Highly-complex optical signal generation using electro-optical systems with non-linear, non-invertible transmission functions

We present a scheme whereby a static non-linear, non-invertible transmission function performed by the electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulator produces highly complex optical chaos. The scheme allows the deterministic transformation of low-dimensional band-limited chaotic signals into much higher-dimensional structures with broadband spectra and without using any delay elements or feedback. Standard benchmark tests show that all the considered complexity indices are highly increased due to this transformation in a controlled fashion. This mechanism allows the design of simple optoelectronic delayed oscillators with extremely complex chaotic output.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Applied Physics Letters (August 2012

Depredación del sapo Elachistocleis panamensis por la araña Ancylometes bogotensis: primer registro

We record for the first time a predation event on a Panamá Humming Frog (Elachistocleis panamensis) by a Bogotá Giant Fishing Spider (Ancylometes bogotensis) in a tropical dry forest fragment in northern Colombia. We discuss aspects related to the predation behavior of A. bogotensis and some elements of E. panamensis as prey.Registramos por primera vez un evento de depredación del sapito de los termiteros (Elachistocleis panamensis) por la araña pescadora gigante (Ancylometes bogotensis) en un fragmento de bosque seco tropical en el norte de Colombia. Discutimos aspectos del comportamiento de depredación de A. bogotensis y algunos elementos de E. panamensis como presa

Bionanocomposite films prepared from corn starch with and without nanopackaged Jamaica (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flower extract

Active and pH-sensitive nano-fillers were prepared from natural and modified montmorillonite (Mnt) and nano-packaged with anthocyanins extracted from the Jamaica (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flower. These were then used to reinforce corn (Zea mays) starch-based films plasticized with glycerol, and processed by extrusion and thermo-molding. Seven film systems were investigated for their potential as "active & intelligent" (A&I) bionanocomposite films with improved properties. The thermal and mechanical properties of the bionanocomposite films obtained were enhanced largely due to the added modified clay nano-fillers, and the nano-packaging of the anthocyanins between the nano-clay layers. Unfortunately, however, the bionanocomposite films failed as A&I materials, despite the supposed effect of the nano-clays as protective nano-encapsulating materials for the active and pH-sensitive compound (anthocyanins). The results obtained suggest that the exfoliation of the nano-fillers as a consequence of the shear forces inside the extruder led to the exposure of the anthocyanins during extrusion. Because of this, we consider the large-scale development of A&I biodegradable films incorporating natural pigments very unlikely being processed by extrusion/thermo-molding, since there are several significant processes involved in the techniques currently available in the food and polymer industries that leave the active and pH-sensitive compounds unprotected.Fil: Toro Márquez, Luis A.. Universidad Simón Bolívar; VenezuelaFil: Merino, Danila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Gutiérrez Carmona, Tomy José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Atazanavir-Based Therapy Is Associated with Higher Hepatitis C Viral Load in HIV Type 1-Infected Subjects with Untreated Hepatitis C

Comunicación cortaWe assessed the relationship between atazanavir (ATV)-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) and plasma hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load in a population of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who received ART based on a protease inhibitor (PI) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) were included. Patients were stratified by ART drug [ATV/rtv, lopinavir (LPV/rtv), efavirenz (EFV), nevirapine (NVP), and other PIs], HCV genotype (1/4 and 2/3), and IL28B genotype (CC and non-CC). The Kruskal-Wallis test and chi-squared test were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Multivariate analysis consisted of a stepwise linear regression analysis. Six hundred and forty-nine HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were included. HCV genotype 1/4 patients who received ATV had higher HCV RNA levels [6.57 (5.9-6.8) log IU/ml] than those who received LPV [6.1 (5.5-6.5) log IU/ml], EFV [6.1 (5.6-6.4) log IU/ml], NVP [5.8 (5.5-5.9) log IU/ml], or other PIs [6.1 (5.7-6.4) log IU/ml] (p=0.014). This association held for the IL28B genotype (CC versus non-CC). The association was not found in patients carrying HCV genotypes 2/3. The linear regression model identified the IL28B genotype and ATV use as independent factors associated with HCV RNA levels. ATV-based therapy may be associated with a higher HCV RNA viral load in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients

Structural basis of the allergenicity to strawberries due to Fra a 1.02

Strawberry fruits are highly valued due to their flavor, aroma, and benefits for human health. Despite this, 30% of the population with food hypersensitivity also shows adverse reactions to strawberry (Franz-Oberdorf et al, 2016). The FaFra a 1 protein family, homologs of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, is involved in this allergenicity to strawberry. By RNAseq we have identified transcripts for 18 members of the FaFra a 1 family (from 1.01 to 1.18) in strawberry fruits. Although expressed in all tissues analyzed, each family member presents a unique pattern of expression, which suggests functional specialization for each FaFra a 1 protein. FaFra a 1.02 (Fra2 from now on) is the most expressed one in red fruits and is also the most allergenic among the family members tested (Muñoz et al. 2010; Franz- Oberdorf et al, 2016). In order to understand the molecular bases of this allergenicity we crystalized Fra2 and obtained its structure by X-ray diffraction. Fra2 showed a very high structural homology to Bet v 1, and we asked whether the two proteins were recognized by the immune system in a similar way. For this, we generated five different mutant versions of Fra2 in sites described as important for allergenicity in Bet v 1 (Fernandes et al, 2016), and studied their potential allergenicity as well as their crystal structures. Three of the mutants had substitutions in loop 4 (E46R, D48R, E46/48A) and the other two facing the cavity (A141F and Q64W). Compared to Fra2, all the mutants showed a significant reduction in their capacity to be recognized by the serum of patients with allergies to Bet v 1, and their crystal structures revealed conformational changes in the Bet v 1- IgG interaction sites. Together, these results support that Fra2 and Bet v 1 have similar allergenic determinants We hope this research will aid in understanding how human IgGs interact with Fra2 and might help in the development of new cultivars with a lesser allergenic potential.Grants BIO2013-44199R and BES-2014-068723 (MINECO). The authors also acknowledge the support by the Plan Propio from University of Malaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional de Andalucía

Adiestramiento de carneros para la colección de semen con vagina artificial

Con el objetivo de establecer y validar un protocolo de entrenamiento de carneros para la recolección de semen con vagina artificial, montando una hembra sin necesidad que este en celo, se utilizaron ocho carneros con edades entre 1 y 3 años. Hubo dos etapas de preparación cada una de dos semanas y dos sesiones de entrenamiento por semana. Cada sesión tuvo una duración de 10 minutos o la obtención de tres eyaculados, lo que primero sucediera. En la primera etapa, se colocaron los carneros individualmente ante una hembra en celo, con el fin de lograr un preámbulo sexualnatural. En la segunda etapa, se usó como estímulo una borrega que no estaba en celo para entrenar a los carneros, con el fin de lograr un condicionamiento operante. Se utilizó una vagina artificial, con una caperuza externa (20 × 5,5 cm) de goma, y un conducto interno de látex. La vagina se llenó con 50 ml de agua a 45-50 ºC para llegar a 38 ºC en el momento de recolectar el semen. Luego se agregó aire a la vagina con el fin de estrechar la luz vaginal a 1 cm de diámetro. No se usó lubricante en el momento de la colección. Al inicio de cada etapa, el 25% de los carneros no eyacularon; sin embargo, al final de las fases, todos eyacularon al menos dos veces. Se concluye que, mediante el protocolo de entrenamiento utilizado, el 100% de los carneros, en este estudio, fueron entrenados para colectar semen con vaginaartificial sin necesidad de que la hembra se encuentre en celo

Proyecto y construcción de edificios con el sistema Dragados-Plastbau

Not Available.La prefabricación y la industrialización de la construcción a menudo han fracasado ante los condicionantes que imponen al proyectista al comportar soluciones rígidas no siempre adaptables a las necesidades reales del proyecto. Por el contrario, la adaptación de los sistemas al proyecto únicamente puede estar justificada para la realización de grandes series o en ocasiones empleada para la construcción de edificios singulares, sin estrictas limitaciones económicas, lo que en definitiva viene a suponer una desvirtualización de la razón de ser de aquéllas al transformar a éstas en verdaderas obras artesanales donde a menudo la experiencia adquirida no es generalizable para otras realizaciones

Radon transport events associated with the impact of a NORM repository in the SW of Europe

Two radon measurement stations located to the north and south of a NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) repository of phosphogypsum (southwest of Europe) were used to monitor radon behavior during 2018. The stations are located at opposing sides of the repository, one in Huelva City to the north and other one in a rural area to the south. This setup aimed to identify the influence of the NORM repository on each station and use radon levels as a marker of atmospheric transport in the local area. To achieve this, a comparison was carried out with other coastal stations in the south of Spain, finding higher average concentrations in Huelva City, ~3.3 Bq m− 3 . Hierarchical clustering was applied to identify days with different radon patterns at each Huelva station, detecting possible local radon transport events from the repository. Three events were investigated with WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) and FLEXPART-WRF (FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model). It was found that both sampling sites required atmospheric stagnant conditions to reach high radon concentration. However, under these conditions the urban station showed high radon regardless of wind direction while the rural station also required radon transport from the repository, either directly or indirect.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, by the project ‘Fluxes of radionuclides emitted by the PG piles located at Huelva; assessment of the dispersion, radiological risks and remediation proposals’ (Ref.: CTM2015-68628- R). It is important to reiterate the significant contribution of CSN to this research providing radon measurements from the REA network. Special thanks are given to Antonio Padilla for his invaluable technical support and know-how. Resources supporting this work were provided by the CEAFMC and Universidad de Huelva High Performance Computer (HPC@UHU) funded by ERDF/MINECO project UNHU-15CE-2848.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBU