1,091 research outputs found
Editorial : Autophagy : from big data to physiological significance
Autophagy is a fundamental catabolic process where cytoplasmic components are sequestered into double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, which then fuse with lysosomes and their content is degraded. Our knowledge about autophagy sharply increased during the last decade. This significant progress helped us to understand better the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and to elucidate its role in health and disease. This special issue contains a collection of three original research papers and 12 review articles covering a broad range of topics highlighting how big data and screening approaches can help toward uncovering the molecular mechanisms of autophagy
Socioeconomic and territorial impact of the ski industry in the Spanish Pyrenees: mountain development and leisure induced urbanization
26 páginas, 8 figuras.[EN] This article assesses the territorial impact of the ski industry in
two areas of the Spanish Pyrenees (Aragon Pyrenees and the Catalan High
Pyrenees). By analyzing the changes on demographic dynamics and structure,
economic portfolio, and evolution of the built structure of these areas since the
construction of the ski resorts, we, firstly, identify a trend towards urbanization
emerging in these areas, and secondly, that this trend unfolds in two different
models: around the ski resorts at the northern end of valleys in the Aragon study site,
and in regional centers at the bottom of the main valleys in the Catalan High
Pyrenees. In this fashion the ski industry, which offers seasonal services to a mostly
urban clientele, contributes to the redefinition of peripheral rural areas taking into
account urban needs. The towns, by the ski resorts in Aragon, and in the bottom of
the valleys in Catalonia, have grown to become small nodes of a large network that
expands the physical, economic and cultural influence of the low lands cities over the
Spanish mountains.[ES] Se evalúa el impacto territorial de la actividad del esquà en los
Pirineos españoles (Pirineos Aragoneses y Alto Pirineo Catalán). A partir del
análisis de los cambios registrados en la dinámica y estructura demográfica y de las
prácticas económicas, desde la instalación de las estaciones de esquÃ, se identifica, en
primer lugar, una tendencia urbanizadora emergente y, en segundo lugar, que dicha
tendencia se manifiesta en dos modelos diferentes: en el Pirineo aragonés se limita a
las cabeceras de los valles, mientras que en el Pirineo Catalán se expande a los fondos
de valle y cabeceras comarcales. De esta manera, la actividad del esquà contribuye a
redefinir las zonas rurales periféricas, teniendo en cuenta las necesidades urbanas.
Los pueblos próximos a las estaciones de esquà en Aragón y de los fondos de valle en
Cataluña han crecido hasta convertirse en pequeños núcleos de una gran red que
expande la influencia fÃsica, económica y cultural de las ciudades de las tierras bajas
hacia las montañas españolas.This work has been supported by the research projects: PROBASE
(CGL2006-11619/HID), INDICA (CGL2011-27753-CO2-01 y 02) and
HIDROCAES (CGL2011-27574-CO2-02), financed by Spanish Commission of
Science and Technology.Peer reviewe
Autophagy in Cell Fate and Diseases
Autophagy pathway has been one of the hot topics during the last decade. From a general notion about its cellular role, autophagy becomes a more sophisticated phenomenon with significant implications in cellular homeostasis. Consequently, autophagy represents an emerging new factor in human diseases. Despite its general task, the bulk degradation of cellular constituents during starvation settings, autophagy possesses important cross talk and interrelationships with several cellular processes such as apoptosis and senescence, among others. This entire panorama gives us a complex but exciting scenario. Consequently, with the aim of encompassing the whole spectrum, in this chapter, we review three main topics: autophagy as a cellular process; autophagy in cell fate; and autophagy in disease. We discuss the emerging role of selective type of autophagy to avoid apoptosis or necrosis and the novel relationship between autophagy and senescence to understand the real extent that autophagy pathway has over cell fate. Finally, we briefly describe the current trends on autophagy in human pancreatic diseases and its role in cancer cell metabolism
First-line erlotinib and fixed dose-rate gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer
AIM: To investigate activity, toxicity, and prognostic factors for survival of erlotinib and fixed dose-rate gemcitabine (FDR-Gem) in advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We designed a single-arm prospective, multicentre, open-label phase II study to evaluate the combination of erlotinib (100 mg/d, orally) and weekly FDR-Gem (1000 mg/m2, infused at 10 mg/m2per minute) in a population of previously untreated patients with locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Primary endpoint was the rate of progression-free survival at 6 mo (PFS-6); secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), response duration, tolerability, overall survival (OS), and clinical benefit. Treatment was not considered to be of further interest if the PFS-6 was < 20% (p0 = 20%), while a PFS-6 > 40% would be of considerable interest (p1 = 40%); with a 5% rejection error (α = 5%) and a power of 80%, 35 fully evaluable patients with metastatic disease were required to be enrolled in order to complete the study. Analysis of prognostic factors for survival was also carried out. RESULTS: From May 2007 to September 2009, 46 patients were enrolled (male/female: 25/21; median age: 64 years; median baseline carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9): 897 U/mL; locally advanced/metastatic disease: 5/41). PFS-6 and median PFS were 30.4% and 14 wk (95%CI: 10-19), respectively; 1-year and median OS were 20.2% and 26 wk (95%CI: 8-43). Five patients achieved an objective response (ORR: 10.9%, 95%CI: 1.9-19.9); disease control rate was 56.5% (95%CI: 42.2-70.8); clinical benefit rate was 43.5% (95%CI: 29.1-57.8). CA 19-9 serum levels were decreased by > 25% as compared to baseline in 14/23 evaluable patients (63.6%). Treatment was well-tolerated, with skin rash being the most powerful predictor of both longer PFS (P < 0.0001) and OS (P = 0.01) at multivariate analysis (median OS for patients with or without rash: 42 wk vs 15 wk, respectively, Log-rank P = 0.03). Additional predictors of better outcome were: CA 19-9 reduction, female sex (for PFS), and good performance status (for OS). CONCLUSION: Primary study endpoint was not met. However, skin rash strongly predicted erlotinib efficacy, suggesting that a pharmacodynamic-based strategy for patient selection deserves further investigation
Heterogeneous Catalytic Approaches in C-H Activation Reactions
This review summarizes the development of user-friendly, recyclable and easily separable heterogeneous catalysts for C–H activation during the last decade until December 2015
Indirect costs associated with surgery for low back pain-a secondary analysis of clinical trial data.
This study examines the indirect costs associated with surgery for axial low back pain using data obtained from a prospective multicenter clinical trial that compared Charité artificial disc replacement with anterior lumbar interbody fusion using iliac crest bone graft. While 75% of study subjects reported full- or part-time employment prior to surgery, this percentage dropped to 45% at 6 weeks postoperatively. Return to preoperative employment levels occurred at approximately 6 months postoperatively. Two years after surgery, employment levels were 16% higher than preoperative levels. Lost productivity related to absenteeism resulted in lost wages averaging $2884 per patient during the first postoperative year. Although short-term indirect costs of surgery are substantial from a societal perspective, the higher employment rate at 2 years suggests a long-term economic benefit. The findings demonstrate the significant, though not surprising, impact of spinal disability on productivity, and the importance of including measurement of lost productivity and return to work in the economic evaluation of related interventions
Quantum Noise Limits for Nonlinear, Phase-Invariant Amplifiers
Any quantum device that amplifies coherent states of a field while preserving
their phase generates noise. A nonlinear, phase-invariant amplifier may
generate less noise, over a range of input field strengths, than any linear
amplifier with the same amplification. We present explicit examples of such
nonlinear amplifiers, and derive lower bounds on the noise generated by a
nonlinear, phase-invariant quantum amplifier.Comment: RevTeX, 6 pages + 4 figures (included in file; hard copy sent on
request
LP 133-373: A New Chromospherically Active Eclipsing dMe Binary with a Distant, Cool White Dwarf Companion
We report the discovery of the partially eclipsing binary LP 133-373. Nearly identical eclipses along with observed photometric colors and spectroscopy indicate that it is a pair of chromospherically active dM4 stars in a circular 1.6 day orbit. Light and velocity curve modeling to our differential photometry and velocity data show that each star has a mass and radius of 0.340+/-0.014 Msolar and 0.33+/-0.02 Rsolar. The binary is itself part of a common proper motion pair with LP 133-374, a cool DC or possible DA white dwarf with a mass of 0.49-0.82 Msolar, which would make the system at least 3 Gyr ol
Variation in perception of environmental changes in nine Solomon Islands communities : implications for securing fairness in community-based adaptation
Community-based approaches are pursued in recognition of the need for place-based responses to environmental change that integrate local understandings of risk and vulnerability. Yet the potential for fair adaptation is intimately linked to how variations in perceptions of environmental change and risk are treated. There is, however, little empirical evidence of the extent and nature of variations in risk perception in and between multiple community settings. Here, we rely on data from 231 semi-structured interviews conducted in nine communities in Western Province, Solomon Islands, to statistically model differential perceptions of risk and change within and between communities. Overall, people were found to be less likely to perceive environmental changes in the marine environment than they were for terrestrial systems. The distance to the nearest market town (which may be a proxy for exposure to commercial logging and degree of involvement with the market economy) and gender had the greatest overall statistical effects on perceptions of risk. Yet, we also find that significant environmental change is under reported in communities, while variations in perception are not always easily related to commonly assumed fault lines of vulnerability. The findings suggest that there is an urgent need for methods that engage with the drivers of perceptions as part of community-based approaches. In particular, it is important to explicitly account for place, complexity and diversity of environmental risk perceptions, and we reinforce calls to engage seriously with underlying questions of power, culture, identity and practice that influence adaptive capacity and risk perception
- …