Bacillus sphaericus mosquito pathogens in the aquatic environment

The fate of Bacillus sphaericus spores in the aquatic environment was investigated by suspending spores in dialysis bags in fresh and seawater. Spore viability was lost more rapidly in seawater. Neither B. sphaericus nor B. thuringiensis israelensis (B.t.i.) spores mixed with pond sediment appeared to attach to the sediment. However, rapid decrease in B.t.i. toxicity suggested attachment of parasporal bodies to sediment. B. sphaericus toxin settled more slowly and less completely. B. sphaericus spores fed to larvae of four aquatic invertebrates were mostly eliminated from the animal gut in less than one week. An exception was the cranefly (Tipula abdominalis) where spores persisted in the posterior gut for up to five weeks.

A gene-rich, transcriptionally active environment and the pre-deposition of repressive marks are predictive of susceptibility to KRAB/KAP1-mediated silencing.

AbstractBACKGROUND: KRAB-ZFPs (Krüppel-associated box domain-zinc finger proteins) are vertebrate-restricted transcriptional repressors encoded in the hundreds by the mouse and human genomes. They act via an essential cofactor, KAP1, which recruits effectors responsible for the formation of facultative heterochromatin. We have recently shown that KRAB/KAP1 can mediate long-range transcriptional repression through heterochromatin spreading, but also demonstrated that this process is at times countered by endogenous influences.METHOD: To investigate this issue further we used an ectopic KRAB-based repressor. This system allowed us to tether KRAB/KAP1 to hundreds of euchromatic sites within genes, and to record its impact on gene expression. We then correlated this KRAB/KAP1-mediated transcriptional effect to pre-existing genomic and chromatin structures to identify specific characteristics making a gene susceptible to repression.RESULTS: We found that genes that were susceptible to KRAB/KAP1-mediated silencing carried higher levels of repressive histone marks both at the promoter and over the transcribed region than genes that were insensitive. In parallel, we found a high enrichment in euchromatic marks within both the close and more distant environment of these genes.CONCLUSION: Together, these data indicate that high levels of gene activity in the genomic environment and the pre-deposition of repressive histone marks within a gene increase its susceptibility to KRAB/KAP1-mediated repression.

Modelling the distribution of bats in relation to landscape structure in a temperate mountain environment

1. Landscape modification is often considered the principal cause of population decline in many bat species. Thus, schemes for bat conservation rely heavily on knowledge about species-landscape relationships. So far, however, few studies have quantified the possible influence of landscape structure on large-scale spatial patterns in bat communities. 2. This study presents quantitative models that use landscape structure to predict (i) spatial patterns in overall community composition and (ii) individual species' distributions through canonical correspondence analysis and generalized linear models, respectively. A geographical information system (GIS) was then used to draw up maps of (i) overall community patterns and (ii) distribution of potential species' habitats. These models relied on field data from the Swiss Jura mountains. 3. Fight descriptors of landscape structure accounted for 30% of the variation in bat community composition. For some species, more than 60% of the variance in distribution could be explained by landscape structure. Elevation, forest or woodland cover, lakes and suburbs, were the most frequent predictors. 4. This study shows that community composition in bats is related to landscape structure through species-specific relationships to resources. Due to their nocturnal activities and the difficulties of remote identification, a comprehensive bat census is rarely possible, and we suggest that predictive modelling of the type described here provides an indispensable conservation tool.

How does a hilly urban environment influence daily physical activity in obese individuals?

Background: Increases in physical activity (PA) are promoted by walking in an outdoor environment. Along with walking speed, slope is a major determinant of exercise intensity, and energy expenditure. The hypothesis was that in free-living conditions, a hilly environment diminishes PA to a greater extent in obese (OB) when compared with control (CO) individuals. Methods: To assess PA types and patterns, 28 CO (22 ± 2 kg/m2) and 14 OB (33 ± 4 kg/m2) individuals wore during an entire day 2 accelerometers and 1 GPS device, around respectively their waist, ankle and shoulder. They performed their usual PA and were asked to walk an additional 60 min per day. Results: The duration of inactivity and activity with OB individuals tended to be, respectively, higher and lower than that of CO individuals (P = .06). Both groups spent less time walking uphill/downhill than on the level (20%, 19%, vs. 61% of total walking duration, respectively, P < .001). However OB individuals spent less time walking uphill/downhill per day than CO (25 ± 15 and 38 ± 15 min/d, respectively, P < 0.05) and covered a shorter distance per day (3.8 km vs 5.2 km, P < 0.01). Conclusions: BMI and outdoor topography should also be considered when prescribing extra walking in free-living conditions.

Utilització del robot mòbil com a eina d'aprenentatge en ensenyaments tècnics

En aquest Projecte de Millora de la Qualitat Docent es descriu el disseny, la construcció i la utilització d’un robot mòbil com a eina docent en titulacions d’Enginyeria. El robot mòbil té com a element de control un PC portàtil convencional per tal de facilitar el procés d’aprenentatge de l’alumnat estigui centrat en l’objectiu de les pràctiques i no en el funcionament i control del robot. A més a més, el robot disposa d’un elevat nombre de sensors i actuadors per tal d’oferir un elevat grau d’interdisciplinaritat.

Factores de rendimiento en entornos multicore

Este documento refleja el estudio de investigación para la detección de factores que afectan al rendimiento en entornos multicore. Debido a la gran diversidad de arquitecturas multicore se ha definido un marco de trabajo, que consiste en la adopción de una arquitectura específica, un modelo de programación basado en paralelismo de datos, y aplicaciones del tipo Single Program Multiple Data. Una vez definido el marco de trabajo, se han evaluado los factores de rendimiento con especial atención al modelo de programación. Por este motivo, se ha analizado la librería de threads y la API OpenMP para detectar aquellas funciones sensibles de ser sintonizadas al permitir un comportamiento adaptativo de la aplicación al entorno, y que dependiendo de su adecuada utilización han de mejorar el rendimiento de la aplicación.

Factores de rendimiento en aplicaciones híbridas

En el entorno actual, diversas ramas de las ciencias, tienen la necesidad de auxiliarse de la computación de altas prestaciones para la obtención de resultados a relativamente corto plazo. Ello es debido fundamentalmente, al alto volumen de información que necesita ser procesada y también al costo computacional que demandan dichos cálculos. El beneficio al realizar este procesamiento de manera distribuida y paralela, logra acortar los tiempos de espera en la obtención de los resultados y de esta forma posibilita una toma decisiones con mayor anticipación. Para soportar ello, existen fundamentalmente dos modelos de programación ampliamente extendidos: el modelo de paso de mensajes a través de librerías basadas en el estándar MPI, y el de memoria compartida con la utilización de OpenMP. Las aplicaciones híbridas son aquellas que combinan ambos modelos con el fin de aprovechar en cada caso, las potencialidades específicas del paralelismo en cada uno. Lamentablemente, la práctica ha demostrado que la utilización de esta combinación de modelos, no garantiza necesariamente una mejoría en el comportamiento de las aplicaciones. Por lo tanto, un análisis de los factores que influyen en el rendimiento de las mismas, nos beneficiaría a la hora de implementarlas pero también, sería un primer paso con el fin de llegar a predecir su comportamiento. Adicionalmente, supondría una vía para determinar que parámetros de la aplicación modificar con el fin de mejorar su rendimiento. En el trabajo actual nos proponemos definir una metodología para la identificación de factores de rendimiento en aplicaciones híbridas y en congruencia, la identificación de algunos factores que influyen en el rendimiento de las mismas.

The Rapakivi texture of feldspars in a plutonic mixing environment - A dissolution-recrystallization process

A new hypothesis is formulated to explain the development of rapakivi texture in and around the mafic enclaves of porphyritic granitoids, i.e. in environments involving magma mixing and mingling. The formation of a plagioclase mantle around alkali feldspar megacrysts is attributed to the localized presence of a melt resulting from the reaction of these megacrysts, with host hybrid magma with which they are in disequilibrium. This feldspathic melt adheres to the resorbed crystals and is virtually immiscible with the surrounding magma. Its composition is modified in terms of the relative proportions of K2O, Na2O, and CaO through selective diffusion of these elements, thus allowing the specific crystallization of andesine. With decreasing temperature, the K-feldspar, again stable, crystallizes along with the plagioclase, leading to mixed mantle structures.

Health and the Built Environment, Sources of Information

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has produced a series of reviews which look at the health impacts of identified subject areas. Four reviews have been produced in the areas of employment, transport, the built environment and education. All reviews may be found at http://www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiaresources. This resource supplements the ‘Health Impacts of Built Environment’ report. It highlights a number of organisations whose work considers issues relevant to the relationship between health and built environment.

Health Impacts of the Built Environment: A review

This review is the third in the series and illustrates how the built environment impacts on health. It also highlights the unequal distribution of these impacts on different sections of the population. We hope it will help inform debate about the links between the built environment and health and be a useful resource for those working to influence public policy for health at local and national level across the island. The review has an extensive reference list. To supplement the health impacts of the built environment review a 'sources of information' list has been developed which highlights a number of organisations whose work considers issues relevant to the relationship between health and the built environment.

Ireland on the move: Enhancing opportunities for physical activity in the built environment

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland recently hosted a seminar on physical activity. The seminar presentations were: Ms Teresa Lavin, IPH - Physical activity and the built environment in Ireland Prof James Sallis, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and Director of Active Living Research - Translating evidence from physical activity research into practice.