The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is involved in a broad range of cognitive functions, integrating rich sensory, motor, and spatial signals from multiple brain areas, including the hippocampal system. ...RSC neurons show hippocampus-dependent activity reminiscent of place cell sequences. Using cellular calcium imaging in a virtual reality (VR)-based locomotion task, we investigate how the integration of visual and locomotor inputs may give rise to such activity in RSC. A substantial population shows neural sequences that track position in the VR environment. This activity is driven by the conjunction of visual stimuli sequences and active movement, which is suggestive of path integration. The activity is anchored to a reference point and predominantly follows the VR upon manipulations of optic flow against locomotion. Thus, locomotion-gated optic flow, combined with the presence of contextual cues at the start of each trial, is sufficient to drive the sequential activity. A subpopulation shows landmark-related visual responses that are modulated by animal’s position in the VR. Thus, rather than fragmenting the spatial representation into equivalent locomotion-based ensemble versus optic-flow-based ensemble, in RSC, optic flow appears to override locomotion signals coherently in the population, when the gain between the two signals is altered.
•Locomotion-gated optic flow drives spatial activity sequences in RSC•Decoupling vision and locomotion disrupts RSC spatial activity sequences•Landmark-related visual responses are gated by spatial position•Spatial activity sequences are anchored to contextual cues
Mao et al. demonstrate that neurons in the retrosplenial cortex integrate visual inputs, locomotion, and contextual cues to generate spatial activity sequences. This contextual cue-anchored sequential activity could be driven by locomotion-gated optic flow, suggesting a role of the RSC in fusing visual and motor inputs into internal representations.
Climate change is expected to promote biological invasions. Invasive species often undergo adaptive evolution, but whether invasive species show greater evolutionary potential than their native ...counterparts under climate change has rarely been evaluated. We conducted experimental evolution trials comparing the evolution of physiological performance (light-saturated photosynthetic rate, Amax) of coexisting and closely related (1) invasive-native species pairs from Arid, Alpine, and Antarctic ecosystems, and (2) an invasive-naturalized species pair from a Mediterranean ecosystem differing in invasiveness. Experiments were conducted over three generations and under four environments of temperature and water availability resembling typical and climate change conditions in each ecosystem. Amax increased across generations for most species. Invasive species from Arid, Alpine, and Antarctic ecosystems showed similar, greater, and lesser evolution of Amax than their native counterparts, respectively. The Mediterranean invasive species showed greater evolution of Amax than its naturalized congener. Similar patterns were observed in all four experimental environments for each ecosystem, suggesting that comparable responses may be expected under climate change scenarios. All study species showed a positive association between Amax and reproductive output. Results suggest that invasive plants and their native (or naturalized) counterparts would show similar evolutionary responses of physiological performance to global warming and drought.
Abstract
Semiconducting ferromagnet-nonmagnet interfaces in van der Waals heterostructures present a unique opportunity to investigate magnetic proximity interactions dependent upon a multitude of ...phenomena including valley and layer pseudospins, moiré periodicity, or exceptionally strong Coulomb binding. Here, we report a charge-state dependency of the magnetic proximity effects between MoSe
2
and CrBr
3
in photoluminescence, whereby the valley polarization of the MoSe
2
trion state conforms closely to the local CrBr
3
magnetization, while the neutral exciton state remains insensitive to the ferromagnet. We attribute this to spin-dependent interlayer charge transfer occurring on timescales between the exciton and trion radiative lifetimes. Going further, we uncover by both the magneto-optical Kerr effect and photoluminescence a domain-like spatial topography of contrasting valley polarization, which we infer to be labyrinthine or otherwise highly intricate, with features smaller than 400 nm corresponding to our optical resolution. Our findings offer a unique insight into the interplay between short-lived valley excitons and spin-dependent interlayer tunneling, while also highlighting MoSe
2
as a promising candidate to optically interface with exotic spin textures in van der Waals structures.
Morbidity studies complement the understanding of hazards to raptors by identifying natural or anthropogenic factors. Descriptive epidemiological studies of wildlife have become an important source ...of information about hazards to wildlife populations. On the other hand, data referenced to the overall wild population could provide a more accurate assessment of the potential impact of the morbidity/mortality causes in populations of wild birds.
The present study described the morbidity causes of hospitalized wild raptors and their incidence in the wild populations, through a long term retrospective study conducted at a wildlife rehabilitation centre of Catalonia (1995-2007). Importantly, Seasonal Cumulative Incidences (SCI) were calculated considering estimations of the wild population in the region and trend analyses were applied among the different years. A total of 7021 birds were analysed: 7 species of Strigiformes (n = 3521) and 23 of Falconiformes (n = 3500). The main causes of morbidity were trauma (49.5%), mostly in the Falconiformes, and orphaned/young birds (32.2%) mainly in the Strigiformes. During wintering periods, the largest morbidity incidence was observed in Accipiter gentillis due to gunshot wounds and in Tyto alba due to vehicle trauma. Within the breeding season, Falco tinnunculus (orphaned/young category) and Bubo bubo (electrocution and metabolic disorders) represented the most affected species. Cases due to orphaned/young, infectious/parasitic diseases, electrocution and unknown trauma tended to increase among years. By contrast, cases by undetermined cause, vehicle trauma and captivity decreased throughout the study period. Interestingly, gunshot injuries remained constant during the study period.
Frequencies of morbidity causes calculated as the proportion of each cause referred to the total number of admitted cases, allowed a qualitative assessment of hazards for the studied populations. However, cumulative incidences based on estimated wild raptor population provided a more accurate approach to the potential ecological impact of the morbidity causes in the wild populations.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Old and new challenges in Chagas disease Pérez-Molina, Jose A, Dr; Perez, Angela Martinez, MD; Norman, Francesca F, MBBS ...
The Lancet infectious diseases,
11/2015, Letnik:
15, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Summary Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi , is a neglected disease, which can lead to cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, megaviscera, and more rarely, polyneuropathy in up to 30–40% ...of patients around 20 to 30 years after acute infection. Although it is endemic in the Americas, global population movements mean that it can be located wherever migrants from endemic areas settle. The disease was first described 100 years ago and still challenges clinicians worldwide, since diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic methods remain insufficient. Furthermore, factors such as HIV co-infection, immunosuppressive drugs, transplantation, and neoplastic disease can alter the natural course of the infection. We present the case of a Bolivian woman with chronic T cruzi infection diagnosed at our clinic in Madrid, Spain, who subsequently developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Our report illustrates the challenges of an increasingly common infection seen in non-endemic countries, and highlights both daily management dilemmas and associated difficulties that arise.
Background
The increasing emergence of multidrug‐resistant bacteria, causing urinary tract infections (UTI) in dogs and cats, represents a great therapeutic challenge and a public health concern.
...Methods
Laboratory records of 4943 urinary microbiological diagnosis results and antimicrobial resistance profiles of suspected UTI cases in dogs and cats were analysed from 2016 to 2018 in Spain.
Results
This study showed a higher percentage of positive microbiological diagnoses in dogs (42%, 1368/3270) than in cats (27%, 457/1673). Although Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated bacterium, the frequency of antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli isolates was lower compared to other bacterial species like Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter (E. cloacae), and Proteus mirabilis. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Gram‐positive cocci showed higher levels of resistance in cats to common beta‐lactams used for the treatment of complicated UTIs, as well as to fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and carbapenems. Moreover, enterobacteria (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. mirabilis) from cats presented high resistance frequencies to beta‐lactams, including third‐ and fourth‐generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.
Conclusion
This study updates data on the current antimicrobial resistance in UTI bacteria from companion animals in Spain, which may help to guide clinicians for the appropriate use of antimicrobials.
Nowadays, the detection of CO2 gas is relevant in industry because it can provoke respiratory diseases if its concentration is high in the work-places. Also, it contributes to the greenhouse effect. ...The current CO2 sensors are based on rigid ceramic materials, which require high operating temperatures (200–600 °C), and high energy consumption (30–200 W). Due to these disadvantages, the hybrid and flexible sensors have emerged as an alternative to substitute the old technologies of ceramic-based sensors. These flexible sensors are more compact and light. Also, their energy consumption is very low (mW) and can operate at lower temperatures of 25–80 °C. Due to this new trend for CO2 sensors, we present in this review the general configuration and materials to construct hybrid and flexible CO2 sensors. Polyethylenimine (PEI), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyaniline (PANI) polymers have been employed to fabricate hybrid sensors with a detection range from 1 to 10,000 ppm of CO2. In the case of sensors based on carbon materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, they have a detection range of 1–4000 ppm for CO2. Moreover, we discussed how the variations of parameters such as temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration and curvature radius (in the case of flexible sensors) affects the response times, recovery times and response percentage of the hybrid/flexible sensors. Furthermore, this review presents the current unsolved challenges for flexible CO2 sensors, which are limiting their use in commercial applications. Finally, our review emphasizes the opportunities of research for hybrid/flexible CO2 sensors.
•This review explains the general configurations of flexible sensors for CO2 detection.•The review presents the mechanisms for CO2 detection using graphene and CNTs.•We explain the current challenges for the development of flexible CO2 gas sensors.
Abstract Background Retrospective analyses were performed in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) to characterise the objective response (OR) rate to sunitinib and differentiate ...pretreatment features and outcomes of patients with early (response by ⩽12 weeks) versus late response, and responders versus non-responders. Methods Data were pooled from 1059 patients in six trials. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Brookmeyer and Crowley method and compared between groups by log-rank test. Baseline characteristics were compared by Fisher-exact, t -, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Associations between characteristics and survival were investigated by Cox proportional regression analysis. Results 398 patients (38%) had confirmed OR (12 complete responses); 26%, 61%, 79% and 86% responded by 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks, respectively. Median (range) time to tumour response (TTR) was 10.6 (2.7–94.4) weeks and was similar in treatment-naïve and cytokine-refractory patients. Median response duration in early and late responders was 52.0 and 55.0 weeks, respectively. Median PFS in early versus late responders was 13.8 versus 20.2 months ( P = 0.001); however, median OS did not significantly differ (37.8 versus 40.8 months; P = 0.144). Early responders had more lung metastases ( P < 0.01), but baseline characteristics were otherwise mostly similar. Median PFS (16.3 versus 5.3 months) and OS (40.1 versus 14.5 months) were longer in responders versus non-responders (both P < 0.001); responders had more favourable prognostic factors. Conclusions OR occurred in 38% of sunitinib-treated mRCC patients. Sixty-one percent of responses occurred by 12 weeks of therapy, and responders had favourable pretreatment features and significantly longer survival.
Tocilizumab has been proposed as a candidate therapy for patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially among those with higher systemic inflammation. We investigated the ...association between receipt of tocilizumab and mortality in a large cohort of hospitalized patients.
In this cohort study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spain, the primary outcome was time to death and the secondary outcome time to intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We used inverse probability weighting to fit marginal structural models adjusted for time-varying covariates to determine the causal relationship between receipt of tocilizumab and outcome.
Data from 1229 patients were analysed, with 261 patients (61 deaths) in the tocilizumab group and 969 patients (120 deaths) in the control group. In the adjusted marginal structural models, a significant interaction between receipt of tocilizumab and high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was detected. Tocilizumab was associated with decreased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.16–0.72, p 0.005) and ICU admission or death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.19–0.80, p 0.011) among patients with baseline CRP >150 mg/L but not among those with CRP ≤150 mg/L. Exploratory subgroup analyses yielded point estimates that were consistent with these findings.
In this large observational study, tocilizumab was associated with a lower risk of death or ICU admission or death in patients with higher CRP levels. While the results of ongoing clinical trials of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19 will be important to establish its safety and efficacy, our findings have implications for the design of future clinical trials.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) usually crystallize as insoluble powders, and their processing for suitable devices is thought to be limited. We demonstrate that COFs can be mechanically pressed ...into shaped objects having anisotropic ordering with preferred orientation between hk0 and 00l crystallographic planes. Five COFs with different functionality and symmetry exhibited similar crystallographic behavior and remarkable stability, indicating the generality of this processing. Pellets prepared from bulk COF powders impregnated with LiClO4 displayed room temperature conductivity up to 0.26 mS cm–1 and high electrochemical stability. This outcome portends use of COFs as solid-state electrolytes in batteries.
PDF
