Distribution of planktonic foraminifera in Pleistocene sediments of the New Jersey margin, NW Atlantic Ocean

Abundance records of planktonic foraminifera (>150 µm) from the upper 520 m of ODP Site 1073 (Hole 1073A, Leg 174A, 639 m water depth) have been integrated with SPECMAP-derived isotope stratigraphy, percentage of calcium carbonate, and coarse sediment fraction data in order to investigate the Pleistocene climatic history of the New Jersey margin. Six planktonic taxonomic groups dominate the foraminiferal assemblage at Site 1073: Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (d) (mean 33.8%), Turborotalita quinqueloba (18.5%), N. pachyderma (s) (18.4%), Globigerina bulloides group (11.4%), Globorotalia inflata group (9.4%), and Globigerinita glutinata (4.1%). Based on the distributions of these six foraminiferal groups, the Pleistocene section can be divided into three paleoclimatic intervals: Interval I (intermediate) corresponds to the Quaternary sediments from sequence boundary pp1 to the seafloor (79.5-0 mbsf; Emiliania huxleyi acme [85 ka] at 72 mbsf); Interval II (warm) occurs between sequence boundaries pp3 and pp1 (325-79.5 mbsf; last occurrence of Pseudoemiliania lacunosa [460 ka] at 330 mbsf); and Interval III (coldest) occurs between sequence boundaries pp4 and pp3 (520-325 mbsf; Calcareous nannofossils and dinocysts in proximity to pp4 indicate that the sedimentary record for 0.9-1.7 Ma is either missing altogether or highly condensed within the basal few meters of the section). Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (d) displays eight peaks of abundance which correlate, for the most part, with depleted delta18O values, increases in calcium carbonate percentages, low coarse fraction percentages, increased planktonic fragmentation (greater dissolution), and low N. pachyderma (s) abundances. These intervals are interpreted as representing warmer/interglacial conditions. Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (s) displays seven peaks of abundance which correlate, for the most part, with delta18O increases, decreases in calcium carbonate percentages, increases in coarse fraction percentages, and low N. pachyderma (d) abundances. These intervals are interpreted as representing cooler/glacial conditions. In Interval III, a faunal response to relative changes in sea-surface temperature is reflected by abundance peaks in Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (d), followed by Turborotalita quinqueloba and then N. pachyderma (s) (proceeding from warmest to coolest, respectively). This tripartite response is consistent with the oxygen isotope record and, although not as clear, also occurs in Intervals I and II. Six peaks/peak intervals of Globigerina bulloides abundance are closely matched by peaks in Globigerinita glutinata and occur within oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 2 (latter part) 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13(?), 14(?), and 15(?). We speculate that these intervals reflect increased upwelling and nutrient levels during both glacials and interglacials. Eight peak intervals of Globorotalia inflata show a general inverse correlation with G. bulloides and may reflect lowered nutrient and warmer surface waters.

(Table 2) Distribution of alkenone unsaturation index UK37 of the eastern North Atlantic

This paper reports the concentrations and within-class distributions of long-chain alkenones and alkyl alkenoates in the surface waters (0-50 m) of the eastern North Atlantic, and correlates their abundance and distribution with those of source organisms and with water temperature and other environmental variables. We collected these samples of >0.8 µm particulate material from the euphotic zone along the JGOFS 20°W longitude transect, from 61°N to 24°N, during seven cruises of the UK-JGOFS Biogeochemical Ocean Flux Study (BOFS) in 1989-1991; the biogeographical range of our 53 samples extends from the cold (<10°C), nutrient-rich and highly productive subarctic waters of the Iceland Basin to the warm (>25°C) oligotrophic subtropical waters off Africa. Surface water concentrations of total alkenone and alkenoates ranged from <50 ng/l in oligotrophic waters below 40°N to 2000-4500 ng/l in high latitude E. huxleyi blooms, and were well correlated with E. huxleyi cell densities, supporting the assumption that E. huxleyi is the predominant source of these compounds in the present day North Atlantic. The within-class distribution of the C37 and C38 alkenones and C36 alkenoates varied strongly as a function of temperature, and was largely unaffected by nutrient concentration, bloom status and other surface water properties. The biosynthetic response of the source organisms to growth temperature differed between the cold (<16°C) waters above 47°N and the warmer waters to the south. In cold (<16°C) waters above 47°N, the relative amounts of alkenoates and C38 alkenones synthesized was a strong function of growth temperature, while the unsaturation ratio of the alkenones (C37 and C38) was uncorrelated with temperature. Conversely, in warm (>16°C) waters below 47°N, the relative proportions of alkenoates and alkenones synthesized remained constant with increasing temperature while the unsaturation ratios of the C37 and C38 methyl alkenones (Uk37 and Uk38Me, respectively) increased linearly. The fitted regressions of Uk37 and Uk38Me versus temperature for waters >16°C were both highly significant (r**2 > 0.96) and had identical slopes (0.057) that were 50% higher than the slope (0.034) of the temperature calibration of Uk37 reported by Prahl and Wakeham (1987; doi:10.1038/330367a0) over the same temperature range. These observations suggest either a physiological adjustment in biochemical response to growth temperature above a 16-17°C threshold and/or variation between different E. huxleyi strains and/or related species inhabiting the cold and warm water regions of the eastern North Atlantic. Using our North Atlantic data set, we have produced multivariate temperature calibrations incorporating all major features of the alkenone and alkenoate data set. Predicted temperatures using multivariate calibrations are largely unbiased, with a standard error of approximately ±1°C over the entire data range. In contrast, simpler calibration models cannot adequately incorporate regional diversity and nonlinear trends with temperature. Our results indicate that calibrations based upon single variables, such as Uk37, can be strongly biased by unknown systematic errors arising from natural variability in the biosynthetic response of the source organisms to growth temperature. Multivariate temperature calibration can be expected to give more precise estimates of Integrated Production Temperatures (IPT) in the sedimentary record over a wider range of paleoenvironmental conditions, when derived using a calibration data set incorporating a similar range of natural variability in biosynthetic response.

Concentrations and isotopic ratios of thorium and uranium in pelagic sediments

The predictable in situ production of 230Th from the decay of uranium in seawater, and its subsequent removal by scavenging onto falling particles, provides a valuable tool for normalizing fluxes to the seafloor. We describe a new application, determination of the 232Th that dissolves in the water column and is removed to the seafloor. 232Th is supplied to the ocean in continental minerals, dissolution of which leads to a measurable standing stock in the water column. Sedimentary adsorbed 232Th/230Th ratios have the potential to provide a proxy for estimating the amount of dissolved material that enters the ocean, both today and in the past. Ten core top samples were treated with up to eight different leaching techniques in order to determine the best method for the separating adsorbed from lattice bound thorium. In addition, separate components of the sediments were analyzed to test whether clay dissolution was an important contribution to the final measurement. There was no systematic correlation between the strength of acid used in the leach and the measured 232Th/230Th ratios. In all cases clean foraminifera produced the same ratio as leaches on bulk sediment. In three out of five samples leaches performed on non-carbonate detritus in the <63 µm size fraction were also identical. Without additional water column data it is not yet clear whether there is a simple one to one correlation between the expected deep-water 232Th/230Th and that produced by leaching, especially in carbonate-rich sediments. However, higher ratios, and associated high 232Th adsorbed fluxes, were observed in areas with high expected detrital inputs. The adsorbed fraction was ~35-50% of the total 232Th in seven out of ten samples. Our 230Th normalized 232Th fluxes are reasonable by comparison to global estimates of detrital inputs to the ocean. In nine cases out of ten, the total 230Th-normalized 232Th flux is greater than predicted from the annual dust fall at each specific location, but lower than the average global detrital input from all sources.

Vertical distribution of suspended aggregates at time series station DYNAPROC

Day/night variations in the size distribution of the particulate matter >0.15 mm (PM) were studied in May 1995 during the DYNAPROC time-series cruise in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Data on vertical distributions of PM (>0.15 mm) and zooplankton were collected with the Underwater Video Profiler (UVP). The comparisons of the UVP data with plankton net data and POC data from water bottles indicated that more than 97% of the particles detected by the UVP were non-living particles (0.15 mm) and that the PM contributed 4-34% of the total dry weight measured on GF/F filters. Comparison of seven pairs of day and night vertical profiles performed during the cruise showed that in the upper 800 m, the mean size and the volume of particles was higher at night than during the day. During the night, the integrated volume of the PM increased on average by 32±20%. This increase corresponded to a shift of smaller size classes (<0.5 mm) towards the larger ones (>0.5 mm). During the day, the pattern was reversed, and the quantity of PM >0.5 mm decreased. During the study period, the standing stock of PM (60-800 m) decreased from 7.5 to less than 2 g m?2 but the diel variations persisted, except for two short periods in the superficial layer following a wind event. The cyclic feeding activity induced by the diel vertical migration of zooplankton could be the best candidate to explain the observed diel fluctuations in the size classes of PM in the water column. However, our results also suggest that in the upper layer additional driving forces such as the increase of the level of turbulence after a wind event or the modification of the zoo- and phytoplankton community can influence the PM temporal evolution.

Oceanographical and meterological observations in the Westafrican area of upwelling during the 'Deutsche Nordatlantische Expedition' 1937

In 1937 the "Meteor" performed the cruises of the first part of the "Deutsche Nordatlantische Expedition". This publication treats seven stations of three-day-anchoring occupied during that time, five of which are located on the shelf, one on the continental slope and one on a ridge between the Capverde islands. The Bohnecke current meter, an instrument developed for the expedition, is described briefly and it's accuracy studied by comparing the measurements of two instruments which operated simultaneously at the same depth. It is shown that it is very sensitive for movements of the anchored ship because of the very short measuring intervall (2 minutes). The influence of the ship's movements could not be eliminated completely, the mode of using the instrument at different depths being unsuitable for this. Considering the stratification the accuracy of it's representation by the mean temperature and salinity distributionis studied. It is shown that under certain conditions a distribution estimated from observed values gives more exact results. This especially applies to the TS-diagram. Station Meteor336, located on the shelf near Cape Juby, shows temperatures 4 °C less than the open ocean and so belongs to the area of upwelling. During the observation period, however, internal tides are prominent. The diurnal component is of considerable influence, the distinction from inertial oscillations (25.5 hours) not being possible, however. Station Meteor341, on the shelf off Spanish-Sahara, gives an excellent example of the movements in the centre of the area of upwelling. Changing it's direction by 45° at the beginning of the measurements, the wind causes a change of current direction at all depths which, after some inertial oscillations (period 28.3 hours), settles down to a final value. At the beginning and the end of the observations the current at the upper depths is directed off-shore, the angle between current and wind being 22°, while at the lower depths it is orientated towards the shore. The depth of the upper homogenous layer gives the origin of the water transported upwards When during the inertial oscillations the current goes offshore at all depths temporarily, a sudden disturbance occurs in the temperature measurements. Station Meteor311 is located similar to station Meteor341 but was occupied one month earlier. At that time the wind situation was unnormal, the usual wind direction of 45° occuring at the end of the station. Therefore an unnormally high vertical shear of current speed and direction has been observed, the current vector being directed off-shore at the surface and near the bottom, towards the coast inbetween. The TS-diagram shows that the bottom water is replaced first so that upwelling does not occur during observation time. The state reached at the end of the station does not seem to be stable. Station Meteor369, on the continental slope, is governed by internal waves. Besides the internal tide of 12.4 hours a wave of 6.5 hour period is observed, being possibly amplified by the large bottom slope. In 40 - 60 m depth, where the thermocline is located, a wave with 3.3 hour period is observed which is argued to be an internal boundary wave. Station Meteor334 is located on the shelf NW of the mouth of the Senegal river. A marked temperature stratification, associated with large disturbances, and nearly constant salinity have been found there. The current was going slowly towards S or SW in the upper 20 - 30 m, towards N underneath. At the boundary of the current systems intense turbulence developed,including as it seems a water type of less salinity which is transported from the Senegal river by the lower current. Station Meteor327, located at 100 m depth between two of the Capverde islands, shows oceanic characteristics. The semidiurnal tide is found mainly, the diurnal component having considerable influence. Furtheron an internal wave of 6 hour period is seen the maximum amplitude of which is moving slowly downwards. Two possibilities of explaining it are discussed. Station Meteor366 is found in the area of ceasing winds off the coast of upper Guinea. The temperature there depends strongly on the depth, the salinity being nearly constant. The currents are divided into an upper and a lower system with large variations in both of them. A change of wind direction of nearly 90° is supposed to be the reason. The variations in salinity accordingly are interpreted as the influence of fresh water outflow from land which is felt in a different way at different wind directions. In the last section the daily changes in air and water temperature are studied. The upwelling having large influence on these, a centre of the area of upwelling can be located at about 100 miles north of Cape Blanc (Station Meteor311). The semidiurnal tidal component is compared with previous results for the Atlantic Ocean yielding considerable differences for the direction and time of occurence of the current maximum which might be due to the topographical influences around the shelf.

Coastal erosion dynamics and storm characteristics of Bykovsky Peninsula

This study investigates the rate of erosion during the 1951-2006 period on the Bykovsky Peninsula, located north-east of the harbour town of Tiksi, north Siberia. Its coastline, which is characterized by the presence of ice-rich sediment (Ice Complex) and the vicinity of the Lena River Delta, retreated at a mean rate of 0.59 m/yr between 1951 and 2006. Total erosion ranged from 434 m of erosion to 92 m of accretion during these 56 years and exhibited large variability (sigma = 45.4). Ninety-seven percent of the rates observed were less than 2 m/yr and 81.6% were less than 1 m/yr. No significant trend in erosion could be recorded despite the study of five temporal subperiods within 1951-2006. Erosion modes and rates actually appear to be strongly dependant on the nature of the backshore material, erosion being stronger along low-lying coastal stretches affected by past or current thermokarst activity. The juxtaposition of wind records monitored at the town of Tiksi and erosion records yielded no significant relationship despite strong record amplitude for both data sets. We explain this poor relationship by the only rough incorporation of sea-ice cover in our storm extraction algorithm, the use of land-based wind records vs. offshore winds, the proximity of the peninsula to the Lena River Delta freshwater and sediment plume and the local topographical constraints on wave development.

Benthic foraminifers in Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments of the southwestern Atlantic

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages in Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments were studied at Sites 511, 512, 513, and 514 drilled during Leg 71 in the southwestern Atlantic on the Maurice Ewing Bank and in the Argentine Basin. Benthic foraminifers in almost all stratigraphic subdivisions of Sites 511 and 512 reflect the gradual subsidence of the Falkland Plateau from shelf depths in the Barremian-Albian, when a semiclosed basin with restricted circulation of water masses and anaerobic conditions existed, to lower bathyal depths in the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, with an abrupt acceleration at the boundary of Lower and Upper Cretaceous. The composition, distribution, and preservation of Late Cretaceous assemblages of benthic foraminifers suggest considerable fluctuations of the foraminiferal lysocline and the CCD. This is evidenced by dissolution facies and foraminiferal assemblages in which agglutinated and resistant calcareous forms predominated during high stands of the CCD and by calcareous facies in which rich assemblages of calcareous species predominated during low stands. The highest position of the CCD on the Plateau (less than 1500-2000 m) was in the late Cenomanian, Turonian, and Coniacian. In the Santonian and Campanian the CCD was at depths below 1500-2000 meters. At the end of the Campanian the CCD shifted again to depths comparable with those of Cenomanian and Turonian time. In the latest Campanian and the Maestrichtian the CCD was low and nanno-foraminiferal oozes with a rich assemblage of benthic foraminifers accumulated. Foraminiferal assemblages at Sites 513 and 514 in the Argentine Basin also testify to oceanic subsidence from lower bathyal depths in the Oligocene to abyssal ones at present. This process was complicated by the influence of geographical migrations of the Polar Front caused by extensions of the ice sheet in the Antarctic after the opening of the Drake Passage during the Oligocene. In Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits of the Falkland Plateau and the Argentine Basin seven assemblages of benthic foraminifers were distinguished by age: early-middle Albian, middle-late Albian, Late Cretaceous (including four groups), middle Eocene, late Eocene-early Miocene, middle-late Miocene, and Pliocene-Quaternary. The Albian assemblages contain many species common to the foraminiferal fauna of the Austral Biogeographical Province. The Late Cretaceous assemblage contains, along with Austral species, species common to foraminifers of North America, Western Europe, the Russian platform, and the south of the U.S.S.R. Deep-sea cosmopolitan species prevail in Cenozoic assemblages.

Case Study of Applied LIP Approach/Activities in the Philippines The Training Services Enhancement Project for Rural Life Improvement (TSEP-RLI) Experience

TSEP-RLI was a technical cooperation project jointly conducted by GOP thru DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and GOJ thru JICA aimed at institutionalizing the training program for Rural Life Improvement (RLI) at the (ATI). As expected, farmers, fisherfolk, women, youth and extension agents were provided with efficient and effective training services from ATI leading to the improvement of quality of life in the rural areas through efforts of human resource development. The ATI- Bohol was chosen as the model center where participatory trials and various activities of the project were undertaken for five years. These activities were participatory surveys and data collection of on-farm and off-farm productive activities; planning workshop for RLI; feedbacking of survey results and action plans to the community and the Local Government Units (LGUs), and signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the Project and participating LGUs. The above activities were done to facilitate the planning and development of most effective and necessary rural life improvement activities, to confirm the willingness of the people to support and participate and to formalize the partnership between the Project and the LGUs. Since the concept of rural life covers a vast range of activities, a consensus had been reached that the total aspects of rural life be grasped in three spheres, namely, Production & Livelihood (P/L), Rural Living Condition (RLC) and Community Environment (C/E). The RLI for Ubi (Yam) Growers was one of the pilot activities undertaken in two pilot barangays and the target beneficiaries were members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC- a group of organized women) with the LGU of the Municipality of Corella as the implementing partner. During the planning workshop, the barangay residents articulated their desire to promote production and processing of ubi (sphere on P/L - as the entry point), lack of nutritious food was one of the identified problem (sphere on RLC- expansion point) and environmental degradation such as deforestation, and soil erosion was another problem articulated by the community people (sphere on C/E- expansion point). Major activities that were undertaken namely, Ubi cooking contest, cooking/processing seminar, training courses on entrepreneurial development, ubi production and storage technology, packaging and product design, human resource development and simplified bookkeeping motivated the beneficiaries as well as developed and enhanced their skills & capabilities while strengthening their associations. Their participation to the 5 ubi festivals and other related activities had brought some impacts on their economic and rural life improvement activities. The seven principles of TSEP-RLI include the participatory process, holistic approach, dialogical approach, bottom -up training needs assessment, demand-driven approach, cost sharing approach and collaborative implementation with other agencies including LGUs and the community.

Comparative study of the pathogenicity of seabed isolates of Fusarium equiseti and the effect of the composition of the mineral salt medium and temperature on mycelia growth

The pathogenicity of seven strains of Fusarium equiseti isolated from seabed soil was evaluated on different host plants showing pre and post emergence damage. Radial growth of 27 strains was measured on culture media previously adjusted to different osmotic potentials with either KCl or NaCl (-1.50 to - 144.54 bars) at 15º, 25º and 35º C. Significant differences and interactive effects were observed in the response of mycelia to osmotic potential and temperature.

Graph based study of allergen cross-reactivity of plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) using microarray in a multicenter study.

The study of cross-reactivity in allergy is key to both understanding. the allergic response of many patients and providing them with a rational treatment In the present study, protein microarrays and a co-sensitization graph approach were used in conjunction with an allergen microarray immunoassay. This enabled us to include a wide number of proteins and a large number of patients, and to study sensitization profiles among members of the LTP family. Fourteen LTPs from the most frequent plant food-induced allergies in the geographical area studied were printed into a microarray specifically designed for this research. 212 patients with fruit allergy and 117 food-tolerant pollen allergic subjects were recruited from seven regions of Spain with different pollen profiles, and their sera were tested with allergen microarray. This approach has proven itself to be a good tool to study cross-reactivity between members of LTP family, and could become a useful strategy to analyze other families of allergens.

New version of a laboratory impact device for firmness sensing of fruits.

Results of previous studies conducted by different researchers have shown that impact techniques can be used to evaluate firmness (Delwiche et al., 1989; Delwiche et al.;1996; Jaren et al., 1992; Ruiz Altisent et al., 1996). To impact the fruit with a small spherical impactor of known mass and radius of curvature and measure the acceleration of the impactor is a technique described by Chen et al. (1985) and used by several researchers for sensing fruit firmness (Jaren et al., 1992; Correa et al.; 1992). The advantages of this method vs. a force sensor that measures the force as a function of time is that the measured impact-acceleration response is independent of the fruit mass and is less sensitive to the variation in the radius of curvature of the fruit (Chen et al., 1996). Ruiz Altisent et al. (1993) developed and used a 50 g impactor with a 19 mm diameter spherical tip, dropping from different height for fruits (apples, pears, avocados, melons, peaches ...). Another impact device for firmness sensing of fruits was developed by Chen and Ruiz Altisent (1996). They designed and fabricated an experimental low-mass impact sensor for high-speed sensing of fruit firmness. The impactor consisted of a semi-spherical impacting tip attached to the end (near the centre of percussion) of a pivoting arm. Impact is done by swinging the impactor to collide with the fruit. It has been implemented for on-line use. In both devices a small accelerometer is mounted behind the impacting tip. Lateral impactor and vertical impactor have been used in laboratory and the results from non-destructive impact tests have contributed to standardise methods to measure fruit firmness: Barreiro (1992) compared impact parameters and results of Magness-Taylor penetration tests for apples, pears, apricots [and peaches; Agulheiro (1994) studied the behaviour of the impact parameters during seven weeks of cold storage of two melon varieties; Ortiz (1998) used low energy impact and NIR procedures to segregate non crispy, non firm and soft peaches. Steinmetz (1996) compared various non-destructive firmness sensors, based on sound, impact and micro-deformation.

La espacialidad del encuentro. Análisis de las comunidades de los conjuntos habitacionales modernos en el caso chileno del Gran Valparaíso

La producción habitacional moderna chilena del siglo xx proporcionó modelos valiosos en los que abundaban espacios proclives al encuentro de la comunidad que, además, han logrado perdurar en el tiempo. Sin embargo, el estado de degradación en que se encuentran algunos de estos conjuntos ha puesto en entredicho sus cualidades efectivas para resolver el problema de la vivienda, tanto por su racionalidad excesiva como por su escasa capacidad para acoger los modos de vida propios de sus habitantes. A día de hoy, ante la masificación indiscriminada del mercado inmobiliario, cabe plantearse una mirada retrospectiva hacia algunos de estos conjuntos que mediaron entre la renovación y la realidad local preexistente, como ocurrió en algunos contextos geográficos complejos como el ‘Gran Valparaíso’. Las ciudades de Valparaíso y Viña del Mar destacan por su peculiar morfología urbana entre planicie y cerros, conformada tanto por construcciones espontáneas como planificadas, generalmente adaptadas a la geografía. La aparición de nuevos modelos en altura en los cerros tuvo consecuencias significativas para la escala del barrio y la ciudad, como la apropiación del patrimonio común de los ciudadanos —la vista hacia el paisaje de la bahía— y un cierto descontrol en las relaciones entre lo construido y su entorno inmediato. Dicha situación se tradujo en la deshumanización de los espacios colectivos y la pérdida del ‘sentido de lo comunitario’, dos situaciones propias del habitar local. Sin embargo, algunos conjuntos modernos dieron importancia a este tipo de espacios, que utilizaron como complemento a los reducidos recintos comunes de la unidad habitacional. Así, mediante la integración de circulaciones, espacios comunitarios y dotaciones, se estimuló la ‘comunidad’ y se favoreció la relación socio-espacial entre la vecindad y el barrio. El hecho de que en su implantación recogiesen cualidades locales —o no— requiere de un estudio más exhaustivo, especialmente en lo que toca a los modos de vida asociados. Esta tesis presenta la trayectoria y el proceso de desarrollo comunitario de siete conjuntos habitacionales modernos construidos en Valparaíso y Viña del Mar. Una evolución que estuvo impulsada por las cualidades formales y funcionales de los espacios comunes, profundamente arraigados al lugar. A través de un análisis retrospectivo de los ámbitos de encuentro y la trayectoria de la vida cotidiana, y construido desde la documentación junto con los recuerdos de los habitantes originarios, este trabajo revisa el estado actual de dichos conjuntos, sus singularidades y los cambios que han experimentado en el tiempo. ABSTRACT The twentieth century’s Chilean modern housing production has provided valuable models in which abounded spaces likely to community encounter, that also have managed to survive over time. However, some modern housing complexes exhibit an evident state of deterioration, that contradicts their characteristics for solving housing problems, both for its excessive rationality as their limited capacity to accommodate the ways of life of its inhabitants. However while the housing market has established a model based on standardization and individuality, an evaluation of the real characteristics of the main modern constructions is required, that mediate between the renewal and the existing local reality especially in cities emplaced in geographic complexes such as the ‘Gran Valparaíso’. The cities of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are notable for its unique urban morphology between flat land and hills, formed both by spontaneous as planned constructions, generally adapted to the geography. The emergence of these new height models, particularly in the hills, had significant consequences at neighborhood and city. On the one hand has implied ownership of the common heritage of the people —the view of the landscape of the bay— and on the other hand have devalued the relationship between the built and the immediate environment. That situation even involved the dehumanization of collective spaces and loss of ‘sense of community’, both part of the local ways of live. However some modern collective housing gave importance to such spaces as a way to address the lack of common spaces in the dwelling unit. Through the integration of circulations, community spaces and endowments, ‘community’ was stimulated and socio-spatial relationship between vicinity and the neighborhood was favored. The fact that in its implementation to collect local qualities —or not— requires further study, especially in terms of associated lifestyles. This thesis presents the trajectory and community development process of seven modern housing complexes built in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. As will be seen, without a doubt the formal and functional qualities of common spaces prompted the neighborhood’s evolution, deeply rooted in place.. Through a built from the documentation with the memories of the original inhabitants retrospective analysis of the areas of encounter and experience of everyday life, this research reviews the current status of these sets, their singularities and the changes that have experienced over time.

Integración de sistemas fotovoltaicos en edificios de oficinas en bajas latitudes: estudio del balance energético aplicado a Brasil

La hipótesis que inspiró esta tesis sostiene que la integración de componentes fotovoltaicos en los cerramientos opacos y sombreamientos de huecos acristalados de edificios de oficinas en sitios ubicados en bajas latitudes, tomando como el ejemplo el caso concreto de Brasil, podría incrementar su eficiencia energética. Esta posibilidad se basa en el bloqueo de una parte significativa de la irradiación solar incidente en estos edificios, reduciendo así las cargas térmicas para la climatización y a la vez transformándola en energía eléctrica, a tal punto que se amortizan los costes de inversión en plazos aceptables a través de los ahorros en la demanda de energía. Para verificar esta hipótesis de partida se ha propuesto como objetivo general analizar la integración de elementos fotovoltaicos en cubiertas, muros opacos y sombreamiento de huecos acristalados desde la óptica del balance energético térmico y eléctrico. Inicialmente se presenta y analiza el estado del arte en los temas estudiados y la metodología de investigación, de carácter teórico basada en cálculos y simulaciones. A partir de un modelo tipo de edificio de oficinas situado en Brasil, se definen cuatro casos de estudio y una serie de parámetros, los cuales se analizan para siete latitudes ubicadas entre -1,4° y -30°, separadas las unas de las otras por aproximadamente 5°. Se presentan y discuten los resultados de más de 500 simulaciones para los siguientes conceptos: - recurso solar, desde la perspectiva de la disponibilidad de irradiación solar en distintas superficies de captación apropiadas para la integración de sistemas solares fotovoltaicos en edificaciones en bajas latitudes; - análisis de sombras, con objetivo de identificar los ángulos de sombras vertical (AVS) para protección de huecos acristalados en edificios de oficinas; - balance energético térmico, para identificar el efecto térmico del apantallamiento provocado por componentes fotovoltaicos en cubiertas, muros opacos y parasoles en ventanas en las cargas de refrigeración y consecuentemente en las demandas de energía eléctrica; - balance energético eléctrico, contrastando los resultados del balance térmico con la energía potencialmente generada en las envolventes arquitectónicas bajo estudio; - análisis económico, basado en un escenario de precios de la tecnología fotovoltaica de un mercado maduro y en la política de inyección a la red marcada por la actual normativa brasileña. Se han verificado los potenciales de ahorro económico que los sistemas activos fotovoltaicos podrían aportar, y asimismo se calculan diversos indicadores de rentabilidad financiera. En suma, esta investigación ha permitido extraer conclusiones que contribuyen al avance de la investigación y entender las condiciones que propician la viabilidad de la aplicación de componentes fotovoltaicas en las envolventes de edificios en Brasil, y hasta un cierto punto en otros países en latitudes equivalentes. ABSTRACT The hypothesis that inspired this thesis sustains that integration of photovoltaic components in the opaque envelope and shading elements of office buildings placed at low-latitude countries, using the specific case of Brazil, could increase its energy efficiency. This is possible because those components block a significant part of the incident solar irradiation, reducing its heating effect on the building and transforming its energy into electricity in such a way that the extra investments needed can be paid back in acceptable periods given the electricity bill savings they produce. In order to check this hypothesis, the main goal was to analyze the thermal and electrical performance of photovoltaic components integrated into roofs, opaque façades and window shadings. The first step is an introduction and discussion of the state of the art in the studied subjects, as well as the chosen methodology (which is theoretical), based on calculations and simulations. Starting from an office building located in Brazil, four case studies and their parameters are defined, and then analyzed, for seven cities located between latitudes -1.4° and -30°, with an approximate distance of 5° separating each one. Results of more than 500 simulations are presented and discussed for the following concepts: - Solar resource, from the perspective of irradiation availability on different surfaces for the integration of photovoltaic systems in buildings located at low latitudes; - Shading analysis, in order to determine the vertical shading angles (VSA) for protection of the glazed surfaces on office buildings; - Thermal energy balance, to identify the screening effect caused by photovoltaic components on roofs, opaque façades and window shadings on the cooling loads, and hence electricity demands; - Electric energy balance, comparing thermal energy balance with the energy potentially generated using the active skin of the buildings; - Economic analysis, based on a mature-market scenario and the current net metering rules established by the Brazilian government, to identify the potential savings these photovoltaic systems could deliver, as well as several indicators related to the return on the investment. In short, this research has led to conclusions that contribute to the further development of knowledge in this area and understanding of the conditions that favor the application of photovoltaic components in the envelope of office buildings in Brazil and, to a certain extent, in other countries at similar latitudes.

Influence of allelic prolamin variation and localities on durum wheat quality

Thirty-seven varieties of a Mediterranean durum wheat collection grown in Tunisia and Spain were analysed for their allelic composition in prolamins, as well as their protein concentration, sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation (SDSS) test and mixograph parameters. Genotype was a greater source of variation in all measurements than locality. Uncommon high and low molecular glutenin subunits (HMW-GS and LMW-GS) were found (V and 2? subunits at Glu-A1, 13 þ 16 at Glu-B1, 5* subunit and ax allele at Glu-A3). The rare combinations 2 þ 4þ14 þ 18 and 8 þ 9þ13 þ 16þ18 subunits at the Glu-B3 locus were found. Glu-A3ax had a positive influence on SDSS and mixograph parameters. Of all the prolamins, those that have the B-LMW-GS composition aaa (for Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-B2 loci, respectively), when associated with the Glu-A1c and Glu-B1d gave the best semolina quality. By contrast, semolina quality is poor when this same composition is associated with the Glu-A1c and Glu-B1e and even poorer when associated with the Glu-A1c and Glu-B1f. In addition, the cultivars with B-LMW-GS allelic composition aab (for Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-B2 loci, respectively), when associated with the Glu- A1c and Glu-B1d, gave high quality, whereas when associated with the Glu-A1c and Glu-B1e or with Glu- A1o and Glu-B1f, the quality was very poor.

Plant nuclear gene knockout reveals a role in plastid division for the homolog of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ, an ancestral tubulin

Little is known about the division of eukaryotic cell organelles and up to now neither in animals nor in plants has a gene product been shown to mediate this process. A cDNA encoding a homolog of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ, an ancestral tubulin, was isolated from the eukaryote Physcomitrella patens and used to disrupt efficiently the genomic locus in this terrestrial seedless plant. Seven out of 51 transgenics obtained were knockout plants generated by homologous recombination; they were specifically impeded in plastid division with no detectable effect on mitochondrial division or plant morphology. Implications on the theory of endosymbiosis and on the use of reverse genetics in plants are discussed.