A new isoform of anti-lipopolysaccharide factor identified from the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus: Molecular characteristics and phylogeny

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors are small proteins that bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharide and exhibit potent antimicrobial activities. This study presents the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the first ALF isoform (Pp-ALF1; JQ745295) identified from the hemocytes of Portunus pelagicus. The full length cDNA of Pp-ALF1 consisted of 880 base pairs encoding 293 amino acids with an ORF of 123 amino acids and contains a putative signal peptide of 24 amino acids. Pp-ALF1 possessed a predicted molecular weight (MW) of 13.86 kDa and theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 8.49. Two highly conserved cysteine residues and putative LPS binding domain were observed in Pp-ALF1. Peptide model of Pp-ALF1 consisted of two α-helices crowded against a four-strand β-sheet. Comparison of amino acid sequences and neighbor joining tree showed that Pp-ALF1 has a maximum similarity (46%) to ALF present in Portunus trituberculatus followed by 39% similarity to ALF of Eriocheir sinensis and 38% similarity to ALFs of Scylla paramamosain and Scylla serrata. Pp-ALF1 is found to be a new isoform of ALF family and its characteristic similarity with other known ALFs signifies its role in protection against invading pathogens.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Spiro-Starburst-Structures as Blue Light Emitters and Zeolites

Spiro-starburst-structures with symmetric globular structures in forms of first and second generations that readily form stable amorphous glasses have been synthesized and then characterised in this work. During the synthesis of these materials, possibilities of the extension of the chains of the phenyl rings in 2,2’,7 and 7’-positions of the central core of the spirobifluorene as well as the 2’,7 and 7’-positions of the terminal spirobifluorene units of the spiro-starburst-structures have been investigated so that solubilities and morphologies of the compounds are not negatively influenced. Their morphological properties have been explored by recording their decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature. These compounds possessing two perpendicular arrangement of the two molecular halves show high glass transition temperature (Tg), which is one of the most important parameter indicating the stability of the amorphous state of the material for optoelectronic devices like organic light emitting diodes. Within the species of second generation compounds, for example, 4-spiro3 shows the highest Tg (330 °C) and the highest branching degree. When one [4B(SBF)SBF-SBF 84] or two [4SBFSBF-SBF 79] terminal spirobifluorene units are removed, the Tg decreases to 318 °C and 307 °C respectively. Photo absorption and fluorescence spectra and cyclic voltammetry measurements are taken in account to characterize the optoelectronic properties of the compounds. Spiro-starburst-structures emit radiation in the blue region of the visible spectrum. The peak maxima of absorption and emission spectra are observed to be at higher wavelength in the molecules with longer chromophore chains than in the molecules with shorter chromophore chains. Excitation spectra are monitored with their emission peak maxima. The increasing absorbing species in molecule leads to increasing molar extinction coefficient. In the case of 4B(TP)SBF-SBF 53 and 4B(SBF)SBF-SBF 84, the greater values of the molar extinction coefficients (43*104 and 44*104 L mol-1 cm-1 respectively) are the evidences of the presence of four times octiphenyl conjugation rings and eight times terminal fluorene units respectively. The optical properties of solid states of these compounds in the form of thin film indicate that the intermolecular interaction and aggregation of individual molecules in neat amorphous films are effectively hindered by their sterically demanding structures. Accordingly, in solid state, they behave like isolated molecules in highly dilute solution. Cyclic voltammetry measurements of these compounds show electrochemically reversibility and stability. Furthermore, the zeolitic nature (host-guest) of the molecular sieve of the synthesized spiro-starburst-structures has been analysed by thermogravimetric analysis method.

Downscaling and Modeling the Effects of Climate Change on Hydrology and Water Resources in the Upper Blue Nile River Basin, Ethiopia

The Upper Blue Nile River Basin (UBNRB) located in the western part of Ethiopia, between 7° 45’ and 12° 45’N and 34° 05’ and 39° 45’E has a total area of 174962 km2 . More than 80% of the population in the basin is engaged in agricultural activities. Because of the particularly dry climate in the basin, likewise to most other regions of Ethiopia, the agricultural productivity depends to a very large extent on the occurrence of the seasonal rains. This situation makes agriculture highly vulnerable to the impact of potential climate hazards which are about to inflict Africa as a whole and Ethiopia in particular. To analyze these possible impacts of future climate change on the water resources in the UBNRB, in the first part of the thesis climate projection for precipitation, minimum and maximum temperatures in the basin, using downscaled predictors from three GCMs (ECHAM5, GFDL21 and CSIRO-MK3) under SRES scenarios A1B and A2 have been carried out. The two statistical downscaling models used are SDSM and LARS-WG, whereby SDSM is used to downscale ECHAM5-predictors alone and LARS-WG is applied in both mono-model mode with predictors from ECHAM5 and in multi-model mode with combined predictors from ECHAM5, GFDL21 and CSIRO-MK3. For the calibration/validation of the downscaled models, observed as well as NCEP climate data in the 1970 - 2000 reference period is used. The future projections are made for two time periods; 2046-2065 (2050s) and 2081-2100 (2090s). For the 2050s future time period the downscaled climate predictions indicate rise of 0.6°C to 2.7°C for the seasonal maximum temperatures Tmax, and of 0.5°C to 2.44°C for the minimum temperatures Tmin. Similarly, during the 2090s the seasonal Tmax increases by 0.9°C to 4.63°C and Tmin by 1°C to 4.6°C, whereby these increases are generally higher for the A2 than for the A1B scenario. For most sub-basins of the UBNRB, the predicted changes of Tmin are larger than those of Tmax. Meanwhile, for the precipitation, both downscaling tools predict large changes which, depending on the GCM employed, are such that the spring and summer seasons will be experiencing decreases between -36% to 1% and the autumn and winter seasons an increase of -8% to 126% for the two future time periods, regardless of the SRES scenario used. In the second part of the thesis the semi-distributed, physically based hydrologic model, SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool), is used to evaluate the impacts of the above-predicted future climate change on the hydrology and water resources of the UBNRB. Hereby the downscaled future predictors are used as input in the SWAT model to predict streamflow of the Upper Blue Nile as well as other relevant water resources parameter in the basin. Calibration and validation of the streamflow model is done again on 1970-2000 measured discharge at the outlet gage station Eldiem, whereby the most sensitive out the numerous “tuneable” calibration parameters in SWAT have been selected by means of a sophisticated sensitivity analysis. Consequently, a good calibration/validation model performance with a high NSE-coefficient of 0.89 is obtained. The results of the future simulations of streamflow in the basin, using both SDSM- and LARS-WG downscaled output in SWAT reveal a decline of -10% to -61% of the future Blue Nile streamflow, And, expectedly, these obviously adverse effects on the future UBNRB-water availibiliy are more exacerbated for the 2090’s than for the 2050’s, regardless of the SRES.

Beyond the blue horizon : the role of industry in global environmental politics

by Joanne M. Kaufman.

PowerPoint Teaching Template - UoS blue flat.ppt

This PowerPoint file can be used as a template for teaching presentations. This version has a solid blue background and pale grey text on the title slide and all subsequent content slides.

PowerPoint Teaching Template - UoS blue & grey.ppt

This PowerPoint file can be used as a template for teaching presentations. This version has a blue fade background and pale grey text on the title slide and pale grey background and blue text on subsequent content slides.

PowerPoint Teaching Template - UoS blue fade.ppt

This PowerPoint file can be used as a template for teaching presentations. This version has a blue fade background and pale grey text on the title slide and all subsequent content slides.

De Millos y algo más. Estudio sobre la barrabrava Blue Rain en Bogotá

El proyecto está orientado al estudio de las agrupaciones denominadas barras bravas. A través de la etnografía, se explora la cotidianidad de las personas que integran estos grupos. Por tanto, a partir del enfoque en las prácticas individuales y grupales, así como las trayectorias y posiciones de los integrantes de estos grupos en los diferentes espacios sociales, se establece un debate ante las miradas particulares y académicas que condenan o rehabilitan moralmente a las barras bravas.

Blue leaf: Una alternativa diferente de alimentación saludable

Blue Leaf es un proyecto de emprendimiento que consiste en la elaboración y venta directa de bebidas naturales a base de frutas a través de un food truck en la ciudad de Bogotá. Tras revisar algunas tendencias actuales como la cultura Fitness y el Juicing, y tras identificar un problema sobre los hábitos de alimentación desordenados que llevan muchas personas, nace Blue Leaf como una alternativa de alimentación saludable, natural, práctica y diferente. El negocio contará inicialmente con un portafolio de 12 bebidas divididas en tres categorías. Primero, las bebidas alimenticias cuentan con altos contenidos nutricionales y sirven como fuente de alimento práctico y saludable; segundo, las bebidas funcionales, están diseñadas para ofrecer beneficios específicos de salud como desintoxicar, ayudar a bajar de peso o fortalecer las defensas; por último, las bebidas fuente de energía, cuentan con altos niveles de vitaminas y minerales que le permiten a los consumidores recargar energías rápidamente y continuar con sus actividades diarias. Adicionalmente, Blue Leaf ofrecerá la oportunidad a los consumidores de hacer su propia bebida, dándoles la posibilidad de elegir de entre más de 50 ingredientes entre bases, frutas, verduras, hierbas, semillas, adiciones y endulzantes. El proyecto es liderado por Paola Higuera Rodríguez y David Santiago Soto, ambos estudiantes de la Escuela de Administración de la Universidad del Rosario

Del Gossypium las blue jeans. L'an??lisi. L'h??bit de concloure. 'Del Gossypium a los blue jeans. El an??lisis. El h??bito de concluir'

Desarrollo de un cr??dito del ??rea de Tecnolog??a para el ??ltimo curso del ciclo 12-16. La tem??tica presentada permite hacer una valoraci??n de una secuencia de un proceso y de la evoluci??n tecnol??gica del textil. Estructura los contenidos en los temas: fibras textiles, hilatura, tejidos y confecci??n. Para cada tema describe los contenidos conceptuales, de procedimiento y actitudinales, los objetivos did??cticos y las actividades de aprendizaje y evaluaci??n. Presenta el material de soporte planteado para el desarrollo de las veintid??s actividades de aprendizaje.

Big blue whale.

La ballena azul es el animal más grande que ha vivido sobre la Tierra. Ofrece una descripción de la ballena azul, hábitos de alimentación, cuidado de las cría,la migración, y cómo se comunica con un zumbido tan fuerte y tan bajo que puede viajar a miles de kilómetros a través de los mares para llegar a otras ballenas azules. Figuras humanas, un elefante y una jirafa, todos ellos de pie junto a la cola de la ballena para demostrar su tamaño. Recurso para la enseñanza de la lectura. Para invitar a los niños a debatir la portada y el título y preguntarles lo que conocen de esta historia. Es el inicio de una reflexión sobre los textos y sus significados. Los niños pueden aprender a dividir una palabra en sus partes principales y crear nuevas palabras por analogía con las palabras que conocen, o para sugerir otras palabras. Para la lectura en grupos, individual o en parejas.

How to be brilliant at recording in science.

Contiene hojas de trabajo estructuradas de tal forma, que desarrollan un enfoque sistemático en la investigación de la ciencia en la enseñanza primaria, especialmente, entre alumnos de siete a once años. Cumple con los planes de estudios nacionales de todo el Reino Unido. Estas hojas de trabajo, son fotocopiables y proporcionan treinta y ocho ideas, con objetivos de aprendizaje dirigidos a los niños, es decir, cada uno de ellos se centra en que éstos desarrollen una aptitud específica en cualquier aspecto de la ciencia.

Brilliant activities for stretching gifted and talented children : open-ended mental stimulation activities.

Manual que ayuda a padres y profesores a prestar a los niños superdotados y con talento la estimulación mental que necesitan. En la primera parte se hacen comentarios, teorías, por ejemplo, la taxonomía de Bloom, y conceptos relacionados con la creatividad, el aprendizaje y la enseñanza. La segunda parte ofrece una selección de actividades para toda la clase: rompecabezas y ejercicios entretenidos de matemáticas. La tercera parte proporciona entretenimientos de composición abierta, ejercicios independientes para los alumnos. Todas las actividades son fotocopiables. Aunque escrito principalmente para alumnos excepcionales hasta la edad de once años, este recurso presenta enfoques e ideas que pueden aplicarse a cualquier alumno y a cualquier situación de enseñanza.

Priming, mindfulness e efeito placebo: revisão sistemática da literatura e intervenção em trabalhadores blue collar

Os placebos têm sido estudados ao longo dos tempos, apresentando resultados em várias áreas e potencialidades ainda por descobrir. A maneira como os utilizar e explorar mantém-se em aberto em várias áreas de intervenção. Este trabalho pretendeu, com a elaboração de dois artigos, analisar a influência do priming, mindfulness e efeito placebo na actividade física e exercício físico, no que diz respeito a parâmetros de composição corporal e hemodinâmica. Para isso realizou-se a revisão sistemática da literatura do artigo 1, que tinha como objectivo analisar a influência do Priming e Mindfulness como facilitadores do Efeito Placebo com base na Actividade Física, Exercício Físico e alteração de comportamentos visando a saúde. No artigo 2, definiu-se como objectivo principal analisar a influência de uma intervenção com priming na actividade física, composição corporal e pressão arterial em sujeitos com uma actividade profissional blue collar. Os resultados apontam para a validade do priming como instrumento despoletador de mudança no comportamento e efeito placebo. A intervenção realizada não surtiu os efeitos esperados no grupo experimental. O grupo de controlo, por algum factor não controlado, revelou melhorias significativas na maioria dos parâmetros avaliados. Verificou-se que o priming pode ser um instrumento válido na mudança de comportamentos, havendo ainda a necessidade de compreender melhor como é que se deverá aplicar esta ferramenta ao contexto do exercício físico. Um estado de mindfulness mais elevado parece estar associado à facilitação da mudança de comportamento.