Prospects from TESS and Gaia to constrain the flatness of planetary systems

The mutual inclination between planets orbiting the same star provides key information to understand the formation and evolution of multi-planet systems. In this work, we investigate the potential of Gaia astrometry in detecting and characterizing cold Jupiters in orbits exterior to the currently known TESS planet candidates. According to our simulations, out of the $\sim 3350$ systems expected to have cold Jupiter companions, Gaia, by its nominal 5-year mission, should be able to detect $\sim 200$ cold Jupiters and measure the orbital inclinations with a precision of $\sigma_{\cos i}<0.2$ in $\sim 120$ of them. These numbers are estimated under the assumption that the orbital orientations of the CJs follow an isotropic distribution, but these only vary slightly for less broad distributions. We also discuss the prospects from radial velocity follow-ups to better constrain the derived properties and provide a package to do quick forecasts using our Fisher matrix analysis. Overall, our simulations show that Gaia astrometry of cold Jupiters orbiting stars with TESS planets can distinguish dynamically cold (mean mutual inclination $\lesssim5^\circ$) from dynamically hot systems (mean mutual inclination $\gtrsim 20^\circ$), placing a new set of constraints on their formation and evolution.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. Under review at AJ, after 1st round of referee revie

Neisseria gonorrhoeae challenge increases matrix metalloproteinase-8 expression in fallopian tube explants

Indexación: Scopus.Background: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) is the etiological agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection that initially infects the female lower genital tract. In untreated women, the bacteria can ascend to the upper genital reproductive tract and infect the fallopian tube (FTs), which is associated with salpingitis and can lead to impaired FT function and infertility. The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in cell migration and differentiation in the female genital tract, and some pathogens modify the ECM to establish successful infections. The ECM is regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), their endogenous inhibitors; MMP deregulation causes pathological conditions in a variety of tissues. Results: The aim of this work was to analyze the expression and localization of MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in FT explants during Ngo infection using real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, zymography and ELISA. No significant variations in MMP-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 transcript levels were observed. In contrast, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed for MMP-8 expression and was accompanied by stromal immunoreactivity in infected explants. ELISA results supported these findings and showed that MMP-8 release increased upon gonococcal infection. Conclusions: Our results indicate that gonococcal infection induces increased MMP-8 expression, which might contribute to FT damage during infection. © 2017 Juica, Rodas, Solar, Borda, Vargas, Muñoz, Paredes, Christodoulides and Velasquez.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00399/ful

LA CALIDAD DE LA CONSULTORÍA ESPECIALIZADA EN ISO 9000: UN MODELO DE EVALUACIÓN

The growth of the certifications of the standard quality system ISO 9000 has caused an increase in the consultancy service specialized in ISO 9000 demand. This article analyzes the profile of the ideal consultant. A classic service quality model –SERVQUAL– has been adapted to this case. A confirmatory factor analysis leads to the conclusion that there are three dimensions to be taken into account: his or her quality as a person, his or her capability to fulfil deadlines and lately tangible elements

New Methodology for the Classification of Gravel Beaches: Adjusted on Alicante (Spain)

[EN] In this article, a methodology is presented for the classification of gravel beaches, which can be applied internationally. Such beaches¿ defence against the energy of incoming water flow is due to their steep slopes and the high permeability of infiltration, but that defence is reduced with increasing sand fraction. The objective of this research was to understand the variables involved in the formation of gravel beaches, to classify them according to the distribution and position of sediment along the transversal profile, and to obtain a discriminant function. To apply the methodology, 34 gravel beaches in the province of Alicante, Spain, were first classified visually into five different types: Type 1: Sand and gravel beaches, Type 2: Sand and gravel separated beaches, Type 3: Gravel and sand beaches, Type 4: Gravel and sand separated beaches, and Type 5: Pure gravel beaches. In addition, a major study was performed to reduce the number of variables because one of the concerns was to find the variables that characterize and classify the beaches. Thus, the 45 variables, grouped according to material characteristics, wave, boundary conditions, and geometry of the beach, were first reduced to 25 by making comparisons among them and the type of beach and were finally reduced to 14 using the discriminant method. Note the use of the important variable Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean area, which, because of the changes produced in the swell, was actively involved in the classification. Finally, the discriminant function obtained was validated.Aragones, L.; Lopez, I.; Villacampa, Y.; Serra Peris, JC.; Saval, J. (2018). New Methodology for the Classification of Gravel Beaches: Adjusted on Alicante (Spain). Journal of Coastal Research. 31(4):1023-1034. doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-14-00140.1S1023103431

Fructooligosaccharides and β-fructofuranosidase production by Aspergillus japonicus immobilized on lignocellulosic materials

This work describes the fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and β-fructofuranosidase (FFase) production from sucrose (200 g/l) by Aspergillus japonicus ATCC 20236 immobilized on different lignocellulosic materials including brewer's spent grain, wheat straw, corn cobs, coffee husks, cork oak, and loofa sponge. Transfructosylating (Ut) and hydrolyzing (Uh) activities of FFase were also determined. The FOS production and FFase activity ranged from 128.35 to 138.73 g/l, and 26.83 to 44.81 U/ml, respectively, for cells immobilized in the different carriers. Corn cobs was the best support material since gave the highest results of microorganism immobilization (1.49 g/g carrier), FOS and FFase production, with FOS productivity (6.61 g/l h) and yield (0.66 g/g based on total substrate; 0.73 g/g based on consumed substrate) higher than those obtained by free cells system. Moreover, the ratio Ut/Uh of FFase, parameter of importance for elevated FOS production, was greater for cells immobilized in corn cobs than for free cells. Such results demonstrated that corn cobs can be successfully used as carrier for immobilization of the fungus A. japonicus, for the production of FOS and FFase.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Colonization of Aspergillus japonicus on synthetic materials and application to the production of fructooligosaccharides

The ability of Aspergillus japonicus ATCC 20236 to colonize different synthetic materials (polyurethane foam, stainless steel sponge, vegetal fiber, pumice stones, zeolites, and foam glass) and to produce fructooligosaccharides (FOS) from sucrose (165 g/L) is described. Cells were immobilized in situ by absorption, through direct contact with the carrier particles at the beginning of fermentation. Vegetal fiber was the best immobilization carrier as A. japonicus grew well on it (1.25 g/g carrier), producing 116.3 g/L FOS (56.3 g/L 1-kestose, 46.9 g/L 1-nystose, and 13.1 g/L 1-β-fructofuranosyl nystose) with 69% yield (78% based only in the consumed sucrose amount), giving also elevated activity of the β-fructofuranosidase enzyme (42.9 U/mL). In addition, no loss of material integrity, over a 2 day-period, was found. The fungus also immobilized well on stainless steel sponge (1.13 g/g carrier), but in lesser extents on polyurethane foam, zeolites, and pumice stones (0.48, 0.19, and 0.13 g/g carrier, respectively), while on foam glass no cell adhesion was observed. When compared with the FOS and β-fructofuranosidase production by free A. japonicus, the results achieved using cells immobilized on vegetal fiber were closely similar. It was thus concluded that A. japonicus immobilized on vegetal fiber is a potential alternative for high production of FOS at industrial scale.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

DATASET2050 D5.1 - Mobility assessment

This document provides documentation on the mobility assessment metrics and methods for use within DATASET2050. On the one hand it describes what the key performance areas, attributes, indicators and metrics such as seamlessness, cost, duration, punctuality, comfort, resilience, etc. incorporated into the model are. On the other, it gives details about mobility metric computation, modelling methodology, visualisations used etc

Kinetic and morphometric evaluation of fucoidan‐degrading fungal strains

Fucoidan is a sulfated fucose hetero‐polysaccharide found in brown algae. This compound has a wide variety of biological activities including anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antitumoral and antiviral (Alexeeva et al. 2002; Ellouali et al. 1993; McClure et al. 1992). Specific enzymes able to degrade fucoidan matrix are important tools to establish structural characteristics and biological functions of this polysaccharide. Such enzymes, called fucoidanases, have been only isolated from marine organisms (Sakai et al. 2004; Giordano et al. 2006). Reports of fungal microorganisms with enzymatic activity over this sulfated‐polysaccharide are scarce. Mycelial growth and morphology of filamentous fungi can be mathematically described by kinetic models, through the estimation of specific growth rate of molds on plates containing target polysaccharide as sole carbon source, using image processing techniques (Loera and Viniegra 1998). In this sense, the aim of this work was to identify fungal strains able to growth over fucoidan media as sources of active fucoidanases, by quantification of kinetic and morphology features, to establish the influence of media composition on growth patterns. Aspergillus niger PSH, Penicillium purpurogenum GH2 and Mucor sp. 3P were the screened strains. Different culture media with and without mineral salts were tested for microbial growth. Fucoidan of Laminaria japonica and urea were used as carbon and nitrogen source. Radial growth rate (Ur) was kinetically monitored measuring colony diameters. Hyphal length (Lav) and diameter (Dh) were quantified by image analyses measurements. All the evaluated strains were able to growth on different fucoidan‐urea media, and their plate invasion capacity and radial growth rate were directly proportional to measured morphometric parameters. The three fungi strains synthesize acting metabolites toward fucoidan matrix, and are important tools for the synthesis of sulfated fucan‐degrading enzymes. These results are, until now, the first report of enzymes able to growth and degrade fucoidan obtained by terrestrial fungus