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Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory molecules which have been traditionally considered as “non-coding”. Strikingly, recent evidence has demonstrated that many non-coding regions, including lncRNAs, do in fact contain small-open reading frames that code for small proteins that have been called microproteins. Only a few of them have been characterized so far, but they display key functions in a wide variety of cellular processes. Here, we show that TUNAR lncRNA encodes an evolutionarily conserved microprotein expressed in the nervous system that we have named pTUNAR. pTUNAR deficiency in mouse embryonic stem cells improves their differentiation potential towards neural lineage both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, pTUNAR overexpression impairs neuronal differentiation by reduced neurite formation in different model systems. At the subcellular level, pTUNAR is a transmembrane protein that localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with the calcium transporter SERCA2. pTUNAR overexpression reduces cytoplasmatic calcium, consistent with a possible role of pTUNAR as an activator of SERCA2. Altogether, our results suggest that our newly discovered microprotein has an important role in neural differentiation and neurite formation through the regulation of intracellular calcium. From a more general point of view, our results provide a proof of concept of the role of lncRNAs-encoded microproteins in neural differentiation., Work in the Abad lab is supported by VHIO, Fero Foundation, La Caixa Foundation (HR18-00256), Asociación Española Contra el Cancer (AECC), Cellex Foundation, Mutua Madrileña Foundation and by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (SAF2015-69413-R; RTI2018-102046-B-I00). M.A. was recipient of a Ramon y Cajal contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC-2013-14747). E.S. was recipient of a AECC Postdoctoral Fellowship. L.H-M. also acknowledges funding from grants SAF2017-88019-C3-1R y PID2020-116927RB-C21 from the Spanish Government. MG is supported by the advanced ERC grant NeuroCentro and the German Research Foundation (SFB870; SPP2202; SPP2306; SYNERGY; TRR274). DT is supported by the Ramón y Cajal program (RYC-2017-23486/RTI2018-095580-A-I00). MMA acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation PGC2018-094091-B-I00 co-funded by FEDER.

Machine components and tools subjected to aggressive environments and strong wear conditions need surfaces with good mechanical properties. The thermo-reactive deposition/diffusion (TRD) process is one of the methods used for improving the mechanical properties of these components and tools, mainly because of its low cost and good performance of the coatings deposited. Although the TRD process is widely used for coating dies, extrusion tools and punches among others, the in-service performance of cutting tools coated using the TRD process has not been extensively studied. In this study, niobium carbide coatings were deposited on cutting punches and screw taps using the TRD technique. Phase formation and micro-hardness of the coatings were studied using X-ray diffraction and Vickers measurements respectively, and the in-service performance of the coated and uncoated tools was studied through field tests conducted at different numbers of cuts. The results show that the coating significantly improves the wear resistance and the cutting performance of the tools, especially at higher numbers of cuts. RESUMEN: Los componentes de maquinaria y las herramientas sujetas a ambientes agresivos y fuertes condiciones de desgaste necesitan superficies con buenas propiedades mecánicas. El proceso de deposición/difusión termorreactiva (TRD) es uno de los métodos usados para mejorar las propiedades mecánicas de estos componentes y herramientas, principalmente por su bajo costo y buen desempeño de los recubrimientos depositados. Aunque el proceso TRD es ampliamente usado para recubrir moldes, herramientas de extrusión y punzones entre otros, el desempeño en servicio de herramientas de corte recubiertas usando el proceso TRD no ha sido estudiado extensamente. En este estudio se depositaron recubrimientos de carburo de niobio sobre punzones de corte y machos de roscado usando la técnica TRD. La formación de fases y la microdureza de los recubrimientos se estudió usando difracción de rayos X y dureza Vickers respectivamente, y el desempeño en servicio de las herremientas recubiertas y sin recubrimiento se estudió por medio de pruebas de campo realizadas a diferente número de cortes. Los resultados muestran que el recubrimiento mejora significativamente la resistencia al desgaste y el desempeño del corte de las herramientas, especialmente a un número alto de cortes.

Au nombre des facteurs démographiques caractérisant une population donnée, figure en priorité la connaissance de son effectif dans le temps et de sa distribution spatiale. La présente étude est conduite dans le but d’évaluer la pertinence de deux méthodes de recensement des populations de Cobe defassa dans le Parc National de la Pendjari au Nord Bénin. Il s’agit de la méthode du transect linéaire et celle de la méthode indicielle le long des pistes. Après l’exécution de ces deux types de dénombrement sur le terrain et le traitement des données par des logiciels appropriés, le principal défi a consisté à établir une relation entre les résultats qui en ont découlé pour vérifier l’hypothèse selon laquelle les indices de densité pourraient suppléer valablement les densités absolues pour estimer l’effectif des populations de Cobe defassa dans le contexte écologique de la Réserve de Biosphère de la Pendjari. Les résultats indiquent que le Cobe defassa est une espèce inféodée à la plaine d’inondation de la rivière Pendjari. Sa densité absolue a été estimée à 2,546 individus/Km2, soit 875 individus en utilisant la méthode du transect linéaire, et son indice moyen de densité est de 1,8 cobes defassa/Km. Des résultats obtenus, on note une similitude tendancielle entre la densité absolue (D) et l’indice de densité (I), ce qui a permis l’établissement d’une courbe de régression de formule D = 100,4513 .I0,2701.Mots-clés : Cobe defassa, inventaire, densité, parc National de la Pendjari, Bénin.Relation between the absolute density and the density index in the count of Cobe defassa (kobus ellypsiprimnus defassa, Ruppell) population in Pendjari's biosphere park in BeninAmong the demographic factors that characterize a given population figure priority knowledge of its workforce over time and its distribution in space. This study is conducted in order to assess the relevance of two methods of population census waterbuck, in National Park Pendjari in northern Benin. This is the line transect method, and the method index. After performing these two types of numberings on the field and data processing by suitable softwares, the main challenge of this thesis consisted in establishing a relationship between the results, so as to check up the hypothesis stating that the signs of abundance could stand in for the absolute densities to estimate the number of waterbuck in the ecological context of the Pendjari's biosphere park. The results show that waterbuck is a species submitted to water. The absolute density has been estimated to 2.546 /Km2, that is 875 animals if we use the line transect method, and it’s medium density index is 1.8 waterbuck / Km. These results present a similarity between the trend in absolute density and the density index, which allowed the establishment of a regression formula signs of abundance D = 100.4513 .I0.2701.Keywords : waterbuck, count, density, national park of Pendjari, Benin.

Object. Pituitary adenomas are considered benign tumors; however, they may infiltrate surrounding tissues including the dura mater. In this paper the authors analyze the clinical significance of microscopically confirmed dural invasion by comparing a range of variables (age and sex of patients, adenoma type, adenoma size on magnetic resonance [MR] images, remission, residual pituitary disease, recurrence, survival, and disease-free interval after surgery) between patients with noninvasive adenomas and those with invasive ones. Methods. Between 1992 and 1997 dural specimens were obtained in 354 patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent transsphenoidal surgery performed by the senior author (E.R.L.). Dural specimens were examined using routine histological methods and assessed for invasion by pituitary adenoma tissue. The dura was invaded by the pituitary adenoma in 161 patients (45.5%), and in 192 patients (54.5%) no evidence of dural invasion was found. Dural invasion was present significantly more frequently in the repeated surgery group (69%, 55 patients) than in the primary transsphenoidal surgery group (41%, 291 patients). The mean age of patients undergoing primary transsphenoidal surgery was significantly older in cases of invasive adenomas (50 years) compared with cases of noninvasive adenomas (43 years), and these age differences also correlated with adenoma size. Women tend to develop clinically evident, smaller adenomas at a younger age than men. Of the patients with pituitary adenomas that were 20 mm or smaller, 117 (76%) of 154 were women, whereas of the patients with adenomas that were larger than 20 mm, 74 (54%) of 137 were men. The frequency of dural invasion increased with increasing size of the pituitary adenoma as measured on MR images. In 291 patients who underwent primary pituitary surgery, the frequency of dural invasion according to adenoma size was 24% (≤ 10 mm), 35% (> 10 to ≤ 20 mm), 55% (> 20 to ≤ 40 mm), and 70% (> 40 mm). In patients who underwent primary transsphenoidal surgery, dural invasion was present in more than 50% of those with nonfunctioning adenomas and in 30 to 35% of patients with endocrinologically active adenomas. The mean diameter of the gonadotrophic adenomas and null-cell adenomas was significantly larger than that of each of the endocrinologically active adenomas. In 58 (20%) of 291 patients who underwent primary pituitary surgery there was residual pituitary disease postsurgery, and 20% of this subset of patients showed clinical improvement to such an extent that no further management was recommended. After pituitary surgery, residual tumor tissue was demonstrable significantly more frequently in patients with invasive adenomas than in those with noninvasive adenomas. Recurrences after initial remission (cure) of pituitary disease occurred in 18 (8.8%) of 205 patients between 2 and 79 months after primary pituitary surgery (median 25 months). The recurrence rate was not related to dural invasion in a consistent or significant fashion. Seven patients died between 14 and 79 months after pituitary surgery and all had invasive adenomas identified on gross observation at surgery and on microscopy. The survival rate was slightly but significantly decreased for patients with invasive adenomas (91%) compared with patients with noninvasive adenomas (100%) at 6 years postsurgery. Conclusions. The principal significance of dural invasion by pituitary adenoma is the persistence of tumor tissue after transsphenoidal surgery (incomplete adenomectomy; 20% in primary pituitary tumor resections). The increase in adenoma size with time and the concurrent development of dural invasion are the major factors that determine an incomplete adenomectomy. When the adenoma remains restricted to the sellar compartment or shows only moderate suprasellar extension, dural invasion may not yet have developed and conditions for complete selective adenomectomy are improved.

BACKGROUND: Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 have sustained virologic response rates of approximately 80% after receiving treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks. We conducted a large, randomized, multinational, noninferiority trial to determine whether similar efficacy could be achieved with only 16 weeks of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1469 patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 to receive 180 mug of peginterferon alfa-2a weekly, plus 800 mg of ribavirin daily, for either 16 or 24 weeks. A sustained virologic response was defined as an undetectable serum HCV RNA level (

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using precursors that are solids at operating temperatures and pressures, presents challenges due to their relatively low vapor pressures. In addition, the sublimation rates of solid state precursors in fixed bed reactors vary with particle and bed morphology. In a recent patent application, the use of fluidized bed (FB) technology has been proposed to provide high, reliable, and reproducible flux of such precursors in CVD processes. In the present contribution, we first focus on the reactor design which must satisfy fluidization,sublimation and CVD reactor feeding constraints. Then, we report masstransport results on the sublimation of aluminium acetylacetonate, a common precursor for the CVD of alumina films. Finally, we discuss the efficiency of the precursor feeding rate, we address advantages and drawbacks of the invention and we propose design modifications in order to meet the process requirements.

Objetivos: Valorar la influencia del uso de analgesia epidural torácica (AET) intra y postoperatoria sobre la presentación de taquiarritmias en el postoperatorio de las resecciones pulmonares. Material y métodos: Se han analizado, de forma retrospectiva, los cursos postoperatorios de 200 pacientes consecutivos intervenidos de resecciones pulmonares mayores (lobectomías, bilobectomías y neumonectomías) en nuestro hospital durante el periodo comprendido entre octubre de 1998 y junio de 2002. En este tiempo se ha introducido progresivamente en nuestro Servicio la AET como parte de la técnica anestésica en cirugía pulmonar. Se ha analizado la influencia del empleo de AET en la presentación de episodios de taquiarritmia supraventricular en las primeras 48 horas de postoperatorio. Resultados: Se empleó AET para el manejo anestésico y control del dolor postoperatorio en el 49,5% de los casos (99/200). No existen diferencias significativas entre los grupos de pacientes con y sin AET en cuanto a edad, sexo, riesgo ASA, duración de la intervención y tipo de resecciones practicadas. Presentaron crisis de taquiarritmia el 9,5% de los pacientes (19/200), tratándose, en todos los casos, de fibrilación auricular paroxística. Entre los pacientes que no recibieron AET la tasa de arritmias fue del 13,86% (14/101), mientras que en aquellos en los que se empleó AET como parte de la técnica anestésica y durante el postoperatorio, dicha tasa fue del 5,05% (5/99), siendo dicha diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,034). Conclusiones: El empleo de AET como parte de la técnica anestésica y para el manejo del dolor postoperatorio en cirugía de resección pulmonar parece ejercer un efecto protector en cuanto al desarrollo de fibrilación auricular en el postoperatorio inmediato. Se discuten las posibles causas de este efecto. Objectives: To assess the impact of intra- and post-operative thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) on the incidence of tachy-arrhythmia after lung resection surgery. Material and methods: Postoperative courses of 200 patients undergoing a major lung resection (lobectomy, bilobectomy or pneumonectomy) were prospectively reviewed in our Hospital between October 1998 and June 2002, a period during which the TEA was progressively introduced in our Service as part of the anaesthetic technique used in pulmonary surgery. The impact of TEA on the incidence of supraventricular tachy-arrhythmias events during the first 48 hours of postoperative was analysed. Results: TEA was used for anaesthetic handling of patients and management of postoperative pain in 49.5% of cases (99/200). There were no significant differences between the groups of patients with and without TEA in terms of age, gender, ASA risk, length of the surgical procedure and type of resection performed. Tachyarrhythmia crises were present in 9.5% of patients (19/200), being always paroxysmal atrial fribrillation. Among patients that did not received TEA, the rate of arrhythmia was 13.86 % (14/101), while in patients that received TEA as part of the anaesthetic technique and during the postoperative, such rate was 5.05% (5/99), being such difference statistically significant (p=0.034). Conclusions: The use of TEA as part of the anaesthetic technique and for the management of postoperative pain after lung resection surgery seems to provide a protective effect in terms of the incidence of atrial fibrillation in the early postoperative. Potential causes of this effect are discussed.

Objetivos: Valorar la influencia del uso de analgesia epidural torácica (AET) intra y postoperatoria sobre la presentación de taquiarritmias en el postoperatorio de las resecciones pulmonares. Material y métodos: Se han analizado, de forma retrospectiva, los cursos postoperatorios de 200 pacientes consecutivos intervenidos de resecciones pulmonares mayores (lobectomías, bilobectomías y neumonectomías) en nuestro hospital durante el periodo comprendido entre octubre de 1998 y junio de 2002. En este tiempo se ha introducido progresivamente en nuestro Servicio la AET como parte de la técnica anestésica en cirugía pulmonar. Se ha analizado la influencia del empleo de AET en la presentación de episodios de taquiarritmia supraventricular en las primeras 48 horas de postoperatorio. Resultados: Se empleó AET para el manejo anestésico y control del dolor postoperatorio en el 49,5% de los casos (99/200). No existen diferencias significativas entre los grupos de pacientes con y sin AET en cuanto a edad, sexo, riesgo ASA, duración de la intervención y tipo de resecciones practicadas. Presentaron crisis de taquiarritmia el 9,5% de los pacientes (19/200), tratándose, en todos los casos, de fibrilación auricular paroxística. Entre los pacientes que no recibieron AET la tasa de arritmias fue del 13,86% (14/101), mientras que en aquellos en los que se empleó AET como parte de la técnica anestésica y durante el postoperatorio, dicha tasa fue del 5,05% (5/99), siendo dicha diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,034). Conclusiones: El empleo de AET como parte de la técnica anestésica y para el manejo del dolor postoperatorio en cirugía de resección pulmonar parece ejercer un efecto protector en cuanto al desarrollo de fibrilación auricular en el postoperatorio inmediato. Se discuten las posibles causas de este efecto.