355 research outputs found
Who leads Research Productivity Change? Guidelines for R&D policy makers
Relying on efficiency analysis we evaluate to what extent policy makers have been able to promote the establishment of consolidated and comprehensive research groups to contribute to the implementation of a successful innovation system for the Spanish food technology sector, oriented to the production of knowledge based on an application model. Using data envelopment analysis techniques and Malmquist productivity indices we find pervasive levels of inefficiency and a typology of different research strategies. Among these, in contrast to what has been assumed, established groups do not play the pre-eminent benchmarking role; rather, partially oriented, specialized and "shooting star" groups are the most common patterns. These results correspond with an infant innovation system, where the fostering of higher levels of efficiency and promotion of the desired research patterns are ongoing.Innovation Policy; Management; Productivity Change; Malmquist Index; Distance Function
Conformational transitions of membrane-bound HIV-1 fusion peptide
AbstractThe human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) fusion peptide (FP) functions as a non-constitutive membrane anchor that translocates into membranes during envelope glycoprotein-induced fusion. Here, by means of infrared spectroscopy (IR) and of various bilayer-perturbation assays, we describe the peptide conformations that are accessible to its membrane-bound state and the transitions occurring between them. The peptide underwent a conformational transition from a predominantly α-helical structure to extended β-type strands by increasing peptide concentration in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPG) vesicles. A comparable transition was observed at a fixed 1:100 peptide-to-lipid ratio when calcium was added to vesicles containing prebound α-helical peptide. Cation binding induced an increase in the amount of H-bonded carbonyls within the interfacial region of POPG. Calcium-promoted α→β conversion in membranes correlated with the closure of preformed lytic pores and took place in dispersed (nonaggregated) vesicles doped with poly(ethylene glycol)–lipid conjugates, showing that the conformational transition was independent of vesicle aggregation. We conclude that the target membrane conditions modulate the eventual structure adopted by the HIV-1 FP. Conformational polymorphism of the inserted peptide may contribute to the flexibility of the fusogenic complex during the fusion reaction cycle, and/or may be related to target membrane perturbation at the fusion locus
Spatio-temporal variability of bovine tuberculosis eradication in Spain (2006-2011)
A. Garcia-Saenz et al.In this study we analyzed the space–time variation of the risk of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle between 2006 and 2011. The results indicated that at country level, there were no significant temporal changes between years, but, at county level bTB evolution was more heterogeneous. In some counties, between some years, the prevalence and the incidence of the disease was higher as compared to the global rate in the rest of the counties of Spain. The analysis of potential risk factors indicated that both, a large number of movements from counties with high incidence (>1%), and presence of bullfighting cattle herds increased bTB risk. Red deer abundance, number of goats and number of mixed cattle-goat farms were not significantly associated with the prevalence/incidence of bTB.This research was supported by a Grant from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (AGL-2010-21098). PhD studies of Garcia-Saenz A, are funded by a FPI Grant from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (BES-2011-043628) and PhD studies of Guta S., are funded by Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID). Acevedo P., was supported by a Beatriu de Pinós fellowship funded by ‘Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Innovació, Universitats i Empresa’ of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the COFUND Programme – Marie Curie Actions under 7th Framework Programme of the European Community. He is currently funded from the SFRH/BPD/90320/2012 post-doctoral Grant by Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and European Social Fund.Peer Reviewe
A Holistic and Interoperable Approach towards the Implementation of Services for the Digital Transformation of Smart Cities: The Case of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
Cities in the 21st century play a major role in the sustainability and climate impact reduction challenges set by the European agenda. As the population of cities grows and their environmental impact becomes more evident, the European strategy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—the main cause of climate change. Measures to reduce the impact of climate change include reducing energy consumption, improving mobility, harnessing resources and renewable energies, integrating nature-based solutions and efficiently managing infrastructure. The monitoring and control of all this activity is essential for its proper functioning. In this context, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a key role in the digitisation, monitoring, and managing of these different verticals. Urban data platforms support cities on extracting Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in their efforts to make better decisions. Cities must be transformed by applying efficient urban planning measures and taking into account not only technological aspects, but also by applying a holistic vision in building solutions where citizens are at the centre. In addition, standardisation of platforms where applications are integrated as one is necessary. This requires interoperability between different verticals. This article presents the information platform developed for the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. The platform is based on the UNE 178104 standard to provide a holistic architecture that integrates information from the different urban planning measures implemented in the city. The platform was constructed in the context of the SmartEnCity project following the urban transformation strategy established by the city. The article presents the value-added solutions implemented in the platform. These solutions have been developed by applying co-creation techniques in which stakeholders have been involved throughout the process. The platform proposes a step forward towards standardization, harmonises the integration of data from multiple vertical, provides interoperability between services, and simplifies scalability and replicability due to its microservice architecture.This work has been supported by the Department of Education, Universities, and Research of the Basque Government under the projects Ikerketa Taldeak (Software and Systems Engineering research group of Mondragon Unibertsitatea) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the project SmartEnCity with the grant agreement no. 691883
Paleovegetación durante la Edad del Bronce en la Rioja alavesa: Análisis palinológico del yacimiento de Peña Parda ( Laguardia, Álava)
En este trabajo se presenta el estudio palinológico del yacimiento de Peña Parda (Laguardia,
Álava). Los resultados obtenidos, en las 13 muestras estudiadas, han aportado interesantes datos sobre el
paisaje vegetal existente en la vertiente sur de la Sierra de Cantabria durante la Edad del Bronce, así como sobre
las evidencias de antropización
OLIVACOTYLE HEMANTHIASI N. GEN. N. SP. (MONOGENEA: DICLIDOPHORIDAE) DE LAS BRANQUIAS DE LA CABRILLA DONCELLA HEMANTHIAS SIGNIFER (GARMAN, 1899) (TELEOSTEI: SERRANIDAE) EN EL OCÉANO PACÍFICO DE AMÉRICA DEL SUR
Un nuevo género y especie de Monogenea, Olivacotyle hemanthiasi n. gen., n. sp., se proponen para acomodar especímenes colectados de las branquias de la cabrilla doncella Hemanthias signifer (Garman, 1899) (Serranidae) en el Perú, Océano Pacífico Sudamericano (45°54'S, 81°05'W). Si bien es un miembro de Diclidophorinae Cerfontaine, 1895 que incluye parásitos de teleósteos marinos, O. hemanthiasi n. sp. difiere de los otros 15 miembros de esta subfamilia por la combinación de las siguientes seis características: (1) pinzas haptorales con la esclerita anteromedial y una esclerita anterolateral fusionadas formando un anillo, la otra esclerita anterolateral no fusionada con ninguna esclerita del cuadrante anterior interno, extensión lamelar parcialmente reducida y escleritas posterolateral distal no fusionadas distalmente; (2) pinzas dispuestas en semicírculo alrededor del borde posterior del haptor; (3) testículos extendiéndose hacia el haptor; (4) vagina ausente; (5) receptáculo seminal bien desarrollado; y (6) vesícula prostática ausente
Influence of the structural components of artificial turf systems on impact attenuation in amateur football players
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the infuence of the structural components of diferent 3rd generation artifcial turf football feld systems on the biomechanical response of impact attenuation in amateur football players. A total of 12 amateur football players (24.3±3.7 years, 73.5±5.5kg, 178.3±4.1cm and 13.7±4.3 years of sport experience) were evaluated on three third generation artifcial turf systems (ATS) with diferent structural components. ATS were composed of asphalt subbase and 45mm of fbre height with (ATS1) and without (ATS2) elastic layer or compacted granular sub-base, 60mm of fbre height without elastic layer (ATS3). Two triaxial accelerometers were frmly taped to the forehead and the distal end of the right tibia of each individual. The results reveal a higher force reduction on ATS3 in comparison to ATS1 (+6.24%, CI95%: 1.67 to 10.92, ES: 1.07; p<0.05) and ATS2 (+21.08%, CI95%: 16.51 to 25.66, ES: 2.98; p<0.05) elastic layer. Tibia acceleration rate was lower on ATS3 than ATS1 (−0.32, CI95%: −0.60 to −0.03, ES: 4.23; p<0.05) and ATS2 (−0.35, CI95%: −0.64 to −0.06; ES: 4.69; p<0.05) at 3.3m/s. A very large correlation (r=0.7 to 0.9; p<0.05) was found between energy restitution and fbre height in both head and tibial peak acceleration and stride time. In conclusion, structural components (fbre height, infll, sub-base and elastic layer) determine the mechanical properties of artifcial turf felds. A higher force reduction and lower energy restitution diminished the impact received by the player which could protect against injuries associated with impacts compared to harder artifcial turf surfaces
Cerebrospinal fluid Presenilin-1 increases at asymptomatic stage in genetically determined Alzheimer’s disease
[Background] Presenilin-1 (PS1), the active component of the intramembrane γ-secretase complex, can be detected as soluble heteromeric aggregates in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of this study was to examine the different soluble PS1 complexes in the lumbar CSF (CSF-PS1) of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), particularly in both symptomatic and asymptomatic genetically determined AD, in order to evaluate their potential as early biomarkers.[Methods] Western blotting, differential centrifugation and co-immunoprecipitation served to determine and characterize CSF-PS1 complexes. We also monitored the assembly of soluble PS1 into complexes in a cell model, and the participation of Aβ in the dynamics and robustness of the stable PS1 complexes.[Results] There was an age-dependent increase in CSF-PS1 levels in cognitively normal controls, the different complexes represented in similar proportions. The total levels of CSF-PS1, and in particular the proportion of the stable 100–150 kDa complexes, increased in subjects with autosomal dominant AD that carried PSEN1 mutations (eight symptomatic and six asymptomatic ADAD) and in Down syndrome individuals (ten demented and ten non-demented DS), compared with age-matched controls (n = 23), even prior to the appearance of symptoms of dementia. The proportion of stable CSF-PS1 complexes also increased in sporadic AD (n = 13) and mild-cognitive impaired subjects (n = 12), relative to age-matched controls (n = 17). Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated the association of Aβ oligomers with soluble PS1 complexes, particularly the stable complexes.[Conclusions] Our data suggest that CSF-PS1 complexes may be useful as an early biomarker for AD, reflecting the pathology at asymptomatic state.This study was funded in part by the EU BIOMARKAPD-Joint Programming on Neurodegenerative Diseases (JPND) project, by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII grants PI11/03026 to JSV, PI11/02425 and PI14/01126 to JF, PI11/03035 and PI14/1561 to AL, PI08/0036 and PI12/00013 to RSV, and PI11/03023 to JLM), co-financed by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, under the aegis of JPND, and through CIBERNED, ISCIII. This work was also supported by the Fundació Catalana de Síndrome de Down and by a “Marató TV3” grant (20141210 to JF) and a grant from the Griffols Foundation. The funding bodies played no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, or the preparation of the manuscript. We also acknowledge the support for the publication fee to the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).Peer reviewe
Climatic and lacustrine morphometric controls of diatom paleoproductivity in a tropical Andean lake
15 páginas, 6 figuras, 1 tablaThe coupling of lake dynamics with catchment biogeochemistry is considered the key element controlling primary production in mountain lakes at time scales of a few decades to millennia, yet little is known on the impacts of the morphometry of lakes throughout their ontogeny. As Lake Chungará (Central Andean Altiplano, northern Chile) experienced long-term lake-level fluctuations that strongly modified its area:volume ratio, it is an ideal system for exploring the relative roles that long-term climatic shifts and lake morphometry play on biosiliceous lacustrine productivity. In this paper, we review previous data on the percent contents of total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, total nitrogen, total biogenic silica, isotopic composition of organic matter, carbonates, and diatom frustules, as well as data on the abundance of the chlorophycean Botryococcus braunii in this lake for the period 12,400–1300 cal yr BP. We also include new data on organic carbon and biogenic silica mass accumulation rates and the diatom assemblage composition of an offshore core dated using 14C and U/Th.
Biosiliceous productivity in Lake Chungará was influenced by shifts in allochthonous nutrient inputs related to variability in precipitation. Humid phases dated at approx. 12,400 to 10,000 and 9600 to 7400 cal yr BP coincide with periods of elevated productivity, whereas decreases in productivity were recorded during arid phases dated at approx. 10,000 to 9600 and 7400 to 3550 cal yr BP (Andean mid-Holocene Aridity Period). However, morphometry-related in–lake controls led to a lack of a linear response of productivity to precipitation variability. During the late Glacial to early Holocene, lowstands facilitated complete water column mixing, prompting episodic massive blooms of a large centric diatom, Cyclostephanos cf. andinus. Thus, moderate productivity could be maintained, regardless of aridity, by this phenomenon of morphometric eutrophy during the early history of the lake. The subsequent net increase in lake level introduced modifications in the area of the epilimnion sediments versus the total volume of the epilimnion, preventing complete overturn. Surpassing a certain depth threshold at approx. 8300 cal yr BP caused cessation of the morphometric eutrophy conditions associated with Cyclostephanos cf. andinus superblooms. After 7300 cal yr BP, the lake experienced a decrease in biosiliceous productivity and a change of state that involved a stronger dependence on precipitation variability, with a lesser contribution of diatoms to the total primary productivity. Our results show that the interpretation of lacustrine paleoproductivity records as paleoclimatic archives needs to take into account the effects of changes in the epilimnion sediment area to epilimnion volume ratio in association with lake ontogenyThe Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation funded this research through the projects ANDESTER (BTE2001-3225), Complementary Action (BTE2001-5257-E), LAVOLTER (CGL2004-00683/BTE), GEOBILA (CGL2007-60932/BTE) and CONSOLIDER-Ingenio 2010 GRACCIE (CSD2007-00067)Peer reviewe
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