Adjustable high emittance gap filler

A flexible, adjustable refractory filler is disclosed for filling gaps between ceramic tiles forming the heat shield of a space shuttle vehicle, to protect its aluminum skin during atmospheric reentry. The easily installed and replaced filler consists essentially of a strip of ceramic cloth coated, at least along both its longitudinal edges with a room temperature vulcanizable silicone rubber compound with a high emittance colored pigment. The filler may have one or more layers as the gap width requires. Preferred materials are basket weave aluminoborosilicate cloth, and a rubber compounded with silicon tetraboride as the emittance agent and finely divided borosilicate glass containing about 7.5% B2O3 as high temperature binder. The filler cloth strip or tape is cut to proper width and length, inserted into the gap, and fastened with previously applied drops of silicone rubber adhesive

Conspiracy theories, credibility and trust in information

The rapid spread of social media on the Internet has resulted in strong changes in the information and communication landscape. Their inadequate use has given rise to new discussions on truth and post-truth, what is trustworthy and what is questionable, the credibility of messages and their sources. Through this article we aim to examine what citizens believe about the information they receive and if they feel whether or not there is withholding of information. This will be achieved through data obtained from a survey of a statistically representative sample of the Andalusian population over the age of 18 (1,103 respondents, with a maximum margin of error of +/- 3%). One of the main results of this research is the serious lack of credibility of the information received, as many Andalusians (68.1%) believe that information is withheld from them. We have also observed several factors explaining a greater likelihood of finding a high belief in the conspiracy theory on the withholding of information. Finally, the article reflects on the consequences of mistrust in information and we propose an inter- and transdisciplinary approach in order to counteract this mistrust.La rápida extensión del uso de redes sociales en internet ha provocado intensos cambios en el panorama informativo y de la comunicación. Un uso inadecuado de las mismas ha originado nuevos debates sobre la verdad y posverdad, lo confiable y lo dudoso, la credibilidad de los mensajes y de sus fuentes. A través de este artículo, basado en la realización de una encuesta realizada a una muestra estadísticamente representativa a la población andaluza mayor de 18 años (1.103 entrevistados, con un margen de error máximo de +/- 3 %), queremos examinar qué piensan los ciudadanos respecto a la información que reciben y si aprecian que hay ocultación de información o no. Uno de los principales resultados de esta investigación es la elevada falta de credibilidad de la información recibida, al constatarse la alta creencia de los andaluces en que se les oculta información (68,1 %). También hemos observado diversos factores que explican una mayor probabilidad de encontrar una alta creencia en la teoría de la conspiración sobre la ocultación de información. Termina el artículo reflexionando sobre las consecuencias de la falta de confianza en la información y se propone un enfoque inter y transdisciplinar para contrarrestarla

Understanding the Evolutionary Relationships and Major Traits of \u3cem\u3eBacillus\u3c/em\u3e through Comparative Genomics

Background: The presence of Bacillus in very diverse environments reflects the versatile metabolic capabilities of a widely distributed genus. Traditional phylogenetic analysis based on limited gene sampling is not adequate for resolving the genus evolutionary relationships. By distinguishing between core and pan-genome, we determined the evolutionary and functional relationships of known Bacillus. Results: Our analysis is based upon twenty complete and draft Bacillus genomes, including a newly sequenced Bacillus isolate from an aquatic environment that we report for the first time here. Using a core genome, we were able to determine the phylogeny of known Bacilli, including aquatic strains whose position in the phylogenetic tree could not be unambiguously determined in the past. Using the pan-genome from the sequenced Bacillus, we identified functional differences, such as carbohydrate utilization and genes involved in signal transduction, which distinguished the taxonomic groups. We also assessed the genetic architecture of the defining traits of Bacillus, such as sporulation and competence, and showed that less than one third of the B. subtilis genes are conserved across other Bacilli. Most variation was shown to occur in genes that are needed to respond to environmental cues, suggesting that Bacilli have genetically specialized to allow for the occupation of diverse habitats and niches. Conclusions: The aquatic Bacilli are defined here for the first time as a group through the phylogenetic analysis of 814 genes that comprise the core genome. Our data distinguished between genomic components, especially core vs. pan-genome to provide insight into phylogeny and function that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. A phylogeny may mask the diversity of functions, which we tried to uncover in our approach. The diversity of sporulation and competence genes across the Bacilli was unexpected based on previous studies of the B. subtilis model alone. The challenge of uncovering the novelties and variations among genes of the non-subtilis groups still remains. This task will be best accomplished by directing efforts toward understanding phylogenetic groups with similar ecological niches

Circulating Irisin Levels Are Not Regulated by Nutritional Status, Obesity, or Leptin Levels in Rodents

Irisin is a cleaved and secreted fragment of fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) that is mainly released by skeletal muscle and was proposed to mediate the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism. In the present study we aim to investigate the regulation of the circulating levels of irisin in obese animal models (diet-induced obese (DIO) rats and leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice), as well as the influence of nutritional status and leptin. Irisin levels were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Radioimmunoassay (RIA). Serum irisin levels remained unaltered in DIO rats and ob/ob mice. Moreover, its circulating levels were also unaffected by fasting, leptin deficiency, and exogenous leptin administration in rodents. In spite of these negative results we find a negative correlation between irisin and insulin in DIO animals and a positive correlation between irisin and glucose under short-term changes in nutritional status. Our findings indicate that serum irisin levels are not modulated by different physiological settings associated to alterations in energy homeostasis. These results suggest that in rodents circulating levels of irisin are not involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and could be unrelated to metabolic status; however, further studies should clarify its precise role in states of glucose homeostasis imbalance.Xunta de GaliciaIDISGobierno de España/Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadInstituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII

Probing the role of point mutations in the cyp51A gene from Aspergillus fumigatus in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Azole-resistant strains of Aspergillus fumigatus have been detected and the underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance characterized. Point mutations in the cyp51A gene have been proved to be related to azole resistance in A. fumigatus clinical strains and with different resistance profiles depending on the amino acid change (G54E, G54V, G54R, G54W, M220V, M220K, M220T, M220I). The aim of this work was to express A. fumigatus cyp51A genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in order to better assess the contribution of each independent amino acid substitution to resistance. A tetracycline regulatable system allowing repression of the endogenous essential ERG11 gene was used. The expression of Aspergillus cyp51A alleles could efficiently restore the absence of ERG11 in S. cerevisiae. In general, S. cerevisiae clones expressing. A. fumigatus cyp51A alleles from azole-resistant isolates showed higher MICs to all azoles tested than those expressing alleles from susceptible isolates. The azole susceptibility profiles obtained in S. cerevisiae upon expression of specific cyp51A alleles recapitulated susceptibility profiles observed from their A. fumigatus origins. In conclusion this work supports the concept that characteristics of specific A. fumigatus cyp51A alleles could be investigated in the heterologous host S. cerevisia

Structure and Function Vegetation Conditions by Grazing Processes in a Humid Pampean Grassland (Argentina)

Expressed changes were evaluated as consequence of the cattle grazing, or their exclusion, in the structure of plant communities of the Flooding Pampa. We center our interest in the species numbers, plant cover, species diversity and forage availability. The treatments were: a) continuous grazing, b) enclosure grazing and c) controlled grazing. The enclosure grazing area was installed two years before starting the measurements. In the continuous grazing St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum Walt.) holds its initial cover of 64 % and dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) the 15 %. In the enclosure grazing S. secundatum decreased its cover up to 15 % and in the meanwhile P. dilatatum increased its cover up to 47 %. In controlled grazing S. secundatum decreased its cover up to 30 % while P. dilatatum increased its cover up to 47 %. The great availability of the forages established was concentrated in the compartment of the gramineous (continuos grazing: 1,576 kg.ha-1; controlled grazing: 1,852 kg.ha-1 and enclosure grazing: 4,785 kg.ha-1) and the biggest contribution was given by P. dilatatum. In the condition of this trial, with a prolonged enclosure grazing, the erect gramineous like P. dilatatum increased their plant cover displacing from the grassland those ones of creeping stoloniferous habits like S. secundatum. In the meanwhile the controlled grazing started to show legumes such as birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus tenuis Waldst. et Kit) which are lost with the continuous grazing

Reconstruction of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) recruitment in the North Sea for the past 455 years based on the δ13C from annual shell increments of the ocean quahog (Arctica islandica)

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this recordnderstanding the recruitment variability of the Atlantic herring North Sea stock remains a key objective of stock assessment and management. Although many efforts have been undertaken linking climatic and stock dynamic factors to herring recruitment, no major attempt has been made to estimate recruitment levels before the 20th century. Here, we present a novel annually resolved, absolutely dated herring recruitment reconstruction, derived from stable carbon isotope geochemistry (δ13C), from ocean quahog shells from the Fladen Ground (northern North Sea). Our age model is based on a growth increment chronology obtained from fourteen shells. Ten of these were micromilled at annual resolution for δ13C analysis. Our results indicate that the anthropogenically driven relative depletion of 13C, the oceanic Suess effect (oSE), became evident in the northern North Sea in the 1850s. We calculated a regression line between the oSE‐detrended δ13C results (δ13CṠ) and diatom abundance in the North Sea, the regression being mediated by the effect of phytoplankton on the δ13C of the ambient dissolved inorganic carbon. We used this regression to build an equation mediated by a nutritional link to reconstruct herring recruitment using δ13CṠ. The reconstruction suggests that there were five extended episodes of low‐recruitment levels before the 20th century. These results are supported by measured recruitment estimates and historical fish catch and export documentation. This work demonstrates that molluscan sclerochronological records can contribute to the investigation of ecological baselines and ecosystem functioning impacted by anthropogenic activity with implications for conservation and stock management.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)FP7 People: Marie‐Curie Action

Plan de negocios para la creación de una empresa productora y comercializadora de tilapias en el cantón Pujilí en el año 2015-2019

Through the history, our country has been characterized beacause it has the great diversity of flora and fauna of the world. The weather and hydrographic diversity make favorable the increase of aquaculture species variety which has allowed the favorable development of the towns, specially those that satisfy primary necessities such us food and clothes. During the last years the small producers dedicated to the pisciculture have not generated great advanced in the commercial activity of the country, due to poor vision of start new marketing strategies, techniques, administrative, finance and economics proposal which will allow to generate great productivity and economic rentability in the country….A través de la historia nuestro país se ha caracterizado por contar con la mayor diversidad de flora y fauna del mundo. La diversidad climática e hidrográfica hacen favorable el crecimiento de una variedad de especies acuícolas, lo cual ha permitido el desarrollo favorable de los pueblos, especialmente aquellos que cubren necesidades primarias como alimentación y vestimenta. Durante los últimos años los pequeños productores dedicados al campo de la piscicultura no han generado mayor avance en la actividad comercial del país, debido a la escasa visión de emprender nuevas estrategias de mercado, propuestas técnicas, administrativas, financieras y económicas que permitan generar mayor productividad y rentabilidad económica en el país…

Real-time imaging of DNA damage in yeast cells using ultra-short near-infrared pulsed laser irradiation

Analysis of accumulation of repair and checkpoint proteins at repair sites in yeast nuclei has conventionally used chemical agents, ionizing radiation or induction of endonucleases to inflict localized damage. In addition to these methods, similar studies in mammalian cells have used laser irradiation, which has the advantage that damage is inflicted at a specific nuclear region and at a precise time, and this allows accurate kinetic analysis of protein accumulation at DNA damage sites. We show here that it is feasible to use short pulses of near-infrared laser irradiation to inflict DNA damage in subnuclear regions of yeast nuclei by multiphoton absorption. In conjunction with use of fluorescently-tagged proteins, this allows quantitative analysis of protein accumulation at damage sites within seconds of damage induction. PCNA accumulated at damage sites rapidly, such that maximum accumulation was seen approximately 50 s after damage, then levels declined linearly over 200-1000 s after irradiation. RPA accumulated with slower kinetics such that hardly any accumulation was detected within 60 s of irradiation, and levels subsequently increased linearly over the next 900 s, after which levels were approximately constant (up to ca. 2700 s) at the damage site. This approach complements existing methodologies to allow analysis of key damage sensors and chromatin modification changes occurring within seconds of damage inception