56 Gb/s multi-band CAP for data center interconnects up to an 80 km SMF

We present the first (to the best of our knowledge) experimental demonstration of a 56 Gb/s multi-band carrierless amplitude and phase modulation (CAP) signal transmission over an 80-km single-mode fiber link with zero overhead pre-FEC signal recovery and enhanced timing jitter tolerance for optical data center interconnects.

(Table 1) Lithology, mineralogy, and physical properties of Cretaceous cherts and porcellanites at DSDP Hole 56-436

Cretaceous chert and porcellanite recovered at Site 436, east of northern Honshu, Japan, are texturally and mineralogically similar to siliceous rocks of comparable age at Sites 303, 304, and 307 in the northwest Pacific. These rocks probably were formed by impregnation of the associated pelagic clay with locally derived silica from biogenic and perhaps some volcanic debris. Fine horizontal laminations are the only primary sedimentary structures, suggesting minimal reworking and transport. Collapse breccias and incipient chert nodules are diagenetic features related to silicification and compaction of the original sediment. Disordered opal-CT (d[101] = 4.09 Å) and microgranular quartz (crystallinity index < 1.0) are the two common silica minerals present. Some samples show quartz replacing this poorly ordered opal- CT, supporting the notion that opal-CT does not become completely ordered (i.e., d[101] = 4.04 Å) in some cases before being converted to quartz. The present temperature calculated for the depth of the shallowest chert and porcellanite at this site is 30 °C; this may represent the temperature of conversion of opal-CT to quartz. High reflection coefficients (0.29-0.65) calculated for the boundary between chert-porcellanite and clay-claystone support the common observation that chert is a strong seismic reflector in deep-sea sedimentary sections.

He isotope, U/Th isotope, Calcium carbonate, biogenic opal, rare earth element concentrations, and grain size distribution measured on core-top sediments during SONNE cruise SO202 (INOPEX)

Eolian dust is a significant source of iron and other nutrients that are essential for the health of marine ecosystems and potentially a controlling factor of the high nutrient-low chlorophyll status of the Subarctic North Pacific. We map the spatial distribution of dust input using three different geochemical tracers of eolian dust, 4He, 232Th and rare earth elements, in combination with grain size distribution data, from a set of core-top sediments covering the entire Subarctic North Pacific. Using the suite of geochemical proxies to fingerprint different lithogenic components, we deconvolve eolian dust input from other lithogenic inputs such as volcanic ash, ice-rafted debris, riverine and hemipelagic input. While the open ocean sites far away from the volcanic arcs are dominantly composed of pure eolian dust, lithogenic components other than eolian dust play a more crucial role along the arcs. In sites dominated by dust, eolian dust input appears to be characterized by a nearly uniform grain size mode at ~4 µm. Applying the 230Th-normalization technique, our proxies yield a consistent pattern of uniform dust fluxes of 1-2 g/m**2/yr across the Subarctic North Pacific. Elevated eolian dust fluxes of 2-4 g/m**2/yr characterize the westernmost region off Japan and the southern Kurile Islands south of 45° N and west of 165° E along the main pathway of the westerly winds. The core-top based dust flux reconstruction is consistent with recent estimates based on dissolved thorium isotope concentrations in seawater from the Subarctic North Pacific. The dust flux pattern compares well with state-of-the-art dust model predictions in the western and central Subarctic North Pacific, but we find that dust fluxes are higher than modeled fluxes by 0.5-1 g/m**2/yr in the northwest, northeast and eastern Subarctic North Pacific. Our results provide an important benchmark for biogeochemical models and a robust approach for downcore studies testing dust-induced iron fertilization of past changes in biological productivity in the Subarctic North Pacific.

Seasonal variations in surface metabolite composition of Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus serratus sampled at outer Kiel Fjord (August 2012 - July 2013)

The chemical composition of surface associated metabolites of two Fucus species (Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus serratus) was analysed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to describe temporal patterns in chemical surface composition. Method: The two perennial brown macroalgae F. vesiculosus and F. serratus were sampled monthly at Bülk, outer Kiel Fjord, Germany (54°27'21 N / 10°11'57 E) over an entire year (August 2012 - July 2013). Per month and species six non-fertile Fucus individuals were collected from mixed stands at a depth of 0.5 m under mid water level. For surface extraction approx. 50 g of the upper 5-10 cm apical thalli tips were cut off per species. The surface extraction of Fucus was performed according to the protocol of de Nys and co-workers (1998) with minor modifications (see Rickert et al. 2015). GC/EI-MS measurements were performed with a Waters GCT premier (Waters, Manchester, UK) coupled to an Agilent 6890N GC equipped with a DB-5 ms 30 m column (0.25 mm internal diameter, 0.25 mM film thickness, Agilent, USA). The inlet temperature was maintained at 250°C and samples were injected in split 10 mode. He carrier gas flow was adjusted to 1 ml min-1. Alkanes were used for referencing of retention times. For further details (GC-MS sample preparation and analysis) see the related publication (Rickert et al. submitted to PLOS ONE).

Propuesta sostenible para mitigar los efectos climáticos adversos en una ciudad costera de Argentina

Los indicadores de sostenibilidad climática constituyen herramientas fundamentales para complementar las políticas de ordenamiento del territorio urbano y pueden beneficiar la calidad de vida sus habitantes. En el presente trabajo se diseñó un indicador climático urbano para la ciudad de Bahía Blanca considerando variables meteorológicas y análisis de la percepción social. El mismo permitió delimitar la ciudad en cuatro regiones bien diferenciadas entre sí. A partir de entonces, se realizó una propuesta sostenible para mitigar los efectos adversos del clima a partir de la aplicación del método DPSIR. Las mismas estuvieron destinadas a mejorar las condiciones de vida de la población. Los resultados permitieron considerar que una pronta implementación de la misma junto con una activa participación de los actores sociales y los tomadores de decisiones es necesaria para mejorar las condiciones actuales en la que se encuentra la ciudad. Con las medidas propuestas, la población local sabrá cómo actuar ante la ocurrencia de distintos eventos extremos, eventos de desconfort climático, etc. Al ser un método sencillo, la metodología aplicada en este estudio puede replicarse en otras ciudades del mundo con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de los habitantes.

Argaric Sociology: Sex and Death

The detailed, rich and diverse Argaric funerary record offers an opportunity to explore social dimensions that usually remain elusive for prehistoric research, such us social rules on kinship rights and obligations, sexual tolerance and the role of funerary practices in preserving the economic and political organization. This paper addresses these topics through an analysis of the social meaning of Argaric double tombs by looking at body treatment and composition of grave goods assemblages according to gender and class affiliation. The Argaric seems to have been a conservative society, scarcely tolerant regarding homosexuality, and willing to celebrate ancestry associated to certain places as a means of asserting residence and property rights.

Le “brigand lusitanien” reconsidéré. Analyse du problème de la terre chez Appien

L’étude du “brigandage lusitanien” a donné lieu à une importante activité de recherche depuis la fin du XIXe siècle. Pour autant, et malgré une inflexion progressive de l’historiographie moderne vers une approche plus nuancée de l’origine du phénomène, le problème de la terre reste encore aujourd’hui au centre des préoccupations de nombre d’historiens et archéologiques. À partir d’une discussion serrée des principaux passages de Tite-Live, Diodore et surtout Appien, relatifs à la relation que d’aucuns ont voulu établir entre manque et/ou pauvreté de la terre et développement du brigandage chez les Lusitaniens, il est proposé une critique de l’interprétation socio-économique.

Peter Gansen: Metaphorisches Denken von Kindern, Theoretische und empirische Studien zu einer Pädagogischen Metaphorologie, (Erziehung – Schule – Gesellschaft, Bd. 56) Würzburg: Ergon 2010 [Rezension]

Rezension von: Peter Gansen: Metaphorisches Denken von Kindern, Theoretische und empirische Studien zu einer Pädagogischen Metaphorologie, (Erziehung – Schule – Gesellschaft, Bd. 56), Würzburg: Ergon 2010 (540 S.; ISBN 978-3-89913-742-2)

Animar a hora do conto na sala de aula e na biblioteca: o professor e a promoção da leitura

O tema surgiu pela necessidade de saber mais sobre o trabalho do professor bibliotecário, função bastante recente, e compreender aquilo que poderá ser o seu desempenho enquanto animador de leitura. Por outro lado, quisemos verificar se, o espaço da biblioteca escolar estava se constitui num espaço onde se desenvolve adequadamente e consolida hábitos de leitura, não só através do professor bibliotecário mas da parceria deste com outros professores, para que haja interacção necessária no sentido de melhor desenvolver a aprendizagem dos alunos, durante o processo educativo das crianças. Sendo estas algumas das nossas maiores preocupações, um dos aspectos que quisemos conhecer foram as estratégias de dinamização da Hora do Conto desenvolvidas por estes professores. Outro ponto importante, consiste em verificar se a animação da leitura é conduzida para que os alunos se sintam motivados a ouvir uma história, bem como com a preocupação de fazer com que os alunos aprendam a gostar de ler e produzir sentido a partir do que lêem. Assim, apontamos para aspectos importantes acerca da função exercida pelo professor bibliotecário e o professor titular de turma, ora questionando, ora indicando acerca do desempenho, ora tentando compreender o perfil de cada um deles, visto que ocupam lugares simbólicos distintos. Possivelmente, a animação da Hora do Conto, ainda, se constitui como um desafio para os professores de maneira geral e, em especial, para o professor bibliotecário. v Então, consideramos de suma importância a observação da dinamização da Hora do Conto, pois, que é na acção que se pode produzir significados para novas abordagens teóricas. Desta forma, o nosso trabalho consistiu principalmente em tentar perceber como o professor bibliotecário e o professor titular de turma animam o momento da Hora do Conto, isto é, que “alma” emprestam às histórias neste momento que é de formação de leitores. Além disso, consideramos importante observar se os alunos apreciam positivamente a Hora do Conto e se ficam satisfeitos com a dinamização aí realizada, bem como com a leitura proporcionada tanto no contexto de sala de aula como de biblioteca. As nossas bases metodológicas foram sustentadas através de entrevistas, questionários e observação. Para tal, seguimos orientações de autores como, Bardin, Campenhoudt e Quivy, entre outros. Apoiamo-nos teoricamente em alguns dos principais autores contemporâneos que tratam do assunto como Bogdan e Biklen. Finalmente, norteados por alguns autores que se destacam nos estudos acerca da leitura e da pedagogia da leitura, tentamos analisar o que para nós é de fundamental importância, naquilo que se refere à Animação da Hora do Conto, ou seja, como agem o professor titular e o professor bibliotecário quando se propõe a formar leitores, e que formação possuem para dinamizarem a Hora do Conto de forma eficaz, sensível e significativa.

A bidomain threshold model of propagating calcium waves

We present a bidomain fire-diffuse-fire model that facilitates mathematical analysis of propagating waves of elevated intracellular calcium (Ca) in living cells. Modelling Ca release as a threshold process allows the explicit construction of travelling wave solutions to probe the dependence of Ca wave speed on physiologically important parameters such as the threshold for Ca release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cytosol, the rate of Ca resequestration from the cytosol to the ER, and the total [Ca] (cytosolic plus ER). Interestingly, linear stability analysis of the bidomain fire-diffuse-fire model predicts the onset of dynamic wave instabilities leading to the emergence of Ca waves that propagate in a back-and-forth manner. Numerical simulations are used to confirm the presence of these so-called "tango waves" and the dependence of Ca wave speed on the total [Ca]. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com (Journal of Mathematical Biology)

El urbanismo expansivo y la movilidad infantil en Cataluña

Los modelos de movilidad son una de las expresiones de las distintas formas urbanas. El urbanismo expansivo, como una de estas formas urbanas, está asociado a ciertos tipos de desplazamientos, relacionados a altos niveles de disfunciones sociales, económicas y medioambientales. La comunicación explora las tipologías de desplazamientos en un grupo ciudadano muy específico: los menores de 16 años. La población infantil tiene sus propias pautas de movilidad y estas están relacionadas, también, a las distintas formas urbanas. El análisis se basa en los datos que ofrece la Encuesta de Movilidad Cotidiana de Cataluña 2006 y de ella se analizan las grandes cifras para la comunidad catalana en conjunto. También se comparan los distintos subámbitos territoriales en relación a las características urbanas que estos presentan.