Die Gletscher der bolivianischen Anden, Verbreitung von Gletschern und neuzeitlichen Moränen in der Cordillera Apolobamba Cololo Region (Ostkordillere)

The uniform triangulation of the whole glacierized area of the Eastern Cordillera of Bolivia provided the first comparable geometrie basis for an accurate photogrammetric height evaluation of glaciers in the mountain range from the far south up to the Peruvian border. A total of 1775 glaciers, larger than 0.1 ha, were recorded in 16 mountain ranges ofthe East- ern Cordillera. Snow lines in the outer tropics can now be analysed with an accuracy of European standards. In spite of the widemeshed network of meteorological stations this allows a more pre- eise climatic differentiation to be made, particularly at high altitude sites. The methods and results of the analysis are described. Because of these results it becomes necessary to revise and refine previous concepts of the spatial distribution of climatic phenomena. Characteristics of glaciers in the Bolivian Cordillera obviously depend on the NE to SW decline in precipitation. The snow lines which are found at an altitude of 4500 m on the north- eastern slope directed towards the Yungas climb up to 5200 m on the lee slope towards the Alti- plano. The N to S increase in snowline elevation is not as significant as expected. With some res- ervation a 100 m fall in the snowline elevation in the Bolivian Cordillera can be explained by an increase in precipitation of about 50 mm.

Ostracoda in surface sediments of the Arctic Ocean

Ostracodes were studied from deep Arctic Ocean cores obtained during the Arctic 91 expedition of the Polarstern to the Nansen, Amundsen and Makarov Basins, the Lomonosov Ridge, Morris Jesup Rise and Yermak Plateau, in order to investigate their distribution in Arctic Ocean deep water (AODW) and apply these data to paleoceanographic reconstruction of bottom water masses during the Quaternary. Analyses of coretop assemblages from Arctic 91 boxcores indicate the following: ostracodes are common at all depths between 1000 and 4500 m, and species distribution is strongly influenced by water mass characteristics and bathymetry; quantitative analyses comparing Eurasian and Canada Basin assemblages indicate that distinct assemblages inhabit regions east and west of the Lomonosov Ridge, a barrier especially important to species living in lower AODW; deep Eurasian Basin assemblages are more similar to those living in Greenland Sea deep water (GSDW) than those in Canada Basin deep water; two upper AODW assemblages were recognized throughout the Arctic Ocean, one living between 1000 and 1500 m, and the other, having high species diversity, at 1500-3000 m. Downcore quantitative analyses of species' abundances and the squared chord distance coefficient of similarity reveals a distinct series of abundance peaks in key indicator taxa interpreted to signify the following late Quaternary deep water history of the Eurasian Basin. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a GSDW/AODW assemblage, characteristic of cold, well oxygenated deep water > 3000 m today, inhabited the Lomonosov Ridge to depths as shallow as 1000 m, perhaps indicating the influence of GSDW at mid-depths in the central Arctic Ocean. During Termination 1, a period of high organic productivity associated with a strong inflowing warm North Atlantic layer occurred. During the mid-Holocene, several key faunal events indicate a period of warming and/or enhanced flow between the Canada and Eurasian Basins. A long-term record of ostracode assemblages from kastenlot core PS2200-5 (1073 m water depth) from the Morris Jesup Rise indicates a quasi-cyclic pattern of water mass changes during the last 300 kyr. Interglacial ostracode assemblages corresponding to oxygen isotope stages 1, 5, and 7 indicate rapid changes in dissolved oxygen and productivity during glacial-interglacial transitions.

News agencies, their constant reinvention as a strategy to face competition

News agencies compete for a foothold as providers of information and mass media. Covered by a technological class infrastructure, Associated Press, Reuters, Agence FrancePresse (AFP) and EFE are leaders of the global media system because they introduce revolutionary changes in their production routines, professional culture, journalistic genres and styles; also for its innovative product offerings and services. This article also focuses on the strategies of the agencies to get closer to their audiences, from the agreements established and the treatment of very specific themes. Some solutions that contribute to the future survival of these entities are also proposed.

Public Perceptions of the Midwest's Pavements - Executive Summary: Iowa

This report summarizes Iowa results of a five year, Pooled Fund study involving the Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota Departments of Transportation (DOTs) designed to 1) assess the public's perceptions of the DOTs' pavement improvement strategies and 2) develop customer-based thresholds of satisfaction with pavements on rural two lane highways in each state as related to the DOTs' physical indices, such as pavement ride and condition. The primary objective was to seek systematic customer input to improve the DOTs' pavement improvement policies by 1) determining how drivers perceive the DOTs' pavements in terms of comfort and convenience but also in terms of other tradeoffs the DOTs had not previously considered, 2) determining relationships between perceptions and measured pavement condition thresholds (including a general level of tolerance of winter ride conditions in two of the states), and 3) identifying important attributes and issues that may not have been considered in the past. Secondary objectives were 1) to provide a tool for systematic customer input in the future and 2) to provide information which can help structure public information programs. A University of Wisconsin-Extension survey lab conducted the surveys under the direction of a multi-disciplinary team from Marquette University. Approximately 4500 drivers in the 3 states participated in the 3 phases of the project. Researchers conducted 6 focus groups in each state, approximately 400 statewide telephone interviews in each state and 700-800 targeted telephone interviews in each state. Approximately 400 winter ride interviews were conducted in Wisconsin and Minnesota. A summary of the method for each survey is included. In Phase I, focus groups were conducted with drivers to get an initial indication of what the driving public believes in regards to pavements and to frame issues for inclusion in the more representative statewide surveys of drivers conducted in Phase II. Phase II interviews gathered information about improvement policy tradeoff issues and about preliminary thresholds of improvement in terms of physical pavement indices. In Phase III, a two step recruitment and post-drive interview procedure yielded thresholds of ride and condition index summarized for each state. Results show that, in general, the driving public wants longer lasting pavements and are willing to pay for them. They want to minimize construction delay, improve entire sections of highway at one time but they dislike detours, and prefer construction under traffic even if it stretches out construction time. Satisfaction with pavements does not correlate directly to a high degree with physical pavement indices, but was found instead to be a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon. A psychological model was applied to explain satisfaction to a respectable degree for the social sciences. Results also indicate a high degree of trust in the 3 DOTs which is enhanced when the public is asked for input on specific highway segments. Conclusions and recommendations include a 3-step methodology for other state studies.

Descomposición de residuos, dinámica del fósforo y evolución de variables físicas de suelo en la secuencia soja / cultivos de cobertura en el oeste de la Región Pampeana

Los cultivos de cobertura (CC) constituyen una práctica conservacionista actualmente revalorizada a nivel local e internacional. En la Región Pampeana surgen como una alternativa para compensar, al menos parcialmente, los efectos negativos del monocultivo de soja. En siembra directa aún se desconocen los efectos de esta práctica sobre algunas propiedades y procesos físico-químicos y biológicos del suelo. En esta tesis se llevaron a cabo experimentos de campo en el Oeste de la Región Pampeana para evaluar la descomposición de biomasa y liberación de distintas fracciones de fósforo (P) desde los residuos y las propiedades físicas de suelo en distintos momentos de la secuencia Soja/CC. Los CC incrementaron el carbono orgánico, la actividad y biomasa microbiana (13-53 por ciento) de la capa superficial del suelo y estimularon la descomposición de residuos de soja (7,3 por ciento). Los residuos de los CC liberaron cantidades agronómicamente significativas de P (5-16 kg ha-1) durante el período de crecimiento de soja, a la vez que mantuvieron elevados niveles de cobertura (1200 - 4500 kg ha-1). Una parte importante del P liberado inicialmente (53-100) proviene de la fracción inorgánica, cuya liberación estaría parcialmente desacoplada del proceso de descomposición. Las tasas empíricas de liberación de las fracciones de P podrían ser incorporadas en modelos de predicción de la contribución del P de los residuos a la disponibilidad del P del suelo. Los CC cuyas raíces fueron más gruesas incrementaron la macroporosidad y la tasa de infiltración del suelo. Las propiedades físicas presentaron variaciones temporales independientemente del efecto de los tratamientos. La cantidad y calidad de los residuos aéreos, así como las características del sistema radical de cada especie de CC regularían su efectividad en el mantenimiento de la cobertura y el mejoramiento de las propiedades físicas del suelo, que, en última instancia, contribuyen a la conservación del recurso.

Chemical characterization and evaluation of biological activity of Cynara cardunculus extractable compounds

The Mediterranean species Cynara cardunculus L. is recognized in the traditional medicine, for their hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. Biomass of C. cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC), or cultivated cardoon, may be explored not only for the production of energy and pulp fibers, but also for the extraction of bioactive compounds. The chemical characterization of extractable components, namely terpenic and phenolic compounds, may valorize the cultivated cardoon plantation, due to their antioxidant, antitumoral and antimicrobial activities. In this study, the chemical composition of lipophilic and phenolic fractions of C. cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC), cultivated in the south of Portugal (Baixo Alentejo region) was characterized in detail, intending the integral valorization of its biomass. The biological activity of cultivated cardoon extracts was evaluated in terms of antioxidant, human tumor cell antiproliferative and antibacterial effects. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the chemical analysis of lipophilic compounds. Sixty-five lipophilic compounds were identified, from which 1 sesquiterpene lactone and 4 pentacyclic triterpenes were described, for the first time, as cultivated cardoon components, such as: deacylcynaropicrin, acetates of β- and α-amyrin, lupenyl acetate and ψ-taraxasteryl acetate. Sesquiterpene lactones were the major family of lipophilic components of leaves (≈94.5 g/kg), mostly represented by cynaropicrin (≈87.4 g/kg). Pentacyclic triterpenes were also detected, in considerably high contents, in the remaining parts of cultivated cardoon, especially in the florets (≈27.5 g/kg). Taraxasteryl acetate was the main pentacyclic triterpene (≈8.9 g/kg in florets). High pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was utilized for the chemical analysis of phenolic compounds. Among the identified 28 phenolic compounds, eriodictyol hexoside was reported for the first time as C. cardunculus L. component, and 6 as cultivated cardoon components, namely 1,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, naringenin 7-O-glucoside, naringenin rutinoside, naringenin, luteolin acetylhexoside and apigenin acetylhexoside. The highest content of the identified phenolic compounds was observed in the florets (≈12.6 g/kg). Stalks outer part contained the highest hydroxycinnamic acids abundance (≈10.3 g/kg), and florets presented the highest flavonoids content (≈10.3 g/kg). The antioxidant activity of phenolic fraction was examined through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Stalks outer part, and receptacles and bracts extracts demonstrated the highest antioxidant effect on DPPH (IC50 of 34.35 μg/mL and 35.25 μg/mL, respectively). (cont.) abstract (cont.) The DPPH scavenging effect was linearly correlated with the total contents of hydroxycinnamic acids (r = -0.990). The in vitro antiproliferative activity of cultivated cardoon lipophilic and phenolic extracts was evaluated on a human tumor cells line of triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), one of the most refractory human cancers to conventional therapeutics. After 48 h of exposition, leaves lipophilic extract showed higher inhibitory effect (IC50 = 10.39 μg/mL) than florets lipophilic extract (IC50 = 315.22 μg/mL), upon MDA-MB-231 cellular viability. Pure compound of cynaropicrin, representative of the main compound identified in leaves lipophilic extract, also prevented the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 17.86 μM). MDA-MB-231 cells were much more resistant to the 48 h- treatment with phenolic extracts of stalks outer part (IC50 = 3341.20 μg/mL) and florets (IC50 > 4500 μg/mL), and also with the pure compound of 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (IC50 = 1741.69 μM). MDA-MB-231 cells were exposed, for 48 h, to the respective IC50 concentrations of leaves lipophilic extract and pure compound of cynaropicrin, in order to understand their ability in modelling cellular responses, and consequently important potentially signaling pathways for the cellular viability decrease. Leaves lipophilic extract increased the caspase-3 enzymatic activity, contrarily to pure compound of cynaropicrin. Additionally, leaves lipophilic extract and pure compound of cynaropicrin caused G2 cell cycle arrest, possibly by upregulating the p21Waf1/Cip1 and the accumulation of phospho-Tyr15-CDK1 and cyclin B1. The inhibitory effects of leaves lipophilic extract and cynaropicrin pure compound, against the MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation, may also be related to the downregulation of phospho-Ser473-Akt. The antibacterial activity of cultivated cardoon lipophilic and phenolic extracts was assessed, for the first time, on two multidrug-resistant bacteria, such as the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and the Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), two of the main bacteria responsible for health care-associated infections. Accordingly, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined. Lipophilic and phenolic extracts of florets did not have antibacterial activity on P. aeruginosa PAO1 and MRSA (MIC > 2048 μg/mL). Leaves lipophilic extract did not prevent the P. aeruginosa PAO1 growth, but pure compound of cynaropicrin was slightly active (MIC = 2048 μg/mL). Leaves lipophilic extract and pure compound of cynaropicrin blocked MRSA growth (MIC of 1024 and 256 μg/mL, respectively). The scientific knowledge revealed in this thesis, either by the chemical viewpoint, or by the biological viewpoint, contributes for the valorization of C. cardunculus L. var. altilis (DC) biomass. Cultivated cardoon has potential to be exploited as source of bioactive compounds, in conciliation with other valorization pathways, and Portuguese traditional cheeses manufacturing.

Jisc CAN case study: Student Digital Ambassadors for Digital Literacy at London School of Economics

Student Digital Ambassadors for Digital Literacy at London School of Economics case study. Student Ambassadors for Digital Literacy (SADL) is a programme coordinated by Learning Technology and Innovation and LSE Library and open to LSE undergraduate students. It has been running since 2013, when it started as a pilot in two academic departments. LSE is a specialist social science institution, research led with a relatively small undergraduate population (approximately 4500 students). Students study across the social sciences in quantitative subjects such as economics, maths and statistics, and qualitative subjects such as social policy, international history and anthropology. The student population is highly international and LSE has an excellent rating for graduate employment. LSE Students Union offer support and promote SADL which aims to develop students digital literacies, but provides an opportunity to understand more about what their needs might be.

Nitrogen use efficiency in summer sorghum grown on clay soils

Nitrogen fertilizer inputs dominate the fertilizer budget of grain sorghum growers in northern Australia, so optimizing use efficiency and minimizing losses are a primary agronomic objective. We report results from three experiments in southern Queensland sown on contrasting soil types and with contrasting rotation histories in the 2012-2013 summer season. Experiments were designed to quantify the response of grain sorghum to rates of N fertilizer applied as urea. Labelled 15N fertilizer was applied in microplots to determine the fate of applied N, while nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were continuously monitored at Kingaroy (grass or legume ley histories) and Kingsthorpe (continuous grain cropping). Nitrous oxide is a useful indicator of gaseous N losses. Crops at all sites responded strongly to fertilizer N applications, with yields of unfertilized treatments ranging from 17% to 52% of N-unlimited potential. Maximum yields ranged from 4500 (Kupunn) to 5450 (Kingaroy) and 8010 (Kingsthorpe) kg/ha. Agronomic efficiency (kg additional grain produced/kg fertilizer N applied) at the optimum N rate on the Vertosol sites was 23 (80 N, Kupunn) to 25 (160N, Kingsthorpe), but 40-42 on the Ferrosols at Kingaroy (70-100N). Cumulative N2O emissions ranged from 0.44% (Kingaroy legume) to 0.93% (Kingsthorpe) and 1.15% (Kingaroy grass) of the optimum fertilizer N rate at each site, with greatest emissions from the Vertosol at Kingsthorpe. The similarity in N2O emissions factors between Kingaroy and Kingsthorpe contrasted markedly with the recovery of applied fertilizer N in plant and soil. Apparent losses of fertilizer N ranged from 0-5% (Ferrosols at Kingaroy) to 40-48% (Vertosols at Kupunn and Kingsthorpe). The greater losses on the Vertosols were attributed to denitrification losses and illustrate the greater risks of N losses in these soils in wet seasonal conditions.