Animal behaviour: Shifting attention in order to disperse

New findings in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans identify neuromodulation of behavioural responses to pheromones as a mechanism for regulating dispersal and foraging strategies

Structural instability of vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates

In this paper we study a gaseous Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) and show that: (i) A minimum value of the interaction is needed for the existence of stable persistent currents. (ii) Vorticity is not a fundamental invariant of the system, as there exists a conservative mechanism which can destroy a vortex and change its sign. (iii) This mechanism is suppressed by strong interactions.Comment: 4 pages with 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Factors controlling rock-clay buffer interaction in a radioactive clay repository

The paper examines the interaction between host rock and a clay-based engineered barrier in the context of deep underground disposal of high-level radioactive waste. A large scale “in situ” heating test currently under way in the underground Grimsel Rock Laboratory (GRL; Switzerland) is adopted as a representative case for study. The main features of the behaviour of the rock/barrier system have been examined using a comprehensive programme of coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical analyses. A parametric study has been performed to assess the effects of individual phenomena and parameters. The characterisation activities carried out in relation with the in situ test provide the information on material properties and test conditions required. Results highlighting the influence of vapour diffusion, permeability, and retention curve of rock and bentonite are presented. The interaction between clay barrier and host medium exhibits a high degree of complexity

Microalga marina y su empleo en acuicultura y en la obtención de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados

Número de publicación: ES2088366 A1 (01.08.1996) También publicado como: ES2088366 B1 (01.03.1997) Número de Solicitud: Consulta de Expedientes OEPM (C.E.O.) P9500053 (13.01.1995)Una cepa de la microalga marina isochrysis galbana, depositada en la CCAP con el número de depósito CCAP 927/15 es capaz de producir elevadas cantidades de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados, especialmente de ácido eicosapentaenoico (EPA) y de ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA). La cepa microalgal crece adecuadamente a una temperatura de 18 c a 25 c, en un ph de 7 a 9,5, preferentemente a un ph de 7,65 a 8,00. La cepa microalgal, cultivada a 20 c en un fermentador de 5 litros agitado por paletas y con iluminación continua, produce EPA en una cantidad de, al menos, 39,5 mg por gramo de materia seca. Esta cepa es adecuada para su empleo en acuicultura (alimentación de larvas de peces y moluscos) y en la obtención de EPA y/o de un aceite rico en EPA y en DHA necesarios para la nutrición y salud humanas.Universidad de Almerí

Detección y seguimiento automático de vórtices en la cuenca canaria con altímetros. Aplicación del parámetro de Okuboweiss

Ponencia presentada en: XIII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Teledetección celebrado en Calatayud del 23 al 26 septiembre 2009.[ES]En este trabajo se ha aplicado, al conjunto de los datos de los altímetros para un periodo de 15 años (1993-2007), un método basado en el parámetro de Okubo-Weiss que identifica remolinos en la Cuenca Canaria y lleva a cabo su seguimiento. Para esta zona influenciada por la costa africana y los archipiélagos de Madeira, Canarias y Cabo Verde se han obtenido las propiedades estadísticas de varios parámetros de los remolinos, así como sus trayectorias. Los resultados muestran las zonas de generación y rutas de propagación de las estructuras.[EN]In this work a method based in the Okubo-Weiss parameter has been applied to the altimeter data set covering a fifteen year period (1993-2007). By this way it is possible to identify and track mesoscale eddies in the Canary Basin. Then, the statistics of several eddy parameters and their trajectories in the area of interest have been obtained. This area is influenced by the African coastline and the Canary, Madeira and Cape Vert Archipelagos. The results show places of eddy generation and the main propagation routes.Este trabajo se financió por el MCEI con el proyecto INTEGCAN CGL2004 02235

Estudio de la fracción de esteroles del insaponificable de mantequillas y margarinas de uso frecuente en Granada

It's been determined the net contents of unsaponifiable and the qualitive composition in sterols of different comercial names of butters and margarines, by analytical techniques based in the chromatography in gas phase. The finality of this determination is checking if the stated margarines are indeed from vegetable source and at the same time to try to detect possible frauds in butters.Se ha determinado el contenido neto de insaponificable y la composición cualitativa en estero les de diferentes marcas comerciales de mantequillas y margarinas, mediante técnicas analíticas basadas en la cromatografía en fase gaseosa. La finalidad de esta determinación es comprobar si las magarinas declaradas de origen vegetal lo son efectivamente y al mismo tiempo tratar de detectar posibles fraudes en mantequillas

Estudio de la fracción de esteroles del insaponificable de mantequillas y margarinas de uso frecuente en Granada

Se ha determinado el contenido neto de insaponificable y la composición cualitativa en estero les de diferentes marcas comerciales de mantequillas y margarinas, mediante técnicas analíticas basadas en la cromatografía en fase gaseosa. La finalidad de esta determinación es comprobar si las magarinas declaradas de origen vegetal lo son efectivamente y al mismo tiempo tratar de detectar posibles fraudes en mantequillas.It's been determined the net contents of unsaponifiable and the qualitive composition in sterols of different comercial names of butters and margarines, by analytical techniques based in the chromatography in gas phase. The finality of this determination is checking if the stated margarines are indeed from vegetable source and at the same time to try to detect possible frauds in butters

Incidence, prevalence and persistence of bovine venereal diseases in La Pampa (Argentina): estimations for the period 2007 - 2020

The venereal diseases Bovine Trichomoniasis (BT) and Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis (BGC) cause economic losses in endemic areas, such as the province of La Pampa in Argentina, where bovine production is typically extensive. This study has used data compiled from 2007 to 2013 by the Official Program for the Control and Eradication (PCE) of venereal diseases, aiming to determine the prevalence, incidence and persistence of BT and BGC and to provide projections until 2020. Fourteen univariate models were used to adjust each time series. The prevalence and incidence of both diseases have significantly decreased during the studied period, while the persistence has remained constant. The prevalence of BT has diminished from 7.48% in 2007 to 3.03% in 2013, while the prevalence of BGC has diminished from 9.36% to 3.15%. The incidences have been reduced to an annual average of 0.60 for BT and 0.67 for BGC. Although the estimation models are not able to predict accurately the future epidemiologic rates of BT and BGC in La Pampa, projections show a significant decreasing trend of the prevalence and incidence of BT and BGC. The persistence of BGC is expected to remain close to the 2007-2013 average, while the persistence of BT did not adjust to any of the 14 models used. These results indicate that PCE has been effective to reduce the infection of disease-free herds. However, in order to reduce the ratio of persistent herds, other preventive and management measures should be considered. Highlights The venereal diseases Bovine Trichomoniasis (BT) and Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis (BGC) cause economic losses. Univariate analysis was an effective tool for modeling the historical and future prevalence, incidence and persistence of BT and BGC infections. The prevalence and incidence of BT and BGC have significantly decreased during the studied period, while the persistence has remained constant. The Official Program for the Control and Eradication (PCE) of venereal diseases, has been effective to reduce the infection of disease-free herds.The venereal diseases Bovine Trichomoniasis (BT) and Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis (BGC) cause economic losses in endemic areas, such as the province of La Pampa in Argentina, where bovine production is typically extensive. This study has used data compiled from 2007 to 2013 by the Official Program for the Control and Eradication (PCE) of venereal diseases, aiming to determine the prevalence, incidence and persistence of BT and BGC and to provide projections until 2020. Fourteen univariate models were used to adjust each time series. The prevalence and incidence of both diseases have significantly decreased during the studied period, while the persistence has remained constant. The prevalence of BT has diminished from 7.48% in 2007 to 3.03% in 2013, while the prevalence of BGC has diminished from 9.36% to 3.15%. The incidences have been reduced to an annual average of 0.60 for BT and 0.67 for BGC. Although the estimation models are not able to predict accurately the future epidemiologic rates of BT and BGC in La Pampa, projections show a significant decreasing trend of the prevalence and incidence of BT and BGC. The persistence of BGC is expected to remain close to the 2007-2013 average, while the persistence of BT did not adjust to any of the 14 models used. These results indicate that PCE has been effective to reduce the infection of disease-free herds. However, in order to reduce the ratio of persistent herds, other preventive and management measures should be considered. Highlights The venereal diseases Bovine Trichomoniasis (BT) and Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis (BGC) cause economic losses. Univariate analysis was an effective tool for modeling the historical and future prevalence, incidence and persistence of BT and BGC infections. The prevalence and incidence of BT and BGC have significantly decreased during the studied period, while the persistence has remained constant. The Official Program for the Control and Eradication (PCE) of venereal diseases, has been effective to reduce the infection of disease-free herds

A group II intron-encoded protein interacts with the cellular replicative machinery through the ß-sliding clamp

Group II introns are self-splicing mobile genetic retroelements. The spliced intron RNA and the intron-encoded protein (IEP) form ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) that recognize and invade specific DNA target sites. The IEP is a reverse transcriptase/maturase that may bear a C-terminal endonuclease domain enabling the RNP to cleave the target DNA strand to prime reverse transcription. However, some mobile introns, such as RmInt1, lack the En domain but nevertheless retrohome efficiently to transient single-stranded DNA target sites at a DNA replication fork. Their mobility is associated with host DNA replication, and they use the nascent lagging strand as a primer for reverse transcription. We searched for proteins that interact with RmInt1 RNPs and direct these RNPs to the DNA replication fork. Co-immunoprecipitation assays suggested that DnaN (the ß-sliding clamp), a component of DNA polymerase III, interacts with the protein component of the RmInt1 RNP. Pulldown assays, far-western blots and biolayer interferometry supported this interaction. Peptide binding assays also identified a putative DnaN-interacting motif in the RmInt1 IEP structurally conserved in group II intron IEPs. Our results suggest that intron RNP interacts with the ß-sliding clamp of the DNA replication machinery, favouring reverse splicing into the transient ssDNA at DNA replication forks

Globally-Linked Vortex Clusters in Trapped Wave Fields

We put forward the existence of a rich variety of fully stationary vortex structures, termed H-clusters, made of an increasing number of vortices nested in paraxial wave fields confined by trapping potentials. However, we show that the constituent vortices are globally linked, rather than products of independent vortices. Also, they always feature a monopolar global wave front and exist in nonlinear systems, such as Bose-Einstein condensates. Clusters with multipolar global wave fronts are non-stationary or at best flipping.Comment: 4 pages, 5 PostScript figure