Changes in chromosomal polymorphism and global warming: The case of Drosophila subobscura from Apatin (Serbia)

In this study, chromosomal inversion polymorphism data for a natural population of Drosophila subobscura from a swampy region near the town of Apatin (Serbia) were compared with data for the same population collected approximately 15 years earlier. The pattern of chromosomal inversion polymorphism changed over time. There were significant increases in the frequency of characteristic southern latitude (“warm” adapted) chromosomal arrangements and significant decreases in the frequency of characteristic northern latitude (“cold” adapted) chromosomal arrangements in the O and U chromosomes. The chromosomal arrangements O3+4 and O3+4+22 (derived from the O3+4 arrangement) showed significant increases in 2008 and 2009 with regard to the 1994 sample. There was also a significant increase (∼50%) in the U1+2 arrangement, while U1+8+2 (a typical southern arrangement) was detected for the first time. Since the Apatin swampy population of D. subobscura has existed for a long time in a stable habitat with high humidity that has not been changed by man our results indicate that natural selection has produced chromosomal changes in response to the increase in temperature that has occurred in the Balkan Peninsula of central southeastern European

Differential susceptibility to noise of mixed Turing and Hopf modes in a photosensitive chemical medium

We report on experiments with the photosensitive chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction (CDIMA) when forced with a random (spatiotemporally) distributed illumination. Acting on a mixed mode consisting of oscillating spots, close enough to the Hopf and Turing codimension-two bifurcation, we observe attenuation of oscillations while the spatial pattern is preserved. Numerical simulations confirm and extend these results. All together these observations point out to a larger vulnerability of the Hopf with respect to the Turing mode when facing noise of intermediate intensity and small correlation parameters.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Balancing ecology, economy and culture in fisheries policy: Participatory research in the Western Mediterranean demersal fisheries management plan

Fishing communities in the Mediterranean Sea face challenges in dealing with Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) ecosystem-based management measures aimed at reducing fishing effort and implementing partial closures of fisheries. The Participatory Action Research method is used here as a "pilot experience" to gather reactions from fishers, scientists and fisheries managers to the Western Mediterranean Multi-Annual Demersal Fisheries Plan (WM MAP) by identifying needs and concerns, but also alternatives to maintain the viability of the fishery. The data gathering process consisted on a structured questionnaire administered during a workshop to 40 stakeholders involved in Spanish fisheries in the Mediterranean, followed by an open discussion session. The results show that fishers disagree with the new regulations, which they perceive as yet another layer of restrictive regulations for an industry that faces major challenges and currently has low profitability, whereas scientists tended to agree more with the WM MAP than the administration or the fishers. Nevertheless, all stakeholders agree that the values of the cultural heritage of fisheries and the exploration of alternative marketing systems should balance the productivity-based approach to fisheries policies followed so far, that have shown signs of failure. According to stakeholder perceptions, this would improve the economic and social viability of fisheries, as well as highlight the value of fishing activity and its social prestige. Integrating the value of cultural heritage and post-production processes into the CFP would improve stakeholder involvement in fisheries policies. Through participatory research methods the ecosystem-based management approach could be embedded in a community-based approach, integrating its social actors in a proactive attitude and considering fisheries as a human activity socially and culturally rooted in the environment, which would enhance the effective implementation of fisheries policies

Collection of drosophilids from the Font Groga site, Barcelona (Spain)

Following a series of studies, another collection of drosophilids was obtained from Font Groga (Barcelona) on 6th October 2014. The detailed description of this site can be found in Araúz et al. (2009) and samples have been obtained in previous years (Canals et al., 2013; Pineda et al., 2014). A total of 12 baits containing fermenting bananas placed along a trail were used for attracting flies, and they were sampled by nets. Individuals were collected from 4 to 7 pm. It is worth to compare these data with those from the previous samples of 2012 (Canals et al., 2013) and 2013 (Pineda et al., 2014). In the present collection, the most abundant species is the melano/simulans group (38.94%), increasing with regard to last year (25.21%), but far from the percentage of 2012 sample (81.01%). In 2014, D. subobscura represents 30.53%, approximately half of the percentage detected in 2013 (62.60%), but clearly higher than that of 2012 (6.85%). The invasive species D. suzukii has increased reaching the 20.35%, clearly over the 7.98% (2013) and 9.20% (2012). This species seems to be well adapted to the Font Groga habitat. Finally, we have estimated both the H' (Shannon diversity index) and J (Shannon uniformity index). The values obtained were 1.36 and 0.76, respectively. They are similar, but higher than those from 2012 and 2013 samples [...]

Some applications of DNA databanks as an investigative tool for solving criminal cases

The introduction of molecular markers, as STR (Short Tandem Repeats) was a fundamental event in Forensic Genetics. It was possible to obtain individual genetic profiles that allowed to properly identifying individuals with small probability of error. Furthermore, police officers soon discovered the investigative value provided by DNA databanks, defined as a collection of individual DNA profiles usually used to investigate crimes and identify suspects. In this article, the authors present the most common use of these police databanks, comment their drawbacks and how to overcome them. The usage and value of police DNA databanks in special criminal situations are also explained: cold cases, familial searches and dragnets. These three particular situations are described and commented in this article. In summary, although several technical, ethical - legal and international aspects have to be improved, police DNA databanks are really powerful investigation tools that allow solving a large number of criminal cases

Influencia del conocimiento científico y técnico en la política contemporánea y su relevancia en las decisiones democráticas

El desarrollo tecnocientífico de las últimas décadas no sólo ha cambiado la calidad de vida y también los riesgos de la ciudadanía, sino que hace más compleja la actuación democrática, tanto a nivel de ciudadanía como de los dirigentes políticos. La incorporación en política de las opiniones y consejos de expertos y agencias establece nuevas pautas del discurso, la crítica, las decisiones y la comunicación entre políticos, expertos y ciudadanos. En consecuencia, aparecen nuevas maneras de tomar decisiones y de articular el poder político con los expertos y la ciudadanía. En este trabajo se analiza y discute en qué medida la incorporación de los expertos en la práxis política genera desplazamientos del poder y la crítica, al tiempo que se dan pautas para responder a las preguntas del foro de Ludus Vitalis 'Ciencia y democracia'. La exigencia democrática de gobernar por y para el pueblo, exige tener acceso a los expertos y por tanto depender políticamente de ellos en mayor o menor medida, partiendo de la base de que su opinión puesta al servicio de la política mejora la gobernanza

Reflexiones sobre el miedo en el siglo XXI: Filosofía, política, genética y evolución

La actualidad y los acontecimientos de las últimas décadas han puesto de manifiesto la importancia del miedo en la vida pública. El miedo como tal y sus factores desencadenantes están presentes en la prensa, el discurso político, la neurociencia, la ciencia y la filosofía política. Entendemos que la gestión del miedo intuitivo, cognitivo y heurístico debe contemplarse como un elemento básico en la vida del ciudadano de este siglo. Tanto en la visión moderna de la nación y el contrato social, como en las visiones más futuristas de cosmopolitismo y estados supranacionales, la heurística del miedo difícilmente podrá desaparecer de los sistemas jurídicos y sociales, no solo por su utilidad intrínseca, sino también por su inmanencia y consubstancialidad genético-biológica y psico-social. El hecho de que exista miedo consideramos que es positivo puesto que nos alerta de riesgos que pueden afectar negativamente el futuro del individuo

Abnormal ovipositor in a Drosophila melanogaster female

While collecting virgin females from a wild stock, we found a female with an abnormal ovipositor (Figures 1, abnormal; Figure 2, normal). The stock was obtained from wild D. melanogaster flies collected at the Font Groga site, near Barcelona, in autumn 2012 (Canals et al., 2013). Unfortunately, it was not possible to cross this female, and we did not have any information on her parents because she appeared in a mass culture [...]

Empresa i universitat. Innovació de productes i serveis. Grup DANONE - UPC

El baròmetre de la innovació de Catalunya del 2017 (ACCIÓ, 2017) contempla que el 55% de les empreses catalanes han innovat el 2017, que el 45% de les empreses catalanes incrementarà la facturació gràcies a la innovació, el 21,5% de les empreses catalanes preveu crear nous llocs de treball gràcies a la innovació i que el 53% de les empreses innovadores exporten els seus productes. I el fet és que cada cop més, moltes empreses es certifiquen en gestió de la innovació, creen departaments d’I+D i generen nous productes, serveis, mercats i negocis. Alhora, en molts estudis universitaris, el concepte d’innovació entra en joc en els plans docents de molts Graus i Màsters, on s’explica als estudiants que innovar és crear coses noves, i que això és el que fan les empreses innovadores en els seus departaments d’I+D. A la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya es presenta l’oportunitat de col·laboració amb una empresa referent en innovació vinculat a un projecte acadèmic: El departament d’I+D del grup Danone Barcelona proposa reptes reals de disseny de productes i/o serveis als estudiants dels Estudis Avançats en Disseny-Barcelona (MBDesign). El segent articlee acadèmic:s i/o serveis als estudiants del departaments d'dinservei a l'es empreses actuals, com üent article pretén explicar l’experiència d’aquesta col·laboració i la vinculació entre els conceptes acadèmics explicats sobre innovació, i la pràctica de dur-los a terme en un repte real, per una empresa real i que alhora és proposat per la mateixa empresa. Totes aquestes experiències s’expliquen molt bé a través de les metodologies desenvolupades en les sessions de projectes que es detallen a continuació.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version