Discarge compilation from The Global River Discharge (RivDIS) Project

The Global River Discharge (RivDIS) data set contains monthly discharge measurements for 1018 stations located throughout the world. The period of record varies widely from station to station, with a mean of 21.5 years. These data were digitized from published UNESCO archives by Charles Voromarty, Balaze Fekete, and B.A. Tucker of the Complex Systems Research Center (CSRC) at the University of New Hampshire. River discharge is typically measured through the use of a rating curve that relates local water level height to discharge. This rating curve is used to estimate discharge from the observed water level. The rating curves are periodically rechecked and recalibrated through on-site measurement of discharge and river stage.

中央アフリカにおける国家の崩壊

中央アフリカでは、2013年3月、当時のボジゼ政権がムスリムを主体とする武装勢力セレカの攻撃によって瓦解して以降、宗教の差異を基軸とする対立が激化し、暴力に歯止めがかからない状況が続いている。こうした｢宗教対立」の根本には、政治秩序の崩壊がある。現在の混乱は、植民地化以前の奴隷狩りをも含む長期の歴史過程において中央アフリカ国家に埋め込まれた矛盾の噴出と解釈できる。フランスをはじめとする国際社会の関与は、人道危機を緩和する効果があった一方で、結果として国土の分断を促した。事態は依然として流動的だが、中央アフリカが政治秩序の確立に失敗すれば、国際安全保障上の著しい脅威となることは避けられない。

Modelo de escuelas evolutivas para campos de refugiados y desplazados en el Sahel

La Fundación Entreculturas, en línea con sus actividades para el desarrollo integral de los sectores desfavorecidos en África, ha elaborado un proyecto en consorcio con JRS (Servicio Jesuita al Refugiado) con el objetivo de “garantizar el acceso a una educación primaria de calidad para la población retornada y las comunidades reintegradas en zonas de acogida en el Este de Chad”. Este proyecto tratará de intervenir en las condiciones educativas tratando la problemática de una manera global: a través de la formación de docentes, la promoción comunitaria, la reducción de la pobreza, la equidad de género y la construcción de infraestructuras. La presente propuesta trata de responder a este último punto, planteando una solución técnica adecuada y pertinente desde el punto de vista del producto y del proceso. Con el documento se pretende aportar una serie de soluciones constructivas que puedan ser utilizadas tanto en los contextos específicos de este proyecto como en otros con características similares, de manera que se contribuya a una estandarización de los procesos y soluciones garantizando la calidad, seguridad, economía, rapidez y control en este tipo de situaciones de emergencia, en los que el tiempo de planificación y ejecución es limitado.

Cytokine-mediated enhancement of epidermal growth factor receptor expression provides an immunological approach to the therapy of pancreatic cancer

The increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor induced by tumor necrosis factor α renders pancreatic cancer cells more susceptible to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by a mAb specific for this receptor. Laboratory studies with athymic mice bearing xenografts of human pancreatic cancer cells demonstrated a cytokine-induced ability of the mAb to cause significant tumor regression. In a phase I/II clinical trial, 26 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled into three cohorts receiving variable amounts of the antibody together with a constant amount of tumor necrosis factor α. With increasing doses of antibody, the growth of the primary tumor was significantly inhibited. This was reflected by a longer median survival, with one complete remission lasting for 3 years obtained with the highest dose of antibody employed. Thus, a combination of the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α, with a mAb to the epidermal growth factor receptor offers a potentially useful approach for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Nonlinearity in genetic decoding: Homologous DNA replicase genes use alternatives of transcriptional slippage or translational frameshifting

The τ and γ subunits of DNA polymerase III are both encoded by a single gene in Escherichia coli and Thermus thermophilus. γ is two-thirds the size of τ and shares virtually all its amino acid sequence with τ. E. coli and T. thermophilus have evolved very different mechanisms for setting the approximate 1:1 ratio between τ and γ. Both mechanisms put ribosomes into alternate reading frames so that stop codons in the new frame serve to make the smaller γ protein. In E. coli, ≈50% of initiating ribosomes translate the dnaX mRNA conventionally to give τ, but the other 50% shift into the −1 reading frame at a specific site (A AAA AAG) in the mRNA to produce γ. In T. thermophilus ribosomal frameshifting is not required: the dnaX mRNA is a heterogeneous population of molecules with different numbers of A residues arising from transcriptional slippage on a run of nine T residues in the DNA template. Translation of the subpopulation containing nine As (or +/− multiples of three As) yields τ. The rest of the population of mRNAs (containing nine +/− nonmultiples of three As) puts ribosomes into the alternate reading frames to produce the γ protein(s). It is surprising that two rather similar dnaX sequences in E. coli and T. thermophilus lead to very different mechanisms of expression.

γ-Secretase inhibitors repress thymocyte development

A major therapeutic target in the search for a cure to the devastating Alzheimer's disease is γ-secretase. This activity resides in a multiprotein enzyme complex responsible for the generation of Aβ42 peptides, precipitates of which are thought to cause the disease. γ-Secretase is also a critical component of the Notch signal transduction pathway; Notch signals regulate development and differentiation of adult self-renewing cells. This has led to the hypothesis that therapeutic inhibition of γ-secretase may interfere with Notch-related processes in adults, most alarmingly in hematopoiesis. Here, we show that application of γ-secretase inhibitors to fetal thymus organ cultures interferes with T cell development in a manner consistent with loss or reduction of Notch1 function. Progression from an immature CD4−/CD8− state to an intermediate CD4+/CD8+ double-positive state was repressed. Furthermore, treatment beginning later at the double-positive stage specifically inhibited CD8+ single-positive maturation but did not affect CD4+ single-positive cells. These results demonstrate that pharmacological γ-secretase inhibition recapitulates Notch1 loss in a vertebrate tissue and present a system in which rapid evaluation of γ-secretase-targeted pharmaceuticals for their ability to inhibit Notch activity can be performed in a relevant context.

Central & Eastern Africa, 1635 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Aethiopia superior vel interior, vulgo Abissinorum sive Presbiteri Ioannis imperium. It was published by Guiljelmum et Johannem Blaeu in 1635. Scale [ca. 1:12,600,000]. Covers Central and Eastern Africa. Map in Latin.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially. Includes notes, illustrations of animals, and ornamental cartouche. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Central & Eastern Africa, 1655 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Haute Ethiopie, ou sont L'Empire des Abissins, La Nubie, et le Zanguebar : subdivisés en leurs principales parties, tirés de Sanut de Mercator &c. par le Sr. Sanson d'Abbeville. It was published by P. Mariette in 1655. Covers Central and Eastern Africa. Scale [ca. 1:12,000,000]. Map in French.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Central & Eastern Africa, 1887 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Central Africa : on a scale of 1:10,000,000, By Dr. F. Boas. It was published by Hart & Von Arx in 1887. Scale 1:10,000,000 The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by shading. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Red Sea Region, North Africa, ca. 1730 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Carte de l'Egypte, de la Nubie, de l'Abyssinie &c., par Guillaume de l'Isle, de l'Academie Royal a Paris. It was published by Chez Henri de Leth, a l'enseigne du Pecheur ca. 1730. Scale [ca. 1:9,250,000]. Covers the Red Sea region, North Africa including portions of the Middle East and Europe. Map in French.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, major roads, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Indian Ocean Region, ca. 1690 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Nova tabula Indiae Orientalis. It was published by Carolus Allard excudit, between 1690 and 1710. Scale [ca. 1:5,500,000]. Covers the Indian Ocean Region. Map in Latin. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the World Miller Cylindrical projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, roads, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

North Africa, 1670 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Barbaria Biledulgerid o : Libye et pars Nigritarum terra. It was published by J. von Meurs in 1670. Scale [ca. 1:12,250,000]. Covers North Africa and parts of Europe. Map in Latin.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Lambert Conformal Conic projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, roads and routes, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially. Includes illustrations.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

West & North Africa, ca. 1710 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Carte de la Barbarie, le [sic] la Nigritie et del la Guinée, par Guillaume de l'Isle de l'Academie Royale des Sciences. It was published by ex officina Nicolai Visscher, ca. 1710. Scale [ca.1:9,000,000]. Covers West and North Africa. Map in French.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, routes and roads, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially. Includes notes.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

West & North Africa, ca. 1730 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Carte de la Barbarie, le la Nigritie et de la Guinée, par Guill[au]me Del'Isle, de l'Academie Royale des Sciences. It was published by Chez Jean Cóvens et Corneille Mortier, Geographes ca. 1730. Scale [ca.1:9,250,000]. Covers West and North Africa. Map in French.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, roads and routes, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially. Includes notes.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.