Seals at sea: modelling seal distribution in the German bight based on aerial survey data

The Wadden Sea is an important habitat for harbour seals and grey seals. They regularly haul-out on sandbanks and islands along the coast. Comparably little is known about the time seals spend at sea and how they use the remainder of the North Sea. Yet, human activity in offshore waters is increasing and information on seal distribution in the North Sea is crucial for conservation and management. Aerial line transect surveys were conducted in the German bight from 2002 to 2007 to investigate the distribution and abundance of marine mammals. Distance sampling methodology was combined with density surface modelling for a spatially explicit analysis of seal distribution in the German North Sea. Depth and distance to coast were found to be relevant predictor variables for seal density. Density surface modelling allowed for a depiction of seal distribution in the study area as well as an abundance estimate. This is the first study to use aerial survey data to develop a density surface model (DSM) for a spatially explicit distribution estimate of seals at se

HCF-1 amino- and carboxy-terminal subunit association through two separate sets of interaction modules: Involvement of fibronectin type 3 repeats

When herpes simplex virus infects permissive cells, the viral regulatory protein VP16 forms a specific complex with HCF-1, a preexisting nuclear protein involved in cell proliferation. The majority of HCF-1 in the cell is a complex of associated amino (BCF-1(N))- and carboxy (HCF-1(C))-terminal subunits that result from an unusual proteolytic processing of a large precursor polypeptide. Here, we have characterized the structure and function of sequences required for HCF-1(N) and HCF-1(C) subunit association. HCF-1 contains two matched pairs of self-association sequences called SAS1 and SAS2. One of these matched association sequences, SAS1, consists of a short 43-amino-acid region of the HCF-1(N) subunit, which associates with a carboxy-terminal region of the HCF-1(C) subunit that is composed of a tandem pair of fibronectin type 3 repeats, a structural motif known to promote protein-protein interactions. Unexpectedly, the related protein HCF-2, which is not proteolyzed, also contains a functional SAS1 association element, suggesting that this element does not function solely to maintain HCF-1(N) and HCF-1(C) subunit association. HCF-1(N) subunits do not possess a nuclear localization signal. We show that, owing to a carboxy-terminal HCF-1 nuclear localization signal, HCF-1(C) subunits can recruit HCF-1(N) subunits to the nucleus

Combining SOA and BPM Technologies for Cross-System Process Automation

This paper summarizes the results of an industry case study that introduced a cross-system business process automation solution based on a combination of SOA and BPM standard technologies (i.e., BPMN, BPEL, WSDL). Besides discussing major weaknesses of the existing, custom-built, solution and comparing them against experiences with the developed prototype, the paper presents a course of action for transforming the current solution into the proposed solution. This includes a general approach, consisting of four distinct steps, as well as specific action items that are to be performed for every step. The discussion also covers language and tool support and challenges arising from the transformation

Multi Sector Planning Tools for Trajectory-Based Operations

This paper discusses a suite of multi sector planning tools for trajectory-based operations that were developed and evaluated in the Airspace Operations Laboratory (AOL) at the NASA Ames Research Center. The toolset included tools for traffic load and complexity assessment as well as trajectory planning and coordination. The situation assessment tools included an integrated suite of interactive traffic displays, load tables, load graphs, and dynamic aircraft filters. The planning toolset allowed for single and multi aircraft trajectory planning and data communication-based coordination of trajectories between operators. Also newly introduced was a real-time computation of sector complexity into the toolset that operators could use in lieu of aircraft count to better estimate and manage sector workload, especially in situations with convective weather. The tools were used during a joint NASA/FAA multi sector planner simulation in the AOL in 2009 that had multiple objectives with the assessment of the effectiveness of the tools being one of them. Current air traffic control operators who were experienced as area supervisors and traffic management coordinators used the tools throughout the simulation and provided their usefulness and usability ratings in post simulation questionnaires. This paper presents these subjective assessments as well as the actual usage data that was collected during the simulation. The toolset was rated very useful and usable overall. Many elements received high scores by the operators and were used frequently and successfully. Other functions were not used at all, but various requests for new functions and capabilities were received that could be added to the toolset

Characteristics of the channels and blood parameters of chickens complemented with chromium and their productive acting

P?ginas 15-19Recurso Electr?nicoEl presente trabajo evalu? el efecto del cromo en dietas para pollo de engorde con diferentes niveles de inclusi?n. Se evalu? : peso inicial, peso final, ganancia de peso, conversi?n, consumo, rendimiento en canal, peso de alas, pechuga, pernil, colesterol, glicemia y HDL. Se emplearon 96 aves distribuidas en 4 tratamientos con 4 repeticiones y 6 aves en cada una, alimentadas con cromo a partir del d?a noveno de vida hasta el d?a 35. Los tratamientos 1, 2, 3, y 4 conten?an cromo en 0ppm, 0,5 ppm, 1 ppm, y 1,5 ppm en la dieta respectivamente. No se encontraron diferencias significativas (p0,05) en el consumo de alimento. Pese a lo anterior los mejores resultados obtenidos se presentaron en los tratamientos 2. Peso final (1983.3 g vs 2032,3 g), ganancia de peso (1811,9 g vs 1859,9 g ), conversi?n (1,666 vs 1,670). Con respecto al consumo el tratamiento control presento consumo m?s bajo (3305 g vs 3395 g), y rendimiento en canal el tratamiento control presento mejor rendimiento con respecto a los dem?s tratamientos (71,8 % vs 71,3 %). Con respecto a los cortes los resultados favorecen a los tratamientos con cromo, alas (172,9 g vs 181,5 g), pechugas (536,3 g vs 545,1 g), perniles (699,1 g vs 708,6 g). Se determin? que el tratamiento 2 presenta los mejores resultados econ?micos.ABSTRACT. This project aims to evaluate the effect of chromium in breeding chicken diets with different inclusion levels. The items evaluated were: initial weight, final weight, increase in weight, conversion, consumptions, carcass development, wings, breasts, and legs weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and HDL. A sample of 96 birds was used distributed in 4 treatments with 4 repetitions and 6 birds each, fed with chromium since the 9th day of life until day 35. Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 had chromium concentrations of 0 ppm, 0,5 ppm, 1 ppm, and 1,5 ppm in their diet respectively. No significant differences were found (p0,05) was food consumption. Nevertheless, the best results were found in birds subjected to treatment 2: Final weight (1983,3 g vs. 2032,3 g), increase in weight (1811,9 g vs. 1859,9 g), and conversion (1.666 vs. 1.670). Regarding consumption, the control treatment presented the lowest rate (3305 g vs. 3395 g); and regarding yield in channel, the control treatment presented better outputs than the others (71,8 % vs 71,3 %). Examining other criteria, outputs favor chromium treatments: wings (172,9 g vs. 181,5 g), breasts (536,3 g vs. 545,1 g), and legs (669,1 g vs. 708,6 g). Therefore, it was determined that treatment 2 brings better economic results

What did we learn from the extraction experiments with bent crystals at the CERN SPS?

The feasibility and properties of particle extraction from an accelerator by means of a bent crystal were studied extensively at the CERN SPS. The main results of the experiments are presented. This includes the evidence for multipass extraction of heavy ions. These results are compared with theoretical expectations and computer simulations

Use of a onedimensional link-node model to develop total maximum daily load strategies for the San Joaquin River Estuary

A one-dimensional link-node model was used to simulate water quality conditions in the tidallyinfluenced, deep water ship channel (DWSC) of the San Joaquin River located in Central California. The DWSC has been plagued with low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions for decades and is currently a focus of restoration efforts. The model was calibrated using a six-year flow and water quality data set. Model simulations were run by removing the mass loads of each of the following major sources of oxygen depletion to determine the effects: elimination of the deepened ship channel (i.e., restore to its preexisting depth), elimination of import of oxygen-demanding substances (ODS) from the San Joaquin River watershed, elimination of import of ODS from the urban tributaries, and elimination of discharge of ODS from the City of Stockton regional wastewater control facility. The model results suggest that elimination of the deepened ship channel resulted in the best projected improvement relative to the modelled baseline with a predicted 55% improvement, while reducing ODS from the watershed would likely cause a 44% improvement. These results demonstrate that there are multiple contributing factors causing low DO in the DWSC and that removal or elimination of any single variable will not result in a complete resolution of low DO events