Low-dimensional dynamical model for the diversity of pressure patterns used in canary song

Journal ArticleDuring song production, oscine birds produce large air sac pressure pulses. During those pulses, energy is transferred to labia located at the juncture between the bronchii and the trachea, inducing the high frequency labial oscillations which are responsible for airflow modulations, i.e., the uttered sound. In order to generate diverse syllables, canaries (Serinus canaria) use a set of air sac pressure patterns with characteristic shapes. In this work we show that these different shapes can be approximated by the subharmonic solutions of a forced normal form

LÍQUENES EPÍFITOS DE ALGUNAS LOCALIDADES COSTERAS DEL SUR Y SURESTE DE ESPAÑA

Floristic study of the epiphyte lichens from some coastal localities in south and southern Spain. 108 taxa are presented. Species new or scarcely reported from Iberian Peninsula are: Arthonia reniformis, Bactrospora patellarioides var. convexa, Dimerella tavaresiana, and Mycoglaena myricae.Estudio florístico de los líquenes epífitos recolectados en varias localidades costeras del sur y sudeste de España. Se mencionan 108 táxones. Especies nuevas o poco citadas para la flora de la Península Ibérica son: Arthonia reniformis, Bactrospora patellarioides var. convexa, Dimerella tavaresiana, y Mycoglaena myricae

HONGOS LIQUENIZADOS Y LIQUENÍCOLAS EPÍFITOS DE ALGUNAS LOCALIDADES COSTERAS DE ARGELIA Y TÚNEZ

Floristic study of epiphytic lichens in some coastal localities from Algeria and Tunisia. 85 taxa are listed, 74 from Algeria, and 21 from Tunisia. New or rare species are: Arthopyrenia punctiformis, Bacidia circumspecta, Caloplaca aegatica, C. alnetorum, Lecania cyrtellina, Lecanora leptyrodes, Peridothelia grandiuscula, Leptorhaphis oleae, Physconia subpulverulenta, Pyrenula chlorospila and Rinodina anomala.Se ha realizado un estudio florístico de los líquenes epífitos recolectados en varias localidades costeras de Argelia y Túnez. Se mencionan 85 táxones, 74 para Argelia y 21 para Túnez. Especies nuevas o poco citadas para la zona son: Arthopyrenia punctiformis, Bacidia circumspecta, Caloplaca aegatica, C. alnetorum, Lecania cyrtellina, Lecanora leptyrodes, Peridiothelia grandiuscula, Leptorhaphis oleae, Physconia subpulverulenta, Pyrenula chlorospila y Rinodina anomala

CONTRIBUCIÓN A LOS LÍQUENES CALCÍCOLAS Y TERRÍCOLAS DE ALGUNAS LOCALIDADES COSTERAS DEL SUR DE ESPAÑA

Floristic study of the calcicolous and terricolous lichens from 13 coastal localities in Murcia and Andalucia. 137 taxons are presented. Among the most remarkable species are: Catapyrenium divisum, C. virescens, Ingaderia troglodytica, Rinodina guzzinii, Staurothele hymenogonia, Toninia toepfferi, Verrucaria ionaspicapica and V. velana.Estudio florístico de los líquenes calcícolas y terrícolas recolectados en 13 localidades costeras de Murcia y Andalucía. Se citan 137 táxones. Entre las especies más interesantes se pueden destacar: Catapyrenium divisum, C. virescens, Ingaderia troglodytica, Rinodina guzzinii, Staurothele hymenogonia, Toninia toepfferi, Verrucaria ionaspicapica y V. velana

Cutting edge: Regulation of exosome secretion by the integral MAL protein in T cells

Exosomes secreted by T cells play an important role in coordinating the immune response. HIV-1 Nef hijacks the route of exosome secretion of T cells to modulate the functioning of uninfected cells. Despite the importance of the process, the protein machinery involved in exosome biogenesis is yet to be identified. In this study, we show that MAL, a tetraspanning membrane protein expressed in human T cells, is present in endosomes that travel toward the plasma membrane for exosome secretion. In the absence of MAL, the release of exosome particles and markers was greatly impaired. This effect was accompanied by protein sorting defects at multivesicular endosomes that divert the exosomal marker CD63 to autophagic vacuoles. Exosome release induced by HIV-1 Nef was also dependent on MAL expression. Therefore,MAL is a critical element of the machinery for exosome secretion andmay constitute a target for modulating exosome secretion by human T cells. The Journal of Immunology, 2015, 195: 810–814.Peer Reviewe

Causas emocionales y dinámicas de las actuales expectativas en Neurociencia

Los avances de las últimas dos décadas en el estudio del sistema nervioso y en el desarrollo de neuro-tecnología parecen justificar las elevadas expectativas en lo que a este campo concierne. No obstante, cada vez son más los autores que advierten, desde dentro y fuera de la neurociencia, que es excesivo tal grado de optimismo así como perjudicial el neuro-esencialismo que genera. En el presente artículo analizamos el origen y el papel de las expectativas neurocientíficas. En las conclusiones defendemos, primero, que las principales causas no son las evidencias y las teorías científicas, como suele pensarse y, segundo, que precisamente esta generalizada falsa creencia perjudica seriamente el avance científico y el progreso social

Del escepticismo al misticismo científico. El itinerario de Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley vivió un periodo muy particular del siglo XX, uno en el que el debate entre racionalistas y escépticos marcó a toda una generación. Precisamente, ese fue el gran tema en torno al que girarían sus principales ensayos literarios y filosóficos. Es también en ese contexto donde hay que encuadrar el crucial papel que otorgó a la biotecnología en el progreso individual y social. No obstante, Huxley avisa de los peligros que de la biotecnología pueden derivarse de no lograr conciliar la postura del mundo objetivo con la del mundo de la vida. El autor de Un mundo feliz propuso como remedio a dicho divorcio y como prevención a los males que estaban por venir el devolver la unidad perdida a las ciencias y, en último término, al hombre. En dicha tarea, el hecho religioso, lejos de quedar excluido, es considerado un elemento sine qua non en todo proyecto interdisciplinar y vital. Es por ello que, para Huxley, todo el que aspira a la unidad intelectual debe quedar comprometido existencialmente. Como no podía ser de otra manera, esta conclusión es fruto de su extraordinaria trayectoria vital: partiendo de una posición escéptica marcada por la crítica a la racionalidad científico-tecnológica y a la religión, Huxley terminará convirtiéndose a un misticismo abierto y dialogante para con el discurso científico. La actitud de Huxley con respecto a la ciencia no es novedosa, por lo menos si valoramos en algo la filosofía premoderna. Aún y todo, Huxley presenta este ideal --el de la Filosofía perenne, como lo denomina-- con aires nuevos y accesibles para una sociedad donde los signos del pesimismo y del desconcierto eran cada vez más patentes. En tanto que esos signos son hoy visiblemente manifiestos, reflexionar sobre la vida-pensamiento de quien es uno de los más clarividentes, transgresores y obstinados intelectuales del siglo XX, resulta un ejercicio fecundo, por lo menos para quienes no han renunciado a la senda interdisciplinar. Ofrecer contenidos para dicha reflexión es el objetivo último de nuestro artículo.Aldous Huxley lived in a very particular period of the twentieth century, one in which the debate between rationalists and skeptics marked an entire generation. Indeed, it was the central issue around which his primary literary and philosophical work evolved. It is also in this context that we should frame the crucial role he afforded to biotechnology in individual and social progress. Nevertheless, Huxley warns of the dangers to be derived from biotechnology for failing to reconcile the stance of the objective world with that of the world of life. The author of Brave New World proposed returning that lost unity to the sciences and, ultimately, to mankind as a remedy for that divorce and to prevent the ills that were to come. In this task, the religious factor, far from being excluded, is considered a sine qua non of any interdisciplinary and life project. Accordingly, for Huxley, one who aspires to intellectual unity must be existentially committed. It could not be otherwise. This conclusion is the result of the extraordinary course of his life. Starting from a skeptical position marked by criticism of scientific-technological rationality and religion, Huxley converted in the end to an open and dialoguing mysticism for scientific discourse. Huxley's attitude with respect to science is not new, at least if we place any value in pre-modern philosophy. Still and all, he presents this ideal -- that of perennial philosophy, as it is called -- with a new air and as being accessible to a society where the signs of pessimism and confusion were increasingly evident. To the extent these signs are visibly manifest today, reflecting on the life and thinking of one of the most clear-signed, contravening and exasperating intellectuals of the twentieth century is a fruitful exercise, at least for those who have not renounced the interdisciplinary path. Offering substance for that reflection is the ultimate goal of this article

Continuous Hydrogen Production via Hydrothermal Gasification of Biodiesel Industry Wastewater: Experimental Optimization and Energy Integration Simulation

This study reports the continuous production of H2 from the wastewater effluent of the biodiesel industry in a medium containing water under supercritical conditions. The effects of temperature and feed flow rate on the generation of hydrogen were evaluated and optimized. At a temperature of 700 °C and a 17.5 mL/min feed flow, a total gas flow of 5541 NmL/min was achieved. Among all identified gases, hydrogen represented the highest molar fraction of 73%. Under optimized conditions, a H2 yield of 357 NmL/geffluent feed was observed. The experimental results indicate a significant increase in the H2 production at the highest experimented temperatures. On the other hand, the feed flow only slightly influenced the process within the assessed range but showed a tendency to increase the H2 production at the highest values. Finally, information on energy efficiency optimization and scale-up are presented, and at the same time, different designs for industrial implementation of the hydrothermal gasification process are proposed