292 research outputs found
LymPHOS 2.0: An update of a phosphosite database of primary human T cells
LymPHOS is a web-oriented database containing peptide and protein sequences and spectrometric information on the phosphoproteome of primary human T-Lymphocytes.
Current release 2.0 contains 15 566 phosphorylation sites from 8273 unique phosphopeptides and 4937 proteins, which correspond to a 45-fold increase over the original database description. It now includes quantitative data on phosphorylation changes after time-dependent treatment with activators of the TCR-mediated signal transduction
pathway. Sequence data quality has also been improved with the use of multiple search engines for database searching. LymPHOS can be publicly accessed at http://www.lymphos.org.This work was supported by project BIO2013-46492R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. T.D.N. was supported by a cooperation agreement between the Spanish National Research Council and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (grant 2012VN0003). The CSIC/UAB Proteomics Facility belongs to ProteoRed and is partially funded by grants PT13/001 and PT13/008 from PRB2-ISCIII.Peer Reviewe
Reforestación con arbustos para favorecer la conectividad ecológica en el Corredor Verde del Guadiamar
Se propone un diseño de restauración ecológica cuya función específica es fomentar la
conectividad regional de un agrosistema (que ha sido contaminado con lodos mineros y
posteriormente remediado) para múltiples especies de fauna forestal a través del Paisaje
Protegido del Corredor Verde del Guadiamar, Sevilla. La propuesta se basa en el principio de
aumentar la heterogeneidad espacial de la vegetación a varias escalas, tanto desde el punto de
vista estructural como de diversidad de especies, para tratar de facilitar el aumento de
especies animales que de ella dependen y la conectividad del conjunto. Para ello se ha
diseñado un sistema de plantación de leñosas arbustivas en forma de parches discretos,
distribuidos espacialmente en los herbazales regenerados espontáneamente en la zona
inundable del río tras el episodio de contaminación y posterior recuperación de los suelos. Se
plantean tres cuestiones para contrastar la capacidad real del modelo de reforestación para
satisfacer los objetivos de conservación: 1) Comprobar si el diseño y ejecución de la
plantación son adecuados para producir una vegetación estructurada, diversa y que ofrezca un
hábitat de calidad para las especies de fauna forestal. 2) Comprobar si el aumento de la
diversidad florística (en especies leñosas) se refleja en un aumento de la diversidad de
especies animales. 3) Comprobar si el cambio en la cantidad y disposición espacial de la
vegetación leñosa favorece la conectividad para las especies de fauna forestal. En este trabajo
se presentan algunos resultados preliminares obtenidos a varias escalas: a) En una parcela
piloto de 15 ha donde se han plantado 14.668 plantas de 16 especies autóctonas sobre la que
se ha realizado un seguimiento de su supervivencia y crecimiento durante los tres primeros
años. b) Estudios extensivos en zonas de diferente cobertura arbustiva (plantaciones de hace
7-9 años) a lo largo del Corredor Verde del Guadiamar y en fragmentos forestales vecinos. c)
Resultados preliminares sobre el uso que están haciendo de estos parches algunas especies de
mamíferos, así como de los movimientos de una especie de mariposa entre fragmentos
Reforestación con arbustos para favorecer la conectividad ecológica en el Corredor Verde del Guadiamar
Se propone un diseño de restauración ecológica cuya función específica es fomentar la
conectividad regional de un agrosistema (que ha sido contaminado con lodos mineros y
posteriormente remediado) para múltiples especies de fauna forestal a través del Paisaje
Protegido del Corredor Verde del Guadiamar, Sevilla. La propuesta se basa en el principio de
aumentar la heterogeneidad espacial de la vegetación a varias escalas, tanto desde el punto de
vista estructural como de diversidad de especies, para tratar de facilitar el aumento de
especies animales que de ella dependen y la conectividad del conjunto. Para ello se ha
diseñado un sistema de plantación de leñosas arbustivas en forma de parches discretos,
distribuidos espacialmente en los herbazales regenerados espontáneamente en la zona
inundable del río tras el episodio de contaminación y posterior recuperación de los suelos. Se
plantean tres cuestiones para contrastar la capacidad real del modelo de reforestación para
satisfacer los objetivos de conservación: 1) Comprobar si el diseño y ejecución de la
plantación son adecuados para producir una vegetación estructurada, diversa y que ofrezca un
hábitat de calidad para las especies de fauna forestal. 2) Comprobar si el aumento de la
diversidad florística (en especies leñosas) se refleja en un aumento de la diversidad de
especies animales. 3) Comprobar si el cambio en la cantidad y disposición espacial de la
vegetación leñosa favorece la conectividad para las especies de fauna forestal. En este trabajo
se presentan algunos resultados preliminares obtenidos a varias escalas: a) En una parcela
piloto de 15 ha donde se han plantado 14.668 plantas de 16 especies autóctonas sobre la que
se ha realizado un seguimiento de su supervivencia y crecimiento durante los tres primeros
años. b) Estudios extensivos en zonas de diferente cobertura arbustiva (plantaciones de hace
7-9 años) a lo largo del Corredor Verde del Guadiamar y en fragmentos forestales vecinos. c)
Resultados preliminares sobre el uso que están haciendo de estos parches algunas especies de
mamíferos, así como de los movimientos de una especie de mariposa entre fragmentos
Using self-organizing maps to investigate environmental factors regulating colony size and breeding success of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
We studied variations in the size of breeding colonies and in breeding performance of White Storks Ciconia ciconia in 2006–2008 in north-east Algeria. Each colony site was characterized using 12 environmental variables describing the physical environment, land-cover categories, and human activities, and by three demographic parameters: the number of breeding pairs, the number of pairs with chicks, and the number of fledged chicks per pair. Generalized linear mixed models and the self-organizing map algorithm (SOM, neural network) were used to investigate effects of biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors on demographic parameters and on their relationships. Numbers of breeding pairs and of pairs with chicks were affected by the same environmental factors, mainly anthropogenic, which differed from those affecting the number of fledged chicks per pair. Numbers of fledged chicks per pair was not affected by colony size or by the number of nests with chicks. The categorization of the environmental variables into natural and anthropogenic, in connection with demographic parameters, was relevant to detect factors explaining variation in colony size and breeding parameters. The SOM proved a relevant tool to help determine actual dynamics in White Stork colonies, and thus to support effective conservation decisions at a regional scale
Significant reductions of host abundance weakly impact infection intensity of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Infectious diseases are considered major threats to biodiversity, however strategies to mitigate their impacts in the natural world are scarce and largely unsuccessful. Chytridiomycosis is responsible for the decline of hundreds of amphibian species worldwide, but an effective disease management strategy that could be applied across natural habitats is still lacking. In general amphibian larvae can be easily captured, offering opportunities to ascertain the impact of altering the abundance of hosts, considered to be a key parameter affecting the severity of the disease. Here, we report the results of two experiments to investigate how altering host abundance affects infection intensity in amphibian populations of a montane area of Central Spain suffering from lethal amphibian chytridiomycosis. Our laboratory-based experiment supported the conclusion that varying density had a significant effect on infection intensity when salamander larvae were housed at low densities. Our field experiment showed that reducing the abundance of salamander larvae in the field also had a significant, but weak, impact on infection the following year, but only when removals were extreme. While this suggests adjusting host abundance as a mitigation strategy to reduce infection intensity could be useful, our evidence suggests only heavy culling efforts will succeed, which may run contrary to objectives for conservation
Monitoring the processing of dry fermented sausages with a portable NIRS device
This work studies the ability of a MicroNIR (VIAVI, Santa Rosa, CA) device to monitor the dry fermented sausage process with the use of multivariate data analysis. Thirty sausages were made and subjected to dry fermentation, which was divided into four main stages. Physicochemical (weight lost, pH, moisture content, water activity, color, hardness, and thiobarbiruric reactive substances analysis) and sensory (quantitative descriptive analysis) characterizations of samples on different steps of the ripening process were performed. Near-infrared (NIR) spectra (950–1650 nm) were taken throughout the process at three points of the samples. Physicochemical data were explored by distance to K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) cluster analysis, while NIR spectra were studied by partial least square–discriminant analysis; before these models, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed in both databases. The results of multivariate data analysis showed the ability to monitor and classify the different stages of ripening process (mainly the fermentation and drying steps). This study showed that a portable NIR device (MicroNIR) is a nondestructive, simple, noninvasive, fast, and cost-effective tool with the ability to monitor the dry fermented sausage processing and to classify samples as a function of the stage, constituting a feasible decision method for sausages to progress to the following processing stage
Development of Volatile Compounds during Hydrolysis of Porcine Hemoglobin with Papain
There is a growing market for the use of hydrolysates from animal side-streams for production of high-protein supplements. However, there can be issues with development of off-flavors, either due to the raw material in question or due to the hydrolysis process itself. This study examined the development of volatile compounds during hydrolysis of hemoglobin. Briefly, porcine hemoglobin was hydrolyzed by 0.5% papain for up to 5 h, and the development of volatile compounds was analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that there was significant development of a number of volatile compounds with time, e.g., certain Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation products, which are likely candidates for the aroma development during hydrolysis. Furthermore, it was shown that development of a number of the volatiles was due to the hydrolysis process, as these compounds were not found in a control without enzyme
A versatile development platform for odor monitoring systems
The measurement of odors offers a high potential for non-destructive, on-line, real-time quality monitoring of many different products, such as food and cosmetics. Although numerous laboratory devices are capable of such odor measurements, required laboratory background and trained workers prevent the widespread use of such devices in the industry and in public. Hence, cheap and commercial instrumental odor monitoring systems (IOMSs) are needed. To ensure a timely and cost-effective experience during the development of such IOMSs, a gas chromatography selective odorant measurement sensor array (GC-SOMSA) combining three detector ports (a mass spectrometer, an odor detection port, and a sensor chamber) is set up as an element of a structured development concept for IOMSs. This device is tested with a commercially available sensor and spiked sunflower oils, which emulate odor-active oxidation of fatty oils that occur during oil aging in food or cosmetics. The sensor was able to detect pentane (4 µL 100 mL−1) and the odor-active oxidation markers hexanal (1.4 µL 100 mL−1) and octanal (8.2 µL 100 mL−1) within a sunflower oil matrix. When applying different sensor temperatures, the sensor was able to detect a more intense signal for hexanal than for pentane at 250 °C. Furthermore, it was found that the (siloxane) protective membrane of the sensor discriminates between different molecules. This has an influence on the synchronicity of the detectors by adding a possible time offset to the sensor signals. This offset could be considered by forming the first derivative of the sensor signal. The odor detection port measurements revealed a weak odor impression at calculated target concentrations. For 10 and 100 times higher concentrations, hexanal (grassy) and octanal (citrus-like) could be detected. All three detectors were in parallel, and odor impressions could be assigned to mass spectrometer and sensor peaks. Thus, the sensor could be characterized sufficiently and is suitable for detecting odor-active compounds in the fat oxidation of a fatty matrix. The GC-SOMSA can be used in the future as an element of a structured IOMS development concept since it can be extended to a wide range of applications for rapid sensor characterization and, due to the flexible design of the sensor chamber, for many different sensors.</p
Design and Acoustic Performance of Building Constructions for Multi-Storey Housing: Compendium
This chapter provides an overview of the range of construction types found across Europe to meet various sound insulation requirements for separating (party) walls and floors. The typical construction system, material properties and key influencing factors are described.
The historic nature of sound insulation regulations in each country has led to developments in improvements to the types of constructions. More recently with the advent of stronger sustainability measures and resource efficiency of materials many countries have seen an increase in the use of light-weight structures, such as using timber frame.
The chapter provides details on typical performances for a variety of acoustic descriptors and is a useful reference chapter for architects, acousticians, house-builders, researchers and government departments or local authorities dealing with building standards for sound insulation in housing.
Detailed information on acoustic performance of typical building solutions found all around Europe, can be found in volume 2 of this e book, where the 29 European COST TU0901 countries (plus Australia and New Zealand) have included a specific chapter, which will be referred to as “Country Chapters” hereinafte
Does Day Length Affect Winter Bird Distribution? Testing the Role of an Elusive Variable
Differences in day length may act as a critical factor in bird biology by introducing time constraints in energy acquisition during winter. Thus, differences in day length might operate as a main determinant of bird abundance along latitudinal gradients. This work examines the influence of day length on the abundance of wintering crested tits (Lophophanes cristatus) in 26 localities of Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera) dwarf woodlands (average height of 5 m) located along a latitudinal gradient in the Spanish highlands, while controlling for the influence of food availability, minimum night temperature, habitat structure and landscape characteristics. Top regression models in the AIC framework explained 56% of variance in bird numbers. All models incorporated day length as the variable with the highest magnitude effect. Food availability also played an important role, although only the crop of ripe juniper fruits, but not arthropods, positively affected crested tit abundance. Differences in vegetation structure across localities had also a strong positive effect (average tree height and juniper tree density). Geographical variation in night temperature had no influence on crested tit distribution, despite the low winter temperatures reached in these dwarf forests. This paper demonstrates for the first time that winter bird abundance increases with day length after controlling for the effect of other environmental variables. Winter average difference in day length was only 10.5 minutes per day along the 1°47′ latitudinal interval (190 km) included in this study. This amount of time, which reaches 13.5 h accumulated throughout the winter season, appears to be large enough to affect the long-term energy budget of small passerines during winter and to shape the distribution of winter bird abundance under restrictive environmental conditions
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