Mitochondrial genomes play important roles in studying genome evolution, phylogenetic analyses, and species identification. Amphipods (Class Malacostraca, Order Amphipoda) are one of the most ...ecologically diverse crustacean groups occurring in a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial environments globally, from freshwater streams and lakes to groundwater aquifers and the deep sea, but we have a limited understanding of how habitat influences the molecular evolution of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Subterranean amphipods likely experience different evolutionary pressures on energy management compared to surface-dwelling taxa that generally encounter higher levels of predation and energy resources and live in more variable environments. In this study, we compared the mitogenomes, including the 13 protein-coding genes involved in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway, of surface and subterranean amphipods to uncover potentially different molecular signals of energy metabolism between surface and subterranean environments in this diverse crustacean group. We compared base composition, codon usage, gene order rearrangement, conducted comparative mitogenomic and phylogenomic analyses, and examined evolutionary signals of 35 amphipod mitogenomes representing 13 families, with an emphasis on Crangonyctidae. Mitogenome size, AT content, GC-skew, gene order, uncommon start codons, location of putative control region (CR), length of rrnL and intergenic spacers differed between surface and subterranean amphipods. Among crangonyctid amphipods, the spring-dwelling Crangonyx forbesi exhibited a unique gene order, a long nad5 locus, longer rrnL and rrnS loci, and unconventional start codons. Evidence of directional selection was detected in several protein-encoding genes of the OXPHOS pathway in the mitogenomes of surface amphipods, while a signal of purifying selection was more prominent in subterranean species, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the mitogenome of surface-adapted species has evolved in response to a more energy demanding environment compared to subterranean amphipods. Overall, gene order, locations of non-coding regions, and base-substitution rates points to habitat as an important factor influencing the evolution of amphipod mitogenomes.
In the present work three common polyolefins: high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) have been treated with an atmospheric pressure air plasma torch ...(APPT) in order to improve their wettability properties. The variations in surface energy (γ
s), as well as the durability of the treatment are determined by means of contact angle measurements for different aging times after plasma exposure (up to 270
days) using five test liquids which cover a wide range of polarities. The introduction of new polar moieties (carbonyl, amine or hydroxyl) is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total multiple reflection mode (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides information on the morphological changes and variation on surface roughness, revealing that smoother, lamellar and semispheric micrometric structures are created on the LDPE, HDPE and PP surfaces, respectively. Results show that APPT treatment enhances both the total and polar components of the γ
s under study, with an unprecedent stability (>
8
months) in time.
Only up to 25% of the cases in which there is a familial aggregation of breast and/or ovarian cancer are explained by germline mutations in the well-known BRCA1 and BRCA2 high-risk genes. Recently, ...the BRCA1-associated ring domain (BARD1), that partners BRCA1 in DNA repair, has been confirmed as a moderate-risk breast cancer susceptibility gene. Taking advantage of next-generation sequencing techniques, and with the purpose of defining the whole spectrum of possible pathogenic variants (PVs) in this gene, here we have performed a comprehensive mutational analysis of BARD1 in a cohort of 1946 Spanish patients who fulfilled criteria to be tested for germline pathogenic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. We identified 22 different rare germline variants, being 5 of them clearly pathogenic or likely pathogenic large deletions, which account for 0.26% of the patients tested. Our results show that the prevalence and spectrum of mutations in the BARD1 gene might vary between different regions of Spain and expose the relevance to test for copy number variations.
•Atmospheric pressure plasma torch improves the wettability of aluminium.•Polar groups are formed on treated aluminium surface.•Silane solutions homogeneously wet treated aluminium.
This study ...investigates the effect of atmospheric pressure plasma torch (APPT) treatments on the surface of aluminium alloys. The influence of torch-to-sample distance, speed of treatment and ageing time is analyzed in terms of contact angles and surface energy. Results show that APPT treatment strongly increases the surface energy and wettability of aluminium surfaces. This is related to the formation of polar groups, as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has confirmed. In all conditions, hydrophobic recovery of aluminium surfaces takes place. Finally, the compatibility of the APPT treated aluminium substrate with γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) has been evaluated through adhesion work and spread tension, showing that it is possible to achieve a spontaneous wetting process of silane on aluminium.
In this paper the hydrolysis process of γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) at 1% in an aqueous solution by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was studied. The aim of this ...work is to determine the hydrolysis time for which a greater number of Si–OH groups has been obtained. Different hydrolysis times at pH 4 were studied to establish the most optimal application conditions for bonding to the substrate. It was possible to observe how the bands corresponding to the Si–O–C groups present in the pure silane spectrum continued to appear after short periods of hydrolysis. However these bands practically disappeared upon increasing of this hydrolysis time, with other new ones appearing corresponding to the Si–OH vibration. The silanization of 6063 aluminum alloy samples was also carried out. Analysis of the silane layers by means of FTIR indicated that the immersion time may be important according to the hydrolysis conditions, and it also allowed optimizing the drying time.
Aims
The success rate of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) ranges from 60 to 90%, depending on the series. The objective of the study was to identify ...predictors of AF recurrence after a standardized CPVA procedure.
Methods and results
A series of 148 consecutive patients undergoing CPVA for symptomatic paroxysmal (60.8%), persistent (23.6%), or permanent (15.5%) AF refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs were included in the study. CPVA with the creation of supplementary block lines along the posterior wall and mitral isthmus was performed and a minimum of 6 months follow-up completed in all patients. Structural heart disease was present in 19.6% and hypertension in 33.8% of patients. After 13.1 ± 8.4 months follow-up, 73.6% of patients were free of AF recurrences after a mean of 1.18 ± 0.45 procedures/patient (one procedure in 85.2%, two procedures in 14.8%, and three procedures in 2.7%). Univariable analysis showed that the risk of AF recurrence increases with age (HR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.06, P = 0.031), with the presence of previous hypertension (HR 2.7; 95% CI 1.43-5.07, P = 0.002), and if AF is permanent (HR 2.23; 95% CI 1.08-4.59, P = 0.042). In addition, larger anteroposterior left atrial diameter (LAD) (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.05-1.18, P = 0.001) and larger left ventricular end-systolic diameter (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.00-1.15, P = 0.029) prior to the procedure were associated with AF recurrence after CPVA. Cox regression analysis showed that hypertension (OR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.5-5.4; P = 0.002) and LAD (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.05-1.19, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of AF recurrence. The mean predicted proportion of patients with AF recurrence after CPVA of the multivariable model showed a linear relationship with the increase in LAD prior to the procedure. The presence of hypertension further increased the mean predicted proportion of patients with AF recurrence at each LAD.
Conclusion
Hypertension and LAD are independent pre-procedural predictors of AF recurrence after CPVA to treat AF. These data may help in patient selection for AF ablation.
Induced seismicity associated with energy production is becoming an increasingly important issue worldwide for the hazard it poses to the exposed population and structures. We analyze one of the rare ...cases of induced seismicity associated with the underwater gas storage operations observed in the Castor platform, located in the Valencia gulf, east Spain, near a complex and important geological structure. In September 2013, some gas injection operations started at Castor, producing a series of seismic events around the reservoir area. The larger magnitude events (up to 4.2) took place some days after the end of the injection, with EMS intensities in coastal towns up to degree III. In this work, the seismic sequence is analyzed with the aim of detecting changes in statistical parameters describing the earthquake occurrence before and after the injection and identifying possible proxies to be used for monitoring the sequence evolution. Moreover, we explore the potential predictability of these statistical parameters which can be used to control the field operations in injection/storage fluid reservoirs. We firstly perform a retrospective approach and next a perspective analysis. We use different techniques for estimating the value of the expected maximum magnitude that can occur due to antropogenic activities in Castor.
Pollinators are declining globally, and this loss can reduce plant reproduction, erode critical ecosystem services and resilience, and drive economic losses. Monitoring pollinator biodiversity trends ...is essential for adaptive conservation and management, but conventional surveys are often costly, time‐consuming, and requires considerable taxonomic expertise. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding surveys are booming due to their rapidity, nondestructiveness, and cost efficiency. Microfluidic technology allows multiple primer sets from different markers to be used in eDNA metabarcoding for more comprehensive inventories, minimizing associated primer bias. We evaluated microfluidic eDNA metabarcoding for pollinator community monitoring in both controlled greenhouse and natural field settings. Using a variety of sampling, preservation, and extraction methods, we assessed pollinator communities with a number of markers using microfluidic metabarcoding. In greenhouse experiments, microfluidic eDNA metabarcoding detected the target bumblebee in two of four focal flower species as well as greenhouse insects in all focal flower species. In the field, numerous common regional arthropods, including some directly observed, were detected. Pollinator detection was maximized using whole flower heads preserved in ATL buffer and extracted with a modified Qiagen® DNeasy protocol for amplification with COI primers. eDNA surveillance could enhance pollinator assessment by detecting protected and endangered species and being more applicable to remote, inaccessible locations, whilst reducing survey time, effort, and expense. Microfluidic eDNA metabarcoding requires optimization to address remaining efficacy concerns, but this approach shows potential in revealing complex networks underpinning critical ecosystem functions and services, enabling more accurate assessments of ecosystem resilience.
Microfluidic metabarcoding of eDNA derived from the surfaces of flowers was able, to a degree, to document pollinator communities.
The widespread presence of Na(+)-specific uptake systems across plants and fungi is a controversial topic. In this study, we identify two HAK genes, one in the moss Physcomitrella patens and the ...other in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, that encode Na(+)-specific transporters. Because HAK genes are numerous in plants and are duplicated in many fungi, our findings suggest that some HAK genes encode Na(+) transporters and that Na(+) might play physiological roles in plants and fungi more extensively than is currently thought.
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