Prepupal Building Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster and Its Evolution under Resource and Time Constraints.

Structures built by animals are a widespread and ecologically important 'extended phenotype'. While its taxonomic diversity has been well described, factors affecting short-term evolution of building behavior within a species have received little experimental attention. Here we describe how, given the opportunity, wandering Drosophila melanogaster larvae often build long tunnels in agar substrates and embed their pupae within them. These embedded larvae are characterized by a longer egg-to-pupariation developmental time than larvae that pupate on the surface. Assuming that such building behaviors are likely to be energetically costly and/or time consuming, we hypothesized that they should evolve to be less pronounced under resource or time limitation. In accord with this prediction, larvae from populations evolved for 160 generations under a regime that combines larval malnutrition with limited developmental time dug shorter tunnels than larvae from control unselected populations. However, the proportion of larvae that embedded before pupation did not differ between the malnutrition-adapted and control populations, suggesting that tunnel length and likelihood of embedding before pupation are controlled by different genetic loci. The behaviors exhibited by wandering larvae of Drosophila melanogaster prior to pupation offer a model system to study evolution of animal building behaviors because the tunneling and embedding phenotypes are simple, facultative and highly variable.

Acute pulmonary toxicity following occupational exposure to a floor stain protector in the building industry in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Waterproofing agents are widely applied to leather and textile garments; they are also used as floor stain protectors by professionals. Acute respiratory injury is described in three cases of young healthy adults following occupational inhalation of a new waterproofing formulation containing an acrylate fluoropolymer. Within 1 or 2 h after exposure they developed a rapidly progressive dyspnoea; two of them had hypoxaemia and flu-like reactions. All patients improved with supportive treatment in a few days. The mechanism of toxicity is still under investigation, but experimental data suggest the role of this new acrylate fluoropolymer. CONCLUSION: Tilers should be warned against spraying floor stain repellents; there is also a need to make consumers aware that the spraying of waterproofing agents in a closed environment and concomitant smoking should be avoided.

Building complexity in O2-binding copper complexes : site-selective metalation and intermolecular O2-binding at dicopper and heterometallic complexes derived from an unsymmetric ligand

A novel unsymmetric dinucleating ligand (LN3N4) combining a tridentate and a tetradentate binding sites linked through a m-xylyl spacer was synthesized as ligand scaffold for preparing homo- and dimetallic complexes, where the two metal ions are bound in two different coordination environments. Site-selective binding of different metal ions is demonstrated. LN3N4 is able to discriminate between CuI and a complementary metal (M′ = CuI, ZnII, FeII, CuII, or GaIII) so that pure heterodimetallic complexes with a general formula [CuIM′(LN3N4)]n+ are synthesized. Reaction of the dicopper(I) complex [CuI 2(LN3N4)]2+ with O2 leads to the formation of two different copper-dioxygen (Cu2O2) intermolecular species (O and TP) between two copper atoms located in the same site from different complex molecules. Taking advantage of this feature, reaction of the heterodimetallic complexes [CuM′(LN3N4)]n+ with O2 at low temperature is used as a tool to determine the final position of the CuI center in the system because only one of the two Cu2O2 species is formed

Local Web Buckling in Tapered Composite Beams: A Parametric Study

Composite flooring systems supported by tapered (varying web depth) beams are very attractive from an economic point of view. However, the tapered beam sections are fabricated from plate by welding, and are susceptible to imperfection effects. These may interact with the localised compressive stress field that is generated in the web at a slope change in the lower flange to cause local web buckling. A substantial parametric study using a non-linear elasto-plastic finite element program and covering practical ranges of the important parameters including the area of the tension flange, taper slope and web thickness is reported. Moment-rotation relations, peak moments and failure mechanisms have been predicted. The validity of the work is supported by the good correlation obtained between the results of the parametric study and experimental data.

Building governance in the international financial system: Context and challenges

ABSTRACTThe international financial system has undergone deep changes since the 1970s and its stability cannot be reached in spite of actor's interests or the existence of countless coordination fora. Analyzing the system's incentive structure, one can note that its stability depends on the control of imbalances, which are not always harmful for States, creating, thus, a disturbing component in the quest for international financial management. Furthermore, non-state actors have acquired a disproportional share of power following financial globalization, escaping the control of States and of the international community.

Sustainable Building Materials in Kerala – An Overview

Kerala, God’s own country is blessed with immense natural resources. It’s high time that the state’s natural resources being utilized effectively. While sustainable development is the need of the hour, we have to take lead in initiating activities that would minimize the exploitation of our natural resources resulting in their effective utilization. This paper narrates an overview of innovative building materials especially using natural fibres available in Kerala and discusses the feasibility of utilising such fibres in the context of sustainable building materials in Kerala. The paper also discusses how these materials can be effectively utilized to reduce the huge investment in the construction industry

Struggling readers at key stage 2 : building success in reading and writing.

La investigación sobre las posibles causas de dificultades para la lectura es probablemente el más estudiado en materia de educación. Las razones para el fracaso son tan diversas como los propios niños, pero no son debidas a dificultades específicas de aprendizaje sino a problemas de carácter general. La dislexia se señala como una de las dificultades para el aprendizaje del lenguaje. Se dan recomendaciones a los profesores para que, antes de iniciar el programa de recuperación para la lectura, realicen una observación del niño y una evaluación de las habilidades ya adquiridas en su alfabetización básica. Con esta información, el profesor tiene que trabajar, descubrir lo que el niño hace bien y qué estrategias utilizar.

Text : building skills in english. Book 1.

Se adapta al curriculum nacional inglés y desarrolla las habilidades esenciales de este idioma para la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de secundaria. Su contenido comprende seis unidades cada una de las cuales presenta sus propios objetivos respecto a los niveles de lectura, composición, hablar y escuchar, y comprensión y utilización de la lengua. También, se incluyen en cada una de las unidades enlaces intercurriculares a otras materias como historia y ciudadanía.

Text : building skills in english. Book 1. Teacher guide.

Cumple con los objetivos fundamentales del nuevo programa de estudios para la lengua inglesa en la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de secundaria, para lo cual ayuda a profundizar y ampliar los conocimientos, capacidades y comprensión, y proporciona a los estudiantes los conceptos clave que necesitan entender, los cuales son: competencia, creatividad, entendimiento cultural y comprensión crítica. También, cubre los objetivos de aprendizaje fijados, que requieren el desarrollo de unas las habilidades imprescindibles con el idioma, como son hablar y escuchar, lectura y escritura.

Text : building skills in english. Book 2.

Se adapta al curriculum nacional inglés y desarrolla las habilidades esenciales de este idioma para la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de secundaria. Su contenido comprende seis unidades cada una de las cuales presenta sus propios objetivos respecto a los niveles de lectura, composición, hablar y escuchar, y comprensión y utilización de la lengua. También, se incluyen en cada una de las unidades enlaces intercurriculares a otras materias como historia y ciudadanía.

Text : building skills in english. Book 2. Teacher guide.

Cumple con los objetivos fundamentales del nuevo programa de estudios para la lengua inglesa en la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de secundaria, para lo cual ayuda a profundizar y ampliar los conocimientos, capacidades y comprensión, y proporciona a los estudiantes los conceptos clave que necesitan entender, los cuales son: competencia, creatividad, entendimiento cultural y comprensión crítica. También, cubre los objetivos de aprendizaje fijados, que requieren el desarrollo de unas las habilidades imprescindibles con el idioma, como son hablar y escuchar, lectura y escritura.

Text : building skills in english. Book 3.

Se adapta al curriculum nacional inglés y desarrolla las habilidades esenciales de este idioma para la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de secundaria. Su contenido comprende seis unidades cada una de las cuales presenta sus propios objetivos respecto a los niveles de lectura, composición, hablar y escuchar, y comprensión y utilización de la lengua. También, se incluyen en cada una de las unidades enlaces intercurriculares a otras materias como historia y ciudadanía.

Text : building skills in english. Book 3. Teacher guide.

Cumple con los objetivos fundamentales del nuevo programa de estudios para la lengua inglesa en la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de secundaria, para lo cual ayuda a profundizar y ampliar los conocimientos, capacidades y comprensión, y proporciona a los estudiantes los conceptos clave que necesitan entender, los cuales son: competencia, creatividad, entendimiento cultural y comprensión crítica. También, cubre los objetivos de aprendizaje fijados, que requieren el desarrollo de unas las habilidades imprescindibles con el idioma, como son hablar y escuchar, lectura y escritura.