A Real-Time, Space Borne Volcano Observatory to Support Decision Making during Eruptive Crises: European Volcano Observatory Space Services

Within the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) framework of the European Commission, the EVOSS consortium of academic and industrial partners has created a satellite-based volcano observatory, designed to provide the real-time information support to crisis management. Data from 8 satellite payloads acquired at 6 different down-link stations, are split and automatically processed at 5 locations (in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany). The results are sent, in four separate data streams (thermal, volcanic SO2, volcanic ash and ground deformation), to a central system called VVO, the “Virtual Volcano Observatory”. The system operates 24H/24-7D/7 since October 2011 on all volcanoes in Europe, Africa, the Lesser Antilles, and the oceans around them, and during this interval has detected and monitored all eruptions that occurred in this region. EVOSS services are delivered to a group of 14 qualified users in Cabo Verde, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, France, Iceland, Montserrat, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom. Physical modelling of erupive phenomena, with an emphasis on rapid numerical calculations, underpins the satellite monitoring system

Editorial: The functional anatomy of the reticular formation

Editorial on the research topic of a special issue on the functional anatomy of the reticular formatio

Search-Based Predictive Modelling for Software Engineering: How Far Have We Gone?

In this keynote I introduce the use of Predictive Analytics for Software Engineering (SE) and then focus on the use of search-based heuristics to tackle long-standing SE prediction problems including (but not limited to) software development effort estimation and software defect prediction. I review recent research in Search-Based Predictive Modelling for SE in order to assess the maturity of the field and point out promising research directions. I conclude my keynote by discussing best practices for a rigorous and realistic empirical evaluation of search-based predictive models, a condicio sine qua non to facilitate the adoption of prediction models in software industry practices.Predictive analytics Predictive modelling Search-based software engineering Machine learning Software analytic

Optimización de una técnica para la observación de cromosomas mitóticos de especies de Passiflora L.

La necesidad de optimización de una técnica que permita la visualización de cromosomas mitóticos surgió de resultados poco satisfactorios de otros protocolos de coloración ensayados, tales como técnicas de tinción con ácido acético 45% para observación con microscopio de contraste de fases, hematoxilina acética, orceína acética 2% y carmín acético 2% (sin mordiente). El objetivo del presente trabajo fue desarrollar una técnica para la observación reiterada de cromosomas mitóticos en raicillas de especies del género Passiflora.Fil: Pereira S., Claudia. Universidad Nacional de Asuncion; Paraguay;Fil: Honfi, Ana Isabel. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Cs.exactas Quimicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Citogenetica Vegetal; Argentina;Fil: Deginani, Norma Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion (i); Argentina;Fil: Ferrucci, Maria Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (i); Argentina

The ghrelin paradox in the control of equine chondrocyte function: The good and the bad

Increasing evidence suggests a role for ghrelin in the control of articular inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis (OA). In the present study we examined the ability of ghrelin to counteract LPS-induced necrosis and apoptosis of chondrocytes and the involvement of GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)1a in the protective action of ghrelin. The effects of ghrelin (10-7-10-11\u202fmol/L) on equine primary cultured chondrocytes viability and necrosis in basal conditions and under LPS treatment (100\u202fng/ml) were detected by using both acridine orange/propidium iodide staining and annexin-5/propidium iodide staining. The presence of GHS-R1a on chondrocytes was detected by Western Blot. The involvement of the GHS-R1a in the ghrelin effect against LPS-induced cytotoxicity was examined by pretreating chondrocytes with D-Lys3-GHRP-6, a specific GHS-R1a antagonist, and by using des-acyl ghrelin (DAG, 10-7and 10-9\u202fmol/L) which did not recognize the GHS-R 1a. Low ghrelin concentrations reduced chondrocyte viability whereas 10-7\u202fmol/L ghrelin protects against LPS-induced cellular damage. The protective effect of ghrelin depends on the interaction with the GHS-R1a since it is significantly reduced by D-Lys3-GHRP-6. The negative action of ghrelin involves caspase activation and could be due to an interaction with a GHS-R type different from the GHS-R1a recognized by both low ghrelin concentrations and DAG. DAG, in fact, induces a dose-dependent decrease in chondrocyte viability and exacerbates LPS-induced damage. These data indicate that ghrelin protects chondrocytes against LPS-induced damage via interaction with GHS-R1a and suggest the potential utility of local GHS-R1a agonist administration to treat articular inflammatory diseases such as OA

Durability of Benefits From Supervised Treadmill Exercise in People With Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background It is currently unknown whether 6 months of supervised treadmill exercise has a durable benefit on 6-minute walk performance, even after exercise is completed, in people with peripheral artery disease. Methods and Results A total of 156 participants with peripheral artery disease were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: supervised treadmill exercise, supervised resistance training, or attention control. Participants received supervised sessions during months 1 to 6 and telephone contact during months 6 to 12. Primary outcomes were change in 6-minute walk distance and short physical performance battery at 6-month follow-up and have been reported previously. Secondary outcomes were change in 6-minute walk and short physical performance battery at 12-month follow-up and are reported here. A group of 134 participants (86%) completed the 12-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, compared with control, 6-minute walk distance improved in the treadmill exercise group (+36.1 m, 95% CI =13.9-58.3, P=0.001). Between 6- and 12-month follow-up, 6-minute walk distance significantly declined (-28.6 m, 95% CI=-52.6 to -4.5, P=0.020) and physical activity declined -272 activity units (95% CI =-546 to +2, P=0.052) in the treadmill exercise group compared with controls. At 12-month follow-up, 6 months after completing supervised treadmill exercise, change in 6-minute walk distance was not different between the treadmill exercise and control groups (+7.5, 95% CI =-17.5 to +32.6, P=0.56). There were no differences in short physical performance battery change between either exercise group and control at 6-month or 12-month follow-up. Conclusions A 6-month supervised treadmill exercise intervention that improved 6-minute walk distance at 6-month follow-up did not have persistent benefit at 12-month follow-up. These results do not support a durable benefit of supervised treadmill exercise in peripheral artery disease. Clinical Trial Registration URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Identifier: NCT 00106327

Análisis biogeográfico y clave de géneros de los helechos y licofitos del Parque Nacional Mburucuyá, Corrientes, Argentina

The diversity of ferns and lycophytes of Corrientes province, Argentina is not well understood. Our field work in the Mburucuyá National Park in Corrientes province as well as a literature review fi nds 29 genera and 48 infrageneric taxa of ferns and lycophytes for this Park. A comparison of the Park's species diversity with other protected areas in northeastern Argentina using Jaccard's similarity coeffi cient and the infrageneric taxa biodiversity index proposed by Squeo et al. (1998) are analized. A key to the Park's ferns and lycophytes genera is provided.El Parque Nacional Mburucuyá, cuenta con una superficie de 176.80 km2, se encuentra en la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina, dentro de una región ecotonal entre los dominios Chaqueños y Amazónicos. En esta área se registraron 29 géneros y 48 taxones infragenéricos de helechos y liocófi tos fueron registrados. Las especies registradas son comparadas con las áreas protegidas ya estudiadas del noreste de Argentina utilizando el coeficiente de similitud de Jaccard y el índice de biodiversidad de Squeo et al. (1998) a nivel infragenérico. En este trabajo se proporciona una clave para diferenciar los géneros presentes en el Parque.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

The transcript expression levels of HNRNPM, HNRNPA0 and AKAP17A splicing factors may be predictively associated with ageing phenotypes in human peripheral blood

Dysregulation of splicing factor expression is emerging as a driver of human ageing; levels of transcripts encoding splicing regulators have previously been implicated in ageing and cellular senescence both in vitro and in vivo. We measured the expression levels of an a priori panel of 20 age- or senescence-associated splicing factors by qRT-PCR in peripheral blood samples from the InCHIANTI Study of Aging, and assessed longitudinal relationships with human ageing phenotypes (cognitive decline and physical ability) using multivariate linear regression. AKAP17A, HNRNPA0 and HNRNPM transcript levels were all predictively associated with severe decline in MMSE score (p = 0.007, 0.001 and 0.008 respectively). Further analyses also found expression of these genes was associated with a performance decline in two other cognitive measures; the Trail Making Test and the Purdue Pegboard Test. AKAP17A was nominally associated with a decline in mean hand-grip strength (p = 0.023), and further analyses found nominal associations with two other physical ability measures; the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly-Short Physical Performance Battery and calculated speed (m/s) during a timed 400 m fast walking test. These data add weight to the hypothesis that splicing dyregulation may contribute to the development of some ageing phenotypes in the human population.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access it via the publisher's site.This work was funded by the Velux Stiftung Foundation (Grant Number 822) and supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National institute on Aging.published version, accepted version (12 month embargo

Associations of Weight Change With Changes in Calf Muscle Characteristics and Functional Decline in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background Among people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease, obesity is associated with faster functional decline than normal weight. The association of weight loss with functional decline in peripheral artery disease is unknown. Methods and Results Adults with an ankle-brachial index <0.90 were identified from Chicago-area hospitals in 2002-2004. Weight and 6-minute walk distance were measured annually. Weight change categories were weight loss or gain (≥5 pounds/year at ≥1 visit) or stable (weight change <5 pounds at each visit). Participants reported whether weight loss was "intentional" or "unintentional." Calf muscle area was measured with computed tomography every 2 years. Associations of weight change with changes in calf muscle area and 6-minute walk distance were analyzed using mixed-effects models and adjusted for age, body mass index, ankle-brachial index, physical activity, and other confounders. Among 389 participants, mean ankle-brachial index was 0.63±0.16, mean age was 74.5±7.8, and mean body mass index was 28.1±5.1 kg/m2. Over 3.23±1.37 years, muscle area declined more in adults with intentional weight loss versus stable or gain (pair-wise comparisons, P<0.001). Intentional weight loss was associated with less annual decline in 6-minute walk distance than weight gain (intentional loss, 3.7 m; stable, -14.0 m; gain, -28.5 m; unintentional loss, -20.8 m; pair-wise comparison intentional loss versus gain, P=0.003). Conclusions Despite a greater loss of calf muscle area, adults with peripheral artery disease who intentionally lost ≥5 pounds experienced less functional decline than those who gained weight. A randomized trial is needed to establish whether benefits of weight loss in peripheral artery disease outweigh potential adverse effects

Análisis biogeográfico y clave de géneros de los helechos y licofitos del Parque Nacional Mburucuyá, Corrientes, Argentina

The diversity of ferns and lycophytes of Corrientes province, Argentina is not well understood. Our field work in the Mburucuyá National Park in Corrientes province as well as a literature review fi nds 29 genera and 48 infrageneric taxa of ferns and lycophytes for this Park. A comparison of the Park's species diversity with other protected areas in northeastern Argentina using Jaccard's similarity coeffi cient and the infrageneric taxa biodiversity index proposed by Squeo et al. (1998) are analized. A key to the Park's ferns and lycophytes genera is provided.El Parque Nacional Mburucuyá, cuenta con una superficie de 176.80 km2, se encuentra en la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina, dentro de una región ecotonal entre los dominios Chaqueños y Amazónicos. En esta área se registraron 29 géneros y 48 taxones infragenéricos de helechos y liocófi tos fueron registrados. Las especies registradas son comparadas con las áreas protegidas ya estudiadas del noreste de Argentina utilizando el coeficiente de similitud de Jaccard y el índice de biodiversidad de Squeo et al. (1998) a nivel infragenérico. En este trabajo se proporciona una clave para diferenciar los géneros presentes en el Parque.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse