Olive Tree in the Genomic Era: Focus on Plant Architecture

For centuries olive tree is an important crop in many Mediterranean countries because it provides appreciated oil with healthy properties. The lack of genomic tools, such as molecular markers or sequence information, has hindered the development of new cultivars adapted to the challenges that this species faces due to the change in modern cultivation practices, such as the increase in the number of trees per hectare. This tree has an excessive vigour that can be a serious economic limitation for intensive or super-intensive orchards. These and other issues have been recently addressed by a number of scientific efforts. This review will give a broad view over the recent genomic developments in olive tree, and the plant architecture as a complex trait

Plant-Pathogen Interactions: A Brief Insight into a Complicated Story

Pseudomonas syringae is a bacterial plant pathogen that can lead to heavy losses in crop production. This bacteria is a very good model to study the infection processes, as it can cause disease in Arabidopsis thaliana, a well-studied plant model. This text presents an overview of the bacterial pathogenesis from a molecular biology perspective, and explains the role of plant responses in stopping the spread of the infection. Plant hormones are important elements for plant defence. Their role and how the pathogen interferes with their action will be discussed further

Effect of mode-stirrer configurations on dielectric heating performance in multimode microwave applicators

In this paper, several mode-stirrer configurations are compared in order to establish their influence on the electric-field uniformity within an irradiated dielectric sample inserted in a microwave- heating applicator. Two different scenarios are evaluated with metallic sheets moving inside the multimode applicator. The different stirrer configurations are tested and compared for low-, medium-, and high-loss dielectric sample materials. Additionally, a straightforward procedure based on a generalized plane-wave approach is proposed and evaluated as a computationally efficient alternative for calculating the electric-field distribution inside materials processed in these microwave applicators with mode stirrers. Although very different electric patterns are achieved depending on stirrer geometry and sample permittivity, the plane-wave approach has been shown to provide a very good approximation for medium and high lossy dielectric materials.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Science and Technology Ministry under Project TIC2001-2778-CO2-02

New approach for the prediction of the electric field distribution in multimode microwave-heating applicators with mode stirrers

We present a new approach for inferring the electric field distribution inside materials in multimode cavities with mode stirrers.We calculate the electric field in the dielectric material by a two-dimensional modeling of a typical multimode microwave applicator with some mobile metallic sheets. We compare simulated results with classical approaches, such as Lambert’s law or a constant electric field distribution. The proposed method allows for a better understanding of how these structures can be applied for heating materials when computing the microwave energy absorption in the dielectric. Finally, we perform experimental tests in a microwave multimode oven for validating purposes.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Science and Technology Ministry under Project TIC2001-2778-CO2-02

Significados del concepto de límite de una función en un punto manifestados por alumnos universitarios de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica

Esta investigación en proceso espera analizar el significado del concepto de límite de una función en un punto expresado por estudiantes universitarios de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. El marco teórico está formado por el pensamiento matemático avanzado, así como la noción de significado de los conceptos matemáticos escolares. Se utiliza una metodología cualitativa y descriptiva para analizar los datos recopilados. Algunas de las conclusiones preliminares indican que los estudiantes de Biología e Ingeniería en Química Industrial expresan una comprensión dual concepto-proceso para el límite, usan principalmente la representación gráfica y proponen aplicaciones vagas. Esperamos analizar el resto de la información proporcionada por los estudiantes universitarios de diferentes grados para determinar si los significados expresados son similares a los ya obtenidos

CO2 capture by adsorption with nitrogen enriched carbons

9 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables.-- Printed version published Sep 2007.-- Issue title: The 6th European Conference on Coal Research and its Applications.The success of CO2 capture with solid sorbents is dependent on the development of a low cost sorbent with high CO2 selectivity and adsorption capacity. Immobilised amines are expected to offer the benefits of liquid amines in the typical absorption process, with the added advantages that solids are easy to handle and that they do not give rise to corrosion problems. In this work, different alkylamines were evaluated as a potential source of basic sites for CO2 capture, and a commercial activated carbon was used as a preliminary support in order to study the effect of the impregnation. The amine coating increased the basicity and nitrogen content of the carbon. However, it drastically reduced the microporous volume of the activated carbon, which is chiefly responsible for CO2 physisorption, thus decreasing the capacity of raw carbon at room temperature.This work was carried out with financial support from the Spanish MEC (Project CTM2005-03075/TECNO). M.G.P. and C.P. acknowledge the support from the CSIC I3P Program co-financed by the European Social Fund.Peer reviewe

Microwave calorimeter for dielectric and thermal analysis of materials

[EN] A fast method for microwave processing and measurement of dielectric and thermal properties of materials as a function of temperature has been developed (MW-DETA). Unlike previous approaches, the method provides totally new quantitative measurements of the thermal parameters, which are fundamental for calculating the specific heat and in particular, the energy requirements of electrification of materials processing via microwave heating.The in-situ measurement of dielectric properties of the sample with temperature, together with the precise numerical modelling of the thermal process, provided the necessary information to quantify the thermal and microwave losses and, therefore, the precise amount of power delivered to the sample that is converted into heat.Compared to conventional calorimeters, microwave heating reduces the experimental time and improves the uniformity of heating, which leads to a fast and reliable method to determine the thermal properties of the material under test with different operation modes, either constant or variable heating rates.The functionality of the thermal parameters measurement system has been demonstrated by heating and measuring a ceramic sample of Macor up to 400 degrees C. Accuracy reached in the thermal process has been validated by comparison with a conventional DSC analysis.This research project has received funding from the Ministerio de Universidades by the European Union- NextGenerationEU programme under the grant Margarita Salas (MS/2) . Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Sánchez-Marín, JR.; Gutiérrez Cano, JD.; Plaza González, PJ.; Penaranda-Foix, FL.; Catalá Civera, JM. (2022). Microwave calorimeter for dielectric and thermal analysis of materials. Energy. 263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.12590926

Associations between heart rate variability and maximal fat oxidation in two different cohorts of healthy sedentary adults

Background and aims: Resting heart rate variability (HRV) and maximal fat oxidation (MFO) during exercise are both considered as a noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of car-diovascular risk factors. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between resting HRV parameters and MFO during exercise, and the intensity of exercise that elicit MFO (Fatmax) in healthy sedentary adults. Methods and results: A total of 103 healthy young adults (22.2 +/- 2.3 years old, 67% female; from the ACTIBATE cohort) and 67 healthy middle-aged adults (53.1 +/- 5.0 years old, 52% female; from the FIT-AGEING cohort) were included in this cross-sectional study. HRV was assessed using a Polar RS800CX heart rate monitor, while MFO and Fatmax were determined during a graded ex-ercise treadmill test using indirect calorimetry. No significant associations were observed for healthy young adults (standardized b coefficients ranged from-0.063 to 0.094, and all P >= 0.347) and for middle-aged adults (standardized b coefficients ranged from-0.234 to 0.090, and all P >= 0.056). Nevertheless, only a weak association was observed between one HRV parameter in time-domain (the percentage of R-R intervals that shows a difference higher than 50 ms [pNN50]) and MFO in the cohort of middle-aged adults (b coefficient =-0.279, and P = 0.033). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that resting HRV parameters are not associated with MFO and Fatmax during exercise in two independent cohorts of healthy sedentary young and middle-aged adults, respectively.Spanish Government DEP2016-79512-R PTA 12264-I FPU 16/02760 FPU15/04059 FPU14/04172University of Granada,PlanPropio de Investigacion 2020 Programa de Contratos PuenteUnit of Excel-lence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)EXERNET Research Network on Exercise and Health in Special Populations DEP2005-00046/ACTIUnit of Excellence in Sport and Health (UCEES) - University of GranadaJunta de AndaluciaEuropean Commission SOMM17/6107/UGRUniversidad de Granada / CBU

Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization

[EN] Many efforts are being made to find innovative ways of recycling rubber from end-of-life tires (ELTs), also called ground tire Rubber (GTR). Recycling through devulcanization allows the reintroduction of rubber back into the manufacturing industry. Such a process requires providing enough energy to break the sulfur links, while preventing damage to the polymeric chain. Microwave heating is controllable, efficient, and it does not rely on conventional heating mechanisms (conduction, convection) which may involve high heating losses, but rather on direct dielectric heating. However, to adequately control the microwave-assisted devulcanization performance, a thorough knowledge of the GTR permittivity versus temperature is required. In this work, GTR permittivity was monitored during its devulcanization. A resonant technique based on a dual-mode cylindrical cavity was used to simultaneously heat rubber and measure its permittivity at around 2 GHz. The results show sharp changes in the GTR permittivity at 160 and 190 degrees C. After the GTR cooled down, a shifted permittivity evidences a change in the GTR structure caused by the devulcanization process. Microwave-assisted devulcanization effectiveness is proven through time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, by verifying the decrease in the cross-link density of processed GTR samples compared to the original sample.This research project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 870,000. More information at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/870000 (accessed on 27 August 2022) and https://valuerubber.eu/(accessed on 27 August 2022). JLV and FMS also thanks the funding from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (PID2020-119047RB-I00 y PLEC2021-007793), Gobierno de Aragon (EC-22-2021) and CSIC (201860E045).Pérez-Campos, R.; Fayos-Fernández, J.; Monzó-Cabrera, J.; Martín Salamanca, F.; López Valentín, J.; Catalá Civera, JM.; Plaza González, PJ.... (2022). Dynamic Permittivity Measurement of Ground-Tire Rubber (GTR) during Microwave-Assisted Devulcanization. Polymers. 14(17):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173543121141