Quality of geographic information - simple concept made complex by the context

Geographic information is increasingly being shared by many users across different fields and applications. Due to the new, widely available and easy-to-use data collection instruments and information publishing facilities the reliability of data, which is tightly coupled with its quality becomes of paramount interest. The notion of data quality is being transformed ¿ in addition to addressing the a priori requirements for data production the need for reporting the fitness for use has opened a new approach. The latter is especially pertinent in the context of Spatial Data and Information Infrastructures (SDIs). Even though the term data quality seems to be trivial, its discussion is rather difficult because of the assumptions, incoherent use of terminology and the diverging points of view. The paper will enlighten aspects of data quality from point of view of users and data producers both in the context of data production and SDIs emphasising similarities and differences. A possible way of dealing with data quality in SDIs will be described using the example of INSPIREJRC.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure

Effects of Progesterone and Its Antagonist Mifepristone on Progesterone Receptor A Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Effects of female steroid hormones on endothelial cells are gaining increased importance due to several studies on the effects of hormonal treatment on cardiovascular risk. Recent data argue for an improvement of endothelium-derived relaxation and impaired vascular contraction by estradiol, whereas progesterone and testosterone might entail contrary effects. So far, gestagenic influence on endothelial cell physiology is poorly understood. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to the female sex hormones estradiol and progesterone show expression of estrogen receptor-beta (ER beta) and progesterone receptor A (PR-A), and are negative for ER alpha and PR-B. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and stimulation of PR-A and -B in HUVECs after stimulation with progesterone and PR antagonists that are commercially available. PR-B expression or upregulation was abrogated after application of progesterone or antagonists to HUVECs. Expression of PR-A could be significantly upregulated with progesterone and mifepristone. Unexpectedly, stimulation with the progesterone antagonist RU486 (mifepristone) was accomplished by an upregulation of PR-A expression in our study. We conclude that gestagenic effects on HUVECs independent of modulators are mediated via the PR-A. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

Quantum non-demolition measurement enables macroscopic Leggett-Garg tests

We show how a test of macroscopic realism based on Leggett-Garg inequalities (LGIs) can be performed in a macroscopic system. Using a continuous-variable approach, we consider quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements applied to atomic ensembles undergoing magnetically-driven coherent oscillation. We identify measurement schemes requiring only Gaussian states as inputs and giving a significant LGI violation with realistic experimental parameters and imperfections. The predicted violation is shown to be due to true quantum effects rather than to a classical invasivity of the measurement. Using QND measurements to tighten the "clumsiness loophole" forces the stubborn macrorealist to re-create quantum back action in his or her account of measurement

VIBCO Bin Variation System

VIBCO vibrators has tasked the team in designing an internal bin fixture that aids in material flow for the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. This bin fixture must be adaptable to various sized diameter bins in order to create a cost efficient product that does not require the customer to make any physical changes to their bin. Lastly the internal fixture must be capable of raising and lowering in a way that gives the customer the ability to control material flow. The team began research on competitor systems that are currently on the market in this industry. After completing this research, it was determined that all of the competitor systems require the customer to make physical changes to their bin in order to implement the system. This being said it was imperative that the team design an internal fixture that can be easily installed without requiring the customer to edit their bin. From here design specifications were determined and discussed with the VIBCO engineering team to ensure that all of the bases were covered. In order to complete this task, the team began with brainstorming in order to determine some basic design specifications that would guide our 90 concepts generated. After analyzing each of the 90 concepts and a critical design review, two concepts were created by integrating and incorporating many elements of the entire spectrum of concept solutions. From here the team furthered research on different materials that would be strong, light weight, cost efficient, and high-corrosive resistant. After determining the different materials design work was furthered and a Solidworks design of the full internal bin system was created. Before finalizing any Solidworks designs the team crosschecked once again the proposed design with the competitors to ensure that this had not been done before. After completing and simulating a model of the proposed design the team performed a financial analysis and determined we are well under competitor pricing once this design is in full production. All of our other design specifications were met but the team would continue to make improvements. Once the design had been approved by VIBCO, parts were ordered and the build portion of the project began. Testing of the system soon followed at VIBCO using a bin they had on site. With the testing and data collected, redesign and improvements were able to be made to the original prototype

Maternal and nourishment factors interact to influence offspring developmental trajectories in social wasps

The social and nutritional environments during early development have the potential to affect offspring traits, but the mechanisms and molecular underpinnings of these effects remain elusive. We used Polistes fuscatus paper wasps to dissect how maternally controlled factors (vibrational signals and nourishment) interact to induce different caste developmental trajectories in female offspring, leading to worker or reproductive (gyne) traits. We established a set of caste phenotype biomarkers in P. fuscatus females, finding that gyne-destined individuals had high expression of three caste-related genes hypothesized to have roles in diapause and mitochondrial metabolism. We then experimentally manipulated maternal vibrational signals (via artificial ‘antennal drumming’) and nourishment levels (via restricted foraging). We found that these caste-related biomarker genes were responsive to drumming, nourishment level or their interaction. Our results provide a striking example of the potent influence of maternal and nutritional effects in influencing transcriptional activity and developmental outcomes in offspring

Shared genes related to aggression, rather than chemical communication, are associated with reproductive dominance in paper wasps (Polistes metricus)

BackgroundIn social groups, dominant individuals may socially inhibit reproduction of subordinates using aggressive interactions or, in the case of highly eusocial insects, pheromonal communication. It has been hypothesized these two modes of reproductive inhibition utilize conserved pathways. Here, we use a comparative framework to investigate the chemical and genomic underpinnings of reproductive dominance in the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes metricus. Our goals were to first characterize transcriptomic and chemical correlates of reproductive dominance and second, to test whether dominance-associated mechanisms in paper wasps overlapped with aggression or pheromone-related gene expression patterns in other species. To explore whether conserved molecular pathways relate to dominance, we compared wasp transcriptomic data to previous studies of gene expression associated with pheromonal communication and queen-worker differences in honey bees, and aggressive behavior in bees, Drosophila, and mice. ResultsBy examining dominant and subordinate females from queen and worker castes in early and late season colonies, we found that cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and genome-wide patterns of brain gene expression were primarily associated with season/social environment rather than dominance status. In contrast, gene expression patterns in the ovaries were associated primarily with caste and ovary activation. Comparative analyses suggest genes identified as differentially expressed in wasp brains are not related to queen pheromonal communication or caste in bees, but were significantly more likely to be associated with aggression in other insects (bees, flies), and even a mammal (mice). ConclusionsThis study provides the first comprehensive chemical and molecular analysis of reproductive dominance in paper wasps. We found little evidence for a chemical basis for reproductive dominance in P. metricus, and our transcriptomic analyses suggest that different pathways regulate dominance in paper wasps and pheromone response in bees. Furthermore, there was a substantial impact of season/social environment on gene expression patterns, indicating the important role of external cues in shaping the molecular processes regulating behavior. Interestingly, genes associated with dominance in wasps were also associated with aggressive behavior in bees, solitary insects and mammals. Thus, genes involved in social regulation of reproduction in Polistes may have conserved functions associated with aggression in insects and other taxa