Promoting Entrepreneurship through a Community Learning Model – Case Study: Green Businesses

This article presents a community learning model formulated by Engineers Without Borders Colombia with the aim of providing communities with tools to create sustainable productive solutions which have relevancy for members and for potential customers. The goal of this formulation is to promote learning processes that are guided by decisions made by community members to propose sustainable and replicable initiatives. The model applicability is evidenced through a case study devoted to strengthening community-led green businesses in the Guavio Province, Colombia by collecting lessons and conclusions. Ultimately, this collection will prove useful in replicating the learning model in other similar rural communities.

     

白莲河水电厂2号机组振动在线监测系统

在线监测系统是水电机组安全运行的保证，该系统能监视机组的运行情况，对尾水管压力脉动值、顶盖、机架跳动及主轴摆度值进行适时测量．为推广该成果的应用，论述了白莲河水电厂振动在线监测系统的设计方法和系统具备的功能．     

尾式金属卟啉配合物的研究(Ⅶ)邻-苯并唑类杂环基尾式铁(Ⅲ)卟啉的合成及催化性质

合成并表征了氯化｛５－（邻－（４－（２－巯基苯并咪唑基）正丁氧基）苯基－１０，１５，２０－三（对－甲基）苯基卟啉铁（Ⅲ）｝（ｏ－ＢｚＩｍＴＭＰＰＦｅ（Ⅲ）Ｃｌ），氯化｛５－（邻－（４－（２－巯基苯并噻唑基）正丁氧基）苯基－１０，１５，２０－三（对－甲基）苯基卟啉铁（Ⅲ）｝（ｏ－ＢｚＴａＴＭＰＰＦｅ（Ⅲ）Ｃｌ），氯化｛５－（邻－（４－（２－巯基苯并口恶唑基）正丁氧基）苯基－１０，１５，２０－三（对－甲基）苯基卟啉铁（Ⅲ）｝（ｏ－ＢｚＡ－ｚＴＭＰＰＦｅ（Ⅲ）Ｃｌ）等配合物，详细研究了丙酮／水介质中，在分子氧和抗坏血酸存在下，这些配合物对环己烷羟化反应的催化性质．结果表明，在无外加轴向配体时，由于尾端基团的分子内轴向配位作用，这些配合物具有较高的催化活性；还原剂的用量对催化效率也有直接的影响     

烃源岩中烷基二苯并噻吩组成及其地球化学意义

对一个海相地层的实际剖面进行了研究，发现烃源岩芳烃馏分中烷基二苯并噻吩和烷基苯并萘噻吩的相对丰度与碳酸盐矿物含量间有良好的正相关性．不同岩性中含硫芳烃相对丰度的变化顺序是：碳酸盐岩＞泥灰岩＞泥质岩．在深度剖面上，二苯并噻吩（ＤＢＴ）与甲基二苯并噻吩（ＭＤＢＴ）呈消长关系。４－ＭＤＢＴ和２＋３－ＭＤＢＴ的相对丰度随埋深增加而增加．１－ＭＤＢＴ则随之下降，４－ＭＤＢＴ／１－ＭＤＢＴ值和２＋３－ＭＤＢＴ／１－ＭＤＢＴ值能较好地反映有机质的热演化程度．     

太平沟大桥曲线箱梁顶推施工设计概述

太平沟大桥该桥全长358．8m，平面位于R=1380．965m圆曲线及L5=300m的缓和曲线上，是国内曲线连续顶推桥长最长、跨径最大的一座桥。详细介绍了太平沟大桥曲线箱梁顶推设计特点及施工设计要点。     

Non-random coextinctions in phylogenetically structured mutualistic networks

The interactions between plants and their animal pollinators and seed dispersers have moulded much of Earth's biodiversity. Recently, it has been shown that these mutually beneficial interactions form complex networks with a well-defined architecture that may contribute to biodiversity persistence. Little is known, however, about which ecological and evolutionary processes generate these network patterns. Here we use phylogenetic methods to show that the phylogenetic relationships of species predict the number of interactions they exhibit in more than one-third of the networks, and the identity of the species with which they interact in about half of the networks. As a consequence of the phylogenetic effects on interaction patterns, simulated extinction events tend to trigger coextinction cascades of related species. This results in a non-random pruning of the evolutionary tree and a more pronounced loss of taxonomic diversity than expected in the absence of a phylogenetic signal. Our results emphasize how the simultaneous consideration of phylogenetic information and network architecture can contribute to our understanding of the structure and fate of species-rich communities.     

Oxysterols direct immune cell migration via EBI2

Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2 (EBI2, also known as GPR183) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that is required for humoral immune responses; polymorphisms in the receptor have been associated with inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The natural ligand for EBI2 has been unknown. Here we describe the identification of 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol (also called 7α,25-OHC or 5-cholesten-3β,7α,25-triol) as a potent and selective agonist of EBI2. Functional activation of human EBI2 by 7α,25-OHC and closely related oxysterols was verified by monitoring second messenger readouts and saturable, high-affinity radioligand binding. Furthermore, we find that 7α,25-OHC and closely related oxysterols act as chemoattractants for immune cells expressing EBI2 by directing cell migration in vitro and in vivo. A critical enzyme required for the generation of 7α,25-OHC is cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H). Similar to EBI2 receptor knockout mice, mice deficient in CH25H fail to position activated B cells within the spleen to the outer follicle and mount a reduced plasma cell response after an immune challenge. This demonstrates that CH25H generates EBI2 biological activity in vivo and indicates that the EBI2-oxysterol signalling pathway has an important role in the adaptive immune response.     

Shank3 mutant mice display autistic-like behaviours and striatal dysfunction

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) comprise a range of disorders that share a core of neurobehavioural deficits characterized by widespread abnormalities in social interactions, deficits in communication as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviours. The neurological basis and circuitry mechanisms underlying these abnormal behaviours are poorly understood. SHANK3 is a postsynaptic protein, whose disruption at the genetic level is thought to be responsible for the development of 22q13 deletion syndrome (Phelan-McDermid syndrome) and other non-syndromic ASDs. Here we show that mice with Shank3 gene deletions exhibit self-injurious repetitive grooming and deficits in social interaction. Cellular, electrophysiological and biochemical analyses uncovered defects at striatal synapses and cortico-striatal circuits in Shank3 mutant mice. Our findings demonstrate a critical role for SHANK3 in the normal development of neuronal connectivity and establish causality between a disruption in the Shank3 gene and the genesis of autistic-like behaviours in mice.     

Role of sulphuric acid, ammonia and galactic cosmic rays in atmospheric aerosol nucleation

Atmospheric aerosols exert an important influence on climate through their effects on stratiform cloud albedo and lifetime and the invigoration of convective storms. Model calculations suggest that almost half of the global cloud condensation nuclei in the atmospheric boundary layer may originate from the nucleation of aerosols from trace condensable vapours, although the sensitivity of the number of cloud condensation nuclei to changes of nucleation rate may be small. Despite extensive research, fundamental questions remain about the nucleation rate of sulphuric acid particles and the mechanisms responsible, including the roles of galactic cosmic rays and other chemical species such as ammonia. Here we present the first results from the CLOUD experiment at CERN. We find that atmospherically relevant ammonia mixing ratios of 100 parts per trillion by volume, or less, increase the nucleation rate of sulphuric acid particles more than 100-1,000-fold. Time-resolved molecular measurements reveal that nucleation proceeds by a base-stabilization mechanism involving the stepwise accretion of ammonia molecules. Ions increase the nucleation rate by an additional factor of between two and more than ten at ground-level galactic-cosmic-ray intensities, provided that the nucleation rate lies below the limiting ion-pair production rate. We find that ion-induced binary nucleation of H(2)SO(4)-H(2)O can occur in the mid-troposphere but is negligible in the boundary layer. However, even with the large enhancements in rate due to ammonia and ions, atmospheric concentrations of ammonia and sulphuric acid are insufficient to account for observed boundary-layer nucleation.     

Red blood cells carry out T cell growth and survival bioactivities that are sensitive to cyclosporine A

Red blood cells (RBC) have emerged as a novel regulatory cell type endowed with bioactivities toward activated human T cells. Herein we show that the RBC bioactivities act on intracellular pathways initiated by T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent and -independent stimuli, including IL-2, IL-15, and the mixture of phorbol dibutyrate and ionomycin. The RBC bioactivities preserve the antioxidant status and are capable of rescuing activated T cells from cell death induced by serum deprivation. They are not mediated by glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked receptors or sialic acids, and kinetic studies revealed that they hasten the entrance into the cell cycle. By using cyclosporine A (CsA) and rapamycin (Rapa) we show that the RBC bioactivities are calcineurin-dependent. Thus, treatment of T cells with CsA, but not Rapa, impaired RBC bioactivities, and preincubation of RBC with CsA completely abolished their bioactivities. We have demonstrated that RBC carry out bioactivities that are sensitive to CsA.