110 research outputs found
SIR-A imagery in geologic studies of the Sierra Madre Oriental, northeastern Mexico. Part 1 (Regional stratigraphy): The use of morphostratigraphic units in remote sensing mapping
SIR-A imaging was used in geological studies of sedimentary terrains in the Sierra Madre Oriental, northeastern Mexico. Geological features such as regional strike and dip, bedding, folding and faulting were readily detected on the image. The recognition of morphostructural units in the imagery, coupled with field verification, enabled geological mapping of the region at the scale of 1:250 000. Structural profiling lead to the elaboration of a morphostructural map allowing the recognition of an echelon folds and field trends which were used to postulate the ectonic setting of the region
Solar photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics: Evaluation of the applicability of the TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) composite material
For the first time, TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) photocatalysts supported on perlite mineral particles prepared by the solvothermal/microwave methods and post-annealing technique were tested in the degradation of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET NPs). Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UVâvis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 physisorption, photoluminescence emission spectroscopy, photocurrent response, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the as-prepared materials. The response surface methodology approach was used to study the effects: pH of the NPs suspension and incorporated amount of MIL-100(Fe) on the TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) catalyst to optimize the photocatalytic degradation of the PET NPs under simulated solar light. The degradation of the PET NPs was evaluated by measuring turbidity and carbonyl index (FTIR) changes. The total organic carbon (TOC) in the solution during the degradation of the PET NPs was assessed to measure NPs oxidation into water-soluble degradation by-products. The active species involved in the photocatalytic degradation of PET NPs by the TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) composite was further examined based on trapping experiments. The use of 12.5 wt% TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) catalyst showed improved photocatalytic efficacy in the oxidation of PET NPs at pH 3 under simulated sunlight compared to bare TiO2. The increase in the carbonyl index (CI = 0.99), the reduction in the turbidity ratio (0.454), and the increase in the content of TOC released (3.00 mg/L) were possible with 12.5 wt% TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) material. In contrast, the PET NPs were slowly degraded by TiO2-based photocatalysis (CI = 0.96, turbidity ratio = 0.539, released TOC = 2.12 mg/L). The mesoporous TiO2/MIL-100(Fe) composites with high specific surface area, capacity to absorb visible light, and effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole charges clearly demonstrated the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance in the PET NPs degradation under simulated solar light
Bacterial Sacroiliitis Probably Induced by Lumbar Epidural Analgesia
Background: Properly administered, lumbar epidural analgesia provides adequate pain relief during labor and delivery, and is considered to be a safe procedure with limited complications. The prevalence of infection after lumbar epidural analgesia is negligible. Introduction: Infection of the sacroiliac joint, although very close to the pucture area, has never been reported as a procedure complication. Case: In this report, we describe a patient who experienced bacterial sacroiliitis a few days after lumbar epidural analgesia for labor. No portal of entry was identified, and we evoked a new potential risk factor that has never been proposed before, namely lumbar epidural analgesia. Conclusion: Sacroiliitis must be considered as a rare but serious complication of lumbar epidural analgesia
Circulation of zoonotic flaviviruses in wild passerine birds in Western Spain
We explore the presence of zoonotic flaviviruses (West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV)) neutralizing antibodies in rarely studied passerine bird species. We report, for the first time in Europe, WNV-specific antibodies in red avadavat and cetti's warbler, and USUV in yellow-crowned bishop. The evidence of WNV and USUV circulating in resident and migratory species has implications for both animal and public health. Future outbreaks in avian reservoir hosts may occur and passerines should be considered as priority target species in flavivirus surveillance programmes.This work was funded by ConsejerĂa de EconomĂa e Infraestructura of the Junta de Extremadura and the European Regional Development Fund, a Way to Make Europe, through the research project (grant numbers IB20089 and IB16135), and PR (19_ECO_0070) project Aves y Enfermedades Infecciosas Emergentes: Impacto de las Especies ExĂłticas y Migratorias en la transmisiĂłn de Malaria aviar y el virus del Nilo Occidental - AvEIEs from Ayudas FundaciĂłn BBVA a Equipos de InvestigaciĂłn CientĂfica 2019. CISA (INIA-CSIC) was funded by INIA projects number E-RTA2015â00002-CO2â01 and AEI PID2020â116768RR-C21. MF was supported by a Juan de la Cierva 2017 FormaciĂłn contract (FJCI-2017â34394) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and she is currently funded by the European Unionâs Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie (grant agreement No 844285, âEpiEcoModâ). JM was supported by a postdoctoral grant from the Juan de la Cierva Subprogram (FJCI-2017â34109), with the financial sponsorship of the MICINN. FG-C is supported by Ayudas a la FormaciĂłn Investigador Predoctoral 2018 (PD18056) from the Extremadura Government. PA-S is supported by an FPI-SGIT predoctoral contract from INIA/CISA.Peer reviewe
The logic of the floral transition: reverse-engineering the switch controlling the identity of lateral organs
Much laboratory work has been carried out to determine the gene regulatory network (GRN) that results in plant cells becoming flowers instead of leaves. However, this also involves the spatial distribution of different cell types, and poses the question of whether alternative networks could produce the same set of observed results. This issue has been addressed here through a survey of the published intercellular distribution of expressed regulatory genes and techniques both developed and applied to Boolean network models. This has uncovered a large number of models which are compatible with the currently available data. An exhaustive exploration had some success but proved to be unfeasible due to the massive number of alternative models, so genetic programming algorithms have also been employed. This approach allows exploration on the basis of both data-fitting criteria and parsimony of the regulatory processes, ruling out biologically unrealistic mechanisms. One of the conclusions is that, despite the multiplicity of acceptable models, an overall structure dominates, with differences mostly in alternative fine-grained regulatory interactions. The overall structure confirms the known interactions, including some that were not present in the training set, showing that current data are sufficient to determine the overall structure of the GRN. The model stresses the importance of relative spatial location, through explicit references to this aspect. This approach also provides a quantitative indication of how likely some regulatory interactions might be, and can be applied to the study of other developmental transitions
Environmental cues and constraints affecting the seasonality of dominant calanoid copepods in brackish, coastal waters: a case study of Acartia, Temora and Eurytemora species in the south-west Baltic
Information on physiological rates and tolerances helps one gain a cause-and-effect understanding of the role that some environmental (bottomâup) factors play in regulating the seasonality and productivity of key species. We combined the results of laboratory experiments on reproductive success and field time series data on adult abundance to explore factors controlling the seasonality of Acartia spp., Eurytemora affinis and Temora longicornis, key copepods of brackish, coastal and temperate environments. Patterns in laboratory and field data were discussed using a metabolic framework that included the effects of âcontrollingâ, âmaskingâ and âdirectiveâ environmental factors. Over a 5-year period, changes in adult abundance within two south-west Baltic field sites (Kiel Fjord Pier, 54°19âČ89N, 10°09âČ06E, 12â21 psu, and North/Baltic Sea Canal NOK, 54°20âČ45N, 9°57âČ02E, 4â10 psu) were evaluated with respect to changes in temperature, salinity, day length and chlorophyll a concentration. Acartia spp. dominated the copepod assemblage at both sites (up to 16,764 and 21,771 females mâ3 at NOK and Pier) and was 4 to 10 times more abundant than E. affinis (to 2,939 mâ3 at NOK) and T. longicornis (to 1,959 mâ3 at Pier), respectively. Species-specific salinity tolerance explains differences in adult abundance between sampling sites whereas phenological differences among species are best explained by the influence of species-specific thermal windows and prey requirements supporting survival and egg production. Multiple intrinsic and extrinsic (environmental) factors influence the production of different egg types (normal and resting), regulate life-history strategies and influence matchâmismatch dynamics
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