Similarity in the difference: changes in community functional features along natural and anthropogenic stress gradients.

The effect of stressors on biodiversity can vary in relation to the degree to which biological communities have adapted over evolutionary time. We compared the responses of functional features of stream insect communities along chronic stress gradients with contrasting time persistence. Water salinity and land use intensification were used as examples of natural (long-term persistent) and anthropogenic (short-term persistent) stressors, respectively. A new trait-based approach was applied to quantify functional diversity components and functional redundancy within the same multidimensional space, using metrics at the taxon and community levels. We found similar functional responses along natural and anthropogenic stress gradients. In both cases, the mean taxon functional richness and functional similarity between taxa increased with stress, whereas community functional richness and functional redundancy decreased. Despite the differences in evolutionary persistence, both chronic stressors act as strong nonrandom environmental filters, producing convergent functional responses. These results can improve our ability to predict functional effects of novel stressors at ecological and evolutionary scales

Las sucesiones estratigráficas del Paleozoico inferior y medio

13 páginas, 20 páginas.-- Editor: García Cortés, Angel.-- Capítulo 2.Peer reviewe

4D monitoring of active sinkholes with a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS): A Case study in the evaporite karst of the Ebro Valley, NE Spain

This work explores, for the first time, the application of a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) and a comparison of point clouds in the 4D monitoring of active sinkholes. The approach is tested in three highly-active sinkholes related to the dissolution of salt-bearing evaporites overlain by unconsolidated alluvium. The sinkholes are located in urbanized areas and have caused severe damage to critical infrastructure (flood-control dike, a major highway). The 3D displacement models derived from the comparison of point clouds with exceptionally high spatial resolution allow complex spatial and temporal subsidence patterns within one of the sinkholes to be resolved. Detected changes in the subsidence activity (e.g., sinkhole expansion, translation of the maximum subsidence zone, development of incipient secondary collapses) are related to potential controlling factors such as floods, water table changes or remedial measures. In contrast, with detailed mapping and high-precision leveling, the displacement models, covering a relatively short time span of around 6 months, do not capture the subtle subsidence (< 0.6-1 cm) that affects the marginal zones of the sinkholes, precluding precise mapping of the edges of the subsidence areas. However, the performance of TLS can be adversely affected by some methodological limitations and local conditions: (1) limited accuracy in large investigation areas that require the acquisition of a high number of scans, increasing the registration error; (2) surface changes unrelated to sinkhole activity (e.g., vegetation, loose material); (3) traffic-related vibrations and wind blast that affect the stability of the scanner

Influencia el pH en la formación del cristales de carbonato cálcico por bacterias del suelo

The effect of pH on the calcium carbonate precipitation (crystal formations) was studied with 96 strains isolated from the soil. Crystal formations in culture media were detected with initial pH between 5.5 to 9. These data show that the optimum pH to crystal formations may be well stablished&nbsp;during bacterial growth, and that is not necessary the previous alkalinization of the culture media to calcium carbonate precipitation.Se estudia la influencia del pH en la precipitación de carbonato cálcico por 96 cepas bacterianas aisladas del suelo. Se obtienen cristales en medios con pH iniciales comprendidos entre 5,5 y 9. No es necesaria la alcalinización previa de los medios, ya que el pH óptimo para la precipitación puede alcanzarse durante el desarrollo bacteriano

Estudio de la formación de cristales por bacterias en medios tamponados

Calcium carbonate precipitation by, 96 strains isolated from soil, was studied in B-4 buffered medium using three different systems at pH 7 and 8. CaC03 precipitation at pH 8 is observed in aH the strains investigated, whereas it occurs only exceptionally at pH 7. The tris-hydroximethyl amino methane-CIH and hydrochloride triethanol amine-NaOH were adequated for these experiments, but the 5:5 diethyl sodium barbiturate was not considered suitable.Se investiga la precipitación bacteriana de carbonato cálcico en el medio B-4 tamponado con tres sistemas bufer diferentes a los pH 7 Y 8, por 96 cepas bacterianas aisladas del suelo. A pH 8 se observa precipitación de C03Ca en todas las cepas ensayadas, mientras que el pH 7 solo ocurre excepcionalmente. Los tampones tris-hidroxmetil amino metano-HCl y clorhidrato de trietanol amina-OHNa se revelaron idóneos para estas experiencias, mientras que el tampón 5:5 dietil barbiturato sódico-HCl no resultó apropiado

Internet gaming disorder clustering based on personality traits in adolescents, and its relation with comorbid psychological symptoms

Altres ajuts: This work was funded by an AIS (Atención e Investigación en Socioaddiciones) intramural research program. This research is partially supported by the Marsden grant E2987-3648 (Royal Society of New Zealand).In recent years, the evidence regarding Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) suggests that some personality traits are important risk factors for developing this problem. The heterogeneity involved in problematic online gaming and differences found in the literature regarding the comorbid psychopathology associated with the problem could be explained through different types of gamers. Clustering analysis can allow organization of a collection of personality traits into clusters based on similarity. The objectives of this study were: (1) to obtain an empirical classification of IGD patients according to personality variables and (2) to describe the resultant groups in terms of clinical and sociodemographic variables. The sample included 66 IGD adolescent patients who were consecutive referrals at a mental health center in Barcelona, Spain. A Gaussian mixture model cluster analysis was used in order to classify the subjects based on their personality. Two clusters based on personality traits were detected: type I "higher comorbid symptoms" (n = 24), and type II "lower comorbid symptoms" (n = 42). The type I included higher scores in introversive, inhibited, doleful, unruly, forceful, oppositional, self-demeaning and borderline tendency traits, and lower scores in histrionic, egotistic and conforming traits. The type I obtained higher scores on all the Symptom Check List-90 items-Revised, all the State-Trait Anxiety Index scales, and on the DSM-5 IGD criteria. Differences in personality can be useful in determining clusters with different types of dysfunctionality

Estudio de la formación de cristales por bacterias en medios tamponados

Se investiga la precipitación bacteriana de carbonato cálcico en el medio B-4 tamponado con tres sistemas bufer diferentes a los pH 7 Y 8, por 96 cepas bacterianas aisladas del suelo. A pH 8 se observa precipitación de C03Ca en todas las cepas ensayadas, mientras que el pH 7 solo ocurre excepcionalmente. Los tampones tris-hidroxmetil amino metano-HCl y clorhidrato de trietanol amina-OHNa se revelaron idóneos para estas experiencias, mientras que el tampón 5:5 dietil barbiturato sódico-HCl no resultó apropiado.Calcium carbonate precipitation by, 96 strains isolated from soil, was studied in B-4 buffered medium using three different systems at pH 7 and 8. CaC03 precipitation at pH 8 is observed in aH the strains investigated, whereas it occurs only exceptionally at pH 7. The tris-hydroximethyl amino methane-CIH and hydrochloride triethanol amine-NaOH were adequated for these experiments, but the 5:5 diethyl sodium barbiturate was not considered suitable

Small is fast: astrocytic glucose and lactate metabolism at cellular resolution

Brain tissue is highly dynamic in terms of electrical activity and energy demand. Relevant energy metabolites have turnover times ranging from milliseconds to seconds and are rapidly exchanged between cells and within cells. Until recently these fast metabolic events were inaccessible, because standard isotopic techniques require use of populations of cells and/or involve integration times of tens of minutes. Thanks to fluorescent probes and recently available genetically-encoded optical nanosensors, this Technology Report shows how it is now possible to monitor the concentration of metabolites in real-time and in single cells. In combination with ad hoc inhibitor-stop protocols, these probes have revealed a key role for K(+) in the acute stimulation of astrocytic glycolysis by synaptic activity. They have also permitted detection of the Warburg effect in single cancer cells. Genetically-encoded nanosensors currently exist for glucose, lactate, NADH and ATP, and it is envisaged that other metabolite nanosensors will soon be available. These optical tools together with improved expression systems and in vivo imaging, herald an exciting era of single-cell metabolic analysis