Diet of sympatric Barn Owls Tyto alba and Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus in an agricultural landscape in south-east Spain

Acknowledgements We are very grateful to Ángel Tórtola Sánchez and Miguel Tórtola García for their help in identifying bird prey species; without their knowledge the identification would not have been possible. We also thank the IFAPA Centro Camino de Purchil for allowing us to collect pellets at their facilities. Special thanks also to Mariola Sánchez-Cerdá for her excellent company and support during the field work around “hasking place”, as well as to all the volunteers who participated in “Proyecto Sobrevolando”. The comments of two anonymous referees, the editor, and the managing editor improved the manuscript.The diets of the Barn Owl Tyto alba and the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus have been extensively studied worldwide over the past few years, especially on the Iberian Peninsula. Nevertheless, very few studies have examined the diets and the trophic niche overlap in areas where these two raptor species occur in sympatry. As such, in this study we compared the diets of the Barn Owl and the Short-eared Owl inhabiting agricultural landscapes of the Vega de Granada, south-east Spain, based on pellet analysis. The diets were very similar, as both owls preyed mainly on small mammals, the Algerian Mouse Mus spretus being the prey most commonly found in pellets from both species. Although the diet of the Barn Owl was more diverse than that of the Short-eared Owl, the food niche overlap was very high, thus indicating a low interspecific trophic segregation. Despite the similarities between both diets, the frequency of the Mediterranean Pine Vole Microtus duodecimcostatus was much higher in pellets from the Barn Owl, thus suggesting that the Barn Owl may exert pest control in years when the Mediterranean Pine Vole occurs in high numbers

Estabilidad térmica y cambios estructurales de zeolitas naturales mexicanas

En este estudio se describe el análisis estructural de minerales de zeolitas naturales, que fueron tratadas térmicamente a temperaturas de 250, 350, 500, 700 y 950 °C, respectivamente. Los resultados obtenidos por difracción de rayos X indican que los materiales zeolíticos sufren cambios estructurales importantes debido al proceso de calcinación aplicado. Las alteraciones que se encuentran son que las fases cristalinas se transforman en otras fases estables o metaestables, la estructura de la red colapsa gradualmente, se genera una amorfización completa del mineral, el volumen de la celda unitaria cambia y es afectado el tamaño de cristalita; esto se puede atribuir a procesos de hidratación/ deshidratación de moléculas de agua y a la desaluminación de Al³⁺ del armazón tetraédrico.In this work describes the structural analysis of natural zeolite minerals, which were heat-treated at temperatures of 250, 350, 500, 700 and 950 °C, respectively. Results obtained by using X-ray diffraction technique indicate that zeolitic materials experiment main structural changes due to the calcination process applied. The apparent alterations are that the crystalline phases are transformed into other stable or metastable phases, framework structure collapse bit by bit, a full amorphisation of mineral is produced, unit cell volume changes and crystallite size is affected, these variations can be attributed to hydration/dehydration process of water molecules and dealumination of Al³⁺ atoms of tetrahedral framework

Caracterización físico-química de materiales microporosos y evaluación de sus propiedades catalíticas

Se presenta la caracterización por difracción de rayos X y espectroscopía de absorción atómica de zeolitas calcinadas, provenientes de Etla, Oaxaca. También se lleva a cabo un estudio de prueba catalítica en la fotodegradación del colorante negro reactivo 5. El análisis de las señales de difracción de rayos X de las zeolitas, muestran corrimientos hacia ángulos mayores y/o menores de las fases, esto se asocia a cambios del volumen de la celda. Por medio de absorción atómica se identificó que los elementos Ca, Mg, Fe, Si y Al están presentes en las zeolitas. El estudio de las propiedades catalíticas de las zeolitas, se basó en la reacción de fotodegradación del colorante, a través de espectroscopía de UV-vis, particularmente fue monitoreada la disminución de las bandas características de absorción, en 595 y 310 nm. Se encontró que las muestras calcinadas a temperaturas altas tienen mayor eficiencia fotodegradante, ya que el tratamiento térmico mejora el proceso de catálisis de la reacción hasta la temperatura de 500 °C, mientras que a temperaturas mayores su efecto es contrario.In this work, X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption spectroscopy of calcined natural zeolites, from Etla, Oaxaca, is reported. Photodegradation reaction of reactive black 5 dye is studied with goal to have a catalytic test. Patterns X-ray diffraction of zeolites shows that peaks shifts towards major and/or minor angles, this indicate that there are changes in volume of unit cell. By using atomic absorption spectroscopic it is identified the chemical elements of Ca, Mg, Fe, Si and Al as characteristic constituents of the zeolites. Study of catalytic properties of the natural zeolites was carried out in the degradation photoreaction of dye, through UV-vis spectroscopy the reduction of characteristic absorption bands was monitored at 595 and 310 nm. It was found that calcined zeolites at high temperatures have higher photodegradation efficiency, due to the thermal treatment that improves catalysis process of chemical reaction until the temperature of 500 °C, while at higher temperatures its effect is reverse

Degradación fotocatalítica del colorante negro reactivo 5 (RB-5) empleando zeolitas naturales modificadas térmicamente

En el presente trabajo se analizaron muestras minerales de zeolitas, en forma de polvos y sometidas a tratamiento térmico de 250, 350 y 500 °C, respectivamente, las cuales son de interés particular debido a sus propiedades catalíticas. El proceso de tratamiento consiste en molienda mecánica de las muestras sólidas, proceso que se realizó durante 3 horas, posteriormente la calcinación de la muestra se efectuó en 4 horas. La caracterización estructural de los materiales se llevó a cabo por DRX, mientras que la morfología se determinó con SEM y se calculó el ancho de banda prohibida de los materiales empleando RD-UV-Vis y la transformada de Kubelka-Munk. La reacción de fotodegradación de un compuesto textil llamado, colorante reactivo 5 (RB-5) se llevó a cabo en un reactor intermitente con una lámpara de luz blanca de λ = 570 nm, a presión y temperatura ambiente; la cinética de degradación se monitoreo en la banda de absorción (λ = 595 y 310 nm) con espectroscopia UV-Vis.In the this work mineral zeolitic samples was analyzed, in powder form and heat treated 250, 350 and 500 ° C, respectively, which are of particular interest due to their catalytic properties. The treatment process consists of mechanical grinding of solid samples, process conducted for 3 hours, subsequently calcining the sample for 4 hours. The structural characterization of the materials was carried out by XRD, while morphology was determined by SEM and width bandgap materials by using RD-UV-Vis and Kubelka-Munk transform. Photo-degradation reaction of textile compound called, reactive black 5 dye (RB-5) was carried out in a batch reactor with a white light lamp of λ = 570 nm, ambient temperature and pressure; the kinetics of degradation reaction was monitored by checking the variation on absorption band (λ = 595 and 310 nm) with UV -Vis spectroscopy

Onset of lupus like syndrome in patients with spondyloarthritis treated with anti-TNF-α

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The anti-TNFα therapy has been since its approval by the FDA, along with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), one of the most important therapies for control of spondyloarthritis (SpA). The onset of Lupus Like Syndrome (LLS) has been described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with anti-TNFα therapy but there is little literature on the occurrence of this entity in patients with SpA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 57 patients with SpA who received more than 1 year of anti-TNFα therapy (infliximab, adalimumab or etanercept). Patients were analyzed for the development of LLS, in addition to measuring ANA levels ≥ 1:160 and Anti-dsDNA (measured by IIF).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 7.01% of patients treated with anti-TNFα had titers of ANA ≥ 1:160, whereas 3.5% of patients had serum levels of dsDNA. However, only one patient (1.75%; n = 1) experienced clinical symptoms of LLS; this was a female patient with a history of psoriatic arthritis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The presence of LLS secondary to anti-TNFα therapy in patients with SpA is observed less frequently compared with patients with RA. LLS was only detected in a patient with a history of psoriasis since youth, who developed psoriatic arthritis after 27 years of age and had received anti-TNFα therapy for > 2 years. This may be because LLS is an entity clearly associated with innate immunity, with little central role of B and T cells.</p

Mitochondrial and nuclear markers reveal a lack of genetic structure in the entocommensal nemertean Malacobdella arrokeana in the Patagonian gulfs

Abstract Malacobdella arrokeana is an entocommensal nemertean exclusively found in the bivalve geoduck Panopea abbreviata, and it is the only representative of the genus in the southern hemisphere. To characterize its genetic diversity, population structure and recent demographic history, we conducted the first genetic survey on this species, using sequence data for the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), 16S rRNA (16S) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2). Only four different ITS2 genotypes were found in the whole sample, and the two main haplotypes identified in the mitochondrial dataset were present among all localities with a diversity ranging from 0.583 to 0.939. Nucleotide diversity was low (p = 0.001?0.002). No significant genetic structure was detected between populations, and mismatch distribution patterns and neutrality tests results are consistent with a population in expansion or under selection. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the largest level of variance observed was due to intrapopulation variation (100, 100 and 94.39 % for 16S, COI and ITS2, respectively). Fst values were also non-significant. The observed lack of population structure is likely due to high levels of genetic connectivity in combination with the lack or permeability of biogeographic barriers and episodes of habitat modification.Fil: Fernandez Alfaya, Jose Elias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bigatti, Gregorio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Machordom, Annie. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Museo Nacional de Cs. Naturales; Españ

Effect of a Pulmonary Embolism Diagnostic Strategy on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COPD Exacerbation. A Randomized Clinical Trial

SLICE Trial Group.[Importance] Active search for pulmonary embolism (PE) may improve outcomes in patients hospitalized for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).[Objective] To compare usual care plus an active strategy for diagnosing PE with usual care alone in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation.[Design, Setting, and Participants] Randomized clinical trial conducted across 18 hospitals in Spain. A total of 746 patients were randomized from September 2014 to July 2020 (final follow-up was November 2020).[Interventions] Usual care plus an active strategy for diagnosing PE (D-dimer testing and, if positive, computed tomography pulmonary angiogram) (n = 370) vs usual care (n = 367).[Main Outcomes and Measures] The primary outcome was a composite of nonfatal symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE), readmission for COPD, or death within 90 days after randomization. There were 4 secondary outcomes, including nonfatal new or recurrent VTE, readmission for COPD, and death from any cause within 90 days. Adverse events were also collected.[Results] Among the 746 patients who were randomized, 737 (98.8%) completed the trial (mean age, 70 years; 195 [26%] women). The primary outcome occurred in 110 patients (29.7%) in the intervention group and 107 patients (29.2%) in the control group (absolute risk difference, 0.5% [95% CI, −6.2% to 7.3%]; relative risk, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.82-1.28]; P = .86). Nonfatal new or recurrent VTE was not significantly different in the 2 groups (0.5% vs 2.5%; risk difference, −2.0% [95% CI, −4.3% to 0.1%]). By day 90, a total of 94 patients (25.4%) in the intervention group and 84 (22.9%) in the control group had been readmitted for exacerbation of COPD (risk difference, 2.5% [95% CI, −3.9% to 8.9%]). Death from any cause occurred in 23 patients (6.2%) in the intervention group and 29 (7.9%) in the control group (risk difference, −1.7% [95% CI, −5.7% to 2.3%]). Major bleeding occurred in 3 patients (0.8%) in the intervention group and 3 patients (0.8%) in the control group (risk difference, 0% [95% CI, −1.9% to 1.8%]; P = .99).[Conclusions and Relevance] Among patients hospitalized for an exacerbation of COPD, the addition of an active strategy for the diagnosis of PE to usual care, compared with usual care alone, did not significantly improve a composite health outcome. The study may not have had adequate power to assess individual components of the composite outcome.[Trial Registration] ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02238639.Peer reviewe

Latin America: the next region for haematopoietic transplant progress

Haematopoietic cell transplant activity in the 28 countries comprising Latin America is poorly defined. We conducted a voluntary survey of members of the Latin American Bone Marrow Transplantation Group regarding transplant activity 2009–2012. Collated responses were compared with data of transplant rates from the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation for other geographic regions. Several socio-economic variables were analysed to determine correlations with transplant rates. In total, 94 teams from 12 countries reported 11519 transplants including 7033 autotransplants and 4486 allotransplants. Annual activity increased from 2517 transplants in 2009 to 3263 in 2012, a 30% increase. Median transplants rate (transplant per million inhabitants) in 2012 was 64 (autotransplants, median 40; allotransplants, median 24). This rate is substantially lower than that in North America and European regions (482 and 378) but higher than that in the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Pacific regions (30 and 45). However, the Latin America transplant rate is 5–8-fold lower than that in America and Europe, suggesting a need to increase transplant availability. Transplant team density in Latin America (teams per million population; 1.8) is 3–4-fold lower than that in North America (6.2) or Europe (7.6). Within Latin America, there is substantial diversity in transplant rates by country partially explained by diverse socio-economic variables including per capita gross national income, health expenditure and physician density. These data should help inform future health-care policy in Latin America

Damage in a large systemic lupus erythematosus cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on the cardiovascular system: a longitudinal analysis

Objective To assess organ damage, with emphasis on the cardiovascular system, over the different stages of the disease in a large SLE cohort.Methods Multicentre, longitudinal study of a cohort of 4219 patients with SLE enrolled in the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). We longitudinally analysed SDI (globally and for each domain) over time only in the 1274 patients whose dates of damage events had been recorded.Results During the first year after diagnosis of SLE, 20% of the 1274 patients presented with new damage manifestations. At years 2 and 3, new damage was recorded in 11% and 9% of patients. The annual percentage of patients with new damage after year 5 decreased to 5%. In the first year with the disease, most damage was accumulated in the musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric and renal systems; in later stages, most damage was in the musculoskeletal, ocular and cardiovascular systems. Considering 'cerebrovascular accident' and 'claudication for 6 months' as cardiovascular items, the cardiovascular system was the second most affected system during the early stages of SLE, with 19% of the patients who presented with damage affected at first year after diagnosis. During the late stages, 20-25% of the patients presenting with new damage did so in this modified cardiovascular domain of the SDI.Conclusions New damage occurs mainly during the first year following diagnosis of SLE. Cardiovascular damage is relevant in both the early and the late stages of the disease. Strategies to prevent cardiovascular damage should be implemented early after diagnosis of SLE

Detection of early seeding of Richter transformation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Richter transformation (RT) is a paradigmatic evolution of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into a very aggressive large B cell lymphoma conferring a dismal prognosis. The mechanisms driving RT remain largely unknown. We characterized the whole genome, epigenome and transcriptome, combined with single-cell DNA/RNA-sequencing analyses and functional experiments, of 19 cases of CLL developing RT. Studying 54 longitudinal samples covering up to 19 years of disease course, we uncovered minute subclones carrying genomic, immunogenetic and transcriptomic features of RT cells already at CLL diagnosis, which were dormant for up to 19 years before transformation. We also identified new driver alterations, discovered a new mutational signature (SBS-RT), recognized an oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)high-B cell receptor (BCR)low-signaling transcriptional axis in RT and showed that OXPHOS inhibition reduces the proliferation of RT cells. These findings demonstrate the early seeding of subclones driving advanced stages of cancer evolution and uncover potential therapeutic targets for RT