Capacity analysis of suburban rail networks

As is well known, capacity evaluation and the identification of bottlenecks on rail networks are complex issues depending upon several technical elements. This is even more perceptible in metropolitan areas where different services (freight, long distance, metro/regional, etc.) are operated using the same limited infrastructures; as a consequence, these facilities may represent bottlenecks of the rail system since they are often highly utilized and congested. This paper tries to explore the issue of capacity evaluation of complex rail networks, proposing synthetic indicators and analyses for feasibility studies or strategic planning. The presented methodology suggests taking into account the main differences in infrastructure characteristics (e.g. single or double lines, signalling systems, terminus or passing stations, etc.) and rail services (e.g. diverse rolling stock, various frequencies, average distances and number of stops, etc.) in order to propose a general approach applicable for capacity analysis of a network as a whole, hence evaluating the utilization rate and the congestion on both lines and stations. To better explore and validate the methodology, an application to a line of the Naples’ suburban network is presented. The results confirm the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach; the outcomes indicate the capacity utilization rate of the considered facilities, pointing out likely bottlenecks and possible actions to improve the system efficiency

Wine quality and berry size: a case study with Tempranillo Tinto progenies

BACKGROUND: Small berry size is normally associated with quality wine production. However, the contribution of grapevine variety and environment to sensory quality has not been well established. In this study, genotypes from two intra-specific hybrid populations were categorized by size according to berry diameter and weight: small (16 mm, >2 g). Chemical and sensory attributes of wines produced in two consecutive vintages (2017 and 2018) from each size category were characterized. Perceived intrinsic wine quality was judged by 20 wine professionals. RESULTS: Wines obtained from small berry genotypes consistently displayed higher proportions of phenolic compounds and deeper color and were judged higher in quality regardless of genetic background and vintage. Perceived quality was positively correlated with anthocyanin and phenolic content. Wines presented high sensory variability in both vintages. Small berry size genotypes produced sweeter, fruitier wines with greater astringency; whereas wines from larger berries were perceived as more alcoholic and with lower positive aroma intensities. Berry size influenced color and phenolic compounds more than genotype or environment. CONCLUSION: Small berry-size genotypes were related to high quality judgements in both years, thus providing a predictor of wine categories, which could be used to meet different market demands

La inmunidad y el principio de oportunidad en el proceso penal.

El trabajo contiene una serie de consideraciones sobre la causal quinta del artículo 324 del Código de Procedimiento Penal colombiano con las cuales se pretende, además de precisar el estado del arte sobre la figura de la inmunidad y de las consecuencias jurídicas derivadas de su aplicación, ampliar el horizonte de su interpretación. Para ello, se analizan los criterios jurídicos que conducen a la concesión de la inmunidad total o parcial al imputado o al acusado cuando testifica dentro de un proceso penal

Screening for the efficacy on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells is an effective tool for the identification of new anti-diabetic compounds

Reducing lipid accumulation in insulin target tissues is critical for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to develop a biochemical assay in cells for high throughput (HTP) screening of anti-diabetic drugs by reducing lipid accumulation via different mechanisms

Unexpected solvent isotope effect on the triplet lifetime of methylene blue associated to cucurbit[7]uril

[EN] Methylene blue shows an isotope dependent triplet lifetime that is 50% longer in D2O compared with H2O as a result of electronic-to-vibrational relaxation. The effect is enhanced when the dye is bound to curcubit[7]uril due to a combination of restricted mobility and a unfavorable vibrational coupling.This work was supported by NSERC-Canada. M. G. B thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for a post-doctoral contract. E. A. Acknowledges Becas Chile and the University of Ottawa for postdoctoral fellowships. We also thank Michel Grenier for his help on the time resolved measurements.Alarcón, E.; González Béjar, M.; Montes Navajas, PM.; García Gómez, H.; Lissi, E.; Scaiano, JC. (2012). Unexpected solvent isotope effect on the triplet lifetime of methylene blue associated to cucurbit[7]uril. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 11(2):269-273. doi:10.1039/c1pp05227fS269273112N. J. Turro , V.Ramamurthy and J. 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Supramolecular Dye Laser with Cucurbit[7]uril in Water. ChemPhysChem, 8(1), 54-56. doi:10.1002/cphc.200600625Shaikh, M., Mohanty, J., Singh, P. K., Nau, W. M., & Pal, H. (2008). Complexation of acridine orange by cucurbit[7]uril and β-cyclodextrin: photophysical effects and pKashifts. Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 7(4), 408-414. doi:10.1039/b715815gSueishi, Y., Asano, K., Yamaoka, M., & Yamamoto, S. (2008). Characterization of Water-Soluble Cucurbit[7]uril in Alcohol-Water Mixtures by High-Pressure Studies on the Inclusion Complexation with New Methylene Blue. Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, 222(1), 153-161. doi:10.1524/zpch.2008.222.1.153Zhou, Y., Yu, H., Zhang, L., Sun, J., Wu, L., Lu, Q., & Wang, L. (2008). Host properties of cucurbit [7] uril: fluorescence enhancement of acridine orange. Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry, 61(3-4), 259-264. doi:10.1007/s10847-008-9414-8González-Béjar, M., Montes-Navajas, P., García, H., & Scaiano, J. C. (2009). Methylene Blue Encapsulation in Cucurbit[7]uril: Laser Flash Photolysis and Near-IR Luminescence Studies of the Interaction with Oxygen. Langmuir, 25(18), 10490-10494. doi:10.1021/la9011923Montes-Navajas, P., Corma, A., & Garcia, H. (2008). Complexation and Fluorescence of Tricyclic Basic Dyes Encapsulated in Cucurbiturils. ChemPhysChem, 9(5), 713-720. doi:10.1002/cphc.200700735Mohanty, J., & Nau, W. M. (2005). Ultrastable Rhodamine with Cucurbituril. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 44(24), 3750-3754. doi:10.1002/anie.200500502Montes-Navajas, P., & Garcia, H. (2010). Cucurbituril Complexation Enhances Intersystem Crossing and Triplet Lifetime of 2,4,6-Triphenylpyrylium Ion. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 114(5), 2034-2038. doi:10.1021/jp9095166Van Houten, J., & Watts, R. J. (1975). Effect of ligand and solvent deuteration on the excited state properties of the tris(2,2’-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) ion in aqueous solution. Evidence for electron transfer to solvent. 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Spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) mitochondrial COI phylogeny reviewed: host plant relationships, phylogeography, reproductive parasites and barcoding

The past 15 years have witnessed a number of molecular studies that aimed to resolve issues of species delineation and phylogeny of mites in the family Tetranychidae. The central part of the mitochondrial COI region has frequently been used for investigating intra- and interspecific variation. All these studies combined yield an extensive database of sequence information of the family Tetranychidae. We assembled this information in a single alignment and performed an overall phylogenetic analysis. The resulting phylogeny shows that important patterns have been overlooked in previous studies, whereas others disappear. It also reveals that mistakes were made in submitting the data to GenBank, which further disturbed interpretation of the data. Our total analysis clearly shows three clades that most likely correspond to the species T. urticae, T. kanzawai and T. truncatus. Intraspecific variation is very high, possibly due to selective sweeps caused by reproductive parasites. We found no evidence for host plant associations and phylogeographic patterns in T. urticae are absent. Finally we evaluate the application of DNA barcoding

Differential gene expression of the honey bee Apis mellifera associated with Varroa destructor infection

Background: The parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is the most serious pest of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, and has caused the death of millions of colonies worldwide. This mite reproduces in brood cells and parasitizes immature and adult bees. We investigated whether Varroa infestation induces changes in Apis mellifera gene expression, and whether there are genotypic differences that affect gene expression relevant to the bee's tolerance, as first steps toward unravelling mechanisms of host response and differences in susceptibility to Varroa parasitism. Results: We explored the transcriptional response to mite parasitism in two genetic stocks of A. mellifera which differ in susceptibility to Varroa, comparing parasitized and non-parasitized full-sister pupae from both stocks. Bee expression profiles were analyzed using microarrays derived from honey bee ESTs whose annotation has recently been enhanced by results from the honey bee genome sequence. We measured differences in gene expression in two colonies of Varroa-susceptible and two colonies of Varroa-tolerant bees. We identified a set of 148 genes with significantly different patterns of expression: 32 varied with the presence of Varroa, 116 varied with bee genotype, and 2 with both. Varroa parasitism caused changes in the expression of genes related to embryonic development, cell metabolism and immunity. Bees tolerant to Varroa were mainly characterized by differences in the expression of genes regulating neuronal development, neuronal sensitivity and olfaction. Differences in olfaction and sensitivity to stimuli are two parameters that could, at least in part, account for bee tolerance to Varroa; differences in olfaction may be related to increased grooming and hygienic behavior, important behaviors known to be involved in Varroa tolerance. Conclusion: These results suggest that differences in behavior, rather than in the immune system, underlie Varroa tolerance in honey bees, and give an indication of the specific physiological changes found in parasitized bees. They provide a first step toward better understanding molecular pathways involved in this important host-parasite relationshi

Chromosome landmarks and autosome-sex chromosome translocations in Rumex hastatulus, a plant with XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system

Rumex hastatulus is the North American endemic dioecious plant with heteromorphic sex chromosomes. It is differentiated into two chromosomal races: Texas (T) race characterised by a simple XX/XY sex chromosome system and North Carolina (NC) race with a polymorphic XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system. The gross karyotype morphology in NC race resembles the derived type, but chromosomal changes that occurred during its evolution are poorly understood. Our C-banding/DAPI and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments demonstrated that Y chromosomes of both races are enriched in DAPI-positive sequences and that the emergence of polymorphic sex chromosome system was accompanied by the break of ancestral Y chromosome and switch in the localization of 5S rDNA, from autosomes to sex chromosomes (X and Y2). Two contrasting domains were detected within North Carolina Y chromosomes: the older, highly heterochromatinised, inherited from the original Y chromosome and the younger, euchromatic, representing translocated autosomal material. The flow-cytometric DNA estimation showed ∼3.5 % genome downsizing in the North Carolina race. Our results are in contradiction to earlier reports on the lack of heterochromatin within Y chromosomes of this species and enable unambiguous identification of autosomes involved in the autosome-heterosome translocation, providing useful chromosome landmarks for further studies on the karyotype and sex chromosome differentiation in this species