Anthropic resource exploitation and use of the territory at the onset of social complexity in the Neolithic-Chalcolithic Western Pyrenees: a multi-isotope approach

Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope analyses from bone collagen provide information about the dietary protein input, while strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) from tooth enamel give us data about provenance and potential territorial mobility of past populations. To date, isotopic results on the prehistory of the Western Pyrenees are scarce. In this article, we report human and faunal values of the mentioned isotopes from the Early-Middle Neolithic site of Fuente Hoz (Anuntzeta) and the Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic site of Kurtzebide (Letona, Zigoitia). The main objectives of this work are to analyze the dietary and territorial mobility patterns of these populations. Furthermore, as an additional aim, we will try to discuss social ranking based on the isotope data and existing literature on this topic in the region of study. Our results show that, based on the bioavailable Sr values, both purported local and non-local humans were buried together at the sites. Additionally, they suggest similar resource consumption based on C3 terrestrial resources (i.e. ovicaprids, bovids, and suids) as the main part of the protein input. Overall, this study sheds light on how individuals from different backgrounds were still buried together and shared the same dietary lifestyle at a time in the Prehistory of Iberia when social complexities started to appear

Site scale modeling of slow-moving landslides, a 3D viscoplastic finite element modeling approach

This paper presents an advanced 3D numerical methodology to reproduce the kinematics of slow active landslides, more precisely, to reproduce the nearly constant strain rate (secondary creep) and the acceleration/deceleration of the moving mass due to hydrological changes. For this purpose, finite element analyses are performed in a large area covering a long time-span (12 years), in order to exhibit different interacting slope movements. First, we perform a stability analysis using the shear strength reduction (SSR) technique with a Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria. It is done in order to compute factors of safety (FS) and to identify two different scenarios, the first one being stable (FS > 1) and the second one being unstable (FS < 1). In the studied test case, the Portalet landslide (Central Spanish Pyrenees), the first scenario corresponds to an initial stable configuration of the slope and the second one to an unstable excavated configuration. Second, taking the first scenario as an initial condition, a time-dependent analysis is performed using a coupled formulation to model solid skeleton and pore fluids interaction, and a simplified ground water model that takes into account daily rainfall intensity. In this case, a viscoplastic constitutive model based on Perzyna’s theory is applied to reproduce soil viscous behavior and the delayed creep deformation due to the excavation. The fluidity parameter is calibrated to reproduce displacements measured by the monitoring systems. Our results demonstrate that 3D analyses are preferable to 2D ones for reproducing in a more realistic way the slide behavior. After calibration, the proposed model is able to simulate successfully short- and medium-term predictions during stages of primary and secondary creep.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grants ESP2013-47780-557 C2-1-R and ESP2013-47780-557 C2-2-R. It is a contribution to the Moncloa Campus of International Excellence.Peer reviewe

A methodology for improving landslide PSI data analysis

In this work, we present a methodology for improving persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) data analysis for landslide studies. This methodology is a revision of previously described procedures with several improved and newly proposed aspects. To both evaluate and validate the results from this methodology, we used various persistent scatterer (PS) datasets from different satellites (ERS – ENVISAT, Radarsat, TerraSAR-X, and ALOS PALSAR) that were processed using three PSI techniques (stable point network – SPN, permanent scatterer interferometry – PSInSAR™, and SqueeSAR™) to map and monitor landslides in various mountainous environments in Spain and Italy. This methodology consists of a preprocessing model that predicts the presence of a PS over a certain area and a post-processing method used to determine the stability threshold, project the line of sight (LOS) velocity along the slope, estimate the E–W and vertical components of the velocity, and identify anomalous areas

Points and areas prone to earthquake-induced landslides in the CARM. Base information for Civil Protection

Se presenta un trabajo de aplicación para la definición de posibles escenarios de catástrofe sísmica, donde deben de incorporarse los movimientos de ladera, como información de base para la última revisión del Plan Especial de Protección Civil ante el Riesgo Sísmico en la Región de Murcia (SISMIMUR). Para ello se ha confeccionado un inventario adecuado y un mapa a escala 1:200.000 que contiene los puntos y zonas más susceptibles a este tipo de fenómenos inducidos por los terremotos en la CARM que pueden afectar a núcleos urbanos, infraestructuras lineales (carreteras y ferrocarriles), balsas mineras, cursos de agua y cuerpos de agua (embalses y lagos). En el análisis solo se han seleccionado los puntos definidos como desprendimientos s.l., tipología predominante en la zona de estudio y de mayores efectos de cara al escenario de la catástrofe sísmica posible. Aunque la mayoría de las infraestructuras evaluadas están alejadas de movimientos de ladera inventariados, hay núcleos de población importantes como Lorca, Águilas o Caravaca de la Cruz, entre otras, así como algunos tramos del creciente entramado urbano del litoral murciano con zonas de susceptibilidad alta. El tramo más susceptible sería el situado en la carretera RM-520, entre Archena y AbaránIn this work, we present a methodology to define potential seismic scenarios incluiding seismic-induced landslides as background information for the latest revision of the “Plan Especial de Protección Civil ante el Riesgo Sísmico en la Región de Murcia (SISMIMUR)”. We first made an adequate inventory and a map at 1:200,000 scale containing the points and areas more susceptible to this type of seismic-induced effects in the CARM which may affect urban areas, lifelines(roads and railways), tailing dams, waterways and bodies of water (reservoirs and lakes). For this analysis, only points defined as rockfalls s.l. have been selected, since they are the predominant type of landslide in the area and it is associated to the greatest effects regarding a potential seismic scenario. Although most of the infrastructures evaluated are far from the inventoried landslides, some areas with high susceptibility have been identified near major population centers, such as Lorca, Águilas, Caravaca de la Cruz, etc., and near of some growing urban fabric areas located along the Murcia province coast. According to this study, the most vulnerable section would be located in the RM-520 road between Archena and Abarán.Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

SUMOylation regulates LKB1 localization and its oncogenic activity in liver cancer.

BACKGROUND: Even though liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is usually described as a tumor suppressor in a wide variety of tissues, it has been shown that LKB1 aberrant expression is associated with bad prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Herein we have overexpressed LKB1 in human hepatoma cells and by using histidine pull-down assay we have investigated the role of the hypoxia-related post-translational modification of Small Ubiquitin-related Modifier (SUMO)ylation in the regulation of LKB1 oncogenic role. Molecular modelling between LKB1 and its interactors, involved in regulation of LKB1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and LKB1 activity, was performed. Finally, high affinity SUMO binding entities-based technology were used to validate our findings in a pre-clinical mouse model and in clinical HCC. FINDINGS: We found that in human hepatoma cells under hypoxic stress, LKB1 overexpression increases cell viability and aggressiveness in association with changes in LKB1 cellular localization. Moreover, by using site-directed mutagenesis, we have shown that LKB1 is SUMOylated by SUMO-2 at Lys178 hampering LKB1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and fueling hepatoma cell growth. Molecular modelling of SUMO modified LKB1 further confirmed steric impedance between SUMOylated LKB1 and the STe20-Related ADaptor cofactor (STRAD¿), involved in LKB1 export from the nucleus. Finally, we provide evidence that endogenous LKB1 is modified by SUMO in pre-clinical mouse models of HCC and clinical HCC, where LKB1 SUMOylation is higher in fast growing tumors. INTERPRETATION: Overall, SUMO-2 modification of LKB1 at Lys178 mediates LKB1 cellular localization and its oncogenic role in liver cancer. FUND: This work was supported by grants from NIH (US Department of Health and Human services)-R01AR001576-11A1 (J.M.M and M.L.M-C.), Gobierno Vasco-Departamento de Salud 2013111114 (to M.L.M.-C), ELKARTEK 2016, Departamento de Industria del Gobierno Vasco (to M.L.M.-C), MINECO: SAF2017-87301-R and SAF2014-52097-R integrado en el Plan Estatal de Investigación Cientifica y Técnica y Innovación 2013-2016 cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER (to M.L.M.-C and J.M.M., respectively), BFU2015-71017/BMC MINECO/FEDER, EU (to A.D.Q. and I.D.M.), BIOEF (Basque Foundation for Innovation and Health Research): EITB Maratoia BIO15/CA/014; Instituto de Salud Carlos III:PIE14/00031, integrado en el Plan Estatal de Investigación Cientifica y Técnica y Innovacion 2013-2016 cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER (to M.L.M.-C and J.M.M), Asociación Española contra el Cáncer (T.C.D, P·F-T and M.L.M-C), Daniel Alagille award from EASL (to T.C.D), Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cancer (AECC Scientific Foundation) Rare Tumor Calls 2017 (to M.L.M and M.A), La Caixa Foundation Program (to M.L.M), Programma di Ricerca Regione-Università 2007-2009 and 2011-2012, Regione Emilia-Romagna (to E.V.), Ramón Areces Foundation and the Andalusian Government (BIO-198) (A.D.Q. and I.D.M.), ayudas para apoyar grupos de investigación del sistema Universitario Vasco IT971-16 (P.A.), MINECO:SAF2015-64352-R (P.A.), Institut National du Cancer, FRANCE, INCa grant PLBIO16-251 (M.S.R.), MINECO - BFU2016-76872-R to (E.B.). Work produced with the support of a 2017 Leonardo Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators, BBVA Foundation (M.V-R). Finally, Ciberehd_ISCIII_MINECO is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. We thank MINECO for the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation to CIC bioGUNE (SEV-2016-0644). Funding sources had no involvement in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication