Comparison of field measurement methods of nitrous oxide soil emissions: from the chamber to the vial

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global climate change. The N2O soil emissions have a large uncertainty because of its low atmospheric concentration levels and enormous spatial and temporal variability, which hinders its correct field measurement. For this reason, there are many papers focused on improving the N2O measurements in the field, which focus on different parts of the measurement process. However, no studies have focused on determining the appropriate method, in terms of simplicity and precision, for the sample extraction from inside of the chambers and its transfer to the storage vials, although this step is key in the sampling process. This study aimed to assess and compare the accuracies of three simple and economical methods in transfer soil emitted N2O from inside of the chambers to the vials. For this, a highly accepted method (vacuum by manual pump) and two simpler alternative methods (gas exchange by displacement and vacuum by syringe) were compared. Thirty static chambers were assessed with the quantified N2O emission values varied from 0 to 450 µg m-2 h-1 of N-N2O. Out of the three assessed methods, the vacuum method through the use of a manual vacuum pump was the best to quantifying N2O soil emissions (capturing 57 % of the highest emission values), followed by the gas exchange method by displacement (30 %), and finally by the vacuum method by syringe extraction (13%).Fil: Cosentino, Vanina Rosa Noemi. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Cátedra de Fertilidad y Fertilizantes; ArgentinaFil: Romaniuk, Romina Ingrid. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; ArgentinaFil: Lupi, Ana Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de suelos; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Federico. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Cátedra de Fertilidad y Fertilizantes; Argentina.Fil Rimski Korsakov, Helena Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Carina Rosa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Ciarlo, Esteban Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentin

Quality of Life is Essential: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment for BRCA1/2 Germline Mutations

BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline pathogenic variants are a matter of concern because of their relevance in cancer risk assessment, personalized treatment options, and cancer prevention. Therefore, the study of quality of life (QoL), although complex, has been a challenge for clinical care and research implications for patients and families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). This chapter aims to show the evolution of the evaluation of the QoL study according to the current needs of patients with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations

Composición química de la cáscara de huevo depuesto de Salvator merianae

CPara explicar la respuesta de los huevos y embriones a las variaciones del ambiente de incubación, tanto natural como artificial, es indispensable conocer la estructura y composición de la cáscara. Secciones radiales de cáscara de huevo de Salvator merianae fueron analizadas mediante espectrometría de rayos X (MEB-EDS) y Espectroscopía Raman (ER). Para los ensayos con ER se utilizaron como controles cáscara de huevo de Gallus gallus y esmalte de piezas dentarias de S. merianae. El análisis con MEB-EDS demostró que Ca y P exhiben un patrón de distribución espacial similar en la superficie y en la zona profunda de la cáscara. Aunque S y Mg están presentes, exhibieron un patrón de distribución monótono. Los resultados cuantitativos determinaron una relación molar Ca/P de 1.67; proporciones elevadas de S y bajas de Mg. El análisis utilizando ER demostró un pico espectral a 690 cm-1 en la zona profunda de la cáscara, coincidiendo con el depósito cálcico determinado con MEB-EDS. La comparación con los espectros controles dentario y cáscara de huevo de G. gallus demuestran que el P y el Ca se encuentran asociados como hidroxiapatita y descarta la presencia de carbonato de Ca en la cáscara de huevo de S. merianae. Los resultados obtenidos ofrecen una nueva perspectiva en la composición química de la cáscara de huevo de los reptiles y aportan conocimientos que pueden considerarse en el diseño de tecnologías vinculadas a la incubación artificial en esta especie de lagarto.Fil: Alvarez, Rosa Maria Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Química del Noroeste. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Química del Noroeste; Argentina. Laboratorio de Espectroscopía Raman; ArgentinaFil: Campos Casal, Fernando Horacio. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Cortes, F. A.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Chamut, Silvia Nora. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Chemes, Doly María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Tucumán. Unidad de Administración Territorial; Argentina. Laboratorio de Espectroscopía Raman; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Elizabeth Lidia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaXXXVI Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de TucumánTafí ViejoArgentinaAsociación de Biología de Tucumá

Gene expression analyses determine two different subpopulations in KIT-negative GIST-like (KNGL) patients

Introduction: there are limited findings available on KIT-negative GIST-like (KNGL) population. Also, KIT expression may be post-transcriptionally regulated by miRNA221 and miRNA222. Hence, the aim of this study is to characterize KNGL population, by differential gene expression, and to analyze miRNA221/222 expression and their prognostic value in KNGL patients. Methods: KIT, PDGFRA, DOG1, IGF1R, MIR221 and MIR222 expression levels were determined by qRT-PCR. We also analyzed KIT and PDGFRA mutations, DOG1 expression, by immunohistochemistry, along with clinical and pathological data. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) differences were calculated using Log-rank test. Results: hierarchical cluster analyses from gene expression data identified two groups: group I had KIT, DOG1 and PDGFRA overexpression and IGF1R underexpression and group II had overexpression of IGF1R and low expression of KIT, DOG1 and PDGFRA. Group II had a significant worse OS (p = 0.013) in all the series, and showed a tendency for worse OS (p = 0.11), when analyzed only the localized cases. MiRNA222 expression was significantly lower in a control subset of KIT-positive GIST (p < 0.001). OS was significantly worse in KNGL cases with higher expression of MIR221 (p = 0.028) or MIR222 (p = 0.014). Conclusions: we identified two distinct KNGL subsets, with a different prognostic value. Increased levels of miRNA221/222, which are associated with worse OS, could explain the absence of KIT protein expression of most KNGL tumors

Smart Solar Micro-exchangers for Sustainable Mobility of University Camps

Publicado el resumen en: https://www.wmcaus.org/files/WMCAUS2020_Book.pdf. Pendiente de publicación de las contribuciones en IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering.A significant number of universities have several campuses located in urban or rural settings, or with scattered university buildings that require the use of means of transportation. This implies the mobility and potential displacement of a large community of students, professors and researchers. The use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) is an intermediate alternative between the bicycle and electric cars. It can be an important stimulus for the promotion of the decarbonisation of the University Campus, avoiding the traffic congestion and reducing space requirements for parking. This paper presents the smart solar micro-exchanger model managed through a sustainable mobility web platform, applied to the case study of the University of Malaga (Spain). It is a solar charging station for e-bike, whose design is based on the principles of solar architecture (providing great security to e-bike). It managed by a web platform and app that allows the user to make reservations and learn about the savings in CO2 emissions. The system allows performing an aerobic sports activity without sweating problems when you reach the job. The platform also incorporates a database of quiet and safe routes for e-bike users.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Heterozygous and Homozygous Variants in SORL1 Gene in Alzheimer's Disease Patients: Clinical, Neuroimaging and Neuropathological Findings

In the last few years, the SORL1 gene has been strongly implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We performed whole-exome sequencing on 37 patients with early-onset dementia or family history suggestive of autosomal dominant dementia. Data analysis was based on a custom panel that included 46 genes related to AD and dementia. SORL1 variants were present in a high proportion of patients with candidate variants (15%, 3/20). We expand the clinical manifestations associated with the SORL1 gene by reporting detailed clinical and neuroimaging findings of six unrelated patients with AD and SORL1 mutations. We also present for the first time a patient with the homozygous truncating variant c.364C>T (p.R122*) in SORL1, who also had severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Furthermore, we report neuropathological findings and immunochemistry assays from one patient with the splicing variant c.4519+5G>A in the SORL1 gene, in which AD was confirmed by neuropathological examination. Our results highlight the heterogeneity of clinical presentation and familial dementia background of SORL1-associated AD and suggest that SORL1 might be contributing to AD development as a risk factor gene rather than as a major autosomal dominant gene.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI17/01067) and AGAUR from the Autonomous Catalan Government (2017SGR1134). Dr. Víctor Antonio Blanco-Palmero is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, Spanish Biomedical Research Institute) through a “Río Hortega” contract (CM18/0095). Dr. Sara Llamas-Velasco is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; Spanish Biomedical Research Institute) through a “Juan Rodés” contract (JR 18/00046).S

High-resolution hepatitis C virus subtyping using NS5B deep sequencing and phylogeny, an alternative to current methods

HepatitisCvirus(HCV)is classified into seven major genotypesand67 subtypes. Recent studies haveshownthat inHCVgenotype 1-infected patients, response rates to regimens containingdirect-acting antivirals(DAAs)are subtype dependent. Currently available genotypingmethods have limited subtyping accuracy.Wehave evaluated theperformanceof adeep-sequencing-basedHCVsubtyping assay, developed for the 454/GS-Junior platform, in comparisonwith thoseof two commercial assays (VersantHCVgenotype 2.0andAbbott Real-timeHCVGenotype II)andusingdirectNS5Bsequencing as a gold standard (direct sequencing), in 114 clinical specimenspreviously tested by first-generation hybridization assay (82 genotype 1and32 with uninterpretable results). Phylogenetic analysis of deep-sequencing reads matched subtype 1 callingbypopulation Sanger sequencing(69%1b,31%1a) in 81 specimensandidentified amixed-subtype infection (1b/3a/1a) in one sample. Similarly,amongthe 32previously indeterminate specimens, identical genotypeandsubtype results were obtained by directanddeep sequencing in all but four samples with dual infection. In contrast, both VersantHCVGenotype 2.0andAbbott Real-timeHCVGenotype II failed subtype 1 calling in 13 (16%) samples eachandwere unable to identify theHCVgenotype and/or subtype inmore than half of the nongenotype 1 samples.Weconcluded that deep sequencing ismore efficient forHCVsubtyping than currently available methodsandallows qualitative identificationofmixed infectionsandmay bemorehelpfulwith respect to informing treatment strategies withnewDAA-containing regimens across allHCVsubtypesThis study has been supported by CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial), Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness (MINECO), IDI-20110115; MINECO projects SAF 2009-10403; and also by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS) projects PI10/01505, PI12/01893, and PI13/00456. CIBERehd is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Work at CBMSO was supported by grant MINECO-BFU2011-23604, FIPSE, and Fundación Ramón Areces. X. Forns received unrestricted grant support from Roche and has acted as advisor for MSD, Gilead, and Abbvie. M. Alvarez-Tejado, J. Gregori, and J. M. Muñoz work in Roche Diagnostic

Anisotropy and chemical composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays using arrival directions measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Collaboration has reported evidence for anisotropy in the distribution of arrival directions of the cosmic rays with energies $E>E_{th}=5.5\times 10^{19}$ eV. These show a correlation with the distribution of nearby extragalactic objects, including an apparent excess around the direction of Centaurus A. If the particles responsible for these excesses at $E>E_{th}$ are heavy nuclei with charge $Z$, the proton component of the sources should lead to excesses in the same regions at energies $E/Z$. We here report the lack of anisotropies in these directions at energies above $E_{th}/Z$ (for illustrative values of $Z=6,\ 13,\ 26$). If the anisotropies above $E_{th}$ are due to nuclei with charge $Z$, and under reasonable assumptions about the acceleration process, these observations imply stringent constraints on the allowed proton fraction at the lower energies

Level TE9c of Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain): A comprehensive approach

Level TE9c of the Sima del Elefante site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) is one of the oldest sites with evidence of human occupation in western Europe. We began excavating level TE9c in 2003, and the work there continues today. The studies of the archaeology, palaeontology and geology from this locality have provided an indispensable dataset with which to capture a picture in the scenario of the origin of humans in Europe. Based on these data, we raise and discuss several topics, such as the possible origin of the lineage of the first hominins that inhabited western Europe; their capacity to have active hunting or scavenging abilities; whether their subsistence strategies were successful; and what the environment and habitats where these hominin groups settled was like. The aim of this paper is to present the results and discussions obtained from the research team and to establish the primary features of early human occupations in southwestern Europe. Tentatively, we may conclude, based on the events recorded at TE9c, that the first humans were in the Iberian peninsula at around 1.2 Ma they used the caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca as shelters probably during their hunting activities; the cavities were surrounded by Mediterranean forest, rivers and water ponds, and varied habitats as suggested by the rich and diverse assemblage of fossils of vertebrates (fish, amphibians and reptiles, birds, large and small mammals); where humans possibly caught what they found in the surroundings

Study protocol for the multicentre cohorts of Zika virus infection in pregnant women, infants, and acute clinical cases in Latin America and the Caribbean: The ZIKAlliance consortium

Background: The European Commission (EC) Horizon 2020 (H2020)-funded ZIKAlliance Consortium designed a multicentre study including pregnant women (PW), children (CH) and natural history (NH) cohorts. Clinical sites were selected over a wide geographic range within Latin America and the Caribbean, taking into account the dynamic course of the ZIKV epidemic. Methods: Recruitment to the PW cohort will take place in antenatal care clinics. PW will be enrolled regardless of symptoms and followed over the course of pregnancy, approximately every 4 weeks. PW will be revisited at delivery (or after miscarriage/abortion) to assess birth outcomes, including microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities according to the evolving definition of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). After birth, children will be followed for 2 years in the CH cohort. Follow-up visits are scheduled at ages 1-3, 4-6, 12, and 24 months to assess neurocognitive and developmental milestones. In addition, a NH cohort for the characterization of symptomatic rash/fever illness was designed, including follow-up to capture persisting health problems. Blood, urine, and other biological materials will be collected, and tested for ZIKV and other relevant arboviral diseases (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever) using RT-PCR or serological methods. A virtual, decentralized biobank will be created. Reciprocal clinical monitoring has been established between partner sites. Substudies of ZIKV seroprevalence, transmissio