ICOS Carbon Data Portal

La infraestructura europea ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System), tiene como misión proveer de mediciones de gases de efecto invernadero a largo plazo, lo que ha de permitir estudiar el estado actual y comportamiento futuro del ciclo global del carbono. En este contexto, geomati.co ha desarrollado un portal de búsqueda y descarga de datos que integra las mediciones realizadas en los ámbitos terrestre, marítimo y atmosférico, disciplinas que hasta ahora habían gestionado los datos de forma separada. El portal permite hacer búsquedas por múltiples ámbitos geográficos, por rango temporal, por texto libre o por un subconjunto de magnitudes, realizar vistas previas de los datos, y añadir los conjuntos de datos que se crean interesantes a un “carrito” de descargas. En el momento de realizar la descarga de una colección de datos, se le asignará un identificador universal que permitirá referenciarla en eventuales publicaciones, y repetir su descarga en el futuro (de modo que los experimentos publicados sean reproducibles). El portal se apoya en formatos abiertos de uso común en la comunidad científica, como el formato NetCDF para los datos, y en el perfil ISO de CSW, estándar de catalogación y búsqueda propio del ámbito geoespacial. El portal se ha desarrollado partiendo de componentes de software libre existentes, como Thredds Data Server, GeoNetwork Open Source y GeoExt, y su código y documentación quedarán publicados bajo una licencia libre para hacer posible su reutilización en otros proyecto

Dual control of hydrogen cyanide biosynthesis by the global activator GacA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

The global response regulator GacA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 positively controls the production of the quorum sensing signal molecule N-butanoyl-homoserine-lactone (C4-HSL) and hence the synthesis of several C4-HSL-dependent virulence factors, including hydrogen cyanide (HCN). This study presents evidence that GacA positively influences the transcription of the rhlI gene, specifying C4-HSL synthase, explaining the quorum sensing-dependent transcriptional control of the HCN biosynthetic genes (hcnABC). In addition, GacA was found to modulate hcn gene expression positively at a post-transcriptional level involving the hcnA ribosome-binding site. Thus, the activating effect of GacA on cyanogenesis results from both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms.

Monitoring switch-type sensors and powering autonomous sensors via inductive coupling: application to removable seats in vehicles

Aquesta tesi explora la possibilitat de fer servir enllaços inductius per a una aplicació de l’automòbil on el cablejat entre la centraleta (ECU) i els sensors o detectors és difícil o impossible. S’han proposat dos mètodes: 1) el monitoratge de sensors commutats (dos possibles estats) via acoblament inductiu i 2) la transmissió mitjançant el mateix principi físic de la potència necessària per alimentar els sensors autònoms remots. La detecció d'ocupació i del cinturó de seguretat per a seients desmuntables pot ser implementada amb sistemes sense fils passius basats en circuits ressonants de tipus LC on l'estat dels sensors determina el valor del condensador i, per tant, la freqüència de ressonància. Els canvis en la freqüència són detectats per una bobina situada en el terra del vehicle. S’ha conseguit provar el sistema en un marge entre 0.5 cm i 3 cm. Els experiments s’han dut a terme fent servir un analitzador d’impedàncies connectat a una bobina primària i sensors comercials connectats a un circuit remot. La segona proposta consisteix en transmetre remotament la potència des d’una bobina situada en el terra del vehicle cap a un dispositiu autònom situat en el seient. Aquest dispositiu monitorarà l'estat dels detectors (d'ocupació i de cinturó) i transmetrà les dades mitjançant un transceptor comercial de radiofreqüència o pel mateix enllaç inductiu. S’han avaluat les bobines necessàries per a una freqüència de treball inferior a 150 kHz i s’ha estudiat quin és el regulador de tensió més apropiat per tal d’aconseguir una eficiència global màxima. Quatre tipus de reguladors de tensió s’han analitzat i comparat des del punt de vista de l’eficiència de potència. Els reguladors de tensió de tipus lineal shunt proporcionen una eficiència de potència millor que les altres alternatives, els lineals sèrie i els commutats buck o boost. Les eficiències aconseguides han estat al voltant del 40%, 25% i 10% per les bobines a distàncies 1cm, 1.5cm, i 2cm. Les proves experimentals han mostrat que els sensors autònoms han estat correctament alimentats fins a distàncies de 2.5cm.

Alarma d'incendis, sistemes encastats

El projecte tracta de la realització d'una centraleta d'alarmes d'incendis basat en sistemes encastats amb un sistema operatiu TinyOs i programació amb NesC.

Análisis de plataformas para la publicación de información geográfica en la nube

Con este trabajo se pretende dar una visión global de diversas plataformas de publicación de información geográfica en la nube.

Una visión global y actual de los edulcorantes. Aspectos de regulación.

In this chapter we review the role and potential benefits of non-caloric sweeteners, as part of the diet. After appearing and interest in the beneficial effects attributed to them, face different situations and conditions (obesity, diabetes...), more and more numerous studies, show their ineffective use. In conclusion, further research and results are needed to provide convincing evidence of their long-term effectiveness and the absence of negative effects from their use. The interest of the chapter lies in examining the distinctive aspects of sweeteners compared with sugar, measured as the standard of comparison. We will focus then on the other substances that are commonly used to sweeten foods instead of sugar.

What spatial data do we need to develop global mammal conservation strategies?

Spatial data on species distributions are available in two main forms, point locations and distribution maps (polygon ranges and grids). The first are often temporally and spatially biased, and too discontinuous, to be useful (untransformed) in spatial analyses. A variety of modelling approaches are used to transform point locations into maps. We discuss the attributes that point location data and distribution maps must satisfy in order to be useful in conservation planning. We recommend that before point location data are used to produce and/or evaluate distribution models, the dataset should be assessed under a set of criteria, including sample size, age of data, environmental/geographical coverage, independence, accuracy, time relevance and (often forgotten) representation of areas of permanent and natural presence of the species. Distribution maps must satisfy additional attributes if used for conservation analyses and strategies, including minimizing commission and omission errors, credibility of the source/assessors and availability for public screening. We review currently available databases for mammals globally and show that they are highly variable in complying with these attributes. The heterogeneity and weakness of spatial data seriously constrain their utility to global and also sub-global scale conservation analyses.

Inferences about the global scenario of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection using data mining of viral sequences

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is mainly associated with two diseases: tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) and adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma. This retrovirus infects five-10 million individuals throughout the world. Previously, we developed a database that annotates sequence data from GenBank and the present study aimed to describe the clinical, molecular and epidemiological scenarios of HTLV-1 infection through the stored sequences in this database. A total of 2,545 registered complete and partial sequences of HTLV-1 were collected and 1,967 (77.3%) of those sequences represented unique isolates. Among these isolates, 93% contained geographic origin information and only 39% were related to any clinical status. A total of 1,091 sequences contained information about the geographic origin and viral subtype and 93% of these sequences were identified as subtype “a”. Ethnicity data are very scarce. Regarding clinical status data, 29% of the sequences were generated from TSP/HAM and 67.8% from healthy carrier individuals. Although the data mining enabled some inferences about specific aspects of HTLV-1 infection to be made, due to the relative scarcity of data of available sequences, it was not possible to delineate a global scenario of HTLV-1 infection.

El just-in-time i la fallida dels sistemes productius al Japó al març de 2011

El document descriu com el just-in-time va afavorir la fallida dels sistemes productius de les empreses d'automoció al Japó durant el gran terratrèmol de l'any 2011.

Forecasting changes in population genetic structure of alpine plants in response to global warming.

Species range shifts in response to climate and land use change are commonly forecasted with species distribution models based on species occurrence or abundance data. Although appealing, these models ignore the genetic structure of species, and the fact that different populations might respond in different ways because of adaptation to their environment. Here, we introduced ancestry distribution models, that is, statistical models of the spatial distribution of ancestry proportions, for forecasting intra-specific changes based on genetic admixture instead of species occurrence data. Using multi-locus genotypes and extensive geographic coverage of distribution data across the European Alps, we applied this approach to 20 alpine plant species considering a global increase in temperature from 0.25 to 4 °C. We forecasted the magnitudes of displacement of contact zones between plant populations potentially adapted to warmer environments and other populations. While a global trend of movement in a north-east direction was predicted, the magnitude of displacement was species-specific. For a temperature increase of 2 °C, contact zones were predicted to move by 92 km on average (minimum of 5 km, maximum of 212 km) and by 188 km for an increase of 4 °C (minimum of 11 km, maximum of 393 km). Intra-specific turnover-measuring the extent of change in global population genetic structure-was generally found to be moderate for 2 °C of temperature warming. For 4 °C of warming, however, the models indicated substantial intra-specific turnover for ten species. These results illustrate that, in spite of unavoidable simplifications, ancestry distribution models open new perspectives to forecast population genetic changes within species and complement more traditional distribution-based approaches.

Transient global amnesia associated with an acute infarction at the cingulate gyrus.

Background. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a syndrome of sudden, unexplained isolated short-term memory loss. In the majority of TGA cases, no causes can be identified and neuroimaging, CSF studies and EEG are usually normal. We present a patient with TGA associated with a small acute infarct at the cingulate gyrus. Case Report. The patient, a 62 year-old man, developed two episodes of TGA. He had hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. He was found to have an acute ischemic stroke of small size (15 mm of maximal diameter) at the right cerebral cingulate gyrus diagnosed on brain magnetic resonance imaging. No lesions involving other limbic system structures such as thalamus, fornix, corpus callosum, or hippocampal structures were seen. The remainder of the examination was normal. Conclusion. Unilateral ischemic lesions of limbic system structures may result in TGA. We must bear in mind that TGA can be an associated clinical disorder of cingulate gyrus infarct.

Weathering and the mobility of phosphorus in the catchments and forefields of the Rhone and Oberaar glaciers, central Switzerland: Implications for the global phosphorus cycle on glacial-interglacial timescales

In this study we evaluate the dynamics of the biophile element phosphorus (P) in the catchment and proglacial areas of the Rhone and Oberaar glaciers (central Switzerland). We analysed erosion and dissolution rates of P-containing minerals in the subglacial environment by sampling water and suspended sediment in glacier outlets during three ablation and two accumulation seasons. We also quantified biogeochemical weathering rates of detrital P in proglacial sedimentary deposits using two chronosequences of samples of fresh, suspended, material obtained from the Oberaar and Rhone water outlets, Little-Ice-Age (LIA) moraines and Younger Dryas (YD) tills in each catchment. Subglacial P weathering is mainly a physical process and detrital P represents more than 99%, of the precipitation-corrected total P denudation flux (234 and 540 kg km(-2) yr(-1) for the Rhone and Oberaar catchments, respectively). The calculated detrital P flux rates are three to almost five times higher than the world average flux. The precipitation-corrected soluble reactive P (SRP) flux corresponds to 1.88-1.99 kg km(-2) yr(-1) (Rhone) and 2.12-2.44 kg km(-2) yr(-1) (Oberaar), respectively. These fluxes are comparable to those of tropical rivers draining transport-limited, tectonically inactive weathering areas. In order to evaluate the efficiency of detrital P weathering in the Rhone and Oberaar proglacial areas, we systematically graded apatite grains extracted from the chronosequence in each catchment relative to weathering-induced changes in their surface morphologies (grades 1-4). Fresh apatite grains are heavily indented and dissolution rounded (grade 1). LIA grains from two 0-10 cm deep moraine samples show extensive dissolution etching, similar to surface grains from the YD profile (mean grades 2.7, 3.5 and 3.5, respectively). In these proglacial deposits, the weathering front deepens progressively as a function of time due to biocorrosion in the evolving acidic pedosphere, with mechanical indentations on grains acting as sites of preferential dissolution. We also measured iron-bound, organic and detrital P concentrations in the chronosequence and show that organic and iron-bound P has almost completely replaced detrital P in the top layers of the YD profiles. Detrital P weathering rates are calculated as 3 10 and 280 kg km(-2) yr(-1) for LIA moraines and 10 kg km(-2) yr(-1) for YD tills. During the first 300 years of glacial sediment exposure P dissolution rates are shown to be approximately 70 times higher than the mean global dissolved P flux from ice-free continents. After 11.6 kyr the flux is 2.5 times the global mean. These data strengthen the argument for substantial changes in the global dissolved P flux on glacial-interglacial timescales. A crude extrapolation from the data described here suggests that the global dissolved P flux may increase by 40-45% during the first few hundred years of a deglaciation phase

Algorisme d'optimització global de les mesures de semblança quàntica molecular

Les Mesures de Semblança Quàntica Molecular (MSQM) requereixen la maximització del solapament de les densitats electròniques de les molècules que es comparen. En aquest treball es presenta un algorisme de maximització de les MSQM, que és global en el límit de densitatselectròniques deformades a funcions deltes de Dirac. A partir d'aquest algorisme se'n deriva l'equivalent per a densitats no deformades