Comparison of bioinspired algorithms applied to the timetabling problem in sport

The problems of timetabling tasks or events, in general, are subject to sets of restrictions such as: creation of work roles, operation of different teams, operation personnel, among others. These types of problems are classified as NP class [1]. In this study, special attention is paid to the scheduling problem applied to sports clubs, for which different bioinspired algorithms are implemented and compared

An overview on armor research for the laser fusion project HiPER

During the current preparatory phase of the European laser fusion project HiPER, an intensive effort has being placed to identify an armour material able to protect the internal walls of the chamber against the high thermal loads and high fluxes of x-rays and ions produced during the fusion explosions. This poster addresses the different threats and limitations of a poly-crystalline Tungsten armour. The analysis is carried out under the conditions of an experimental chamber hypothetically constructed to demonstrate laser fusion in a repetitive mode, subjected to a few thousand 48MJ shock ignition shots during its entire lifetime. If compared to the literature, an extrapolation of the thermomechanical and atomistic effects obtained from the simulations of the experimental chamber to the conditions of a Demo reactor (working 24/7 at hundreds of MW) or a future power plant (producing GW) suggests that “standard” tungsten will not be a suitable armour. Thus, new materials based on nano-structured W and C are being investigated as possible candidates. The research programme launched by the HiPER material team is introduced

Laboratorio remoto eLab3D: un entorno innovador para el aprendizaje de competencias prácticas en electrónica

Este artículo muestra la utilización de las nuevas tecnologías al servicio del aprendizaje de competencias prácticas en electrónica, siendo un ejemplo de adaptación de los recursos educativos a diferentes contextos y necesidades. Se trata de un laboratorio remoto en el que la adecuada complementación de un hardware configurable y un software de última generación permite al estudiante realizar prácticas de electrónica y diseño de circuitos en un mundo virtual 3D. El usuario dispone de un avatar e interacciona con réplicas virtuales de instrumentos, placas de circuitos, componentes o cables de forma muy similar a como se opera en un laboratorio presencial. Pero lo realmente destacable es que el usuario manipula instrumentación y circuitos que están ubicados en un laboratorio real. Todo ello se ha conseguido con un sistema escalable y de bajo coste. Finalizado el diseño y desarrollo de la plataforma se han realizado las primeras pruebas con estudiantes, profesores y profesionales para valorar su percepción respecto al uso de eLab3D, obteniéndose unos resultados muy positivos

Incidencia y efecto de la enfermedad “mano de chango” en la producción de 29 genotipos de maíz

Articulo CompletoRecientemente, se ha observado un incremento en la presencia de una posible nueva enfermedad en plantas de maíz que genera prolificidad de mazorcas que los agricultores denominan “mano de chango”. Estos síntomas se han observado en áreas tropicales, subtropicales y del altiplano de México. Observaciones iniciales, en los años 1960s, indicaron, sin pruebas, que esta enfermedad era causada por hongos, insectos, o deficiencias nutricionales con incidencia de hasta 100% y pérdidas en producción de grano. Este es el primer trabajo en que se evalúa la incidencia de la enfermedad en 21 híbridos comerciales en el Valle de Toluca, México, un híbrido comercial y una variedad nativa de polinización libre en el Valle del Mezquital, Hidalgo, y seis variedades mejoradas de polinización libre en Montecillo, Texcoco, México. La mayor incidencia y pérdidas en rendimiento de grano por la enfermedad se observó en los genotipos Aspros HC8 y la variedad nativa “Hidalgo”, en el Valle del Mezquital, Hidalgo, en donde la presencia de síntomas de la enfermedad mostró una considerable reducción en rendimiento. Es necesario continuar estudios para investigar su etiología y generar información para selección de resistencia genética a esta posible nueva enfermedad

Variabilidade genética de populações naturais de caroá por meio de marcadores RAPD

The objective of this work was to quantify the genetic variability within and among populations of caroá (Neoglaziovia variegata) using (RAPD) markers. One hundred eighty caroá genotypes from Guanambi, Juazeiro and Valente counties in the state of Bahia, Brazil, were analyzed. A high polymorphism was observed among the caroá populations. The genetic dissimilarities among all genotypes ranged from 0.08 to 0.95 with an average of 0.44. The molecular variance showed that 56% of the total variation was explained by the differences among individuals within locations. The differences among counties explained 17% of the total variation, while the differences among places within counties explained 26% of the variation.O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a variabilidade genética entre e dentro de populações de caroá (Neoglaziovia variegata), por meio de marcadores "random amplified polymorphic DNA" (RAPD). Foram analisados 180 genótipos de caroá, provenientes dos municípios de Guanambi, Juazeiro e Valente, no Estado da Bahia. Foi observado elevado polimorfismo entre as populações de caroá. As dissimilaridades genéticas entre os genótipos variaram de 0,08 a 0,95, com média de 0,44. A variância molecular mostrou que 56% da variação total foi explicada pelas diferenças entre indivíduos dentro de locais. As diferenças entre municípios explicaram 17% da variação total, enquanto as diferenças entre locais dentro dos municípios explicaram 26% da variação

INDICADORES PRIMÁRIOS DA QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA DO DIQUE DO TORORÓ, SALVADOR, BAHIA

O trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade da água do Dique do Tororó, Salvador, BA, através de análises dos parâmetros físicos e químicos na superfície de 20 estações de amostragem. Os dados obtidos in situ e laboratoriais revelaram que a concentração de fósforo total, nitrato e amônio, como também o valor de pH, estavam acima do valor de referência da Resolução n. 357/2005 do CONAMA. A análise estatística multivariada revelou uma forte correlação positiva entre os compostos nitrogenados (NH3, NH4+ e NO3-), temperatura, pH, condutividade e Eh. O agrupamento hierárquico representou três grupos, diferenciando ação da atividade antrópica nos pontos das margens e no centro do corpo hídrico. Mais estudos devem ser realizados a fim de que possam determinar um padrão da distribuição dos parâmetros analisados

The expression of genes coding for distinct types of glycine-rich proteins varies according to the biology of three metastriate ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma cajennense

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ticks secrete a cement cone composed of many salivary proteins, some of which are rich in the amino acid glycine in order to attach to their hosts' skin. Glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) are a large family of heterogeneous proteins that have different functions and features; noteworthy are their adhesive and tensile characteristics. These properties may be essential for successful attachment of the metastriate ticks to the host and the prolonged feeding necessary for engorgement. In this work, we analyzed Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) similar to GRPs from cDNA libraries constructed from salivary glands of adult female ticks representing three hard, metastriate species in order to verify if their expression correlated with biological differences such as the numbers of hosts ticks feed on during their parasitic life cycle, whether one (monoxenous parasite) or two or more (heteroxenous parasite), and the anatomy of their mouthparts, whether short (Brevirostrata) or long (Longirostrata). These ticks were the monoxenous Brevirostrata tick, <it>Rhipicephalus </it>(Boophilus) <it>microplus</it>, a heteroxenous Brevirostrata tick, <it>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</it>, and a heteroxenous Longirostrata tick, <it>Amblyomma cajennense</it>. To further investigate this relationship, we conducted phylogenetic analyses using sequences of GRPs from these ticks as well as from other species of Brevirostrata and Longirostrata ticks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>cDNA libraries from salivary glands of the monoxenous tick, <it>R. microplus</it>, contained more contigs of glycine-rich proteins than the two representatives of heteroxenous ticks, <it>R. sanguineus </it>and <it>A. cajennense </it>(33 versus, respectively, 16 and 11). Transcripts of ESTs encoding GRPs were significantly more numerous in the salivary glands of the two Brevirostrata species when compared to the number of transcripts in the Longirostrata tick. The salivary gland libraries from Brevirostrata ticks contained numerous contigs significantly similar to silks of true spiders (17 and 8 in, respectively, <it>R. microplus </it>and <it>R. sanguineus</it>), whereas the Longirostrata tick contained only 4 contigs. The phylogenetic analyses of GRPs from various species of ticks showed that distinct clades encoding proteins with different biochemical properties are represented among species according to their biology.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found that different species of ticks rely on different types and amounts of GRPs in order to attach and feed on their hosts. Metastriate ticks with short mouthparts express more transcripts of GRPs than a tick with long mouthparts and the tick that feeds on a single host during its life cycle contain a greater variety of these proteins than ticks that feed on several hosts.</p