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Background: Candida glabrata is an opportunistic yeast that has emerged as a cause of human fungal disease, and is a complex of three closely related species. Until now, there is not enough information about its virulence attributes. Moreover, its resistance to echinocandins has been documented, which is a cause of clinical concern. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro production of aspartyl proteinase, phospholipase, esterase, hemolysin, DNase, and coagulase in a subset of 107 Mexican clinical isolates of C. glabrata sensu stricto, as well as to determinate its echinocandin susceptibility. Methods: The enzymatic determinations were carried out in plate assays using specific substrates, excepting coagulase, which was determined by the classic tube test. Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined in accordance with the CLSI broth microdilution method. Results: Aspartyl proteinase, hemolysin, and phospholipase were detected in 100%, 95%, and 79% of isolates, respectively. Blood isolates were associated with a very strong activity of aspartyl proteinase and hemolysin, and those recovered from vaginal swabs were associated with very strong production of aspartyl proteinase, phospholipase, and hemolysin. All isolates were susceptible to echinocandins, except one bloodstream isolate, which was resistant to echinocandins. Conclusions: A very strong activity of aspartyl proteinase and hemolysin was particularly associated with both, bloodstream, and vaginal swab isolates. Echinocandin resistance was rare.

Habitat loss (HL) affects species and their interactions, ultimately altering community dynamics. Yet, a challenge for community ecology is to understand how communities with multiple interaction types—hybrid communities—respond to HL prior to species extinctions. To this end, we develop a model to investigate the response of hybrid terrestrial communities to two types of HL: random and contiguous. Our model reveals changes in stability—temporal variability in population abundances—that are dependent on the spatial configuration of HL. Our findings highlight that habitat area determines the variability of populations via changes in the distribution of species interaction strengths. The divergent responses of communities to random and contiguous HL result from different constraints imposed on individuals’ mobility, impacting diversity and network structure in the random case, and destabilising communities by increasing interaction strength in the contiguous case. Analysis of intermediate HL suggests a gradual transition between the two extreme cases., Habitat loss could affect ecological communities in variable ways depending on its structure. Here, the authors show that contiguous rather than random loss is more damaging to the stability of multitrophic communities, regardless of the fraction of mutualistic interactions within the community.

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) was experimentally implemented on two coal ash materials (i.e., CA1 and CA3) to investigate the efficacy of the treatment on the hyd...

Marine sponge reefs usually comprise a complex array of taxonomically different sponge species, many of these hosting highly diverse microbial communities. The number of microbial species known to occupy a given sponge ranges from tens to thousands, bringing numerous challenges to their analysis. One way to deal with such complexity is to use a core microbiota approach, in which only prevalent and abundant microbes are considered. Here we aimed to test the strength and sensitivity of the core microbiota approach by applying different core definitions to 20 host sponge species. Application of increasingly stringent relative abundance and/or percentage occurrence thresholds to qualify as part of the core microbiota decreased the number of 'core' OTUs and phyla and, consequently, changed both alpha- and beta-diversity patterns. Moreover, microbial co-occurrence patterns explored using correlation networks were also affected by the core microbiota definition. The application of stricter thresholds resulted in smaller and less compartmentalized networks, with different keystone species. These results highlight that the application of different core definitions to phylogenetically disparate host species can result in the drawing of markedly different conclusions. Consequently, we recommend to assess the effects of different core community definitions on the specific system of study before considering its application.

Opportunistic mycoses by yeasts have increased considerably in the last three decades. Although

Background: Nearly 7 million patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the U.S. use insulin. Both Insulin therapy and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) have the potential to generate a large volume of biohazardous waste via use of “sharps” (needles and lancets). Unless safely disposed of these sharps could present a public health risk, placing unaware individuals at risk of needle sticks. However, there is a paucity of data on whether patients safely handle and dispose of used insulin needles and lancets. Objective: Assess patterns of sharps use and disposal among a clinic and hospital based population of DM patients on insulin therapy. Method: A survey was administered to a convenience sample of adult insulin treated DM patients recruited from an outpatient endocrinology clinic and an inpatient hospital setting. Patients were asked about patterns of sharps use (frequency of daily SMBG and insulin injections), how often sharps were used prior to disposal, sharp disposal technique, and education received regarding safe sharp disposal. Results: The survey was completed by 142 patients (94 outpatients and 48 inpatients). Mean age was 56 years, self-reported DM duration 20 years, hemoglobin A1c was 8.4%, and BMI 30.2 kg/m2; 57% were men and 75% were white. No differences in characteristics (p>0.1) were seen between outpatient and inpatient respondents. The average number of insulin injections was 3/day, and frequency of SMBG was 3.5/day. A minority (22%) used an insulin needle 2 or more times, and 32% threw the needles directly into the garbage as opposed to a sealable or red sharps container. Most (56%) respondents used a lancet 2 or more times, sometimes changing the lancet once only every few months. Around a third (35%) threw used lancets directly into the garbage; one patient flushed them down the toilet. No differences were seen between outpatients and inpatients (p> 0.3) in patterns of needle use, lancet use, or disposal method. The majority (63%) of respondents indicated they had never received instruction on safe disposal of sharps. Conclusion: In this population of both outpatients and inpatients, repeated use of the same insulin needle and lancet was noted. Moreover, nearly a third of respondents disposed of their sharps in an unsafe manner. If similar data are confirmed in broader studies, this could translate into a large number of insulin using patients improperly disposing of their sharps waste—a potentially important public health hazard. With the rising prevalence of DM and need for insulin, further study is needed to determine sharps disposal practices of these patients. Improved education is needed on both a population and patient level regarding proper handling of these biohazardous materials.

We describe the clinical and dermoscopic features and histopathological findings in a case of a 33-year-old female patient with an adult-onset photodermatosis. This eruption was not typical of well-established photodermatoses due to its apoptotic keratinocytes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of these combined clinical and pathologic features.

Defining the organisation of species interaction networks and unveiling the processes behind their assembly is fundamental to understanding patterns of biodiversity, community stability and ecosystem functioning. Marine sponges host complex communities of microorganisms that contribute to their health and survival, yet the mechanisms behind microbiome assembly are largely unknown. We present the global marine sponge–microbiome network and reveal a modular organisation in both community structure and function. Modules are linked by a few sponge species that share microbes with other species around the world. Further, we provide evidence that abiotic factors influence the structuring of the sponge microbiome when considering all microbes present, but biotic interactions drive the assembly of more intimately associated ‘core’ microorganisms. These findings suggest that both ecological and evolutionary processes are at play in host-microbe network assembly. We expect mechanisms behind microbiome assembly to be consistent across multicellular hosts throughout the tree of life., Lurgi et al. analyse the distribution of microbial symbionts across many sponge species and reveal modules of non-random associations which are primarily driven by host features and microbial phylogenies, and less by the environment. Results also show that metabolic functions are distinct across modules.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation and a cause of considerable physical and psychosocial morbidity. No known treatment effectively prevents the development of PHN in patients with VZV reactivation. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of premedication with gabapentin for reducing the risk of PHN in patients with diabetic and nondiabetic neuropathy. We retrospectively searched the electronic health records of patients with diabetic and nondiabetic neuropathy treated with gabapentin at Mayo Clinic before diagnosis of VZV reactivation. In total, PHN developed in 7 patients with diabetic neuropathy receiving gabapentin (n=62 [11.3%]) compared with 26 not receiving premedication with gabapentin (n=50 [52.0%]) (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.31; P

For the last decade Deep Reinforcement Learning has undergone exponential development; however, less has been done to integrate linear methods into it. Our Wide and Deep Reinforcement Learning framework provides a tool that combines linear and non-linear methods into one. For practical implementations, our framework can help integrate expert knowledge while improving the performance of existing Deep Reinforcement Learning algorithms. Our research aims to generate a simple practical framework to extend such algorithms. To test this framework we develop an extension of the popular Deep Q-Networks algorithm, which we name Wide Deep Q-Networks. We analyze its performance compared to Deep Q-Networks and Linear Agents, as well as human players. We apply our new algorithm to Berkley’s Pac-Man environment. Our algorithm considerably outperforms Deep Q-Networks’ both in terms of learning speed and ultimate performance showing its potential for boosting existing algorithms.

International audience; The terms sustainability, resilience and others group under the heading of ‘stability’. Their ubiquity speaks to a vital need to characterize changes in complex social and environmental systems. In a bewildering array of terms, practical measurements are essential to permit comparisons and so untangle underlying relationships.

Scedosporium apiospermum is an opportunistic emerging pathogen that can develop in both immunosuppressive and immunocompetent patients with pulmonary infections. Neutrophils are recognized as critical cells in the early response to a fungal infection through different mechanisms that eliminate or control the infection such as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In this work, we investigate the presence of NETs in the lung tissue of immunocompetent mice infected with Scedosporium apiospermum. In the histopathological study the presence of filamentous basophilic material with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff stains suggestive of extracellular DNA was observed. We demonstrated the presence of NETs by immunofluorescence staining of extracellular DNA, myeloperoxidase, and elastase in lung tissue. Our results showed that on days 1 and 3 post-infection extracellular DNA, myeloperoxidase, and elastase correlate with areas of high concentration of cell infiltrates and fungal structures. The observation of fungal structures in the tissue decreased as did the presence of NETs by day 5 post-infection. We suggest that NETs release may play an important role in the early containment of Scedosporium apiospermum lung infection.

In this interview Prof. Brian Leftow answers questions concerning the causes of the emergence of Analytic Philosophical Theology within the analytic tradition; the advantages of maintaining the traditional picture of perfect being theology with regards to divine attributes; his conception of the origin of necessary truths; the problem of evil; and the importance of university investment in research on philosophical theology.

Perspective taking has been referred to as the cognitive ability to take on another individual’s viewpoint, so as to infer that person’s thoughts, emotions, and motivation. The issue of perspective taking has traditionally been studied within a cognitive-developmental approach, often under the rubric of Theory of Mind. Recent research in the area of Relational Frame Theory has suggested that deictic relations, such as I-You, Here-There, and Now-Then, form the basis of the perspective taking repertoire. The present study examined the effect of in situ deictic relations training on traditional perspective taking measures, such as Theory of Mind tasks. Six typically developing children participated in this study, three of whom were designated as control participants. The results showed that, although deictic relations can be established following a history of reinforcement and visual prompts, it was not possible to confirm the relationship between deictic relational responding and Theory of Mind tasks. Implications of these findings and future lines of research are discussed.

International audience; Human actions challenge nature in many ways. Ecological responses are ineluctably complex, demanding measures that describe them succinctly. Collectively, these measures encapsulate the overall ‘stability’ of the system. Many international bodies, including the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, broadly aspire to maintain or enhance ecological stability. Such bodies frequently use terms pertaining to stability that lack clear definition. Consequently, we cannot measure them and so they disconnect from a large body of theoretical and empirical understanding. We assess the scientific and policy literature and show that this disconnect is one consequence of an inconsistent and one‐dimensional approach that ecologists have taken to both disturbances and stability. This has led to confused communication of the nature of stability and the level of our insight into it. Disturbances and stability are multidimensional. Our understanding of them is not. We have a remarkably poor understanding of the impacts on stability of the characteristics that define many, perhaps all, of the most important elements of global change. We provide recommendations for theoreticians, empiricists and policymakers on how to better integrate the multidimensional nature of ecological stability into their research, policies and actions.

Introduction/Objective Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) encompasses a heterogeneous group of tumors with striated muscle morphology and/or immunophenotype. Molecular analysis of rhabdomyosarcoma has identified a number of aberrations useful for classification. Initially, fusion associated RMS was restricted to tumors with FOXO1 rearrangements, confirming the diagnosis of alveolar RMS, and identifying patients with poor-outcome. Spindle cell RMS, have been described with VGLL2 fusions, EWSR1/FUS-TFCP2 rearrangements, and myoD1 mutations. In addition, NCOA2-MEIS1 fusion gene was recently described in two primary intraosseous RMSs sharing primitive histology. Herein we report two cases of spindle cell RMS, harboring different novel fusion genes, one presenting EP300-VGLL3, and the second with NCOA2-MEIS1 and CAV1-MET. Methods Two cases of RMS were retrieved from the pathology files at the University of Miami Hospital (UMH) and Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH). Morphology and immunohistochemistry were reviewed. A commercial genomic profiling test for both cases was also analyzed. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at UMH. Results Case #1 is a 36-year-old man presented with a 1.5 cm submucosal mass in the ventral left tongue. The biopsy revealed a malignant spindle cell neoplasm and immunohistochemistry showed tumor cells positive for desmin, SMA, myogenin and MYOD-1. A partial glossectomy was performed, achieving negative resection margins. Next- generation sequencing (NGS) identified an EP300-VGLL3 fusion. The patient is currently being followed and has been disease-free for 6 months. Case #2 is a 19-years-old male with no medical history admitted with lower extremities weakness and a large expansile pelvic bone lesion and multiple spinal metastases. Biopsy from the pelvic lesion revealed malignant primitive round cells and short spindle cells arranged in fascicles which were positive for desmin, MYOD-1, TLE-1 and CD99 and focally positive for myogenin and WT-1. NGS identified two fusion genes, NCOA2- MEIS1 and CAV1-MET. Conclusion Different types of rhabdomyosarcoma are associated with a variety of different gene fusions and some may be of prognostic significance. Our two cases are the first reported with EP300-VGLL3 and CAV1-MET fusion genes. CAV1-MET oncogenic potential has been described only in lung cancer. The prognostic significance of rhabdomyosarcoma with novel gene fusions requires longer follow-up and the identification of additional cases.

Introduction/Objective Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is a relatively rare complication of trauma that is usually mistaken for a soft tissue neoplasm. The identification of amyloid protein is of paramount clinical importance to exclude serious conditions causing systemic amyloidosis. Methods The case was retrieved from the pathology files at the University of Miami Hospital (UMH). Morphology and special stains were reviewed. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at UMH. Results A 44-year-old man with past history of a stab wound in the left buttock in the 1990s, was admitted with worsening abdominal pain, constipation, urinary obstruction and acute kidney injury. CT-scan showed a large mass involving the left gluteal area and pelvic cavity involving urinary bladder causing outlet obstruction and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis. Multiple radiology-guided biopsies were taken all identifying only fibrin, blood cells, and necrotic inflammatory cells. Excision of the gluteal mass and drainage of the pelvic component was performed confirming the diagnosis of CEH. Amyloid deposition with congo red stain birefringence under polarized light was identified. The patient’s symptoms and renal function improved and have been under follow-up for 1 month. Conclusion We have identified amyloid protein deposition whiting a CEH. This is an unusual finding with no previous description found in our search. The identification of amyloid whiting tumor-like lesions is relevant to exclude causes of systemic amyloidosis.

Enhancing the scour resistance of foundation systems supporting superstructures over waterways is required for the sustainable functionality of the structure. In this article, the use of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) was investigated for the potential of its use in scour mitigation and erodibility improvement of sand. Testing was performed in a 0.91 by 1.22 by 1.22-m model box, and a double wall delivery system was developed and used to target cementation near the surface. A comparative study was performed on the scour behavior of untreated and treated samples using data from a series of flow tests. Impinging jet testing was used to evaluate the erodibility parameters of treated sand. The results from flow testing indicated that untreated and lightly cemented zones showed similar scour depth, whereas indiscernible scour was observed for the heavily cemented zone. The improvement distribution pattern throughout the media showed an ellipsoidal shape with respect to the injection source. The scour behavior and the cementation pattern indicated less cementation was achieved at the zone near the injection source because of high induced seepage velocity. Based on the impinging jet testing results, an empirical erosion model for MICP-treated sand is proposed as a function of the level of cementation.

This work presents the degradation of ampicillin (a highly consumed β-lactam antibiotic) in aqueous media by sonochemical advanced oxidation processes. Initially, effects of frequency, power and operation mode (continuous vs. pulsed) on the antibiotic degradation by sonochemistry were analyzed. Then, under the suitable operational conditions, pollutant degradation and antimicrobial activity (AA) evolution were monitored. Afterwards, computational calculations were done to establish the possible attacks by the hydroxyl radical to the ampicillin structure. Additionally, the antibiotic degradation in synthetic hydrolyzed urine by ultrasound was performed. Finally, the combination of sonochemistry with Fenton (sono-Fenton) and photo-Fenton (sono-photo-Fenton) was evaluated. Our research showed that ampicillin removal was favored at low frequency, high power (i.e., 375 kHz, 24.4 W) and continuous mode (exhibiting an initial degradation rate of 0.78 μM min−1). Interestingly, ampicillin degradation in the hydrolyzed urine by sonochemistry alone was favored by matrix components (i.e., the pollutant showed a degradation rate in urine higher than in distilled water). The sonochemical process decreased the antimicrobial activity from the treated water (100% removal after 75 min of treatment), which was related to attacks of hydroxyl radical on active nucleus (the computational analysis showed high electron density on sulfur, oxygen and carbon atoms belonging to the penicillin core). Sono-photo-Fenton system achieved the fastest degradation and highest mineralization of the pollutant (40% of organic carbon removal at 180 min of treatment). All these aspects reveal the good possibility of sonochemical advanced oxidation technologies application for the treatment of antibiotics even in complex aqueous matrices such as hydrolyzed urine.

The Princeville levee, and flooding associated with Hurricanes Floyd and Matthew, is used as a case study in which the analyses are focused on the effect of repeated rise and fall of water levels (representing severe storm cycles) on the stability of the levee and the risk of failure. The analyses included strain-based and strength reduction approaches and are conducted using the finite element program Plaxis 2D. The limit equilibrium stability software “Slope/W” was also used for comparative study. The strain-based limit state approach considers the uncertainty of soil properties and is used to characterize the levee performance under repeated storm loading in terms of damage levels (or limit states). The strain-based analyses results show a progressive development of plastic shear strain zone within the levee as the number of storm cycles is increased. The accumulation of such shear strain leads to increasing the probability of exceeding a given performance limit state. As more flooding cycles are introduced, the shear strain values increase by a factor of 3.5 from cycle 1 to 6, and therefore reflect the increasing level of failure risk. In parallel, the deterministic stability factor of safety obtained from limit equilibrium method remains unchanged and slightly changes for strength reduction method with an increased number of rises and falls of the water level. The consideration of “rapid” drawdown conventionally used in limit equilibrium stability analyses (where no consideration for time is included), instead of more realistic rate based on drawdown hydrograph leads to conservative estimate of factor of safety. The analyses results demonstrate the increase in risk with repeated hydraulic loading.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:06:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-12-01 Universidad de Caldas Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Background: Canine transmissible venereal tumors (CTVTs) generally have different cytomorphologic subtypes and phases of progression. Some tumors have variable biologic behavior including a progressive increase in tumor aggressiveness and variable responses to chemotherapy. This behavior is partially due to high p-glycoprotein expression by tumor cells, which leads to the expulsion of chemotherapeutic drugs. Other possible causes include changes in pro- and anti-apoptotic genes from the BCL-2 family and DNA repair systems, which are associated with the p53 gene family. Objectives: We aimed to determine the relative expression of the multi-drug resistance 1 (MDR1), p53, b-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), and bcl 2-associated X (BAX) genes in CTVT before and after therapy and establish a relationship with treatment responses, cytomorphologic patterns, and tumor progression identified with histopathology. Methods: RT-qPCR was performed on 21 CTVT tumor samples before and after initiating chemotherapy to determine specific gene expression. Normal canine testicular tissue was used as a negative control for all experiments. Results: MDR1 expression was decreased before and after initiating vincristine therapy in CTVT tumor tissues compared with normal canine testicular tissue; p53 and BAX were overexpressed at both time points compared with normal tissue, and no statistical differences were seen between the different morphologic types. However, BAX expression was decreased in the group with quick therapeutic responses but was still overexpressed compared with normal testicular tissue. In the group with the slowest chemotherapeutic responses, BCL2 was overexpressed. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed a relative increase in MDR1 gene expression in response to chemotherapy and higher expression in plasmacytoid CTVTs compared with the other cytomorphologic patterns. BCL2 overexpression was related to a favorable prognosis, and p53, BAX, and BCL2 were expressed independent of the cytomorphologic CTVT type. All of the genes were expressed independent of tumor progression, as noted on histopathology. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Veterinary Medicine Department Universidad de Pamplona Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Universidad Nacional de Colombia Research Group in Veterinary Medicine and Husbandry – GIDIMEVETZ Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia Basic Sciences Department Universidad de Caldas Laboratory of Investigative and Comparative Pathology FMVZ-UNESP Research Group in Veterinary Pathology Animal Health Department Universidad de Caldas Laboratory of Investigative and Comparative Pathology FMVZ-UNESP Universidad de Caldas: 0987014 FAPESP: 2012/19285-2

Temperature reconstructions from Greenland ice-sheet (GrIS) ice cores indicate the occurrence of more than 20 abrupt warmings during the last glacial period (LGP) known as Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) events. Although their ultimate cause is still debated, evidence from both proxy data and modelling studies robustly links these to reorganisations of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). During the LGP, the GrIS expanded as far as the continental shelf break and was thus more directly exposed to oceanic changes than in the present. Therefore oceanic temperature fluctuations on millennial timescales could have had a non-negligible impact on the GrIS. Here we assess the effect of millennial-scale oceanic variability on the GrIS evolution from the last interglacial to the present day. To do so, we use a three-dimensional hybrid ice-sheet–shelf model forced by subsurface oceanic temperature fluctuations, assumed to increase during D-O stadials and decrease during D-O interstadials. Since in our model the atmospheric forcing follows orbital variations only, the increase in total melting at millennial timescales is a direct result of an increase in basal melting. We show that the GrIS evolution during the LGP could have been strongly influenced by oceanic changes on millennial timescales, leading to oceanically induced ice-volume contributions above 1 m sea level equivalent (SLE). Also, our results suggest that the increased flux of GrIS icebergs as inferred from North Atlantic proxy records could have been triggered, or intensified, by peaks in melting at the base of the ice shelves resulting from increasing subsurface oceanic temperatures during D-O stadials. Several regions across the GrIS could thus have been responsible for ice mass discharge during D-O events, opening the possibility of a non-negligible role of the GrIS in oceanic reorganisations throughout the LGP.

Background Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a life-threatening fungal disease principally caused by the ubiquitous mould Aspergillus fumigatus. This clinical entity is a major cause of morbidity and mortality (principally, but not restricted to, immunocompromised individuals). A few recent reports suggest in vitro fungicidal activity of sertraline against Aspergillus spp., but this activity has not yet been investigated in vivo. Objectives To evaluate the antifungal activity of sertraline in two in vivo models of aspergillosis. Methods The antifungal activity of sertraline as monotherapy at three different doses (3, 10 and 15 mg/kg) was evaluated in Galleria mellonella and in a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Therapeutic efficacy parameters determined were larval survival and health index score for G. mellonella, whereas pulmonary fungal burden, galactomannan and lung histopathology were assessed in the murine model. Results Sertraline treatments improved larval survival and health index score, especially at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg. Moreover, 10 mg/kg sertraline was able to reduce pulmonary fungal burden with an efficacy comparable with that of 3 mg/kg amphotericin B and 10 mg/kg voriconazole. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study that evaluates the antifungal activity of sertraline against A. fumigatus, showing a possible promising option for the adjuvant treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis.

The MMT adaptive secondary mirror, as part of the MMT AO system, was the first of its kind when it was deployed in 2002. The 336 element device used voice coil actuation to deform the optical surface at speeds of 500 Hz. The MMT Adaptive optics exoPlanet characterization System (MAPS) is a program intended to update this system for high spectral resolution characterization of exoplanets. Advances in electronics since the MMT ASM implementation have motivated us to design an upgrade to this system which will work at higher speed and with more complex control algorithms. The design goals for the refurbishment are to develop a system that uses less power, is more compact, and is as cost effective as possible. We present the design of the MAPS adaptive secondary electronics and describe the status of the prototyping and fabrication.

The Arizona Lenslet for Exoplanet Spectroscopy (ALES) has been conceived of as an integral field spectrograph (IFS) that can be integrated with the existing 1-5 micron imaging camera LBTI/LMIRcam. Retrofitting an IFS to an existing camera poses interesting optical design issues. We have developed four reflective magnifier designs to create the proper scale for each spaxel of the IFS across the operational wavelengths of ALES. The lenslet design utilizes the flexible nature of silicon etching to provide aberration correction of images across the field of view that are introduced by inserting these magnifiers into the existing LMIRcam optical system. Finally, direct vision prism designs have been developed to provide suitable dispersion modes for the reference science cases of ALES.

The effect of nonplastic fines on the undrained shear response of sand depends on many variables, including fines content, skeleton void ratio (es), interfine void ratio (ef), global void r...

International audience; Species-area relationships (SARs) are pivotal to understand the distribution of biodiversity across spatial scales. We know little, however, about how the network of biotic interactions in which biodiversity is embedded changes with spatial extent. Here we develop a new theoretical framework that enables us to explore how different assembly mechanisms and theoretical models affect multiple properties of ecological networks across space. We present a number of testable predictions on network-area relationships (NARs) for multi-trophic communities. Network structure changes as area increases because of the existence of different SARs across trophic levels, the preferential selection of generalist species at small spatial extents and the effect of dispersal limitation promoting beta-diversity. Developing an understanding of NARs will complement the growing body of knowledge on SARs with potential applications in conservation ecology. Specifically, combined with further empirical evidence, NARs can generate predictions of potential effects on ecological communities of habitat loss and fragmentation in a changing world.

International audience; Nothing validates our concerns about Rockström et al.’s work more than their response to our critique of it. First, they state ‘a planetary boundary … is not equivalent to a global threshold or tipping point’. While we appreciate this statement, we struggle with understanding their distinctions between tipping points, planetary boundaries, safe operating space, resilience, and irreversible changes, terms we show permeate their work from its onset to the present.

The notion of a ‘safe operating space for biodiversity’ is vague and encourages harmful policies. Attempts to fix it strip it of all meaningful content. Ecology is rapidly gaining insights into the connections between biodiversity and ecosystem stability. We have no option but to understand ecological complexity and act accordingly.