Role of dynamic pairing correlations in fission dynamics. II. Fermium and nobelium isotopes

The competition between the quenching of pairing due to the repulsive Coulomb interaction and dynamic pairing correlations added by particle number symmetry restoration has been studied in a selected set of Fermium and Nobelium isotopes by using a hierarchy of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov-based approximations and a restricted variation after particle number projection, all of them based on the D1M∗ parametrization of the Gogny force. It is found that Coulomb antipairing is partially compensated by beyond-mean-field pairing correlations. However, the compensation is not perfect and a modulation of the spontaneous fission half-lives, as functions of the neutron number, indicates that the combined effect on fission dynamics of Coulomb antipairing and restricted particle number symmetry restoration cannot be overlooked. Neither can it be accounted for by the Coulomb Slater approximatio

Quadrupole-octupole coupling and the evolution of collectivity in neutron-deficient Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd isotopes

The evolution of quadrupole and octupole collectivity in neutron-deficient Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd nuclei near the "octupole magic" neutron number N=56 is investigated within the mapped sdf-IBM framework. Microscopic input is obtained via quadrupole and octupole constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations, based on the parametrization D1M of the Gogny energy density functional. Octupole-deformed mean-field ground states are predicted for Ba and Ce isotopes near N=56. Excitation energies of positive- and negative-parity states as well as electric transition rates are computed with wave functions resulting from the diagonalization of the mapped IBM Hamiltonian. The parameters of the Hamiltonian are determined via the mapping of the mean-field potential energy surfaces onto the expectation value of the Hamiltonian in the condensate state of the s, d, and f bosons. Enhanced octupolarity is predicted for Xe, Ba, and Ce isotopes near N=56. The shape/phase transition from octupole-deformed to strongly quadrupole-deformed near N=60 is analyzed in detai

Supplementing the Diet of Dairy Goats with Dried Orange Pulp throughout Lactation: II Effect on Milk Fatty Acids Profile, Phenolic Compounds, Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Antioxidant Capacity

Although dried orange pulp (DOP) as a short-term dietary supplementation has been proven an effective substitute for cereals in goat diets–without impairing milk quality–there have been no studies considering its use over the full lactation period. This study evaluated replacing cereal with DOP in goat diets for the full 180-day lactation period on milk’s fatty acid (FA) and antioxidant composition. Payoya goats were assigned to three diet groups: a control group consuming a commercial concentrate with alfalfa hay as forage; a DOP40 or DOP80 group, wherein 40% or 80% of the cereal in the concentrate was replaced by DOP. The -tocopherol and phenolic compounds levels and the antioxidant capacity in the milk increased as the DOP percentage increased. Including DOP might improve the FA indices of milk in the context of human health, especially when included at the end of lactation because it contributes to reducing the thrombogenicity index and increasing both the monounsaturated/saturated FA and polyunsaturated/saturated FA indices and the amounts of indispensables -C18:3 n-3 and C18:2 n-6 cis. Ultimately, DOP presents a plausible alternative to cereals in the diet of goats throughout lactation to improve the nutritional milk quality, especially the healthy antioxidant capacity.Excma. Diputación Provincial de Huelva, Spain and the University of Huelva entitled “Aprovechamiento de Subproductos de las Empresas Agroalimentarias para Alimentación del Ganado”

Approach to the Dynamic of Carbamazepine and its Main Metabolites in Soil Contamination through the Reuse of Wastewater and Sewage Sludge

The release of pharmaceutically active compounds to the soils through the application of sewage sludge and the irrigation with wastewater, or even with surface water, is constant. The adsorption of these compounds onto the soil is one of the key factors affecting their fate in the environment and their potential environmental risks. In this work, the adsorption of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its metabolites, 3-hydroxy-carbamazepine (3OH-CBZ), carbamazepine-10,11-dihydro-10,11-epoxide (EP-CBZ), and 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxycarbamazepine (10OH-CBZ), in three Mediterranean soils was evaluated using single-solute and four-solute experiments. The highest adsorptions were measured for 3OH-CBZ, followed by CBZ, EP-CBZ, and 10OH-CBZ, in that order. A high influence of the physicochemical characteristics of the compounds, pH, and soil characteristics in the adsorption of the studied compounds was observed and corroborated by the statistical analysis of the results. Moreover, a good fit was observed in the three isotherm models evaluated (linear, Freundlich, and Langmuir) in single-solute experiments (R2 > 0.90). However, a decrease of the measured adsorptions and a worse fit to the isotherm models were observed in the case of multiple-solute experiments. This could be mainly due to the competition established between the studied compounds for the active sites of the soils.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTM2017-82778-

Restoration prioritization framework for roadway high cut slopes to reverse land degradation and fragmentation

[EN] Land degradation is one of the most critical global environmental threats. The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 has appointed land degradation and ecosystems fragmentation caused by transport infrastructures as crucial threats to biodiversity. Implementing environmental criteria in roadway project conception phase for restoring large cut slopes will prevent this threat. There is a lack of decision support systems to implement environmental criteria in the decision making procedure to restore high cut slopes. The major difficulties have been building consensus and ensuring traceability and transparency from the panel of experts. This paper presents a hybrid framework capable of dealing with environmental criteria and also with conventional territorial and economic criteria. The decision support procedure combines the Analytical Hierarchy Process with the Delphi technique and the VIKOR procedure. The experts' consensual decision-making process is properly documented, unambiguous and verifiable. The results of this study yielded that the functional and environmental criteria are the key factors in the decision-making process of large cut slope restoration projects. And it has been found the suitability of the cut-and-cover tunnels despite their higher cost and complexity of its construction.Canto-Perello, J.; Morera Escrich, JL.; Martín Utrillas, MG.; Curiel-Esparza, J. (2018). Restoration prioritization framework for roadway high cut slopes to reverse land degradation and fragmentation. Land Use Policy. 71:470-479. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.11.020S4704797

Prioritization by consensus of enhancements for sustainable mobility in urban areas

Nowadays the European cities usually present important problems at economic, social and environmental levels. The European Union has published policies to ease this issue, and several European cities are creating sustainable mobility urban plans with the measures which can be taken to improve the mobility system. Transport decisions have direct impact on transit times, urban connectivity, and have also effects in the environment, public health and society. Choosing the best enhancement to implement is a complex decision, depending on tangible and intangible criteria, which have to be taken into account together. A compromise solution that weighs travel quality, cost and sustainability inputs has to be achieved. This research work presents a decision support system to select the optimal sustainability enhancement integrating the Delphi technique with the analytic hierarchy process and the VIKOR method.Curiel Esparza, J.; Mazario-Diez, JL.; Canto-Perello, J.; Martín Utrillas, MG. (2016). Prioritization by consensus of enhancements for sustainable mobility in urban areas. Environmental Science and Policy. 55(1):248-257. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2015.10.015S24825755

Soft Tissue Extramedullary Plasmacytoma

We present the uncommon case of a subcutaneous fascia-based extramedullary plasmacytoma in the leg, which was confirmed by the pathology report and followed up until its remission. We report the differential diagnosis with other more common soft tissue masses. Imaging findings are nonspecific but are important to determine the tumour extension and to plan the biopsy

Supplementing the Diet of Dairy Goats with Dried Orange Pulp throughout Lactation: I. Effect on Milk Performance, Nutrient Utilisation, Blood Parameters and Production Economics

Dried orange pulp (DOP) can be incorporated into ruminant diets, but no reports have considered this strategy during the entire lactation period in goats. Two experiments were performed using lactating Payoya goats. In experiment 1, to study the effect, over 180 days, of DOP on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites and economic values, 44 primiparous goats were allocated into three groups: control diet (concentrate plus lucerne) and DOP40 and DOP80 diets, in which DOP replaced 40% and 80%, respectively, of the cereals. Nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation were also studied (experiment 2). The DOP diets did not affect milk yield and composition. DOP triggered lower intake and digestibility of ether extract and crude protein. Ruminal fermentation was unaffected by DOP, except for a decrease in butyrate for DOP80. The energy balance was unaltered by diet while the balance and retention of nitrogen decreased. Regarding plasma biochemistry, DOP supplementation caused changes that could indicate an improvement in hepatic function and reduced muscular damage and oxidative muscular stress. Moreover, DOP80 provided a profit increase of EUR 3.27/goat. In conclusion, the partial replacement of cereals by DOP is a profitable and healthy nutritional strategy in dairy goats and is suitable for the entire lactation period without compromising productivity.The authors are grateful to Excma. Diputaci ón Provincial de Huelva (Spain) for their financial support, Cítricos del Andévalo, S.A. (García Carrión) for supplying pellets of dehydrated orange pulp and OVIPOR, Soc. Coop. for their contribution to the preparation of diets. The authors wish to thank the farm staff of Huelva University for their technical support and the Servicio General de Investigaci ón Agraria (Universidad de Sevilla, Spain) for technical assistance with laboratory analysi