Circadian Intraocular Pressure Profiles in Chronic Open Angle Glaucomas

Purpose: To evaluate circadian intraocular pressure (IOP) profiles in eyes with different types of chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) and normal eyes. Methods: This study included 3,561 circadian IOP profiles obtained from 1,408 eyes of 720 Caucasian individuals including glaucoma patients under topical treatment (1,072 eyes) and normal subjects (336 eyes). IOP profiles were obtained by Goldmann applanation tonometry and included measurements at 7 am, noon, 5 pm, 9 pm, and midnight. Results: Fluctuations of circadian IOP in the secondary open-angle glaucoma (SOAG) group (6.96±3.69 mmHg) was significantly (P<0.001) higher than that of the normal pressure glaucoma group (4.89±1.99 mmHg) and normal eyes (4.69±1.95 mmHg); but the difference between the two latter groups was not significant (P=0.47). Expressed as percentages, IOP fluctuations did not vary significantly among any of the study groups. Inter-ocular IOP difference for any measurement was significantly (P<0.001) smaller than the profile fluctuations. In all study groups except the SOAG group, IOP was highest at 7 am, followed by noon, 5 pm, and finally 9 pm or midnight. In the SOAG group, mean IOP measurements did not vary significantly during day and night. Conclusions: In contrast to normal eyes and eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma under topical antiglaucoma treatment, eyes with SOAG under topical treatment do not show the usual circadian IOP profile in which the highest IOP values occur in the morning, and the lowest in the evening or at midnight. These findings may have implications for timing of tonometry. Fluctuation of circadian IOP was highest in SOAG compared to other types of open angle glaucomas

Genetic component of flammability variation in a Mediterranean shrub

Recurrent fires impose a strong selection pressure in many ecosystems worldwide. In such ecosystems, plant flammability is of paramount importance because it enhances population persistence, particularly in non‐resprouting species. Indeed, there is evidence of phenotypic divergence of flammability under different fire regimes. Our general hypothesis is that flammability‐enhancing traits are adaptive; here, we test whether they have a genetic component. To test this hypothesis, we used the postfire obligate seeder Ulex parviflorus from sites historically exposed to different fire recurrence. We associated molecular variation in potentially adaptive loci detected with a genomic scan (using AFLP markers) with individual phenotypic variability in flammability across fire regimes. We found that at least 42% of the phenotypic variation in flammability was explained by the genetic divergence in a subset of AFLP loci. In spite of generalized gene flow, the genetic variability was structured by differences in fire recurrence. Our results provide the first field evidence supporting that traits enhancing plant flammability have a genetic component and thus can be responding to natural selection driven by fire. These results highlight the importance of flammability as an adaptive trait in fire‐prone ecosystems

Tema 2: Open Roberta - A Web Based Approach to Visually Program Real Educational Robots

The aim of the Open Roberta initiative is to support visual online programming of educational robots. The goal is to overcome technical and professional barriers for teachers and students alike at home or in the classrooms. The free to use cloud-based Open Roberta Lab consists of graphical programming tools for the browser that enable beginners to seamlessly start coding without long-winded system installations, setups or additional technology getting in the way. Open Roberta is a project within the Fraunhofer initiative ”Roberta - Learning with Robots”. A further aspect of the paper is the introduction of the NEPOR meta programming language as a core concept for coupling real educational robot systems.

Open Roberta – a Web Based Approach to Visually Program Real Educational Robots

Educational robots have become an often asked educational tool for a hands-on introduction to modern information and communication technology. The ”Roberta - Learning with Robots” initiative aims to engage and motivate girls and boys to take a sustained long-term interest in information technology and natural sciences since the project inception in 2002. With more than 35.000 children and young people in over 600 documented Roberta courses a year – Roberta has become a permanent fixture in the German education landscape and the pedagogical concept, created books, course material and additional tools are being used successfully in other European countries. However, programming educational robots and maintaining complex computer hardware is still a hassle for teachers in the classrooms - as frequently reported from student participants and Roberta network teachers. A main goal of the presented successor initiative Open Roberta is to overcome technical challenges by providing an open, fully web based programming environment for teachers and students alike that can be used directly in the web browser at home or in the classroom. The presented software - the Open Roberta Lab consists of visual programming tools for the development and connection of real educational robots without long-winded system installations, preparation tasks or technology getting in the way. A further technical aspect of the paper is the introduction of the NEPO® meta programming language as an essential part of the Open Roberta Lab