UPDATED STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES OF SWORDFISH (Xiphias gladius) CAUGHT BY THE SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE FLEET IN THE INDIAN OCEAN DURING THE 2001-2015 PERIOD

Standardized catch rates of the Spanish surface longline fleet targeting swordfish are provided for the period 2001-2015. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) log-normal were used to update standardized catch rates in number of fish and in weight. Factors such as year, area, quarter, gear and bait, as well as the fishing strategy (based on the ratio between the most prevalent species and that appreciated most by skippers) and the interaction quarter*area were taken into account. The models explained 56% and 58% of CPUE variability in number and weight, respectively

INTERACTION BETWEEN SEABIRDS AND SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE TARGETING SWORDFISH IN THE INDIAN OCEAN (LAT ≥ 25º SOUTH) DURING THE PERIOD 2011-2015

A total of 310 fishing sets (361,608 hooks) targeting swordfish in the Indian Ocean (lat ≥ 25ºS) between 2011-2015 were analyzed. The areas included in the study are between 25º-36ºS and 34º-72ºE. However, the interaction with seabirds was restricted to areas between 31º-36ºS and 37º-48ºE during the January-April period. A total of 19 seabird individuals during the whole period 2011-2015, identified as belonging to seven species, interacted with the fishing operation (Diomedea exulans, Phoebetria fusca, Procellaria aequinoctialis, Thalassarche carteri, Thalassarche cauta, Thalassarche melanophris, Thalassarche salvini). Most interactions occurred in one year-months and in a single 5ºx5º square. Interactions observed in other areas were minor or regularly null. The overall rate of interaction estimated for areas lat ≥ 25ºS and species combined was estimated at 5.254E-05 seabird/hook. Night setting and low levels of lighting during setting operations as well as other fishing protocols applied by the vessels were identified as the most important factors to explain the regularly low or null interaction with seabirds. Sightings of seabirds were also made during the trips studied, most of them occurring during daytime sailing. Procellaria aequinoctialis was identified as the most prevalent species in sightings. Other less prevalent species were identified as Phoebetria fusca, Thalassarche carteri, Diomedea exulans, Thalassarche cauta, Pterodroma macroptera, Thalassarche salvini and very sporadically Sulidae/Laridae, Oceanites spp. and Ardena pacifica.The paper also summarizes the mitigation regulations put in place at national level for reducing the incidental bycatch of seabirds in the longline fleet in the Indian Ocean

STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES IN BIOMASS FOR THE BLUE SHARK (PRIONACE GLAUCA) CAUGHT BY THE SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE FLEET IN THE INDIAN OCEAN DURING THE 2001-2015 PERIOD

Based on 2,049 trips by vessels in the Spanish surface longline fleet in the Indian Ocean during the period 2001-2015, standardised CPUE catch rates were obtained for the blue shark (Prionace glauca) using General Linear Modelling. The main factors considered were year, quarter, area, ratio, gear and the interaction quarter*area. The basic significant model obtained explained 81% of CPUE variability observed and suggests a stable trend for this blue shark stock in the Indian Ocean. Most of the variability in CPUE was explained by the targeting factor, as represented by the ratio between catch levels for the two most valued and prevalent species landed: swordfish and blue shark. Other significant factors were identified but these were less important. The MIXED model used to analyse sensitivity showed the same trend as that obtained using the basic case

On-line coupling of field-flow fractionation to optical spectroscopy and elemental mass spectrometry: a powerful strategy for characterization of engineered inorganic nanoparticles

El desarrollo de aplicaciones basadas en el empleo de nanopartículas (NPs) requiere disponer de herramientas analíticas capaces caracterizar apropiadamente la pureza química y el estado físico-químico de estas NPs, optimizar el proceso de solubilización/estabilización de las mismas y controlar procesos de funcionalización de su superficie con elementos de reconocimiento específico, tales como anticuerpos y aptámeros. La técnica de “Asymmetric flow field flow fractionation” (AF4) presenta un gran potencial en nanociencia como herramienta de caracterización en el “nanomundo”, ya que permite llevar a cabo la separación, dependiente del tamaño, de partículas con tamaños en la nanoescala (desde < 1 nm hasta varios μm). El acoplamiento en línea del AF4 con diferentes detectores podría proporcionar análisis de gran valor sobre la calidad y composición química de las NPs. Se mostrarán varios ejemplos en los que se hace uso del acoplamiento de AF4 a detectores de espectrofotometría VIS-UV, fluorescencia y de espectrometría de masas elemental para llevar a cabo el control de la calidad del producto resultante de la síntesis de nanopartículas inorgánicas así como para conseguir la evaluación, tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa, de la bioconjugation de distintos tipos de NPs a biomoléculas de distinta naturaleza. Este es un tema clave en el futuro desarrollo de aplicaciones analíticas y bioanalíticas de nanopartículas inorgánicas·.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Annulations of Acrylic and Benzoic Acids to Alkynes

Rh(III) catalysts can promote a formal (4 + 2) intramolecular oxidative annulation between acrylic or benzoic acid derivatives and alkynes. The reaction, which involves a C–H activation process, allows for a rapid assembly of appealing bicyclic pyran-2-ones and tricyclic isocoumarin derivatives in moderate to good yields. The α-pyrone moiety of the products provides for further manipulations to obtain relatively complex cyclic skeletons in a very simple mannerThis work has received financial support from Spanish grants (SAF2016-76689-R, CTQ2016-77047-P, and FPI fellowship to D.F.F.), the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria (ED431C 2017/19, 2015-CP082, and Centro Singular de Investigación de Galicia acreditación 2016-2019, ED431G/09), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and the European Research Council (Advanced Grant no. 340055). The orfeo-cinqa network CTQ2016-81797-REDC is also kindly acknowledgedS

Controlling ligand surface density on streptavidin-magnetic particles by a simple, rapid, and reliable chemiluminescent test

International audienc

Long-Term Follow-up of Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segment Implantation in Pediatric Keratoconus

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy, safety, and stability of Ferrara-type intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation for visual rehabilitation in pediatric patients with keratoconus. Methods: This study included patients with keratoconus aged 18 years or younger who had received Ferrara-type ICRS implantation. The uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities, residual refractive errors, and root mean square for coma-like aberration were recorded preoperatively and at 6 months, 1, 3, and 5 years postoperatively. Results: One hundred eighteen eyes of 88 patients (mean age 16.1 ± 1.89; range 10–18) were studied. All patients were examined at a 6-month follow-up after ICRS implantation, and at the 12-, 36-, and 60-month follow-ups, 97, 71, and 23 eyes were evaluated, respectively. Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution) changed from 0.67 ± 0.37 preoperatively to 0.37 ± 0.30, 6 months after ICRS implantation (P < 0.0001). Mean corrected distance visual acuity increased in turn from 0.19 ± 0.15 to 0.10 ± 0.12 (P < 0.0001). The percentage of eyes with a refractive cylinder ≤2.00 D increased from 30.5% before surgery to 70.3% 6 months later, and the root mean square for corneal coma-like aberration showed a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001). At the follow-up visits, refractive and visual values remained stable compared with those of the 6-month visit. Conclusions: Our long-term results suggest that Ferrara-type ICRS implantation is a safe, effective, and stable procedure for restoring vision in pediatric patients with keratoconus

New Tendencies in Wind Energy Operation and Maintenance

[Abstract] Both the reduction in operating and maintenance (O&M) costs and improved reliability have become top priorities in wind turbine maintenance strategies. O&M costs typically account for 20% to 25% of the total levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of current wind power systems. This paper provides a general review of the state of the art of research conducted on wind farm maintenance in recent years. It shows the new methods and techniques, focusing on trends and future challenges. In addition to this, this work includes a review of the following items: (i) operation and maintenance, (ii) failure rate, (iii) reliability, (iv) condition monitoring, (v) maintenance strategies, (vi) maintenance and life cycle and (vii) maintenance optimization As for offshore wind turbines, it is crucial to limit the maximum faults, since the maintenance of these wind farms is more complex both technically and logistically. Research into wind farm maintenance increased by 87% between 2007 and 2019, with more than 38,000 papers (Scopus) including “wind energy” as the main topic and some keywords related to O&M costs. The LCOE in onshore wind projects has decreased by 45%, while in offshore projects it has decreased by 28%. The O&M costs of onshore wind projects fell 52%, while in the case of offshore projects, they have declined 45%. Thus, the results obtained in this paper suggest that there is a change in research on wind farm operation and maintenance, as in recent years, scientific interest in failure has been increasing, while interest in the various techniques of wind farm maintenance and operation has been decreasing.This research was funded by the University of A Coruña (Spain) (Grant No. 64900)

Inorganic mass spectrometry as a tool for characterisation at the nanoscale

Inorganic mass spectrometry techniques may offer great potential for the characterisation at the nanoscale, because they provide unique elemental information of great value for a better understanding of processes occurring at nanometre-length dimensions. Two main groups of techniques are reviewed: those allowing direct solid analysis with spatial resolution capabilities, i.e. lateral (imaging) and/or indepth profile, and those for the analysis of liquids containing colloids. In this context, the present capabilities of widespread elemental mass spectrometry techniques such as laser ablation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), glow discharge mass spectrometry and secondary ion/neutral mass spectrometry are described and compared through selected examples from various scientific fields. On the other hand, approaches for the characterisation (i.e. size, composition, presence of impurities, etc.) of colloidal solutions containing nanoparticles by the well-established ICP-MS technique are described. In this latter case, the capabilities derived from the on-line coupling of separation techniques such as field-flow fractionation and liquid chromatography with ICP-MS are also assessed. Finally, appealing trends using ICP-MS for bioassays with biomolecules labelled with nanoparticles are delineated

UPDATED STANDARDIZED CATCH RATES OF SWORDFISH (Xiphias gladius) CAUGHT BY THE SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE FLEET IN THE INDIAN OCEAN DURING THE 2001-2018 PERIOD

Standardized catch rates of the Spanish surface longline fleet targeting swordfish are provided for the period 2001-2018. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) log-normal were used to update standardized catch rates in number of fish and in weight. Factors such as area, quarter, gear and bait, as well as the fishing strategy (based on the ratio between the most prevalent species and that appreciated most by skippers) were taken into account. The model explained 54% and 57% of CPUE variability in number and weight, respectively