Quantum corrections to minimal surfaces with mixed three-form flux

We obtain the ratio of semiclassical partition functions for the extension under mixed flux of the minimal surfaces subtending a circumference and a line in Euclidean AdS(3) x S-3 x T-4. We reduce the problem to the computation of a set of functional determinants. If the Ramond-Ramond flux does not vanish, we find that the contribution of the B-field is comprised in the conformal anomaly. In this case, we successively apply the Gel'fand-Yaglom method and the Abel-Plana formula to the flat-measure determinants. To cancel the resultant infrared divergences, we shift the regularization of the sum over half-integers depending on whether it corresponds to massive or massless fermionic modes. We show that the result is compatible with the zeta-function regularization approach. In the limit of pure Neveu-Schwarz-Neveu-Schwarz flux we argue that the computation trivializes. We extend the reasoning to other surfaces with the same behavior in this regime

Less than 2°C? An Economic-Environmental Evaluation of the Paris Agreement

Producción CientíficaThe literature dedicated to the analysis of the different climate agreements has usually focused on the effectiveness of the aims for emissions in the light of the advance in climate change. This article quantifies the variation in emissions that the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will entail and their financial allocation and policies country-by-country and regionally. The objective is evaluating the Paris Agreement feasibility regarding the INDCs and its economic and environmental constraints. The criteria through which the 161 INDCs are analysed are as follows: i/ socio-economic impact of the transition; ii/ focus on energy management; iii/ substitution of non-renewable sources; iv/ the role of technology; v/ equality of the transition; vi/ compliance with emission reductions. The results obtained show that the Paris Agreement excessively relies on external financial support (41.4%). Moreover, its unilateralist approach, the socio-economic and biophysical constraints could be the underlying cause of the ineffectiveness of the 2 °C objective. This way, each country would emit an average of 37.8% more than in the years 2005–2015. When this is weighted, the figure would be a 19.3% increase, due mainly to the increases in China and India. These figures would lead the temperatures up to 3°–4 °C.European project H2020-LCE-2015-2 (691287

Comparative genomics of the rhodococcus genus shows wide distribution of biodegradation traits

The genus Rhodococcus exhibits great potential for bioremediation applications due to its huge metabolic diversity, including biotransformation of aromatic and aliphatic compounds. Comparative genomic studies of this genus are limited to a small number of genomes, while the high number of sequenced strains to date could provide more information about the Rhodococcus diversity. Phylogenomic analysis of 327 Rhodococcus genomes and clustering of intergenomic distances identified 42 phylogenomic groups and 83 species-level clusters. Rarefaction models show that these numbers are likely to increase as new Rhodococcus strains are sequenced. The Rhodococcus genus possesses a small “hard” core genome consisting of 381 orthologous groups (OGs), while a “soft” core genome of 1253 OGs is reached with 99.16% of the genomes. Models of sequentially randomly added genomes show that a small number of genomes are enough to explain most of the shared diversity of the Rhodococcus strains, while the “open” pangenome and strain-specific genome evidence that the diversity of the genus will increase, as new genomes still add more OGs to the whole genomic set. Most rhodococci possess genes involved in the degradation of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, while short-chain alkane degradation is restricted to a certain number of groups, among which a specific particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is only found in Rhodococcus sp. WAY2. The analysis of Rieske 2Fe-2S dioxygenases among rhodococci genomes revealed that most of these enzymes remain uncharacterizedThis research was funded by GREENER-H2020 (EU), grant number 826312 and MICINN/FEDER EU, grant number RTI2018-0933991-B-I00. D.G.-S. was granted by the MECD FPU fellowship program, grant number FPU14/0396

APARICIÓN TEMPRANA DEL PATRÓN DE DOLOR CRÓNICO EN PACIENTES MUSCULOESQUELÉTICOS SUBAGUDOS

The chronic pain pattern implies high levels of negative emotions, pain and perceived disability disability perceived. Up to date few studies have assessed when this chronic pain pattern appears. This study is aimed at exploring this issue. Methods: were evaluated  146 subjects with 4 weeks sick leave due to musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) and 95 with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). All patients completed the following assessment instruments: the Sadness and Depression Questionnaire (CTD), Anxiety situations and responses. Inventory –Brief form- (ISRA-B), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), a visual analogy scale for intensity of pain and a likert type scale for the frequency of pain. The analyses included a comparison on the scores of the tests between patients on sick leave due to MD compared to RA patients. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: Patients on sick leave due to MD and RA patients reported similar perception of their disability, showing a high HAQ score mean. Patients on sick leave due to MD reported more perceived frequency and intensity of pain than RA patients. In relation to negative emotions, both groups reported similar high levels with some poorer levels for RA patients compared to patients on sick leave due to MD for cognitive, evaluation and life situations anxiety. Depression scores presented the same levels for both patients groups. Conclusions: Our study shows that patients with subacute pain/disability and chronic pain/disability report very similar pattern for negative emotions and perception of pain and disability, suggesting that these factors appear in an early stage and contributing to the transition from acute to chronic pain/disability.El patrón de dolor crónico implica altos niveles de emociones negativas, dolor y discapacidad percibida. Pocos estudios han evaluado el patrón de aparición del dolor crónico  y éste era nuestro objetivo. Método: fueron evaluados 146 participantes con 4 semanas la Baja Laboral por enfermedades musculoesqueléticas (DsMS) y 95 con artritis reumatoide (AR) mediante los siguientes instrumentos: el Cuestionario de Tristeza y Depresión (CTD), el  Inventario de Situaciones y Respuestas de Ansiedad–forma breve-. (ISRA-B), Cuestionario de Evaluación de Salud (HAQ), una escala analógica visual para la intensidad del dolor y una escala tipo Likert para la frecuencia del dolor. Los análisis (descriptivos y bivariados) incluyeron una comparación de las puntuaciones de las pruebas entre los pacientes con baja laboral por EM en comparación con los pacientes con AR.  Resultados: Los pacientes con Baja Laboral por enfermedades musculoesqueléticas y los pacientes con AR informaron de una percepción similarde su discapacidad, según el HAQ. Pacientes con Baja Laboral por enfermedades musculoesqueléticas informaron mayor frecuencia percibida y más intensidad de dolor que los pacientes con AR. En relación a las emociones negativas, ambos grupos presentaron niveles altos y similares, con algunos niveles más pobres de los pacientes con AR en comparación con Pacientes con Baja Laboral por enfermedades musculoesqueléticas para la ansiedad cognitiva, la ansiedad de evaluación y la de la vida cotidiana (en  ISRA-B). Las puntuaciones en depresión presentan los mismos niveles en ambos grupos de pacientes.Conclusión. Nuestro estudio muestra que los pacientes con dolor subagudo/discapacidad y dolor crónico/discapacidad reportan un patrón muy similar para las emociones negativas y la percepción del dolor y la discapacidad, lo que sugiere que estos factores aparecen en una etapa temprana y favorecen, por tanto, la transición de dolor agudo a crónico/discapacidad

Macroeconomic modelling under energy constraints: Global low carbon transition scenarios

Producción CientíficaIntegrated Assessment Models provide a framework to study sustainability transitions and their economic impacts. Models seldom consider energy constraints, taking supply availability for granted and thus suggesting a mere change in the energy mix from non-renewables to renewables. In order to address these limitations, a macro-economic module within a broader system dynamics model (MEDEAS) has been developed. The model has been run for the whole world from 1995 to 2050 under three different scenarios: Business as Usual (BAU), considering no further transition policies and keeping current trends; Green Growth (GG), undertaking the low-carbon transition according to the Paris Agreement set of policies and with high GDP growth standards; and Post-Growth (PG), testing the sustainability transition under a GDP non-growth/degrowth approach. The results reveal the conflict between economic growth, climate policy and the sustainability of resources. Whereas a BAU approach would not even be an option to achieve climate goals, a GG view would not only face the downsizing of economic output, but neither would it be able to achieve the 2 °C objective. The success of the PG approach in meeting emissions objectives suggests a redirection from economic growth policies to an industrial policy that incorporates efficiency and redistribution.European project H2020-LCE-2015-2 (691287)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Project ECO2017-85110-R

An ecological macroeconomics model: The energy transition in the EU

Producción CientíficaThe Energy Roadmap 2050 (ER2050) is committed to achieve the European Union's emissions mitigation goals by reducing energy use and a transition to renewables. The macroeconomic impacts of the Ref16 and ‘EUCO’ scenarios of this strategy have been reported to entail an absolute decoupling between GDP growth and energy use. The aim of this paper is assessing the ER2050 targets with a novel modelling methodology based on Post-Keynesian Economics, i.e. demand-led economic growth and Ecological Economics, i.e. taking into account absolute biophysical (energy availability) constrains to economic growth. Thus, this article presents the Economy module of the Integrated Assessment Model MEDEAS-Europe, combining System Dynamics and Input-Output analysis, and evaluates the ER2050 targets under different scenarios regarding primary income distribution, foreign trade, labour productivity, industrial policy and working time reduction. Our results show that GDP growth and employment creation may be halted due to energy scarcity if the ER2050 targets are met even considering great energy efficiency gains. In addition, the renewables share would increase enough to reduce the energy imports dependency, but not sufficiently to meet the emissions targets. Only a Post-Growth scenario would be able to meet the climate goals and maintain the level of employment.European project H2020-LCE-2015-2 (691287)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Project ECO2017-85110-R

Genomic and genetic diversity within the Pseudomonas fluorescens complex

The Pseudomonas fluorescens complex includes Pseudomonas strains that have been taxonomically assigned to more than fifty different species, many of which have been described as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with potential applications in biocontrol and biofertilization. So far the phylogeny of this complex has been analyzed according to phenotypic traits, 16S rDNA, MLSA and inferred by whole-genome analysis. However, since most of the type strains have not been fully sequenced and new species are frequently described, correlation between taxonomy and phylogenomic analysis is missing. In recent years, the genomes of a large number of strains have been sequenced, showing important genomic heterogeneity and providing information suitable for genomic studies that are important to understand the genomic and genetic diversity shown by strains of this complex. Based on MLSA and several whole-genome sequence-based analyses of 93 sequenced strains, we have divided the P. fluorescens complex into eight phylogenomic groups that agree with previous works based on type strains. Digital DDH (dDDH) identified 69 species and 75 subspecies within the 93 genomes. The eight groups corresponded to clustering with a threshold of 31.8% dDDH, in full agreement with our MLSA. The Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) approach showed inconsistencies regarding the assignment to species and to the eight groups. The small core genome of 1,334 CDSs and the large pan-genome of 30,848 CDSs, show the large diversity and genetic heterogeneity of the P. fluorescens complex. However, a low number of strains were enough to explain most of the CDSs diversity at core and strain-specific genomic fractions. Finally, the identification and analysis of group-specific genome and the screening for distinctive characters revealed a phylogenomic distribution of traits among the groups that provided insights into biocontrol and bioremediation applications as well as their role as PGPR

Regulation of extracellular matrix components byAmrZ is mediated by c‑di‑GMP in Pseudomonas ogarae F113

The AmrZ/FleQ hub has been identified as a central node in the regulation of environmental adaption in the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium and model for rhizosphere colonization Pseudomonas ogarae F113. AmrZ is involved in the regulation of motility, biofilm formation, and bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) turnover, among others, in this bacterium. The mutants in amrZ have a pleiotropic phenotype with distinguishable colony morphology, reduced biofilm formation, increased motility, and are severely impaired in competitive rhizosphere colonization. Here, RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR gene expression analyses revealed that AmrZ regulates many genes related to the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) components at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, overproduction of c-di-GMP in an amrZ mutant, by ectopic production of the Caulobacter crescentus constitutive diguanylate cyclase PleD*, resulted in increased expression of many genes implicated in the synthesis of ECM components. The overproduction of c-di-GMP in the amrZ mutant also suppressed the biofilm formation and motility phenotypes, but not the defect in competitive rhizosphere colonization. These results indicate that although biofilm formation and motility are mainly regulated indirectly by AmrZ, through the modulation of c-di-GMP levels, the implication of AmrZ in rhizosphere competitive colonization occurs in a c-di-GMP-independent manne

Metagenomic Insights into the Bacterial Functions of a Diesel-Degrading Consortium for the Rhizoremediation of Diesel-Polluted Soil

Diesel is a complex pollutant composed of a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Because of this complexity, diesel bioremediation requires multiple microorganisms, which harbor the catabolic pathways to degrade the mixture. By enrichment cultivation of rhizospheric soil from a diesel-polluted site, we have isolated a bacterial consortium that can grow aerobically with diesel and different alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as the sole carbon and energy source. Microbiome diversity analyses based on 16S rRNA gene showed that the diesel-degrading consortium consists of 76 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and it is dominated by Pseudomonas, Aquabacterium, Chryseobacterium, and Sphingomonadaceae. Changes in microbiome composition were observed when growing on specific hydrocarbons, reflecting that different populations degrade different hydrocarbons. Shotgun metagenome sequence analysis of the consortium growing on diesel has identified redundant genes encoding enzymes implicated in the initial oxidation of alkanes (AlkB, LadA, CYP450) and a variety of hydroxylating and ring-cleavage dioxygenases involved in aromatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbon degradation. The phylogenetic assignment of these enzymes to specific genera allowed us to model the role of specific populations in the diesel-degrading consortium. Rhizoremediation of diesel-polluted soil microcosms using the consortium, resulted in an important enhancement in the reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), making it suited for rhizoremediation applicationsThis research was funded by GREENER-H2020 (EU), grant number 826312, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades/FEDER EU, grant number RTI2018-0933991-B-I00 and the BIOXISOIL project, grantnumber LIFE11/ENV/ES/000505. D.G.-S. was granted by the MECD FPU fellowship program, grant number FPU14/0396