Acoustic methods for Gelidium seaweed detection

Se han realizado mediciones del coeficiente de reflexión y absorción de una capa espesa de algas de Gelidium sesquipedale (Clem. Born. et Thur.), sobre un fondo de arena, dispuesto en un tanque de experiencias hidroacústicas. Como resultado de la reducida sección transversal acústica de cada brote del alga, y de su alto contenido de agua, su impedancia acústica tiene un valor muy próximo a la impedancia acústica del agua marina y, en consecuencia, el nivel de blanco de cada brote es muy débil. El rango de frecuencias utilizado parte de 100 kHz, alcanzando 500 kHz. El valor promedio del nivel de difusión de fondo de la capa de alga de Gelidium encontrado varía entre -26 dB y -34 dB en el rango de frecuencias utilizado.The reflection and absorption coefficients of a thick layer of Gelidium sesquipedale (Clem. Born. et Thur.) seaweed covering a sandy bottom were determined in a laboratory tank. As a result of the reduced vertical cross-section and the high water content of this seaweed, its acoustical impedance is very similar to water impedance, and the target strength of each individual seaweed frond is very weak. The usual frequency range for detection of marine life, 100-500 kHz, has been used. The average value of the bottom scattering strength was found to be between -26 dB and -34 dB in the frequency band used.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

New Gravity Map of the Western Galicia Margin:The Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone Project

Since 1995, the most intensive mapping of the seafloor off the Spanish coast has been carried out in the framework of the Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone Project (ZEEE).The main objectives of this project are to obtain improved multibeam bathymetric cartography of the areas off Spanish coastlines, and to perform a geophysical survey,well-suited with a 10-knot navigation velocity (some techniques requires lower navigation velocity). The geophysical survey includes gravity, geomagnetism, and low-penetration seismic techniques in order to infer the geological structure of the seafloor. Other oceanographic variables such as current, surface salinity, and temperature profiles, can be recorded without compromising this systematic survey effort. The ZEEE Project has carried out its survey activities for one month every year.Data acquisition is achieved aboard the Spanish R/V Hesperides. Until 1997, surveying efforts concentrated on the Balearic Sea and Valencia Gulf, both in the western Mediterranean Sea. Between 1998 and 2000, the ZEEE Project investigations were conducted offshore the Canary Archipelago. Since 2001, the third phase of the program has been focused on the West Galicia Margin in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Survey results on the West Galicia Margin area are of interest for two key reasons. First, there is great scientific interest in the improvement of the knowledge of this non-volcanic rifting margin, since this margin offers good conditions for the study of the processes that take place in this type of geological context,because it is sediment-starved. Second, the obtained results also have major socioeconomic repercussions because they can prove significant to defining the expansion of the Spanish shelf,beyond Spain’s Economic Exclusive Zone distance of 200 nautical miles. All of the gravity data acquired to date on this area have been stored as a database, with the aim of preparing gravity anomaly maps on a scale 1:200,000.The database and gravity anomaly charts from the ZEEE Project will provide the most coherent and complete gravity perspective available for this area. This article describes the efforts and accomplishments of the project to date

Asset Management System through the design of a Jadex Agent System

In this paper we have designed an agent system using JADEX platform in order to facilitate the asset management of an institution with several types of assets with some unknown similarities, and a high number of operators. Such environment would justify the use of a recommendation system that would provide an useful plan to be applied over an asset generated from previous maintenance operations hold over other assets. Here we provide the full design of such agent system, including the ontology, beliefs, plans, protocols and goals. This design has been implemented within GAIA: an information & asset management solution developed by Altran

Another beauty of analytical chemistry: chemical analysis of inorganic pigments of art and archaeological objects

[EN] This lecture text shows what fascinating tasks analytical chemists face in Art Conservation and Archaeology, and it is hoped that students reading it will realize that passions for science, arts or history are by no means mutually exclusive. This study describes the main analytical techniques used since the eighteenth century, and in particular, the instrumental techniques developed throughout the last century for analyzing pigments and inorganic materials, in general, which are found in cultural artefacts, such as artworks and archaeological remains. The lecture starts with a historical review on the use of analytical methods for the analysis of pigments from archaeological and art objects. Three different periods can be distinguished in the history of the application of the Analytical Chemistry in Archaeometrical and Art Conservation studies: (a) the "Formation'' period (eighteenth century1930), (b) the "Maturing'' period (1930-1970), and (c) the "Expansion'' period (1970-nowadays). A classification of analytical methods specifically established in the fields of Archaeometry and Conservation Science is also provided. After this, some sections are devoted to the description of a number of analytical techniques, which are most commonly used in routine analysis of pigments from cultural heritage. Each instrumental section gives the fundamentals of the instrumental technique, together with relevant analytical data and examples of applications.Financial support is gratefully acknowledged from Spanish ‘‘I+D+I MINECO’’ projects CTQ2011-28079-CO3-01 and CTQ2014-53736-C3-1-P supported by ERDEF funds.Domenech Carbo, MT.; Osete Cortina, L. (2016). 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In: Proceedings of the International School of Physics “Enrico Fermi”. IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp 407–432Doménech-Carbó A, Doménech-Carbó MT, Valle-Algarra FM, Domine ME, Osete-Cortina L (2013) On the dehydroindigo contribution to Maya Blue. J Mat Sci 48:7171–7183Lovric M, Scholz F (1997) A model for the propagation of a redox reaction through microcrystals. J Solid State Electrochem 1:108–113Fitzgerald AG, Storey BE, Fabian D (1993) Quantitative microbeam analysis. Scottish Universities Sumer School in Physics and Institute of Physics Publishing, BristolDoménech-Carbó A (2015) Dating: an analytical task. ChemTexts 1:5Mairinger F, Schreiner M (1982) New methods of chemical analysis-a tool for the conservator. Science and Technology in the service of conservation, IIC, London, pp 5–13Malissa H, Benedetti-Pichler AA (1958) Anorganische qualitative Mikroanalyse. Springer, New YorkTertian R, Claisse F (1982) Principles of quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis. 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Springer, BerlinGoldstein JI, Newbury DE, Echlin P, Joy DC, Lyman CE, Echlin P, Lifshin E, Sawyer L, Michael JR (2003) Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Plenum Press, New YorkDoménech-Carbó A, Doménech-Carbó MT, Más-Barberá X (2007) Identification of lead pigments in nanosamples from ancient paintings and polychromed sculptures using voltammetry of nanoparticles/atomic force microscopy. Talanta 71:1569–1579Reedy TJ, Reedy ChL (1988) Statistical analysis in art conservation research. The Getty Conservation Institute, Los AngelesEastaugh N, Walsh V, Chaplin T, Siddall R (2004) Pigment compendium, optical microscopy of historical pigments. Elsevier, OxfordFeller RL, Bayard M (1986) Terminology and procedures used in the systematic examination of pigment particles with polarizing microscope. In: Feller RL (ed) Artists’ pigment. A handbook of their history and characteristics, vol 1. National Gallery of Art, Washington, pp 285–298Feller RL (ed) (1986) Artists’ pigment. 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National Gallery of Art, Washington, pp 65–108Domenech-Carbó MT, de Agredos Vazquez, Pascual ML, Osete-Cortina L, Domenech A, Guasch-Ferré N, Manzanilla LR, Vidal C (2012) Characterization of Pre-hispanic cosmetics found in a burial of the ancient city of Teotihuacan (Mexico). J Archaeol Sci 39:1043–1062Mühlethaler B, Thissen J (1993) Smalt. In: Roy A (ed) Artists’ pigments. A handbook of their history and characteristics, vol 2. National Gallery of Art, Washington, pp 113–130Musumarra G, Fichera M (1998) Chemometrics and cultural heritage. Chemometr Intell Lab Syst 44:363–372Hochleitner B, Schreiner M, Drakopoulos M, Snigireva I, Snigirev A (2005) Analysis of paint layers by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and synchrotron induced X-ray micro-diffraction. In: Van Grieken R, Janssens K (eds) Cultural heritage conservation and environment impact assessment by non-destructive testing and micro-analysis. AA Balkema Publishers, London, pp 171–182Švarcová S, Kočí E, Bezdička P, Hradil D, Hradilová J (2010) Evaluation of laboratory powder X-ray micro-diffraction for applications in the fields of cultural heritage and forensic science. Anal Bioanal Chem 398:1061–1076Van de Voorde L, Vekemans B, Verhaeven E, Tack P, DeWolf R, Garrevoet J, Vandenabeele P, Vincze L (2015) Analytical characterization of a new mobile X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction instrument combined with a pigment identification case study. Spectrochim Acta B 110:14–19Hochleitner B, Desnica V, Mantler M, Schreiner M (2003) Historical pigments: a collection analyzed with X-ray diffraction analysis and X-ray fluorescence analysis in order to create a database. Spectrochim Acta B 58:641–649Middleton PS, Ospitali F, Di Lonardo F (2005) Case study: painters and decorators: Raman spectroscopic studies of five Romano-British villas and the Domus Coiedii at Suasa, Italy. 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Results of the meteorological model WRF-ARW over Catalonia, using different parameterizations of convection and cloud microphysics

The meteorological model WRF-ARW (Weather Research and Forecasting - Advanced ResearchWRF) is a new generation model that has a worldwide growing community of users. In theframework of a project that studies the feasibility of implementing it operationally at the Mete-orological Service of Catalonia, a verification of the forecasts produced by the model in severalcases of precipitation observed over Catalonia has been carried out. Indeed, given the impor-tance of precipitation forecasts in this area, one of the main objectives was to study the sensitivityof the model in different configurations of its parameterizations of convection and cloud micro-physics. In this paper, we present the results of this verification for two domains, a 36-km gridsize and one of 12 km grid size, unidirectionally nested to the previous one. In the externaldomain, the evaluation was based on the analysis of the main statistical parameters (ME andRMSE) for temperature, relative humidity, geopotential and wind, and it has been determinedthat the combination using the Kain-Fritsch convective scheme with the WSM5 microphysicalscheme has provided the best results. Then, with this configuration set for the external domain,some forecasts at the nested domain have been done, by combining different convection andcloud microphysics schemes, leading to the conclusion that the most accurate configuration isthe one combining the convective parameterization of Kain-Fritsch and the Thompson micro-physics scheme

Impact of climate change environmental conditions on the resilience of different formulations of the biocontrol agent Candida sake CPA‐1 on grapes

Biocontrol agents have become componentsof integrated crop protection systemsfor controlling economically important fungal pathogens.Candida sakeCPA-1 is abiocontrol agent of fungal pathogens of fruits, both pre- and post-harvest. Whilethe efficacy of different formulations have been examined previously, few studieshave considered the resilience of different formulations under changing climaticconditions of elevated temperature, drought stress and increased atmospheric CO2.This study examined the effect of (a) temperature9RH9elevated CO2(400vs1000 ppm) on the temporal establishment and viability of two dry and one liquidC. sakeCPA-1 formulations on grape berry surfaces; (b) temperature stress (25vs35°C); and (c) elevated CO2levels. Results indicated that temperature, RH and CO2concentration influenced the establishment and viability of the formulations butthere was no significant difference between formulations. For the combined three-component factors, increased temperature (35°C) and lower RH (40%) reduced theviable populations on grapes. The interaction with elevated CO2improved theestablishment of viable populations of the formulations tested. Viable populationsgreater than Log 4 CFUs per g were recovered from the grape surfaces suggestingthat these had conserved resilience for control ofBotrytisrot in grapes.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Ellagic acid: Biological properties and biotechnological development for production processes

Ellagic acid, 2,3,7,8-tetrahydroxy-chromeno[5,4,3-cde]chromene-5,10-dione, is a powerful bioactive compound with many potential pharmacological and industrial applications. In this review, the chemical aspects, biological properties and diverse potential applications of ellagic acid for different industries were described. This review also discussed the advance in ellagitannin biodegradation, focusing on the process of isolation of microorganisms and strain selection, medium and culture optimization, as well as fermentation systems for commercially viable industrial scale production. The performances of various fermentation techniques that have been applied for the production of ellagic acid from residual by-products were compared, while the advantages and disadvantages of each plant source were also discussed.Key words: Ellagic acid, ellagitannin, biodegradation, fungal physiology, solid-state fermentation, submerged fermentation

Predicted ecological niches and environmental resilience of different formulations of the biocontrol yeast Candida sake CPA-1 using the Bioscreen C

Environmental resilience of biocontrol microorganisms has been a major bottleneck in the development of effective formulations. Candida sake is an effective biocontrol agent (BCA) against Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea or Rhizopus stolonifer, and different formulations of the BCA have been optimised recently. The objective of this study was to compare the relative tolerance of different dry and liquid formulations of the biocontrol yeast C. sake CPA-1 to interacting environmental conditions using the Bioscreen C. Initially, the use of this automated turbidimetric method was optimised for use with different formulations of the biocontrol yeast. The best growth curves were obtained for the C. sake CPA-1 strain when grown in a synthetic grape juice medium under continuous shaking and with an initial concentration of 105 CFUs ml−1. All the formulations showed a direct relationship between optical density values and yeast concentrations. Temperature (15–30 °C) and water activity (aw; 0.94–0.99) influenced the yeast resilience most profoundly, whereas the effect of pH (3–7) was minimal. In general, the liquid formulation grew faster in more interacting environmental conditions but only the yeast cells in the dry potato starch formulation could grow in some stress conditions. This rapid screening method can be used for effective identification of the resilience of different biocontrol formulations under interacting ecological abiotic conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Precise OBS location at the sea bottom in active seismic profiles using the air gun shot records

The Norcaribe campaign, in November – December 2013, funded by Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Science (Norcaribe Project CGL2010-17715), was performed on board of the Spanish research vessel “Sarmiento de Gamboa” around the Hispaniola island, also with the participation of the Dominic Republic Navy patrol vessels and several Haiti and Dominic Republic institutions. During the campaign, a 200 km long, wide-amgle refraction seismic profile was carried out crossing the Beata ridge. The air gun signal (5100 ci) was recorded by 15 OBSs deployed along the seismic line in water depths between 2.300 meters and 4.320 meters. To obtain the section records, the OBS position is needed, usually the deployment location is used, but the OBS can drift while is sinking due to the deep oceanic currents. The recovery locations at surface could provide information about the drift, assuming a constant sea current since the deployment to the recovery, but it is imprecise. In this work we show a method to obtain a precise location of the OBS at the sea bottom using a high-resolution bathymetry and the OBS record of the closest air gun shots of the profile. Also, the preliminary results for the Norcaribe campaign (Beata ridge profile) are shown.Peer Reviewe