Analysis of larval behaviours underlying the pupation height phenotype in Drosophila simulans and D melanogaster

International audienc

Petrography and geochemistry of late- to post-Variscan vaugnerite series rocks and calc-alkaline lamprophyres within a cordierite-bearing monzogranite (Sierra Bermeja Pluton, southern Iberian Massif)

The Sierra Bermeja Pluton (southern Central Iberian Zone, Iberian Massif) is a late-Variscan intrusive constituted by cordierite-bearing peraluminous monzogranites. Detailed field mapping has allowed to disclose the presence of several NE–SW trending longitudinal composite bodies, formed by either aphanitic or phaneritic mesocratic rocks. According to their petrography and geochemistry these rocks are categorized as calc-alkaline lamprophyres and vaugnerite series rocks. Their primary mineralogy is characterized by variable amounts of plagioclase, amphibole, clinopyroxene, biotite, K-feldspar, quartz and apatite. Broadly, they show low SiO2 content (49–56wt.%), and high MgO+FeOt (10–17wt.%), K2O (3–5wt.%), Ba (963–2095ppm), Sr (401–1149ppm) and Cr (87–330ppm) contents. Field scale observations suggest that vaugneritic rocks and lamprophyres would constitute two independent magma pulses. Vaugneritic dioritoids intruded as syn-plutonic dykes, whereas lamprophyres were emplaced after the almost complete consolidation of the host monzogranites. In this way, vaugnerite series rocks would be an evidence for the contemporaneity of crustal- and mantle-melting processes during a late-Variscan stage, while lamprophyres would represent the ending of this stage

Cambios temporales en los transportes y la distribución de las masas de agua a lo largo de la sección 20º W de CAIBOX (Atlántico NE)

24 páginas, 3 tablas, 7 figuras[EN] The CAIBOX cruise was conducted from 25 July to 14 August 2009. Three consecutive transects (zonal, meridional, and transverse) formed a closed box to the west of the Strait of Gibraltar. This study aimed to analyze the thermohaline properties, volume transports, and water mass distributions (percentages) along the meridional section (30–41.5º N, 20º W). We identified the main geostrophic current (Azores Current) and its associated volume transport and interannual changes. Data from previous cruises (AZORES I, A16N, CLIVAR, OACES, and CHAOS) with similar tracks were employed to compare with the CAIBOX meridional section. All but one (CHAOS) were summer cruises. We estimated a mean transport for the Azores Current at 20º W of 9.3 ± 2.6 Sv. There appears to be an inverse relation between the position of this current and its associated transport, with relatively high (low) transports when the current is located roughly south (north) of 35º N. Regarding water masses, an increase of 14.4% was found for Mediterranean Water compared with the 1993, 1998, and 2003 cruises; however, Labrador Sea Water decreased its contribution and southward spreading between 1998 and 2009[ES] Entre el 25 de julio y el 14 de agosto de 2009 se llevó a cabo la campaña CAIBOX, que constó de tres transectos consecutivos (zonal, occidental y transversal) conformando una caja cerrada al oeste del estrecho de Gibraltar. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo fue el estudio de las propiedades termohalinas, los transportes (en términos de volumen) y la distribución de las masas de agua (en porcentajes) a lo largo de la sección occidental (30–41.5º N, 20º W). Se identificó la corriente geostrófica principal (Corriente de las Azores), el transporte asociado a ella y sus cambios interanuales. Adicionalmente se consideraron los datos de cinco campañas anteriores (AZORES I, A16N, CLIVAR, OACES y CHAOS) con secciones similares a las de la campaña CAIBOX. Todas excepto una (CHAOS) fueron campañas estivales. El transporte medio para la Corriente de las Azores a 20º W se estimó en 9.3 ± 2.6 Sv. Parece existir cierta relación inversa entre la posición de dicha corriente y su transporte asociado, con transportes relativamente altos (bajos) cuando la corriente se sitúa al sur (norte) de 35º N. En cuanto a las masas de agua, se observa un incremento de 14.4% del Agua Mediterránea en comparación con las campañas de 1993, 1998 y 2003; sin embargo, el Agua de Labrador ha disminuido su contribución y su propagación hacia el sur entre 1998 y 2009.An important part of the data presented in this paper was obtained through the CAIBEX project: Shelf-ocean Exchanges in the Canaries-Iberia Large Marine Ecosystem (CTM2007-66408-C02/MAR), supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. The first author, LIC, was funded by a FPU predoctoral fellowship from the National Human Resources Formation Program, within the framework of the 2008–2011 National Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation Plan of the Spanish Ministry of Education. The fourth author, NVR, was supported by the Isabel Barreto Program (IN840E) from the Xunta de Galicia.Peer reviewe

Differences in dry eye questionnaire symptoms in two different modalities of contact lens wear: silicone-hydrogel in daily wear basis and overnight orthokeratology

Purpose. To compare the ocular surface symptoms and signs in an adult population of silicone-hydrogel (Si-Hy) contact lens (CL) wearers with another modality of CL wear, overnight orthokeratology (OK). Materials and Methods. This was a prospective and comparative study in which 31 myopic subjects were fitted with the same Si-Hy CL and 23 underwent OK treatment for 3 months. Dry eye questionnaire (DEQ) was filled in at the beginning of the study and then after 15 days, 1 month, and 3 months using each CL modality. The tear quality was evaluated with noninvasive tear break-up time. Tear production was measured with Schirmer test. Tear samples were collected with Schirmer strips being frozen to analyze the dinucleotide diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) concentration with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results. After refitting with ortho-k, a reduction in discomfort and dryness symptoms at the end of the day ( < 0.05, 2 ) was observed. No significant changes were observed in Ap4A concentration in any group. Bulbar redness, limbal redness, and conjunctival staining increased significantly in the Si-Hy group ( < 0.05, Kruskal–Wallis test). Conclusion. Discomfort and dryness symptoms at the end of the day are lower in the OK CL group than in the Si-Hy CL group.The authors thank Paragon Vision Science and CooperVision for donating the lenses. This work was partially supported by the Xunta de Galicia by a predoctoral grant of the Plan I2C 2011–2015 and the Spanish SAF2013-44416-R and RETICS RD12/0034/0003. It was also partially supported by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of projects PTDC/SAU-BEB/098391/2008 and PTDC/SAU-BEB/098392/2008

Floating stones off El Hierro, Canary Islands: xenoliths of pre-island sedimentary origin in the early products of the October 2011 eruption

The eruption that started off the south coast of El Hierro, Canary Islands, in October 2011 has emitted intriguing eruption products found floating in the sea. These specimens appeared as floating volcanic "bombs" that have in the meantime been termed "restingolites" (after the close-by village of La Restinga) and exhibit cores of white and porous pumice-like material. Currently the nature and origin of these "floating stones" is vigorously debated among researchers, with important implications for the interpretation of the hazard potential of the ongoing eruption. The "restingolites" have been proposed to be either (i) juvenile high-silica magma (e.g. rhyolite), (ii) remelted magmatic material (trachyte), (iii) altered volcanic rock, or (iv) reheated hyaloclastites or zeolite from the submarine slopes of El Hierro. Here, we provide evidence that supports yet a different conclusion. We have collected and analysed the structure and composition of samples and compared the results to previous work on similar rocks found in the archipelago. Based on their high silica content, the lack of igneous trace element signatures, and the presence of remnant quartz crystals, jasper fragments and carbonate relicts, we conclude that "restingolites" are in fact xenoliths from pre-island sedimentary rocks that were picked up and heated by the ascending magma causing them to partially melt and vesiculate. They hence represent messengers from depth that help us to understand the interaction between ascending magma and crustal lithologies in the Canary Islands as well as in similar Atlantic islands that rest on sediment/covered ocean crust (e.g. Cape Verdes, Azores). The occurrence of these "restingolites" does therefore not indicate the presence of an explosive high-silica magma that is involved in the ongoing eruption

A systematic review on the ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure

Urbanization and climate change are endangering the sustainability of public spaces through increased land artificialization, ecological fragmentation, reduced resource availability, and limited accessibility to natural and seminatural areas. Properly managing Green Infrastructure (GI) can contribute to mitigating these challenges by delivering multiple provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural Ecosystem Services (ES). This would facilitate the implementation of strategically planned GI networks in cities for urban regeneration purposes. In this context, this study developed a systematic review on the ES provided by GI using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The analysis of 199 eligible articles indicated that more efforts should be made to address more ES at once, which connects to the need for conceiving GI as a strategically planned network of areas aimed at delivering diverse benefits. Based on the methods used in the items reviewed, geoprocessing tools and multi-criteria decision analysis are proposed to develop systems of indicators capable of accounting for multiple ES. These systems should also rely on multidisciplinary and participative procedures to encompass various facets of GI and represent the priorities of all relevant stakeholders

The ongoing volcanic eruption of El Hierro, Canary Islands

El Hierro, the youngest of the Canary Islands (Spain), is no stranger to hazards associated with volcanic activity or to efforts to minimize the effects of these hazards on local communities. As early as 1793, administrative records of El Hierro indicate that a swarm of earthquakes was felt by locals; fearing a greater volcanic catastrophe, the first evacuation plan of an entire island in the history of the Canaries was prepared. The 1793 eruption was probably submarine with no appreciable consequences other than that the earthquakes were felt [Carracedo, 2008]; over the next roughly 215 years the island was seismically quiet. Yet seismic and volcanic activity are expected on this youngest Canary Island due to its being directly above the presumed location of the Canary Island hot spot, a mantle plume that feeds upwelling magma just under the surface, similar to the Hawaiian Islands. Because of this known geologic activity, the Spanish Instituto Geogrfco Nacional (IGN) has managed geophysical monitoring of the island since the beginning of the 1990s.Peer Reviewe