University of Alcalá

About: University of Alcalá is a education organization based out in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 10795 authors who have published 20718 publications receiving 410089 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Alcala & University of Alcala de Henares.

Toll-like receptor alterations in myelodysplastic syndrome

Abstract: Recent studies have implicated the innate immunity system in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes encode key innate immunity signal initiators. We recently identified multiple genes, known to be regulated by TLRs, to be overexpressed in MDS bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells, and hypothesized that TLR signaling is abnormally activated in MDS. We analyzed a large cohort of MDS cases and identified TLR1, TLR2 and TLR6 to be significantly overexpressed in MDS BM CD34+ cells. Deep sequencing followed by Sanger resequencing of TLR1, TLR2, TLR4 and TLR6 genes uncovered a recurrent genetic variant, TLR2-F217S, in 11% of 149 patients. Functionally, TLR2-F217S results in enhanced activation of downstream signaling including NF-κB activity after TLR2 agonist treatment. In cultured primary BM CD34+ cells of normal donors, TLR2 agonists induced histone demethylase JMJD3 and interleukin-8 gene expression. Inhibition of TLR2 in BM CD34+ cells from patients with lower-risk MDS using short hairpin RNA resulted in increased erythroid colony formation. Finally, RNA expression levels of TLR2 and TLR6, as well as presence of TLR2-F217S, are associated with distinct prognosis and clinical characteristics. These findings indicate that TLR2-centered signaling is deregulated in MDS, and that its targeting may have potential therapeutic benefit in MDS.

A non‐force‐free approach to the topology of magnetic clouds in the solar wind

Abstract: [1] We present a new model for the topology of magnetic clouds at 1 AU that relates the magnetic field vector with the current density of the cloud without assuming the force-free condition. In addition, the model is formulated in such a way that it can be fitted directly to the data without the need of initially determining the flux rope axis by minimum variance. The model provides both the magnetic field strength and the direction in just one fitting procedure. In addition to the orientation of its axis and the relative closest-approach distance between the spacecraft and the cloud axis, the fit of the model to the experimental data allows an estimation of the current density of plasma inside the magnetic cloud. From our study on several clouds we conclude that this has values of the order of 10−12 C m−2 s−1. Compared with the force-free model, although the improvement gained in the χ2 values is not very great, the fitting procedure is shorter and easier, and the number of parameters involved has been reduced from seven to five. Our model also lets us check the validity of force-free approximation by the calculation of the value of the current density perpendicular to the flux rope, j⟂ = j × B/|B|. This component is assumed to be zero in the force-free model, but for all analyzed cases we obtain a nonzero value. This finite value implies the existence of pressure gradients inside the cloud that cannot be explained with a force-free approximation. In this paper, four cases are presented that have already been analyzed in the literature. We show that our model can explain the profiles of the magnetic field as a magnetic cloud passes a spacecraft.

Arrival time from spring migration in male pied flycatchers : Individual consistency and familial resemblance

Abstract: The timing of arrival from spring migration was studied in 4 years for male Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in central Spain. Heritability and repeatability analyses were performed at several levels of familial resemblance and male age in order to determine whether arrival times are consistent within individuals between years and are similar between relatives. Oldest males arrived earlier. Arrival time explained much of the variation in laying time and number of young fledged. Age-independent variation in wing length also affected arrival date, the males with longest wings settling earlier. Arrival times were not repeatable within individuals across years and were not similar between relatives (parents-sons, full-sibs). Although genetic variation may exist in departure dates of long-distance migrant birds, the close connection of an early arrival to high reproductive success may have depleted genetic variation in arrival time. In addition, environmental variation probably is too high to detect significant heritability in arrival times without very large sample sizes.

Quasar feedback in the ultraluminous infrared galaxy F11119+3257: connecting the accretion disk wind with the large-scale molecular outflow

Abstract: In Tombesi et al. (2015), we reported the first direct evidence for a quasar accretion disk wind driving a massive molecular outflow. The target was F11119+3257, an ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) with unambiguous type-1 quasar optical broad emission lines. The energetics of the accretion disk wind and molecular outflow were found to be consistent with the predictions of quasar feedback models where the molecular outflow is driven by a hot energy-conserving bubble inflated by the inner quasar accretion disk wind. However, this conclusion was uncertain because the energetics were estimated from the optically thick OH 119 um transition profile observed with Herschel. Here, we independently confirm the presence of the molecular outflow in F11119+3257, based on the detection of broad wings in the CO(1-0) profile derived from ALMA observations. The broad CO(1-0) line emission appears to be spatially extended on a scale of at least ~7 kpc from the center. Mass outflow rate, momentum flux, and mechanical power of (80-200) R_7^{-1} M_sun/yr, (1.5-3.0) R_7^{-1} L_AGN/c, and (0.15-0.40)% R_7^{-1} L_AGN are inferred from these data, assuming a CO-to-H_2 conversion factor appropriate for a ULIRG (R_7 is the radius of the outflow normalized to 7 kpc and L_AGN is the AGN luminosity). These rates are time-averaged over a flow time scale of 7x10^6 yrs. They are similar to the OH-based rates time-averaged over a flow time scale of 4x10^5 yrs, but about a factor 4 smaller than the local ("instantaneous"; <10^5 yrs) OH-based estimates cited in Tombesi et al. The implications of these new results are discussed in the context of time-variable quasar-mode feedback and galaxy evolution. The need for an energy-conserving bubble to explain the molecular outflow is also re-examined.

Wearable Biomedical Measurement Systems for Assessment of Mental Stress of Combatants in Real Time

Abstract: The Spanish Ministry of Defense, through its Future Combatant program, has sought to develop technology aids with the aim of extending combatants' operational capabilities. Within this framework th ...