Characterization and Space-Time Downscaling of the Inundation Extent over the Inner Niger Delta Using GIEMS and MODIS Data

The objective in this work is to develop downscaling methodologies to obtain a long time record of inundation extent at high spatial resolution based on the existing low spatial resolution results of the Global Inundation Extent from Multi-Satellites (GIEMS) dataset. In semiarid regions, high-spatial-resolution a priori information can be provided by visible and infrared observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The study concentrates on the Inner Niger Delta where MODIS-derived inundation extent has been estimated at a 500-m resolution. The space-time variability is first analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA). This is particularly effective to understand the inundation variability, interpolate in time, or fill in missing values. Two innovative methods are developed (linear regression and matrix inversion) both based on the PCA representation. These GIEMS downscaling techniques have been calibrated using the 500-m MODIS data. The downscaled fields show the expected space-time behaviors from MODIS. A 20-yr dataset of the inundation extent at 500 m is derived from this analysis for the Inner Niger Delta. The methods are very general and may be applied to many basins and to other variables than inundation, provided enough a priori high-spatial-resolution information is available. The derived high-spatial-resolution dataset will be used in the framework of the Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to develop and test the instrument simulator as well as to select the calibration validation sites (with high space-time inundation variability). In addition, once SWOT observations are available, the downscaled methodology will be calibrated on them in order to downscale the GIEMS datasets and to extend the SWOT benefits back in time to 1993.

Analysis of the Genome and Transcriptome of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii Reveals Complex RNA Expression and Microevolution Leading to Virulence Attenuation

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast responsible for more than 600,000 deaths each year. It occurs as two serotypes (A and D) representing two varieties (i.e. grubii and neoformans, respectively). Here, we sequenced the genome and performed an RNA-Seq-based analysis of the C. neoformans var. grubii transcriptome structure. We determined the chromosomal locations, analyzed the sequence/structural features of the centromeres, and identified origins of replication. The genome was annotated based on automated and manual curation. More than 40,000 introns populating more than 99% of the expressed genes were identified. Although most of these introns are located in the coding DNA sequences (CDS), over 2,000 introns in the untranslated regions (UTRs) were also identified. Poly(A)-containing reads were employed to locate the polyadenylation sites of more than 80% of the genes. Examination of the sequences around these sites revealed a new poly(A)-site-associated motif (AUGHAH). In addition, 1,197 miscRNAs were identified. These miscRNAs can be spliced and/or polyadenylated, but do not appear to have obvious coding capacities. Finally, this genome sequence enabled a comparative analysis of strain H99 variants obtained after laboratory passage. The spectrum of mutations identified provides insights into the genetics underlying the micro-evolution of a laboratory strain, and identifies mutations involved in stress responses, mating efficiency, and virulence.

Levels of Alpha-Toxin Correlate with Distinct Phenotypic Response Profiles of Blood Mononuclear Cells and with agr Background of Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

Epidemiological studies of Staphylococcus aureus have shown a relation between certain clones and the presence of specific virulence genes, but how this translates into virulence-associated functional responses is not fully elucidated. Here we addressed this issue by analyses of community-acquired S. aureus strains characterized with respect to antibiotic resistance, ST types, agr types, and virulence gene profiles. Supernatants containing exotoxins were prepared from overnight bacterial cultures, and tested in proliferation assays using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The strains displayed stable phenotypic response profiles, defined by either a proliferative or cytotoxic response. Although, virtually all strains elicited superantigen-mediated proliferative responses, the strains with a cytotoxic profile induced proliferation only in cultures with the most diluted supernatants. This indicated that the superantigen-response was masked by a cytotoxic effect which was also confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. The cytotoxic supernatants contained significantly higher levels of alpha-toxin than did the proliferative supernatants. Addition of alpha-toxin to supernatants characterized as proliferative switched the response into cytotoxic profiles. In contrast, no effect of Panton Valentine Leukocidin, delta-toxin or phenol soluble modulin alpha-3 was noted in the proliferative assay. Furthermore, a significant association between agr type and phenotypic profile was found, where agrII and agrIII strains had predominantly a proliferative profile whereas agrI and IV strains had a predominantly cytotoxic profile. The differential response profiles associated with specific S. aureus strains with varying toxin production could possibly have an impact on disease manifestations, and as such may reflect specific pathotypes.

Multivariate juggling probabilities

We consider refined versions of Markov chains related to juggling introduced by Warrington. We further generalize the construction to juggling with arbitrary heights as well as infinitely many balls, which are expressed more succinctly in terms of Markov chains on integer partitions. In all cases, we give explicit product formulas for the stationary probabilities. The normalization factor in one case can be explicitly written as a homogeneous symmetric polynomial. We also refine and generalize enriched Markov chains on set partitions. Lastly, we prove that in one case, the stationary distribution is attained in bounded time.

An estimate of the number of tropical tree species

The high species richness of tropical forests has long been recognized, yet there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the actual number of tropical tree species. Using a pantropical tree inventory database from closed canopy forests, consisting of 657,630 trees belonging to 11,371 species, we use a fitted value of Fisher's alpha and an approximate pantropical stem total to estimate the minimum number of tropical forest tree species to fall between similar to 40,000 and similar to 53,000, i.e., at the high end of previous estimates. Contrary to common assumption, the Indo-Pacific region was found to be as species-rich as the Neotropics, with both regions having a minimum of similar to 19,000-25,000 tree species. Continental Africa is relatively depauperate with a minimum of similar to 4,500-6,000 tree species. Very few species are shared among the African, American, and the Indo-Pacific regions. We provide a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.

Modelling staphylococcal pneumonia in a human 3D lung tissue model system delineates toxin-mediated pathology

Staphylococcus aureus necrotizing pneumonia is recognized as a toxin-mediated disease, yet the tissue-destructive events remain elusive, partly as a result of lack of mechanistic studies in human lung tissue. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) tissue model composed of human lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts was used to delineate the role of specific staphylococcal exotoxins in tissue pathology associated with severe pneumonia. To this end, the models were exposed to the mixture of exotoxins produced by S. aureus strains isolated from patients with varying severity of lung infection, namely necrotizing pneumonia or lung empyema, or to purified toxins. The necrotizing pneumonia strains secreted high levels of alpha-toxin and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and triggered high cytotoxicity, inflammation, necrosis and loss of E-cadherin from the lung epithelium. In contrast, the lung empyema strain produced moderate levels of PVL, but negligible amounts of alpha-toxin, and triggered limited tissue damage. alpha-toxin had a direct damaging effect on the epithelium, as verified using toxin-deficient mutants and pure alpha-toxin. Moreover, PVL contributed to pathology through the lysis of neutrophils. A combination of alpha-toxin and PVL resulted in the most severe epithelial injury. In addition, toxin-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators from lung tissue models resulted in enhanced neutrophil migration. Using a collection of 31 strains from patients with staphylococcal pneumonia revealed that strains producing high levels of alpha-toxin and PVL were cytotoxic and associated with fatal outcome. Also, the strains that produced the highest toxin levels induced significantly greater epithelial disruption. Of importance, toxin-mediated lung epithelium destruction could be inhibited by polyspecific intravenous immunoglobulin containing antibodies against alpha-toxin and PVL. This study introduces a novel model system for study of staphylococcal pneumonia in a human setting. The results reveal that the combination and levels of alpha-toxin and PVL correlate with tissue pathology and clinical outcome associated with pneumonia.

Design of a manual press for the production of compacted stabilized soil blocks

In this paper, we discuss the design of a manually operated soil compaction machine that is being used to manufacture stabilized soil blocks (SSB). A case study of manufacturing more than three million blocks in a housing project using manually operated machines is illustrated. The paper is focussed on the design, development, and evaluation of a manually operated soil compaction machine for the production of SSB. It also details the machine design philosophy, compaction characteristics of soils, employment generation potential of small-scale stabilized soil block productions systems, and embodied energy. Static compaction of partially saturated soils was performed to generate force-displacement curves in a confined compaction process were generated. Based on the soil compaction data engineering design aspects of a toggle press are illustrated. The results of time and motion study on block production operations using manual machines are discussed. Critical path network diagrams were used for small-scale SSB production systems. Such production systems generate employment at a very low capital cost.

A Study of Pressure-Dependent Squeeze Film Stiffness as a Resonance Modulator Using Static and Dynamic Measurements

We report on the resonant frequency modulation of inertial microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures due to squeeze film stiffness over a range of working pressures. Squeeze film effects have been studied extensively, but mostly in the context of damping and Q-factor determination of dynamic MEMS structures, typically suspended over a fixed substrate with a very thin air gap. Here, we show with experimental measurements and analytical calculations how the pressure-dependent air springs (squeeze film stiffness) change the resonant frequency of an inertial MEMS structure by as much as five times. For capturing the isolated effect of the squeeze film stiffness, we first determine the static stiffness of our structure with atomic force microscope probing and then study the effect of the air spring by measuring the dynamic response of the structure, thus finding the resonant frequencies while varying the air pressure from 1 to 905 mbar. We also verify our results by analytical and Finite Element Method calculations. Our findings show that the pressure-dependent squeeze film stiffness can affect a rather huge range of frequency modulation (>400%) and, therefore, can be used as a design parameter for exploiting this effect in MEMS devices. 2014-0310]

Analysis of indentation loading curves obtained using conical indenters

Using dimensional analysis and finite-element calculations we determine the functional form of indentation loading curves for a rigid conical indenter indenting into elastic-perfectly plastic solids. The new results are compared with the existing theories of indentation using conical indenters, including the slip-line theory for rigid-plastic solids, Sneddon's result for elastic solids, and Johnson's model for elastic-perfectly plastic solids. In the limit of small ratio of yield strength (Y) to Young's modulus (E), both the new results and Johnson's model approach that predicted by slip-line theory for rigid-plastic solids. In the limit of large Y/E, the new results agree with that for elastic solids. For a wide range of Y/E, some difference is found between Johnson's model-and the present result. This study also demonstrates the possibilities and limitations of using indentation loading curves to extract fundamental mechanical properties of solids.

Productividad de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum) en respuesta a dos formas y épocas de aplicación del nitrógeno en la variedad L-68-40

Se estudió el comportamiento agro-industrial de la variedad L-68-40, de Marzo 1995- Marzo 1996. Se evaluaron las formas y épocas de aplicación del nitrógeno sobre el cultivo de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum sp) . El diseño experimental utilizado fue de Bloques Completos al Azar, las variables analizadas fueron: Germinación, diámetro, altura, población, peso por tallo, rendimiento agrícola, rendimiento industrial y rendimiento agro industrial. Los datos obtenidos se sometieron al análisis de varianza y separación de medias según, Dtmcan al 5 por ciento. Según los resultados obtenidos de las variables evaluadas no se observaron diferencias estadísticas significativas. El mayor rendimiento agrícola fue de 153.16 toneladas de caña por hectárea, este se obtuvo aplicando el fertilizante 75 días después de la siembra. El mayor rendimiento industrial de 89.02 kg de azúcar por toneladas correspondiente a la aplicación del fertilizante de forma fraccionada al momento de la siembra + 75 días después de la siembra. El mayor rendimiento agro-industrial fue obtenido en el tratamiento 75 días después de la siembra con una aplicación de forma total con 14.59 toneladas de azúcar por hectárea.

Producción de frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) bajo tres sistemas de labranza y tres métodos de control de malezas y su evaluación económica, primera 1996

Durante el ciclo de primera (mayo-agosto) 1996, se realizó el presente trabajo en la estación experimental La Compañía, ubicada en el municipio de San Marcos departamento de Carazo. Los objetivos fueron: evaluar la efectividad e influencia de tres sistemas de labranzas (cero, mínima y convencional), y tres métodos de control de malezas (pre­ emergente más post-emergente, pre-emergente más chapia y pre-emergente más cobertura), sobre la dinámica de las malezas, la incidencia y severidad de la enfermedad mustia hilachosa del frijol común (Phaseolu vulgaris L.) causada por el hongo Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donck, el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo de frijol. El diseño utilizado en el experimento fue de Bloques Completamente al Azar donde sus tratamientos fueron arreglados en un parcelas divididas. En la parcela grande se estableció el factor labranzas de suelo y en la parcela pequeña los controles de malezas. Los datos recopilados de las variables en estudio fueron sometidos a un análisis de varianza y comparaciones de medias por Duncan al 5 por ciento. Los resultados muestran que labranza convencional y el control de malezas pre-emergente más cobertura obtuvieron los mejores resultados en la reducción de la abundancia y dominancia de malezas, de igual forma labranza convencional presentó la menor diversidad de malezas con el control de malezas pre-emergente más chapia. Respecto a las variables de crecimiento en frijol, labranza cero y mínima y el control de malezas pre-emergente más cobertura resultaron con mayores promedios de altura de plantas. En cuanto a las variables del rendimiento en el cultivo del frijol común, labranza cero obtuvo el mayor rendimiento de grano con (1923.9 kg/ha) y el control de malezas pre­ emergente más cobertura con (1719.4 kg/ha), no así labranza convencional presentó el menor rendimiento de grano con (1470.3 kg/ha) y el control de malezas pre-emergente más post-emergente con (1634.8 kg/ha). La comparación de individuos/m2 en el banco de semillas versus individuosfm2 en el campo muestra que los individuos con mayor porcentaje de germinación fueron Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers, lxophorus unisetus K. B. Presl, Cyperus rotundus L y Ageratum conyzoides L, encontrando mayor número de individuosfm2 en el banco de semillas (invernadero). Los resultados del análisis económico a través del presupuesto parcial y de dominancia muestra que labranza cero y el control de malezas pre-emergente más post - emergente presentó mayor rentabilidad a nivel de costos y beneficios más altos, ya que sus costos son moderados y se obtienen ingresos netos rentables. La mayor taza de retomo marginal se obtiene al cambiar de labranza mínima (pre emergente más cobertura) a labranza cero (pre-emergente más cobertura) con una tasa de retomo marginal de 2 454 (C$/ha).