Groundwater characterization of a heterogeneous granitic rock massif for shallow tunneling

Shallow tunneling may encounter a number of problems, the most important of which is high water inflows in transmissive areas that are often associated with fractures or discontinuities. Moreover, research into shallow tunneling may be limited by the duration and cost of the civil engineering works. Two important aspects that are often overlooked are: variable groundwater behavior of faults (conduit, barrier, conduit-barrier), and role of groundwater connectivity between fractures that cross the tunnel and the rest of the rock massif. These two aspects should be taken into account in the geological and groundwater characterization to correct the tunnel design and minimize hazards. A geological study and a preliminary hydrogeological characterization (including a prior steady state investigation and cross bore-hole tests) were carried out in a granitic sector during the construction of Line 9 of the Barcelona subway (B-20 area). The hydrogeological conceptual model was constructed using a quasi-3D numerical model, and different scenarios were calibrated. Faults and dikes show a conduit-barrier behavior, which partially compartmentalized the groundwater flow. The barrier behavior, which is the most marked effect, is more prominent in faults, whereas conduit behavior is more notable in dikes. The characterization of groundwater media entailed a dewatering plan and changes in the tunnel course. This enabled us to construct the tunnel without any problems

Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study of CuI Binding to His111 in the Human Prion Protein Fragment 106-115

The ability of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to bind copper in vivo points to a physiological role for PrPC in copper transport. Six copper binding sites have been identified in the nonstructured N-terminal region of human PrPC. Among these sites, the His111 site is unique in that it contains a MKHM motif that would confer interesting CuI and CuII binding properties. We have evaluated CuI coordination to the PrP(106-115) fragment of the human PrP protein, using NMR and X-ray absorption spectroscopies and electronic structure calculations. We find that Met109 and Met112 play an important role in anchoring this metal ion. CuI coordination to His111 is pH-dependent: at pH >8, 2N1O1S species are formed with one Met ligand; in the range of pH 5-8, both methionine (Met) residues bind to CuI, forming a 1N1O2S species, where N is from His111 and O is from a backbone carbonyl or a water molecule; at pH <5, only the two Met residues remain coordinated. Thus, even upon drastic changes in the chemical environment, such as those occurring during endocytosis of PrPC (decreased pH and a reducing potential), the two Met residues in the MKHM motif enable PrPC to maintain the bound CuI ions, consistent with a copper transport function for this protein. We also find that the physiologically relevant CuI-1N1O2S species activates dioxygen via an inner-sphere mechanism, likely involving the formation of a copper(II) superoxide complex. In this process, the Met residues are partially oxidized to sulfoxide; this ability to scavenge superoxide may play a role in the proposed antioxidant properties of PrPC. This study provides further insight into the CuI coordination properties of His111 in human PrPC and the molecular mechanism of oxygen activation by this site.Fil: Arcos López, Trinidad. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzado; MéxicoFil: Qayyum, Munzarin. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Rivillas Acevedo, Lina. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzado; MéxicoFil: Miotto, Marco César. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario; Argentina. Max Planck Laboratory for Structural Biology; ArgentinaFil: Grande Aztatzi, Rafael. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzado; MéxicoFil: Fernandez, Claudio Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario; Argentina. Max Planck Laboratory for Structural Biology; ArgentinaFil: Hedman, Britt. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Hodgson, Keith O.. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Vela, Alberto. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzado; MéxicoFil: Solomon, Edward I.. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Quintanar, Liliana. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzado; Méxic

Single-crossover dynamics: finite versus infinite populations

Populations evolving under the joint influence of recombination and resampling (traditionally known as genetic drift) are investigated. First, we summarise and adapt a deterministic approach, as valid for infinite populations, which assumes continuous time and single crossover events. The corresponding nonlinear system of differential equations permits a closed solution, both in terms of the type frequencies and via linkage disequilibria of all orders. To include stochastic effects, we then consider the corresponding finite-population model, the Moran model with single crossovers, and examine it both analytically and by means of simulations. Particular emphasis is on the connection with the deterministic solution. If there is only recombination and every pair of recombined offspring replaces their pair of parents (i.e., there is no resampling), then the {\em expected} type frequencies in the finite population, of arbitrary size, equal the type frequencies in the infinite population. If resampling is included, the stochastic process converges, in the infinite-population limit, to the deterministic dynamics, which turns out to be a good approximation already for populations of moderate size.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Physical rehabilitation in football by mechanical vibration and hypoxia

Las acciones explosivas en el fútbol se triplican respecto a los años 60, llegando a las 200-215 acciones explosivas/partido. Esto supone que la potencia muscular y la capacidad de recuperación sean factores limitantes, pudiendo ser frecuentes las lesiones musculares. Durante la lesión se pierden las cualidades condicionales, menos cuanto más corto sea este periodo. Existen diversos métodos para la mejora de la fuerza y capacidad de recuperación mediante las plataformas vibratorias y la hipoxia intermitente (HI). Mostramos resultados de una intervención con plataforma vibratoria y HI en futbolistas convalescientes de una rotura fibrilar. Este nuevo modelo de entrenamiento puede permitir mejoras la fuerza máxima (p<0,05) y capacidadde recuperación (p<0,05) ayudando en gran medida a no perder las cualidades condicionales.Explosive actions in football are three times over 60 years, reaching 200-215 explosive actions /match. This means that for an elite player, muscular power and resilience are performance limiting factors, which may be frequent muscular injuries. During the injury, conditional qualities are lost, the less the shorter the period. There are several methods for improving the strength and resilience, emphasizing the body vibration training and intermittent hypoxia (IH). In this study, results of an intervention HI vibrating platform and players who have been convalescing from a hamstring injury are shown. The results obtained suggest that this new training model allows for improvements in the levels of maximum force (p <0.05) and resilience (p <0.05). This helps keep the conditional qualities greatly

The Front End Electronics of the Scintillator Pad Detector of LHCb Calorimeter

In this paper the Front End electronics of the Scintillator Pad Detector (SPD) is outlined. The SPD is a sub-system of the Calorimeter of the LHCb experiment designed to discriminate between charged and neutral particles for the first level trigger. The system design is presented, describing its different functionalities implemented through three different cards and several ASICs. These functionalities are signal processing and digitization, data transmission, interface with control and timing systems of the experiment, low voltage power supply distribution and monitoring. Special emphasis is placed on installation and commissioning subjects such as cabling, grounding, shielding and power distribution

Ornamental plants, 1983: a summary of research

Capital requirements for establishing container nurseries in Ohio - 1982 / Harold H. Kneen, Reed D. Taylor, David E. Hahn, and Elton M. Smith -- Production costs of operating container nurseries in Ohio - 1982 / Harold H. Kneen, Reed D. Taylor, David E. Hahn, and Elton M. Smith -- Pigmented polyethylene films for nursery crop storage / John A. Wynstra and Elton M. Smith -- Micropropagation of Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' / R. Daniel Lineberger and Audrey Wanstreet -- Effects of fertilizer in the propagation medium and extended photoperiod on growth of Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset' cuttings / Steven M. Still and Bryce H. Lane -- Area of weed control from a single herbicide tablet / M. A. Ruizzo, E. M. Smith, and S. F. Gorske -- Slow release herbicide formulations for container grown landscape crops / M. A. Ruizzo, E. M. Smith, and S. F. Gorske -- Effects of pre-emergence herbicides on selected herbaceous perennials / Elton M. Smith, Gary Gibson, and Sharon A. Treaster -- Controlling weeds in garden lily, gladiolus, and dahlia with pre-emergence herbicides / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Root pruning landscape plants produced on sand capillary beds / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Genetic variation in wound response among cultivars of Acer platanoides L. / Peter W. Gallagher and T. Davis Sydnor -- A preliminary host preference study for fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Drury) / T. Davis Sydnor and Daniel Herms -- Evaluation of flowering crabapple susceptibility to apple scab in Ohio - 1982 / Elton M. Smit

Novel multiple sclerosis susceptibility loci implicated in epigenetic regulation

We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in German cohorts with 4888 cases and 10,395 controls. In addition to associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, 15 non-MHC loci reached genome-wide significance. Four of these loci are novel MS susceptibility loci. They map to the genes L3MBTL3, MAZ, ERG, and SHMT1. The lead variant at SHMT1 was replicated in an independent Sardinian cohort. Products of the genes L3MBTL3, MAZ, and ERG play important roles in immune cell regulation. SHMT1 encodes a serine hydroxymethyltransferase catalyzing the transfer of a carbon unit to the folate cycle. This reaction is required for regulation of methylation homeostasis, which is important for establishment and maintenance of epigenetic signatures. Our GWAS approach in a defined population with limited genetic substructure detected associations not found in larger, more heterogeneous cohorts, thus providing new clues regarding MS pathogenesis

Ornamental plants: annual reports and research reviews, 2002

Ohio State University Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team directory: 2003 / Jack Kerrigan -- Floriculture Industry Roundtable of Ohio: 2003 / Charles Behnke -- Ohio State University Extension 2002 Buckeye Yard and Garden Line evaluation survey / Amy K. Stone and James A. Chatfield -- Weather, environmental, and cultural problems of ornamental plants in Ohio: 2002 / Pamela J. Bennett -- Infectious disease problems of ornamental plants in Ohio: 2002 / James A. Chatfield, Nancy A. Taylor, Erik A. Draper, and Joseph F. Boggs -- A biological calendar for predicting pest activity: six years of plant and insect phenology in Secrest Arboretum / Daniel A. Herms -- Biological suppression of foliar diseases of ornamental plants with composted manures, biosolids, and Trichoderma hamatum 382 / Harry A. J. Hoitink, Carol A. Musselman, Terry L. Moore, Leona E. Horst, Charles R. Krause, Randy A. Zondag, and Hannah Mathers -- Growth and water use by four leguminous tree species in containers on a gravel surface or embedded in mulch / Michael Knee, Daniel K. Struve, Michael H. Bridgewater, and Joseph W. Phillips -- The effects of sprayer configuration on efficacy for the control of scab on crabapple / Charles R. Krause, Richard C. Derksen, Leona E. Horst, Randall Zondag, Ross D. Brazee, Michael G. Klein, and Michael E. Reding -- Update on honeylocust knot / Pierluigi Bonello, Maria Bellizzi, and Harry A. J. Hoitink -- Control of phytophthora and other major diseases of Ericaceous plants / Harry A. J. Hoitink, Steven T. Nameth, and James C. Locke -- Is your landscape mulch going up in smoke? / Larry G. Steward, T. Davis Sydnor, and Bert Bishop -- IR-4 ornamental trials conducted by USDA-ARS in Ohio: 2002 / Betsy A. Anderson, Michael E. Reding, Michael G. Klein, and Charles R. Krause -- Research on black vine weevil and white grubs in ornamental nurseries-in Ohio by USDA-ARS / Michael E. Reding, Michael G. Klein, Ross D. Brazee, and Charles R. Krause -- Herbaceous ornamental field trial results in Clark County, Ohio – 2002 / Pamela J. Bennett -- Results of annual trial gardens at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for 2002 / Dave Dyke -- Ohio State University Learning Garden annual cultivar trials / Monica M. Kmetz-Gonzalez and Claudio C. Pasian -- A collection of crabapple knowledge from Secrest Arboretum: 1993-2002 / Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield, and Kenneth D. Cochran -- Key results of the 2001 Ohio Green Industry Survey / Gary Y. Gao, John J. Smith, James A. Chatfield, Joseph F. Boggs, Erik A. Draper, and Hannah Mathers -- The USDA/Agricultural Research Service research weather network in Lake County, Ohio - 2002 update / R. D. Brazee, R. C. Derksen, C. R. Krause, K. A. Williams, D. Lohnes, M. G. Klein, M. Reding, R. Lyons, W. Hendricks, R. Zondag, R. D. Fox, and D. Herms -- The OSU Chadwick Arboretum Learning Gardens / Dr. Steven Still and Annette Duetz -- Choosing soil testing labs / Gary Y, Gao, Maurice E. Watson, Joseph F. Boggs, and James A. Chatfield -- Top horticultural references for a green industry professional's library / Gary Y. Gao and Pamela J. Bennett -- The maples of Secrest Arboretum / Gary W. Graham, James A. Chatfield, and Kenneth D. Cochran -- Deck the halls with boughs from Ollie! / Kenneth D. Cochran and James A. Chatfiel