Towards a new philological edition of Vincent Ferrer’s Lenten sermons (València, 1413): a specimen

L’article presenta una nova edició fi lològica, actualment en preparació, dels cinquanta-tres sermons de quaresma predicats l’any 1413 a València per Vicent Ferrer (València, Arxiu de la Catedral, ms. 273). Després d’una breu introducció en què s’aborden les raons que justifi quen una nova edició d’aquest sermonari, s’ofereix una mostra del text crític, acompanyat d’un aparat textual i de notes explicatives.This paper showcases an ongoing new philological edition of Vincent Ferrer’s fi fty-three Lenten sermons preached in València in 1413 (València, Cathedral Archive, ms. 273). A short introduction that gives the rationale for a new edition of this sermonary is followed by a sample of the critical text, supplemented by a textual apparatus and explanatory notes

Nitrogen deposition in Spain : modeled patterns and threatened habitats within the Natura 2000 network

The Mediterranean Basin presents an extraordinary biological richness but very little information is available on the threat that air pollution, and in particular reactive nitrogen (N), can pose to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This study represents the first approach to assess the risk of N enrichment effects on Spanish ecosystems. The suitability of EMEP and CHIMERE air quality model systems as tools to identify those areas where effects of atmospheric N deposition could be occurring was tested. For this analysis, wet deposition of NO₃− and NH₄+ estimated with EMEP and CHIMERE model systems were compared with measured data for the period 2005-2008 obtained from different monitoring networks in Spain. Wet N deposition was acceptably predicted by both models, showing better results for oxidized than for reduced nitrogen, particularly when using CHIMERE. Both models estimated higher wet deposition values in northern and northeastern Spain, and decreasing along a NE-SW axis. Total (wet + dry) nitrogen deposition in 2008 reached maxima values of 19.4 and 23.0 kg N ha¯¹ year¯¹ using EMEP and CHIMERE models respectively. Total N deposition was used to estimate the exceedance of N empirical critical loads in the Natura 2000 network. Grassland habitats proved to be the most threatened group, particularly in the northern alpine area, pointing out that biodiversity conservation in these protected areas could be endangered by N deposition. Other valuable mountain ecosystems can be also threatened, indicating the need to extend atmospheric deposition monitoring networks to higher altitudes in Spain

Feeding behavior and growth of Hermissenda crassicornis (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) in the laboratory

The feeding behavior and growth of the nudibranch mollusc Hermissenda crassicomis, a gener‐alist carnivore, has been studied; this species is widely used as a biomedical and neurobiological model. Relative to the stalks, polyps of the hydroid prey, Tubularia crocea, were preferentially consumed by adults of H. crassicomis at a fast rate. Starved slugs did not distinguish between reproductive and unreproductive polyps, but unstarved slugs did select unreproductive polyps of T. ‘crocea. Experiments with diets based on different parts of T. crocea (polyps, stalks, or whole) showed no obvious differences in juvenile growth among treatments, but survival of juveniles was low. Juveniles of H. crassicomis .grew better on a diet of the small anemone Haliplanella luciae than on T. crocea or the anemone Metridium senile. The relationship between body length and wet weight of H. crassicomis was similar for animals grown in the laboratory on a T. crocea diet and specimens from the field.Peer reviewe

Induction of metamorphosis in Hermissenda crassicornis larvae (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) by GABA, choline and serotonin

The nudibranch mollusc Hermissenda crassicornis is currently used as a biomedical model in neurobiological studies. It possesses planktotrophic larvae which metamorphose in the laboratory in the presence of the hydroid Tubularia crocea in yields of about 2–5% (Tamse et al., 1990). This study presents evidence that artificial metamorphic inducers such as GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), choline, and serotonin (alone or combined with the natural inducer T. crocea), can be used to improve the metamorphic success in H. crassicornis larvae. GABA at 10−5M and 10−4M, choline at 10−3M and 10−4M, and serotonin at 10−5 M and 10−4M, were most effective, while serotonin at 10−3 M was toxic. Larvae 47 and 63 days old metamorphosed at different rates when exposed to the same concentrations of chemicals, but these had no positive effect on young larvae, i.e., 28 and 39 days old. On the other hand, when young larvae were exposed to the natural inducer, an habituation phenomenon was observed, i.e., the larvae did not metamorphose. Exposing the larvae to the natural inducer after larval day 47 improved the metamorphic yield by about 100%. These results indicate that the optimum larval age for inducing metamorphosis in H. crassicornis is older than previously considered.Peer reviewe