulation was turned off, compared to controls. Critically, in patients, beta (16-25 Hz)-gamma (110-166 Hz) phase amplitude coupling source localized to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and was reduced when NAc-DBS was active. In contrast, intracranial EEG recordings showed no beta-gamma phase amplitude coupling. The contribution of non-sinusoidal beta waveforms to this coupling are reported. Conclusion: We reveal an increased beta-gamma phase amplitude coupling in fronto-central scalp sensors in patients suffering from OCD, compared to healthy controls, which may derive from ventromedial prefrontal regions implicated in OCD and is normalized by DBS of the nucleus accumbens. This aberrant cross-frequency coupling could represent a biomarker of OCD, as well as a target for novel therapeutic approaches. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.This work was supported by Project grants SAF2015-65982-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness to BS and PSI2014-58654-JIN to JGR, an FPI Predoctoral Fellowship (BES-2016-079470) to ST, and BIAL Foundation Grant 119/12 to BS. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (ERC-2018-COG 819814)

Integrative Transcriptome, Genome and Quantitative Trait Loci Resources Identify Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Candidate Genes for Growth Traits in Turbot

Growth traits represent a main goal in aquaculture breeding programs and may be related to adaptive variation in wild fisheries. Integrating quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and next generation sequencing can greatly help to identify variation in candidate genes, which can result in marker-assisted selection and better genetic structure information. Turbot is a commercially important flatfish in Europe and China, with available genomic information on QTLs and genome mapping. Muscle and liver RNA-seq from 18 individuals was carried out to obtain gene sequences and markers functionally related to growth, resulting in a total of 20,447 genes and 85,344 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Many growth-related genes and SNPs were identified and placed in the turbot genome and genetic map to explore their co-localization with growth-QTL markers. Forty-five SNPs on growth-related genes were selected based on QTL co-localization and relevant function for growth traits. Forty-three SNPs were technically feasible and validated in a wild Atlantic population, where 91% were polymorphic. The integration of functional and structural genomic resources in turbot provides a practical approach for QTL mining in this species. Validated SNPs represent a useful set of growth-related gene markers for future association, functional and population studies in this flatfish speciesThis work was funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Funds (AGL2012-35904), and Ministry of Science and Innovation (Consolider Ingenio, Aquagenomics, CSD200700002). DR was supported by a FPU fellowship funded by Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. Thanks to Lucía Ínsua for technical assistance. We thank the High-Throughput Genomics Group at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics for the generation of the sequencing data, and the Spanish National Genotyping Center (CEGEN-ISCIII)-USC node for SNP genotyping support. We acknowledge the support of the Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia (CESGA) in the completion of this workS

Small Molecules as Dream Modulators: New Avenues for the Search of Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Trabajo presentado en el 9th drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry, celebrado en Berlín (Alemania) del 05 al 06 de mayo de 2015.Altered neuronal calcium homeostasis and early compensatory changes in transcriptional programs are common features of many neurodegenerative pathologies including Alzheimer¿s disease, Down syndrome and Huntington¿s disease. DREAM (Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonist Modulator), also known as calsenilin or KChIP-3 (potassium channel interacting protein-3), is a multifunctional calcium binding protein that controls the expression level and/or the activity of several proteins related to calcium homeostasis, neuronal excitability and neuronal survival. This protein is widely expressed in the brain and, depending on the cell type and physiological conditions, shows multiple subcellular localizations, in the nucleus, cytosol or cell membrane. The interest in DREAM is based on its key role in the regulation of intracellular calcium levels. As a calcium-dependent transcriptional repressor, DREAM is a master regulator of activity-dependent gene expression and controls genes important for calcium homeostasis such as the sodium/calcium exchanger-3 (NCX3), IP3R and L-type calcium channels. As an auxiliary protein in the plasma membrane, DREAM interacts with and regulates the gating of Kv4 potassium channels, L- and T-type voltage-dependent calcium channels and NMDA receptors. These findings suggest that DREAM could be a novel and versatile target for therapeutic intervention in neurodegeneration and that molecules able to bind to DREAM and block its physiological functions could be candidates for drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, up to now, only two DREAM-binding molecules have been identified. In this communication we report the rational design and the synthesis of novel DREAM-binding molecules and their effects on the modulation of DREAM/protein interactions

Effects of long-term consumption of broccoli sprouts on inflammatory markers in overweight subjects.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Broccoli sprouts represent an interesting choice of healthy food product as they are rich in glucosinolates and their cognate bioactive metabolites, isothiocyanates able to counteract the negative effects of diverse pathologies. As obesity is linked to an inflammatory component, the aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of broccoli sprouts in overweight adult subjects. METHODS: An in vivo controlled study was performed in 40 healthy overweight subjects (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT 03390855). Treatment phase consisted on the consumption of broccoli sprouts (30 g/day) during 10 weeks and the follow-up phase of 10 weeks of normal diet without consumption of these broccoli sprouts. Anthropometric parameters as body fat mass, body weight, and BMI were determined. Inflammation status was assessed by measuring levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: IL-6 levels significantly decreased (mean values from 4.76 pg/mL to 2.11 pg/mL with 70 days of broccoli consumption, p < 0.001) and during control phase the inflammatory levels were maintained at low grade (mean values from 1.20 pg/mL to 2.66 pg/mL, p < 0.001). C-reactive protein significantly decreased as well. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents an advance in intervention studies as the broccoli sprouts were included in a daily dietary pattern in quantities that reflect a real consumption. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of this healthy rich and nutritious food product, but these promising results support the current evidence on the healthy properties of Brassica varieties

Virtual Restoration of the Roman wall of León: a diachronic view

[ES] El principal testimonio del recinto erigido por la Legión VII Gémina en León durante el año 74 d. C. es la muralla romana, de planta rectangular con esquinas oblongas, que sigue el modelo campamental canónico. Las numerosas excavaciones desarrolladas han confirmado que en realidad se trata de dos murallas adosadas, una del periodo altoimperial y otra de finales del siglo III o comienzos del siglo IV, adosada a la anterior por su cara externa. A estas debemos añadirles un terraplén interior que corresponde a un sistema defensivo precedente. La restitución virtual en 3D permite contemplar con mayor detalle los rasgos de este complejo constructivo, que con casi 20 metros de anchura, ha condicionado el desarrollo urbanístico de la ciudad.[EN] The Roman wall, of rectangular plan and rounded corners, following the canonical military model, is the major evidence of the fortress built by the Legion VII Gemina in León in 74 AD. The archaeological interventions developed throughout the decades have confirmed that the defensive system consists of two adjacent walls: the first one dates back to the Low Empire, while the other, attached to the previous one by its external face, is dated Late Third to Early Fourth century AD. We, too, must add an internal rampart (agger) corresponding to a previous defensive system. The 3D virtual restitution we have undertaken allows us to contemplate, with further detail, the features of this almost 20 meters wide constructive complex that has conditioned the urban development of the city of León.Morillo Cerdán, Á.; Mendo, O.; Prieto, D.; Duprado, G.; Bonacasa, S. (2014). Restitución virtual de la muralla romana de León: una visión diacrónica. Virtual Archaeology Review. 5(10):140-146. https://doi.org/10.4995/var.2014.4227OJS140146510DURÁN CABELLO, R. M. (2009): "Reflexiones sobre la técnica constructiva de la muralla romana de León", A. Morillo, N. Hanel y E. Martín (eds.), Limes XX. Estudios sobre la Frontera Romana, Anejos de Gladius 13, Madrid, pp. 793-804.GARCÍA Y BELLIDO, A. (1970): "Estudios sobre la Legio VII Gemina Pía Félix", Legio VII Gemina, León. pp. 569-599.GARCIA MARCOS, V. (2002): "Novedades acerca de los campamentos romanos de León", A. Morillo (coord.), Arqueología Militar Romana en Hispania, Anejos de Gladius 5, Madrid, pp. 167-212.GONZÁLEZ FERNÁNDEZ, E., FERRER SIERRA, S., HERVES RAIGOSO, F. y ALCORTA, E. (2002): "Muralla romana de Lucus Augusti. Nuevas aportaciones a su estudio y conocimiento", A. Morillo (coord.), Arqueología Militar Romana en Hispania, Anejos de Gladius 5, Madrid, pp. 591-608.GARCÍA MARCOS, V., DURÁN CABELLO, R. y MORILLO, Á. (2007): "La muralla tetrárquica de Legio: aproximación al conocimiento de su sistema constructivo" A. Rodríguez Colmenero e I. Rodá (eds.) Murallas de Ciudades Romanas en el Occidente del Imperio, Lugo. pp. 23-39.MORILLO, A. (2010): "Sistemas defensivos en los campamentos romanos de León", V Congreso de Obras Públicas Romanas: Las Técnicas y las Construcciones en la Ingeniería Romana, Córdoba, 2010, 463-477.MORILLO, A. (2012): "Investigación científica y arqueología urbana en la ciudad de León", J. Beltrán y O. Rodríguez (eds.), Hispaniae Urbes. Investigaciones arqueológicas en ciudades históricas, Sevilla, 211-256.MORILLO, Á. y DURÁN CABELLO, R. (2008): "Caracterización tipológica de la muralla de León: resultados preliminares de la lectura de paramentos" IV Congreso de Obras Públicas en la Ciudad Romana, Lugo-Guitiriz 2008. pp. 77-94.MORILLO, A. y GARCÍA MARCOS, V. (2005): "The defensive system of the legionary fortress of VII gemina at León (Spain). The porta principalis sinistra", Z. Visy (ed.), Limes XIX. Proceedings of the XIXth International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies, Pécs, pp. 569-583.MORILLO, A. y GARCÍA MARCOS, V. (2006): "Legio (León). Introducción histórica y arqueológica", Mª P. García-Bellido (coord.), Los campamentos romanos en Hispania (27 a. C.-192 d. C.). El abastecimiento de moneda, Anejos de Gladius 9, Madrid, pp. 225-243

Local wind speed forecasting based on WRF-HDWind coupling

[EN] Wind speed forecasts obtained by Numerical Weather Prediction models are limited for fine interpretation in heterogeneous terrain, in which different roughnesses and orographies occur. This limitation is derived from the use of low-resolution and grid-box averaged data. In this paper a dynamical downscaling method is presented to increase the local accuracy of wind speed forecasts. The proposed method divides the wind speed forecasting into two steps. In the first one, the mesoscale model WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) is used for getting wind speed forecasts at specific points of the study domain. On a second stage, these values are used for feeding the HDWind microscale model. HDWind is a local model that provides both a high-resolution wind field that covers the entire study domain and values of wind speed and direction at very located points. As an example of use of the proposed method, we calculate a high-resolution wind field in an urban-interface area from Badajoz, a South-West Spanish city located near the Portugal border. The results obtained are compared with the values read by a weathervane tower of the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) in order to prove that the microscale model improves the forecasts obtained by the mesoscale model