Opening sessions (OS): A tool to facilitate bioinformatic digestion in dry-laboratory exercises

Finding alternatives techniques to facilitate digestion and consolidation of knowledge derived from distinct scientific disciplines is an important task of interdisciplinary teaching. During a master course that enrolled 63 individuals, we aimed at evaluating the integration of opening teaching sessions (OS) and their impact on formative assessment and student satisfaction. Integration of OS significantly increased the acquisition and usage of elementary bioinformatic concepts/skills, which was evaluated throughout inquiries for formative teaching. Furthermore, application OS corresponded with a high level of satisfaction possibly by driving instructional effectiveness and student centeredness

Nonequilibrium dynamics of a stochastic model of anomalous heat transport: numerical analysis

We study heat transport in a chain of harmonic oscillators with random elastic collisions between nearest-neighbours. The equations of motion of the covariance matrix are numerically solved for free and fixed boundary conditions. In the thermodynamic limit, the shape of the temperature profile and the value of the stationary heat flux depend on the choice of boundary conditions. For free boundary conditions, they also depend on the coupling strength with the heat baths. Moreover, we find a strong violation of local equilibrium at the chain edges that determine two boundary layers of size $\sqrt{N}$ (where $N$ is the chain length), that are characterized by a different scaling behaviour from the bulk. Finally, we investigate the relaxation towards the stationary state, finding two long time scales: the first corresponds to the relaxation of the hydrodynamic modes; the second is a manifestation of the finiteness of the system.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Physics A, Mathematical and Theoretica

Isoprene oxidation by the gram-negative model bacterium variovorax sp. WS11

Plant-produced isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) represents a significant portion of global volatile organic compound production, equaled only by methane. A metabolic pathway for the degradation of isoprene was first described for the Gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus sp. AD45, and an alternative model organism has yet to be characterised. Here, we report the characterisation of a novel Gram-negative isoprene-degrading bacterium, Variovorax sp. WS11. Isoprene metabolism in this bacterium involves a plasmid-encoded iso metabolic gene cluster which differs from that found in Rhodococcus sp. AD45 in terms of organisation and regulation. Expression of iso metabolic genes is significantly upregulated by both isoprene and epoxyisoprene. The enzyme responsible for the initial oxidation of isoprene, isoprene monooxygenase, oxidises a wide range of alkene substrates in a manner which is strongly influenced by the presence of alkyl side-chains and differs from other well-characterised soluble diiron monooxygenases according to its response to alkyne inhibitors. This study presents Variovorax sp. WS11 as both a comparative and contrasting model organism for the study of isoprene metabolism in bacteria, aiding our understanding of the conservation of this biochemical pathway across diverse ecological niches

Phosphorus release kinetics in a soil amended with biosolids and vermicompost

Wastewater biosolids are large potential sources of macronutrients for agriculture, conservation and restoration of soils; there are, however, few studies on phosphorus (P) release in soils amended with biosolids. Biosolids and vermicomposted biosolids were tested in concentrations (5–30 g amendment kg-1 soil) equivalent to 18–100 Mg ha-1. Desorption of P was determined by successive extractions for 65 days. Soil P was low, and biosolid and vermicompost addition released 8 and 6 times more P, respectively, than soil alone. To describe the release of P, zero-, first- and second-order equations, simple Elovich and power functions and the parabolic diffusion lawwere compared based on their coefficient of determination (r2) and standard error (SE). In all treatments, the power function and especially the parabolic diffusion law were the best fit, with 0.898–0.996 r2 and 0.022–0.732 SE. The general behavior of the kinetic parameters mostly depended on the amendment doses. Eutrophication posited to start beyond 16 mg P kg-1 soil was more likely allayed by a maximum vermicompost dose of 50 Mg ha-1, higher than the 36 Mg ha-1 maximum biosolid dose. The higher vermicompost P addition and lower P release could favor gradual and longer-term P absorption by plants and may reduce leaching or runoff P losses

Complicaciones al uso de Implantes Subdérmico con Etonogestrel en usuarias adscritas al Programa de Planificación Familiar en el C.S.R.D San Pedro Tenayac en los años 2011 - 2013

Objetivo: Analizar las complicaciones al uso de implante subdérmico de Etonogestrel en las usuarias del C.S.R.D San pedro Tenayac adscritas al programa de planificación familiar en los años 2011-2013 Material y método: Se analizaron los expedientes de 178 usuarias de implante subdérmico de Etonogestrel en la unidad, registradas en el tarjetero del programa de planificación familiar en el Centro de Salud. De dichas usuarias por diversas razones fue imposible localizar a 13 quedando un total de 165 mujeres a estudiar. Fueron excluidas al momento del estudio 9, 7 de ellas por que no contaban con el criterio de haber portado el implante por más 6 meses y 2 por deseo de embarazo, quedando como tamaño de la muestra 156 mujeres. Resultados: Se registró ganancia de peso e incremento en el Índice de Masa Corporal en la mayor parte de las usuarias (80%). En cuanto a las alteraciones del patrón de sangrado menstrual, encontramos que la amenorrea fue la alteración que se presentó con más frecuencia (69.6%), seguida en orden decreciente por polimenorrea (56.5%), opsomenorrea (37.0%), hipomenorrea (32.6%), oligomenorrea (28.3%), hipermenorrea (28.3%), sangrado intermenstrual (21.7%) y proiomenorrea (13.0%). De las otras complicaciones referidas, la cefalea se presentó con mayor frecuencia (56.5%), seguida de la mastalgia (47.8%), y las alteraciones de la libido (43.5%). Conclusiones: La información obtenida en nuestro estudio demostró, que como se esperaba, tanto el sobrepeso y obesidad; así como las alteraciones del patrón del sangrado menstrual, son más frecuentes de lo que reporta la literatura

Complete genome of isoprene degrading nocardioides sp. WS12

Isoprene is a climate-active gas whose wide-spread global production stems mostly from terrestrial plant emissions. The biodegradation of isoprene is carried out by a number of different bacteria from a wide range of environments. This study investigates the genome of a novel isoprene degrading bacterium Nocardioides sp. WS12, isolated from soil associated with Salix alba (Willow), a tree known to produce high amounts of isoprene. The Nocardioides sp. WS12 genome was fully sequenced, revealing the presence of a complete isoprene monooxygenase gene cluster, along with associated isoprene degradation pathway genes. Genes associated with rubber degradation were also present, suggesting that Nocardioides sp. WS12 may also have the capacity to degrade poly-cis-1,4-isoprene

Gender, Personality, and Cognitive Resilience Against Early-Life Disadvantage

Objectives: Early-life disadvantage (ELD) relates to lower late-life cognition. However, personality factors, including having an internal locus of control (LOC) or a conscientious personality, relate to resilience and effective stress coping. We explore whether personality factors convey resilience against the negative effects of ELD on cognition, by gender, in Mexico. Methods: Using the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study, we estimated expected cognition using multiple ELD markers to identify a subsample in the lowest quartile of expected cognition given ELD (n = 2,086). In this subsample, we estimated cross-sectional associations between personality and having above-median observed cognitive ability (n = 522) using logistic regression. Results: Among those in the lowest quartile of expected cognition, a more internal LOC (β = 0.32 [men] and β = 0.44 [women]) and conscientious personality (β = 0.39 [men] and β = 0.17 [women]) were significantly associated with having above-median cognitive ability in models adjusted for demographic confounders. Larger benefits of conscientiousness were observed for men than women. Associations between personality and having above-median cognitive ability remained statistically significant after further adjustment for health, stress, and cognitive stimulation variables, regardless of gender. Discussion: Personality factors may convey resilience among individuals who experienced ELD, potentially breaking the link between ELD and worse late-life cognition. Structural factors and gender roles may affect how much women benefit from personality factors

Nonequilibrium dynamics of a stochastic model of anomalous heat transport

We study the dynamics of covariances in a chain of harmonic oscillators with conservative noise in contact with two stochastic Langevin heat baths. The noise amounts to random collisions between nearest-neighbour oscillators that exchange their momenta. In a recent paper, [S Lepri et al. J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 42 (2009) 025001], we have studied the stationary state of this system with fixed boundary conditions, finding analytical exact expressions for the temperature profile and the heat current in the thermodynamic (continuum) limit. In this paper we extend the analysis to the evolution of the covariance matrix and to generic boundary conditions. Our main purpose is to construct a hydrodynamic description of the relaxation to the stationary state, starting from the exact equations governing the evolution of the correlation matrix. We identify and adiabatically eliminate the fast variables, arriving at a continuity equation for the temperature profile T(y,t), complemented by an ordinary equation that accounts for the evolution in the bulk. Altogether, we find that the evolution of T(y,t) is the result of fractional diffusion.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Physics A, Mathematical and Theoretica

Estrategia de la empresa Chester en el simulador de negocios Capstone

La primera parte de este reporte expone el marco teórico en el que se presentan los conceptos de estrategia y modelos de negocio desde el punto de vista de diferentes autores, así como la diferencia entre ellos. También se explica el Balanced Scorecard como un método de evaluación para medir la correcta implementación de la estrategia. Se continúa con el análisis de las condiciones competitivas de la industria de fabricación de sensores, los segmentos de mercado existentes y sus preferencias. Después se define la política básica de la empresa de sensores Chester, se establecen los objetivos y la estrategia que eligió su equipo directivo para alcanzarlos. Posteriormente, se analizan los resultados que obtiene la empresa en ocho años de operaciones, de 2017 a 2024, desde el punto de vista de los cuatro departamentos que contempla el Balanced Scorecard: finanzas, cliente, procesos internos y aprendizaje. Para cada ciclo de dos años se menciona cuál es el posicionamiento de la empresa con respecto a los competidores, se analizan las estrategias que siguen las demás compañías de la industria y se evalúa la necesidad de implementar cambios con respecto al planteamiento estratégico inicial para superar sus objetivos en los siguientes años. Se concluye con reflexiones acerca de la competencia, del curso, de la maestría y de la institución