Implementation of Multimodal Tracking Capabilities for High-Altitude Ballooning

Successful ballooning tracking is a challenging task for many ballooning teams. Several methods of ballooning tracking are known to the ballooning community. In this paper, we present a concept of dual-modal tracking payload integrating an RF radio operating at ~900 MHz and a cellphone-based tracking system operating at ~2 GHz. In particular, we describe how we combined the RF-based and cellphone-based methods to function properly as an integrated module. As part of the implementation details, we also present a processing mechanism implemented on a microcontroller to detect when the payload has landed and turn on the cellphone after landing

Implementation of Simultaneous Multi-Streaming of Live Solar Eclipse Video via 5.8 GHz AirMax

For the 2017 solar eclipse ballooning, we have developed a video payload that can simultaneously live-stream multiple videos via a single 5.8 GHz wireless link. In this paper, we describe our approach to multiplex multiple video streams into a single data stream that a 5.8 GHz wireless modem can transport to the ground station. Various key factors are described to properly configure the Raspberry Pi’s and optimize the transmission from an M5 on the video payload over the 5.8 GHz link while ensuring adequate range and acceptable video quality received at the ground station. A screenshot of the multi-video streaming is provided as an example to justify a successful operation of our video payload

ApoE−/− PGC-1α−/− Mice Display Reduced IL-18 Levels and Do Not Develop Enhanced Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that evolves from the interaction of activated endothelial cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and modified lipoproteins (LDLs). In the last years many molecules with crucial metabolic functions have been shown to prevent important steps in the progression of atherogenesis, including peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and the class III histone deacetylase (HDAC) SIRT1. The PPARγ coactivator 1 alpha (Ppargc1a or PGC-1α) was identified as an important transcriptional cofactor of PPARγ and is activated by SIRT1. The aim of this study was to analyze total PGC-1α deficiency in an atherosclerotic mouse model. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To investigate if total PGC-1α deficiency affects atherosclerosis, we compared ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(-/-) and ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(+/+) mice kept on a high cholesterol diet. Despite having more macrophages and a higher ICAM-1 expression in plaques, ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(-/-) did not display more or larger atherosclerotic plaques than their ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(+/+) littermates. In line with the previously published phenotype of PGC-1α(-/-) mice, ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(-/-) mice had marked reduced body, liver and epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) weight. VLDL/LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride contents were also reduced. Aortic expression of PPARα and PPARγ, two crucial regulators for adipocyte differentiation and glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as the expression of some PPAR target genes was significantly reduced in ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(-/-) mice. Importantly, the epididymal WAT and aortic expression of IL-18 and IL-18 plasma levels, a pro-atherosclerotic cytokine, was markedly reduced in ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: ApoE(-/-) PGC-1α(-/-) mice, similar as PGC-1α(-/-) mice exhibit markedly reduced total body and visceral fat weight. Since inflammation of visceral fat is a crucial trigger of atherogenesis, decreased visceral fat in PGC-1α-deficient mice may explain why these mice do not develop enhanced atherosclerosis

The Chemokine CXCL16 and Its Receptor, CXCR6, as Markers and Promoters of Inflammation-Associated Cancers

Clinical observations and mouse models have suggested that inflammation can be pro-tumorigenic. Since chemokines are critical in leukocyte trafficking, we hypothesized that chemokines play essential roles in inflammation-associated cancers. Screening for 37 chemokines in prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts revealed CXCL16, the ligand for the receptor CXCR6, as the most consistently expressed chemokine. Immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescence and confocal imaging of 121 human prostate specimens showed that CXCL16 and CXCR6 were co-expressed, both on prostate cancer cells and adjacent T cells. Expression levels of CXCL16 and CXCR6 on cancer cells correlated with poor prognostic features including high-stage and high-grade, and expression also correlated with post-inflammatory changes in the cancer stroma as revealed by loss of alpha-smooth muscle actin. Moreover, CXCL16 enhanced the growth of CXCR6-expressing cancer and primary CD4 T cells. We studied expression of CXCL16 in an additional 461 specimens covering 12 tumor types, and found that CXCL16 was expressed in multiple human cancers associated with inflammation. Our study is the first to describe the expression of CXCL16/CXCR6 on both cancer cells and adjacent T cells in humans, and to demonstrate correlations between CXCL16 and CXCR6 vs. poor both prognostic features and reactive changes in cancer stoma. Taken together, our data suggest that CXCL16 and CXCR6 may mark cancers arising in an inflammatory milieu and mediate pro-tumorigenic effects of inflammation through direct effects on cancer cell growth and by inducing the migration and proliferation of tumor-associated leukocytes

Illegal import of bushmeat and other meat products into Switzerland on commercial passenger flights.

Illegal imports of meat can present substantial risks to public and animal health. Several European countries have reported considerable quantities of meat imported on commercial passenger flights. The objective of this study was to estimate the quantity of meat illegally imported into Switzerland, with a separate estimation for bushmeat. Data were obtained by participation in intervention exercises at Swiss international airports and by analysing data on seizures during the four-year period 2008 to 2011. The study revealed that a wide array of animal species was imported into Switzerland. From the database, the average annual weight of meat seized during the period analysed was 5.5 tonnes, of which 1.4% was bushmeat. However, in a stochastic model the total annual inflow of illegal meat imports was estimated at 1,013 tonnes (95% CI 226 to 4,192) for meat and 8.6 tonnes (95% CI 0.8 to 68.8) for bushmeat. Thus, even for a small European country such as Switzerland the quantities of illegally imported meat and meat products are substantial and the consequences for public and animal health could be high. To reduce the risk, it is essential that surveillance at European airports is harmonised and that passenger information campaigns clarify the consequences of the illegal import of meat, particularly bushmeat

A multiplex PCR method to identify bushmeat species in wildlife forensics

Airports are important hubs for bushmeat trade, that is, the illegal commercialization of wildlife meat, often from endangered species. While the identification of bushmeat species is sometimes possible morphologically, in most cases genetic characterization would be necessary for precise taxonomic identification. We validated a mtDNA-based species identification method for its application to bushmeat species imported into Switzerland. This method consists of a multiplex-PCR-setup with 8 primers varying in their specificity to amplify a region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene in different animal classes (mammals, fishes and birds). We tested the method on meat (cooked, dried, smoked or raw) and blood samples from 24 different species, obtained from museums and butchers. Following successful PCR and sequencing, we identified the species of origin using BLAST alignments to the cytb entries in the NCBI nucleotide database. Our method also passed all validation criteria, including repeatability, reproducibility, and robustness. We then applied this method to identify the taxonomic origin of 250 samples of putative bushmeat confiscated at the airports of Zurich and Geneva between September 2011 and January 2013. For 224 samples, there was sufficient DNA to allow successful sequencing. The samples belonged to one of four vertebrate groups (mammals, birds, reptiles and fishes): approximately two thirds of the analyzed samples originated from wild animals, one third of which are listed in the CITES appendices. Our validated DNA method offers a practical and easy approach for the identification of bushmeat at airports and in general in wildlife forensics

Le risque en pastoralisme : quelques considérations pour orienter les actions de développement

Le pastoralisme est plus qu'un système de production extensif exploitant le milieu naturel, c'est aussi un mode de vie. Souvent confiné à des régions subissant de fortes contraintes environnementales, il est soumis directement aux aléas du climat et des ressources. Le pasteur doit faire face, probablement plus que bien d'autres groupes socio-professionnels, à des risques divers en rapport avec le milieu. Il est aussi expose a certaines insécurités sociales ou politiques. S'y ajoute une faible sécurité foncière. La viabilité et la pérennité de son activité résulte de tout un jeu de stratégies de gestion de ces risques. Le troupeau étant son principal moyen de production, le pasteur lui consacre une grande part de ses efforts. Pour réduire les risques qu'il encourt, il applique une série de mesures qui garantissent jusqu'à un certain point aux animaux l'affouragement, l'abreuvement, la santé, la protection contre les prédateurs. Mais il accepte aussi une part de risque. A côté de cela, les institutions publiques et privées ainsi que les projets disposent de la faculté d'appuyer ou de soutenir certaines stratégies réduisant les risques encourus, soit ordinaires, soit en cas de catastrophes, et de prendre en compte la viabilité à long terme du système et de l'environnement. Sur le plan des méthodes, il convient de comprendre ce qui motive les comportements des pasteurs pour mettre en place, en concertation avec eux, des mesures atténuant les risques spécifiques à leur condition. (Résumé d'auteur

Kinetics and Energetics of Intramolecular Electron Transfer in Single-Point Labeled TUPS-Cytochrome <em>c</em> Derivatives

Electron transfer within and between proteins is a fundamental biological phenomenon, in which efficiency depends on several physical parameters. We have engineered a number of horse heart cytochrome c single-point mutants with cysteine substitutions at various positions of the protein surface. To these cysteines, as well as to several native lysine side chains, the photoinduced redox label 8-thiouredopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (TUPS) was covalently attached. The long-lived, low potential triplet excited state of TUPS, generated with high quantum efficiency, serves as an electron donor to the oxidized heme c. The rates of the forward (from the label to the heme) and the reverse (from the reduced heme back to the oxidized label) electron transfer reactions were obtained from multichannel and single wavelength flash photolysis absorption kinetic experiments. The electronic coupling term and the reorganization energy for electron transfer in this system were estimated from temperature-dependent experiments and compared with calculated parameters using the crystal and the solution NMR structure of the protein. These results together with the observation of multiexponential kinetics strongly support earlier conclusions that the flexible arm connecting TUPS to the protein allows several shortcut routes for the electron involving through space jumps between the label and the protein surface