The competitor release effect applied to carnivore species: how red foxes can increase in numbers when persecuted

The objective of our study was to numerically simulate the population dynamics of a hypothetical community of three species of small to medium–sized carnivores subjected to non–selective control within the context of the competitor release effect (CRE). We applied the CRE to three carnivore species, linking interspecific competition with predator control efforts. We predicted the population response of European badger, the red fox and the pine marten to this wildlife management tool by means of numerical simulations. The theoretical responses differed depending on the intrinsic rate of growth (r), although modulated by the competition coefficients. The red fox, showing the highest r value, can increase its populations despite predator control efforts if control intensity is moderate. Populations of the other two species, however, decreased with control efforts, even reaching extinction. Three additional theoretical predictions were obtained. The conclusions from the simulations were: 1) predator control can play a role in altering the carnivore communities; 2) red fox numbers can increase due to control; and 3) predator control programs should evaluate the potential of unintended effects on ecosystems

First Measurement of 72Ge(n,γ) at n_TOF

9th European Summer School on Experimental Nuclear AstrophysicsThe slow neutron capture process (s-process) is responsible for producing about half of the elemental abundances heavier than iron in the universo

Integración arquitectónica de colectores solares térmicos cerámicos para clima mediterráneo

The work presented here aims to demonstrate the technical, architectural and energy viability of solar thermal collectors made with ceramic materials and the Mediterranean climate suitable for the production of domestic hot water (DHW) and for heating systems in buildings. The design of a ceramic shell formed by panels collectors and panels no sensors, which are part of the same building system that is capable of responding to the basic requirements of a building envelope and capture solar energy is proposed. Ceramics considerably reduced the final cost of the sensor system and offers the new system a variety of compositional and chromatic since, with reduced performance compared to a conventional metallic collector, can occupy the entire surface of front and get a high degree of architectural integration. A tool for assessing the new ceramic solar collector has been defined from a multi-criteria perspective: economic, environmental and social. The tool enables the comparison of the ceramic solar collector with solar collectors on the market under different climatic and demand conditions.El trabajo aquí presentado se orienta a demostrar la viabilidad técnica, arquitectónica y energética de colectores solares térmicos realizados con materiales cerámicos y adecuados al clima mediterráneo para la producción de agua caliente sanitaria (ACS) y de calefacción en edificios. Se propone el diseño de una envolvente cerámica formada por paneles captadores y paneles no captadores, que forman parte de un mismo sistema constructivo que es capaz de dar respuesta a los requerimientos básicos de un cerramiento exterior y de captar la energía solar. La cerámica consigue reducir considerablemente el coste final del sistema captador y ofrece al nuevo sistema una gran variedad de juego compositivo y cromático dado que, con un menor rendimiento frente al de un colector convencional metálico, puede ocupar toda la superficie de fachada y obtener un elevado grado de integración arquitectónica. También se ha definido una herramienta que permite evaluar el sistema de captación solar térmica cerámico desde un punto de vista multicriterio, económico, ambiental y social, para compararlo con los sistemas de captación solar térmica comerciales bajo distintas condiciones climáticas y de demanda

Estudio de la aptitud de diferentes variedades de cerezas para su transformación industria

Preprin

An updated biostratigraphy for the late Aragonian and Vallesian of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia)

The Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia, Spain) is a classical area for the study of the Miocene land mammal faunas and includes one of the densest and most continuous records in Eurasia. Furthermore, it is the type area for the Vallesian European land mammal age. After decades of study a huge amount of bio- and magnetostratigraphic data have been collected, allowing an unprecedented dating accuracy. Here we provide an updated local biostratigraphy for the late Aragonian, Vallesian and Turolian of the Vallès-Penedès Basin. This new biostratigraphic scheme is almost exclusively based on fossil rodents, which are the most abundant and one of the best known mammal orders in the area. Our proposal represents a significant refinement compared to previous attempts and provides a formal diagnosis and description of each zone, as well as clear definition of boundaries and a reference locality and section. The chronology of zone boundaries and main bioevents is based on detailed magnetostratigraphic data. The defined biozones allow for the correlation of the sites without associated magnetostratigraphical data. Finally, the correlation of the Vallès-Penedès local zones with other detailed local biostratigraphies, such as those of the Calatayud-Montalbán and Teruel basins (east-central Spain) is discussed. The sequence and chronology of the main bioevents is roughly comparable, although the rodent succession and the structure of the assemblage show important differences between these areas

Cotilos impactados vs. roscados no cementados: estudio radiológico post-operatorio comparativo

Se han valorado radiografías AP de pelvis obtenidas tras colocación de 102 pró- tesis no cementadas en 97 pacientes: 51 eran del tipo cótilo roscado (CR), y 51 del tipo cótilo impactado (CI). Se ha medido el ángulo de inclinación, la posición del cotilo, el grado de centraje, el grado de protrusión/extrusión, y la superficie de contacto entre cótilo y la cavidad acetabular. Globahnente los CR quedan implantados más verticalmente que los CI (p=0,006), así como más lateralizados (p=0,02). El porcentaje de cótilos bien centrados en relación al acetábulo es mayor entre los CI que entre los CR (p=0,002). Un 19% de los CR quedaron parcialmente extraídos, no llegando a contactar con el fondo de la cavidad acetabular, mientras que en ningún caso de los CI se apreció este problema. En conclusión, a pesar de la teórica ventaja de poseer una estabilidad inicial mayor, la orientación de los CR no resulta tan óptima como la obtenida con los CI, lo que asegura una estabilidad mejor a largo plazo y una menor usura del polietileno.—Post-operative anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis in 102 patients receiving a cementless total hip arthroplasty were analyzed. In a group, a screwed spherical socket (SCR) was applied, while in other a press-fit impacted socket (IMP) was used. The following parameters were studied: inclination angle, location and centering of the acetabular component, degree of protrusion-extrusion, and porcentage of contact surface between the socket and the acetabulum. SCR sockets appeared to be placed more vertically (p=0.006), and laterally (p=0.02) than IMP prostheses. The percent of properly centered sockets was higher among IMP than among SCR implants (p=0.002). SCR prostheses were found to be partly extruded in 19% of cases while none of the IMP prostheses had this problem. In conclussion, despite the theoretical advantage of the SCR implants having a better initial fixation than the IMP implants, the latter tend to be implanted in a more optimal position, thus ensuring a better longterm stability and therefore less wear problems can be expected

Carbon allocation and carbon isotope fluxes in the plant-soil-atmosphere continuum: a review

The terrestrial carbon (C) cycle has received increasing interest over the past few decades, however, there is still a lack of understanding of the fate of newly assimilated C allocated within plants and to the soil, stored within ecosystems and lost to the atmosphere. Stable carbon isotope studies can give novel insights into these issues. In this review we provide an overview of an emerging picture of plant-soil-atmosphere C fluxes, as based on C isotope studies, and identify processes determining related C isotope signatures. The first part of the review focuses on isotopic fractionation processes within plants during and after photosynthesis. The second major part elaborates on plant-internal and plant-rhizosphere C allocation patterns at different time scales (diel, seasonal, interannual), including the speed of C transfer and time lags in the coupling of assimilation and respiration, as well as the magnitude and controls of plant-soil C allocation and respiratory fluxes. Plant responses to changing environmental conditions, the functional relationship between the physiological and phenological status of plants and C transfer, and interactions between C, water and nutrient dynamics are discussed. The role of the C counterflow from the rhizosphere to the aboveground parts of the plants, e.g. via CO<sub>2</sub> dissolved in the xylem water or as xylem-transported sugars, is highlighted. The third part is centered around belowground C turnover, focusing especially on above- and belowground litter inputs, soil organic matter formation and turnover, production and loss of dissolved organic C, soil respiration and CO<sub>2</sub> fixation by soil microbes. Furthermore, plant controls on microbial communities and activity via exudates and litter production as well as microbial community effects on C mineralization are reviewed. A further part of the paper is dedicated to physical interactions between soil CO<sub>2</sub> and the soil matrix, such as CO<sub>2</sub> diffusion and dissolution processes within the soil profile. Finally, we highlight state-of-the-art stable isotope methodologies and their latest developments. From the presented evidence we conclude that there exists a tight coupling of physical, chemical and biological processes involved in C cycling and C isotope fluxes in the plant-soil-atmosphere system. Generally, research using information from C isotopes allows an integrated view of the different processes involved. However, complex interactions among the range of processes complicate or currently impede the interpretation of isotopic signals in CO<sub>2</sub> or organic compounds at the plant and ecosystem level. This review tries to identify present knowledge gaps in correctly interpreting carbon stable isotope signals in the plant-soil-atmosphere system and how future research approaches could contribute to closing these gaps

Algoritmo de control anticipatorio assisted-as-needed para neurorrehabilitación funcional de extremidad superior

Los dispositivos robóticos se están convirtiendo en una alternativa muy extendida a las terapias de neurorrehabilitación funcional tradicionales al ofrecer una práctica más intensiva sin incrementar el tiempo empleado en la supervisión por parte de los terapeutas especialistas. Por ello, este trabajo de investigación propone un algoritmo de control anticipatorio que, bajo el paradigma 'assisted-as-needed', proporcione a una ortesis robótica las capacidades de actuación necesarias para comportarse tal y como lo haría un terapeuta que proporciona una sesión de terapia manual. Dicho algoritmo de control ha sido validado mediante un simulador robótico obteniéndose resultados que demuestran su eficacia

Advances in field-based high-throughput photosynthetic phenotyping

Gas exchange techniques revolutionized plant research and advanced understanding, including associated fluxes and efficiencies, of photosynthesis, photorespiration, and respiration of plants from cellular to ecosystem scales. These techniques remain the gold standard for inferring photosynthetic rates and underlying physiology/biochemistry, although their utility for high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) of photosynthesis is limited both by the number of gas exchange systems available and the number of personnel available to operate the equipment. Remote sensing techniques have long been used to assess ecosystem productivity at coarse spatial and temporal resolutions, and advances in sensor technology coupled with advanced statistical techniques are expanding remote sensing tools to finer spatial scales and increasing the number and complexity of phenotypes that can be extracted. In this review, we outline the photosynthetic phenotypes of interest to the plant science community and describe the advances in high-throughput techniques to characterize photosynthesis at spatial scales useful to infer treatment or genotypic variation in field-based experiments or breeding trials. We will accomplish this objective by presenting six lessons learned thus far through the development and application of proximal/remote sensing-based measurements and the accompanying statistical analyses. We will conclude by outlining what we perceive as the current limitations, bottlenecks, and opportunities facing HTP of photosynthesis

An updated biostratigraphy for the late Aragonian and the Vallesian of the Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia)

The Vallès-Penedès Basin (Catalonia, Spain) is a classical area for the study of the Miocene land mammal faunas and includes one of the densest and most continuous records in Eurasia. Furthermore, it is the type area for the Vallesian European land mammal age. After decades of study a huge amount of bio- and magnetostratigraphic data have been collected, allowing an unprecedented dating accuracy. Here we provide an updated local biostratigraphy for the late Aragonian, Vallesian and Turolian of the Vallès-Penedès Basin. This new biostratigraphic scheme is almost exclusively based on fossil rodents, which are the most abundant and one of the best known mammal orders in the area. Our proposal represents a significant refinement compared to previous attempts and provides a formal diagnosis and description of each zone, as well as clear definition of boundaries and a reference locality and section. The chronology of zone boundaries and main bioevents is based on detailed magnetostratigraphic data. The defined biozones allow for the correlation of the sites without associated magnetostratigraphical data. Finally, the correlation of the Vallès-Penedès local zones with other detailed local biostratigraphies, such as those of the Calatayud-Montalbán and Teruel basins (east-central Spain) is discussed. The sequence and chronology of the main bioevents is roughly comparable, although the rodent succession and the structure of the assemblage show important differences between these areas