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Objective: This study aimed to analyze the expression of the high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and its association with clinical and histopathological features of the disease. Methods: Twenty-three patients with biopsy-confirmed LN and 14 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active disease (SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score ≥ 6) and no evidence of LN were included. Clinical and laboratory features were recorded. NETs and the expression of HMGB1 were assessed by confocal microscopy, and serum HMGB1 levels were measured by ELISA. Results: In comparison to patients without kidney disease, patients with LN had a higher expression of HMGB1 in spontaneous (57 vs. 30.4; p = 0.027) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced (55.8 vs. 24.9; p = 0.005) NETs. We found a positive correlation between serum HMGB1 and the expression of HMGB1 in LPS-induced NETs (r = 0.447, p = 0.017). The expression of HMGB1 in spontaneous NETs correlated with SLEDAI score (r = 0.514, p = 0.001), anti-dsDNA antibodies (r = 0.467, p = 0.004), the rate of glomerular filtration descent (r = 0.543, p = 0.001), and diverse histopathological components of active nephritis in the kidney biopsy, such as the activity index (r = 0.581, p = 0.004), fibrinoid necrosis (r = 0.603, p = 0.002), and cellular crescents (r = 0.486, p = 0.019). Conclusions: In patients with SLE, NETs are a source of extracellular HMGB1. The expression of HMGB1 in NETs is higher among patients with LN, which correlates with clinical and histopathological features of active nephritis and suggest a possible role of this alarmin in the pathophysiology of kidney damage in SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to address whether bloodstream infections are a risk factor for the development of severe lupus flares, as well as clinical, immunological and microbiological features of patients with bloodstream infections that develop severe lupus flares. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study comparing 87 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with bloodstream infections and 87 hospitalized SLE patients without bloodstream infections as a comparison group. All patients were followed up for at least 3 months or until one of the primary outcomes was developed (severe SLE flare according to SELENA/ SLEDAI score or death). Microbiological features of all bloodstream infections were recorded. The disease status at the end of follow up was registered. Results: A total of 23 patients (13.2%) developed a severe flare during follow up; among them, 20 (87%) had an associated episode of bloodstream infection (p<0.001). The most frequent flares were renal (43.4%) and severe thrombocytopenia (26%). After multivariate analysis, baseline-independent factors associated with severe SLE flare were bloodstream infection [hazard ratio (HR) 7.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.13-24.95; p=0.002]. Among patients with bloodstream infections, low C4 levels (HR 2.43, 95% CI 1.04-5.69: p=0.04) and Streptococcus pneumoniae were associated with severe SLE flare (HR 3.41, 95% CI 1.68-6.91; p=0.012). Conclusions: SLE patients with bloodstream infections, especially due to S. pneumoniae, and low C4 levels, are at higher risk for development of severe SLE flares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the impact of the amount and distribution of soil water on xylem anatomy and xylem hydraulics of current-year shoots, plant water status and stomatal conductance of mature ‘Manzanilla’ olive trees. Methods: Measurements of water potential, stomatal conductance, hydraulic conductivity, vulnerability to embolism, vessel diameter distribution and vessel density were made in trees under full irrigation with non-limiting soil water conditions, localized irrigation, and rain-fed conditions. Results: All trees showed lower stomatal conductance values in the afternoon than in the morning. The irrigated trees showed water potential values around −1.4 and −1.6 MPa whereas the rain-fed trees reached lower values. All trees showed similar specific hydraulic conductivity ( Ks) and loss of conductivity values during the morning. In the afternoon, Ks of rain-fed trees tended to be lower than of irrigated trees. No differences in vulnerability to embolism, vessel-diameter distribution and vessel density were observed between treatments. Conclusions: A tight control of stomatal conductance was observed in olive which allowed irrigated trees to avoid critical water potential values and keep them in a safe range to avoid embolism. The applied water treatments did not influence the xylem anatomy and vulnerability to embolism of current-year shoots of mature olive trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Nevado–Filabride complex, the lowest complex in the Betic hinterland, forms a stack of Alpine nappes. The tectonic units consist of metasedimentary sequences whose ages are not well constrained. Gneiss bodies included in the sequences have been one of the few sources of geochronological data in this metamorphic complex. New radiometric data from U-Pb zircon dating on gneisses from the western Sierra Nevada confirm the presence of late Carboniferous intrusive rocks in the Betic hinterland. These results, combined with available data from the literature and a detailed structural analysis, suggest that the gneisses represent a single late Variscan magmatic event. Evidence for a close genetic relation between gneisses and tourmalinites is provided by field and petrographic observations, in conjunction with geochemical data, U-Pb zircon (314±7; 304±23Ma) and 40Ar/39Ar tourmaline (319.85±5.81; 317.85±3.67Ma) geochronology. A pre-late Carboniferous age for the basal formation of the Nevado–Filabride sequence can be inferred. The gneiss protolith and the graphite schist are considered to be the boron source and the precursor of the tourmalinites, respectively. Superposed tectonic units rather than a continuous Palaeozoic sequence is supported by the occurrence of Palaeozoic rocks at the top of the Nevado–Filabride complex. The nappe tectonics, as evidenced from the contractional character of the unit boundaries and the superposition of higher-grade on lower-grade metamorphic rocks, is additionally supported by the superposition of older on younger rocks as revealed from radiometric data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourmaline-rich rocks (up to 60% tourmaline) associated with low–medium grade metamorphic assemblages occur in the Sierra Nevada area (Betic Cordillera, southeastern Spain). Tourmaline appears in a variety of forms: (1) stratiform tourmalinites; (2) quartz–tourmaline nodules; (3) porphyroclasts in felsic orthogneisses; and (4) disseminations in psammopelitic metasediments and gneisses. Tourmaline within these lithologic groups exhibits textural and chemical variations that reflect complex premetamorphic growth under open-system conditions, and subsequent changes due to Alpine regional metamorphism.Microprobe analyses of the tourmalines reveal a wide compositional variation between schorl and dravite end members with variable contents of X-site vacancies (av. 0.084–0.225 apfu), Ca (av. 0.095–0.269 apfu), and excess of Al (up to 6.588 apfu) compared with the theoretical value of 6 in ideal schorl and dravite. The amount of Ca may be significant in porphyroclasts from the gneisses. Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios for tourmalines in tourmalinites, metasediments, and gneisses range from 0.34 to 0.95, 0.16 to 0.92, and 0.28 to 0.97, respectively. Na/(Na+Ca) ratios are also variable, mostly ranging from 0.5 to 0.9. Many of the tourmalines have complex chemical and colour zoning patterns, including significant fluctuations in Al, Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, Ti, and F.Based on petrographic and chemical data, three generations of tourmaline have been established. The first generation corresponds to magmatic–postmagmatic tourmaline that is represented by tourmaline porphyroclasts within the orthogneisses. The second generation of tourmaline formed during tourmalinization of psammopelitic rocks giving rise to tourmalinites. The third generation of tourmaline is represented by cellular textures, pale reaction rims and overgrowths developed during the Alpine regional metamorphic overprint. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Drought-related tree mortality is a global phenomenon that currently affects a wide range of forests. Key functional variables on plant hydraulics, carbon economy, growth and allocation have been identified and play a role in tree drought responses. However, tree mortality thresholds based on such variables are difficult to identify, especially under field conditions. We studied several Aleppo pine populations differently affected by an extreme drought event in 2014, with mortality rates ranging from no mortality to 90% in the most severely affected population. We hypothesized that mortality is linked with high levels of xylem embolism, i.e. hydraulic dysfunction, which would also lead to lower tree resistance to drought in subsequent years. Despite not finding any differences among populations in the vulnerability curves to xylem embolism, there were large differences in the hydraulic safety margin (HSM) and the hydraulic dysfunction level. High mortality rates were associated with a negative HSM when xylem embolism reached values over 60%. We also found forest weakening and post-drought mortality related to a low hydraulic water transport capacity, reduced plant growth, low carbohydrate contents and high pest infestation rates. Our results highlight the importance of drought severity and the hydraulic dysfunction level on pine mortality, as well as post-drought conditions during recovery processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have reported that hydraulic properties vary considerably between tree species, but little is known about their intraspecific variation and, therefore, their capacity to adapt to a warmer and drier climate. Here, we quantify phenotypic divergence and clinal variation for embolism resistance, hydraulic conductivity and branch growth, in four tree species, two angiosperms (Betula pendula, Populus tremula) and two conifers (Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris), across their latitudinal distribution in Europe. Growth and hydraulic efficiency varied widely within species and between populations. The variability of embolism resistance was in general weaker than that of growth and hydraulic efficiency, and very low for all species but Populus tremula. In addition, no and weak support for a safety vs. efficiency trade-off was observed for the angiosperm and conifer species, respectively. The limited variability of embolism resistance observed here for all species except Populus tremula, suggests that forest populations will unlikely be able to adapt hydraulically to drier conditions through the evolution of embolism resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jálama pluton (JP) is a Variscan peraluminous granitoid that intruded into low-grade metasediments from the Central Iberian Zone (CIZ). It comprises a sillimanite-bearing two-mica monzogranite in the inner zone, followed by a tourmaline-bearing two-mica monzogranite, and a marginal tourmaline-muscovite leucogranite in the northern half of the pluton. Microgranitoid enclaves and metasedimentary xenoliths occur locally in monzogranites. The change in rock type from the central monzogranite to the marginal leucogranite corresponds to decreasing TiO2, MgO, FeO, CaO, Sr, Ba, Zr, and ΣREE, and increasing SiO2, Na2O, P2O5, Rb, Li, Cs, Ta, Sn, and W. Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios in biotite, muscovite and tourmaline increase with increasing Fe/(Fe+Mg) in bulk rock, suggesting an important control of the bulk-rock composition on mineral chemistry. The high peraluminosity, the low CaO and high P contents, as well as the similarity ofε(Nd)300values in both the granites and metasediments of the southern CIZ constitute strong evidences for a crustal origin of the granite suite, probably by melting of these metasedimentary rocks. Field and petrographic observations, together with mineralogical and geochemical data, suggest that assimilation and mingling/mixing acted in concert with fractional crystallization during the formation of the JP. These processes may also have been important in the evolution of other granitoids from this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium cannot be determined by electron microprobe, but it may be an essential component in tourmaline-supergroup minerals. Therefore, its estimation is important for structural formula calculation and nomenclature. In this paper, we present a method to estimate Li content in tourmaline from microprobe data based on a multiple linear-regression model, which is not reliant on a particular normalization scheme. The results derived from this model are reasonably accurate, particularly for low-Mg tourmalines (<2 wt.% MgO) with Li2O contents higher than ~0.3 wt.%. Furthermore, it provides a better fitness compared with estimations of Li assuming that Li fills any cation deficiency at the Y site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves in Europe, leading to effects on forest growth and major forest dieback events due to hydraulic failure caused by xylem embolism. Inter-specific variability in embolism resistance has been studied in detail, but little is known about intra-specific variability, particularly in marginal populations. We evaluated 15 European beech populations, mostly from geographically marginal sites of the species distribution range, focusing particularly on populations from the dry southern margin. We found small, but significant differences in resistance to embolism between populations, with xylem pressures causing 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity ranging from -2.84 to -3.55 MPa. Significant phenotypic clines of increasing embolism resistance with increasing temperature and aridity were observed: the southernmost beech populations growing in a warmer drier climate and with lower habitat suitability have higher resistance to embolism than those from Northern Europe growing more favourable conditions. Previous studies have shown that there is little or no difference in embolism resistance between core populations, but our findings show that marginal populations have developed ways of protecting their xylem based on either evolution or plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of anti-Ro52/tripartite motif 21 (Trim21) autoantibodies has been associated with a distinctive clinical profile and has gained value as a prognostic marker in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). The aim of the present work was to analyse Ro52/Trim21 expression in different subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with IIM, as well as the ubiquitination profile and its association with proinflammatory cytokine production. We included 18 patients with recent-onset IIM and 18 age- and gender-matched healthy donors. PBMCs were isolated and different subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD14+) were purified by magnetic selection. The expression of Ro52/Trim21 in different PBMC subsets of patients with IIM and healthy donors was analysed by Western blot. We assessed the presence of myositis-specific and associated autoantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytokine levels were measured by cytometric bead array. Patients with IIM showed decreased protein expression of Ro52/Trim21 in comparison to healthy controls in PBMC (0·97 ± 0·60 versus 1·84 ± 0·92, P = 0·016), CD4+ lymphocytes (0·79 ± 0·54 versus 2·41 ± 0·78, P = 0·017), and monocytes (0·87 ± 0·35 versus 1·89 ± 0·20, P < 0·001). There were no significant differences among IIM groups. Also, a lower K48-mediated ubiquitination profile was found, predominantly in CD4+ lymphocytes. Furthermore, after mitogenic stimulation, there was a higher synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines by T cells [interleukin (IL)-17A and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α] and monocytes [IL-6 and interferon (IFN)-α] from IIM patients compared with healthy controls. Our data suggest that patients with IIM, mainly DM, are characterized by a deficient expression of Ro52/TRIM21 in different PBMC subsets (CD4+ lymphocytes and monocytes), along with lower K48-mediated ubiquitination, which is associated with a proinflammatory cytokine response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium cannot be determined by electron microprobe, but it may be an essential component in tourmalinesupergroup minerals. Therefore, its estimation is important for structural formula calculation and nomenclature. In this paper, we present a method to estimate Li content in tourmaline from microprobe data based on a multiple linear-regression model, which is not reliant on a particular normalization scheme. The results derived from this model are reasonably accurate, particularly for low-Mg tourmalines (<2 wt.% MgO) with Li2O contents higher than ~0.3 wt.%. Furthermore, it provides a better fitness compared with estimations of Li assuming that Li fills any cation deficiency at the Y site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium mineralization is common in the Central Iberian Zone and, to a lesser extent, in the Galizia-Trás-Os- Montes Zone of Spain and Portugal, occurring along a ~500 km-long NNW-SSE striking belt. There are different styles of Li mineralization along this belt; they are mainly associated with aplite-pegmatite bodies and, to a much lesser extent, with veins of quartz and phosphate. Lithium mineralization in the Central Iberian Zone may be classified into four types: aplite-pegmatite dykes occurring in pegmatitic fields, Li mineralization associated with leucogranitic cupolas, beryl-phosphate pegmatites and quartz-montebrasite veins. The main Li minerals of these bodies include Li-mica, spodumene and/or petalite in the pegmatitic fields and leucogranitic cupolas; triphylite-lithiophilite in the beryl-phosphate pegmatites, and amblygonite-montebrasite in the quartz-montebrasite veins. The origin of these different styles of mineralization is considered to be related to differentiation of peraluminous melts, which were generated by partial melting of metasedimentary rocks during the Variscan orogeny. On the basis of paragenesis and chemical composition, the pegmatitic fields and Li mineralization associated with granitic cupolas record the highest fractionation levels, whereas the beryl-phosphate pegmatites and quartz-montebrasite veins show lower degrees of fractionation. There are a number of textural and mineralogical indicators for Li exploration in the Central Iberian Zone and in the Galizia-Trás-Os-Montes Zone, with the highest economic potential for Li being in the pegmatite fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used sap flow and trunk diameter measurements for assessing water stress in a high-density 'Arbequina' olive orchard with control trees irrigated to replace 100 % of the crop water needs, and 60RDI and 30RDI trees, in which irrigation replaced ca. 60 and 30 % of the control, respectively. We calculated the daily difference for both tree water consumption ( $$ D_{{E_{\text{p}} }} $$) and maximum trunk diameter ( D) between RDI trees and control trees. The seasonal dynamics of $$ D_{{E_{\text{p}} }} $$ agreed reasonably well with that of the stem water potential. We identified peculiarities on the response $$ D_{{E_{\text{p}} }} $$ to changes in water stressing conditions, which must be taken into account when using the index. An analysis of the water stress variability in the orchard is required for choosing the instrumented trees. The reliability of the D index was poorer than that of $$ D_{{E_{\text{p}} }} $$. The maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) was not a reliable water stress indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Pinilla de Fermoselle pegmatite is a cap-like body with an asymmetrical vertical zoning, from a granitic facies at the bottom to the upper contact with the metamorphic country-rocks. The granite grades imperceptibly into the pegmatite, which includes three main zones with different degrees of enrichment in Li+F+B (±P, Rb, Cs, Be, Sn). The essential minerals are quartz, feldspar, Al-micas from the muscovite–lepidolite series, Fe-micas (biotite and zinnwaldite), tourmaline (schorl–elbaite–rossmanite) and Fe–Mn phosphates. Apatite, beryl, cassiterite and cookeite are the most significant accessory minerals. The trace elements Li, Be and Sr show similar trends in feldspar, micas and tourmaline, with an increase in the Li and Be contents and a decrease in Sr from the granite to the most evolved pegmatitic zone. Similar trends are shown by Rb, Cs and Ba for micas and K-feldspar, Rb and Cs increasing gradually from the granite to most evolved pegmatitic zones, simultaneously to the decrease of Ba. In tourmaline Nb and Ta contents increase upwards whereas Zn contents decrease in the same way. The Mn contents increase until intermediate degrees of evolution, and decrease again in the pinkish elbaite. Combined field, petrographic and geochemical data are consistent with a fractional crystallization model from a granitic melt, with a clear petrogenetic relationship between the underlying peraluminous granite and the pegmatite body. K-feldspar and, particularly, micas and tourmaline appear as good geochemical monitors using trace elements such as Li, Rb, Be, Sr and Ba, which offer intriguing insights into the petrogenesis of pegmatites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary Tourmaline is an ubiquitous constituent in the Pinilla de Fermoselle rare-element pegmatite (Zamora, Spain), as well as in barren pegmatitic and quartz–tourmaline veins inside the associated leucogranite. The rare-element pegmatite shows internal zoning, evolving from a barren facies, in the lower border zone, in contact with the leucogranite, to a Li-rich facies in the upper border zone, close to the host-rocks. Tourmalines from the veins within the leucogranite have highest Mg contents, and belong to the schorl–dravite series. The tourmalines from the rare-element pegmatite mostly belong to the schorl–elbaite series, with chemical compositions within the range of the end-members, whereas the tourmalines associated with the most evolved zone in the pegmatite belong to the elbaite–rossmanite series. The broad compositional range shown by the tourmalines correlates quite well with the pegmatite zoning. The most plausible substitution mechanism for the chemical evolution of tourmalines during crystallization seems to be Mg-1Fe2+1, [X]-1YAl-1XNa-1YFe2+1, for the foitite–schorl series; YFe2+-3YAl1.5YLi1.5, for the schorl–elbaite vector; XNa-1YLi-0.5[X]1YAl0.5, for the elbaite–rossmanite series; and, (OH)1F1 for all the tourmalines except the pink elbaites. This chemical variation in tourmaline is consistent with a crystal fractionation model for the evolution of the Pinilla pegmatite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]