Evolutionary demography of long-lived monocarpic perennials: a time-lagged integral projection model

1. The evolution of flowering strategies (when and at what size to flower) in monocarpic perennials is determined by balancing current reproduction with expected future reproduction, and these are largely determined by size-specific patterns of growth and survival. However, because of the difficulty in following long-lived individuals throughout their lives, this theory has largely been tested using short-lived species (< 5 years). 2. Here, we tested this theory using the long-lived monocarpic perennial Campanula thyrsoides which can live up to 16 years. We used a novel approach that combined permanent plot and herb chronology data from a 3-year field study to parameterize and validate integral projection models (IPMs). 3. Similar to other monocarpic species, the rosette leaves of C. thyrsoides wither over winter and so size cannot be measured in the year of flowering. We therefore extended the existing IPM framework to incorporate an additional time delay that arises because flowering demography must be predicted from rosette size in the year before flowering. 4. We found that all main demographic functions (growth, survival probability, flowering probability and fecundity) were strongly size-dependent and there was a pronounced threshold size of flowering. There was good agreement between the predicted distribution of flowering ages obtained from the IPMs and that estimated in the field. Mostly, there was good agreement between the IPM predictions and the direct quantitative field measurements regarding the demographic parameters lambda, R-0 and T. We therefore conclude that the model captures the main demographic features of the field populations. 5. Elasticity analysis indicated that changes in the survival and growth function had the largest effect (c. 80%) on lambda and this was considerably larger than in short-lived monocarps. We found only weak selection pressure operating on the observed flowering strategy which was close to the predicted evolutionary stable strategy. 6. Synthesis. The extended IPM accurately described the demography of a long-lived monocarpic perennial using data collected over a relatively short period. We could show that the evolution of flowering strategies in short- and long-lived monocarps seem to follow the same general rules but with a longevity-related emphasis on survival over fecundity.

Rotational integral geometry of tensor valuations

We derive a new rotational Crofton formula for Minkowski tensors. In special cases, this formula gives (1) the rotational average of Minkowski tensors defined on linear subspaces and (2) the functional defined on linear subspaces with rotational average equal to a Minkowski tensor. Earlier results obtained for intrinsic volumes appear now as special cases.

An Integral View of Fast Shocks Around Supernova 1006

Supernova remnants are among the most spectacular examples of astrophysical pistons in our cosmic neighborhood. The gas expelled by the supernova explosion is launched with velocities ~1000 kilometers per second into the ambient, tenuous interstellar medium, producing shocks that excite hydrogen lines. We have used an optical integral-field spectrograph to obtain high-resolution spatial-spectral maps that allow us to study in detail the shocks in the northwestern rim of supernova 1006. The two-component Hα line is detected at 133 sky locations. Variations in the broad line widths and the broad-to-narrow line intensity ratios across tens of atomic mean free paths suggest the presence of suprathermal protons, the potential seed particles for generating high-energy cosmic rays.

Signal relay between two integral membrane proteins: The sensory rhodopsin I/HtrI transducer molecular complex

The molecular complex of sensory rhodopsin I (SRI) and its transducer HtrI mediate color-sensitive phototaxis in the archaeon Halobacterium salinarum. Orange light causes an attractant response by a one-photon reaction and white light causes a repellent response by a two-photon reaction. Three aspects of this molecular complex were explored: (i) We determined the stoichiometry of SRI and HtrI to be 2:2 by gene fusion analysis. A SRI-HtrI fusion protein was expressed in H. salinarum and shown to mediate 1-photon and 2-photon phototaxis responses comparable to wild-type complex. Disulfide crosslinking demonstrated that the fusion protein is a homodimer in the membrane. Measurement of photochemical reaction kinetics and pH titration of absorption spectra established that both SRI domains are complexed to HtrI in the fusion protein, and therefore the stoichiometry is 2:2. (ii) Cytoplasmic channel closure of SRI by HtrI, an important aspect of their interaction, was investigated by incremental HtrI truncation. We found that binding of the membrane-embedded portion of HtrI is insufficient for channel closure, whereas cytoplasmic extension of the second HtrI transmembrane helix by 13 residues blocks proton conduction through the channel as well as full-length HtrI. The closure activity is localized to 5 specific residues, each of which incrementally contributes to reduction of proton conductivity. Moreover, these same residues in the dark incrementally and proportionally increase the pKa of the Asp76 counterion to the protonated Schiff base chromophore. We conclude that this critical region of HtrI alters the dark conformation of SRI as well as light-induced channel opening. (iii) We developed a procedure for reconstituting HtrI-free SRI and the SRI/HtrI complex into liposomes, which exhibit photocycles with opened and closed cytoplasmic channels, respectively, as in the membrane. This opens the way for study of the light-induced conformational change and the interaction in vitro by fluorescence and spin-labeling. Single-cysteine mutations were introduced into helix F of SRI, labeled with a nitroxide spin probe and a fluorescence probe, reconstituted into proteoliposomes, and light-induced conformational changes detected in the complex. The probe signals can now be used as the readout of signaling to analyze mutants and the kinetics of signal relay. ^

Estudio Integral del destino Iguazú-Cataratas. Controversias y desafíos para el desarrollo local II. 16H206

El estudio integral del destino IGUAZÚ-CATARATAS. Controversias y desafios para el desarrollo local II. para la presente etapa se propuso el objetivo general de “Contribuir al desarrollo del Destino Iguazú-Cataratas mediante la realización del estudio integral transfronterizo que permita la selección de las mejores alternativas de desarrollo local para la toma de decisiones en los respectivos municipiosciudades e instituciones públicas, privadas junto a la gestión de los Parques Nacionales”. Asimismo en el marco del objetivo general se desarrollaron los siguientes objetivos específicos:  Determinar y caracterizar en proceso continuo, las áreas de intervención y gestión municipal más urgentes en pos del ordenamiento territorial y ambiental de Puerto Iguazú, de elevada complejidad, apoyado en el programa político nacional y provincial, conjuntamente con las organizaciones sociales del municipio.  Indagar en la dinámica de desarrollo del Destino Iguazú – Cataratas los factores facilitadores e inhibidores de las variables económico-productivas, políticas y sociales (demográficas) en proceso; los flujos de la demanda y la evolución de la oferta que genera la actividad turística en dicho destino.  Estudiar comparativamente la sinergia generada a partir de los datos históricos y actuales de los visitantes en los Parques Nacionales de Argentina y Brasil, para identificar el rol promotor social, económico y turístico a fin de contrastarlo y lograr información que refleje la realidad de la actividad turística del Destino Iguazú-Cataratas.  Determinar y caracterizar el perfil socio laboral y trayectoria de vida de los residentes en las 2000 hectáreas, las formas de funcionamiento en redes de acciones de educación y trabajo cooperativo para construir escenarios alternativos en la expansión rururbana - periurbana en Puerto Iguazú.

Modelo de gestión integral : observatorio ambiental y ordenamiento del territorio

La provincia de Río Negro, Argentina, firma con la Unión Europea un acuerdo de cooperación para la realización del diseño e implementación de un Observatorio del ecosistema litoral y monitoreo de la biodiversidad con miras a establecer las bases para un desarrollo sustentable de la costa atlántica rionegrina. Este proyecto fue elaborado por el Instituto CIFOT y fue desagregado en las siguientes áreas de trabajo: Modelo de Información Espacial, Indicadores ambientales y página web. Los productos finales se obtienen mediante el análisis de variables dentro de un sistema integrado de SIG y Percepción remota, lo que permite evaluar el patrimonio humano natural y productivo, así como las tendencias del comportamiento de ecosistema costero y marino para poder construir un modelo de gestión integral del territorio. Los resultados de cada área de trabajo se integran en el primer Observatorio Ambiental en Argentina, a través de un prototipo de funcionamiento sustentado en un modelo de gestión que contempla la interacción entre el gobierno, entidades educativas y ONGs. El Observatorio permite la toma de decisiones a partir de datos reales en tiempo y forma, como también es la base para la elaboración del plan de ordenamiento de área costera de Río Negro y de un plan de manejo litoral atlántico.

Análisis y diseño inicial de un Cuadro de Mando Integral para un emprendimiento gastronómico

El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un Análisis y diseño inicial de un Cuadro de Mando Integral para este emprendimiento gastronómico que nos permita vincular los objetivos estratégicos a largo plazo con las acciones de corto plazo e idear así un sistema de gestión apto para gestionar la implementación de la estrategia y detectar los puntos críticos y así poder enfocarse en la optimización y control de la gestión de dicho emprendimiento. Se reitera que el objetivo de este trabajo es el análisis y diseño inicial del CMI (y no su implementación), el cual se irá ajustando una vez llevado a la práctica, permitiendo así actualizar la estrategia y que la misma evolucione en respuesta a cambios en los entornos competitivos, tecnológicos y de mercado de la empresa. Para tal fin nos centraremos en un tipo de investigación descriptiva.