Effects of two tillage techniques on soil macroporosity in sub-humid environment.

Postprint (published version

Hydrological soil behavior in areas with semi-arid vegetation (Beni Chougrane Mountains, Algeria)

Postprint (author's final draft

Isotopic homogeneity throughout the skin in small cetaceans

Rationale: Isotope ratios from skin samples have been widely used to study cetacean trophic ecology. Usually, isotopic skin uniformity has been assumed, despite the heterogeneity of this tissue. This study aims to investigate (1) regional isotopic variation within the skin in cetaceans, and (2) isotopic variation among internal tissues.Methods: Stable carbon (delta C-13 values) and nitrogen (delta N-15 values) isotope ratios were measured in 11 skin positions in 10 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and 9 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). In addition, the isotope ratios in the muscle, liver and kidney of both species were determined and compared with those from the skin and from all tissues combined. The signatures were determined by means of elemental analyser/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS).Results: In both species, no differences between isotope ratios of the skin positions were found. Moreover, the isotope ratios of skin were similar to those of muscle. In contrast, liver and kidney showed higher isotope ratios than muscle and skin.Conclusions: Isotopic homogeneity within the skin suggests that the isotope ratios of a sample from a specific skin position can be considered representative of the ratios from the entire skin tissue in dolphins. This conclusion validates the results of previous stable isotope analyses in dolphins that used skin samples as representative of the whole skin tissue. Isotopic similarities or dissimilarities among tissues should be considered when analysing different tissues and comparing results from the same or different species

Study of dyeing process of hemp/cotton fabrics by using natural dyes obtained from rubia tinctorum L. and calendula officialis

The objective of this work was to assess the possibility of dyeing a substrate composed of non-textile industrial hemp using natural dyes from common madder (Rubia Tinctorum L.) and calendula (Calendula Officialis) and tannin and alum as mordants. The substrate used for the dyeing had a 25/75 hemp/cotton composition. The hemp raw material is an agricultural by-product that was subjected to mechanical and chemical treatments in order to cottonize the fibers, blend them with cotton, and thus obtain first 40-tex open-end yarns and then a knitted fabric. The latter was subjected to different dyeing conditions by varying the dye, mordant, and method for its application, type of water, and rinsing after dyeing. Measurements of the difference (¿E) and intensity (K/S) of color and fastness to washing and rubbing were carried out. The results showed that dyeing of a non-textile residual hemp substrate is possible, and that calendula is a good option for dyeing it with tap water, tannin-alum set in a meta-mordanting process, and rinsing after 24 h. In this way, a contribution has been made to the circular economy of the textile industry through the use of more sustainable sources and productsThe authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support for this research from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Project MAT2016-79352-R) and from the National Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ecuador (SENESCYT) for Doctoral Fellowship (No. CZ02-000926-2018)Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement EconòmicObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum ResponsablesObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al ClimaObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima::13.b - Promoure mecanismes per a augmentar la capacitat de planificació i gestió eficaces en relació amb el canvi climàtic als països menys avançats i als petits estats insulars en desenvolupament, centrats concretament en les dones, persones joves i comunitats locals i marginadesPostprint (published version

Seedling emergence through soil surface seals under laboratory conditions: effect of mechanical impedance and seal moisture

It is well known that soil sealing strongly affects seedling emergence. The effect of soil sealing on the emergence of flax and turnip seedlings was studied in the laboratory. Seeds were sown in pots, watered, then covered with loamy soil and water was added. Three different doses of water were tested. Soil sealing was obtained with a paste of soil mixed with distilled water, added to each pot as a thick homogeneous, continuous and isotropic layer. The initial water content of the seal was measured. When seedling emergence was observed (or at the end of the experiment in the case of event failure), seal strength was measured in situ by a firmness pressure tester (used as a penetrometer). Relationships between water loss and initial moisture of the seal versus mechanical impedance were obtained. Differences in emergence success between species depended on the initial soil water content as well as on the initial seal moisture. A model of seedling emergence success of the two species, flax and turnip, as a function of the initial seal moisture content was obtained using a binary logistic regression model.Postprint (author's final draft

Comparison of absolute biochemical parameters of undisturbed soils in Mediterranean environments (NE Spain) with corresponding parameters relative to soil organic carbon

The study of soil quality requires the establishment of quality standards. To this end, several authors have highlighted the need to create databases of quality indicators, such as biochemical properties, for different types of undisturbed soils under various climates and to establish standardised methodologies for their development. In Spain, studies of the quality of native soils were initiated > 15 years ago by several groups of authors from differing locations, but little is known regarding the biochemical characteristics of native soils in Catalonia (NE Spain). This study examines representative, minimally disturbed soils from Catalonia with a wide range of organic carbon contents. We examined the total and extractable organic carbon contents, total and extractable carbohydrates contents, enzyme activities (ß-glucosidase, ß-galactosidase, BAA-protease and urease), microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration of ten selected soils. Statistical analyses were applied to absolute values (i.e., per g of soil) and relative values (i.e., per g of soil organic carbon). The aim of this work was to determine the dependence of these properties on the organic matter content and the suitability of the relative values as soil quality indicators. The biochemical and microbiological parameter values of the native Catalan soils showed unusually wide ranges, although all of the values were similar to those already published for native soils in other Mediterranean climate areas. Overall, the sampled soils could be distinguished by their contents of organic carbon and total and extractable carbohydrates, rather than by their enzyme activities or microbiological variables; nevertheless, when the relative values were considered, the soils could be distinguished by their specific enzyme activities, particularly that of ß-glucosidase, and by the labile proportion of organic matter. With the exception of the total carbohydrates/C ratio, the biochemical and microbiological parameters, expressed as functions of soil organic carbon content, were useful in distinguishing groups of native soils according to field observations and soil physicochemical properties.Postprint (author's final draft

Elevated urinary Kidney Injury Molecule 1 (KIM-1) at discharge strongly predicts early mortality following an episode of acute decompensated heart failure

Introduction: Hospitalization for Acute Decompensation of Heart Failure (ADHF) is a frequent event associated with long-term adverse effects. Prognosis is even worse if Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) occurs during hospitalization. Objectives: To determine whether kidney damage biomarkers NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 might predict AKI and have prognostic value of in ADHF. Patients and methods: Serum NGAL on admission and urine NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 on discharge were determined in 187 ADHF patients enrolled in a prospective, observational, unblinded study. AKI was diagnosed using the KDIGO criteria. Patients were followed-up for 12 months to record all-cause mortality. Results: 22% patients died during follow-up, with 52.5% dying within 4 months after discharge. Serum NGAL (P <0.001), urine NGAL (P = 0.047), and urinary KIM-1 (P = 0.014) levels were significantly higher in deceased patients at discharge. After adjustment for eGFR, only urinary KIM-1 independently predicted mortality at month 4 (HR 3.166, 95%CI 1.203-8.334, P = 0.020) and month 12 (HR 1.969, 95%CI 1.123-3.454, P = 0.018) in Cox regression models. In ROC analysis urinary KIM-1 (AUC = 0.830) outperformed other markers of renal function. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed KIM-1 predictive value is additive to that of AKI incidence and admission eGFR. Admission serum NGAL was higher in AKI patients (P ≤0.001) with a modest diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.667), below urea (AUC = 0.732), creatinine (AUC = 0.696), or CysC (AUC = 0.676). Conclusions: Discharge urinary KIM-1 was a strong and independent predictor of mortality, particularly during the most vulnerable period shortly after hospitalization. Admission serum NGAL was inferior to conventional renal function parameters in predicting AKI during ADHF