Investigating Sentinel 2 Multispectral Imagery Efficiency in Describing Spectral Response of Vineyards Covered with Plastic Sheets

The protection of vineyards with overhead plastic covers is a technique largely applied in table grape growing. As with other crops, remote sensing of vegetation spectral reflectance is a useful tool for improving management even for table grape viticulture. The remote sensing of the spectral signals emitted by vegetation of covered vineyards is currently an open field of investigation, given the intrinsic nature of plastic sheets that can have a strong impact on the reflection from the underlying vegetation. Baring these premises in mind, the aim of the present work was to run preliminary tests on table grape vineyards covered with polyethylene sheets, using Copernicus Sentinel 2 (Level 2A product) free optical data, and compare their spectral response with that of similar uncovered vineyards to assess if a reliable spectral signal is detectable through the plastic cover. Vine phenology, air temperature and shoot growth, were monitored during the 2016 growing cycle. Twenty-four Copernicus Sentinel 2 (S2, Level 2A product) images were used to investigate if, in spite of plastic sheets, vine phenology can be similarly described with and without plastic covers. For this purpose, time series of S2 at-the-ground reflectance calibrated bands and correspondent normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), modified soil-adjusted vegetation index, version two (MSAVI2) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) spectral indices were obtained and analyzed, comparing the responses of two covered vineyards with different plastic sheets in respect of two uncovered ones. Results demonstrated that no significant limitation (for both bands and spectral indices) was introduced by plastic sheets while monitoring spectral behavior of covered vineyards

Rhodanese-BSA polymers entrapped in insolubilised gelatin gels: properties and behaviour in continuous systems

The enzymatic oxidation of cephalosporin C to glutaryl-7-amminocephalosporanic acid (glutaryl-7-ACA) was carried out utilizing permeabilized whole cells of the yeast Trigonopsis variabilis entrapped in Ca-alginate beads. The biomass, cultured in a rich medium containing D,L methionine and harvested after 72 h of growth, exhibited high levels of D-aminoacid oxidase activity. Prior to use, thewho,lke cells were permeabilized with four freeze-thawing cycles and immobilized in polysaccharide matrices, such as Ca-alginate and K- carrageenan, and in an insolubilised gelatin gel. The best results in terms of activity yield and storage stability were obtained with cells entrapped in Ca-alginate beads. These cells were utilized for glutaryl-7-ACA production in a continuous stirred batch reactor (CSTR) and in a packed bed reactor working in a plug flow reactor (PFR), using 50 mm Cephalosporin C as substrate. The performances of the two systems were compared. The overall on a void volume basis) were 1.63 g and 255 mg of glutaryl-7-ACA h-1 in the PFR and in CSTR, respectively

Migratory insertion reactions of nickel and palladium σ-alkyl complexes with a phosphinito-imine ligand†‡

Ligand exchange reactions have been used for the synthesis of metallacyclic complexes of Ni and Pd of the type [M[upper bond 1 start](CH2CMe2-o-C6[upper bond 1 end]H4)(P–N)], where P–N is the phosphinito-imine ligand P(iPr)2OC(Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]N(2,6-C6H3(iPr)2. The protic acid [H(OEt2)(BAr′4)] (Ar′ = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2) selectively cleaves one of the two σ metal–carbon bonds, affording cationic monoalkyl complexes. Nickel monoalkyls stabilized with Et2O or MeCN ligands are thermally unstable and spontaneously undergo a decomposition process that ultimately leads to the breakdown of the phosphinito-imine ligand. In contrast, cationic alkylpalladium derivatives are thermally very stable, allowing the isolation of a formally unsaturated monoalkyl complex stabilized by an intramolecular π-arene interaction. Although monoalkynickel and -palladium phosphinito-imine derivatives are inactive as ethylene polymerization or copolymerization catalysts, they readily experience migratory insertion reactions. A palladium chelate arising from the successive insertion of CO and ethylene has been isolated and characterized.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología CTQ2009-11721Junta de Andalucía P09-FQM507

Resiliencia comunitaria en zonas rurales. Aliada para la sostenibilidad.

Global changes arise to society as a whole. However, the vitality and sustainability of certain geographical spaces have been particularly adversely affected. In rural areas, even survival has been at stake. To reduce the risks and vulnerabilities that occur in these contexts, a comprehensive, cooperative and complementary vision must be provided among all the key actors. In order to achieve sustainable rural communities, it is necessary, among other issues, to delve into their policies and consider them as full-fledged entities. The knowledge of those living in these regions, their background, their participation and their decision-making power over what competes with them should be appreciated. In this way, community resilience appears as an opportunity for evolution towards social justice. For this reason, the professionals who carry out their work in these rural communities, especially those who work as social practitioners, must provide a resilient approach in their analysis and actions. They must commit to a comprehensive approach, participatory, empowering and able to restructure from the bottom up when necessary: ​​a transformative approach.Los cambios globales afectan a la sociedad en su conjunto. Sin embargo, la vitalidad y sostenibilidad de ciertos espacios geográficos se han visto especialmente comprometidas. En las áreas rurales, incluso la supervivencia se ha visto en juego. Para la reducción de los riesgos y vulnerabilidades que suceden en estos contextos debe aportarse una visión integral, cooperativa y complementaria entre todos los actores clave. Para conseguir comunidades rurales sostenibles se requiere, entre otras cuestiones, ahondar en sus capacidades políticas y considerarlas como entes de pleno derecho. Debe apreciarse su saber, su bagaje, su participación y su poder de decisión sobre lo que les compete. De esta forma, la resiliencia comunitaria aparece como oportunidad de evolución hacia la justicia social. Por este motivo, los y las profesionales que realizan su labor en estas comunidades rurales, especialmente quienes trabajan en la acción social, deben aportar un enfoque resiliente en sus análisis e intervenciones. Deben comprometerse con un enfoque integral, participativo, empoderador y capaz de reestructurar desde las bases, cuando esto sea necesario: un enfoque transformador.&nbsp

Nickel and Palladium Complexes with New Phosphinito-Imine Ligands and Their Application as Ethylene Oligomerization Catalysts

Phosphinito-imines, a new class of P,N donors, are readily generated by reaction of bulky arylamide anions [R2CONAr]− (R2 = Me or t-Bu; Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H4) with chlorophosphines ClP(R1)2. In solution, free phosphinito-imines exist in equilibrium with the corresponding amidophosphine tautomers, containing a nitrogen-bound P(R1)2 group. However, reacting the tautomer mixtures with metal precursor complexes, such as NiBr2(dme) or PdCl2(cod), selectively affords stable phosphinito-imine complexes MX2(P-N) (M = Ni, Pd) in excellent yields. These complexes are diamagnetic and exhibit square-planar structures in the solid state, but in solution, the Ni derivatives exchange with a small amount of the corresponding high-spin tetrahedral isomers. On treatment with MMAO or DEAC, NiX2(P-N) complexes become active ethylene oligomerization catalysts, affording mainly butenes along with smaller amounts of hexenes and octenes. The activity and the selectivity of these catalysts depend on the structure of the phosphinito-imine ligand and the cocatalyst used. When activated with DEAC, complexes containing the P(i-Pr)2 moiety are extremely active, achieving TOFs over 106 mol C2H4/mol Ni·h and high selectivity for butenes.Junta de Andalucía P09- FQM507

Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of Alkyl Nitroderivatives of Hydroxytyrosol

A series of alkyl nitrohydroxytyrosyl ether derivatives has been synthesized from free hydroxytyrosol (HT), the natural olive oil phenol, in order to increase the assortment of compounds with potential neuroprotective activity in Parkinson’s disease. In this work, the antioxidant activity of these novel compounds has been evaluated using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), and Oxygen Radical Scavenging Capacity (ORAC) assays compared to that of nitrohydroxytyrosol (NO2HT) and free HT. New compounds showed variable antioxidant activity depending on the alkyl side chain length; compounds with short chains (2–4 carbon atoms) maintained or even improved the antioxidant activity compared to NO2HT and/or HT, whereas those with longer side chains (6–8 carbon atoms) showed lower activity than NO2HT but higher than HT.Junta de Andalucía P09-AGR-509

Long-Term Functional Outcome after Internal Delorme's Procedure for Obstructed Defecation Syndrome, and the Role of Postoperative Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term functional outcomes of Internal Delorme's Procedure (IDP) in patients refractory to conservative treatment for Obstructed Defecation Syndrome (ODS), and to compare those who received postoperative rehabilitation with those who did not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with ODS refractory to nonoperative therapy were identified across three regional pelvic floor referral hospitals, and IDP was performed. Postoperatively selected patients received biofeedback therapy. Functional outcomes were established using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation (CCC) score and obstructed defecation score (OD score) preoperatively at 12 months and at the last available follow-up. Patient satisfaction was assessed with a visual analogue score. RESULTS: From October 2006 to September 2013, IDP was performed in 170 patients: 77 received postoperative biofeedback and 93 did not. Mean follow-up was 6.3 years (range 1-8 years). CCC and OD scores improved significantly in both groups after 12 months and at the last follow-up (p > 0.05). When comparing two groups while there was no significant difference between CCC and OD scores at 12 months, score was significantly better in the group that received rehabilitation at the last follow-up (p = 0.001). Patient satisfaction was higher in the rehabilitation group (67%) compared with those without rehabilitation (55%). Clinical recurrence was recorded in nine patients who did not have postoperative rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: It has been demonstrated that IDP is associated with good long-term functional outcomes. Patients receiving rehabilitation had a better long-term follow-up, a higher overall satisfaction, and lower recurrence rate when compared with the patients who did not receive postoperative rehabilitation