Risk assessment methodologies for Critical Infrastructure Protection. Part I: A state of the art

Effective risk assessment methodologies are the cornerstone of a successful Critical Infrastructure Protection program. The extensive number of risk assessment methodologies for critical infrastructures clearly supports this argument. Risk assessment is indispensable in order to identify threats, assess vulnerabilities and evaluate the impact on assets, infrastructures or systems taking into account the probability of the occurrence of these threats. This is a critical element that differentiates a risk assessment from a typical impact assessment methodologyJRC.G.6-Security technology assessmen

Blood chemistry of wild brazilian coscoroba swans during molt

The Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) is an unusual member of the Anatidae found in South America, from the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego through Chile and Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as far north as Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil. The species is not threatened globally, but some local populations have declined and the status of others is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the plasma chemistry of a wild population of Coscoroba Swans in southern Brazil during their molting period. We captured 12 chicks, 14 juveniles, and 31 mature birds. The following blood parameters were measured: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, uric acid, creatin-kinase, aspartate amino transferase, alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, and pancreatic amylase. Significant differences between males and females were not observed for any of the parameters, and only the levels of alkaline phosphatase differed significantly among age groups. © Wildlife Disease Association 2010.Peer Reviewe

Skewed sex ratios in a newly established osprey population

With recent increases in the numbers of reintroduction projects, it has become crucial to know the main factors that allow colonization of new areas and prevent the extinction of small and reintroduced populations. Dispersal is one of the most important phenomena in population biology with consequences to the proportion of individuals that keep breeding in the natal population and the number of individuals that move to other populations to breed. We studied changes in offspring sex ratio and differences in dispersal patterns between the sexes in a reintroduced population of osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Results showed that at the beginning of the colonization process breeding pairs produced more males, which dispersed shorter distances and were more philopatric than females. However, with increasing breeding population size over the years, the offspring production was skewed to females, which dispersed longer distances from their natal area and tended to breed in different areas. Here we suggest that changes in offspring sex ratio during colonization processes, together with differences in dispersal pattern between sexes, could influence colonization rate and the probability of success of future reintroduction projects

Pathobiology and Treatment of Hepatitis Virus-Related Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a well recognized complication of infections, including those from hepatotropic viruses. Thrombocytopenia may actually be the only manifestation of vital hepatitis, which should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The mechanisms of thrombocytopenia associated with viral hepatitis vary widely depending on the specific infectious agent and the severity of liver disease. Most of the studies have described thrombocytopenia in association with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the most common cause of chronic infection worldwide. Studies have shown that treatment of HCV infection often results in substantial improvement or complete recovery of the thrombocytopenia. In patients with thrombocytopenia associated with HCV-related chronic liver disease, the use of eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, normalizes platelet levels thereby permitting the initiation of antiviral therapy

Morphometric sex determination of young Ospreys Pandion haliaetus using discriminant analysis

Capsule Discriminant functions based on morphometric variables provide a reliable method for sex identification of free-living and hacked young Ospreys. Aims To describe an easy, accurate and low-cost method for sex determination of fully grown nestling and fledgling Ospreys Pandion haliaetus based on morphometric measurements. Methods Four different measurements were taken in 114 birds (40-73 days old) and a DNA analysis, using PCR amplification, was carried out for sex identification. A forward stepwise discriminant analysis was performed to build the best explanatory discriminant models, which were subsequently validated using statistics and external samples. Results Our best discriminant function retained forearm and tarsus as the best predictor variables and classified 95.1% of the sample correctly, supported also by external cross-validations with both hacked and free-living birds. Moreover, a discriminant function with only forearm as predictor showed a similar high correct classification power (93.4%). Conclusions These discriminant functions can be used as a reliable and immediate method for sex determination of young Ospreys since they showed high discriminant accuracy, close to that of molecular procedures, and were supported by external cross-validations, both for free-living and hacked birds. Thus, these morphometric measurements should be considered as standard tools for future scientific studies and management of Osprey populations. © 2010 British Trust for Ornithology.Peer Reviewe

Using manipulation of density-dependent fecundity to recover an endangered species: the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus as an example

1. Endangered species subjected to reintroduction programmes often occur as small and isolated populations with local high density and depressed fecundity. Variation in territory quality may lead to this low fecundity owing to increasing occupation of suboptimal territories as population density grows, known as the habitat heterogeneity hypothesis (HHH). In this context, food supplementation in poor territories may be used to produce extra young which could be allocated to reintroduction programmes. 2. We analyse the density-dependent fecundity pattern and the underlying mechanism in a small population of bearded vultures Gypaetus barbatus in Aragón (northeast Spain). We then use population simulations to examine the viability of a hypothetical reintroduction programme using extra young produced by supplementary feeding on poor-quality territories and the effect on the donor population. We also compare the economic cost of such a reintroduction programme in relation to the cost of a traditional captive breeding programme. 3. The wild population showed clear negative, density-dependent fecundity regulation driven by the HHH mechanism. Simulations showed that extractions for translocations had no relevant long-term effects on the donor population viability, but a marked population reduction during the extraction period. However, the implementation of supplementary feeding to produce extra young for translocation lessened significantly this expected initial population reduction. 4. Analyses showed that the annual budget of a captive breeding programme for this species could be seven times more expensive than the translocation of extra young produced by food supplementation. 5. Synthesis and applications. Reintroduction programmes based on translocation of wild-reared individuals, after a supplementary feeding programme oriented to poor-quality territories, provide a source of young at least seven times cheaper than those from captive breeding programmes. The use of this approach would decrease initial effects on donor population avoiding public criticism. Increasing the number of young released during the first years of the reintroduction decreases total financial cost and increases the final population size in the new area

Model of an openable Faraday-effect hybrid-current optical transducer based on a square-shaped structure with internal mirror

A new type of clamp-on magneto-optical current transducer based on the Faraday effect is presented. It is openable, hybrid, and square-shaped, and it has an internal mirror that allows the current sensitivity to improve and the effects of the optical activity and temperature-dependent linear birefringence to be rejected. The design and the simulated behavior of the proposed device are described and compared with the conventional (no mirror) transducer

Arrays de sensores interferométricos recirculantes de fibra óptica

Two discrete interferometric sensors' arrays have been analysed from time división multiplexing of recirculating crossed loop structures based on singlemode optical fiber. Intensity impulsive responses for both arrays have been obtained and compared under different design considerations, calculating Ihe system coupling constants, signial to interference noise ratio, input pulse repetition rate and duty cycle for each case. First experimental results are shown in this paper and very simple temperature and pressure sensing applicalions are suggested from here

Aplicación de tres tipos de abonos orgánicos en el cultivo de moringa (Moringa oleífera) en el Centro de Investigaciones Sacha Wiwa.

La investigación se realizó en la Unidad Educativa Jatari Unancha, Centro de Investigaciones Sacha Wiwa, Parroquia Guasaganda, Cantón La Maná, con el objetivo de evaluar la aplicación de tres tipos de abonos orgánicos con el fin de conocer el comportamiento agronómico de moringa (Moringa oleífera). Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completamente al azar (DBCA) con cuatro tratamientos y cinco repeticiones con 10 unidades experimentales por repetición un total de 200 plantas evaluadas. Los tratamientos estuvieron compuestos por T0 = (Testigo). T1 = (Biol de Espirulina) (250 ml), T2 = (Gallinaza) (200 g) y T3 = (Humus de Lombriz) (200 g), las variables en estudio se tomaron a los 30, 45, 60, 75, y 90 días, altura de planta (cm), diámetro de tallo (cm), número de ramas, y número de hojas. El mejor promedio para altura de planta lo obtuvo el tratamiento humus de lombriz a los 45,60, 75 y 90 días con los siguientes valores 73,28 cm, 127,60 cm, 151,80 cm, 163,76 cm; el mejor promedio para diámetro de tallo lo registro el tratamiento gallinaza mejorada a los 60, 75 y 90 días 5,15 cm, 5,62 cm y 6,19 cm respectivamente; el mayor número de ramas se reportó a los 60 días 20 ramas con gallinaza; para la variable número de hojas el tratamiento fue superior en los 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 y 90 días 25, 39, 65, 90 109 y 119 hojas; la muestra proporcionada para el análisis bromatológico de las hojas de moringa reportaron un 26,03% y para fibra 6,68%. Se realizó un análisis foliar al final del ensayo para conocer la composición de los macronutrientes en la hoja de moringa, el ensayo se complementó con un análisis de suelo al inicio para conocer en qué estado se encontraban los macro y micronutrientes y otro al final.La investigación se realizó en la Unidad Educativa Jatari Unancha, Centro de Investigaciones Sacha Wiwa, Parroquia Guasaganda, Cantón La Maná, con el objetivo de evaluar la aplicación de tres tipos de abonos orgánicos con el fin de conocer el comportamiento agronómico de moringa (Moringa oleífera). Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completamente al azar (DBCA) con cuatro tratamientos y cinco repeticiones con 10 unidades experimentales por repetición un total de 200 plantas evaluadas. Los tratamientos estuvieron compuestos por T0 = (Testigo). T1 = (Biol de Espirulina) (250 ml), T2 = (Gallinaza) (200 g) y T3 = (Humus de Lombriz) (200 g), las variables en estudio se tomaron a los 30, 45, 60, 75, y 90 días, altura de planta (cm), diámetro de tallo (cm), número de ramas, y número de hojas. El mejor promedio para altura de planta lo obtuvo el tratamiento humus de lombriz a los 45,60, 75 y 90 días con los siguientes valores 73,28 cm, 127,60 cm, 151,80 cm, 163,76 cm; el mejor promedio para diámetro de tallo lo registro el tratamiento gallinaza mejorada a los 60, 75 y 90 días 5,15 cm, 5,62 cm y 6,19 cm respectivamente; el mayor número de ramas se reportó a los 60 días 20 ramas con gallinaza; para la variable número de hojas el tratamiento fue superior en los 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 y 90 días 25, 39, 65, 90 109 y 119 hojas; la muestra proporcionada para el análisis bromatológico de las hojas de moringa reportaron un 26,03% y para fibra 6,68%. Se realizó un análisis foliar al final del ensayo para conocer la composición de los macronutrientes en la hoja de moringa, el ensayo se complementó con un análisis de suelo al inicio para conocer en qué estado se encontraban los macro y micronutrientes y otro al final

On the Role of Dendritic Cells in Peripheral T Cell Tolerance and Modulation of Autoimmunity

Recently, it has become clear that dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for the priming of T cell responses. However, their role in the maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance remains largely undefined. Herein, an antigen-presenting cell (APC) transfer system was devised and applied to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), to evaluate the contribution that DCs play in peripheral T cell tolerance. The CD8α−CD4+ subset, a minor population among splenic DCs, was found to mediate both tolerance and bystander suppression against diverse T cell specificities. Aggregated (agg) Ig-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), an Ig chimera carrying the MOG 35–55 peptide, binds and cross-links FcγR on APC leading to efficient peptide presentation and interleukin (IL)-10 production. Furthermore, administration of agg Ig-MOG into diseased mice induces relief from clinical EAE involving multiple epitopes. Such recovery could not occur in FcγR-deficient mice where both uptake of Ig-MOG and IL-10 production are compromised. However, reconstitution of these mice with DC populations incorporating the CD8α−CD4+ subset restored Ig-MOG–mediated reversal of EAE. Transfer of CD8α+ or even CD8α−CD4− DCs had no effect on the disease. These findings strongly implicate DCs in peripheral tolerance and emphasize their functional potency, as a small population of DCs was able to support effective suppression of autoimmunity