Langevin behavior of the dielectric decrement in ionic liquid water mixtures

We present large scale polarizable simulations of mixtures of the ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide with water, where the dielectric spectra, the ion hydration and the conductivity were evaluated. The dielectric decrement, the depression of the dielectric constant of water upon addition of ions, is found to follow a universal functional of Langevin type. Only three physical properties need to be known to describe the complete range of possible concentrations, namely the dielectric constant of pure water, of pure ionic liquid and the linear slope of the dielectric decrement at low ionic liquid concentrations. Both the generalized dielectric constant, as well as the water contribution to the dielectric permittivity follow the functional dependence. We furthermore find that a scaling of van der Waals parameters upon addition of polarizable forces to the force field is necessary to correctly describe the frequency dependent dielectric conductivity and its contribution to the dielectric spectrum, as well as the static electric conductivity, which is also treated in the framework of a pseudolattice theoryThis work was funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF in the context of Project No. P23494 and by the Cost Action CM 1206: “Exchange on ionic liquids”. Funding from Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Projects MAT2014-57943-C3-1-P and MAT2017-89239-C2-1-P) is gratefully acknowledged. Moreover, this work was funded by the Xunta de Galicia (AGRUP2015/11 and GRC ED431C 2016/001). E. H. is recipient of a DOC Fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences at the Institute of Computational Biological ChemistryS

Influencia del programa Campus de Excelencia Internacional en la posición de las universidades españolas en el ranking de Shanghái

The Campus of International Excellence (CIE) initiative was launched in Spain in 2009. Among its objectives was to improve the position of Spanish universities in international rankings by 2015. The present work analyses the impact of CIEs on the ARWU–Shanghai Academic Ranking. The comparison between the average across the first three years of the CIE initiative (2009–11) and the last three (2013–15) reveals that the Spanish university system has notably improved its research performance, judging by the increase in average scores and the hike in positions. Universities coordinating CIE projects present a more stable evolution (an increase of 9% in scientific output) than those that don’t (increase of 21%), resulting in a more homogeneous university system. Institutions with CIE projects comprising a single university achieve better positions in the rankings. Despite the context of the economic crisis, a tight timeframe and limited funding for the CIE initiative, the experience is found to have been positive in view of the evolution of Spanish universities in these rankings.En 2009 nace la iniciativa Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) entre cuyos objetivos estaba mejorar la posición de las universidades españolas en los rankings internacionales con un horizonte de 2015. Este trabajo analiza el impacto de los CEI en la clasificación ARWU o ranking de Shanghái. Comparando la media de los tres años del inicio (2009-2012) y del final (2013-2015), el sistema universitario español ha mejorado sensiblemente su prestación investigadora a juzgar por el incremento en puntuación media y en posiciones. Las universidades coordinadoras de proyectos CEI presentan una evolución más estable (aumento del 9%) que las no coordinadoras (aumento del 21%) resultando un sistema universitario más homogéneo. Las universidades con proyectos CEI con una sola universidad alcanzan mejores posiciones. A pesar del contexto de crisis, escaso tiempo y financiación de la iniciativa CEI, la experiencia ha resultado positiva a la vista de la evolución de las universidades españolas en dicho ranking

Above-ground biomass estimation of arable crops using UAV-based SfM photogrammetry

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Geocarto International on 3 dec 2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10106049.2018.1552322Methods of estimating the total amount of above-ground biomass (AGB) in crop fields are generally based on labourious, random, and destructive in situ sampling. This study proposes a methodology for estimating herbaceous crop biomass using conventional optical cameras and structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. The proposed method is based on the determination of volumes according to the difference between a digital terrain model (DTM) and digital surface model (DSM) of vegetative cover. A density factor was calibrated based on a subset of destructive random samples to relate the volume and biomass and efficiently quantify the total AGB. In all cases, RMSE Z values less than 0.23 m were obtained for the DTMDSM coupling. Biomass field data confirmed the goodness of fit of the yieldbiomass estimation (R2=0,88 and 1,12 kg/ha) mainly in plots with uniform vegetation coverage. Furthermore, the method was demonstrated to be scalable to multiple platform types and sensorsThis work was supported by the life project “Operation CO2: Integrated Agroforestry Practices and Nature Conservation Against Climate Change - LIFE+ 11 ENV/ES/535” and by Xunta de Galicia under the grant “Financial aid for the consolidation and structure of competitive units of investigation in the universities of the University Galician System (2016-18)” Ref. ED431B 2016/030 and Ref. ED341D R2016/023.S

‘Ca. Phytoplasma pruni’ and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma meliae’ are affecting plum in Argentina

We report for the first time the presence of phytoplasmas in association with Plum (Prunus domestica) yellowing in Argentina. Molecular analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequence (RFLP, phylogeny) reveals the existence of two different 16Sr-subgroups, 16SrIII-B and novel 16SrXIII-L. These results contribute to a better understanding of the diversity of phytoplasmas associated with Prunus genera in South America.Instituto de Patología VegetalFil: Bongiorno, Vanina Aylén. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Bongiorno, Vanina Aylén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFYMA); ArgentinaFil: Alessio, Florencia Ivette. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Alessio, Florencia Ivette. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFYMA); ArgentinaFil: Curzel, Viviana Noemi. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Salta. Agencia De Extensión Rural Perico; ArgentinaFil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; Argentina.Fil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFYMA); ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Franco Daniel . Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Franco Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFYMA); Argentina.Fil: Conci, Luis Rogelio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Conci, Luis Rogelio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas.Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFYMA); Argentina

Plant survival monitoring with UAVs and multispectral data in difficult access afforested areas

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Geocarto International on 02 Oct 2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10106049.2018.1508312Water supply devices enable afforestation in dry climates and on poor lands with generally high success rates. Previous survival analyses have been based on the direct observation of each individual plant in the field, which entails considerable effort and costs. This study provides a low-cost method to discriminate between live and dead plants in afforestations that can efficiently replace traditional field inspections through the use of UAVs equipped with RGB and NIR sensors. The method combines the use of a conventional camera with an identical camera modified to record the NIR channel. Survival analysis was performed with digital image processing techniques based on calculated indices associated with plant vigour and PCA-based decorrelation. The method yielded results with high global accuracy rates (~96.2%) with a minimum percentage of doubtful plants, even in young plantations (seedlings < 30 cm tall). The procedure could be particularly useful in hazardous areasThis work was supported by the Xunta de Galicia under the Grant “Financial aid for the consolidation and structure of competitive units of investigation in the universities of the University Galician System (2016-18)” [ED431B 2016/030, ED341D R2016/023] and the European Program Life+ [LIFE/ENV/ES/000447] “The Green Deserts: New planting techniques for tree cultivation in desertified environments to face Climate Change”.S

Detection and identification of a novel 16SrXIII subgroup phytoplasma associated with strawberry red leaf disease in Argentina

Strawberry red leaf phytoplasma was found in strawberry plants from production fields in Lules (Tucumán province) and Bella Vista (Corrientes province), Argentina. Characteristic strawberry red leaf symptoms were stunting, young leaves with yellowing at the edges, mature leaves which curled and were reddish at the abaxial face, flower and fruit deformation and death. The pathogen was detected with phytoplasma-universal primer pairs P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 as nested primers in 13 diseased plants. Based on RFLP and sequence analysis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene, the phytoplasma was related to the 16SrXIII group (Mexican periwinkle virescence). In silico the RFLP profile of all the samples analysed revealed the presence of a unique pattern, showing that the novel phytoplasma is different from all the phytoplasmas currently composing the 16SrXIII group. The phylogenetic analysis was consistent with RFLP analysis as the strawberry red leaf phytoplasma was grouped within the 16SrXIII group, but formed a particular cluster. On this basis, the Strawberry red leaf phytoplasma associated with strawberry red leaf disease was assigned to a new subgroup, 16SrXIII-F.Fil: Fernandez, Franco Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Meneguzzi, Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Guzman, Fabiana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Kirschbaum, Daniel Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Conci, Vilma Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Conci, Luis Rogelio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; Argentin

An Unwanted Association: The Threat to Papaya Crops by a Novel Potexvirus in Northwest Argentina

An emerging virus isolated from papaya (Carica papaya) crops in northwestern (NW) Argentina was sequenced and characterized using next-generation sequencing. The resulting genome is 6667-nt long and encodes five open reading frames in an arrangement typical of other potexviruses. This virus appears to be a novel member within the genus Potexvirus. Blast analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and coat protein (CP) genes showed the highest amino acid sequence identity (67% and 71%, respectively) with pitaya virus X. Based on nucleotide sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis, the name papaya virus X is proposed for this newly characterized potexvirus that was mechanically transmitted to papaya plants causing chlorotic patches and severe mosaic symptoms. Papaya virus X (PapVX) was found only in the NW region of Argentina. This prevalence could be associated with a recent emergence or adaptation of this virus to papaya in NW Argentina.Instituto de Patología VegetalFil: Cabrera Mederos, Dariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Cabrera Mederos, Dariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Debat, Humberto Julio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Debat, Humberto Julio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Torres, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Carolina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBaViM); ArgentinaFil: Portal, Orelvis. Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Departamento de Biología; CubaFil: Portal, Orelvis. Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias; CubaFil: Jaramillo Zapata, Margarita. Universidad de San Pablo-T; ArgentinaFil: Trucco, Veronica Milagros. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Trucco, Veronica Milagros. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Flores, Ceferino Rene. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Yuto; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, Claudio Manuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Yuto; ArgentinaFil: Badaracco, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Luis Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Quito-Avila, Diego. Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador. Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral; EcuadorFil: Bejerman, Nicolas Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Bejerman, Nicolas Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Castellanos Collazo, Onias. Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCYT); ArgentinaFil: Castellanos Collazo, Onias. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez-Rodríguez, Aminael. Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; EcuadorFil: Giolitti, Fabian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Giolitti, Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); Argentin

Revista del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Alimentación del meloncillo Herpestes ichneumon y de la gineta Genetta genetta en la Reserva Biológica de Doñana, S.O. de la Península Ibérica.Determinación de la edad en Rana perezi Seoane, 1885. Aplicación al análisis del crecimiento somático de poblaciones.Influencias ambientales en la variación del tamaño, forma y peso de los huevos de la collalba rubia (Oenanthe hispanica L.)Características de un coro de sapos corredores (Bufo calamita) en el sureste de España.Estrategias alimentarias del ciervo (Cervus elaphus L.) en Montes de ToledoDistribución de los quirópteros de la provincia de Orense (Noroeste de España).Ecología trófica del lince ibérico en Doñana durante un periodo secoDesarrollo larvario de la rana común (Rana perezi) (anura: ranidae) en charcas temporales del noroeste de la Península Ibérica.Régimen alimenticio del mirlo común (Turdus merula) en el sureste de la Península Ibérica durante el periodo otoño-invierno.Reproducción del gorrión molinero (Passer montanus) en las Islas Canarias.Relación entre la cobertura vegetal y la distribución de nidos en las colonias de pagaza piconegraPeer reviewe

Bright light-emitting diodes based on organometal halide perovskite.

Solid-state light-emitting devices based on direct-bandgap semiconductors have, over the past two decades, been utilized as energy-efficient sources of lighting. However, fabrication of these devices typically relies on expensive high-temperature and high-vacuum processes, rendering them uneconomical for use in large-area displays. Here, we report high-brightness light-emitting diodes based on solution-processed organometal halide perovskites. We demonstrate electroluminescence in the near-infrared, green and red by tuning the halide compositions in the perovskite. In our infrared device, a thin 15 nm layer of CH3NH3PbI(3-x)Cl(x) perovskite emitter is sandwiched between larger-bandgap titanium dioxide (TiO2) and poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene) (F8) layers, effectively confining electrons and holes in the perovskite layer for radiative recombination. We report an infrared radiance of 13.2 W sr(-1) m(-2) at a current density of 363 mA cm(-2), with highest external and internal quantum efficiencies of 0.76% and 3.4%, respectively. In our green light-emitting device with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CH3NH3PbBr3/F8/Ca/Ag structure, we achieved a luminance of 364 cd m(-2) at a current density of 123 mA cm(-2), giving external and internal quantum efficiencies of 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. We show, using photoluminescence studies, that radiative bimolecular recombination is dominant at higher excitation densities. Hence, the quantum efficiencies of the perovskite light-emitting diodes increase at higher current densities. This demonstration of effective perovskite electroluminescence offers scope for developing this unique class of materials into efficient and colour-tunable light emitters for low-cost display, lighting and optical communication applications.This is the author accepted manuscript and will be under embargo until 3/2/15. The final version is published in Nature Nanotechnology: http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2014.149.html

Actualización sobre los virus que infectan papaya en Argentina

PosterLa papaya Carica papaya se cultiva en las regiones tropicales y subtropicales, y se establece como una alternativa sustentable en el norte de Argentina Con el objetivo de generar conocimientos para aportar al manejo de las virosis que afectan papaya en Argentina, se realizaron evaluaciones en las principales áreas productorasInstituto de Patología VegetalFil: Cabrera Mederos, Dariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Cabrera Mederos, Dariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Portal, O. Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Santa Clara; CubaFil: Acuña, Luis Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Badaracco, Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT) Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Badaracco, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, E. Instituto de Enseñanza Agropecuaria (IEA) N9; ArgentinaFil: Nickel, A. Instituto de Enseñanza Agropecuaria (IEA) N9; ArgentinaFil: Sáez, S. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Nome Docampo, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Debat, Humberto Julio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Debat, Humberto Julio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Torres, C. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Jaramillo, M. Universidad de San Pablo T; ArgentinaFil: Trucco, Veronica Milagros. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Trucco, Veronica Milagros. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, Claudio Manuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Yuto; ArgentinaFil: Flores, Ceferino Rene. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Yuto; ArgentinaFil: Castellanos Collazo, Onias. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Giolitti, Fabian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Giolitti, Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola (UFyMA); Argentin