Cross-talk and regulatory interactions between the essential response regulator RpaB and cyanobacterial circadian clock output

The response regulator RpaB (regulator of phycobilisome associated B), part of an essential two-component system conserved in cyanobacteria that responds to multiple environmental signals, has recently been implicated in the control of cell dimensions and of circadian rhythms of gene expression in the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms that underlie RpaB functions. In this study we show that the regulation of phenotypes by RpaB is intimately connected with the activity of RpaA (regulator of phycobilisome associated A), the master regulator of circadian transcription patterns. RpaB affects RpaA activity both through control of gene expression, a function requiring an intact effector domain, and via altering RpaA phosphorylation, a function mediated through the N-terminal receiver domain of RpaB. Thus, both phosphorylation cross-talk and coregulation of target genes play a role in the genetic interactions between the RpaA and RpaB pathways. In addition, RpaB∼P levels appear critical for survival under light:dark cycles, conditions in which RpaB phosphorylation is environmentally driven independent of the circadian clock. We propose that the complex regulatory interactions between the essential and environmentally sensitive NblS-RpaB system and the SasA-RpaA clock output system integrate relevant extra- and intracellular signals to the circadian clock.

Saliency detection using hierarchical manifold learning

Saliency detection is critical to many applications in computer vision by eliminating redundant backgrounds. The saliency detection approaches can be divided into two categories, i.e., top-down and bottom-up. Among them, bottom-up models have attracted more attention due to their simple mechanisms. However, many existing bottom-up models are not robust to crowded backgrounds because of missing salient regions within feedforward frameworks which is often not effective for complex scenes. We tackle these problems by modifying and extending a bottom-up saliency detection model through three phases, (1) constructing a hierarchical sequence of images from the perspective of entropy, (2) estimated mid-level cues are used as feedback information, (3) subsequently generating saliency maps by global context and local uniqueness in a graph-based framework. We also compare the proposed bottom-up model with state-of-the-art approaches on two benchmark datasets to evaluate its saliency detection performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed bottom-up saliency detection approach is not only robust to both cluttered and clean scenes, but also able to obtain objects with different scales.

A Mg-Al-Nd alloy produced via a powder metallurgical route

A Mg-5 wt.%Al-2 wt.%Nd alloy has been prepared by a powder metallurgical route using a blend of two dissimilar alloy powders. The initial consolidation of the powders was achieved through a single equal channel angular extrusion pass at 150 °C. After heat treatment at temperatures between 420 °C and 530 °C, it was possible to produce a microstructure that consisted of a uniform distribution of Al3Nd and Al11Nd3 precipitates in a magnesium matrix. These precipitates displayed distinct orientation relationships with the matrix. The size and shape of the precipitates depended on the heat treatment temperature and time. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Theranostic multimodular potential of zinc-doped ferrite-saturated metal-binding protein-loaded novel nanocapsules in cancers

The present study successfully developed orally deliverable multimodular zinc (Zn) iron oxide (Fe3O4)-saturated bovine lactoferrin (bLf)-loaded polymeric nanocapsules (NCs), and evaluated their theranostic potential (antitumor efficacy, magnetophotothermal efficacy and imaging capability) in an in vivo human xenograft CpG-island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-1(+)/CIMP2(-)/chromosome instability-positive colonic adenocarcinoma (Caco2) and claudin-low, triple-negative (ER(-)/PR(-)/HER2(-); MDA-MB-231) breast cancer model. Mice fed orally on the Zn-Fe-bLf NC diet showed downregulation in tumor volume and complete regression in tumor volume after 45 days of feeding. In human xenograft colon cancer, vehicle-control NC diet-group (n=5) mice showed a tumor volume of 52.28±11.55 mm(3), and Zn-Fe-bLf NC diet (n=5)-treated mice had a tumor-volume of 0.10±0.073 mm(3). In the human xenograft breast cancer model, Zn-Fe-bLf NC diet (n=5)-treated mice showed a tumor volume of 0.051±0.062 mm(3) within 40 days of feeding. Live mouse imaging conducted by near-infrared fluorescence imaging of Zn-Fe-bLf NCs showed tumor site-specific localization and regression of colon and breast tumor volume. Ex vivo fluorescence-imaging analysis of the vital organs of mice exhibited sparse localization patterns of Zn-Fe-bLf NCs and also confirmed tumor-specific selective localization patterns of Zn-Fe-bLf NCs. Dual imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scans revealed an unprecedented theranostic ability of the Zn-Fe-bLf NCs. These observations warrant consideration of multimodular Zn-Fe-bLf NCs for real-time cancer imaging and simultaneous cancer-targeted therapy.

Design of maintenance structures for rural electrification with solar home systems. The case of the Moroccan program.

n decentralised rural electrification through solar home systems, private companies and promoting institutions are faced with the problem of deploying maintenance structures to operate and guarantee the service of the solar systems for long periods (ten years or more). The problems linked to decentralisation, such as the dispersion of dwellings, difficult access and maintenance needs, makes it an arduous task. This paper proposes an innovative design tool created ad hoc for photovoltaic rural electrification based on a real photovoltaic rural electrification program in Morocco as a special case study. The tool is developed from a mathematical model comprising a set of decision variables (location, transport, etc.) that must meet certain constraints and whose optimisation criterion is the minimum cost of the operation and maintenance activity assuming an established quality of service. The main output of the model is the overall cost of the maintenance structure. The best location for the local maintenance headquarters and warehouses in a given region is established, as are the number of maintenance technicians and vehicles required.

[Formulación, informes de ejecución y anexos de sustentación del proyecto fomento a la comercialización de la artesanía de Cundinamarca, a nivel nacional e internacional].

8 documentos : ilustraciones, fotografías.

More active pre-school children have better motor competence at school starting age: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Almost half of young children do not achieve minimum recommendations of 60 daily minutes in physical activity. Physical activity is potentially an important determinant of the development of motor competence in children. This study is one of very few longitudinal studies in this area and the first to investigate early childhood physical activity as a predictor of subsequent motor skill competence. METHODS: Children were assessed as part of the Melbourne InFANT Program longitudinal cohort study at 19 months, 3.5 years and 5 years. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (accelerometry) was assessed at each time point. At age 5, children were also assessed in actual (Test of Gross Motor Development-2) and perceived motor competence (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence). General linear models were performed with all 12 skills (six object control and six locomotor skills), both actual and perceived, at age 5 as the respective outcome variables. Predictor variables alternated between MVPA at 19 months, 3.5 years and 5 years. RESULTS: Based on standardized TGMD-2 scores most children were average or below in their skill level at age 5. MVPA at 19 months was not a predictor of actual or perceived skill at age 5. MVPA at 3.5 years was associated with actual locomotor skill (B = 0.073, p = 0.033) and perceived total skill at 5 years of age (B = 0.059, p = 0.044). MVPA was not a predictor of actual or perceived object control skill at any age. CONCLUSION: Parents and preschool staff should be informed that more time in MVPA as a preschool child contributes to locomotor skill and to perceptions of skill ability in a child of school starting age. Understanding this relationship will assist in intervention development.

El concepto de duelo en los familiares de los desaparecidos : una revisión de la literatura

Este trabajo de grado tiene por objetivo realizar una revisión de literatura que dé cuenta de las características conceptuales del duelo que viven los familiares de los desaparecidos, en un contexto de desaparición forzada de personas como ilícito internacional de los derechos humanos. Para ello se exploraron libros de consulta reconocidos en el tema, artículos de revistas indexadas de los últimos diez años, y jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de casos de desapariciones forzada. Se presenta la definición de la desaparición forzada como ilícito internacional en DDHH, una categorización de víctimas, el desarrollo del concepto de duelo general y para estos casos y su aplicabilidad a los casos de la Corte IDH. Se encontró que los hallazgos dados por la teoría son aplicados en los dictámenes de esta corte, con un discurso de reivindicación de derechos y reparación integral. Se recomiendan futuras investigaciones en propuestas terapéuticas.

Actitudes de un grupo de directivos de empresa hacia la integración laboral de personas en proceso de reintegración en Colombia

Colombia atraviesa un proceso de desmovilización y una de las metas es la reintegración laboral, entendida como el proceso a través del cual las personas que han hecho parte de un grupo armado ilegal obtienen un empleo y se insertan definitivamente a la sociedad. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo fundamental comprender las actitudes de un grupo de tres directivos hacia la vinculación laboral de las personas en proceso de reintegración laboral (PPR), mediante un diseño cualitativo. Para ello, se llevó a cabo una serie de entrevistas semiestructuradas a una muestra de tres directivos del sector público y privado. La información obtenida se analizó mediante un proceso de codificación axial. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que las actitudes de los tres empresarios frente a la contratación de personas en proceso de reintegración laboral, pueden ser positivas o negativas. Así mismo, una de las actitudes predominantes, son la evaluación de creencias y prejuicios de los empresarios frente al proceso de integración laboral, estos son: la incertidumbre frente al desempeño laboral del PPR, la falta de dedicación por parte del PPR, los posibles conflictos laborales y la dificultad de relacionamiento del PPR. En conclusión, el modelo del comportamiento organizacional juega un papel muy importante, dado que abarca los elementos que influyen y determinan la construcción de las actitudes. Estas guían la evaluación de conductas que pueden ser a favor o en contra, de diversos ámbitos del proceso de contratación de personas desmovilizadas.

Entrepreneurial Motivations Questionnaire: AFC and CFA in academy.

Background Entrepreneurship has been considered essential to create value, being a powerful driver of economic and social development. Academy must invest in the development of entrepreneurial skills in students ("Entrepreneurial Academy"). Objective: To analyse the psychometric proprieties of the EMQ-Entrepreneurial Motivations Questionnaire. Methods Sample: 6,532 students from 17 polytechnic Institutes of Portugal. Measure: EMQ, composed by measures of Entrepreneurial motives for the business, Entrepreneurial influences, and Support Services. Results Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) for Entrepreneurial-Motives-for-thebusiness (KMO = .921, X2 = 54387.94, p < .001) extracted 4 factors, explaining 53.81 % of variance (EV): F1-Family security (19.92 % EV; M= 4.07, SD = 0.67), F2-Prestige (14.60 % EV; M= 3.25, SD = 0.75), F3- Independence (13.13 % EV; M= 3.33, SD = 0.75), and F4-Realization of an opportunity (11.15 % EV; M= 4.08, SD = 0.56). This factorial structure was supported by Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), with an acceptable fit: RMSEA = .084. EFA of Entrepreneurial-Influences (KMO = .916, X2 = 60584.93, p < .001), extracted 4 factors, EV 60.08 %: F1-Resources availability (21.25 % EV; M= 3.86, SD = 0.68), F2-Stable customers and incentives (19.70 % EV; M= 3.82, SD = 0.65), F3-Social and economic instability (11.11 % EV; M= 2.96, SD = 1.06), and F4-Opportunities in the sector and residence area (8.03 % EV; M= 3.29, SD = 0.95). This factorial structure was supported by CFA, with an acceptable fit: RMSEA = .073. EFA of Support-Services (KMO = .995, X2 = 57311.43, p < .001) extracted 2 factors, EV 58.43 %: F1-Financial support (32.59 % EV; M= 3.93, SD = 0.69) and F2-Prestige (25.84 % EV; M= 3.95, SD = 0.65). This factorial structure was supported by CFA, with an acceptable fit: RMSEA = .090. The health group showed scores mostly above global average in factors. Conclusions EMQ showed adequate psychometric properties. The instrument is useful for measuring entrepreneurships motivations in health.

Fator cobertura e manejo da equação universal de perda de solo para soja e trigo em um cambissolo húmico alumínico submetido a diferentes sistemas de manejo.

O fator cobertura e manejo do solo (fator C da Equação Universal de Perda de Solo- EUPS) é um dos mais importantes na redução das perdas de solo por erosão hídrica. Com objetivo de avaliar as razões de perda de solo (RPS) e o fator C, conduziu-se um experimento sob chuva natural em um Cambissolo Húmico alumínico léptico, com declividade média de 0,102 m m-1, em Lages, SC, no período de novembro de 2002 a outubro de 2005, compreendendo seis ciclos culturais. Os parâmetros foram avaliados em cinco estádios, com base na cobertura do solo pelo dossel das plantas. Foram estudados três sistemas de manejo do solo: aração + duas gradagens (PC), escarificação + uma gradagem (CM) e semeadura direta (SD), submetidos a sucessão soja (Glycine max) e trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), além de um tratamento adicional, com aração + duas gradagens sem culturas (SC). As RPS e os fatores C, variaram quanto aos ciclos, estádios das culturas e sistemas de manejo do solo. A SD reduziu as RPS, em 85% e 48% em relação ao PC e CM, respectivamente, durante os cultivos de soja e em 60% e 55% nos cultivos de trigo. Na média dos três anos de estudo, os valores do fator C, foram de 0,073 (PC), 0,016 (CM) e 0,007 (SD) Mg ha Mg-1 ha-1 durante os cultivos de soja e 0,126 (PC), 0,083 (CM) e 0,035 (SD) Mg ha Mg-1 ha-1 durante os cultivos de trigo. Para a sucessão de culturas soja-trigo, os valores do fator C foram de 0,198, 0,099 e 0,042 Mg ha Mg-1 ha-1, para PC, CM e SD, respectivamente.