A reassortant H9N2 influenza virus containing 2009 pandemic H1N1 internal-protein genes acquired enhanced pig-to-pig transmission after serial passages in swine

Avian H9N2 and 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza viruses can infect pigs and humans, raising the concern that H9N2: pH1N1 reassortant viruses could emerge. Such reassortants demonstrated increased replication and transmissibility in pig, but were still inefficient when compared to pH1N1. Here, we evaluated if a reassortant virus containing the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of A/quail/ Hong Kong/G1/1997 (H9N2) in the A/California/04/2009 (pH1N1) backbone could become better adapted to pigs by serial passaging. The tropism of the original H9N2: pH1N1 (P0) virus was restricted to the nasal mucosa, with no virus detected in the trachea or lungs. Nevertheless, after seven passages the H9N2: pH1N1 (P7) virus replicated in the entire respiratory tract. We also compared the transmissibility of H9N2: pH1N1 (P0), H9N2: pH1N1 (P7) and pH1N1. While only 2/6 direct-contact pigs showed nasal virus excretion of H9N2: pH1N1 (P0) >= five days, 4/6 direct-contact animals shed the H9N2: pH1N1 (P7). Interestingly, those four animals shed virus with titers similar to those of the pH1N1, which readily transmitted to all six contact animals. The broader tissue tropism and the increased post-transmission replication after seven passages were associated with the HA-D225G substitution. Our data demonstrate that the pH1N1 internal-protein genes together with the serial passages favour H9N2 virus adaptation to pigs

The beta 2-adrenergic receptor as a surrogate odorant receptor in mouse olfactory sensory neurons

In the mouse, mature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) express one allele of one of the similar to 1200 odorant receptor (OR) genes, which encode G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Axons of OSNs that express the same OR coalesce into homogeneous glomeruli at conserved positions in the olfactory bulb. ORs are involved in OR gene choice and OSN axonal wiring, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. One approach is to substitute an OR genetically with another GPCR, and to determine in which aspects this GPCR can serve as a surrogate OR under experimental conditions. Here, we characterize a novel gene-targeted mouse strain in which the mouse beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR) is coexpressed with tauGFP in OSNs that choose the OR locus M71 for expression (beta 2AR -> M71-GFP). By crossing these mice with beta 2AR -> M71-lacZ gene-targeted mice, we find that differentially tagged beta 2AR -> M71 alleles are expressed monoallelically. The OR coding sequence is thus not required for monoallelic expression - the expression of one of the two alleles of a given OR gene in an OSN. We detect strong (beta 2AR immunoreactivity in dendritic cilia of (beta 2AR -> M71-GFP OSNs. These OSNs respond to the beta 2AR agonist isoproterenol in a dose-dependent manner. Axons of beta 2AR -> M71-GFP OSNs coalesce into homogeneous glomeruli, and beta 2AR immunoreactivity is detectable within these glomeruli. We do not find evidence for expression of endogenous beta 2AR in OSNs of wild-type mice, also not in M71-expressing OSNs, and we do not observe overt differences in the olfactory system of beta 2AR and beta 1AR knockout mice. Our findings corroborate the experimental value of the beta 2AR as a surrogate OR, including for the study of the mechanisms of monoallelic expression. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved

A proof-of-concept superregenerative QPSK transceiver

In this paper we present a description and experimental verification of an HF-band proof-of-concept superregenerative transceiver for QPSK signals. We describe a simple implementation of an all-digital, FPGA-based, QPSK transmitter section. On the receiver side, the quench signal is generated in the same FPGA with a minimum of analog circuitry. As the main novelty, we present a simple synchronization scheme suitable for packetized transmissions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Lutein and the C/N as tracers of organic matter in the Palmones River estuary

Los pigmentos vegetales han sido usados como bioindicadores de la presencia de organismos fototrópicos en ríos, estuarios y sedimentos marinos actuales y en estudios paleolimnológicos. En el sedimento del estuario río Palmones (Bahía de Algeciras, Sur de España) se ha estudiado las concentraciones de clorofila a y luteína, el índice C/N y el contenido en materia orgánica. Utilizando la concentración de estos dos pigmentos en diferentes profundidades así como el índice de sedimentación(determinado por Rubio et al. En 2003 por el método del 210Pb), se ha determinado el índice de degradación de la luteína y clorofila a en la marisma. La permanencia de la luteína en el sedimento es mayor que la de la clorofila a. Según estos resultados se ha podido discriminar las fuentes de materia orgánicaPlant pigments have been used as biomarkers of the presence of phototrophic organisms in rivers, estuaries and sea sediments in present and in paleolimnological studies. Chlorophyll a and lutein concentration, C/N ratio and organic matter content have been studied in the sediment of the Palmones River estuary (Algeciras Bay, Southern Spain). Using the concentration of these two pigments at different depths, as well as the sedimentation rate (determined by Rubio et al. in 2003 by means of the 210Pb method), lutein and chlorophyll a degradation rate has been determined, in the saltmarsh. Lutein persistence in the sediment was higher than the persistence of chlorophyll a. According to these results, it was possible to discriminate the organic matter source

Value Added Contributions of Science Parks the Case of the Barcelona Scientific Park

Science parks are institutions that support the creation and development of high technology-based companies. They are designed to provide value-added services together with high-quality space and facilities and to promote interaction amongst universities, R&D institutions, companies, and markets. Although Spain is among the countries that have been investing heavily in these institutions, there is lack of feedback from the tenant companies' perspective with respect to the value added that they receive from science parks. The objective of this study is to evaluate the services that the Barcelona Science Park offers to its tenants by gathering information from the companies currently located in the park and those that have graduated. By comparing the results obtained from the two groups of companies, incubated and graduated, we examine whether the opinions differ about their appreciation of the services that they benefited from during their stay in the Park than those currently remaining

La satisfacción de los clientes de los centros deportivos municipales de Barcelona

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar y analizar las variables que más influyen en la satisfacción del cliente en los centros deportivos de Barcelona. Los datos fueron recogidos en una encuesta entre los clientes actuales de centros deportivos municipales. Un análisis factorial aplicado a esta información revela cinco dimensiones que subyacen a los múltiples componentes de la oferta de servicios en dichas instalaciones: su calidad, los recursos humanos, la comunicación, el entorno social y la relación calidad-precio. Las variables generadas fueron incorporadas a un modelo de regresión múltiple en el que la variable dependiente fue la satisfacción del cliente. De acuerdo con los resultados las mujeres y los usuarios mayores de 60 años valoran más positivamente el servicio recibido, mientras que a mayor nivel de estudios, más exigentes son los clientes. Finalmente, un gerente debe prestar atención en primer lugar a la calidad de las instalaciones seguido de la comunicación, los recursos humanos, la relación calidad precio y el entorno social, por este orden