Improving magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the brainstem periaqueductal gray using spectral registration

Purpose: Functional understanding of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a clinically relevant brainstem region, can be advanced using ¹H‐MRS. However, the PAG's small size and high levels of physiological noise are methodologically challenging. This study aimed to (1) improve ¹H‐MRS quality in the PAG using spectral registration for frequency and phase error correction; (2) investigate whether spectral registration is particularly useful in cases of greater head motion; and (3) examine metabolite quantification using literature‐based or individual‐based water relaxation times. Methods: Spectra were acquired in 33 healthy volunteers (50.1 years, SD = 17.19, 18 females) on a 3 T Philipps MR system using a point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence optimized with very selective saturation pulses (OVERPRESS) and voxel‐based flip angle calibration (effective volume of interest size: 8.8 × 10.2 × 12.2 mm³). Spectra were fitted using LCModel and SNR, NAA peak linewidths and Cramér‐Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) were measured after spectral registration and after minimal frequency alignment. Results: Spectral registration improved SNR by 5% (p = 0.026, median value post‐correction: 18.0) and spectral linewidth by 23% (p < 0.001, 4.3 Hz), and reduced the metabolites' CRLBs by 1% to 15% (p < 0.026). Correlational analyses revealed smaller SNR improvements with greater head motion (p = 0.010) recorded using a markerless motion tracking system. Higher metabolite concentrations were detected using individual‐based compared to literature‐based water relaxation times (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates high‐quality ¹H‐MRS acquisition in the PAG using spectral registration. This shows promise for future ¹H‐MRS studies in the PAG and possibly other clinically relevant brain regions with similar methodological challenges

Climate change in the Catalan Pyrenees intersects with socioeconomic factors to shape crop diversity and management

Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICUnidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MMost studies on climate change's impacts on agriculture focus on modeling techniques based on large-scale meteorological data, while few have investigated how farmer's perception of climate change's impacts can affect crop diversity and crop management practices, especially in industrialized contexts. To fill this gap, we conducted 24 semi-structured interviews in a study site located in the Catalan Pyrenees. Our results show for the first time in an industrialized context that farmers perceive multiple interrelated climate change impacts on local agroecosystems. For instance, snowfall and freeze events have decreased, which respondents associated with the increase of pests and diseases affecting both wild flora and cultivated plants. Similarly, changes in precipitation patterns lead to a perceived decrease in useful rain for agriculture. Farmers are also reporting changes in their management practices, such as increased irrigation or use of pesticides, which respond to these climatic factors but also to changes in the crops that are cultivated. Crop diversity is in decline in the area both at the species and landrace levels, especially in rainfed fields. This is mainly driven by socioeconomic factors such as agricultural abandonment or access to commercial seeds, although climate change factors such as increased pests or decreased rainfall can have an impact. Despite the crop diversity losses found, many landraces have been maintained, mainly due to their cultural value, and also new crop species have been introduced, which are now viable due to the increase in temperature. Although we focused on a specific case study, we found several trends that are also present in other contexts. Therefore, the results of this research are relevant at a global scale since they show that climate change is affecting mountain agroecosystems in industrialized contexts and may affect more drastically both agrobiodiversity and crop management practices in agroecosystems worldwide

Traditional agricultural knowledge as a commons

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552In this chapter we explore the governance of traditional agricultural knowledge (TAK) under the commons framework, or the idea that knowledge can be governed as a commons, i.e., as a resource used by a group of people who have self-developed a set of rules to manage the social dilemmas derived from the resource collective use. To illustrate the governance of TAK under the commons framework, we present two case studies in which TAK is shared by communities of users who operate at different scales. The first case illustrates the local governance of TAK as commons by a close community with tight social bonds; the second case provides an example of how digitalized TAK could be governed by a peer-to-peer governance system and become part of the global digital commons. We conclude by exploring the degree to which a commons-based governance can be considered a contestation to commodification and enclosure movements that threaten the maintenance of TAK systems, and thus supports people's ability to sustain environmentally and culturally adapted food systems

Influence of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE The intention of this systematic review was to analyze the literature on breast cancer (BC) and the use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). METHODS The literature was searched in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.com and included search terms related to breast cancer and LNG-IUS. After elimination of duplicates, 326 studies could be identified and were assessed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the end, 10 studies met the defined criteria and were included in the systematic review. RESULTS 6 out of the 10 selected studies were cohort studies, three were case-control studies and one a systematic review/meta-analysis. 6 found a positive association between BC and the use of LNG-IUS. One study only found an increased risk for invasive BC in the subgroup of women aged 40-45 years. In contrast, three studies showed no indication of a higher BC risk. CONCLUSION The results imply an increased BC risk in LNG-IUS users, especially in postmenopausal women and with longer duration of use. Positive effects of the LNG-IUS such as reduced risks for other hormonal cancers have been observed, were, however, not focus of this systematic review. The heterogeneity of the analyzed studies and vast number of confounding factors call for further investigations in this issue. Patients should be advised according to their individual risk profile and hormone-free alternatives may be considered for women with a history of BC

Generation of integration free induced pluripotent stem cells from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) patients from urine samples

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare, autosomal dominant transmitted genetic disease. Patients experience progressive bone formation replacing tendons, ligaments, muscle and soft tissue. Cause of FOP are gain-of-function mutations in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) receptor Activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1) ( Kaplan et al., 2008). The most common mutation is R206H, which leads to the substitution of codon 206 from arginine to histidine (Shore et al., 2006). Here, we describe the derivation and characterization of two hiPSC lines from two FOP patients, both carrying the mutation R206H. Cells were isolated from urine and reprogrammed using integration free Sendai virus vectors under defined conditions

Cognitive control goes to school: The impact of executive functions on academic performance

AbstractThe general aim of the present study was to investigate EF in relation to academic performance. We chose tasks evaluating three EF dimensions: working memory (WM), inhibition (resistance to interference and negative priming), and set-shifting. Subjects (N = 70) were school-aged children in the 5th and the 8th Grades. Regression models supported the contribution of individual differences in EF performance to explaining over half of total variance in school performance, revealing the main role of WM in predicting Mathematics performance. Results are discussed in terms of relevance of meaningful assessment practices and for educational interventions. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Masterprof tea

The Maltreatment : Aggression Link among Prosecuted Males : What about Psychopathy?

Criminal offenders constitute a high-risk sample regarding experiences of childhood maltreatment and engagement in severe aggression. Moreover, psychopathic traits are more common in samples of offenders than non-offenders. Although research has underlined the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adult aggression, the influence of psychopathy on this link is still unclear. We examined the dynamics of maltreatment, aggression, and psychopathy in a mixed sample of 239 male violent, sexual, and other offenders using latent factor structural equation modeling. We found a consistent positive association of maltreatment with aggression. Psychopathy did not mediate this relation. Maltreatment was not associated with psychopathy, although psychopathy had a positive effect on aggressive behavior. These dynamics appeared similar for violent, sexual, and other offenders. However, latent variables were constructed somewhat differently depending on the offender status. For instance, sexual abuse appeared to be of specific importance in sexual offenders. Violent offenders showed high rates of psychopathy compared to sexual and other offenders. The current findings may inspire future research to focus more closely on the different subtypes of psychopathy when examining its role in the prediction of aggression based on childhood maltreatment. Moreover, childhood maltreatment must not be neglected in treatment and prevention approaches aimed at reducing the risk of aggressive behavior

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and breast cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE Short-acting progestin-only injectables containing depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) are a safe method of contraception. Although DMPA has been available for several decades, there is little data on its influence on the risk of breast cancer. Hence, the aim of this paper was to provide an overview of the existing studies and create clarity regarding a possible association with breast cancer. METHODS Literature searches were executed in MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP. Search terms were related to DMPA and breast cancer. After elimination of duplicates, 3'850 studies were identified and assessed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, ten studies were selected and included in this review. RESULTS All the selected papers were case-control-studies, except for one pooled analysis and one study comparing observed and expected number of cancer cases. Most of the included studies found no overall elevated breast cancer incidence in DMPA users, only one study found a slightly increased risk and two studies concluded with a significant increase for the overall breast cancer risk. CONCLUSION There is little evidence that DMPA may increase the overall risk for breast cancer. However, the incidence of breast cancer is possibly increased in current and more recent users, especially in women younger than 35 years. Long-term use did not result in any risk increase. Nevertheless, further studies will be necessary to confirm these findings and weigh up the individual risks and benefits of this contraceptive method

Environmental and energy problematic in the mediterranean irrigation regions framework

[EN] Agriculture is a significant user of water and energy in Mediterranean coasts of Europe, such as Spanish Mediterranean regions. Water implications of such irrigations are well known, but also energy must be considered when environmental implications are analyzed. Apart from this, Mediterranean region has its particular problematic framework related to irrigation issues. Often, the availability of irrigation is determinant to the viability of farmers, and the energy implications must be considered when determining the feasibility of small and big farms, particularly in the Mediterranean regions, where the wide variety of customs in each group of irrigators and definitely, its specific weather conditions, typical of a semi-arid zone. All these aspects are analyzed in this paper, as a state of the art determination of problems and possible solutions in a regional scale. Some solutions presented in this paper can contribute with theoretical reductions of emission of greenhouse gasses until 174.10 tCO2/year in pumped systems and 58.49 tCO2/year in multipurpose systems.Romero, L.; Pérez-Sánchez, M.; López Jiménez, PA. (2017). Environmental and energy problematic in the mediterranean irrigation regions framework. International Journal of Energy and Environment (IJEE). 8(1):51-62. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/99657S51628

Stability condition for the drive bunch in a collinear wakefield accelerator

The beam breakup instability of the drive bunch in the structure-based collinear wakefield accel- erator is considered and a stabilizing method is proposed. The method includes using the specially designed beam focusing channel, applying the energy chirp along the electron bunch, and keeping energy chirp constant during the drive bunch deceleration. A stability condition is derived that defines the limit on the accelerating field for the witness bunch.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure