Search for Neutrinoless Quadruple-ß Decay of

We report the results of a first experimental search for lepton number violation by four units in the neutrinoless quadruple-ß decay of ^{150}Nd using a total exposure of 0.19 kg yr recorded with the NEMO-3 detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory. We find no evidence of this decay and set lower limits on the half-life in the range T_{1/2}>(1.1-3.2)×10^{21} yr at the 90% C.L., depending on the model used for the kinematic distributions of the emitted electrons.

Conformationally-locked C-glycosides: tuning aglycone interactions for optimal chaperone behaviour in Gaucher fibroblasts.

A series of conformationally locked C-glycosides based on the 3-aminopyrano[3,2-b]pyrrol-2(1H)-one (APP) scaffold has been synthesized. The key step involved a totally stereocontrolled C-Michael addition of a serine-equivalent C-nucleophile to tri-O-benzyl-2-nitro-D-galactal, previously published by the authors. Stereoselective transformations of the Michael adduct allowed us the synthesis of compounds with mono- or diantennated aglycone moieties and different topologies. In vitro screening showed highly selective inhibition of bovine liver ß-glucosidase/ß-galactosidase and specific inhibition of human ß-glucocerebrosidase among lysosomal glycosidases for compounds bearing palmitoyl chains in the aglycone, with a marked dependence of the inhibition potency upon their number and location. Molecular dynamics simulations highlighted the paramount importance of an optimal orientation of the hydrophobic substituent to warrant efficient non-glycone interactions, which are critical for the binding affinity. The results provide a rationale for the strong decrease of the inhibition potency of APP compounds on going from neutral to acidic pH. The best candidate was found to behave as pharmacological chaperone in Gaucher fibroblasts with homozygous N370S and F213I mutations, with enzyme activity enhancements similar to those encountered for the reference compound Ambroxol.

Influence of Changes in Political Barriers and of Geographic Distance on Kinship Inferred from Surnames and Migration Data in Olivenza, Spain, and Surrounding Portuguese Areas.

The existing relationship between human populations is a function of their migratory and genetic exchange, which will be inversely proportional to the distance separating them. The effect of geographic distance on population structure may be estimated by means of isonymic methods that use information on the surnames present in a territory as an approximation to the distribution of allele frequencies. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the 1801 modification of the political border in an area surrounding the town of Olivenza, which experienced a change of sovereignty from Portugal to Spain, has had a noticeable influence on the migration pattern and isolation by distance in that region. For this purpose, data from marriage records of Olivenza and the neighboring Portuguese municipalities of Alandroal, Juromenha, Elvas, Vila Boim (and Terrugem), Terena, Monsaraz, and Vila Viçosa were analyzed. Rates of diversity and inbreeding coefficients were determined to analyze the population structure before (1775-1801) and after (1802-1825) the change of domain. The results show that after the border modification the migration matrices changed differently according to sex, therefore altering the relationship between the various localities of the territory. In Olivenza inbreeding declined slightly and surnames became more heterogeneous. Moreover, after the change of domain the isolation-by-distance models illustrate a temporal reduction in the relative weight of geographical distance on interpopulation kinship. The political border acted as a factor in population differentiation in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

Regional differences in low birth weight in Spain: biological, demographic and socioeconomic variables.

The geographic and demographic dimensions of Spain, in terms of surface and number of inhabitants, and its heterogeneous socioeconomic development offer an adequate opportunity to study the provincial differences in birth weight from 1996 to 2010, focusing on possible factors determining the relative frequency of low birth weight. The study analysed geographic differences with regard to biological, demographic and socioeconomic factors that interfere with the female reproductive pattern. The variables considered here were: birth order, proportion of premature deliveries, mother's age, multiparity, mother's country of origin and professional qualifications. Two periods (1996-2000 and 2006-2010) were compared by means of principal components analysis. An increase in the relative frequency of deliveries weighing less than 2500 g occurred in most of the 52 geographic units studied, differences being significant in 42. Only in five cases was there a non-significant reduction in the proportion of low weight births. The first component after principal component analysis indicated that low birth weight was positively related to maternal age and to multiple deliveries, and negatively to the mother's low professional qualification. The second component related positively to the incidence of premature deliveries and to non-Spanish status and negatively in the case of primiparous mothers. The progressive increase in low birth weight incidence observed in Spain from 1996 onwards has occurred with considerable variation in each province. In part, this diversity can be attributed to the unequal reproductive patterns of immigrant mothers.

Corpora amylacea in the neocortex in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and focal cortical dysplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Corpora amylacea (CoA) are present in about 60% of atrophic hippocampi resected from patients with drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (DRTLE). They have also been described in the lateral temporal neocortex, although less frequently. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to measure the presence, distribution and density of CoA in the lateral temporal lobes of patients with DRTLE and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), also examining how CoA density may be linked to demographic and clinical traits. METHODS: Resected tissue from 35 patients was analysed. CoA density was assessed with a semi-quantitative scale according to the criteria established by Cherian et al. RESULTS: Presence of CoA in the neocortex of 9 patients was associated with hippocampal sclerosis (FCD type iiia, 7 cases), disembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour (FCD type iiib, 1 case), and cavernous angioma (FCD type iiic, 1 case). The meningeal surface (MS) was involved in all cases, and 8 cases displayed CoA in the cerebral parenchyma (white matter) and around blood vessels. CoA density on the MS showed a negative correlation with age at seizure onset (r = -0.828, P<.05) and a positive correlation with disease duration (r = 0.678, P<.05) but not with postoperative clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DRTLE and a primary lesion (hippocampal sclerosis, tumour, vascular malformation) associated with mild FCD were shown to have CoA deposits in the neocortex. No association was found between presence of CoA and clinical outcome one year after surgery.

Genetics of population exchange along the historical Portuguese-Spanish border.

The present analysis compares the distribution of surnames by means of spatial autocorrelation analysis in the Spain-Portugal border region. The Spanish National Institute of Statistics provides a database of surnames of residents in the western Spanish provinces of Zamora, Salamanca, Cáceres, Badajoz and Huelva. The Spanish and Portuguese patterns of surname distribution were established according to various geographic axes. The results obtained show a low diversity of surnames in this region - especially in the centre - which can be explained by the absence of any major geographic barriers, with the exception of the mountain ranges between hydrographic basins, and by the presence of traditional roads that have existed since Roman times. The latter have resulted in a constant migratory flow over short-median distances, which, as can be deduced from the surnames, fits two north/south territorial axes running parallel to the border between Spain and Portugal. The distribution patterns of Portuguese and Spanish surnames differ with regard to their frequencies in the five provinces studied, which can be attributed to their respective historical, economic and social conditions. It is concluded that the border delimiting these two countries has affected the migratory flow, thereby conditioning the demographic and genetic structure of the western Spanish regions.

Factors determining the variation in birth weight in Spain (1980-2010).

BACKGROUND: Low weight and premature deliveries arouse clinical interest concerning the survival of newborns. The determinants of birth weight among Spanish natives and immigrants may differ. Research which considers maternal origin and associated factors such as age and parity is important. AIM: This study analyses and models the influence of the rapid and intense arrival of immigrants in Spain on birth weight variation. METHOD: Data on deliveries from the Spanish National Institute for Statistics (n = 9 443 882) are analysed regarding low birth weight, premature births and other variables. The inter-relation among these variables was interpreted by means of logistic regression models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The birth weight has decreased since 1980 in Spain, but has slightly recovered in recent years. Meanwhile the percentage of foreign maternities increased to 17.3% in 2010. Logistic regression models assess the different influence of variables known to determine low birth weight (weeks of gestation, sex, etc.) and other maternal characteristics (age at delivery, professional activity, etc.). The progressively greater contribution of foreign women to total births in Spain and their differential numerical input to the various risk groups have slowed the pattern of reduction in the mean weight of newborns in this country.

The cosmic ray shadow of the Moon observed with the ANTARES neutrino telescope.

One of the main objectives of the ANTARES telescope is the search for point-like neutrino sources. Both the pointing accuracy and the angular resolution of the detector are important in this context and a reliable way to evaluate this performance is needed. In order to measure the pointing accuracy of the detector, one possibility is to study the shadow of the Moon, i.e. the deficit of the atmospheric muon flux from the direction of the Moon induced by the absorption of cosmic rays. Analysing the data taken between 2007 and 2016, the Moon shadow is observed with 3.5 σ statistical significance. The detector angular resolution for downward-going muons is 0 . 73 ∘ ± 0 . 14 ∘ . The resulting pointing performance is consistent with the expectations. An independent check of the telescope pointing accuracy is realised with the data collected by a shower array detector onboard of a ship temporarily moving around the ANTARES location.

Regioselective ring-opening metathesis-cross metathesis of bridgehead-substituted 7-azanorbornene.

[structure: see text]. In this paper we describe a highly regioselective ring-opening metathesis-cross metathesis (ROM-CM) process between methyl N-Boc-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-1-carboxylate, a bridgehead-substituted 7-azanorbornene system, and electron-poor olefins. The reaction opens the way to the synthesis of interesting alpha-amino diacids and pyrrolizinone derivatives that incorporate quaternary stereocenters.

[Video-EEG evaluation complemented by spectral and EEG source analysis in patients with medication-resistant medial temporal lobe epilepsy]. / Evaluación videoelectroencefalográfica complementada con análisis espectral y de las fuentes generadoras del electroencefalograma en pacientes con epilepsia del lóbulo temporal medial resistente a los fármacos.

AIM: To evaluate the value of prolonged video-electroencephalographic (video-EEG) monitoring complemented with spectral and EEG source analysis in identifying the epileptogenic area in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy who are candidates for non-lesional resective surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The electrographic patterns during the onset of seizures were evaluated in over 667 seizures from 41 patients with a clinical diagnosis of medication-resistant partial epilepsy. Analyses were performed using Harmonie software and variable resolution electrical tomography (VARETA). RESULTS: Video-EEG was used to determine that 53.6% of the patients evaluated suffered complex partial seizures of a temporal origin; these were characterised by having an average frequency of 5.56 +/- 1.56 Hz, while the non-temporal seizures displayed a frequency within the range 9.17 +/- 3.32 Hz. The topographic location of the dominant ictal frequency during the period of maximum spectral energy in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy enabled us to draw a distinction between a group of patients with mesial seizures and those with non-mesial seizures that exceeded the number that was determined by visual inspection of the EEG, that is, 78.9 versus 47.3%, respectively. There was a 100% coincidence between the area where the seizures began as defined by surface EEG complemented with spectral analysis, the generator of this activity as defined by VARETA and the epileptogenic region. CONCLUSIONS: The localising information provided by video-EEG complemented with spectral and EEG source analysis allows for non-invasive location of the epileptogenic region in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy even when structural imaging studies show an absence or bilaterality of abnormalities.

An algorithm for the reconstruction of high-energy neutrino-induced particle showers and its application to the ANTARES neutrino telescope.

A novel algorithm to reconstruct neutrino-induced particle showers within the ANTARES neutrino telescope is presented. The method achieves a median angular resolution of [Formula: see text] for shower energies below 100 TeV. Applying this algorithm to 6 years of data taken with the ANTARES detector, 8 events with reconstructed shower energies above 10 TeV are observed. This is consistent with the expectation of about 5 events from atmospheric backgrounds, but also compatible with diffuse astrophysical flux measurements by the IceCube collaboration, from which 2-4 additional events are expected. A [Formula: see text] C.L. upper limit on the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux with a value per neutrino flavour of [Formula: see text] is set, applicable to the energy range from 23 TeV to 7.8 PeV, assuming an unbroken [Formula: see text] spectrum and neutrino flavour equipartition at Earth.

The BiPo-3 detector.

The BiPo-3 detector is a low radioactive detector dedicated to measuring ultra-low natural contaminations of 208Tl and 214Bi in thin materials, initially developed to measure the radiopurity of the double ß decay source foils of the SuperNEMO experiment at the µBq/kg level. The BiPo-3 technique consists in installing the foil of interest between two thin ultra-radiopure scintillators coupled to low radioactive photomultipliers. The design and performances of the detector are presented. In this paper, the final results of the 208Tl and 214Bi activity measurements of the first enriched 82Se foils are reported for the first time, showing the capability of the detector to reach sensitivities in the range of some µBq/kg.

Sperm whale long-range echolocation sounds revealed by ANTARES, a deep-sea neutrino telescope.

Despite dedicated research has been carried out to adequately map the distribution of the sperm whale in the Mediterranean Sea, unlike other regions of the world, the species population status is still presently uncertain. The analysis of two years of continuous acoustic data provided by the ANTARES neutrino telescope revealed the year-round presence of sperm whales in the Ligurian Sea, probably associated with the availability of cephalopods in the region. The presence of the Ligurian Sea sperm whales was demonstrated through the real-time analysis of audio data streamed from a cabled-to-shore deep-sea observatory that allowed the hourly tracking of their long-range echolocation behaviour on the Internet. Interestingly, the same acoustic analysis indicated that the occurrence of surface shipping noise would apparently not condition the foraging behaviour of the sperm whale in the area, since shipping noise was almost always present when sperm whales were acoustically detected. The continuous presence of the sperm whale in the region confirms the ecological value of the Ligurian sea and the importance of ANTARES to help monitoring its ecosystems.

Diversity and Mealybug Transmissibility of Ampeloviruses in Pineapple.

Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is one of the most destructive diseases of pineapple (Ananas comosus) worldwide. At least one Ampelovirus species, Pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus-2 (PMWaV-2), and mealybug feeding are involved in the etiology of MWP. A previously undescribed Ampelovirus sharing highest homology with PMWaV-1 and a putative deletion mutant sharing highest homology with PMWaV-2 were detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays using degenerate primers. Results were verified with additional sequence information and by immunosorbent electron microscopy. Sequence homology between the virus tentatively designated PMWaV-3, and PMWaV-1 and PMWaV-2, decreases toward the N-terminal across the HSP70 homolog, small hydrophobic protein, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase open reading frames (ORF). Putative PMWaV-3 could not be detected with four different monoclonal antibodies specific for PMWaV-1 and PMWaV-2. The potential deletion mutant spanning the N-terminal of the HSP70 region was obtained from a pineapple accession from Zaire maintained at the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Hawaii. Putative PMWaV-3, like PMWaV-1 and PMWaV-2, is transmissible separately or in combination with other PMWaVs by Dysmicoccus brevipes and D. neobrevipes mealybugs. Plants infected with PMWaV-3 that were continuously exposed to mealybugs did not develop symptoms of MWP in the absence of PMWaV-2. Specific RT-PCR assays were developed for detection of putative PMWaV-3 and the deletion mutant.

Secular trends in the relationship between surnames in a population: Study of a border town.

The study of surnames in a territory over time is an opportunity to obtain knowledge of the evolution of allelic frequencies. Geographic and cultural factors influence the renovation of surnames and reflect accelerations or delays in the gene flow. Political borders may also condition the genetic structure of a population. Using isonymy, this paper studies the evolution (from 1750 to 2006) of the frequencies of surnames and the components of inbreeding in Olivenza, a border town whose sovereignty was transferred from Portugal to Spain in 1801. After the change in dominion the number of Portuguese surnames fell sharply and the expected values for a population so close to Portugal recovered only after a long period of time. The results indicate that although the border has made population movement more difficult, and has therefore had an impact on the rate of gene exchange, a certain gene flow with Portugal persisted.

A Tuber Rot of Cyperus esculentus Caused by Rosellinia necatrix.

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is cultivated in Spain for the production of tiger nut milk. Over the past 5 years, important economic losses resulting from a new tuber rot have been observed near Valencia in eastern Spain. Affected tubers were covered by a white mycelium that turned black as the disease advanced, leading to a general rotting of tubers. Aboveground plant parts showed some early decay and under high-moisture environmental conditions the white mycelium was present on the soil surface. This mycelium showed pyriform swellings characteristic of Rosellinia necatrix Prill., and coremia were occasionally observed on external surfaces of tubers after incubation in a moist chamber for 1 to 2 months. Coremia produced small ellipsoid or obovoid single-celled conidia 3.7 to 5.0 × 2.0 to 2.2 µm. The teleomorph has not been observed. Pathogenicity tests were conducted with inoculum produced on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seeds that were soaked for 12 h in flasks filled with distilled water. Each flask contained 300 ml of seeds that were subsequently autoclaved after excess water was drained. Two fungal disks of a 2-week-old culture of R. necatrix grown on potato dextrose agar were placed aseptically in each flask. The flasks were incubated at 25°C for 4 weeks, and shaken once a week to avoid clustering of inoculum. Two plastic pots (35 cm in diameter) per isolate were filled with a sterilized mixture of equal portions (vol/vol) of soil, sand, and peat moss, and inoculum was added at a concentration of 30 g of infected wheat seeds per 1,200 g of substrate (1). Healthy tubers were surface disinfested in 1.5% (vol/vol) sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, washed twice in sterile water, sown, and subsequently thinned to one per pot after emergence. Plants were grown under field conditions. Six months after inoculation, symptomatic tubers appeared similar to those originally observed in the field. The fungus was reisolated from affected tubers, confirming Koch's postulates. Pathogenicity tests were also conducted on avocado (cv. Reed) and almond (cv. Garriges) seedlings, and apple rootstock (MM-106) as very susceptible host plants for R. necatrix (1). Inoculated plants showed symptoms of wilting and death 4 weeks after inoculation. The fungus was reisolated from affected plants. This is the first report of C. esculentus as a host of R. necatrix. Reference: (1) A. Sztejnberg and Z. Madar. Plant Dis. 64: 662, 1980.

Differentiation, Distribution, and Elimination of Two Different Pineapple mealybug wilt-associated viruses Found in Pineapple.

Surveys for Pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus-1 (PMWaV-1) and PMWaV-2 were conducted on pineapple samples from Hawaii and around the world. Tissue blot immunoassays (TBIAs) with two different monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific to either PMWaV-1 or PMWaV-2 indicated that both closteroviruses are widely distributed throughout the pineapple-growing areas of the world. In the worldwide survey, PMWaV-1 was found in 80% of the mea-lybug wilt of pineapple (MWP)-symptomatic and 78% of the asymptomatic pineapple plants tested. A subset of plants was tested for PMWaV-2; 100% of the symptomatic plants and 12% of the asymptomatic plants were positive for this virus. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to differentiate between PMWaV-1 and PMWaV-2. Oligonucleotide primers were designed using distinct regions of the HSP 70 homolog genes of the two viruses. PMWaV-specific RT-PCR assays and TBIAs were used to screen the pineapple accessions maintained at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service National Clonal Germplasm Repository for PMWaV infection; 73% of the accessions were found infected with at least one PMWaV. Pineapple accessions found PMWaV-free were challenged with viruliferous mealybugs to test for immunity to PMWaV-1. No immune germ plasm was identified. Potential alternative virus hosts were screened for infection with virus-specific RT-PCR assays and TBIAs and were also challenged with viruliferous mealybugs. No alternate hosts of PMWaV-1 or PMWaV-2 were identified. PMWaV-1 infection was eliminated through axillary and apical bud propagation from infected crowns. Strategies to manage MWP are discussed.

[Immunological disorders in epileptic patients are associated to the epileptogenic focus localization]. / Alteraciones inmunológicas en pacientes epilépticos asociadas a la localización del foco epileptogénico.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and experimental data support the role of immune mechanisms in the pathogeny of epilepsy. The purpose of this work was to study the immunological aspects in 30 epileptic patients with complex partial crisis resistant to antiepileptic drugs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were evaluated by EEG-Video and they were grouped attending to epileptogenic focus localization in: temporals (n = 16), lateralized (n = 6) and extratemporals (n = 4). We also studied a group with psychogenic epilepsy (n = 4), this group was diagnosed after EEG-video evaluation. The following immunological evaluations has been carried out: levels of serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM e IgA) by radial immunodiffusion test and lymphocytic subpopulations using immunocytochemical methods. We measured the percent of T and B lymphocytes (CD3 and CD20), helper/inductor lymphocyte T (CD4), suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8), interleukine-2 receptor (CD25) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR). RESULTS: The results show a significant increase of CD8+ lymphocytes (p < 0.05) and in the activation markers (CD25+ and HLA-DR+ cells). The evaluation of immunological parameters applied to different group of epileptogenic focus localization shown that the increase of CD8+ lymphocytes is limited to temporal and lateralized patients (p < 0.01). The patients with extratemporal localization of focus and the psychogenic cases shown normal values for the evaluated immunological lymphocyte markers. We did not find a deficit in the humoral immunological aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account that patients diagnosed as psychogenic received an antiepileptic drug treatment identical to that of the other group, the observed immunological changes might be related with the patogeny of certain epilepsy variants associated with the focus localization and not with the medication.

[Comparative study between propofol and isoflurane as a maintenance anesthetic in ambulatory surgery]. / Estudio comparativo entre propofol e isoflurano como mantenimiento anestésico en cirugía ambulatoria.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate postanesthetic recovery and complications in outpatient surgery for which anesthetic maintenance was achieved with either isoflurane or propofol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly divided into two groups for prospective study according to anesthetic used: isoflurane (group A) or propofol (group B). The patients were undergoing short surgery and in both groups induction was with 2-2.5 mg/kg propofol, 0.4-0.5 mg/kg atracurium, 20 microgram/kg alfentanil and 20 microgram/kg droperidol. In 40 patients maintenance was with 0.5-1% isoflurane (group A) and in the remaining 40 0.1-1.15 mg/kg/min propofol (group B) was used; in both groups 50% N2O-O2 was used. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences in time until eye opening after a verbal command (3.8 +/- 2 in group A and 4.1 +/- 2.8 min in group B), in time until the patient was able to answer five questions (6.5 +/- 3 in group A and 6 +/- 2.9 min in group B) or in Aldrete test scores upon awakening (9 +/- 1 in group A and 8.7 +/- 0.9 in group B). Nor were there differences in frequency of nausea reported (2 in each group) or in level of pain after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery and incidence of complications after out-patient anesthesia were similar when anesthetic maintenance was achieved with propofol or isoflurane.

[Analgesics and neuroendocrinic response in cardiac surgery. I. Adrenal cortex response]. / Analgésicos y respuesta neuroendocrina en cirugía cardiaca. I.--Respuesta cortico-suprarrenal

In 91 patients who had undergone surgery under C.E.C. the influence of the analgesia on adrenal cortex system was studied. With the exception of the analgesic used, the anaesthesia was performed following the same guidelines in all of the operations. Concentrations of cortisol in plasma were maximum with Pentazocina, the weakest analgesic used by us, and minimum with Fentanest. In view of these results, we can affirm that, in the absence of alterations haemodynamic, metabolic and neurological, concentrations of cortisol in plasma are a true reflexion of the amount of analgesic protection that different drugs offer against noxins stimuli triggered by the surgical act. These findings guarantee the intimate relationship that exists between the nervous system and the endocrine system and they are further confirmed by results obtained with a recently acquired analgesic Fentathienil, which is more potent than Fentanyl.