HoloTrap: Interactive hologram design for multiple dynamic optical trapping

This work presents an application that generates real-time holograms to be displayed on a holographic optical tweezers setup; a technique that allows the manipulation of particles in the range from micrometres to nanometres. The software is written in Java, and uses random binary masks to generate the holograms. It allows customization of several parameters that are dependent on the experimental setup, such as the specific characteristics of the device displaying the hologram, or the presence of aberrations. We evaluate the software's performance and conclude that real-time interaction is achieved. We give our experimental results from manipulating 5 micron-diametre microspheres using the program.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

The pitfall-trap of species conservation priority setting

This an accepted author's manuscript (AAM) version of an article published in Biodiversity and Conservation, 20 (2011): 663-68

Identifying past social-ecological thresholds to understand long-term temporal dynamics in Spain

A thorough understanding of long-term temporal social-ecological dynamics at the national scale helps to explain the current condition of a country’s ecosystems and to support environmental policies to tackle future sustainability challenges. We aimed to develop a methodological approach to understand past long-term (1960-2010) social-ecological dynamics in Spain. First, we developed a methodical framework that allowed us to explore complex social-ecological dynamics among biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being, drivers of change, and institutional responses. Second, we compiled 21 long-term, national-scale indicators and analyzed their temporal relationships through a redundancy analysis. Third, we used a Bayesian change point analysis to detect evidence of past social-ecological thresholds and historical time periods. Our results revealed that Spain has passed through four socialecological thresholds that define five different time periods of nature and society relationships. Finally, we discussed how the proposed methodological approach helps to reinterpret national-level ecosystem indicators through a new conceptual lens to develop a more systems-based way of understanding long-term social-ecological patterns and dynamicsThis work was supported by the Biodiversity Foundation (http://www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es/) of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Partial financial support was also provided by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain (project CGL2014-53782-P: ECOGRADIENTES). The Spanish National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA) funded Marina García-Llorente as part of the European Social Fund. Blanca González García-Mon participated in this article as a “la Caixa” Banking Foundation scholar. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, preparation of the report, or the decision to submit the study for publicatio

Hidden clear cell acanthoma with uncommon dermoscopic findings

Dear Editor, A 73-year-old woman presented with less than a 1-year history of an erythematous, well-delimited and shiny lesion on her left buttock, near the gluteal fold. Dermoscopic examination showed dotted vessels arranged in a linear pattern involving the entire lesion. These vascular findings are also called metaphorically a ‘string of pearls’ pattern. Another vascular pattern observed on the periphery of the lesion is that of branched vessels with rounded endings. Surprisingly, dermoscopy also revealed multiple rosettes (also known as ‘four-clod dots’). Differential diagnoses included mainly clear cell acanthoma, irritated seborrheic keratosis, Bowen´s disease and eccrine poroma. The lesion was completely surgically removed and histopathologic examination revealed an epidermic lesion with marked psoriasiform hyperplasia, in which epidermal cells show clear cytoplasms (Fig. 3). These findings are consistent with the diagnosis of Clear Cell Acanthoma (CCA)..

Morphological and molecular characterization of two trematode worms in the gastropod Asolene pulchella (Anton, 1859)

Asolene pulchella (Anton, 1859) Asolene pulchella (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae) is a native gastropod from La Plata River. In a previous study we reported the presence of parasite forms of Trematoda (Plathyhelminthes) in the digestive gland of adult snails from Regatas Lake (Buenos Aires). In this work identified two parasites with a morphological and molecular approach. The digestive gland of A. pulchella showed a large amount of larval forms (sporocysts and rediae) with internal cercariae in diverse degree of development.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Morphological and molecular characterization of two trematode worms in the gastropod Asolene pulchella (Anton, 1859)

Asolene pulchella (Anton, 1859) Asolene pulchella (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae) is a native gastropod from La Plata River. In a previous study we reported the presence of parasite forms of Trematoda (Plathyhelminthes) in the digestive gland of adult snails from Regatas Lake (Buenos Aires). In this work identified two parasites with a morphological and molecular approach. The digestive gland of A. pulchella showed a large amount of larval forms (sporocysts and rediae) with internal cercariae in diverse degree of development.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Impact of two decades of shellfish farming on phytoplankton biomass, abundance and productivity of a coastal lagoon influenced by upwelling

Long-term impact of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas farms on the phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll a concentration (chl-a), abundance and productivity (PP) of the western arm of Bahía San Quintín (Falsa Bay), a coastal lagoon influenced by the California Current coastal upwelling, was evaluated after two decades of commercial cultures. High-resolution time series (on an hourly basis) of these variables were generated in 1999 and 2000, for locations with and without oyster cultures in Falsa Bay. Representative averages of these data were compared with data reported for 1979, when the commercial cultures were just starting. Also, data of 1979 and recent data were used separately to explore possible short-term (hourly) effects of oysters on the phytoplankton variables. The available data are scarce and do not support the hypothesis of diminished phytoplankton biomass, abundance and PP due to the oyster cultures. In general, there were no statistically significant differences between the averages of chl-a (2.5 mg m-3 ), microphytoplankton abundance (from 42·103 to 194·103 cells L-1, depending upon the location) and PP (12 mgC m-3 h-1 ) when comparing 1979, and 1999 - 2000 data. This was possibly due to the relatively low residence time of Falsa Bay waters (~8 days) and relatively low oyster density (a total of ~900 tons, with an estimated maximum carrying capacity from ~2,000 to 6,000 tons for this arm of the bay)

La conservación de biodiversidad en España: atención científica, construcción social e interés político

El presente trabajo explora los factores que subyacen a la priorización de especies en las políticas de conservación de la biodiversidad en relación con las diferentes dimensiones implicadas: investigación, opinión pública, listas rojas y legislación vinculante de especies amenazadas. Los resultados muestran que existe una fuerte correlación entre las especies prioritarias de conservación, aquellas que son objeto de interés científico, así como las preferidas socialmente. De hecho, parece existir un bucle de realimentación positiva que actúa como una trampa de conservación en la priorización de especies, en la que muy pocas especies se convierten en objeto de protección, relegando a otras que tienen un importante papel funcional en distintos tipos de ecosistemas, con singularidad taxonómica, o elevada posibilidad de éxito en su conservación. Finalmente, se identifica cuáles son los grupos taxonómicos aventajados en el actual sistema de toma de decisiones relativo a la conservación, y cuáles parecen ser invisibles

Design strategies for optimizing holographic optical tweezers setups

We provide a detailed account of the construction of a system of holographic optical tweezers. While much information is available on the design, alignment and calibration of other optical trapping configurations, those based on holography are relatively poorly described. Inclusion of a spatial light modulator in the setup gives rise to particular design trade-offs and constraints, and the system benefits from specific optimization strategies, which we discuss.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figure