An integrative computational analysis provides evidence for FBN1-associated network deregulation in trisomy 21

Although approximately 50% of Down Syndrome (DS) patients have heart abnormalities, they exhibit an overprotection against cardiac abnormalities related with the connective tissue, for example a lower risk of coronary artery disease. A recent study reported a case of a person affected by DS who carried mutations in FBN1, the gene causative for a connective tissue disorder called Marfan Syndrome (MFS). The fact that the person did not have any cardiac alterations suggested compensation effects due to DS. This observation is supported by a previous DS meta-analysis at the molecular level where we have found an overall upregulation of FBN1 (which is usually downregulated in MFS). Additionally, that result was cross-validated with independent expression data from DS heart tissue. The aim of this work is to elucidate the role of FBN1 in DS and to establish a molecular link to MFS and MFS-related syndromes using a computational approach. To reach that, we conducted different analytical approaches over two DS studies (our previous meta-analysis and independent expression data from DS heart tissue) and revealed expression alterations in the FBN1 interaction network, in FBN1 co-expressed genes and FBN1-related pathways. After merging the significant results from different datasets with a Bayesian approach, we prioritized 85 genes that were able to distinguish control from DS cases. We further found evidence for several of these genes (47%), such as FBN1, DCN, and COL1A2, being dysregulated in MFS and MFS-related diseases. Consequently, we further encourage the scientific community to take into account FBN1 and its related network for the study of DS cardiovascular characteristics.

Stratigraphy and petrology of the Miocene Montjuic delta: (Barcelona, Spain).

The Neogene rift in the Catalan Coastal Ranges, which is located in the NE part of the Eastern Iberian Margin, corresponds to a system of grabens formed at the nort h - we s t e rn edge of the Valencia Trough. In the central part of the Catalan Coastal Ranges are the Valls - Peneds half-graben in the onshore and the Barcelona half-graben in the offshore, which are separated by the Garraf and the Collserola-Montnegre horsts. Montjuc hill is a tilted block, which is located to the S of the Barcelona city, between the Collserola-Montn egre horst and the Barcelona half-graben . The Middle Miocene section of Montjuc is constituted by an alternation of conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone and marlstone beds. The Montjuc section was divided into four lithostratigraphic units from base to top: (1) The Morrot conglomerate and sandstone Unit, interpreted as delta plain deposits; (2) the Castell conglomerate, sandstone and mudstone Unit considered as proximal delta front deposits; (3) the Miramar marlstone Unit attributed

Estratigrafía y sedimentología del Paleógeno de la Sierra de Tramuntana (Mallorca)

El Palegeóno aflorante en la Sierra de Tramuntana muestra la existencia de dos unidades litoestratigráficas principales: la inferior (Fm. Calizas de Peguera) está constituida predominantemente por materiales carbonatados lacustres, con depósitos carbonosos en su base, un nivel intermedio de sedimentos detríticos fluviales y una intercalación marina a techo, mientras que la unidad superior (Fm. Detritica de Cala Blanca) registra la evolución lateral de un sistema detrítico fluvio-aluvial con paleocorrientes hacia el SE, progradante sobre una unidad basal de calcarenitas marinas.

Morfología de las colonias de briozoos en relación con la hidrodinámica del medio sedimentario

La formación de arenas y calcarenitas bioclásticas de la base de la transgresión tortoniense en Alhama de Granada contiene varios tipos de formas coloniales y de acúmulos de briozoos de características peculiares, nuevas o poco conocidas. Una breve descripción de dichos tipos y el establecimiento de su relación con las distintas facies sedimentarias complementan la información sobre el medio sedimentario conseguida por los métodos sedimentológicos clásicos y permiten plantear el significado e interés de los briozoos en el análisis sedimentológico.

Lacustrine Systems in Convergent Margins

From the late seventies to the present day, lacustrine sedimentology and lacustrine-related basin analysis have developed from a near-marginal aca- demic curiosity into a new ground-breaking multidisciplinary body of learning. The starting-point was economic interest in ancient lacustrine sequences as potential suppliers of natural resources such as raw materials (diatomites, clays), evaporite salts and energy (hydrocarbons and coal). The early discoveries of substantial hydrocarbon reserves connected with lacustrine facies in the western USA heralded the huge reserves found later in China, Brazil, western Africa, southeast Asia and the Caspian Sea, among other places.

El abrigo del Filador (Margalef de Montsant, Tarragona) y su contextualizacion cultural y cronologica en el Nordeste Peninsular

En este articulo se pasa revista, de forma resumida, a 20 años de excavaciones en el abrigo del Filador y se dan a conocer los resultados más importantes (sedimentología, fauna, polen, industria, dataciones, etc..), obtenidos con la aplicación de nuevas técnicas de estudio desde 1979. Del mismo modo replanteamos su ubicación cronocultural dentro del marco geográfico del NE peninsular a partir de las dataciones radiocarbónicas conocidas hasta el momento. Se trata del primer trabajo de síntesis sobre el yacimiento realizado con posterioridad al estudio de J. Fortea (Fortea 1973); el Filador sigue siendo un referente obligado del Epipaleolítico de la zona en tanto que muestra la mayoría de las facies cronoculturales que definen esta fase en el NE ibérico.

Hercynian Metamorphism in the Catalonian Coastal Ranges

Paleozoic rocks in the Catalonian Coastal Ranges are in their largestpart affectedby alow-tovery-low grade Hercynian metamorphism. Amphibolite facies conditions are only found in restricted areas such as the southwestern part of the Guilleries massif where upper amphibolite facies conditions are reached. Metamorphic grade increases from top to bottom of the Paleozoic stratigraphic sequence and the metamorphic peak is diachronous, being progressively older in the lower grade metamorphic zones. The isograd pattern, mineral assemblages, mineral chemistry and preserved reaction textures are consistent with a low pressure metamorphism possibly evolving from a previous Barrovian type event. The metamorphic climax in the high grade zone was reached after the seconddeformational phase. Calculatedpeak P-Tconditions are 620-640 OC and around 3.5 Kb . A latter episode of decompression from the maximum conditions to 1-2 Kb, with an associated temperature decrease to 530-550 OC, is recognized. The intrusion of late Hercynian granitoids produced contact metamorphic aureoles where the pyroxene-hornfels facies is locally reached.

Influencia de la tectónica en la sedimentación continental de la cuenca del Vallés-Penedés (Prov.Barcelona, España) durante el Mioceno inferior.

A very important alluvial fan clastic sedimentation, took place in the NNESSW trending Valles-Penedes graben (northeastem Spain) during Miocene time. Shallow lacustrine and paludine areas developed in distal zones of these alluvial fan complexes during Burdigalian (Early Miocene). At that time both facies development and their distribution were closely controlled by tectonic activity. Fault scarp retreat and back-faulting processes in the southeastem edge of the basin (observed in westem Valles afea), originated an expansive advance of distal alluvial-fan facies in that direction. The decreasing or cessation of the activity of the southeastern margin fault ca~sedi,n Late Burdigalian time (while faults in the northwestern margin were still active) facies redistribution, and gave way to the assymetry of the basin. Finally lacustrine, marine and transitional deposits of late burdigalian and langhian age, were laid down overlapping the southeastem inactive margins.

Estratigrafía secuencial de sistemas deltaicos en cuencas de antepaís: ejemplos de Montserrat, Sant Llorenç del Munt, Montserrat y Roda (Paleogeno, cuenca de Antepaís surpirenaica).

After the sedimentological study of the Sant Llorenc del Munt, Montserrat and Roda deltaic systems, a stratigraphic subdivision based on three different scale transgressiveregressive sequences has been developed. This subdivision has been established on the coastal facies belts from the deduced shoreline (and associated facies belts) migration. These transgressive-regressive sequences are formed by a lower transgressive part with a deepening-upwards trend and a retrogradational staclung pattern and an upper regressive part, with shallowing-upwards trend and a progradational stacking pattern. The lowest scale sequences (metrical) have been named 'fundamental sequences'. A series of 'composite sequences', intermediate scale (decametric to hectometric), have been defined afier the study of the staclung pattem of the fundamental sequences. After the study of the stacking pattem of composite sequences there have been defined a series of large-scale (decametric to kilometric) 'composite megasequences'.

Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Pleistocene sediments in Lake Llauset (Southern Pyrenees, Spain)-a first approach

The high alpine valleys in the Southem Pyrenees are characterised by a many small lakes and ponds. They occur above 2000 m and are said to have been formed by glacial erosion. The sediments in these basins should, therefore, contain s t p tigraphic information since deglaciation, at least. An interesting and may be one of the most important of these basins is Lake Llauset in the Alta Ribagorca. The Llauset basin has recently been developped for hydsopower production. In conection with the construction of the retaining wall at the 'Riegel' the sedimentary filling of the lake basin could be investigated, and the first sedimentological and stratigraphicalresults are presented.

Palinomorfos del Triásico superior resedimentados en los materiales marinos eocenos de Sant LlorenÇ del Munt (Cuenca del Ebro, NE EspaÑa)

El complejo de abanico costero de Sant Lloren$ del Munt se encuentra en el margen sureste de la cuenca del Ebro, en el noroeste de España. Durante el Paleógeno, este margen de la cuenca estuvo sometido a unas condiciones de tipo transpresivo durante las que se desarrollaron una serie de pliegues, cabalgarnientos y failas de desgarre. Esta estructuración dió lugar a un bloque tectónicamente elevado constituido por materiales del zócalo paleozoico y la cobertera mesozoica que alimentaba una serie de abanicos aluviales y costeros, como el de Sant Lloren$ del Munt, que se desarrollaron en el borde de la cuenca del Ebro. El complejo de Sant Lloren$ del Munt presenta depósitos tanto subaereos como submarinos bien desarrollados, donde se han podido diferenciar cinco principales asociaciones de facies : abanico aluvial proximal, abanico aluvial distal/llanura de abanico costero, frente deltaico, talud deltaico/offshore y plataforma carbonática. Se han tomado 32 muestras de las facies marinas del Bartoniense para el estudio de su contenido palinológico y en 19 de éstas se han encontrado granos de polen triásicos. La mayor parte de las muestras con porcentajes altos de palinomorfos triásicos se corresponden con facies detríticas ligadas a períodos con importantes aportes sedimentarios. Se ha determinado la presencia de más de 15 palinomorfos triásicos diferentes, la mayoría de los cuales nunca han sido encontrados en las muestras tomadas en los materiales triásicos que afloran en areas relativamente cercanas a la aquí estudiada. Se han encontrado palinomorfos típicos del Kamiense y Nonense (Tnásico superior). Los materiales del Triásico superior debieron aflorar extensamente durante el Bartoniense en el actual Valles occidental. El área fuente del complejo de Sant Lloren$ del Munt estuvo constituida tanto por materiales del zócalo paleozoico como de la cobertera Triásica, alcanzando esta última un desarrollo mucho más importante de lo que se había deducido hasta el momento. Existe una relación entre los tramos de las secuencias (fundamentales y compuestas), el contenido en palinomorfos triásicos resedimentados y el grado de conservación del polen. Existe también una relación entre el tipo de facies y el contenido en palinomorfos triásicos resedimentados.

Primeros datos cromoestratigráficos de las series evaporíticas del triásico superior de Valencia (España)

El Triásico Superior del sector central valenciano de la Cordillera Ibérica presenta una facies germánica (Keuper) integrada por dos secuencias evaporíticas separadas por un episodio detrítico principal. Los datos preliminares obtenidos de una investigación palinológica en curso revelan una edad Karniense para todos estos materiales.

Architectural characterization of a delta-front reservoir analogue combining ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography: Roda Sandstone (Lower Eocene, Graus-Tremp basin, Spain)

Three-dimensional reconstruction of reservoir analogues can be improved combining data from different geophysical methods. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) data are valuable tools, since they provide subsurface information from internal architecture and facies distribution of sedimentary rock bodies, enabling the upgrading of depositional models and heterogeneity reconstruction. The Lower Eocene Roda Sandstone is a well-known deltaic complex widely studied as a reservoir analogue that displays a series of sandstone wedges with a general NE to SW progradational trend. To provide a better understanding of internal heterogeneity of a 10m-thick progradational delta-front sandstone unit, 3D GPR data were acquired. In addition, common midpoints (CMP) to measure the sandstone subsoil velocity, test profiles with different frequency antennas (25, 50 and 100MHz) and topographic data for subsequent correction in the geophysical data were also obtained. Three ERT profiles were also acquired to further constrain GPR analysis. These geophysical results illustrate the geometry of reservoir analogue heterogeneities both depositional and diagenetic in nature, improving and complementing previous outcrop-derived data. GPR interpretation using radar stratigraphy principles and attributes analysis provided: 1)tridimensional geometry of major stratigraphic surfaces that define four units in the GPR Prism, 2) image the internal architecture of the units and their statistical study of azimuth and dips, useful for a quick determination of paleocurrent directions. These results were used to define the depositional architecture of the progradational sandbody that shows an arrangement in very-high-frequency sequences characterized by clockwise paleocurrent variations and decrease of the sedimentary flow, similar to those observed at a greater scale in the same system. This high-frequency sequential arrangement has been attributed to the autocyclic dynamics of a supply-dominated delta- front where fluvial and tidal currents are in competition. The resistivity models enhanced the viewing of reservoir quality associated with cement distribution caused by depositional and early diagenetic processes related to the development of transgressive and regressive systems tracts in igh-frequency sequences.

Origen marino de la sal triásica del domo de Pinoso (Alicante, España)

Los contenidos en bromo, entre 70 y 150 ppm, de la sal triásita (probablemente del Triásico superior, en facies Keuper) de los sondeos del domo de Pinoso, Alicante. indican claramente el origen marino de la misma y con'ello la alihentación oceánica de lascubetasevaporíticas instaladas sobre la amplia plataforma triásica circum-Tethys.

Las rocas graníticas de la Cordillera Litoral Catalana, entre Mataró y Barcelona

En este trabajo se estudian las facies graniticas del sector suroccidental del batolito granitico herciniano que aflora al NE de Barcelona. Tomando como base sus composiciones mineralógicas y texturales se individualizan cuatro tipos graniticos y se realiza su cartografa a escala 1:100.000. Dos de los tipos son tonalitas biotitico-homblendicas, el tercero granodioritas biotiticas y el cuarto leucogranitos biotitico (-moscoviticos). Por último. las relaciones de campo (contactos netos; diques y enclaves de unos tipos en otros) sugieren una relación entre ellos de tipo intrusivo con una sucesión en su emplazamiento desde los tipos mas básicos a los más ácidos.