A Survey of the Reef-Related Medusa (Cnidaria) Community in the Western Caribbean Sea

The species composition, distribution, and abundance of medusae collected during a 4-day plankton survey in a reef system of the Mexican Caribbean were studied. Highest mean medusae abundance was observed over the fore-reef zone and in daytime samples. Lowest abundances occurred in the reef lagoon and at dusk. Seventeen species were identified, with Liriope tetraphylla, Aglaura hemistoma, Cubaia aphrodite, and Sarsia prolifera being the most abundant. They belong to a group of medusae dominant along the world\u27s second largest barrier reef. Cluster analysis revealed primary (fore-reef) and secondary (reef lagoon, channel) oceanic groups, showing the strong oceanic influence along and across the reef system. Day-to-day variation in the reef medusan community seemed relatively unimportant. The community structure of the reef medusa fauna appeared to be quite uniform despite the expected migratory behavior of these predators, tidal exchange across the reef, introduction of oceanic species, and time of day. The species composition was most closely related to that of the Campeche Bank and oceanic Caribbean waters. Dominance of oceanic medusae within the reef lagoon was attributed to the narrowness of the continental shelf and the mesoscale hydrological features of the zone

A Survey of the Reef-Related Medusa (Cnidaria) Community in the Western Caribbean Sea

The species composition, distribution, and abundance of medusae collected during a 4-day plankton survey in a reef system of the Mexican Caribbean were studied. Highest mean medusae abundance was observed over the fore-reef zone and in daytime samples. Lowest abundances occurred in the reef lagoon and at dusk. Seventeen species were identified, with Liriope tetraphylla, Aglaura hemistoma, Cubaia aphrodite, and Sarsia prolifera being the most abundant. They belong to a group of medusae dominant along the world\u27s second largest barrier reef. Cluster analysis revealed primary (fore-reef) and secondary (reef lagoon, channel) oceanic groups, showing the strong oceanic influence along and across the reef system. Day-to-day variation in the reef medusan community seemed relatively unimportant. The community structure of the reef medusa fauna appeared to be quite uniform despite the expected migratory behavior of these predators, tidal exchange across the reef, introduction of oceanic species, and time of day. The species composition was most closely related to that of the Campeche Bank and oceanic Caribbean waters. Dominance of oceanic medusae within the reef lagoon was attributed to the narrowness of the continental shelf and the mesoscale hydrological features of the zone

Estimating evaporation from a wet grassland

International audienceWet grasslands are being restored across the UK and Europe to reinstate their high biodiversity following over 50 years of drainage and conversion to arable agriculture. The water balance of many wet grasslands is dominated by precipitation and evaporation and it is essential to quantify evaporation rates to understand the hydrological functioning of wetlands and the implications for water resources in catchments where wetlands are being restored. This paper considers data from direct measurements of evaporation from the Pevensey Levels wet grassland using the eddy correlation method. Equations are derived to predict actual evaporation using meteorological data on the site or from standard meteorological station observations. It was found that evaporation could be estimated reliably from meteorological variables, such as wind speed, temperature and humidity and by water availability. It was also found that when water availability is high, evaporation is high and may exceed reference evaporation values, raising questions over the deployment of the two-step Penman-Monteith model unless reliable crop coefficients and relative evaporation figures can be determined

First test on Photonic Crystal Fiber potential for broadband interferometry

International audienceThe Photonic Crystal Fibers (PCFs) are microstructured waveguides currently developed in the frame of metrology, non-linear optics or coherent tomography. PCF studies are mainly focused on the improvement of dispersion property and wide spectral single-mode operating domain. Consequently, in the astronomical context, this kind of fiber is a good candidate to design a fiber linked version of stellar interferometer for aperture synthesis. In this paper, we study the potential of these fibers taking advantage of the wide spectral single-mode operation. We propose an experimental setup acting as a two-beam interferometer using PCFs to measure fringes contrasts at four different wavelengths (670nm, 980nm, 1328nm and 1543nm) corresponding to R, I, J and H astronomical bands with the same couple of PCFs. For this purpose, we implement for the first time a piezoelectric PCF optical path modulator

A new primitive Neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic of Patagonia with gut contents

We describe a new species of an ornithischian dinosaur, Isaberrysaura mollensis gen. et sp. nov. The specimen, consisting in an almost complete skull and incomplete postcranium was collected from the marine-deltaic deposits of the Los Molles Formation (Toarcian-Bajocian), being the first reported dinosaur for this unit, one of the oldest from Neuquén Basin, and the first neornithischian dinosaur known from the Jurassic of South America. Despite showing a general stegosaurian appearance, the extensive phylogenetic analysis carried out depicts Isaberrysaura mollensis gen. et sp. nov. as a basal ornithopod, suggesting that both Thyreophora and neornithischians could have achieved significant convergent features. The specimen was preserved articulated and with some of its gut content place in the middle-posterior part of the thoracic cavity. Such stomach content was identified as seeds, most of them belonging to the Cycadales group. This finding reveals a possible and unexpected role of this ornithischian species as seed-dispersal agent

Estudio de similitudes entre áreas temáticas

In this paper some results are presented which permit the graphic representation of the similarities between subjects which appear on web pages found on the Internet. To this end, these similarities are quantified and graphically represented by means of an index between the different subjects, in accordance with an intuitive interpretation of similarity between sets. The use of a function based on Learning Theory, enable us to study the similarity or interrelation between different lines of investigations corresponding to information on web pages. The visual analysis of the aforementioned interrelations has been applied to the area of Learning research refering to the period May 2003-May 2004. Furthermore, various tables which clarify the potential of this similarity index are constructed.En este trabajo presentamos unos resultados que permiten la representación gráfica de las similitudes entre centros de interés que aparecen en las páginas Web que se encuentran distribuidas en Internet. Para ello se cuantifica y representa gráficamente por medio de un índice de similitud entre los diferentes centros de interés, de acuerdo a una interpretación intuitiva de similitud entre conjuntos. La utilización de una función procedente de la teoría del aprendizaje nos permite estudiar, a partir de la información en las páginas Web, la similitud o interrelación que existe entre diferentes líneas de investigación. El análisis visual de dichas interrelaciones se ha aplicado al área de investigación del aprendizaje referido al período mayo 2003-mayo 2004. Asimismo, se construyen varias tablas que aclaran la potencialidad futura de este índice de similitud

Addressing cervical cancer disparities in Texas: Expansion of a community-based prevention initiative for medically underserved populations

Although cervical cancer is preventable, significant disparities exist in access to screening and prevention services. In medically underserved areas (MUAs) of Texas, these rates are 55% higher compared to the remainder of the US. In 2019, we expanded a multicomponent, comprehensive program to improve cervical cancer prevention in partnership with 13 clinics and mobile vans in MUAs of Texas. Our multicomponent intervention program consists of community education and patient navigation coupled with a training/mentoring program for local medical providers to perform diagnostic procedures and treatment for patients with abnormal screening results. Hands-on training courses to learn these skills are coupled with biweekly telementoring conferences using Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). This program was implemented in 2015 and expanded to other MUAs in Texas in 2019. From March 2019 to August 2022, 75,842 individuals were educated about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination. A total of 44,781 women underwent screening for cervical cancer, and 2,216 underwent colposcopy and 264 underwent LEEP. High-grade cervical dysplasia was diagnosed in 658 individuals and invasive cervical cancer in 33 individuals. We trained 22 providers to perform colposcopy and/or LEEP. In addition, 78 Project ECHO telementoring sessions were held with an average of 42 attendees per session, with 72 individual patient cases discussed. Our comprehensive community-based prevention initiative for medically underserved populations has led to a significant number of individuals undergoing cervical cancer screening in MUAs, as well as improved access to colposcopy and LEEP services

A satellite DNA array barcodes chromosome 7 and regulates totipotency via ZFP819.

Mammalian genomes are a battleground for genetic conflict between repetitive elements and KRAB-zinc finger proteins (KZFPs). We asked whether KZFPs can regulate cell fate by using ZFP819, which targets a satellite DNA array, ZP3AR. ZP3AR coats megabase regions of chromosome 7 encompassing genes encoding ZSCAN4, a master transcription factor of totipotency. Depleting ZFP819 in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) causes them to transition to a 2-cell (2C)-like state, whereby the ZP3AR array switches from a poised to an active enhancer state. This is accompanied by a global erosion of heterochromatin roadblocks, which we link to decreased SETDB1 stability. These events result in transcription of active LINE-1 elements and impaired differentiation. In summary, ZFP819 and TRIM28 partner up to close chromatin across Zscan4, to promote exit from totipotency. We propose that satellite DNAs may control developmental fate transitions by barcoding and switching off master transcription factor genes

A new geopolymeric binder from hydrated-carbonated cement

This paper evaluates the use of hydrated Portland cement as the raw material in the production of geopolymers. The silicon and aluminium oxides needed for the geopolymerization process were produced by the carbonation of hydrated Portland cement, which transforms CSH and CAH (Portland cement hydrates) into silica and alumina gels. Hydrated-carbonated Portland cement was alkali activated with a NaOH/waterglass solution. Pastes and mortars were prepared, and micro-structural and mechanical properties were analyzed. It has been noted that geopolymers are mechanically stable and yield compressive strength higher than 10 MPa when mortars are cured at 65 °C for 3 days. The results have shown that there are interesting possibilities for re-using the cement-rich fraction of construction and demolition waste. Alkaline activation of hydrated-carbonated Portland cement could be considered a low CO 2-emission binder. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Paya Bernabeu, JJ.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Soriano Martinez, L.; Mitsuuchi Tashima, M. (2012). A new geopolymeric binder from hydrated-carbonated cement. Materials Letters. 74:223-225. doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2012.01.132S2232257

The HUSH complex is a gatekeeper of type I interferon through epigenetic regulation of LINE-1s

The Human Silencing Hub (HUSH) complex is necessary for epigenetic repression of LINE-1 elements. We show that HUSH-depletion in human cell lines and primary fibroblasts leads to induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) through JAK/STAT signaling. This effect is mainly attributed to MDA5 and RIG-I sensing of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). This coincides with upregulation of primate-conserved LINE-1s, as well as increased expression of full-length hominid-specific LINE-1s that produce bidirectional RNAs, which may form dsRNA. Notably, LTRs nearby ISGs are derepressed likely rendering these genes more responsive to interferon. LINE-1 shRNAs can abrogate the HUSH-dependent response, while overexpression of an engineered LINE-1 construct activates interferon signaling. Finally, we show that the HUSH component, MPP8 is frequently downregulated in diverse cancers and that its depletion leads to DNA damage. These results suggest that LINE-1s may drive physiological or autoinflammatory responses through dsRNA sensing and gene-regulatory roles and are controlled by the HUSH complex