Trends in the size of mesozooplankton during the last 25 years at A Coruña (N Spain)

Temporal changes in the mean individual size and in the abundance of taxonomical groups of different size of mesozooplankton (200-2000 µm) were investigated in samples collected in the shelf waters of A Coruña (N Spain) since 1988. An overall decreasing trend in the average size of individuals, indicated by the biomass (dry weight) to abundance ratio was observed. Most of this decrease can be attributed to the increase in the dominance of copepods of small size ( 1 mm) were found. Indeed, some species of large size showed increasing trends in abundance during the study period. Nevertheless these trends were small at linear scales and most species did not show significant linear trends during the study period. The observed trends in zooplankton were related to weak changes in sea surface temperature and upwelling intensity during the studied period. This suggests that the effects of the general warming of the surface ocean on plankton are weakened in regions of coastal upwelling.IEO (RADIALES

Special issue on European Union:markets and regulators editorial

The European Union has taken a leading role in the process of transformation of the energy sector for the transition to a low carbon economy. This has created several opportunities and challenges for policymakers and businesses operating in the energy sector as new directives and regulations are developed and implemented. To improve our understanding on the nature of these emerging challenges a workshop was organised in Barcelona on February 3rd 2015, which saw the participation of eminent energy researchers from across the European academia. This introduction to the special issues provides some reflection about the challenging issues being tackled by the European Commission and individual Members States. The second section summarises the articles from the workshop, which make up this special issue and which provide insightful evidence, commentary and policy recommendations for a successful and efficient transformation to a low carbon European energy system

Integrating Offshore Wind and Wave Resource Assessment

The aim of this paper is to review the sources of wind and wave information, the methodologies to assess offshore wind and wave energy resources, and the more relevant results at the European level as a first step to integration of the evaluation of both resources. In situ and remote sensed wind and wave data (using satellite based sensors) are done generally by distinct systems (except for SAR) but numerical atmospheric models and wind - wave models are closely related. Offshore wind resource studies using various types of data are reviewed especially in northern European seas and in the Mediterranean. The wave energy resource assessment at European and national levels is also reviewed and the various atlases are identified

Performance enhancement of a Neato XV-11 laser scanner applied to mobile robot localization: a stochastic modeling approach

Laser scanners are widely used in mobile robotics localization systems but, despite the enormous potential of its use, their high price tag is a major drawback, mainly for hobbyist and educational robotics practitioners that usually have a reduced budget. The Neato XV-11 Laser Scanner is a very low cost alternative, when compared with the current available laser scanners, being this fact the main motivation for its use. The modeling of a hacked Neato XV-11 Laser Scanner allows to provide valuable information that can promote the development of better designs of robot localization systems based on this sensor. This paper presents, as an example, the performance enhancement of a Neato XV-11 Laser Scanner applied to mobile robot self-localization, being used as case study the Perfect Match Algorithm applied to the Robot@Factory competition.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia with in the Project Scope: UIDB/05757/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic Transformation of Quercus ilex Somatic Embryos with a Gnk2-like Protein That Reveals a Putative Anti-Oomycete Action

Holm oak is a key tree species in Mediterranean ecosystems, whose populations have been increasingly threatened by oak decline syndrome, a disease caused by the combined action of Phytophthora cinnamomi and abiotic stresses. The aim of the present study was to produce holm oak plants that overexpress the Ginkbilobin-2 homologous domain gene (Cast_Gnk2-like) that it is known to possess antifungal properties. Proembryogenic masses (PEMs) isolated from four embryogenic lines (Q8, E2, Q10-16 and E00) were used as target explants. PEMs were co-cultured for 5 days with Agrobacterium EHA105pGnk2 and then cultured on selective medium containing kanamycin (kan) and carbenicillin. After 14 weeks on selective medium, the transformation events were observed in somatic embryos of lines Q8 and E2 and a total of 4 transgenic lines were achieved. The presence of the Cast_Gnk2-like gene on transgenic embryos was verified by PCR, and the number of transgene copies and gene expression was estimated by qPCR. Transgenic plants were obtained from all transgenic lines after cold storage of the somatic embryos for 2 months and subsequent transfer to germination medium. In an in vitro tolerance assay with the pathogen P. cinnamomi, we observed that transgenic plants were able to survive longer than wild typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Experimental and numerical study to minimize the residual stresses in welding of 6082-T6 aluminum alloy

One of the most important negative consequence in the fusion welding processes is the generation of tensile residual stresses in welded joints. The main goals of this work are to determine the optimal combination of welding parameters to minimize the residual stress level and the influence of each welding parameter in that feature to weld 6082-T6 aluminum alloy plates using the GMAW welding process. To achieve these goals was implemented the Taguchi orthogonal array (L27) to define the design of numerical and experimental tests. All combinations were simulated in the Simufactwelding 6.0 software, from which it was possible to obtain the values of maximum residual stresses. The data treatment was carried out, reaching the combination of levels for each parameter. With ANOVA analysis was found that the parameter with the greatest influence in the residual stress generation was the welding speed, while the parameter with the least influence was the torch angle. Also, to minimize the residual stresses it was observed that the optimal combination of welding parameters is welding current intensity of 202 A, welding speed of 10 mm/s, and 30° of inclination of the angular torch. The two simulations that resulted in the highest and lowest residual stresses were validated experimentally by the hole drilling method to measure the residual stresses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Preconcentration and sensitive determination of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac on a paper-based electroanalytical platform

This work describes the development of a paper-based platform for highly sensitive detection of diclofenac. The quantification of this anti-inflammatory drug is of importance in clinical (e.g. quality and therapeutic control) and environmental (e.g. emerging contaminant determination) areas. The easy-to-handle platform here described consists of a carbon-ink paper-based working electrode and two metallic wires, provided by a gold-plated standard connector, as reference and counter electrodes. The porous paper matrix enables the preconcentration of the sample, decoupling sample and detection solutions. Thus, relatively large sample volumes can be used, which significantly improves the sensitivity of the method. A wide dynamic range of four orders of magnitude, between 0.10 and 100 μM, was obtained for diclofenac determination. Due to the predominance of adsorption at the lowest concentrations, there were two linear concentration ranges: one comprised between 0.10 and 5.0 μM (with a slope of 0.85 μA μM-1) and the other between 5.0 and 100 μM (with a slope of 0.48 μA μM-1). A limit of detection of 70 nM was achieved with this simple device that provided accurate results with an RSD of ca. 5%. The platform was applied for diclofenac quantification in spiked tap water samples. The versatility of this design enabled the fabrication of a multiplexed platform containing eight electrochemical cells that work independently. The low cost, small size and simplicity of the device allow on-site analysis, which is very useful for environmental monitoring.The authors would like to thank the EU and FCT/UEFISCDI/FORMAS for funding, in the frame of the collaborative internationalconsortium REWATERfinanced under the ERA-NET CofundWaterWorks 2015 Call. This ERA-NET is an integral part of the 2016Joint Activities developed by the Water Challenges for a ChangingWorld Joint Programme Initiative (Water JPI). This work was alsosupported by the EU (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and FCT(project FOODnanoHEALTH, Portugal2020, Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000011 and project UID/QUI/50006/2013) and by the SpanishMinistry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, projectCTQ2014-58826-R). Estefanía Costa Rama thanks the Governmentof Principado de Asturias and Marie Curie-Cofund Actions for thepost-doctoral grant“Clarín-Cofund”ACA17-20.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Immunoparasitological Diagnosis Of Strongyloides Stercoralis In Garbage Collectors In Uberlândia, Mg, Brazil

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Strongyloides stercoralis in urban garbage collectors through the use of immunological and parasitological methods. A total of 92 individuals were evaluated from August, 1997, to June, 1998. For the parasitological diagnosis Baermann and Lutz' methods were applied. The immunological diagnosis involved the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect specific IgG antibodies. Of the 92 workers examined, six (6.5%) were infected with larvae of S. stercoralis. The IFAT detected 19 (16.3%) and the ELISA 17 (18.5%) positive serum samples. The differences between the results of parasitological and immunological methods were statistically significant (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that there is a need to improve the health conditions of this category of city employees.6203/04/15180182CONCHA, R., HARRINGTON, J.R.W., ROGERS, A.L., Intestinal strongyloidiasis: Recognition, management and determinants of outcome (2005) J Clin Gastroenterol, 39, pp. 203-211SIDDIQUI, A.A., BERK, S.L., Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection (2001) Clin Infect Dis, 33, pp. 1040-1047FERREIRA, M., Strongyloidiasis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (2003) Enf Emerg, 5, pp. 18-26VADLAMUDI, R.S., CHI, D.S., KRISHANASWAMY, G., Intestinal strongyloidiasis and hyperinfection syndrome (2006) Clin Mol Allergy, 4, pp. 1-13BAERMANN G. Eine Einfache methode zur auffindung von Ankylostomum (Nematoden) larven in Erdproben. Mededeel mit h. Geneesk Lab Weltvreden Feestbundel, Batavia, 1917, p. 41-7LUTZ, A.V., Schistosoma mansoni e a schistosomose, Segundo observações feitas no Brasil. (1919) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 11, pp. 121-125COSTA-CRUZ, J.M., BULLAMAH, C.B., GONÇALVEZ-PIRES, M.R.F., Cryo-microtome sections of coproculture larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides ratti as antigen sources for the immunodiagnosis of human strongyloidiasis (1997) Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo, 39, pp. 313-317MACHADO, E.R., UETA, M.T., GONÇALVES-PIRES, M.R.F., Strongyloides venezuelensis alkaline extract for the diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (2003) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 98, pp. 849-853MACHADO, E.R., COSTA-CRUZ, J.M., Strongyloides stercoralis and other enteroparasites in children at Uberlândia City, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (1998) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 93, pp. 161-164PAULA, F.M., CASTRO, E., GONÇALVES-PIRES, M.R.F., Parasitological and immunological diagnoses of strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised and nonimmunocompromised children at Uberlândia City, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (2000) Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo, 42, pp. 51-55OLIVEIRA, L.C.M., RIBEIRO, C.T., MENDES, D.M., Frequency of Strongyloides stercoralis in alcoholics (2002) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 97, pp. 119-121LINDO, J.F., CONWAY, D.J., ATKINS, N.S., Prospective evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot methods for the diagnosis of endemic Strongyloides stercoralis infection (1994) Am J Trop Med Hyg, 51, pp. 175-179CLARK, C.S., LINNEMANN Jr, C.C., CLARK, J.G., Enteric parasites in workers occupationally exposed to sewage (1984) J Occup Med, 26, pp. 273-275SCHLOSSER, O., RALL, D., LAURECEAU, M.-N., Intestinal parasite carriage in workers exposed to sewage (1999) Eur J Epidemiol, 15, pp. 261-265GOMES, T.C., ALMEIDA, M.F., MUIRA, L.A., Helmintoses intestinais em população de rua da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. (2002) Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 35, pp. 531-53

Tachyon Condensation and Black Strings

We show that under certain conditions, closed string tachyon condensation produces a topology changing transition from black strings to Kaluza-Klein "bubbles of nothing." This can occur when the curvature at the horizon is much smaller than the string scale, so the black string is far from the correspondence point when it would make a transition to an excited fundamental string. This provides a dramatic new endpoint to Hawking evaporation. A similar transition occurs for black p-branes, and can be viewed as a nonextremal version of a geometric transition. Applications to AdS black holes and the AdS soliton are also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure, v2: references adde

Zooplankton composition and distribution off the coast of Galicia, Spain

During June and September 1984, zooplankton samples were collected with other hydrographic and biological data along the Galician coast (NW of Spain). In June copepods contributed -60% to the total zooplankton community, with larvaceans, siphonophores and cladocerans also abundant. In September >90% of the zooplankton sampled were copepods. The dominant species of copepods in both June and September were Acartia e/ausi, Paracalanus parvus and Temora longicornis. The meroplankton was dominated by echinoderms, bryozoans, barnacle larvae and bivalve larvae. In June the average zooplankton biomass was 31.08 mg e m-3; the September average was 41.69 mg e m-3 The relationship between the slopes of the regression equations (biomass versus abundance) suggests that the zooplankton assemblage in June was composed by larger animals than in September. The major concentration of zooplankton was between O and SO m, with both June and September daytime surface samples having 6-7 times the amount of organisms than the lower water column (50-100 m). There were no distinct differences in total zooplankton abundances at the inshore and offshore stations; however, the inshore stations often had a higher percentage of meroplankton than the offshore stations. In June zooplankton abundance at the northern transects and the western transects was similar. In September there were greater concentrations of zooplankton in the western Galician shelf as compared with the northern shelf. These differences in the horizontal distribution of the zooplankton were related to upwelling events.Postprin