Predicción bayesiana del comportamiento poblacional de Eucalyptus Cladocalyx para características binarias de componentes de florecimiento y supervivencia en zonas áridas de Chile

Mora, F (Mora, Freddyand Perret, S.Los componentes del florecimiento y la supervivencia son importantes caracteristicas para la especie Eucalyptus cladocalyx, en las zonas aridas de Chile. El objetivo del presente estudio fue examinar la variabilidad poblacional en componentes del florecimiento y supervivencia en arboles de ocho anos de edad, cultivados en dos sitios del sur del desierto de Atacama, Chile. Se utilizo un modelo lineal generalizado bayesiano en el analisis de datos, implementado por medio del algoritmo de cadenas de independencia. El criterio de informacion de desvianza (�¢DIC), implementado por medio del algoritmo de Gibbs, evidencio diferencias significativas para el efecto poblacional (�¢DIC>5) en cada variable binaria analizada. El efecto de interaccion poblacion-sitio fue significativo (�¢DIC>5) para las variables presencia/ausencia de maxima intensidad de florecimiento (MI) y presencia/ausencia de flores o yemas florales (FOY) en el inicio de la temporada 2009/2010. Para las variables presencia/ausencia de cualquier evento floral (EF) y supervivencia, la interaccion no fue significativa (�¢DIC5) for population effect, for each binary trait analyzed. The population-site interaction effect was significant (Delta DIC>5) for the variables: presence/absence of maximum flowering intensity (MI) and presence/absence of flowers or flower buds (FOY) in the beginning of growing season 2009/2010. This interaction was not statistically significant (Delta DIC<5) for presence/absence of capsules and/or flower (or buds) (EF) and survival. The results of this study emphasize the importance of the seed source selection. For example, 45% of the trees from Cowell, Australia, evidenced maximum flowering intensity in a determined site, while the trees from Flinders Chase, Australia, evidenced only about 3%. Information generated on inter-population variability could be used to improve traits of interest, although the genotype-environment interaction should be regarded for some flowering components

The First Science Results from SPHERE: Disproving the Predicted Brown Dwarf around V471 Tau

Variations of eclipse arrival times have recently been detected in several post common envelope binaries consisting of a white dwarf and a main sequence companion star. The generally favoured explanation for these timing variations is the gravitational pull of one or more circumbinary substellar objects periodically moving the center of mass of the host binary. Using the new extreme-AO instrument SPHERE, we image the prototype eclipsing post-common envelope binary V471 Tau in search of the brown dwarf that is believed to be responsible for variations in its eclipse arrival times. We report that an unprecedented contrast of 12.1 magnitudes in the H band at a separation of 260 mas was achieved, but resulted in a non-detection. This implies that there is no brown dwarf present in the system unless it is three magnitudes fainter than predicted by evolutionary track models, and provides damaging evidence against the circumbinary interpretation of eclipse timing variations. In the case of V471 Tau, a more consistent explanation is offered with the Applegate mechanism, in which these variations are prescribed to changes in the quadrupole moment within the main-sequence sta

Loading protocols for European regions of low to moderate seismicity

Existing loading protocols for quasi-static cyclic testing of structures are based on recordings from regions of high seismicity. For regions of low to moderate seismicity they overestimate imposed cumulative damage demands. Since structural capacities are a function of demand, existing loading protocols applied to specimens representative of structures in low to moderate seismicity regions might underestimate structural strength and deformation capacity. To overcome this problem, this paper deals with the development of cyclic loading protocols for European regions of low to moderate seismicity. Cumulative damage demands imposed by a set of 60 ground motion records are evaluated for a wide variety of SDOF systems that reflect the fundamental properties of a large portion of the existing building stock. The ground motions are representative of the seismic hazard level corresponding to a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years in a European moderate seismicity region. To meet the calculated cumulative damage demands, loading protocols for different structural types and vibration periods are developed. For comparison, cumulative seismic demands are also calculated for existing protocols and a set of records that was used in a previous study on loading protocols for regions of high seismicity. The median cumulative demands for regions of low to moderate seismicity are significantly less than those of existing protocols and records of high seismicity regions. For regions of low to moderate seismicity the new protocols might therefore result in larger strength and deformation capacities and hence in more cost-effective structural configurations or less expensive retrofit measures

Prevention of elastase-induced emphysema in placenta growth factor knock-out mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although both animal and human studies suggested the association between placenta growth factor (PlGF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially lung emphysema, the role of PlGF in the pathogenesis of emphysema remains to be clarified. This study hypothesizes that blocking PlGF prevents the development of emphysema.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pulmonary emphysema was induced in PlGF knock-out (KO) and wild type (WT) mice by intra-tracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). A group of KO mice was then treated with exogenous PlGF and WT mice with neutralizing anti-VEGFR1 antibody. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and VEGF were quantified. Apoptosis measurement and immuno-histochemical staining for VEGF R1 and R2 were performed in emphysematous lung tissues.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After 4 weeks of PPE instillation, lung airspaces enlarged more significantly in WT than in KO mice. The levels of TNF-α and MMP-9, but not VEGF, increased in the lungs of WT compared with those of KO mice. There was also increased in apoptosis of alveolar septal cells in WT mice. Instillation of exogenous PlGF in KO mice restored the emphysematous changes. The expression of both VEGF R1 and R2 decreased in the emphysematous lungs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this animal model, pulmonary emphysema is prevented by depleting PlGF. When exogenous PlGF is administered to PlGF KO mice, emphysema re-develops, implying that PlGF contributes to the pathogenesis of emphysema.</p

Cytotoxic T cells expressing the co-stimulatory receptor NKG2 D are increased in cigarette smoking and COPD

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A suggested role for T cells in COPD pathogenesis is based on associations between increased lung cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD8⁺) numbers and airflow limitation. CD69 is an early T cell activation marker. Natural Killer cell group 2 D (NKG2D) receptors are co-stimulatory molecules induced on CD8⁺T cells upon activation. The activating function of NKG2 D is triggered by binding to MHC class 1 chain-related (MIC) molecules A and B, expressed on surface of stressed epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of MIC A and B in the bronchial epithelium and NKG2 D and CD69 on BAL lymphocytes in subjects with COPD, compared to smokers with normal lung function and healthy never-smokers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Bronchoscopy with airway lavages and endobronchial mucosal biopsy sampling was performed in 35 patients with COPD, 21 healthy never-smokers and 16 smokers with normal lung function. Biopsies were immunohistochemically stained and BAL lymphocyte subsets were determined using flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Epithelial CD3⁺lymphocytes in bronchial biopsies were increased in both smokers with normal lung function and in COPD patients, compared to never-smokers. Epithelial CD8⁺lymphocyte numbers were higher in the COPD group compared to never-smoking controls. Among gated CD3⁺cells in BAL, the percentage of CD8⁺NKG2D⁺cells was enhanced in patients with COPD and smokers with normal lung function, compared to never-smokers. The percentage of CD8⁺CD69⁺cells and cell surface expression of CD69 were enhanced in patients with COPD and smokers with normal lung function, compared to never-smokers. No changes in the expression of MIC A or MIC B in the airway epithelium could be detected between the groups, whereas significantly decreased soluble MICB was detected in bronchial wash from smokers with normal lung function, compared to never-smokers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In COPD, we found increased numbers of cytotoxic T cells in both bronchial epithelium and airway lumen. Further, the proportions of CD69- and NKG2D-expressing cytotoxic T cells in BAL fluid were enhanced in both subjects with COPD and smokers with normal lung function and increased expression of CD69 was found on CD8⁺cells, indicating the cigarette smoke exposure-induced expansion of activated cytotoxic T cells, which potentially can respond to stressed epithelial cells.</p

Young Stellar Clusters Containing Massive Young Stellar Objects in the VVV Survey

This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in The Astronomical Journal. IOP Publishing is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at: at doi: https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-6256/152/3/74. © 2016. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. IOPScience PublishingThe purpose of this research is to study the connection of global properties of eight young stellar clusters projected in the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Large Public Survey disk area and their young stellar object population. The analysis in based on the combination of spectroscopic parallax-based reddening and distance determinations with main sequence and pre-main sequence ishochrone fitting to determine the basic parameters (reddening, age, distance) of the sample clusters. The lower mass limit estimations show that all clusters are low or intermediate mass (between 110 and 1800 Mo), the slope Gamma of the obtained present-day mass functions of the clusters is close to the Kroupa initial mass function. On the other hand, the young stellar objects in the surrounding cluster's fields are classified by low resolution spectra, spectral energy distribution fit with theoretical predictions, and variability, taking advantage of multi-epoch VVV observations. All spectroscopically confirmed young stellar objects (except one) are found to be massive (more than 8 Mo). Using VVV and GLIMPSE color-color cuts we have selected a large number of new young stellar object candidates, which are checked for variability and 57% are found to show at least low-amplitude variations. In few cases it was possible to distinguish between YSO and AGB classification on the basis of the light curves.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in human lung emphysema

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors are key growth factors in the process of alveolar repair. We hypothesized that excessive alveolar destruction observed in lung emphysema involves impaired expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors or their respective receptors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor. The aim of our study was to compare the expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors in lung samples from 3 groups of patients: emphysema; smokers without emphysema and non-smokers without emphysema. METHODS: Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor proteins were analysed by immunoassay and western blot; mRNA expression was measured by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors, c-met and keratinocyte growth factor receptor mRNA levels were similar in emphysema and non-emphysema patients. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlated negatively with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio both in emphysema patients and in smokers with or without emphysema. Hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factor protein concentrations were similar in all patients' groups. CONCLUSION: The expression of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors and their receptors is preserved in patients with lung emphysema as compared to patients without emphysema. Hepatocyte growth factor mRNA correlates with the severity of airflow obstruction in smokers

Role of the tachykinin NK1 receptor in a murine model of cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The tachykinins, substance P and neurokinin A, present in sensory nerves and inflammatory cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells, are considered as pro-inflammatory agents. Inflammation of the airways and lung parenchyma plays a major role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and increased tachykinin levels are recovered from the airways of COPD patients. The aim of our study was to clarify the involvement of the tachykinin NK₁receptor, the preferential receptor for substance P, in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced pulmonary inflammation and emphysema in a mouse model of COPD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tachykinin NK₁receptor knockout (NK₁-R^-/-) mice and their wild type controls (all in a mixed 129/sv-C57BL/6 background) were subjected to sub acute (4 weeks) or chronic (24 weeks) exposure to air or CS. 24 hours after the last exposure, pulmonary inflammation and development of emphysema were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sub acute and chronic exposure to CS resulted in a substantial accumulation of inflammatory cells in the airways of both WT and NK₁-R^-/-mice. However, the CS-induced increase in macrophages and dendritic cells was significantly impaired in NK₁-R^-/-mice, compared to WT controls, and correlated with an attenuated release of MIP-3α/CCL20 and TGF-β1. Chronic exposure to CS resulted in development of pulmonary emphysema in WT mice. NK₁-R^-/-mice showed already enlarged airspaces upon air-exposure. Upon CS-exposure, the NK₁-R^-/-mice did not develop additional destruction of the lung parenchyma. Moreover, an impaired production of MMP-12 by alveolar macrophages upon CS-exposure was observed in these KO mice. In a pharmacological validation experiment using the NK₁receptor antagonist RP 67580, we confirmed the protective effect of absence of the NK₁receptor on CS-induced pulmonary inflammation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that the tachykinin NK₁receptor is involved in the accumulation of macrophages and dendritic cells in the airways upon CS-exposure and in the development of smoking-induced emphysema. As both inflammation of the airways and parenchymal destruction are important characteristics of COPD, these findings may have implications in the future treatment of this devastating disease.</p