Diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddy fields and analysis of their potential as bioinoculants

The marshes of the Guadalquivir River contain the largest area of rice cultivation in Spain, where more than 40,000 ha are used every year for rice production. These wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, and represent a unique aquaticterrestrial habitat that hold more wintering waterfowl than any other European wetland. Paddies require large amounts nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth, development and production. Though, flooded conditions used for rice cultivation drastically diminish efficiency inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, being only 30–40% used by the plant, and in some cases even less. Large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are dissolved in the surface water and lost, causing environmental pollution and health problems due to losses through N2O and NO volatilization, denitrification, and leaching (Ishii et al., 2011)

Redes de transmisión inteligente. Beneficios y riesgos

ResumenActualmente los sistemas eléctricos operan cada vez más cercanos a sus límites de estabilidad, es por ello que se hace necesaria y primordial la transición hacia nuevos sistemas de transmisión que garanticen la eficiente entrega de la energía eléctrica, evitando con ello cortes de energía que generan importantes pérdidas en la economía de cualquier país del mundo. En este documento se realiza un análisis de los elementos necesarios para una sana y eficiente transición de una red de transmisión eléctrica verticalmente, integrada hacia una red de transmisión inteligente. Se presenta un análisis comparativo entre dos de los marcos de referencia más importantes, el de la UE y el de EUA, en el modelo, desarrollo, beneficios y riesgos en la implementación de estos sistemas.AbstractNowadays the Power Systems are working near their stability limits, for this reason it is necessary and essential a transition to new transmission systems that ensure efficient delivery of electrical energy, with the objective to prevent “blackouts” that cause significant losses in the economy of any country in the world. This paper analyzes important elements to consider having a healthy and efficient transition from a power grid vertically integrated into a smart transmission grid. A comparative analysis in the model, development, benefits and risks of the implementation of these systems, between two of the main marc of references of smart grids, the EU and the USA is presented

Spectropolarimetric multi line analysis of stellar magnetic fields

In this paper we study the feasibility of inferring the magnetic field from polarized multi-line spectra using two methods: The pseudo line approach and The PCA-ZDI approach. We use multi-line techniques, meaning that all the lines of a stellar spectrum contribute to obtain a polarization signature. The use of multiple lines dramatically increases the signal to noise ratio of these polarizations signatures. Using one technique, the pseudo-line approach, we construct the pseudo-line as the mean profile of all the individual lines. The other technique, the PCA-ZDI approach proposed recently by Semel et al. (2006) for the detection of polarized signals, combines Principle Components Analysis (PCA) and the Zeeman Do ppler Imaging technique (ZDI). This new method has a main advantage: the polarized signature is extracted using cross correlations between the stellar spectra nd functions containing the polarization properties of each line. These functions are the principal components of a database of synthetic spectra. The synthesis of the spectra of the database are obtained using the radiative transfer equations in LTE. The profiles built with the PCA-ZDI technique are denominated Multi-Zeeman-Signatures. The construction of the pseudo line as well as the Multi-Zeeman-Signatures is a powerful tool in the study of stellar and solar magnetic fields. The information of the physical parameters that governs the line formation is contained in the final polarized profiles. In particular, using inversion codes, we have shown that the magnetic field vector can be properly inferred with both approaches despite the magnetic field regime.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddy fields and analysis of their potential as bioinoculants

The marshes of the Guadalquivir River contain the largest area of rice cultivation in Spain, where more than 40,000 ha are used every year for rice production. These wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, and represent a unique aquatic-terrestrial habitat that hold more wintering waterfowl than any other European wetland.Paddies require large amounts nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth, development and production. Though, flooded conditions used for rice cultivation drastically diminish efficiency inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, being only 30–40% used by the plant, and in some cases even less. Large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are dissolved in the surface water and lost, causing environmental pollution and health problems due to losses through N2O and NO volatilization, denitrification, and leaching (Ishii et al., 2011).The paddy field ecosystem provides a favourable environment for the growth of phototrophic microorganisms including nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, as it meets their requirements for light, water, temperature and nutrient availability. The ability of this type of cyanobacteria to fix N2 provides a natural source of fixed nitrogen to the plant that is evidently priceless, and encourages research to develop new cyanobacteria-based biofertilizers for rice cultivation. In our laboratory, diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddies has been studied by means of metagenomic analysis and classical microbiological approaches. We have found that agronomic techniques influence microbial diversity (Ramírez-Moncayo et al., 2018). We have also isolated Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria from the paddy fields and we have found that Nostocaceae and Rivulariaceae are the dominant N2-fixing cyanobacteria families in these isolates (Alves-Martínez et al., 2017). Genetic analysis of the different isolates revealed the presence of new uncharacterized strains. We have evaluated their potential as bioinoculants for plant fortification. Some of the strains showed a strong attraction and attachment to rice roots, which could be an indication of possible supply to the plant of nitrogen-fixed metabolites by the cyanobacterium. These isolates might be used for the formulation of new ecological biofertilizers alternative to chemical synthetic fertilizers

Intervención farmacéutica en un caso de bradicardia asociada al uso de timolol por vía oftálmica

Una paciente habitual de nuestra farmacia comunitaria nos consulta acerca de un cuadro de astenia, debilidad y fatiga de varias semanas de evolución. Tras realizar el estado de situación inicial y estudiar el caso detectamos varios problemas relacionados con medicamentos, siendo una marcada bradicardia el más acuciante. El estudio en detalle de la farmacoterapia de la paciente revela que la fracción de timolol absorbida tras su instilación ocular, que emplea para tratar su hipertensión ocular, podría ser responsable de una acusada disminución de su frecuencia cardiaca. Dicha bradicardia puede ser especialmente significativa en personas de edad avanzada y en individuos que, como consecuencia del polimorfismo de la enzima responsable del metabolismo de timolol, expresan un determinado genotipo con menor capacidad de biotransformación. Intervenimos indicando a la paciente la conveniencia de que su médico valorase otras opciones para el tratamiento de la hipertensión ocular. Tras una visita a urgencias por el agravamiento de los síntomas, se constata la bradicardia severa y el betabloqueante es sustituido por un tratamiento alternativo (latanoprost). La intervención farmacéutica resulta en la retirada de timolol, la remisión de los síntomas y en la resolución de dos problemas relacionados con medicamentos

The informal social support for autonomy and dependence in pain inventory Spanish version

Social support plays a crucial role in the quality of life of people with chronic pain. The Informal Social Support for Autonomy and Dependence in Pain Inventory assesses two functions of received social support: the promotion of autonomy and the promotion of dependence. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to adapt this instrument for its use in the Spanish population. The sample comprised 256 individuals with chronic pain. Participants were recruited through two local associations of people with fibromyalgia, a physiotherapy unit and a hospital pain unit. The data were collected in Spain between October 2018 and January 2020. The structure of the questionnaire was analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, average variance extracted, composite reliability and internal consistency indexes, and inter-correlations between the scales. The criterion-related validity of the instrument was analysed by investigating its relationship with pain intensity, positive and negative affect, daily functioning, activity impairment, wellbeing and satisfaction with life. The structure with the best fit had four related factors: emotional social support for the promotion of autonomy; instrumental social support for the promotion of autonomy; emotional social support for the promotion of dependence and instrumental social support for the promotion of dependence. The scales showed adequate internal consistency. An association was found between higher levels of instrumental social support for the promotion of dependence and higher levels of pain-related disability and decreased daily functioning. An association was also found between the promotion of autonomy and increased satisfaction with life. The Spanish version of the inventory shows appropriate psychometric properties. In the setting of disability prevention, this instrument is useful in assessing the support relationships between people with chronic pain and their relatives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Intervención farmacéutica en un caso de bradicardia asociada al uso de timolol por vía oftálmica

Una paciente habitual de nuestra farmacia comunitaria nos consulta acerca de un cuadro de astenia, debilidad y fatiga de varias semanas de evolución. Tras realizar el estado de situación inicial y estudiar el caso detectamos varios problemas relacionados con medicamentos, siendo una marcada bradicardia el más acuciante. El estudio en detalle de la farmacoterapia de la paciente revela que la fracción de timolol absorbida tras su instilación ocular, que emplea para tratar su hipertensión ocular, podría ser responsable de una acusada disminución de su frecuencia cardiaca. Dicha bradicardia puede ser especialmente significativa en personas de edad avanzada y en individuos que, como consecuencia del polimorfismo de la enzima responsable del metabolismo de timolol, expresan un determinado genotipo con menor capacidad de biotransformación. Intervenimos indicando a la paciente la conveniencia de que su médico valorase otras opciones para el tratamiento de la hipertensión ocular. Tras una visita a urgencias por el agravamiento de los síntomas, se constata la bradicardia severa y el betabloqueante es sustituido por un tratamiento alternativo (latanoprost). La intervención farmacéutica resulta en la retirada de timolol, la remisión de los síntomas y en la resolución de dos problemas relacionados con medicamentos