Amyloid-beta pathology-induced nanoscale synaptic disruption:the case of the GABA_B-GIRK assembly

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory brain networks,leading to aberrant homeostatic synaptic plasticity.AD has progressively been recognized as syna ptopathy and syna ptic dysfunction has been identified as a key component of its pathogenesis (Schirinzi et al.,2020).Syna ptic dysfunction is believed to precede synapse loss,a primary biological correlate of cognitive decline in AD,inevita bly associated with neuronal death.

Immobilization of Commercial Cellulase and Xylanase by Different Methods Using Two Polymeric Supports

Industrial applications require enzymes highly stable and economically viable in terms of reusability. Enzyme immobilization is an exciting alternative to improve the stability of enzymatic processes. The immobilization of two commercial enzymes is reported here (cellulase and xylanase) using three chemical methods (adsorption, reticulation, and crosslinking-adsorption) and two polymeric supports (alginate-chitin and chitosan-chitin). The optimal pH for binding was 4.5 for cellulase and 5.0 for xylanase, and the optimal enzyme concentrations were 170 μg/mL and 127.5 μg/mL respectively, being the chitosan and the ideal support. In some cases, a low concentration of crosslinking agent (glutaraldehyde) improved stability of the immobilization process. Biotechnological characterization showed that the reusability of enzymes was the most striking finding, particularly of immobilized cellulase using glutaraldehyde, which after 19 cycles retained 64% activity. These results confirm the economic and biotechnical advantages of enzyme immobilization for a range of industrial applications.

Uncertainties in the Mercury Mass Balance in a Coal-Based IGCC Power Plant (Puertollano, Spain)

Mercury(Hg)is a global pollutant that is subject to strict regulations to reduce anthropogenic emissions.The production of energy represents an important activity that leads to Hg emissions into the atmosphere.Of all the systems used,IGCC plants are the most promising for reducing Hg emissions,since it is possible to remove Hg from syngas prior to combustion.The aim of the present work was to evaluate the presence of Hg in the main streams of an experimental IGCC plant(ELCOGAS,Puertollano)in order to quantify Hg emissions and investigate the possibility of reducing them.The main streams of the system were sampled for three consecutive days and both the solids,i.e.,raw material(coal and petroleum coke),fine and coarse slags,fly ash,sulphur,and the liquids,i.e.,slag system,Venturi scrubber and saturator,were studied.The results show that an average of 12.9%of the Hg that enters the IGCC power plant is eliminated with solid waste and only 0.08%with liquid waste.There is still an average of 87.12%of Hg that is not accounted for in the mass balance and that could remain in the system and/or be eliminated in the streams that were not analysed.Although it is impossible to offer an explanation for the final fate of the Hg lost in the system based on the obtained results,the data suggest that sulphur byproducts could be primarily responsible for the elimination of Hg from the syngas,and that a major proportion of Hg should be emitted via the chimney after the syngas combustion process.

A Comparative Study for Successful Treatment per Gender in a Specialized Smoking Cessation Unit in the Albacete University Hospital during Two Years

Objective： Analysis of abstinence rates of smokers per gender at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in a Smoking Cessation Unit from January 2008 to December 2009. Methods： Descriptive retrospective study. Analysis of socio-demographic variables, smoking patterns, associated comorbidities, continuous abstinence rates, success, relapses, failure and dropping out. Results： 278 smokers started treatment （33%）; 55.4% males and 44.6% females （mean age of 48.3 and 44.06 years, respectively）. The main associated comorbidities were： psychiatric （38.7%）, cardiovascular （dyslipemia 25%） and respiratory （COPD （chronic obstructive pulmonary disease） 9.7%） in females; cardiovascular （dyslipemia 34.4%）, psychiatric （34.4%） and respiratory （COPD 19.5%） in males. VRN （Varenicline） was prescribed in 40.2% males and 32.2% females; NRT （nicotine replacement therapy） was used in 46.6% and 38.7%, respectively; bupropion was employed in 6.5% and 21.8%, respectively. Psychological counseling was offered only to 7.8% males and 8.1% females. The continuous abstinence rates in males at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 51.3%, 37.7%, 32.5% and 30.5%, respectively, and were 45.2%, 29.8%, 25.0% and 24.2% for females. Failure was 9.7% for females and 18.8% for males. Success was more frequent for those on VRN （n = 41 males; n = 12 females）. No relapses were indicated for 42 females and 71 males. The percentage of relapses was higher at 3 months （29.0% females, 19.5% males）. Conclusions： The study observed differences in treating abstinence between genders （in the abstinence rates and failure index）. This implies having to consider incorporating the gender variable into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of smoking.

确定农业地下水开采量的遥感和GIS方法

计算地下水开采量足评价水均衡所面临的难点与不确定性因素之一。农业灌溉对地下水的大量开采使得对含水层地下水进行量化难以实施（即流量计及能量消耗数据）。本文提出一种通过对多时相和多光谱卫星影像进行分析，从而确定用于灌溉开采地下水水量的定量方法。该方法首先对农作物进行高精度分类并将这些数据录入地理信息系统，利用该系统对各种作物灌溉需求做出正确评价，并按照该地区的农业实践对其校正。结果表明了农业灌溉所使用与提取的地下水量在时空上的分配。该方法已经成功应用于Mancha东方水文系统（西班牙，7260km3），在该地区超过90％的农业用水消耗的是水文资源。在该案例中成果精度高于95％，而其成本仅为传统方法的六分之一。

The Application of the Generalized Finite Difference Method (GFDM) for Modelling Geophysical Test

The possibility of using a nodal method allowing irregular distribution of nodes in a natural way is one of the main advantages of the generalized finite difference method (GFDM) with regard to the classical finite difference method. Moreover, this feature has made it one of the most-promising meshless methods because it also allows us to reduce the time-consuming task of mesh generation and the numerical solution of integrals. This characteristic allows us to shape geological features easily whilst maintaining accuracy in the results, which can be a source of great interest when dealing with this kind of problems. Two widespread geophysical investigation methods in civil engineering are the cross-hole method and the seismic refraction method. This paper shows the use of the GFDM to model the aforementioned geophysical investigation tests showing precision in the obtained results when comparing them with experimental data.

潘佩罗小组:探索制作的边界与模式的颠覆

在阿根廷当代电影的语境下,制片公司潘佩罗小组(El Pampero Cine)因反对体制性公式化的筹资模式,以及决定不申请阿根廷全国电影和视听艺术委员会(INCAA)提供的补贴而闻名。与其他小众制作的阿根廷新电影相比,这种模式另辟蹊径:因为在新电影崛起和巩固的过程中,阿根廷全国电影和视听艺术委员会(INCAA)发挥了特殊作用(有人认为其补贴至关重要,而另一些人则认为那仅是一个传说)。潘佩罗小组(El Pampero)外在于全国艺术委员会的框架开展工作,制定了特定的模式和策略,他们的这种模式在电影创作的不同层面都有所反映:包括筹资模式、电影制作和拍摄方式以及为其项目量身打造的发行和放映程式。他们的影片也受到这种创作过程的影响,并处处渗透出这种特殊的电影制作模式的痕迹。不仅如此,在某些情况下潘佩罗小组关于电影筹资和媒介制度化的立场被明确纳入他们创作的故事当中。总而言之,本文分析了潘佩罗小组的整体宗旨和他们按照“独立电影是什么”或者说“独立电影”应该是什么这一理念所进行的电影创作。

Current status and potential of morphometric sperm analysis

The spermatozoon is the most diverse cell type known and this diversity is considered to reflect differences in sperm function. How the diversity in sperm morphology arose during speciation and what role the different specializations play in sperm function, however, remain incompletely characterized. This work reviews the hypotheses proposed to explain sperm morphological evolution, with a focus on some aspects of sperm morphometric evaluation; the ability of morphometrics to predict sperm cryoresistance and male fertility is also discussed. For this, the evaluation of patterns of change of sperm head morphometry throughout a process, instead of the study of the morphometric characteristics of the sperm head at different stages, allows a better identification of the males with different sperm cryoconservation ability. These new approaches, together with more studies employing a greater number of individuals, are needed to obtain novel results concerning the role of sperm morphometry on sperm function. Future studies should aim at understanding the causes of sperm design diversity and the mechanisms that generate them, giving increased attention to other sperm structures besides the sperm head. The implementation of scientific and technological advances could benefit the simultaneous examination of sperm phenotype and sperm function, demonstrating that sperm morphometry could be a useful tool for sperm assessment.

Software Project Management Approaches for Global Software Development： A Systematic Mapping Study

Global Software Development （GSD） is a well established field of software engineering with the benefits of a global environment. Software Project Management （SPM） plays a key role in the success of GSD. As a result, the need has arisen to study and evaluate the downsides of SPM for GSD, to thereby pave the way for the development of new methods, techniques, and tools with which to tackle them. This paper aims to identify and classify research on SPM approaches for GSD that are available in the literature, to identify their current weaknesses and strengths, and to analyze their applications in industry. We performed a Systematic Mapping Study （SMS） based on six classification criteria. Eighty-four papers were selected and analyzed. The results indicate that interest in SPM for GSD has been increasing since 2006. As a class of approaches, the most frequently reported methods （40%） are those used for coordination, planning, and monitoring, along with estimation techniques that can be used to better match a distributed project. SPM for GSD requires further investigation by researchers and practitioners, particularly with respect to cost and time estimations. These findings will help overcome the challenges that must to be considered in future SPM research for GSD, especially regarding collaboration and time-zone differences.

Extensive pollen immigration and no evidence of disrupted mating patterns or reproduction in a highly fragmented holm oak stand

Aims Forest fragmentation and reduced tree population densities can poten-tially have negative impacts on mating patterns,offspring genetic diversity and reproductive performance.the aim of the present study is to test these hypotheses comparing an extremely fragmented,low tree density(~0.02 trees/ha)holm oak(Quercus ilex l.)stand from Central spain with a nearby high tree density stand(~50 trees/ha).Methods We genotyped adult trees and seeds from the low-density stand(436 seeds from 15 families)and the high-density stand(404 seeds from 11 families)using nine microsatellite markers.With these data,we performed paternity analyses,determined pollen flow,mating patterns and pollen pool structure,and estimated progeny genetic diversity in both stands.We also studied seed set and production and performed a pollen supplementation experiment to determine whether reduced tree density has limited foreign pollen availability.Important Findings We have found extensive pollen immigration(>75%)into the low tree density stand and monte Carlo simulations revealed that pollen moves larger distances than expected from null models of random dispersal.mating patterns and differentiation of pollen pools were similar in the high-density stand and the low-density stand but we found higher inter-annual differentiation of pollen pools in the for-mer.Progeny genetic diversity and self-fertilization rates did not dif-fer between the low-density stand and the high-density stand.seed set rates were significantly lower in the low-density stand than in the high-density stand and experimental cross-pollen supplementation evidenced that foreign pollen availability is indeed a limiting factor in the former.However,seed crops did not differ between the low-density stand and the high-density stand,indicating that limitation of foreign pollen is not likely to be of great concern in terms of reduced seed production and potential recruitment.Poor forest regeneration due to other ecological and human factors is probably a more important threat for the persistence of fragmented and low tree density stands than reduced pollen flow and only extremely small and isolated tree populations would be expected to suffer severe loss of genetic diversity in the long term.

Different maternal investment strategies for male and female calves in a polygynous mammal

Mater nal effects occur whe n the phe no type of the mother in flue nces that of the young to the detriment of her survival, growth or fitn ess. The in vestment of the mother can be affected by mater nal body condition and/or experience. Trivers-Willard Hypothesis (TWH) and Local Resource Competition Hypothesis (LRCH) are the main hypotheses used to explain bias in birth sex-ratios in mammals, as well as for sex-biased maternal investment. Both hypotheses suggest that a different amount of investment must be expected according to the sex of the young. However, recent studies suggest that these differences are not in quantity but in the strategies: mechanisms and objectives may differ for each sex. We studied how maternal characteristics (age, body mass, body condition, and domi nance status) influence re leva nt aspects of the birth and early growth of the calf (birth date, birth body mass, body mass at weaning, and body condition at weaning) separately for each sex;and how that investment is mediated by milk production and composition (lactose, fat, and protein). One hundred eighty-eight newborns from 75 captive red deer hinds aged from 2 to 19 years were analyzed. The main differential investment observed was related to birth date: when producing a female, hinds give birth earlier in the season only if they have a good body condition;however, when gestating a male it is the older hinds those which deliver earlier. Subsequently, milk production and composition are correlated with birth body mass in female calves, but to weaning body mass in males. Thus, only hind body mass affects the weaning body mass of female calves, compared with age and hind body mass in males. These results suggest that while TWH fits the maternal investment strategy found for male calves, it is LRCH which correlates with the maternal investment patterns observed for females.