The siliciclastic Permian-Triassic deposits in Central and Northeastern Iberian Peninsula (Iberian, Ebro and Catalan Basins) : a proposal for correlation

The siliciclastic deposits of the Iberian, Ebro and Catalan Basins have been described for more than a century, but facies similarities and a lack of biostratigaphic data have difficulted the correlation of the local stratigraphic units in a general framework up to now. Combining pollen and spores data, the identification of the regional unconformities and hiatuses and the quantitative analysis of the subsidence by backstripping methods, a new correlation scheme for these facies is proposed

Nutritional Characterization of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) for Feeding to Ruminants

This study aimed to analyze the nutritional characteristics of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) hay for the feeding of ruminants in the central zone of the Sierra Region. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of the Faculty of Pecaurias Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Cutting was carried out for 60 days in different areas of the central Sierra region. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results of the bromatological analysis showed that the average total humidity was 11.12 ± 0.20% in (Rp-00542) while the minimum was 7.79 ± 0.05% in (Rp-00224). Values for dry matter ranged between 91.25 ± 0.03% (Rp336) and 88.53 ± 0.09% (Rp492); dry base ash ranged between 12.51 ± 0.08% (Rp500) and 9.16 ± 0.08% (Rp521); dry organic matter ranged between 90.84 ± 0.13% (Rp521) and 87.49 ± 0.08% (Rp521); and dry crude protein ranged between 22.44 ± 0.26% (Rp492) and 18.73 ± 0.08% (Rp336). The following values were also obtained: 1.94 ± 0.93% dry ethereal extract; 32.06 ± 2.11% dry nitrogen free extract; 46.96 ± 3.78% dry neutral detergent fiber; 40.67 ± 3.36% dry acid detergent fiber; and 8.23 ± 0.64% dry lignin detergent acid. Therefore, it can be determined that forage mixture provides all of the nutrients to the species of zootechnical interest. Keywords: Medicago sativa, alfalfa, sierra centro, rumiants. RESUMEN En el Laboratorio de la Facultad de Ciencias Pecaurias de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, se realizó la Caracterización Nutricional de henos de Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) para la alimentación de Rumiantes en la zona centro de la Región Sierra; Mediante estadística descriptiva se obtuvo los siguientes resultados del análisis bromatológico a los 60 días de corte en las diferentes zonas de la región Sierra - Centro, se puede observar que el mayor promedio de la humedad total fue 11,12 ± 0,20% en (Rp-00542) mientras que el menos fue 7,79 ± 0,05% en (Rp-00224); para Materia Seca-Total los valores se obtuvieron entre  91,25 ± 0,03% (Rp336) y 88,53 ± 0,09% (Rp492); Cenizas base seca 12,51 ± 0,08% (Rp500) y 9,16 ± 0,08% (Rp521); el mayor valor para % Materia Orgánica Base seca fue de 90,84 ± 0,13% (Rp521) y el menor con 87,49 ± 0,08% (Rp521); para % Proteína cruda base seca la mejor respuesta fue 22,44 ± 0,26 (Rp492) % y el menor  18,73 ± 0,08 (Rp336), Fibra cruda base seca; 1,94 ± 0,93% Extracto etéreo base seca; 32,06 ± 2,11% Extracto Libre de Nitrógeno base seca; 46,96 ± 3,78% Fibra Detergente Neutro base seca; 40,67 ± 3,36% Fibra Detergente Acida base seca; 8,23 ± 0,64% Lignina Detergente Acida base seca. Por lo que se puede determinar que la mezcla forrajera aporta todos los nutrientes a todas las especies de interés zootécnico. Palabras clave: Medicago sativa, alfalfa, sierra centro, rumiantes

Feline leukemia virus outbreak in the critically endangered Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ): high-throughput sequencing of envelope variable region A and experimental transmission

The Iberian lynx is the most endangered felid species. During winter/spring 2006/7, a feline leukemia virus (FeLV) outbreak of unexpected virulence killed about 2/3 of the infected Iberian lynxes. All FeLV-positive animals were co-infected with feline hemoplasmas. To further characterize the Iberian lynx FeLV strain and evaluate its potential virulence, the FeLV envelope gene variable region A (VRA) mutant spectrum was analyzed using the Roche 454 sequencing technology, and an in vivo transmission study of lynx blood to specified-pathogen-free cats was performed. VRA mutations indicated weak apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme and catalytic polypeptide-like cytidine deaminase (APOBEC) restriction of FeLV replication, and variants characteristic of aggressive FeLV strains, such as FeLV-C or FeLV-A/61C, were not detected. Cats exposed to FeLV/Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum-positive lynx blood did not show a particularly severe outcome of infection. The results underscore the special susceptibility of Iberian lynxes to infectious disease

Updating temperature and salinity mean values and trends in the Western Mediterranean: the RADMED project

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Sphere rolling on the surface of a cone

We analyse the motion of a sphere that rolls without slipping on a conical surface having its axis in the direction of the constant gravitational field of the Earth. This nonholonomic system admits a solution in terms of quadratures. We exhibit that the only circular of the system orbit is stable and furthermore show that all its solutions can be found using an analogy with central force problems. We also discuss the case of motion with no gravitational field, that is, of motion on a freely falling cone.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, to be published in Eur J Phy

The siliciclastic Permian-Triassic deposits in Central and Northeastern Iberian Peninsula (Iberian, Ebro and Catalan Basins): a proposal for correlation

The siliciclastic deposits of the Iberian, Ebro and Catalan Basins have been described for more than a century, but facies similarities and a lack of biostratigaphic data have difficulted the correlation of the local stratigraphic units in a general framework up to now. Combining pollen and spores data, the identification of the regional unconformities and hiatuses and the quantitative analysis of the subsidence by backstripping methods, a new correlation scheme for these facies is proposed

Precarious environmental balance of high-altitude arid wetlands in Chile

La información obtenida en más de 3 décadas de trabajo en tres Humedales áridos de altura (HAA) (salar de Surire, salar de Atacama y laguna Santa Rosa) se utiliza para realizar una relación de ecología y economía. La primera entrega evidencia sobre aspectos físicos químicos, hídricos y de ciertas comunidades biológicas tales como flamencos y fitobentos, mientras que, en la segunda se explica como la explotación de los recursos naturales no renovables en el mismo territorio, determinan riesgo ambiental para estos humedales. Exploramos el funcionamiento de este sistema socio-ecológico del altiplano, con procesos de distinta índole como problemáticas, acciones socioeconómicas que impactan en el paisaje fluvial y al conjunto de hábitats integrados en los HAA son integrantes. Conocer este funcionamiento tiene por objetivo evidenciar el riesgo (por la variabilidad del territorio) en sus seres vivos, típicos de sistemas abiertos, incluyendo en ellos a los humanos. Afirmamos que los HAA son ecológicamente sistemas frágiles y abiertos a los intercambios de energía de origen antrópico, normalmente tratados como sistemas cerrados. Relacionamos la disminución del recurso hídrico como fuente de impacto cuantitativo en el sistema, utilizando bioindicadores para ello: géneros de microflora y poblaciones de flamencos (tres especies). Proponemos un modelo para los HAA, donde el biomonitoreo y la vigilancia ambiental pueden contribuir a su conservación.Information obtained in more than 3 decades of work in three arid high-altitude wetlands (HAA) (Salar de Surire, Salar de Atacama and Laguna Santa Rosa) is used to make a relationship of ecology and economy. First provides evidence on physical, chemical, water and certain biological communities such as flamingos and phytobenthos, second explains how exploitation of non-renewable natural resources in same territory determines environmental risk for these wetlands. We explore the functioning of this socio-ecological system of the highlands, with processes of different kinds such as problems, socio-economic actions that impact the river landscape and the set of habitats integrated in the HAA are integral. Through this, we propose a way to considerate enviromental risk (due to the variability of the territory) in their living beings, typical of open systems, including humans, since HAA are ecologically fragile systems, open to energy exchanges normally treated as closed systems. Water decrease is our key issue on resources as a source of quantitative impact on the system, using bioindicators for this: microflora genera and flamingo populations (three species). We propose a model for HAA, where biomonitoring and environmental surveillance can contribute to their conservation