The role of cyanoprokaryota in the rhizospheres of gypsophytes and effects of drought and water pulses on microbial functionality

In a Mediterranean environment plants are subject to water stress and lack of nutrients, among others. The adaptations that they can present are very varied and depend on the type of soil and the climate itself. In gypsiferous soils the adaptations of gypsophytes are numerous and unclear. Cyanoprokaryota had a relevant role in the rhizospheres of gypsophytes in drought conditions. We detect the responses to the availability of water in the rhizospheres of three gypsophytes and in non-rhizospheric soil during a summer drought and during spring. Water retention and water loss were studied. We were obtained the highest values in drought conditions due to the association of Cyanoprokaryota with the rhizospheres. The results are also explained by two water pulses that occurred before the samplings. Several parameters, whose values changed markedly due to the microbiological activation just after the drought and water pulses, are proposed as indicators of this activation: microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration rate, together with urease and protease. However, it was the dehydrogenase activity in spring that best reflected the microbiology associated with the carbon cycle, together with β-glucosidase. The interrelationships between carbon and nitrogen were shown through the indices: water soluble nitrogen and water soluble carbon. We propose three functional adaptation mechanisms of these plants associated with the Cyanoprokaryota in their rhizospheres and related to the water availability as determined by drought and water pulse effects. Financing: This study was funded by the Spanish National Government (CICYTCGL2009-12582-C02-02) and by the Valencian Autonomous Government (AICO/2019/258

Impact of primary care nursing workforce characteristics on the control of high-blood pressure: A multilevel analysis

Objective: To determine the impact of Primary Health Care (PHC) nursing workforce characteristics and of the clinical practice environment (CPE) perceived by nurses on the control of high-blood pressure (HBP). Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Setting: Administrative and clinical registries of hypertensive patients from PHC information systems and questionnaire from PHC nurses. Participants: 76 797 hypertensive patients in two health zones within the Community of Madrid, North- West Zone (NWZ) with a higher socioeconomic situation and South-West Zone (SWZ) with a lower socioeconomic situation, and 442 reference nurses. Segmented analyses by area were made due to their different socioeconomic characteristics. Primary outcome measure: Poor HBP control (adequate figures below the value 140/90 mm Hg) associated with the characteristics of the nursing workforce and selfperceived CPE. Results: The prevalence of poor HBP control, estimated by an empty multilevel model, was 33.5% (95% CI 31.5% to 35.6%). In the multilevel multivariate regression models, the perception of a more favourable CPE was associated with a reduction in poor control in NWZ men and SWZ women (OR=0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99)); the economic immigration conditions increased poor control in NWZ women (OR=1.53 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.89)) and in SWZ, both men (OR=1.89 (95% CI 1.43 to 2.51)) and women (OR=1.39 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.76)). In all four models, increasing the annual number of patient consultations was associated with a reduction in poor control (NWZ women: OR=0.98 (95% CI0.98 to 0.99); NWZ men: OR=0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99); SWZ women: OR=0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99); SWZ men: OR=0.99 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). Conclusions: A CPE, perceived by PHC nurses as more favourable, and more patient–nurse consultations, contribute to better HBP control. Economic immigration condition is a risk factor for poor HBP control. Health policies oriented towards promoting positive environments for nursing practice are neededThe results presented here form part of a study that has been funded partially with the First Prize for National Research in Nursing (12th edition) from Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander) in 2010

Clave dicotómica para la identificación preliminar de las especies de "Gambierdiscus" y "Fukuyoa" reportadas en la región del Caribe

Los géneros de dinoflagelados bentónicos Gambierdiscus y Fukuyoa están entre los agentes causales de la ciguatera, intoxicación causada por el consumo de invertebrados y peces contaminados con ciguatoxinas. Debido a las similitudes morfológicas que presentan las especies pertenecientes a estos géneros, su identificación requiere del uso combinado de técnicas de microscopía y moleculares. Sin embargo, estas metodologías son poco accesibles para muchos países con limitados recursos económicos, donde lo más común es disponer en la práctica de la microscopía óptica. Este trabajo propone una clave dicotómica para la identificación preliminar de las especies de Gambierdiscus y Fukuyoa reportadas en la región del Caribe, utilizando caracteres morfológicos visibles al microscopio óptico convencional. La clave propuesta permite emplear un número limitado de caracteres morfológicos lo cual fue posible al incluir pocas especies en el análisis.   Recibido: 15.09.2022 Aceptado: 06.06.2023 Editor: Liliana Gómez Lun

Effects of organic enrichment on nematode assemblages in a microcosm experiment

Marine nematodes from subtidal tropical sediments of Cienfuegos Bay were subjected to organic enrichment in a microcosm experiment for 32 days. Nematode abundance and diversity decreased, and the taxonomic and trophic structure was altered. The results suggested that the nematodes were not food limited in the microcosms or in their natural environment. Chemical stressors such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide derived from reduced conditions in sediments may be important factors affecting the assemblages. Hypoxic conditions occurred in all experimental units, as well as in the field, suggesting a nematode assemblage adapted to naturally enriched sediments. However, tolerant species showed a grade of sensitivity to reduced conditions. In agreement with the model by Pearson and Rosenberg (1978), we predict that further organic enrichment in sediments from Cienfuegos Bay may cause a phase shift into a strongly depleted benthic fauna and reduced conditions in water and sediments

Analysis of Thermomechanical Stresses of a Photovoltaic Panel Using a Passive System of Cooling

In this paper, the gradient temperature and the thermomechanical stresses of a photovoltaic panel has been studied with and without heatsink. For this purpose, a three-dimensional analysis was carried out. Accordingly, a heat transfer analysis was developed. The numerical results show a cooling close to 26.7% with the proposed triangle fins compared with the rectangular fins studied before by another author, and the temperature distribution was determined. With this information, the stress analysis was carried out in order to find the effect on the panel due to the thermomechanical stresses. The aluminium frame was restricted to move freely. The resulting stresses field established the magnitude of the alternative stresses, resulting in a 6.7% drop compared with a reference panel. The guidelines of IEC 61215 have to be take into account. Due to the results obtained, the use of this kind of system in desert conditions is desirable because of its high operational temperature and due to the increase in heat transfer by the fins

The Ecological Restoration of Heavily Degraded Saline Wetland in the Yellow River Delta.pdf

Pulsed galvanostatic control of ion fluxes across polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is an emerging field for potentiometric sensing. Herein we report a novel potentiometric enzyme immunoassay based on current-controlled release of an enzyme substrate, which eliminates the addition of marker ions in the sample solution. In this method, the carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) matrix at the outer layer of the ISE membrane is employed to attach a primary antibody. A sandwich immunoassay with an alkaline phosphatase labeled antibody (ALP-Ab) as the reporter is used for the determination of human IgG (as a model protein). The large difference between the lipophilicity of the substrate ion and that of the product ion allows p-nitrophenyl phosphate to be used as the enzyme substrate for potentiometric immunosensors. After the immunoreactions, the captured ALP-Ab catalyzes the hydrolysis of the substrate ions released at the sample-membrane interface by using the pulsed galvanostatic technique. This process can be potentiometrically determined by measuring the open circuit potential of the ISE. Under optimal conditions, the potential response of the proposed immunosensor is proportional to the concentration of human IgG in the range of 50-1000 ng/mL with a detection limit of 30 ng/mL (3 sigma). Owing to simplicity and independence of sample volume and sample turbidity, the proposed potentiometric immunoassay offers a viable alternative to those based on optical absorbance.Pulsed galvanostatic control of ion fluxes across polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is an emerging field for potentiometric sensing. Herein we report a novel potentiometric enzyme immunoassay based on current-controlled release of an enzyme substrate, which eliminates the addition of marker ions in the sample solution. In this method, the carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) matrix at the outer layer of the ISE membrane is employed to attach a primary antibody. A sandwich immunoassay with an alkaline phosphatase labeled antibody (ALP-Ab) as the reporter is used for the determination of human IgG (as a model protein). The large difference between the lipophilicity of the substrate ion and that of the product ion allows p-nitrophenyl phosphate to be used as the enzyme substrate for potentiometric immunosensors. After the immunoreactions, the captured ALP-Ab catalyzes the hydrolysis of the substrate ions released at the sample-membrane interface by using the pulsed galvanostatic technique. This process can be potentiometrically determined by measuring the open circuit potential of the ISE. Under optimal conditions, the potential response of the proposed immunosensor is proportional to the concentration of human IgG in the range of 50-1000 ng/mL with a detection limit of 30 ng/mL (3 sigma). Owing to simplicity and independence of sample volume and sample turbidity, the proposed potentiometric immunoassay offers a viable alternative to those based on optical absorbance

Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Bottom Sediments and Depositional Processes: A Baseline for Future Oil Spills

The deposition/accumulation of oil on the seafloor is heavily influenced by sediment/texture/composition and sedimentary processes/accumulation rates. The objective of this chapter is to provide a baseline of Gulf of Mexico sediment types and transport/depositional processes to help guide managers where oiled sediments may be expected to be deposited and potentially accumulate on the seafloor in the event of a future oil spill. Based solely on sediments/processes/accumulation rates, regions most vulnerable to oil deposition/accumulation include the deep eastern basin, followed by the western/southwestern basin, and north and west continental margins. The least vulnerable regions include the northwest Cuban shelf and the carbonate-dominated west Florida shelf and Campeche Bank. This is intended to be used as a general, “first cut” tool and does not consider local variations in sediments/processes