Activity Patterns of Stenocercus iridescens in an Ecuadorian Coastal Agroecosystem: Is Temperature Important?

Circadian rhythms of Neotropical lizards have been poorly studied, which represents a problem when designing ecological studies or monitoring such species based on direct observations. In this work, 1000 m-long transects were established in an agroecosystem area of the Ecuadorian coast region to study the activity patterns of Stenocercus iridescens. The number of individuals (as a response variable) was correlated with local weather conditions: temperature, precipitation, and heliophany (duration of the solar brightness). We carried out the study in both dry and rainy seasons, and during different time ranges. The time range in which the transects were performed was the most important predictor, and the activity peak was established between 16:00 h and 18:00 h. Heliophany negatively affected lizard activity, but only on the days with higher heliophany during the dry season, whereas temperature was not a significant predictor. Our results suggest that in an area where temperature is relatively constant and the solar radiation is high, particularly during the dry season, the heliophany (an indirect measure of solar radiation) can affect ectotherm activity patterns more than temperature, particularly in open habitats such as agroecosystems

Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass Wastes: Sustainability and Geochemistry

Introduction. To reduce the stream of solid waste going to landfills, innovative means for beneficial use are essential. The diversity and volume of organic wastes pose singular problems and opportunities for recovery and circularity. Common processes for organics include conversion to biofuels and carbonization to biochar, typically done by torrefaction (dry pyrolysis). Research on biochar explores its potential as pollutant adsorbent, agricultural or polluted soil amendment, biofuel (directly or as feedstock), and for carbon sequestration (Ighalo et al., 2022; Cavali et al., 2023). Recently, other processes at lower temperatures such as hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) offer new possibilities (Seshadri et al., 2016; Madsen et al., 2017). The properties of both biochar and hydrochar are strongly dependent on the biomass feedstock type (e.g., wood vs. algae) and on the carbonization process employed. In a real world pilot study, the public company for solid waste management in Asturias, Spain (COGERSA SAU) experimented with HTC of organic waste streams, including treated wood waste (mainly bulky waste, furniture, etc.), winery bagasse, and the organic fraction from separate collection of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). An advantage of HTC is that the feedstock can be processed wet, as received. Water was added to achieve a uniform 1:4 solid to water mass ratio and the mixtures were processed in a 2 m3 reactor vessel (195 °C, 1.3 MPa, 3 h) fed by the superheated steam available at the COGERSA plant (waste-to-energy of clinical waste by rotary kiln). Then, excess water was expelled mechanically (30 MPa) and the solids were dried in air at 100 °C. The resulting hydrochars were characterized by methods organic geochemists traditionally use in fossil fuel studies: proximate and ultimate analyses, porosimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, thermodesorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS, heating in He at 350 °C for 20 s), and pyrolysis of the thermodesorption residue (Py-GC-MS, 610 °C, 20 s). For comparison, a commercial torrefied biochar (Vermichar S.L.) produced from Quercus ilex wood was also analyzed by the above methods. Results. Yields of hydrochar varied from 65% (OFMSW) to 83% (wood) of the initial feedstock mass (dry, ash-free). Molar H/C and O/C ratios decreased by mean values of 10 and 24%, respectively, relative to the raw feedstocks. HTC increased the high heating values slightly, to a mean of 21 MJ kg-1, in the range of sub-bituminous coal. Thermogravimetry overall shows a slight shift towards decomposition at higher temperatures, as well as peak narrowing after HTC. OFMSW TD-GC-MS yielded predominantly C16 and C18 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their methyl and ethyl esters (Fig. 1A). Subsequent Py-GC-MS results were similar, but with greatly reduced yield. In contrast, the Py-GC-MS yield for the wood was greater than that of the preceding thermodesorption, with abundant lignin (methoxyphenol) and polysaccharide markers, and minor, but notable, monoaromatic tricyclic terpenoids and methoxyphenol dimers (Fig. 1B). The TD-GC-MS of the biochar yielded little, while subsequent Py-GC-MS presented a predominance of simple monoaromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, along with phenanthrenes, retene in particular (Fig. 1C). Minor naphthalenes and monoaromatic tricyclic terpenoids are also noted. Conclusions. Analytical techniques usually applied in advanced characterization of fossil fuels, such as Py-GC-MS, were shown to be useful in unraveling molecular hydrochar and biochar composition. This opens new possibilities for the study of these products in detail, including diverse applications such as tracking of the evolution of different feedstock materials after carbonization, the possible uses as biofuels (specially for the liquid fraction obtained in the HTC process), or even the identification of potential pollutants. In this preliminary study of several hydrochars and a commercial biochar, interesting general and specific features were revealed: the molecular composition of hydrochar was strongly influenced by feedstock type, the OFMSW hydrochar revealed potential for biodiesel production, and biochar presented marked differences from “woody” biomass hydrochars

Identification of the water stress level in olive trees during pit hardening using the trunk growth rate indicator.

Water scarcity is generating an increasing interest in deficit irrigation scheduling. The trunk diameter fluctuations are daily cycles that have been suggested as tools for irrigation scheduling. The trunk growth rate (TGR) was suggested as the best indicator for olive trees during pit hardening. The aim of this work is to clarify how the TGR could be used to identify water stress levels. The experiment was performed during the 2017 season, in a commercial, super-high-density orchard in Carmona (Seville, Spain). Four different irrigation treatments were performed according to midday stem water potential values and TGR. The data obtained were very variable and both indicators presented a wide range of water status throughout the season. The maximum trunk diameter data clearly showed the pattern of the trees water status but the comparison between treatments and the identification of the water stress level was not possible. The average TGR was linked to the midday stem water potential, but with a minimum amount of data. Irrigation scheduling based on the average TGR was difficult because of the great increases in some daily TGR values. For clarity, the pool of data was grouped by midday stem water potential. These water stress levels were characterized using the weekly frequency of TGR values. The increase of water stress reduced the frequency of values between -0.1 and 0.3mm day-1 from 60% to less than 25%. Moderate water stress levels increased the percentage of values lower than -0.3mm day-1 from 7% to 37%. The most severe water stress conditions increased the TGR values between -0.3 and -0.1mm day-1 from 16% up to 22%.IRNASINSTITUTO DE LA GRASACSI

Análisis de los factores de decaimiento en una repoblación de Pinus halepensis en el Sistema Ibérico zaragozano

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Mono and bimetallic Cu-Ni structured catalysts for the water gas shift reaction

The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction over structured Cu, Ni, and bimetallic Cu-Ni supported on active carbon (AC) catalysts was investigated. The structured catalysts were prepared in pellets form and applied in the medium range WGS reaction. A good activity in the 180-350 °C temperature range was registered being the bimetallic Cu-Ni:2-1/AC catalyst the best catalyst. The presence of Cu mitigates the methanation activity of Ni favoring the shift process. In addition the active carbon gasification reaction was not observed for the Cu-containing catalyst converting the active carbon in a very convenient support for the WGS reaction. The stability of the bimetallic Cu-Ni:2-1/AC catalyst under continuous operation conditions, as well as its tolerance towards start/stop cycles was also evaluated.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2013-47880-C3-2-

Endothelin-1 serum levels in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum Endothelin-1(ET-1) levels in female Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients compared with healthy controls, examine possible associations between ET-1 with different characteristic of the disease and investigate possible associations between ET-1 with surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Vega-Baja Hospital, Orihuela (Spain) from November 2016 to May 2018. Sixty-three women with RA and sixty-five age and sex healthy controls were included in this study. Serum ET-1 was analyzed using ELISA. Results: Serum levels of ET-1 in RA female patients were higher than those in healthy controls (p ??0.001). Serum le vels of ET-1 were positively associated with Nterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r = 0.27, p < 0.05) and with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). ET-1 levels in women with RA were higher in smokers. Pre dnisone use was associated with lower ET-1 levels. No association with carotid intima media thickness was found. Conclusions: we observed the presence of higher le - vels of serum ET-1 in RA women patients compared with healthy controls. These increased levels of ET-1 are associated with inflammation and smoking and reduced by prednisone intake

Asymmetric cell division requires specific mechanisms for adjusting global transcription

Most cells divide symmetrically into two approximately identical cells. There are many examples, however, of asymmetric cell division that can generate sibling cell size differences. Whereas physical asymmetric division mechanisms and cell fate consequences have been investigated, the specific problem caused by asymmetric division at the transcription level has not yet been addressed. In symmetrically dividing cells the nascent transcription rate increases in parallel to cell volume to compensate it by keeping the actual mRNA synthesis rate constant. This cannot apply to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where this mechanism would provoke a never-ending increasing mRNA synthesis rate in smaller daughter cells. We show here that, contrarily to other eukaryotes with symmetric division, budding yeast keeps the nascent transcription rates of its RNA polymerases constant and increases mRNA stability. This control on RNA pol II-dependent transcription rate is obtained by controlling the cellular concentration of this enzyme

Age differences in selected measures of physical fitness in young handball players

[EN] Objective: The aims of the present study were: 1) to calculate the change of direction (COD) deficit (using a modified version of the 505 test and 10 m sprint time), and (2) to examine the differences in linear sprint, jump and COD performances, as well as COD deficit, between under-13 (U13) and under-15 (U15) male handball players. Methods: One hundred and nineteen young male handball players (under-13 [U13; n = 82] and under-15 [U15; n = 37]). Tests included anthropometric measurements, countermovement jump (CMJ), triple leg-hop for distance, linear sprint test (5, 10 and 20 m), and a modified version of the 505 COD test. Results: Results showed moderate to very large differences (P 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that during the transition from pre- to post-puberty, young handball players should focus on transferring their progressive improvements in strength, speed, and power capacities to COD performance.S