Song Complexity Increases During White-Handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) Duets

Gibbons are unique among the apes because mated pairs regularly sing in organized duets, and because the male’s song phrases increase in complexity during duets and solo bouts. These increases in complexity have not been systematically quantified for any gibbon species. Here we describe and quantify these changes to the male song, from recordings of a wild population of white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar). We found that the number of notes in male coda phrases increased over the course of song bouts, as did their maximum fundamental frequency. Our analysis of individual syllable types within the coda phrase revealed that male-specific note types, trill and quaver notes, increased in amount and in duration, respectively, within song bouts

Mapa preliminar de períodos predominantes del suelo en Puerto Príncipe (Haití) a partir de medidas de ruido ambiental.

The 2010 Haiti earthquake, occurred on January 12th at 16:53:09 local time (21:53:09 UTC) with epicentral distance of 15 km from the capital Port au Prince, MW 7.0 and 13 km hypocenter deep, was the strongest event in the area since happened in 1770. The maximum macroseismic intensity was estimated as X (MMI scale). The aim of this research is to obtain a preliminary zonation of Port-au-Prince in terms of predominant resonance periods of ground. A total of 36 short-period ambient noise records have been carried out on a grid of about 500x500m. H/V spectral ratio method (HVSR) has been applied to determine the predominant period at each point. The lowest values ( 0.45s) correspond to the center and western parts, composed of Pleistocene-Holocene alluvial deposits and anthropogenic land reclaimed from the sea. We have determined the ground VS30 structure inside National Palace garden, using simultaneous ambient noise measurements. An array made up of 6 sensors were used, with 5 of them uniformly distributed along a circumference and a sixth one placed in its centre. The records were analyzed by using the spatial autocorrelation method (SPAC). The VS 30 value obtained was 331m/sec, in good agreement with the average values obtained for this area by other authors, using prospecting techniques

Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio measurements in Port-au-Prince (Haiti) area damaged by the 2010 Haiti earthquake

In order to evaluate ground shaking characteristics due to surface soil layers in the urban area of Port-au-Prince, short-period ambient noise observation has been performed approximately in a 500x500m grid. The HVSR method was applied to this set of 36 ambient noise measurement points to determine a distribution map of soil predominant periods. This map reveals a general increasing trend in the period values, from the Miocene conglomerates in the northern and southern parts of the town to the central and western zones formed of Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits respectively, where the shallow geological materials that cover the basement increase in thickness. Shorter predominant periods (less than 0.3 s) were found in mountainous and neighbouring zones, where the thickness of sediments is smaller whereas longer periods (greater than 0.5 s) appear in Holocene alluvial fans, where the thickness of sediments is larger. The shallow shear-wave velocity structure have been estimated by means of inversion of Rayleigh wave dispersion data obtained from vertical-component array records of ambient noise. The measurements were carried out at one open space located in Holocene alluvial deposits, using 3 regular pentagonal arrays with 5, 10 and 20m respectively. Reliable dispersion curves were retrieved for frequencies between 4.0 and 14 Hz, with phase velocity values ranging from 420m/s down to 270 m/s. Finally, the average shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m (VS30) was inverted for characterization of this geological unit

Quality of life: international and domestic students studying medicine in New Zealand

International students form a significant proportion of students studying within universities in Western countries. The quality of life perceptions of international medical students in comparison with domestic medical students has not been well documented. There is some evidence to suggest that international medical students may have different educational and social experiences in relation to their domestic peers. This study investigates the levels of quality of life experienced by international and domestic students studying medicine. A total of 548 medical students completed the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. The focus of the analysis was to evaluate differences between international and domestic students in their early clinical years. The responses were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance methods. International medical students are experiencing lower social and environmental quality of life compared with domestic peers. International medical students in New Zealand have expressed quality of life concerns, which likely have an impact on their academic achievement, feelings of wellness, acculturation, and social adaptation. The findings reinforce the need for creating stronger social networks and accessible accommodation, as well as developing systems to ensure safety, peer mentorship and student support.published_or_final_versio

Emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.620 with variant of concern-like mutations and deletions

Distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages, discovered through various genomic surveillance initiatives, have emerged during the pandemic following unprecedented reductions in worldwide human mobility. We here describe a SARS-CoV-2 lineage - designated B.1.620 - discovered in Lithuania and carrying many mutations and deletions in the spike protein shared with widespread variants of concern (VOCs), including E484K, S477N and deletions HV69Delta, Y144Delta, and LLA241/243Delta. As well as documenting the suite of mutations this lineage carries, we also describe its potential to be resistant to neutralising antibodies, accompanying travel histories for a subset of European cases, evidence of local B.1.620 transmission in Europe with a focus on Lithuania, and significance of its prevalence in Central Africa owing to recent genome sequencing efforts there. We make a case for its likely Central African origin using advanced phylogeographic inference methodologies incorporating recorded travel histories of infected travellers

Optimisation of Over-Expression in E. coli and Biophysical Characterisation of Human Membrane Protein Synaptogyrin 1

Progress in functional and structural studies of integral membrane proteins (IMPs) is lacking behind their soluble counterparts due to the great challenge in producing stable and homogeneous IMPs. Low natural abundance, toxicity when over-expressed and potential lipid requirements of IMPs are only a few reasons for the limited progress. Here, we describe an optimised workflow for the recombinant over-expression of the human tetraspan vesicle protein (TVP) synaptogyrin in Escherichia coli and its biophysical characterisation. TVPs are ubiquitous and abundant components of vesicles. They are believed to be involved in various aspects of the synaptic vesicle cycle, including vesicle biogenesis, exocytosis and endocytotic recycling. Even though TVPs are found in most cell types, high-resolution structural information for this class of membrane proteins is still missing. The optimisation of the N-terminal sequence of the gene together with the usage of the recently developed Lemo21(DE3) strain which allows the balancing of the translation with the membrane insertion rate led to a 50-fold increased expression rate compared to the classical BL21(DE3) strain. The protein was soluble and stable in a variety of mild detergents and multiple biophysical methods confirmed the folded state of the protein. Crosslinking experiments suggest an oligomeric architecture of at least four subunits. The protein stability is significantly improved in the presence of cholesteryl hemisuccinate as judged by differential light scattering. The approach described here can easily be adapted to other eukaryotic IMPs

Linear and Branched Glyco-Lipopeptide Vaccines Follow Distinct Cross-Presentation Pathways and Generate Different Magnitudes of Antitumor Immunity

Glyco-lipopeptides, a form of lipid-tailed glyco-peptide, are currently under intense investigation as B- and T-cell based vaccine immunotherapy for many cancers. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of glyco-lipopeptides (GLPs) immunogenicity and the position of the lipid moiety on immunogenicity and protective efficacy of GLPs remain to be determined.We have constructed two structural analogues of HER-2 glyco-lipopeptide (HER-GLP) by synthesizing a chimeric peptide made of one universal CD4(+) epitope (PADRE) and one HER-2 CD8(+) T-cell epitope (HER(420-429)). The C-terminal end of the resulting CD4-CD8 chimeric peptide was coupled to a tumor carbohydrate B-cell epitope, based on a regioselectively addressable functionalized templates (RAFT), made of four alpha-GalNAc molecules. The resulting HER glyco-peptide (HER-GP) was then linked to a palmitic acid moiety, attached either at the N-terminal end (linear HER-GLP-1) or in the middle between the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes (branched HER-GLP-2). We have investigated the uptake, processing and cross-presentation pathways of the two HER-GLP vaccine constructs, and assessed whether the position of linkage of the lipid moiety would affect the B- and T-cell immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Immunization of mice revealed that the linear HER-GLP-1 induced a stronger and longer lasting HER(420-429)-specific IFN-gamma producing CD8(+) T cell response, while the branched HER-GLP-2 induced a stronger tumor-specific IgG response. The linear HER-GLP-1 was taken up easily by dendritic cells (DCs), induced stronger DCs maturation and produced a potent TLR- 2-dependent T-cell activation. The linear and branched HER-GLP molecules appeared to follow two different cross-presentation pathways. While regression of established tumors was induced by both linear HER-GLP-1 and branched HER-GLP-2, the inhibition of tumor growth was significantly higher in HER-GLP-1 immunized mice (p<0.005).These findings have important implications for the development of effective GLP based immunotherapeutic strategies against cancers

Tool for supporting countries on generic emergency preparedness planning in the health sector: The Episouth Plus Project.

General objetive: To ease the development or the upgrading of National Generic Emergency Preparedness Plans (EPREP) in each country for the health response

Uso de isótopos estáveis da água para um melhor entendimento dos processos hidrogeológicos no Haiti: visão geral de dados de δ18O e δ2H existentes

International audienceIsotope hydrological studies carried out since 1987 in Haiti have proven to be effective in improving conceptual models of the principal aquifers in this Caribbean island nation. However, many of these studies have been limited and are mostly unpublished. It is, therefore, important to share the available datasets with scientists and water managers to support further studies and guide decision-making. Eleven datasets were compiled in a unique database for continued advancement and application. This dataset now contains 248 δ 18 O and δ 2 H results from water samples collected at 190 locations throughout the country. δ 18 O and δ 2 H values range, respectively, from –3.8 to –8.95‰ and –67.4 to –16.8‰ for precipitation ( n = 5), 0.9 to 2.76‰ and 8.8 to 18.4‰ for lakes ( n = 4), –2.61 to 4.98‰ and –26.63 to 28.2‰ for rivers ( n = 11), –5.11 to –2.6‰ and –29.8 to –6.9‰ for springs ( n = 82) excluding hot springs, and –5.1 to –1.37‰ and –29.4 to –2.9‰ for boreholes ( n = 142). The overall presentation of the available data is complemented with an overview of the studies in which stable isotope data acquisition was performed. The global dataset is presented under three primary contexts: (1) elaboration of a local isotope meteoric water line of equation δ 2 H = 7.2δ 18 O + 8.8 supported with data predominately from the Ouest jurisdictional department, (2) spatial variability analysis of the dataset, and (3) definition of the altitude gradient (per 100 m) using freshwater springs of the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac/Massif de la Selle area of –6.67‰ for δ 2 H and –0.09‰ for δ 18 O.Los estudios hidrológicos isotópicos realizados desde 1987 en Haití han demostrado ser eficaces para mejorar los modelos conceptuales de los principales acuíferos de esta nación insular del Caribe. Sin embargo, muchos de estos estudios han sido limitados y en su mayoría no se han publicado. Por lo tanto, es importante compartir los conjuntos de datos disponibles con los científicos y los gestores del agua para apoyar nuevos estudios y orientar la toma de decisiones. Se recopilaron once conjuntos de datos en una base de datos única para su avance y aplicación ulterior. Este conjunto de datos contiene ahora 248 resultados de δ 18 O y δ 2 H de muestras de agua recogidas en 190 lugares de todo el país. Los valores de δ 18 O y δ 2 H varían, respectivamente, de –3.8 a –8.95‰ y de –67.4 a –16.8‰ para las precipitaciones ( n = 5), de 0.9 a 2.76‰ y de 8.8 a 18.4‰ para los lagos ( n = 4), de –2.61 a 4.98‰ y de –26.63 a 28.2‰ para los ríos ( n = 11), –5.11 a –2.6‰ y –29.8 a –6.9‰ para los manantiales ( n = 82), excluyendo las fuentes termales, y –5.1 a –1.37‰ y –29.4 a –2.9‰ para los pozos de sondeo ( n = 142). La presentación global de los datos disponibles se complementa con un resumen de los estudios en los que se realizó la adquisición de datos de isótopos estables. El conjunto de datos globales se presenta en tres contextos principales: (1) elaboración de una línea local de isótopos del agua meteórica de ecuación δ 2 H = 7.2 δ 18 O + 8.8 apoyada con datos predominantemente del departamento jurisdiccional Ouest, (2) análisis de la variabilidad espacial del conjunto de datos, y (3) definición del gradiente de altitud (por 100 m) utilizando manantiales de agua dulce de la zona de Plaine du Cul-de-Sac/Massif de la Selle de –6.67‰ para δ 2 H y –0.09‰ para δ 18 O.Les études hydrogéologiques menées depuis 1987 à Haïti ont montré leur intérêt pour l’amélioration des modèles conceptuels des principaux aquifères de ce pays insulaire des Caraïbes. Il est donc important de partager ces données avec les scientifiques et les gestionnaires de la ressource en eau pour appuyer d’autres projets et guider la prise de décision. Onze jeux de données ont été compilés dans une base de données unique évolutive à visée opérationnelle. Ce jeu de données contient aujourd’hui 248 résultats d’analyses de δ 18 O et δ 2 H provenant d’échantillons d’eau collectés sur 190 sites répartis dans tout le pays. Les valeurs de δ 18 O et δ 2 H s’étendent respectivement de –3.8 à –8.95‰ et –67.4 à –16.8‰ pour les pluies ( n = 5), 0.9 à 2.76‰ et 8.8 à 18.4‰ pour les lacs ( n = 4), –2.61 à 4.98‰ et –26.63 à 28.2‰ pour les rivières ( n = 11), –5.11 à –2.6‰ et –29.8 à –6.9‰ pour les sources ( n = 82) en excluant les sources chaudes, et –5.1 à –1.37‰ et –29.4 à –2.9‰ pour les forages ( n = 142). La présentation générale des données est complétée par un résumé des études ayant permis l’acquisition des données en isotopes stables. Le jeu de données complet est présenté à l’aide de trois principaux aspects: (1) élaboration de la droite météorique locale des pluies d’équation δ 2 H = 7.2δ 18 O + 8.8 s’appuyant sur des données principalement du département de l’Ouest, (2) analyse de la variabilité spatiale du jeu de données, et (3) définition d’un gradient d’altitude (par 100 m) utilisant les eaux douces des sources de la plaine du Cul-de-Sac/Massif de la Selle de –6.67‰ pour le δ 2 H et –0.09‰ pour le δ 18 O.Estudos hidrológicos isotópicos conduzidos no Haiti desde 1987 têm provado serem eficientes para melhorar os modelos conceituais dos principais aquíferos dessa nação das ilhas caribenhas. Porém, muitos destes estudos têm sido limitados e são majoritariamente não publicados. É importante, portanto, compartilhar os conjuntos de dados disponíveis com cientistas e gestores hídricos para incentivar mais estudos e guiar tomadas de decisão. Onze conjuntos de dados foram compilados em um único banco de dados para continuar seu avanço e aplicação. Este novo conjunto de dados agora contém 248 resultados de δ 18 O e δ 2 H de amostras de água, coletadas em 190 locais pelo país. Os valores de δ 18 O e δ 2 H variam, respectivamente, de 3.8 a –8.95‰ e –67.4 a 16.8‰ para precipitação ( n = 5), 0.9 a 2.76‰ e 8.8 a 18.4‰ para lagos ( n = 4), –2.61 a 4.98‰ e –26.63 a 28.2‰ para rios ( n = 11), –5.11 a –2.6‰ e –29.8 a –6.9‰ para nascentes ( n = 82), excluindo fontes termais, e –5.1 a –1.37‰ e –29.4 a 2.9‰ para poços ( n = 142). A apresentação geral dos dados disponíveis é complementada com uma visão geral dos estudos em que houveram coleta de dados de isótopos estáveis. O conjunto global dos dados é apresentado sob três contextos primários: (1) elaboração de uma reta meteórica local de equação δ 2 H = 7.2δ 18 O +8.8 baseada predominantemente nos dados do departamento jurisdicional de Ouest, (2) análise da variabilidade espacial do conjunto de dados, e (3) definição da altitude do gradiente (a cada 100 m) utilizando fontes de água doce da área do Plaine du Cul-de-Sac/Massif de la Selle de –6.67‰ para δ 2 H e –0.09‰ para δ 18 O