Multi-dimensional, multi-national, multi-faceted hydrographic training: the Nippon Foundation GEBCO training program at the University of New Hampshire

Hydrographic training entered a new era when students arrived at the University of New Hampshire in August of 2004 to form the first class of the Nippon Foundation GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) training program. Born out of the need to replenish GEBCO’s aging human material, and of the desire to spread deep ocean mapping capabilities more widely throughout the world, the program attracted applications from 57 students in over thirty countries. The seven selected each had post graduate training and several years experience, but differed in that three were hydrographers, two geologists and two oceanographers. Classes planned for the next two years will bring in a further fourteen students. The UNH program had been selected as the closest match to the general course requirements GEBCO considered that ocean bathymetrists should have. Subjects include all types of depth measurements, oceanography, acoustics, tides, plate tectonics, sea floor morphology, ocean basins, sedimentary processes, hydrothermal-thermal processes, gravity-magnetic relationships to seafloor fabrics, positioning and geodesy, maps and charts, IHO standards, GIS, data bases, gridding, contouring, spatial statistics, and the history of GEBCO and ocean mapping. These are taught at the graduate level as part of the graduate degree program at UNH. In this paper, the experiences that participants from the different backgrounds underwent are recounted with the overall goal of improving the general education required to map the floors of the deep ocean. Recommendations are made regarding the prior preparation of students entering the program, the content and intensity of courses comprising the program, and follow-up actions to solidify the learning experience. Intangibles such as the networking of professional contacts are also evaluated. Extrapolations to training in other areas of hydrography are made

Short transmembrane domains with high-volume exoplasmic halves determine retention of Type II membrane proteins in the Golgi complex

It is still unclear why some proteins that travel along the secretory pathway are retained in the Golgi complex whereas others make their way to the plasma membrane. Recent bioinformatic analyses on a large number of single-spanning membrane proteins support the hypothesis that specific features of the transmembrane domain (TMD) are relevant to the sorting of these proteins to particular organelles. Here we experimentally test this hypothesis for Golgi and plasma membrane proteins. Using the Golgi SNARE protein Sft1 and the plasma membrane SNARE protein Sso1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as model proteins, we modified the length of their TMDs and the volume of their exoplasmic hemi-TMD, and determined their subcellular localization both in yeast and mammalian cells. We found that short TMDs with high-volume exoplasmic hemi-TMDs confer Golgi membrane residence, whereas TMDs with low-volume exoplasmic hemi-TMDs, either short or long, confer plasma membrane residence to these proteins. Results indicate that the shape of the exoplasmic hemi-TMD, in addition to the length of the entire TMD, determine retention in the Golgi or exit to the plasma membrane of Type II membrane proteins.Fil: Quiroga, Rodrigo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Quimica Biológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (p); ArgentinaFil: Trenchi, Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Quimica Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez Montoro, Ayelén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Quimica Biológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (p); ArgentinaFil: Valdez, Javier Esteban. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Quimica Biológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (p); ArgentinaFil: Maccioni, Hugo Jose Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (p); Argentin

Capacity Building in Ocean Bathymetry: The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Training Programme at the University of New Hampshire

A successful Capacity Building project in hydrography is underway at the University of New Hampshire. Organised by the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans and sponsored by the Nippon Foundation, the programme trains hydrographers and other marine scientists in bathymetric mapping. Participants are formally prepared to produce bathymetric maps when they return to their home countries through a combination of graduate level courses and workshops, practical field training, participation in deep ocean research cruises, working visits to other laboratories and institutions, focused lectures from visiting experts, and the preparation of a bathymetry map of their area from public domain data. Intangible but necessary preparation includes the networking with professionals in bathymetry and related fields within Ocean Mapping, and the building of a cadre of graduates who will form the basis of international bathymetric mapping in the future

Application of the Laplace transform in electrical circuits

En este artículo se presenta una aplicación de la transformada de Laplace en la solución de los circuitos eléctricos, calculando las corrientes y los voltajes instantáneos que se presentan en diversas partes de un circuito eléctrico dado.In this paper we show an application of Kirchoff ’s laws to the electric networks for the use of the Laplace transform

Service-learning in the Spanish university system : A study based on deans? perception

La tercera misión de la universidad implica devolver a la sociedad parte de lo que de ella recibe. Este modo de entender la relación entre sociedad y universidad supone la implementación de nuevas metodologías de enseñanza-aprendizaje, en las cuales el profesorado deja de ser un mero transmisor de conocimiento, y los estudiantes adquieren un papel activo y crítico en respuesta a las necesidades sociales. El aprendizaje-servicio es una estrategia metodológica que combina la formación teórica en un ámbito de conocimiento con su aplicación a través de la prestación de un servicio a la comunidad. Esta metodología es apropiada para hacer posible la tercera misión de la institución universitaria. El objetivo de este trabajo es comprender la disposición de las facultades y escuelas universitarias de España para promover y crear oportunidades que den lugar a la implementación de proyectos de ApS en sus centros. Entre las conclusiones del estudio cabe destacar la percepción institucional, ya que el uso de esta metodología convierte a la universidad en una institución más abierta, que interactúa con la comunidad y el entorno, ampliando su campo de formación más allá del conocimiento técnico y científico, para brindar un servicio de transformación social

Topical administration of bosentan prevents retinal neurodegeneration in experimental diabetes

Experimental evidence suggests that endothelin 1 (ET-1) is involved in the development of retinal microvascular abnormalities induced by diabetes. The effects of ET-1 are mediated by endothelin A- and B-receptors (ETA and ETB). Endothelin B-receptors activation mediates retinal neurodegeneration but there are no data regarding the effectiveness of ETB receptor blockage in arresting retinal neurodegeneration induced by diabetes. The main aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of topical administration of bosentan (a dual endothelin receptor antagonist) in preventing retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic (db/db) mice. For this purpose, db/db mice aged 10 weeks were treated with one drop of bosentan (5 mg/mL, n = 6) or vehicle (n = 6) administered twice daily for 14 days. Six non-diabetic (db/+) mice matched by age were included as the control group. Glial activation was evaluated by immunofluorescence using specific antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL method. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in rabbits. We found that topical administration of bosentan resulted in a significant decrease of reactive gliosis and apoptosis. The results of the pharmacokinetic study suggested that bosentan reached the retina through the trans-scleral route. We conclude that topical administration of bosentan was effective in preventing neurodegeneration in the diabetic retina and, therefore, could be a good candidate to be tested in clinical trials

Análisis de las preferencias sociales en el aprendizaje de un grupo de estudiantes de TAFAD y su relación con la satisfacción y diversión en las clases de educación física

El presente estudio ha analizado las preferencias sociales en el aprendizaje de un grupo de estudiantes de TAFAD, así como sus percepciones de diversión, satisfacción y de los criterios de éxito que utiliza su profesor de educación física. Participaron en el estudio 54 estudiantes de primero y segundo de TAFAD de un centro de la Comunidad de Madrid. De ellos 42 varones y 12 mujeres. Los instrumentos empleados fueron la Escala GR de Participación Social en el Aprendizaje, el Cuestionario de diversión en las clases de Educación Física, el Cuestionario de Satisfacción en las clases de Educación Física y el Cuestionario de Criterio de Éxitos de los Otros Significativos. Los resultados mostraron que no existen diferencias entre hombres y mujeres en los instrumentos empleados. Que el perfil participativo de los participantes en el estudio es Cooperativo-Competitivo y que existen asociaciones entre las dimensiones competitivas y cooperativas con la diversión y satisfacción en las clases de educación física

Morfodinámica de los ríos amazónicos en la cuenca alta, implicaciones para el transporte fluvial

The Upper Peruvian Amazon Rivers present different types of planform patterns, from meandering to well-matured anabranching channels. Meandering Rivers tend to have higher lateral migration rates than Anabranching Rivers, consequently achieving higher amplitudes and more elongated bends. Meandering rivers deviate from their dynamic equilibrium condition by producing meander trains under erosive and depositional floodplain-scale processes. Anabranching structures are defined as having one single main channel and several secondary channels. The degree of coupling among these channels modulates the dynamics of the anabranching structure. These anabranching structures achieve dynamic equilibrium conditions determined by their periodicity in the occurrence of anabranching structures. Fluvial transportation requires deep understanding of these morphodynamics patterns and of their evolution, not only for engineering but also for geological time scales. Herein, some examples of river evolution and some hypothesised ideas are discussed in light to relate river dynamics to fluvial transportation.Los ríos de la cuenca del alto Amazonas presentan diferentes tipos de patrones en planta, desde meandrícos a canales anabranching desarrollados. Ríos meandrícos tienden a tener mayores tasas de migración lateral que los ríos Anabranching, logrando así una mayor amplitud y con curvas mas alargadas. Los ríos meandrícos se desvían de su condición de equilibrio dinámico mediante la producción de trenes de meandros que se encuentran bajo procesos erosivos y de deposición a la escala de la llanura de inundación. Estructuras de Anabranching se definen por tener un solo canal principal y varios canales secundarios. El grado de acoplamiento entre estos canales modula la dinámica de la estructura anabranching. Estas estructuras anabranching pueden alcanzar condiciones de equilibrio dinámico mediante la periodicidad en la aparición de estructuras anabranching a lo largo del rio. El transporte fluvial requiere una comprensión profunda de estos patrones morfodinámicos y su evolución no sólo para escalas de tiempo ingenieriles, sino también para las escalas de tiempo geológicas. Aquí, algunos ejemplos de la evolución del río y algunas ideas hipotéticas se discuten a la luz de relacionar la dinámica de los ríos para el transporte fluvial

General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO): A New 1:35,000,000 Scale Printed Map

The modern ocean mapping community makes extensive use of digital representations of the world\u27s ocean bathymetry. To meet this requirement, GEBCO introduced the GEBCO Digital Atlas (GDA) in 1997; the traditional GEBCO paper chart series has not been updated nor printed since that time. Although the scientific world has accepted and prefers digital representations, printed maps complement digital products in several ways. A printed bathymetric map has the potential to reach out to an audience that would not necessarily make use of a digital portrayal of the World\u27s ocean floor. A cartographically state-of-the-art printed map may also be used to promote the importance of studying ocean bathymetry as well as the oceans in general. Here we present a first draft of a World map portraying the ocean floor bathymetry, which is scheduled to be printed during the spring of 2006 in the scale of 1:35,000,000. The bathymetric portrayal of the printed map is in the form of shaded relief with overlaid depth contours derived from the GEBCO 1x1 minute bathymetric grid released on the latest update of the GDA in 2003 and distributed on a CD-ROM. Land topography as portrayed on the printed map is primarily based on USGS GTOPO30, except for some areas of the Northern Hemisphere where more recently compiled data sets have been used. The land topography has been draped with the satellite mosaic Blue Marble released by NASA. This GEBCO digital cartography project makes use of the latest development within professional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which enables the construction of high quality cartographic maps based on digital information. The project was facilitated by a two week visit to Stockholm University by two students who had completed a training program at University of New Hampshire, sponsored by the Nippon Foundation of Japan