Extension of the SIESTA MHD equilibrium code to free-plasma-boundary problems

is a recently developed MHD equilibrium code designed to perform fast and accurate calculations of ideal MHD equilibria for three-dimensional magnetic configurations. Since SIESTA does not assume closed magnetic surfaces, the solution can exhibit magnetic islands and stochastic regions. In its original implementation SIESTA addressed only fixed-boundary problems. That is, the shape of the plasma edge, assumed to be a magnetic surface, was kept fixed as the solution iteratively converges to equilibrium. This condition somewhat restricts the possible applications of SIESTA. In this paper, we discuss an extension that will enable SIESTA to address free-plasma-boundary problems, opening up the possibility of investigating problems in which the plasma boundary is perturbed either externally or internally. As an illustration, SIESTA is applied to a configuration of the W7-X stellarator.This research was funded in part by the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad of Spain, Grant No. ENE2015-68265. This research was carried out in part at the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald (Germany), whose hospitality is gratefully acknowledged. This research was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences under Award DE-AC05-00OR22725. SIESTA runs have been carred out in Uranus, a supercomputer cluster located at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and funded jointly by the European Regional Development Funds (EU-FEDER) Project No. UNC313-4E-2361, and by the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad via the National Project Nos. ENE2009-12213-C03-03, ENE2012-33219, and ENE2012-31753

Resolvin D2 Attenuates Cardiovascular Damage in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

Background: Resolution of inflammation is orchestrated by specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs), and this would be impaired in some cardiovascular diseases. Among SPMs, resolvins (Rv) have beneficial effects in cardiovascular pathologies, but little is known about their effect on cardiovascular damage in hypertension. Methods: Aorta, small mesenteric arteries, heart, and peritoneal macrophages were taken from C57BL/6J mice, infused or not with angiotensin II (AngII; 1.44 mg/kg/day, 14 days) in presence or absence of resolvin D2 (RvD2) (100 ng/mice, every second day) starting 1 day before or 7 days after AngII infusion. Results: Enzymes and receptors involved in SPMs biosynthesis and signaling were increased in aorta or heart from AngII-infused mice. We also observed a differential regulation of SPMs in heart from these mice. Preventive treatment with RvD2 partially avoided AngII-induced hypertension and protected the heart and large and small vessels against functional and structural alterations induced by AngII. RvD2 increased the availability of vasoprotective factors, modified SPMs profile, decreased cardiovascular fibrosis, and increased the infiltration of pro-resolving macrophages. When administered in hypertensive animals with established cardiovascular damage, RvD2 partially improved cardiovascular function and structure, decreased fibrosis, reduced the infiltration of neutrophils, and shifted macrophage phenotype toward a pro-resolving phenotype. Conclusions: There is a disbalance between proinflammatory and resolution mediators in hypertension. RvD2 protects cardiovascular function and structure when administered before and after the development of hypertension by modulating vascular factors, fibrosis and inflammation. Activating resolution mechanisms by treatment with RvD2 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hypertensive cardiovascular disease.pre-print362 K

Reconstructing the impact of human activities in a NW Iberian Roman mining landscape for the last 2500 years

This article was made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Little is known about the impact of human activities during Roman times on NW Iberian mining landscapes beyond the geomorphological transformations brought about by the use of hydraulic power for gold extraction. We present the high-resolution pollen record of La Molina mire, located in an area intensely used for gold mining (Asturias, NW Spain), combined with other proxy data from the same peat core to identify different human activities, evaluate the strategies followed for the management of the resources and describe the landscape response to human disturbances. We reconstructed the timing and synchronicity of landscape changes of varying intensity and form occurred before, during and after Roman times. An open landscape was prevalent during the local Late Iron Age, a period of relatively environmental stability. During the Early Roman Empire more significant vegetation shifts took place, reflected by changes in both forest (Corylus and Quercus) and heathland cover, as mining/metallurgy peaked and grazing and cultivation increased. In the Late Roman Empire, the influence of mining/metallurgy on landscape change started to disappear. This decoupling was further consolidated in the Germanic period (i.e., Visigothic and Sueve domination of the region), with a sharp decrease in mining/metallurgy but continued grazing. Although human impact was intense in some periods, mostly during the Early Roman Empire, forest regeneration occurred afterwards: clearances were local and short-lived. However, the Roman mining landscape turned into an agrarian one at the onset of the Middle Ages, characterized by a profound deforestation at a regional level due to a myriad of human activities that resulted in an irreversible openness of the landscape. © 2014 The Authors

P-P Total Cross Sections at VHE from Accelerator Data

Comparison of P-P total cross-sections estimations at very high energies - from accelerators and cosmic rays - shows a disagreement amounting to more than 10 %, a discrepancy which is beyond statistical errors. Here we use a phenomenological model based on the Multiple-Diffraction approach to successfully describe data at accelerator energies. The predictions of the model are compared with data On the basis of regression analysis we determine confident error bands, analyzing the sensitivity of our predictions to the employed data for extrapolation. : using data at 546 and 1.8 TeV, our extrapolations for p-p total cross-sections are only compatible with the Akeno cosmic ray data, predicting a slower rise with energy than other cosmic ray results and other extrapolation methods. We discuss our results within the context of constraints in the light of future accelerator and cosmic ray experimental results.Comment: 26 pages aqnd 11 figure

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Modelling the impact of climate and land cover change on hydrology and water quality in a forest watershed in the Basque Country (Northern Spain)

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Evaluation of hydrology, suspended sediment and Nickel loads in a small watershed in Basque Country (Northern Spain) using eco-hydrological SWAT model

Suspended sediment transportation and associated pollutants from catchment to stream networks are responsible for aquatic habitat degradation, reservoir sedimentation and the transportation of sediment bound pollutants. Quantifying suspended sediment loads from lands to watercourses is essential in controlling soil erosion and in implementing appropriate mitigation practices to reduce stream sediment and associated pollutant loads, and hence improve surface water quality downstream.The main objective of this study is to evaluate the temporal variability of hydrology, sediment and nickel loads using Soil and Water Assessment Tool in Oka watershed located in north Spain. Model simulation was completed using 11 years historical records (2001–2009 for validation and 2009–2012 for calibration) of streamflow and suspended sediment concentration (SSC). Thestreamflow, SSC and sediment load estimated from the model were compared with observed data using statistical parameters, which indicates a successful simulation. The annual production of simulated sediments shows variability between 662 and 1515 t, with a mean specific yield of 33 t km−2 y−1. The annual load of nickel simulated ranged from 32 to 72 kg, representing a mean specific of 1.63 kg km−2 year−1. The information obtained from this research is of interest to understand long term interannual variability of suspended sediment and nickel yield.Nickel concentration was computed from simulated SSS by SWAT. Temporal variability of Nickel load is related with suspended sediments. In terms of temporal dynamics in the sediments and Nickel transport, Oka catchment showed a high temporal variability. The mean specific of sediment load was 33 t/km−2/y−1and Nickel load was 1.63 kg/km−2/y−1

Apoptotic and Cell Cycle Effects of Triterpenes Isolated from Phoradendron wattii on Leukemia Cell Lines

Current antineoplastic agents present multiple disadvantages, driving an ongoing search for new and better compounds. Four lupane-type triterpenes, 3&alpha;,24-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (1), 3&alpha;,23-dihydroxy-30-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (2), 3&alpha;,23-O-isopropylidenyl-3&alpha;,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), and 3&alpha;,23-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (4), previously isolated from Phoradendron wattii, were evaluated on two cell lines of chronic (K562) and acute (HL60) myeloid leukemia. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 decreased cell viability and inhibit proliferation, mainly in K562, and exhibited an apoptotic effect from 24 h of treatment. Of particular interest is compound 2, which caused arrest in active phases (G2/M) of the cell cycle, as shown by in silico study of the CDK1/Cyclin B/Csk2 complex by molecular docking. This compound [3&alpha;,23-dihydroxy-30-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid] s a promising candidate for incorporation into cancer treatments and deserves further study

Lupane Triterpene Derivatives Improve Antiproliferative Effect on Leukemia Cells through Apoptosis Induction

Leukemia is one of the most frequent types of cancer. No effective treatment currently exists, driving a search for new compounds. Simple structural modifications were made to novel triterpenes isolated from Phoradendron wattii. Of the three resulting derivatives, 3&alpha;-methoxy-24-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (T1m) caused a decrease in the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) on the K562 cell line. Its mode of action was apparently apoptosis, ROS generation, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Molecular docking analysis showed T1m to produce lower binding energies than its precursor for the Bcl-2 and EGFR proteins. Small, simple, and viable modifications to triterpenes can improve their activity against leukemia cell lines. T1m is a potentially promising element for future research. Clarifying the targets in its mode of action will improve its applicability