Relationships Between Macroinvertebrate Communities and Environmental Characteristics of Headwater Streams in Central Louisiana

Headwater streams are an integral part of any watershed system because they strongly influence the physical, chemical, and biological components of downstream reaches. Little information exists about macroinvertebrate community structure, spatiotemporal variation, or their relationships with environmental factors in low-gradient headwater streams of the subtropical coastal plain region in the Southern US. These headwater streams are typically slow moving, capable of accumulating large amounts of organic material, and often become intermittent during the dry season. Research is needed to understand the effects of these unique characteristics on stream health and ecology. This study aimed to determine aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure, identify spatial and seasonal patterns, and investigate relationships between the macroinvertebrate community and environmental variables in seasonally hypoxic, first- and second-order streams with varying flow permanence in a lowland subtropical watershed located in central Louisiana, USA. Eleven monitoring locations throughout the watershed were sampled twice over one year for macroinvertebrates and physicochemical parameters including velocity, wetted area, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled within a 160-m stream reach with a modified core sampler that was specially designed for the low-gradient system comprised. Seasonal and spatial differences between water quality characteristics, individual taxa, and biological metrics were determined. Correlation analysis detected seasonal differences in environmental variables that were related to abundances of individual taxa. Spring indicated by a positive correlation with total suspended solids and negatively with temperature and nitrate was positively associated with crustaceans and negatively associated with chironomids. Most notably, the burrowing mayfly, Hexagenia, was positively correlated to DO levels. Many of the metrics, including percent of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) taxa, differed between sites with varying DO levels and flow permanence. Surprisingly, analysis of variance did not detect seasonal differences among the metrics. This study is one of the first comprehensive assessment on macroinvertebrate communities with detailed hydrologic and water quality measurements in the headwaters of a low-gradient, subtropical watershed. The study supports the importance of recognizing stream permanence in water quality assessments. In addition, the determination of useful metrics for low-gradient, headwater streams are suggested for future research

A Process-Focused Method to Accelerate Sales Skill Development

Role-play scenarios have long been used for developing selling skills. This paper examines how role-play scenarios affect the learning process and proposes an innovative, process-focused method for accelerating skill development. Drawing insights from Cognitive Load Theory, it is hypothesized that complex role play scenarios—while perhaps more realistic—inhibit initial skill development. Alternatively, simpler scenarios make it possible to increase cognitive load germane to the selling process, and accelerate development of selling skills. A preliminary test of this hypothesis provides support for the process-focused method. The paper includes suggestions to further increase the effectiveness of the process-focused method

ANALYSIS OF THE QUALITY OF THE WHOLE JOURNEY (DOOR-TO-DOOR) PASSENGER EXPERIENCE

[EN] European cities increasingly face problems caused by transport and traffic. A key factor for all transport operators is the quality of the passenger experience as this particularly, affects the uptake of the service. A comprehensive study (METPEX FP7 EU project - www.metpex.eu) developed by a consortium of 16 European partners has analysed the quality of the whole journey (door-todoor) passenger experience, including private or individual forms transport and attending to specific need of users’ groups. For this purpose, a tool with a technological basis was used to collect data from 8 trial cities: Bucharest (Romania), Coventry (United Kingdom), Dublin (Ireland), Grevena (Greece), Rome (Italy), Stockholm (Sweden), Valencia (Spain) and Vilnius (Lithuania); and five FIA motorist networks countries. For a correct evaluation of quality experience, it was deployed a subset of key variables derived from the comprehensive set of potential satisfaction factors that were studied for each pilot city. In this paper, results of the travel experience are showed, including analysis of variables affecting behavior and feelings of passengersHerrero Tomás, MD.; González Viosca, E. (2016). ANALYSIS OF THE QUALITY OF THE WHOLE JOURNEY (DOOR-TO-DOOR) PASSENGER EXPERIENCE. En XII Congreso de ingeniería del transporte. 7, 8 y 9 de Junio, Valencia (España). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 2166-2174. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2015.4083OCS2166217

Syndromic features and mild cognitive impairment in mice with genetic reduction on p300 activity: Differential contribution of p300 and CBP to Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome etiology

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a complex autosomal-dominant disease characterized by mental and growth retardation and skeletal abnormalities. A majority of the individuals diagnosed with RSTS carry heterozygous mutation in the gene CREBBP, but a small percentage of cases are caused by mutations in EP300. To investigate the contribution of p300 to RSTS pathoetiology, we carried out a comprehensive and multidisciplinary characterization of p300+/- mice. These mice exhibited facial abnormalities and impaired growth, two traits associated to RSTS in humans. We also observed abnormal gait, reduced swimming speed, enhanced anxiety in the elevated plus maze, and mild cognitive impairment during the transfer task in the water maze. These analyses demonstrate that p300+/- mice exhibit phenotypes that are reminiscent of neurological traits observed in RSTS patients, but their comparison with previous studies on CBP deficient strains also indicates that, in agreement with the most recent findings in human patients, the activity of p300 in cognition is likely less relevant or more susceptible to compensation than the activity of CBP. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the European Commission grant MEXT-CT-2003-509550, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation Grants CSD2007-00023 and SAF2008-00611, and a grant from Fundación Ramón Areces. J.V. holds a fellowship from the Generalitat Valenciana and J.P.L.-A. a Juan de la Cierva contract supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.Peer Reviewe

CARONTE project: Creating an Agenda for Research on Transportation Security

[EN] Europe’s prosperity relies on effective transport systems. Any attacks and disturbances to land freight and passenger transport would have significant impact on economic growth, territorial cohesion, social development and the environment. Unfortunately, there are weaknesses in the land transport security.The objective of CARONTE project is define a future research agenda for security in land transport that focuses on core gaps caused by emerging risks while avoiding any doubling-up of research elsewhere. Its research agenda will cover all threats, including cyber-crime, and security aspects across all modes of land transportation. At the same time, it will respect the fundamental human rights and privacy of European citizens. The step-by-step method of CARONTE’s consortium has analyzed the state of the art and emerging risks; has identified gaps, analyses and assessments of potential solutions; and has produced an overall research agenda for the future. CARONTE’s results will answer the following questions among others: Which existing research projects merit a follow up and extension?Where are the combinations or synergy effects to be attended?Which themes and topics should be elaborated in new research projects?Who should be involved and integrated in future research projects (stakeholders, authorities, etc.)? The CARONTE consortium includes universities and research institutes, companies, and end-users providing with experience in research and consultancy in transportation, logistics, infrastructure management, security and communications. ITENE - Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística- has been one of the Project partners among a total of 11 members from eight different countries in the European Union which have also been supported via a High Level Advisory Board.León Bello, J.; Gonzalez Viosca, E. (2016). CARONTE project: Creating an Agenda for Research on Transportation Security. En XII Congreso de ingeniería del transporte. 7, 8 y 9 de Junio, Valencia (España). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1536-1544. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2015.3272OCS1536154

Nigerian scam e-mails and the charms of capital

So-called '419' or 'advance-fee' e-mail frauds have proved remarkably successful. Global losses to these scams are believed to run to billions of dollars. Although it can be assumed that the promise of personal gain which these e-mails hold out is part of what motivates victims, there is more than greed at issue here. How is it that the seemingly incredible offers given in these unsolicited messages can find an audience willing to treat them as credible? The essay offers a speculative thesis in answer to this question. Firstly, it is argued, these scams are adept at exploiting common presuppositions in British and American culture regarding Africa and the relationships that are assumed to exist between their nations and those in the global south. Secondly, part of the appeal of these e-mails lies in the fact that they appear to reveal the processes by which wealth is created and distributed in the global economy. They thus speak to their readers’ attempts to map or conceptualise the otherwise inscrutable processes of that economy. In the conclusion the essay looks at the contradictions in the official state response to this phenomena

Augmented visual feedback of movement performance to enhance walking recovery after stroke : study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial

Increasing evidence suggests that use of augmented visual feedback could be a useful approach to stroke rehabilitation. In current clinical practice, visual feedback of movement performance is often limited to the use of mirrors or video. However, neither approach is optimal since cognitive and self-image issues can distract or distress patients and their movement can be obscured by clothing or limited viewpoints. Three-dimensional motion capture has the potential to provide accurate kinematic data required for objective assessment and feedback in the clinical environment. However, such data are currently presented in numerical or graphical format, which is often impractical in a clinical setting. Our hypothesis is that presenting this kinematic data using bespoke visualisation software, which is tailored for gait rehabilitation after stroke, will provide a means whereby feedback of movement performance can be communicated in a more meaningful way to patients. This will result in increased patient understanding of their rehabilitation and will enable progress to be tracked in a more accessible way. The hypothesis will be assessed using an exploratory (phase II) randomised controlled trial. Stroke survivors eligible for this trial will be in the subacute stage of stroke and have impaired walking ability (Functional Ambulation Classification of 1 or more). Participants (n = 45) will be randomised into three groups to compare the use of the visualisation software during overground physical therapy gait training against an intensity-matched and attention-matched placebo group and a usual care control group. The primary outcome measure will be walking speed. Secondary measures will be Functional Ambulation Category, Timed Up and Go, Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment, Stroke Impact Scale-16 and spatiotemporal parameters associated with walking. Additional qualitative measures will be used to assess the participant's experience of the visual feedback provided in the study. Results from the trial will explore whether the early provision of visual feedback of biomechanical movement performance during gait rehabilitation demonstrates improved mobility outcomes after stroke and increased patient understanding of their rehabilitation

Functional principal component analysis as a new methodology for the analysis of the impact of two rehabilitation protocols in functional recovery after stroke

[EN] Background: This study addressed the problem of evaluating the effectiveness of two protocols of physiotherapy for functional recovery after stroke. In particular, the study explored the use of Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA), a multivariate data analysis in order to assess and clarify the process of regaining independence after stroke. Methods: A randomized double-blind controlled trial was performed. Thirteen subjects with residual hemiparesis after a single stroke episode were measured in both in- and outpatient settings at a district hospital. All subjects were able to walk before suffering the stroke and were hemodynamically stable within the first week after stroke. Control and target groups were treated with conventional physiotherapy for stroke, but specific techniques were added for treatment of the target group depending on patients' functional levels. Independence level was assessed with the Barthel Index (BI) throughout 7 evolution stages (hemodynamic stability, beginning of standing, beginning of physical therapy sessions in the physiotherapy ward and monthly assessment for 6 months after stroke). Results: FPCA was applied for data analysis. Statistically significant differences were found in the dynamics of the recovery process between the two physiotherapy protocols. The target group showed a trend of improvement six months after stroke that was not present in the control group. Conclusions: FPCA is a method which may be used to provide greater insight into the analysis of the rehabilitation process than that provided by conventional parametric methods. So, by using the whole curves as basic data parameters, subtle differences in the rehabilitation process can be found. FPCA represents a future aid for the fine analysis of similar physiotherapy techniques, when applied in subjects with a huge variability of functional recovery, as in the case of post-stroke patients.This contribution has been carried out with financial support from the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme under contract FP7-ICT-2009-247935: BETTER BNCI-dr. The authors wish to thank the Stroke Rehabilitation Team of Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe (Valencia, Spain), specially Dr. M.R. Beseler, physiotherapist M. Matas and physiotherapist A. Estaun. We also gratefully acknowledge patients who have participated in this study with great enthusiasm.Sánchez-Sánchez, M.; Belda Lois, JM.; Mena Del Horno, S.; Viosca Herrero, E.; Gisbert-Morant, B.; Igual-Camacho, C.; Bermejo Bosch, I. (2014). Functional principal component analysis as a new methodology for the analysis of the impact of two rehabilitation protocols in functional recovery after stroke. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 11:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-11-134S191