Dobson-stations performance assessment using TOMS data

Examples of comparisons of monthly summaries (based on daily measurements) of some of the regularily operating Dobson stations, with the values deduced from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) overpass are given. Shortcomings in certain Dobson stations are identified, such as: use of an incorrect value for the extraterrestrial constant (HOBART); sudden large volume changes (Brisbane); unusually low Dobson readings (Mauna Loa); and use of inaccurate cloud blue sky charts, causing fictitious differences with direct sun measurements (Toronto)

Characteristics of episodes with extremely low ozone values in the northern middle latitudes 1957?2000

International audienceA number of episodes are observed when the total ozone for 2 to 3 days has fallen below 220 matm-cm in the northern mid- and polar latitudes in autumn. The occurrences of such episodes represent ozone deviations of about one-third from the pre-1976 Oct-Nov-Dec monthly mean! By using primarily quality checked Dobson data, a clear identification was made of more than three dozen short spells with extremely low ozone in the 1957?1978 period. In the following twenty-two years (1979?2000), using mainly TOMS data, one can identify ~ 46 cases with ozone values falling below 220 matm-cm for longer than 1 day, with each time over an area greater than 500,000 km2 . The Ozone Mass Deficiency (O3MD) from the pre-1976 average ozone values over the affected area was ~2.8 Mt per day, i.e. four to seven times greater than it would be, assuming only a long-term trend in the Oct-Nov-Dec period. The Extremely Low Ozone (ELO3) events on the day of their appearance over the N. Atlantic/European region contribute to the O3MD by representing 16% of the deficiency due to the Oct-Nov trend in the entire 40?65° N latitudinal belt. The O3MD of the greater pool with low ozone (here taken as 3 events cause a significant deficiency above the tropopause where, in general, the subtropical air is injected. In fact, the overall amount of ozone is not depleted, but redistributed on the hemispheric scale. Review of low ozone events, defined as days with negative deviations from the pre-1976 averages greater than 25% show, in general, similar origin. The seasonally averaged area with ELO3 and the associated O3MD, as well as for the cases with deviations > ?25%, has increased during the 1990s, which could be an indication of stronger and/or more frequent subtropical air intrusions. Their occurrences could contribute noticeably to the ozone deficiency of the middle latitude ozone during the days of ELO3 appearances; however, their contribution to the long-term trend of the ozone seasonal decline is of the order of ~10%

Special Issue: Microorganisms and Plant Nutrition

This work was supported by the EXCALIBUR project funded from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 817946 and project P18-HO-4279 Junta de Andalucia-PAIDI 2020, Spain.Plant-beneficial microorganisms affect plant nutrition and health, as a key part of prebiotic-, probiotic-, and symbiotic-based interactions [1]. However, the application of soil microbial inoculants as biofertilizers and biopesticides in agriculture is still limited by factors related to their formulation, application method, and the lack of sufficient knowledge about the impact and interactions between microbial inoculants and native soil and plant host microbiomes [2,3].EXCALIBUR project from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme 817946Junta de Andalucia-PAIDI 2020, Spain P18-HO-427

Efecte antimicrobià de formulacions netejadores de interès industrial en cèl·lules en suspensió i biopel·lícules

Las biopelículas son una fuente de contaminación de difícil eliminación debido a su resistencia a los procedimientos de limpieza y de higiene convencionales. En este trabajo se ha evaluado las propiedades antimicrobianas a temperatura ambiente de tensioactivos de interés industrial en la formulación de detergentes. En primer lugar se estudió la capacidad de adhesión de la levadura Yarrowia lipolytica y del moho Aspergillus niger a superficies de espuma de poliuretano y de vidrio, así como su habilidad para formar biopelículas bajo diferentes condiciones de cultivo. Las biopelículas más estables fueron tratadas a temperatura ambiente con una mezcla de un alquilpoliglucósido y un alcohol graso etoxilado, y con un ácido alquil éter carboxílico. Los resultados experimentales mostraron que células formando parte de biopelículas eran más resistentes al tratamiento desinfectante que células libres en suspensión del mismo microorganismo. Aunque las soluciones de tensioactivos ensayadas fueron poco eficaces contra biopelículas, mostraron un gran efecto inhibidor sobre células en disolución. Además inhiben la formación de nuevas biopelículas. Por lo tanto, los buenos efectos antimicrobianos de estos tensioactivos ecológicos a temperatura ambiente podrían proporcionarles un interés potencial en procedimientos de limpieza a baja temperatura.Biofilms are a challenging source of contamination due to their resistance to conventional cleaning and hygiene procedures. In this work, we assessed the antimicrobial properties at room temperature of surfactants of industrial interest in detergent formulation. The adhesion abilities of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and the mould Aspergillus niger to polyurethane foam and glass surfaces and their ability to develop as biofilm was firstly studied under different culture conditions. The most stable biofilms were then treated at room temperature with a mixture of an alkylpolyglucoside and an ethoxylated fatty alcohol, and with an ether carboxylate. Experimental results illustrated that surface-attached cells were more resistant to disinfectant treatment than cells of the same microorganism grown in suspension. Although the assayed surfactant solutions hardly removed attached biofilms, they showed a great inhibitory effect on free-living cells. What is more, biofilms did not grow during treatments. Therefore, the good antimicrobial effects of these ecological surfactants at room temperature could provide them a potential interest in low-temperature cleaning in place procedures.Les biopel·lícules son una font de contaminació de difícil eliminació degut a la seva resistència als procediments de neteja i higiene convencionals. En aquest treball s’han avaluat les propietats antimicrobianes a temperatura ambient de tensioactius d’interès industrial en la formulació de detergents. En primer lloc es va estudiar la capacitat d’adhesió del llevat Yarrowia lipolytica i de la floridura Aspergillus niger a superfícies d’espuma de poliuretà i de vidre, així com la seva habilitat per a formar biopel·lícules sota diferents condicions de cultiu. Les biopel•lícules més estables van ser tractades a temperatura ambient amb una barreja d’un alquilpoliglucósid i un alcohol gras etoxilat, i amb un àcid alquil èter carboxílic. Els resultats experimentals mostren que cèl·lules formant part de biopel ·lícules eren mes resistents al tractament desinfectant que cèl·lules lliures en suspensió del mateix microorganisme, encara que les solucions de tensioactius assajades van ser poc eficaces contra biopel·lícules, mostrant un gran efecte inhibidor sobre cèl·lules en dissolució. A més inhibeixen la formació de noves biopel·lícules. Per tant, els bons efectes antimicrobians d’aquests tensioactius ecològics a temperatura ambient podrien proporcionar-lis un interès potencial en procediments de neteja a baixa temperatura

International Regimes for the Protection of Human Rights: Analytical Implications of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

This article taps into the experience of creating regional human rights regimes in three different regions in order to extract certain commonalities that help create an analytical framework that is valid across the board. It then positions the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights into the so-constructed framework in order to examine the extent to which the two are compatible with each other. While the Charter clearly lends itself to analysis through reference to the framework’s four main dimensions – historical context, regional ethics, strong commitment to implementation and jus commune – it also introduces two additional ones. These stem from the particular context within which the Charter was created and are related to its purpose of legitimising the EU integration project and giving it a written constitutional form. Although the Charter presents itself as a peculiar case among the analysed regional human rights regimes, the article argues that on the most fundamental level its kinship with the family of international human rights instruments is uncontested

Towards Better Understanding of the Interactions and Efficient Application of Plant Beneficial Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics and Synbiotics

Project EXCALIBUR from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme 81794

The Combined Applications of Microbial Inoculants and Organic Fertilizer Improve Plant Growth under Unfavorable Soil Conditions

The performance of two bio-inoculants either in single or in combined applications with organic fertilizer was tested to determine their effect on plant growth and yield under normal and unfavorable field conditions such as low pH value and low content of P. Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF; three species of Glomus) and the plant-growth-promoting bacterial strain Kosakonia radicincitans DSM16656 were applied to barley in a two-year field experiment with different soil pH levels and available nutrients. Grain yield; contents of P, N, K, and Mg; and soil microbial parameters were measured. Grain yield and the content of nutrients were significantly increased by the applications of mineral fertilizer, organic fertilizer, AMF, and K. radicincitans, and the combined application of organic fertilizer with AMF and with K. radicincitans over the control under normal growth conditions. Under low-pH and low-P conditions, only the combined application of the organic fertilizer with K. radicincitans and organic fertilizer with AMF could increase the grain yield and content of nutrients of barley over the control.European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation ProgramProject EXCALIBUR under grant agreement No. 817946EU project SUSTAINABLE, EU grant agreement no. 10100770