Conventional approaches for the assessment of population abundance or trends are usually based on a single source of information, such as counts or changes in demographic parameters. However, these ...approaches usually neglect some of the information needed to properly understand the population as a whole, such as assessments of the non-breeding proportion of the population and the drivers of population change. The Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus is a threatened species and its Pyrenean population (the largest in Europe) inhabits parts of Spain, Andorra, and France. We developed an Integrated Population Model (IPM) using data from a long-term study (1987–2016) in the three countries, including capture–mark–recapture of 150 marked individuals, to assess population size and age structure at the whole population scale, and obtain estimates of survival and breeding parameters of this population. The breeding population experienced a geometric mean population increase of 3.3% annually, falling to 2.3% during the last 10 yr. The adult proportion of the population increased with time, from 61% to 73%. There were 365 (95% Bayesian credible interval BCI: 354–373) adult breeding birds in 2016, representing 49% of the adult population and 36% of the total population (estimated at 1,026 individuals, 95% BCI: 937–1,119). The large number of non-breeding adults probably led to higher mean age of first reproduction than previously estimated, and to an estimated 30–35% of territories occupied by polyandrous trios. Population growth rate was positively and strongly correlated with adult survival, which had a much greater effect on population growth than productivity. The effects of subadult and juvenile survival on population growth were weaker. We found strong evidence for a density-dependent decrease in juvenile survival, productivity and adult survival, leading to reduced population growth with increased population size. Our approach allowed us to identify important conservation issues related to the management of supplementary feeding sites and geographic expansion of this population. Our study supports the use of IPMs as a tool to understand long-lived species, allowing simultaneous estimates of the non-breeding size of the population (which is critical for understanding population functioning), better estimates of population parameters, and assessment of demographic drivers.
A Tri-Band Cooled Receiver for Geodetic VLBI López-Pérez, José A; Tercero-Martínez, Félix; Serna-Puente, José M ...
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland),
04/2021, Letnik:
21, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This paper shows a simultaneous tri-band (S: 2.2-2.7 GHz, X: 7.5-9 GHz and Ka: 28-33 GHz) low-noise cryogenic receiver for geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (geo-VLBI) which has been ...developed at Yebes Observatory laboratories in Spain. A special feature is that the whole receiver front-end is fully coolable down to cryogenic temperatures to minimize receiver noise. It was installed in the first radio telescope of the
(RAEGE) project, which is located in Yebes Observatory, in the frame of the VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS). After this, the receiver was borrowed by the Norwegian Mapping Autorithy (NMA) for the commissioning of two VGOS radiotelescopes in Svalbard (Norway). A second identical receiver was built for the Ishioka VGOS station of the Geospatial Information Authority (GSI) of Japan, and a third one for the second RAEGE VGOS station, located in Santa María (Açores Archipelago, Portugal). The average receiver noise temperatures are 21, 23, and 25 Kelvin and the measured antenna efficiencies are 70%, 75%, and 60% in S-band, X-band, and Ka-band, respectively.
► Methanolic extracts from some edible mushrooms showed anti-inflammatory activity. ► Mushrooms extracts inhibited NO production and iNOS expression in activated macrophages. ► Mushrooms extracts ...reduced IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA expressions in activated macrophages. ► The most effective species were
Agaricus bisporus,
Cantharellus cibarius, and
Lactarius deliciosus. ► Pyrogallol was found only in the species with anti-inflammatory activity.
Nowadays there is a great interest in the use of edible mushrooms as functional food since they are rich in bioactive compounds. Although their immunomostimulant activity has been largely demonstrated, their potential anti-inflammatory activity has been scarcely explored. We have investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extracts from different edible mushrooms species:
Agaricus bisporus,
Boletus edulis,
Cantherellus cibarius,
Cratarellus cornucopioides,
Lactarius deliciosus and
Pleurotus ostreatus, in activated macrophages. The species that exhibited higher anti-inflammatory activities were
A. bisporus,
C. cibarius and
L. deliciosus, inducing inhibition of NO production and iNOS, IL-1β and IL6 mRNAs expression in response to LPS stimulation.
C. cornucopioides only induced inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression, and the other species did not present anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, some edible mushrooms species have a potential anti-inflammatory capacity
in vitro, suggesting that they could be regarded as a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory agents.
Most dryland ecosystems are characterised by a low ecosystem services (ES) provision, being socially perceived as lacking in cultural and regulating ES. This is the case of the badlands, highly ...eroded arid ecosystems without vegetation, which have been extensively analysed from a physical point of view, but hardly studied from the point of view of the benefits they provide to society. This paper aimed to determine the social preferences for and the relative importance of the ES provided by badlands. To achieve this objective, a representative sample of the population was taken from the Region of Murcia (Spain), a semiarid Mediterranean area with an abundant presence of these ecosystems. This study area is of additional interest for the provision of ES derived from agroecosystems. The contingent ranking method was used to identify aspects such as the utility provided by the different types of ES and the social well‐being derived from different management policies to be implemented. The results show a preference of the population for cultural ES and biodiversity in the badlands. Given that the implementation of badlands ES protection and a management policy based on the maintenance of agricultural ES are the two strategies that yield the highest social well‐being, the provisioning and regulating ES derived from agroecosystems in the area should be evaluated simultaneously, given the trade‐off that can occur between the two ecosystems. These results provide dryland ecosystem managers with a view of soil erosion management that is different from the traditional one, since it promotes not only its control, but also a greater presence of educational and recreational activities.
The goal of this trial was to study the long-term effects of intravenous (IV) metoprolol administration before reperfusion on left ventricular (LV) function and clinical events.
Early IV metoprolol ...during ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been shown to reduce infarct size when used in conjunction with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).
The METOCARD-CNIC (Effect of Metoprolol in Cardioprotection During an Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial recruited 270 patients with Killip class ≤II anterior STEMI presenting early after symptom onset (<6 h) and randomized them to pre-reperfusion IV metoprolol or control group. Long-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 202 patients (101 per group) 6 months after STEMI. Patients had a minimal 12-month clinical follow-up.
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at the 6 months MRI was higher after IV metoprolol (48.7 ± 9.9% vs. 45.0 ± 11.7% in control subjects; adjusted treatment effect 3.49%; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.44% to 6.55%; p = 0.025). The occurrence of severely depressed LVEF (≤35%) at 6 months was significantly lower in patients treated with IV metoprolol (11% vs. 27%, p = 0.006). The proportion of patients fulfilling Class I indications for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was significantly lower in the IV metoprolol group (7% vs. 20%, p = 0.012). At a median follow-up of 2 years, occurrence of the pre-specified composite of death, heart failure admission, reinfarction, and malignant arrhythmias was 10.8% in the IV metoprolol group versus 18.3% in the control group, adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.55; 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.04; p = 0.065. Heart failure admission was significantly lower in the IV metoprolol group (HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.015 to 0.95; p = 0.046).
In patients with anterior Killip class ≤II STEMI undergoing pPCI, early IV metoprolol before reperfusion resulted in higher long-term LVEF, reduced incidence of severe LV systolic dysfunction and ICD indications, and fewer heart failure admissions. (Effect of METOprolol in CARDioproteCtioN During an Acute Myocardial InfarCtion. The METOCARD-CNIC Trial; NCT01311700).
Background Rapid and consistent genotyping is an important requirement for cultivar identification in many crop species. Among them grapevine cultivars have been the subject of multiple studies given ...the large number of synonyms and homonyms generated during many centuries of vegetative multiplication and exchange. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers have been preferred until now because of their high level of polymorphism, their codominant nature and their high profile repeatability. However, the rapid application of partial or complete genome sequencing approaches is identifying thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that can be very useful for such purposes. Although SNP markers are bi-allelic, and therefore not as polymorphic as microsatellites, the high number of loci that can be multiplexed and the possibilities of automation as well as their highly repeatable results under any analytical procedure make them the future markers of choice for any type of genetic identification. Results We analyzed over 300 SNP in the genome of grapevine using a re-sequencing strategy in a selection of 11 genotypes. Among the identified polymorphisms, we selected 48 SNP spread across all grapevine chromosomes with allele frequencies balanced enough as to provide sufficient information content for genetic identification in grapevine allowing for good genotyping success rate. Marker stability was tested in repeated analyses of a selected group of cultivars obtained worldwide to demonstrate their usefulness in genetic identification. Conclusions We have selected a set of 48 stable SNP markers with a high discrimination power and a uniform genome distribution (2-3 markers/chromosome), which is proposed as a standard set for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) genotyping. Any previous problems derived from microsatellite allele confusion between labs or the need to run reference cultivars to identify allele sizes disappear using this type of marker. Furthermore, because SNP markers are bi-allelic, allele identification and genotype naming are extremely simple and genotypes obtained with different equipments and by different laboratories are always fully comparable.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The worldwide phenomenon of shrub encroachment in grass-dominated dryland ecosystems is commonly associated with desertification. Studies of the purported desertification effects associated with ...shrub encroachment are often restricted to relatively few study areas, and document a narrow range of possible impacts upon biota and ecosystem processes. We conducted a study in degraded Mediterranean grasslands dominated by Stipa tenacissima to simultaneously evaluate the effects of shrub encroachment on the structure and composition of multiple biotic community components, and on various indicators of ecosystem function. Shrub encroachment enhanced vascular plant richness, biomass of fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria, and was linked with greater soil fertility and N mineralization rates. While shrub encroachment may be a widespread phenomenon in drylands, an interpretation that this is an expression of desertification is not universal. Our results suggest that shrub establishment may be an important step in the reversal of desertification processes in the Mediterranean region.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease produced by an aberrant immune response that originates with breathing difficulties and cough, through airway remodeling. The above pathophysiological events ...of asthma emerge the regulators of effectors, like epigenetics, which include microRNAs (miRNAs) who perform post‐transcriptional regulation, controlling diverse pathways in respiratory diseases. The objective of the study was to determine how miR‐185‐5p regulates the secretion of periostin by airway structural cells, and smooth muscle cells contraction, both related to airway remodeling in asthma. We used miR‐185‐5p mimic and inhibitors in bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs) and small airway epithelial cells (SAECs) from healthy subjects. Gene expression and protein levels of periostin (POSTN), CDC42, and RHOA were analyzed by RT‐PCR and ELISA/Western blot, respectively. BSMC contractility was analyzed using cell‐embedded collagen gels and measurement of intracellular calcium was performed using Fura‐2. Additionally, miR‐185‐5p and periostin expression were evaluated in sputum from healthy and asthmatics. From these experiments, we observed that miR‐185‐5p modulation regulates periostin mRNA and protein in BSMCs and SAECs. A tendency for diminished miR‐185‐5p expression and higher periostin levels was seen in sputum cells from asthmatics compared to healthy, with an inverse correlation observed between POSTN and miR‐185‐5p. Inhibition of miR‐185‐5p produced higher BSMCs contraction induced by histamine. Calcium mobilization was not modified by miR‐185‐5p, showing that miR‐185‐5p role in BSMC contractility is performed by regulating CDC42 and RhoA pro‐contractile factors instead. In conclusion, miR‐185‐5p is a modulator of periostin secretion by airway structural cells and of smooth muscle contraction, which can be related to asthma pathophysiology, and thus, might be a promising therapeutic target.
In this study, we show that miR‐185‐5p, which is inversely correlated to POSTN expression in sputum from the asthmatic and healthy, is able to modulate periostin secretion by airway structural cells such as epithelial and smooth muscle cells, of crucial importance in airway remodeling, while also being able to regulate the synthesis of RhoA and CDC42 protein levels, which increase smooth muscle contractile capacity. These events are the key mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of the symptoms of asthma.
Abstract Background Pre-reperfusion administration of intravenous (IV) metoprolol reduces infarct size in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Objectives This study sought to determine ...how this cardioprotective effect is influenced by the timing of metoprolol therapy having either a long or short metoprolol bolus-to-reperfusion interval. Methods We performed a post hoc analysis of the METOCARD-CNIC (effect of METOprolol of CARDioproteCtioN during an acute myocardial InfarCtion) trial, which randomized anterior STEMI patients to IV metoprolol or control before mechanical reperfusion. Treated patients were divided into short- and long-interval groups, split by the median time from 15 mg metoprolol bolus to reperfusion. We also performed a controlled validation study in 51 pigs subjected to 45 min ischemia/reperfusion. Pigs were allocated to IV metoprolol with a long (−25 min) or short (−5 min) pre-perfusion interval, IV metoprolol post-reperfusion (+60 min), or IV vehicle. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed in the acute and chronic phases in both clinical and experimental settings. Results For 218 patients (105 receiving IV metoprolol), the median time from 15 mg metoprolol bolus to reperfusion was 53 min. Compared with patients in the short-interval group, those with longer metoprolol exposure had smaller infarcts (22.9 g vs. 28.1 g; p = 0.06) and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (48.3% vs. 43.9%; p = 0.019) on day 5 CMR. These differences occurred despite total ischemic time being significantly longer in the long-interval group (214 min vs. 160 min; p < 0.001). There was no between-group difference in the time from symptom onset to metoprolol bolus. In the animal study, the long-interval group (IV metoprolol 25 min before reperfusion) had the smallest infarcts (day 7 CMR) and highest long-term LVEF (day 45 CMR). Conclusions In anterior STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty, the sooner IV metoprolol is administered in the course of infarction, the smaller the infarct and the higher the LVEF. These hypothesis-generating clinical data are supported by a dedicated experimental large animal study.
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