Characterizing rainfall erosivity by kinetic power-Median volume diameter relationship

Kinetic power, i.e. kinetic energy per unit time and area, is the variable widely used to represent the rainfall erosivity which affects soil loss and sediment yield. This paper shows the results of an experimental investigation using the raindrop size distributions (DSDs) measured by an optical disdrometer installed at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences of University of Palermo in Italy (June 2006-March 2014) and at the El Teularet experimental station in Spain (July 2015-May 2016). At first an analysis of the DSDs aggregated into intensity classes is carried out, then the measured kinetic power values are determined. The aggregated DSDs allowed to establish that the median volume diameter of the distribution is affected by raindrops characterized by the greatest values of the diameters that composes precipitation. The measured kinetic power values allowed to verify the reliability of kinetic power-rainfall intensity relationships proposed by Wischmeier and Smith and Kinnell. Finally, using all the available measurements of kinetic power, rainfall intensity and median volume diameter obtained in different climatic contexts and by different measurement techniques, this paper demonstrates that the ratio between kinetic power and rainfall intensity depends strictly only on median volume diameter of the distribution according to a single site-independent relationship. Therefore the estimate of the kinetic energy per unit volume of rainfall does not require the knowledge of the whole drop size distribution. The reliability of a theoretical relationship relating the kinetic power per unit volume of rainfall to median volume diameter is also positively verified using all available measurements

Agricultural land abandonment in Mediterranean environment provides ecosystem services via soil carbon sequestration

Abandonment of agricultural land leads to several consequences for ecosystem functions. Agricultural abandonment may be a significant and low cost strategy for carbon sequestration and mitigation of anthropogenic CO2 emissions due to the vegetation recovery and increase in soil organic matter. The aim of this study was to: (i) estimate the influence of different Soil Regions (areas characterized by a typical climate and parent material association) and Bioclimates (zones with homogeneous climatic regions and thermotype indices) on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics after agricultural land abandonment; and (ii) to analyse the efficiency of the agri-environment policy (agri-environment measures) suggested by the European Commission in relation to potential SOC stock ability in the Sicilian Region (Italy). In order to quantify the effects of agricultural abandonment on SOC, a dataset with original data that was sampled in Sicily and existing data from the literature were analysed according to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology. Results showed that abandonment of cropland soils increased SOC stock by 9.03 Mg C ha− 1 on average, ranging from 5.4 Mg C ha− 1 to 26.7 Mg C ha− 1 in relation to the Soil Region and Bioclimate. The estimation of SOC change after agricultural use permitted calculation of the payments for ecosystem service (PES) of C sequestration after agricultural land abandonment in relation to environmental benefits, increasing in this way the efficiency of PES. Considering the 14,337 ha of abandoned lands in Sicily, the CO2 emission as a whole was reduced by 887,745 Mg CO2. Therefore, it could be concluded that abandoned agricultural fields represents a valid opportunity to mitigate agriculture sector emissions in Sicily

Potential of FX06 to prevent disease progression in hospitalized non-intubated COVID-19 patients — the randomized, EU-wide, placebo-controlled, phase II study design of IXION

Background: More than 2.7 million hospitalizations of COVID-19-infected patients have occurred in Europe alone since the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2020. Interventions against SARS-CoV-2 are still in high need to prevent admissions to ICUs worldwide. FX06, a naturally occurring peptide in humans and other mammals, has the potential to reduce capillary leak by improving endothelial dysfunction and thus preventing the deterioration of patients. With IXION, we want to investigate the potential of FX06 to prevent disease progression in hospitalized, non-intubated COVID-19 patients. Methods: IXION is an EU-wide, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel, randomized (2:1) phase II clinical study. Patient recruitment will start in September 2022 (to Q2/2023) in Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Romania, Portugal, and France. A total of 306 hospitalized patients (>= 18 years and < 75 years) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and a COVID-19 severity of 4-6 according to the WHO scale will be enrolled. After randomization to FX06 or placebo, patients will be assessed until day 28 (and followed up until day 60). FX06 (2 x 200 mg per day) or placebo will be administered intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The primary endpoint is to demonstrate a difference in the proportion of patients with progressed/worsened disease state in patients receiving FX06 compared to patients receiving placebo. Secondary endpoints are lung function, oxygen saturation and breathing rate, systemic inflammation, survival, capillary refill time, duration of hospital stay, and drug accountability. Discussion: With IXION, the multidisciplinary consortium aims to deliver a new therapy in addition to standard care against SARS-CoV-2 for the clinical management of COVID-19 during mild and moderate stages. Potential limitations might refer to a lack of recruiting and drop-out due to various possible protocol violations. While we controlled for drop-outs in the same size estimation, recruitment problems may be subject to external problems difficult to control for

Relationship of Weather Types on the Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Rainfall, Runoff, and Sediment Yield in the Western Mediterranean Basin

Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations

The effect of the ambient conditions on the life cycle of a bulbous plant

To evaluate how weather conditions affect the life cycle of a bulbous plant species, a methodology is proposed here using Crocus cambessedesii, a plant that is endemic to Mallorca and Menorca. Data from an experimental field study conducted from 2007 to 2013 in the south west of Mallorca is taken together with meteorological observations from Palma Airport, located about 10 km away from the site. The bias in the observations between the Airport and the field site is discussed, as well as the importance of performing meteorological measurements in situ to have a better knowledge of the local processes. It is found that flowering and fruiting periods start when the mean temperature is between the range of 16-20◦C and 10-14◦C, respectively. In addition, a certain amount of soil water content is needed (it has been raining during the previous days). These results are in agreement with those obtained for Crocus sativus, extensively studied for economic interests. Finally, some recommendations are made to apply this methodology to plants in other locations or other speciesM.A. Jimenez acknowledges the financial support from JAE-Doc program (CSIC, co-funded by the ESF)Peer reviewe

Influence of hook size and type on short-term mortality, hooking location and size selectivity in a Spanish recreational fishery

Short-term mortality and size selectivity resulting from different hook types and sizes were studied. Special emphasis was on derbio, Trachynotus ovatus, as it is commonly caught as an undersized species in recreational fisheries of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean). Results showed that mortality was generally low (0-17.9%). The anatomical hook location (AHL) (the anatomical region where the hook penetrated) was the main significant predictor of mortality, as more than 85% of fish caught in deep locations of the body, such as the oesophagus, stomach or gills, died over a 2 h-holding period. Hook size was also a significant predictor of mortality because the mortality rates caused by the smallest hooks (sizes 14 and 12) were higher than those of the largest hooks (sizes 10, 8 and 6). For circle hooks, mortality and deep-hooking incidences were not observed, confirming the conservation properties of this hook type. To estimate size selectivity parameters, applied logistic models normally used in commercial fisheries were fitted to estimate descriptors of slope of selectivity curves and L50 (length at 50% selection). Results showed that larger hooks were more size-selective than smaller hooks, but also fewer fish were caught. However, the yield (g h-1) between hook sizes did not change dramatically (large hooks 1345.0 ± 179.8 g h-1; small hooks 1467.8 ± 66.5 g h-1), since large hooks tended to catch much larger fish than the smaller hooks. As a strategy to conserve resources the use of larger hooks in recreational fisheries is therefore recommended since they result in minimal mortality to released fish and reduce incidental catch of undersized fishes. © 2008 The Authors.Peer Reviewe

Safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke (REVASCAT): 1-year follow-up of a randomised open-label trial

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