Schooling and swimming behaviors of Hyla semilineata tadpoles (Anura, Hylidae)

The schooling behavior of Hyla semilineata Spix, 1824 tadpoles is described. Experiments were carried out both in the natural environment and under controlled conditions to quantify the constant movement of these tadpoles. Bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802), similar in size to the H. semilineata larvae, were used as controls in the experiments. Hyla semilineata tadpoles remained stationary for one sixth of the time that the bullfrog tadpoles did and the number of individuals of H. semilineata moving at any given moment was about seven times greater. The schooling behavior and constant swimming behavior of these tadpoles may enhance the effect of their warning coloration.

Morphometric differences in two calanoid sibling species, Boeckella gracilipes and B. titicacae (Crustacea, Copepoda)

Calanoid copepods are abundant in South American inland waters and include widespread species, such as Boeckella gracilipes (Daday, 1902), which occurs from the Ecuador to Tierra del Fuego Island. This species occurs under various environmental conditions, and is found in oligotrophic lakes in Patagonia (39-54��S) and in shallow mountain lakes north of 39��S. The aim of the present study is to conduct a morphometric comparison of male specimens of B. titicacae collected in Titicaca and B. gracilipes collected in Ri��ihue lakes, with a third population of B. gracilipes collected in shallow ponds in Salar de Surire. Titicaca and Ri��ihue lakes are stable environments, whereas Salar de Surire is an extreme environment. These ponds present an extreme environment due to high exposure to solar radiation and high salinity levels. The results of the study revealed differences among the three populations. These results agree well with systematic descriptions in the literature on differences between the populations of Titicaca and Ri��ihue lakes, and population of Salar de Surire differs slightly from the other two populations. It is probable that the differences between the population of Salar de Surire and the other two populations result from the extreme environment in Salar de Surire. High exposure to solar radiation, high salinity and extreme variations in temperature enhance genetic variations that are consequently expressed in morphology.

Improving the effort concept: a revision of the traditional approach in the context of controlled Dynamic Stochastic Environments

The objective of this paper is to re-evaluate the attitude to effort of a risk-averse decision-maker in an evolving environment. In the classic analysis, the space of efforts is generally discretized. More realistic, this new approach emploies a continuum of effort levels. The presence of multiple possible efforts and performance levels provides a better basis for explaining real economic phenomena. The traditional approach (see, Laffont, J. J. & Tirole, J., 1993, Salanie, B., 1997, Laffont, J.J. and Martimort, D, 2002, among others) does not take into account the potential effect of the system dynamics on the agent's behavior to effort over time. In the context of a Principal-agent relationship, not only the incentives of the Principal can determine the private agent to allocate a good effort, but also the evolution of the dynamic system. The incentives can be ineffective when the environment does not incite the agent to invest a good effort. This explains why, some effici

Host-microorganism interactions in lung diseases.

Until recently, the airways were thought to be sterile unless infected; however, a shift towards molecular methods for the quantification and sequencing of bacterial DNA has revealed that the airways harbour a unique steady-state microbiota. This paradigm shift is changing the way that respiratory research is approached, with a clear need now to consider the effects of host-microorganism interactions in both healthy and diseased lungs. We propose that akin to recent discoveries in intestinal research, dysbiosis of the airway microbiota could underlie susceptibility to, and progression and chronicity of lung disease. In this Opinion article, we summarize current knowledge of the airway microbiota and outline how host-microorganism interactions in the lungs and other tissues might influence respiratory health and disease.

Expansi�� accelerada de l���univers i teories de gravetat modificada a grans escales

Estudi realitzat a partir d���una estada al Physics Department de la New York University, United States, Estats Units, entre 2006 i 2008. Una de les observacions de m��s impacte en la cosmologia moderna ha estat la determinaci�� emp��rica que l���Univers es troba actualment en una fase d���Expansi�� Accelerada (EA). Aquest fen��men implica que o b�� l���Univers est�� dominat per un nou sector de mat��ria/energia, o b�� la Relativitat General deixa de tenir validesa a escales cosmol��giques. La primera possibilitat compr��n els models d���Energia Fosca (EF), i el seu principal problema ��s que l���EF ha de tenir propietats tan especials que es fan dif��cils de justificar te��ricament. La segona possibilitat requereix la construcci�� de teories consistents de Gravetat Modificada a Grans Dist��ncies (GMGD), que s��n una generalitzaci�� dels models de gravetat massiva. L���inter��s fenomenol��gic per aquestes teories tamb�� va resorgir amb l���aparici�� dels primers exemples de models de GMGD, com ara el model de Dvali, Gabadadze i Porrati (DGP), que consisteix en un tipus de brana en una dimensi�� extra. Malauradament, per��, aquest model no permet explicar de forma consistent l���EA de l���Univers. Un dels objectius d���aquest projecte ha estat establir la viabilitat interna i fenomenol��gica dels models de GMGD. Des del punt de vista fenomenol��gic, ens hem centrat en la questi�� m��s important a la pr��ctica: trobar signatures observacionals que permetin distingir els models de GMGD dels d���EF. A nivell m��s te��ric, tamb�� hem investigat el significat de les inestabilitats del model DGP.L���altre gran objectiu que ens vam proposar va ser la construcci�� de noves teories de GMGD. En la segona part d���aquest projecte, hem elaborat i mostrat la consist��ncia del model ���DGP en Cascada���, que generalitza el model DGP a m��s dimensions extra, i representa el segon model consistent i invariant-Lorentz a l���espai pla conegut. L���exist��ncia d���altres models de GMGD m��s enll�� de DGP ��s de gran inter��s at��s que podria permetre obtenir l���EA de l���Univers de forma purament geom��trica.

Imaging liver and brain glycogen metabolism at the nanometer scale.

In mammals, glycogen synthesis and degradation are dynamic processes regulating blood and cerebral glucose-levels within a well-defined physiological range. Despite the essential role of glycogen in hepatic and cerebral metabolism, its spatiotemporal distribution at the molecular and cellular level is unclear. By correlating electron microscopy and ultra-high resolution ion microprobe (NanoSIMS) imaging of tissue from fasted mice injected with (13)C-labeled glucose, we demonstrate that liver glycogenesis initiates in the hepatocyte perinuclear region before spreading toward the cell membrane. In the mouse brain, we observe that (13)C is inhomogeneously incorporated into astrocytic glycogen at a rate ~25 times slower than in the liver, in agreement with prior bulk studies. This experiment, using temporally resolved, nanometer-scale imaging of glycogen synthesis and degradation, provides greater insight into glucose metabolism in mammalian organs and shows how this technique can be used to explore biochemical pathways in healthy and diseased states. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: By correlating electron microscopy and ultra-high resolution ion microprobe imaging of tissue from fasting mice injected with (13)C-labeled glucose, the authors demonstrate a method to image glycogen metabolism at the nanometer scale.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the spine at 3-T: feasibility, optimization of b-value and utility to differentiate benign from pathological vertebral compression fractures

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, determine the optimal b-value, and assess the utility of 3-T diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) of the spine in differentiating benign from pathologic vertebral compression fractures.Methods and Materials: Twenty patients with 38 vertebral compression fractures (24 benign, 14 pathologic) and 20 controls (total: 23 men, 17 women, mean age 56.2years) were included from December 2010 to May 2011 in this IRB-approved prospective study. MR imaging of the spine was performed on a 3-T unit with T1-w, fat-suppressed T2-w, gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-w and zoomed-EPI (2D RF excitation pulse combined with reduced field-of-view single-shot echo-planar readout) diffusion-w (b-values: 0, 300, 500 and 700s/mm2) sequences. Two radiologists independently assessed zoomed-EPI image quality in random order using a 4-point scale: 1=excellent to 4=poor. They subsequently measured apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in normal vertebral bodies and compression fractures, in consensus.Results: Lower b-values correlated with better image quality scores, with significant differences between b=300 (mean��SD=2.6��0.8), b=500 (3.0��0.7) and b=700 (3.6��0.6) (all p<0.001). Mean ADCs of normal vertebral bodies (n=162) were 0.23, 0.17 and 0.11��10-3mm2/s with b=300, 500 and 700s/mm2, respectively. In contrast, mean ADCs were 0.89, 0.70 and 0.59��10-3mm2/s for benign vertebral compression fractures and 0.79, 0.66 and 0.51��10-3mm2/s for pathologic fractures with b=300, 500 and 700s/mm2, respectively. No significant difference was found between ADCs of benign and pathologic fractures.Conclusion: 3-T DWI of the spine is feasible and lower b-values (300s/mm2) are recommended. However, our preliminary results show no advantage of DWI in differentiating benign from pathologic vertebral compression fractures.

Muntatge i automatitzaci�� d'un ascensor de 4 plantes

Treball de recerca realitzat per alumnes d'ensenyament secundari i guardonat amb un Premi CIRIT per fomentar l'esperit cient����fic del Jovent l'any 2009. Les primera intenci�� d'aquesta recerca ��s unificar dues grans branques de la tecnologia com s��n la mec��nica i l'el��ctronica. Aix�� va sorgir el projecte de construir un ascensor i provar un nou sistema de transmissi�� com ��s el vis sense fi juntament amb la introducci�� d'un microcontrolador del tipus PIC com a unitat central de processament. El primer pas d'aquest treball va ser el disseny d'aquest ascensor utilitzant diversos programes. Posteriorment es van encarregar aquestes peces abans dissenyades per tal de comen��ar-ne la construcci��. Aquestes peces van ser unides totalment mitjan��ant rebladures i altres suports mec��nics. A continuaci�� es va desenvolupar la programaci�� del microcontrolador. El pas m��s important va ser l'acoblament del grup motor i el poliment dels aspectes m��s dif��cils de corregir com ��s el cas dels molts fregaments que patia al ser una estructura purament met��l��lica. Corregits aquests problemes i el nivell sonor, es va donar per concl��s el treball.

Una casa, una hist��ria: patrimoni arquitect��nic i hum�� d'una casa de la Selva del Camp

Treball de recerca realitzat per una alumna d'ensenyament secundari i guardonat amb un Premi CIRIT per fomentar l'esperit cient��fic del Jovent l'any 2009. El treball t�� com a objecte de recerca un habitatge del municipi de la Selva del Camp. Aquest, es centra tant en els aspectes art��stics i decoratius, com en l���an��lisi de l���evoluci�� patrimonial i l�����s social de l���edifici entre els segles XVIII-XX. En la recerca s���ha analitzat, per una banda, el proc��s de transformaci�� de l���edifici des de l���any 1749 i els elements art��stics que encara s���hi conserven com pintures neocl��ssiques, treballs de ferro forjat, etc., els quals fan que sigui una de les cases m��s emblem��tiques del Carrer Major de la Selva. D���altra banda, s���ha indagat en les diferents generacions que, des de mitjan segle XVIII, n���han tingut la propietat i el paper que aquestes fam��lies han jugat dins la societat selvatana. La casa, en aquests anys, ha pertanyut a dues fam��lies i al Sindicat Agr��cola. La primera, els Fortuny, terratinents i amb c��rrecs al govern municipal; l'altra, els Carnicer, comerciants d'avellanes dels quals jo en s��c descendent. De 1910 a 1920 la casa fou al seu del Sindicat Agr��cola i a partir de textos de Puig i Ferreter s���ha pogut descriure l���ambient que s'hi vivia i les activitats que s���hi duien a terme. Alhora, el fet d���analitzar les diferents funcions que l���edifici ha tingut al llarg d���aquests anys (resid��ncia familiar, corredoria de comer��, premsa d���oli, seu del Centre Republic�� o del Sindicat Agr��cola) ha perm��s explicar la hist��ria de la vila de la Selva a partir de la d���aquest edifici.

Normal glucagon signaling and β-cell function after near-total α-cell ablation in adult mice.

OBJECTIVEEvaluate whether healthy or diabetic adult mice can tolerate an extreme loss of pancreatic α-cells and how this sudden massive depletion affects β-cell function and blood glucose homeostasis.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe generated a new transgenic model allowing near-total α-cell removal specifically in adult mice. Massive α-cell ablation was triggered in normally grown and healthy adult animals upon diphtheria toxin (DT) administration. The metabolic status of these mice was assessed in 1) physiologic conditions, 2) a situation requiring glucagon action, and 3) after β-cell loss.RESULTSAdult transgenic mice enduring extreme (98%) α-cell removal remained healthy and did not display major defects in insulin counter-regulatory response. We observed that 2% of the normal α-cell mass produced enough glucagon to ensure near-normal glucagonemia. β-Cell function and blood glucose homeostasis remained unaltered after α-cell loss, indicating that direct local intraislet signaling between α- and β-cells is dispensable. Escaping α-cells increased their glucagon content during subsequent months, but there was no significant α-cell regeneration. Near-total α-cell ablation did not prevent hyperglycemia in mice having also undergone massive β-cell loss, indicating that a minimal amount of α-cells can still guarantee normal glucagon signaling in diabetic conditions.CONCLUSIONSAn extremely low amount of α-cells is sufficient to prevent a major counter-regulatory deregulation, both under physiologic and diabetic conditions. We previously reported that α-cells reprogram to insulin production after extreme β-cell loss and now conjecture that the low α-cell requirement could be exploited in future diabetic therapies aimed at regenerating β-cells by reprogramming adult α-cells.

Implantaci�� de noves metodologies docents en el pla d'estudis de l'EUETII d'Igualada en el marc de l'EEES

Aquest projecte pret��n incorporar a la titulaci�� d���Enginyeria T��cnica en Qu��mica Industrial les compet��ncies transversals amb qu�� hauran de comptar els futurs enginyers perqu�� entrin en el m��n laboral amb tots els requisits t��cnics i competencials que requereixen els canvis dels models educatius (cr��dits ECTS) i la canviant situaci�� laboral en l�����mbit de la Uni�� Europea. La incorporaci�� de compet��ncies transversals en les assignatures del pla d���estudis ��s un dels eixos b��sics plantejats en el Pla Estrat��gic 2005-2009 de l���Escola Universit��ria d���Enginyeria T��cnica Industrial d���Igualada. Aquest proc��s s���ha portat a terme en quatre fases: Disseny: Implicar els empresaris en el disseny de programes de formaci�� que capacitin els estudiant en les compet��ncies que demana el mercat de treball. Presentaci��: Sensibilitzar els professors i els alumnes de la import��ncia de desenvolupar compet��ncies transversals dins del marc actual i futur de l���ensenyament. Planificaci�� de les assignatures: Portar a terme la incorporaci�� de compet��ncies transversals de forma gradual des del primer curs i donar suport i formaci�� a tot el professorat. Difusi��: Divulgar la important transformaci�� que s���est�� realitzant a l���Escola dins de l�����mbit de la nova implantaci�� de compet��ncies transversals per formar als enginyers per tal de fer-los m��s competitius. Per a aconseguir l���adaptaci�� de les assignatures del pla d���estudis a les noves directrius de l���EEES s���ha treballat des de dues vessants: a) introduint canvis metodol��gics en la forma d���impartir les assignatures per part del professorat per permetre la incorporaci�� de compet��ncies transversals, com ara el treball en equip, a trav��s de l���aprenentatge basat en projectes, i la compet��ncia ling����stica en angl��s, a partir de la introducci�� de l���angl��s a l���aula, i b) adaptant al nou sistema la documentaci�� associada a les mat��ries que s���imparteixen: guia docent, guies de les assignatures, etc.

Maturation of marginal zone and follicular B cells requires B cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family and is independent of B cell maturation antigen.

B cells undergo a complex series of maturation and selection steps in the bone marrow and spleen during differentiation into mature immune effector cells. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member B cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) (BLyS/TALL-1) plays an important role in B cell homeostasis. BAFF and its close homologue a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) have both been shown to interact with at least two receptors, B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), however their relative contribution in transducing BAFF signals in vivo remains unclear. To functionally inactivate both BAFF and APRIL, mice transgenic for a soluble form of TACI were generated. They display a developmental block of B cell maturation in the periphery, leading to a severe depletion of marginal zone and follicular B2 B cells, but not of peritoneal B1 B cells. In contrast, mice transgenic for a soluble form of BCMA, which binds APRIL, have no detectable B cell phenotype. This demonstrates a crucial role for BAFF in B cell maturation and strongly suggests that it signals via a BCMA-independent pathway and in an APRIL-dispensable way.

Proceedings of the Schistosome Genome Project

"The host-parasite relationship" is a vast and diverse research field which, despite huge human and financial input over many years, remains largely shrouded in mystery. Clearly, the adaptation of parasites to their different host species, and to the different environmental stresses that they represent, depends on interactions with, and responses to, various molecules of host and/or parasite origin. The schistosome genome project is a primary strategy to reach the goal; this systematic research project has successfully developed novel technologies for qualitative and quantitative characterization of schistosome genes and genome organization by extensive international collaboration between top quality laboratories. Schistosomes are a family of parasitic blood flukes (Phylum Platyhelminthes), which have seven pairs of autosomal chromosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (ZZ for a male worm and ZW for a female), of a haploid genome size of 2.7x108 base pairs (Simpson et al. 1982). Schistosomes are ideal model organisms for the development of genome mapping strategies since they have a small genome size comparable to that of well-characterized model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans (100 Mb) and Drosophila (165 Mb), and contain functional genes with a high level of homology to the host mammalian genes. Here we summarize the current progress in the schistosome genome project, the information of 3,047 transcribed genes (Expressed Sequence Tags; EST), complete sets of cDNA and genomic DNA libraries (including YAC and cosmid libraries) with a mapping technique to the well defined schistosome chromosomes. The schistosome genome project will further identify and characterize the key molecules that are responsible for host-parasite adaptation, i.e., successful growth, development, maturation and reproduction of the parasite within its host in the near future

DETERMINE Working Document #1 'Policies and actions addressing the social determinants of health inequalities: examples of activity at EU member state level in Europe'

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is a partner in the European project DETERMINE, building on its previous involvement in the Closing the Gap project in 2004-2006. In the first year of the project (2007-2008) 15 DETERMINE partners identified policies and actions that have taken place within countries, and at the EU level, to address Social Determinants of Health Inequalities. These policies and actions were identified via a questionnaire, which also identified structures and tools/mechanisms being used in the country to support a 'health in all policy' approach.

IPH response to Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department for Regional Development Spatial Strategies

The remit of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) is to promote cooperation for public health between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the areas of research and information, capacity building and policy advice. Our approach is to support Departments of Health and their agencies in both jurisdictions, and maximise the benefits of all-island cooperation to achieve practical benefits for people in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As an all-island body, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland particularly welcomes that the Framework for Collaboration has been co-produced by the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In addition the Institute of Public Health welcomes a more holistic approach to spatial planning that takes into account the environment and sustainable economic development. A clean environment and a more equitable distribution of prosperity have associated health benefits, as outlined in the IPH’s Active travel – healthy lives (2011) and Health impacts of the built environment- a review (2006).