Evaluación y modelización son SIG del efecto del manejo del suelo y planta sobre la generación de escorrentía, pérdida de suelo y conectividad hidrológica en la cuenca del Río Vero (Huesca, NE España)

11 Pags. conteniendo Preliminares, Resúmenes amplios e Índice. Tesis del autor dirigida por el Dr. Manuel López-Vicente, investigador EEAD-CSIC, y publicada conjuntamente por el Instituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza (IAMZ), dependiente del Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes (CIHEAM), y la Universidad de LLeida dentro de la colección Thesis Master of Science del CIHEAM.[ES] En esta Tesis de Máster se ha aplicado uno de los índices hidrológicos más conocido y aceptado, el índice de conectividad de Borselli, junto con un nuevo índice de conectividad agregado, denominado AIC, que integra un mayor número de procesos. Ambos índices han generado con éxito los mapas de conectividad hidrológica estructural de la cuenca del río Vero (provincia de Huesca, 380 km'). El nuevo índice también ha permitido simular la conectividad funcional durante 96 meses, y evaluar el peso relativo de las heterogeneidades de la cuenca seleccionada. El nuevo índice integra información detallada de la topografía, usos del terreno, erosividad de la lluvia, rugosidad de la superficie y capacidad de retención del agua en el suelo . Estas mejoras han resultado en mapas más realistas y representativos de los procesos de conectividad hidrológica tanto estructural éomo funcional. Los cambios espaciales y temporales se evaluaron en los diferentes usos del suelo y elementos geomorfológicos.[EN] In this Master's Thesis, one of the most we\1-known and accepted hydro\ogica\ indexes has been applied, the Borselli's connectivity index, as we\\ as a new aggregated index of connectivity (Ale) that integrales a larger number of processes. Both indices successfully generated the maps of structural hydrologica\ connectivity of the Vero River Basin (380 km 2, province of Huesca, NE Spain). The new index has a\so made it possible to simulate functional connectivity for 96 months, and to eva\uate the relative weight of the heterogeneities of the selected basin. The new index integrales detailed information on topography, land uses, rainfall erosivity, surface roughness and soil water retention capacity. These improvements have resu\ted in more realistic and representative maps of hydrological connectivity processes, both structural and functional. Spatial and temporal changes were evaluated in the different land uses and geomorphologica\ features.[FR] A travers de la présente thése de ma,trise, a été appliquée l'un des plus connus et acceptés indices hydrologiques, !'indice de connectivité de Borselli, ainsi qu'un nouvel indice agregé de la connectivité hydrologique (AIC) qui integre un plus grand nombre de processus. Les deux indices ont généré avec succés les cartes de connectivité hydrologique structurelle du bassin de la riviére Vero (province de Huesca, 380 km2). Le nouvel indice a également permis de simuler la connectivité fonctionnelle pendant 96 mois et d'évaluer le poids relatif des hétérogénéités du bassin sélectionné. Le nouvel indice intégre des informations détaillées sur la topographie, l'utilisation des sois, l'érosivité de la pluie, la rugosité de la couche superficie! du sol et la capacité de rétention d'eau dans le sol.Peer reviewe

Computing structural and functional flow and sediment connectivity with a new aggregated index: A case study in a large Mediterranean catchment

50 Pags.- 3 Tabls.- 10 Figs. The definitive version is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00489697Hydrological connectivity in large catchments is influenced by natural and human-induced heterogeneities and dynamic processes. In this study, a new aggregated index (AIC) based on topography, C-RUSLE factor, RUSLE2 rainfall erosivity, residual topography and soil permeability, was proposed to model structural and functional flow and sediment connectivity (FSC). It was tested in a large Mediterranean catchment (Vero River, NE Spain, 380 km2) with contrasted physiographic and climatic conditions (19 land uses and 15 types of lithology). Twelve weather stations were used and simulations were done at 5 m of pixel resolution using a LiDAR-derived DEM and the D-Infinity algorithm. Structural FSC (FSC-st) was computed with both an updated version of Borselli's index (IC) and the AIC. Values of connectivity with AIC followed a normal distribution with a wider range of values compared with the non-normal distribution obtained with Borselli's approach. The differences in the values of FSC-st between the different land uses were similar with the two indices and in agreement with the soil erosion rates reported in comparable landscapes. The spatial characteristics at sub-catchment scale were better reflected with AIC although values of FSC-st in the river and outlet were similar between both indices. Functional FSC (FSC-fn) was computed with AIC during 96 months (September 2009–August 2017) characterising the spatio-temporal dynamic at catchment scale (18% of coefficient of variation). FSC-fn was higher in September, October, June and July and lower during the period December–February. Variation of connectivity in the stream was higher than in the hillslopes. Modelling testing with river flow was satisfactory between November and March, and during the months with high discharge values and weak during the summer, suggesting different runoff and sediment responses over the year. The new AIC appeared as a suitable tool for geomorphic and hydrological studies at catchment scale.This research was funded by the project “Environmental and economic impact of soil loss (soil erosion footprint) in agro-ecosystems of the Ebro river basin: numerical modelling and scenario analysis (EroCostModel) (CGL2014-54877-JIN)” of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. N.B.S. was beneficiary of a scholarship of the IAMZ-CIHEAM (Master of Science, second course, 2017-2018).Peer reviewe

Mono or double Pd-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization for the annulative π-extension of 1,8-dibromonaphthalene: a one pot access to fluoranthene derivatives

The Pd-catalyzed annulative π-extension of 1,8-dibromonaphthalene for the preparation of fluoranthenes in a single operation has been investigated. With specific arenes such as fluorobenzenes, the Pd-catalyzed double functionalization of C–H bonds yields the desired fluoranthenes. The reaction proceeds via a palladium-catalyzed direct intermolecular arylation, followed by a direct intramolecular arylation step. As the C–H bond activation of several benzene derivatives remains very challenging, the preparation of fluoranthenes from 1,8-dibromonaphthalene via Suzuki coupling followed by intramolecular C–H activation has also been investigated to provide a complementary method. Using the most appropriate synthetic route and substrates, it is possible to introduce the desired functional groups at positions 7–10 on fluoranthenes

Immunogenicity of Mix-and-Match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 Regimen versus Homologous CoronaVac/CoronaVac Vaccination: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Parallel Group Superiority Trial

(1) Background: This study aimed to compare the immunogenicity of the mix-and-match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 vaccination to the homologous CoronaVac/CoronaVac regimen. (2) Methods: We conducted a simple-blinded randomized superiority trial to measure SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibodies and anti-spike receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG concentrations in blood samples of participants who had received the first dose of CoronaVac vaccine followed by a dose of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac vaccine. The primary endpoint for immunogenicity was the serum-neutralizing antibody level with a percentage of inhibition at 90% at 21–35 days after the boost. A difference of 25% between groups was considered clinically relevant. (3) Results: Among the 240 eligible participants, the primary endpoint data were available for 100 participants randomly allocated to the mix-and-match group versus 99 participants randomly allocated to the homologous dose group. The mix-and-match regimen elicited significantly higher levels of neutralizing antibodies (median level of 96%, interquartile range (IQR) (95–97) versus median level of 94%, IQR (81–96) and anti-spike IgG antibodies (median level of 13,460, IQR (2557–29,930) versus median level of 1190, IQR (347–4964) compared to the homologous group. Accordingly, the percentage of subjects with a percentage of neutralizing antibodies > 90% was significantly higher in the mix-and-match group (90.0%) versus the homologous (60.6%). Interestingly, no severe events were reported within 30 days after the second dose of vaccination in both groups. (4) Conclusions: Our data showed the superiority of the mix-and-match CoronaVac/BNT162b2 vaccination compared to the CoronaVac/CoronaVac regimen in terms of immunogenicity, thus constituting a proof-of-concept study supporting the use of inactivated vaccines in a mix-and-match strategy while ensuring good immunogenicity and safety

A High Omega-3 Fatty Acid Diet Reduces Retinal Lesions in a Murine Model of Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading cause of blindness among the elderly; however, current therapy options are limited. Epidemiological studies have shown that a diet that is high in ω-3 polyunsaturated (n-3) fatty acids can slow disease progression in patients with advanced AMD. In this study, we evaluated the effect of such a diet on the retinas of Ccl2−/−/Cx3cr1−/− mice, a model that develops AMD-like retinal lesions that include focal deep retinal lesions, abnormal retinal pigment epithelium, photoreceptor degeneration, and A2E accumulation. Ccl2−/−/Cx3cr1−/− mice that ingested a high n-3 fatty acid diet showed a slower progression of retinal lesions compared with the low n-3 fatty acids group. Some mice that were given high levels of n-3 fatty acids had lesion reversion. We found a shunted arachidonic acid metabolism that resulted in decreased pro-inflammatory derivatives (prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4) and an increased anti-inflammatory derivative (prostaglandin D2). We also measured lower ocular TNF-α and IL-6 transcript levels in the mice fed a diet of high n-3 fatty acids. Our findings in these mice are in line with human studies of AMD risk reduction by long-chain n-3 fatty acids. This murine model provides a useful tool to evaluate therapies that might delay the development of AMD