Active Q-switched Fiber Lasers with Single and Dualwavelength Operation

A brief explanation on Q-switched fiber laser operating principle for active technique in terms of operation characteristics is presented. Experimental analysis of proposed pulsed fiber lasers by the active Q-switched technique is demonstrated. Experimental setups include the use of Er/Yb doped fiber as a gain medium and an acousto-optic modulator as cavity elements. Setup variations include the use of fiber Bragg gratings for wavelength selection and tuning and Sagnac interferometer for wavelength selection in single wavelength operation and for cavity loss adjustment in dual wavelength operation. The experimental analysis of principal characteristics of single-wavelength operation of the fiber laser and cavity loss adjustment method for dual-wavelength laser operation are discussed

A Risk-Based Model Using Communication Distance Reduction for the Assessment of Underwater Continuous Noise: An Application to the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Inhabiting the Spanish North Atlantic Marine Demarcation

Over the last decade, national authorities and European administrations have made great efforts to establish methodological standards for the assessment of underwater continuous noise, especially under the requirements set by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Through the MSFD implementation across EU Member States Marine Reporting Units (MRUs), it is intended to establish the Good Environmental Status (GES) whether it is achieved or not. The evaluation of the Sound Pressure Level (SPL) at the local or regional scale for 1/3 octave band of 63 Hz and 125 Hz and the identification of long temporary trends were considered to be a priority due to the valuable information they can offer in relation to continuous low-frequency noise. Nevertheless, the methodology to determine threshold values from which to evaluate the GES has become difficult to define, and new approaches and considerations are currently being discussed by groups of experts, such as the technical subgroup on underwater acoustics (TGnoise) and regional commissions (e.g., OSPAR). This work presents a methodology to perform the assessment of a given area, providing a risk index that is related to potential appearance of masking effect due to the underwater noise produced by marine traffic. The risk index is hinged on the calculation of area under curves defined by the density of animals and a variable related to underwater noise SPL, defined as percentage of communication distance reduction. At this stage, the methodology presented does not consider physiological or behavioral mechanisms to overcome the masking by animals. The methodology presented has been applied to the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting the ABIES—NOR marine demarcation to illustrate the possible use of risk-based models to manage marine areas related to human pressures, such as marine traffic, with the potential adverse impact on a given species (e.g., masking effect).En prens

B-Function Expression in the Flower Center Underlies the Homeotic Phenotype of Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae)

Spontaneous homeotic transformations have been described in natural populations of both plants and animals, but little is known about the molecular-genetic mechanisms underlying these processes in plants. In the ABC model of floral organ identity in Arabidopsis thaliana, the B- and C-functions are necessary for stamen morphogenesis, and C alone is required for carpel identity. We provide ABC model-based molecular-genetic evidence that explains the unique inside-out homeotic floral organ arrangement of the monocotyledonous mycoheterotroph species Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae) from Mexico. Whereas a quarter million flowering plant species bear central carpels surrounded by stamens, L. schismatica stamens occur in the center of the flower and are surrounded by carpels. The simplest explanation for this is that the B-function is displaced toward the flower center. Our analyses of the spatio-temporal pattern of B- and C-function gene expression are consistent with this hypothesis. The hypothesis is further supported by conservation between the B-function genes of L. schismatica and Arabidopsis, as the former are able to rescue stamens in Arabidopsis transgenic complementation lines, and Ls-AP3 and Ls-PI are able to interact with each other and with the corresponding Arabidopsis B-function proteins in yeast. Thus, relatively simple molecular modifications may underlie important morphological shifts in natural populations of extant plant taxa

MAPPING THE SPAIN´S EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE IN THE GALICIAN MARGIN

MAPPING THE SPAIN´S EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE IN THE GALICIAN MARGIN Gómez Ballesteros, M.1(*), González-Aller, J-D. 2, Martín Dávila, J. 3, Carbó, A., 4, Somoza, L. 5, Druet, M. 1, Martínez-Espinosa, S. 2, Catalán, M. 3, Muñoz, A. 4, León, R 5 1 Instituto Español de Oceanografía / C/. Corazón de María, 8, 28020 Madrid 2 Instituto Hidrográfico de la Marina / Pl. San Severiano, 3, 11007 Cádiz 3 Real Observatorio de la Armada, C/. Cecilio Pujazón s/n 11100Cádiz 4 Universidad Complutense de Madrid / Av Séneca, 2, 28040 Madrid 5 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Calle de Ríos Rosas, 23, 28003 Madrid (*)Corresponding Author: [email protected] In the context of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Research of the Spain´s Exclusive Economic program (ZEEE), operated jointly by Instituto Hidrográfico de la Marina (IHM) and Real Observatorio de la Armada (ROA) working in close collaboration with the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) and Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME) have conducted seven oceanographic cruises in Galician waters (EEZ -01 -02 ZEE , ZEE -03, ZEE -06 -07 ZEE , ZEE- ZEE- 08 and 09). The main objective of the Spain´s Exclusive Economic Zone project is mapping the seafloor, carrying out a systematic bathymetric survey of the 200 miles that comprise this area. In addition, as secondary objectives were performed acquiring that complement other geophysical parameters characterizing the seafloor and seabed from the knowledge of other variables such as the Terrestrial Magnetic Field , Terrestrial Gravity field, sound velocity and seabed internal structure. For the acquisition of detailed and accurate information during these cruises, carried on board the BIO Hespérides, high-resolution geophysical techniques were used to compile the data and the bathymetry of the region was mapped using a multibeam system during which 100 per cent coverage was obtained. At the same time high-resolution parametric seismic reflection profiles, as well as gravity and magnetic, were also recorded in the survey areas. These systems provide data on bathymetry, quality seafloor, acoustics backscatter , gravimetry, magnetometry and subsurface structure and require the use of precise positioning techniques, so were used in conjunction with GPSD and inertial navigation systems. As a result of these oceanographic researches and post-processing, analysis and interpretation of the whole acquired data, a synthesis of 6 maps were published with 1:500.000 scale and corresponding to Bathymetric map, Geomorphology map, Geomagnetic Anomaly map, Bouguer and Free Air Anomaly maps and backscatter map. REFERENCIAS J. Martín Davila, M. Catalán, M. Larrán, Sección de Hidrografía del IHM, A. Carbó, A. Muñoz-Martín, JL Granja, P. Llanes, L. Somoza, R. León, F.J. Gonzalez, M. Gómez-Ballesteros, M. Druet, and J. Acosta, 2014: Zona Económica Exclusiva Española (ZEEE): Margen Continental Gallego. Mapas Generales de batimetría, de anomalías Geomagnéticas, Graviméwtricas de Aire Libre y Bpouguer, Geomorfológico y Mosaico de Imágenes de Reflectividad (E. 1:500.000). Ministerio de Defensa. Secretaria General Técnica, NIPO: 083-12-230-3, DL: M-39518-201

High-Flow Oxygen with Capping or Suctioning for Tracheostomy Decannulation

9 p.BACKGROUND When patients with a tracheostomy tube reach a stage in their care at which decannulation appears to be possible, it is common practice to cap the tracheostomy tube for 24 hours to see whether they can breathe on their own. Whether this approach to establishing patient readiness for decannulation leads to better outcomes than one based on the frequency of airway suctioning is unclear. METHODS In five intensive care units (ICUs), we enrolled conscious, critically ill adults who had a tracheostomy tube; patients were eligible after weaning from mechanical ventilation. In this unblinded trial, patients were randomly assigned either to undergo a 24-hour capping trial plus intermittent high-flow oxygen therapy (control group) or to receive continuous high-flow oxygen therapy with frequency of suctioning being the indicator of readiness for decannulation (intervention group). The primary outcome was the time to decannulation, compared by means of the log-rank test. Secondary outcomes included decannulation failure, weaning failure, respiratory infections, sepsis, multiorgan failure, durations of stay in the ICU and hospital, and deaths in the ICU and hospital. RESULTS The trial included 330 patients; the mean (±SD) age of the patients was 58.3±15.1 years, and 68.2% of the patients were men. A total of 161 patients were assigned to the control group and 169 to the intervention group. The time to decannulation was shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (median, 6 days [interquartile range, 5 to 7] vs. 13 days [interquartile range, 11 to 14]; absolute difference, 7 days [95% confidence interval, 5 to 9]). The incidence of pneumonia and tracheobronchitis was lower, and the duration of stay in the hospital shorter, in the intervention group than in the control group. Other secondary outcomes were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Basing the decision to decannulate on suctioning frequency plus continuous highflow oxygen therapy rather than on 24-hour capping trials plus intermittent highflow oxygen therapy reduced the time to decannulation, with no evidence of a between-group difference in the incidence of decannulation failure. (REDECAP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02512744.

Cigarette smoke induces pulmonary arterial dysfunction through an imbalance in the redox status of the soluble guanylyl cyclase

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose main risk factor is cigarette smoking (CS), is one of the most common diseases globally. Some COPD patients also develop pulmonary hypertension (PH), a severe complication that leads to premature death. Evidence suggests reactive oxygen species (ROS) involvement in COPD and PH, especially regarding pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) dysfunction. However, the effects of CS-driven oxidative stress on the pulmonary vasculature are not completely understood. Herein we provide evidence on the effects of CS extract (CSE) exposure on PASMC regarding ROS production, antioxidant response and its consequences on vascular tone dysregulation. Our results indicate that CSE exposure promotes mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased mitochondrial superoxide levels. However, this superoxide increase did not parallel a counterbalancing antioxidant response in human pulmonary artery (PA) cells. Interestingly, the mitochondrial superoxide scavenger mitoTEMPO reduced mitochondrial fission and membrane potential depolarization caused by CSE. As we have previously shown, CSE reduces PA vasoconstriction and vasodilation. In this respect, mitoTEMPO prevented the impaired nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation, while vasoconstriction remained reduced. Finally, we observed a CSE-driven downregulation of the Cyb5R3 enzyme, which prevents soluble guanylyl cyclase oxidation in PASMC. This might explain the CSE-mediated decrease in PA vasodilation. These results provide evidence that there might be a connection between mitochondrial ROS and altered vasodilation responses in PH secondary to COPD, and strongly support the potential of antioxidant strategies specifically targeting mitochondria as a new therapy for these diseasesThe Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, ´ Programa Retos en Investigacion ´ (grant number PID2019-104406RB-100) to MJC provided the financial support for the conduct of the research included in this manuscript. Garantia Juvenil program from Comunidad de Madrid contributed with the research assistant contract to M-R,

Cytokine inflammation state in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis surpasses that of chronic hepatits C and alcoholic liver disease

Increased serum levels of cytokines were reported in persistent inflammatory conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The aim of this study was to compare cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, VEGF, EG-VEGF, BB-PDGF and ICAM-1 levels in these patients. Ninety patients seen in two Mexican outpatient clinics (Liver Unit, UANL and HIPAM and UNAM) were included: NASH (30), CHC (30) and ALD (30). Serum cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, VEGF, EG-VEGF, BB-PDGF and ICAM-1 were measured by ELISA. A statistically significant difference was found in 5/6 mediators studied in NASH patients vs. CHC and ALD. Regarding ICAM-1 (5.482±613 vs. 2.145±1011 vs. 1.830±1224 pg/mL; P<0.05; respectively), IL-6 (2.430±1506 vs. 726±735 vs. 516±603 pg/mL; P<0.05, respectively), TNF-α (3686±1409 vs. 677±747 vs. 437±70 pg/mL; P<0.05; respectively), VEFG (2.267±486 vs. 421±557 vs. 554±619 pg/mL; P<0.05; respectively) and EG-VEGF (2.146±1914 vs. 1.225±1388 vs. 799±1046 pg/mL; P<0.05; respectively). VEGF positively correlated with TNF-α(r+0.51 and P=0.004) in NASH and negatively in CHC (r-0.44 and P=0.01). The only positive correlation for BB-PDGF was with EG-VEGF levels (r=+0.41 and P=0.02). IL-6 exhibited a positive correlation vs. ICAM-1 in ALD (r+0.42 and P=0.02). We demonstrated a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, VEGF and EG-VEGF) and ICAM-1 in patients with NASH. Correlations showed differential cytokine and adhesion molecule patterns on the basis of the liver disease etiology. These abnormalities in cytokine profile can influence the pathophysiology of liver injury

Analysis of gender equality competence present in cultural positions

Articulating the gender dimension in organizations is not easy because their members have to be trained to adopt positions that facilitate the implementation of solutions that help to combat inequalities. The aim of this article was to identify the gender equality competence present in the three types of cultural positions Castells proposed in members of a City Council in Sevilla-Spain, who wanted to implement gender mainstreaming. The participants were 27 people (16 women and 11 men). The method used was discourse analysis. The obtained results show that, while all competences were present in the project position, in the resistance position, there was none. In the legitimizers, we observed inconsistency in the discourse presented. This arouses considerations on the importance of knowing the gender equality competences in order to implement gender mainstreaming in organization