Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio measurements in Port-au-Prince (Haiti) area damaged by the 2010 Haiti earthquake

In order to evaluate ground shaking characteristics due to surface soil layers in the urban area of Port-au-Prince, short-period ambient noise observation has been performed approximately in a 500x500m grid. The HVSR method was applied to this set of 36 ambient noise measurement points to determine a distribution map of soil predominant periods. This map reveals a general increasing trend in the period values, from the Miocene conglomerates in the northern and southern parts of the town to the central and western zones formed of Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits respectively, where the shallow geological materials that cover the basement increase in thickness. Shorter predominant periods (less than 0.3 s) were found in mountainous and neighbouring zones, where the thickness of sediments is smaller whereas longer periods (greater than 0.5 s) appear in Holocene alluvial fans, where the thickness of sediments is larger. The shallow shear-wave velocity structure have been estimated by means of inversion of Rayleigh wave dispersion data obtained from vertical-component array records of ambient noise. The measurements were carried out at one open space located in Holocene alluvial deposits, using 3 regular pentagonal arrays with 5, 10 and 20m respectively. Reliable dispersion curves were retrieved for frequencies between 4.0 and 14 Hz, with phase velocity values ranging from 420m/s down to 270 m/s. Finally, the average shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m (VS30) was inverted for characterization of this geological unit

Libro de Actas del II Congreso Internacional y XXXI Jornadas de Psicología: Educando en Bienestar Personal y Valores

La Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación (Huesca) propone la realización de un Congreso Internacional en el curso académico 2019-2020 que tiene como título: “II Congreso Internacional de Psicología y XXXI Jornada de Psicología: Educando en Bienestar Personal y en Valores”, que será celebrado los días 21 y 22 de Noviembre del 2019. Este congreso tiene como objetivo contribuir en el desarrollo y crecimiento personal de nuestros alumnos, como futuros profesores, y de todos aquellos docentes que deseen ampliar sus conocimientos. Para facilitar su participación, la inscripción es gratuita y su asistencia reconocida con créditos de libre elección. Consideramos relevante la celebración de este congreso, para nutrir el ámbito académico de nuestros estudiantes y profesores no solo de contenidos, sino también de valores y de competencias personales como la aceptación, la resiliencia y la inteligencia emocional que van a resultar claves para mejorar el bienestar personal y crear espacios educativos más felices

Modificaciones en la grasa del atún blanco (Thunnus alalunga) debidas a la fabricación y almacenamiento de su conserva

Modifications in fatty acid composition in white tuna (Thunnus alalunga) ocurring at each stage of the cannig process, boiling and sterilization in soybean oil, were studied. Boiling was performed in brine and two sterilization times (55 and 90 minutes) as well as the effects of storage for one year were tested. Boiling had no effect on fatty acid composition or the n-3/n-6 ratio. However canned tuna absorbed soybean oil during sterilization, causing an increase of the percentage of C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 and a decrease in C20:5 and C22:6. Therefore, unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (PS/S) ratio changed and the n-3/n-6 ratio declined from 7.03 to 0.59 compared with raw tuna. Due to the whole fat enrichment, canned fish showed a slight loss of PUFA (C20:5 and C22:6) and a increase of C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3. The latter effect was more marked in the preserves as a consequence of one year storage. The convenience of using for cannig an oil containing a lower amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid in order to remain the original n-3/n-6 ratio of the raw tuna is discussed.Se estudiaron los cambios que se producen en la grasa del atún blanco en cada una de las etapas que intervienen en el proceso de fabricación y almacenamiento de su conserva: cocción en salmuera y esterilización practicada en aceite de soja. Se estudiaron dos tiempos diferentes de esterilización (55 y 90 minutos) y el almacenamiento por espacio de 1 año. La cocción en salmuera no afectó a la composición en ácidos grasos de los lípidos del pescado ni a la relación n-3/n-6. Sin embargo, durante la esterilización, el atún absorbió el aceite utilizado como cobertura, lo que produjo un aumento porcentual en el nivel de C18:1, C18:2, C18:3 y una disminución en C20:5 y C22:6. La relación ácidos grasos insaturados a saturados (PS/S) cambió y la n-3/n-6 disminuyó desde 7,03 a 0,59 comparado con atún crudo. En el pescado en conserva, debido al enriquecimiento total en grasa, se observaron estos cambios pero más atenuada la pérdida de los poliinsaturados propios, así como la clara ganancia de C18:1, C18:2 y C18:3, que se acentuó aún más tras el año de almacenamiento. Se discute la conveniencia de utilizar para la conserva de atún blanco un aceite menos rico en poliinsaturados que mantenga mejor la relación n-3/n-6 originaria del pescado fresco

The influence of oxygen concentration during embryo culture on obstetric and neonatal outcomes: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A secondary analysis of a previous randomized controlled trial assessing clinical pregnancy outcomes was carried out. This analysis included 1125 consecutive oocyte donation cycles utilizing ICSI or IVF and Day 3 embryo transfers between November 2009 and April 2012. The whole cohort of donated oocytes from patients who agreed to participate in the study were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to a reduced O2 tension group (6% O2) or an air-exposed group (20% O2) based on a computergenerated randomization list. Fresh and vitrified oocytes were used for oocyte donation. Only those pregnancies with a live birth at or beyond 24 weeks of gestation were included. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Day 3 embryos were cultured in an atmosphere of 5.5% CO2, 6% O2, 88.5% N2 versus a dual gas system in air. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: From the eligible 1125 cycles, 564 were allocated to the 6% O2 group and 561 cycles to the 20% O2 group. However, 50 and 62 cycles did not reach embryo transfer in the 6% and 20% O2 groups, respectively. No differences were found between 6% O2 and atmospheric O2 tension in the number of livebirths per embryo transfer (mean § SD, 0.5 § 0.7 versus 0.5 § 0.7), pregnancy complications or neonatal outcomes. Both groups (6% and atmospheric O2) had similar single and twin delivery rates (40.8% versus 38.1% and 10.7% versus 12.3%, respectively). Preterm delivery rates and very preterm delivery rates (10.80% versus 13.24% and 1.25% versus 2.94%, respectively), birthweight (3229 § 561 g versus 3154 § 731 g), low birthweight (2.92% versus 2.45%), birth height (50.18 § 2.41 cm versus 49.7 § 3.59 cm), head circumference (34.16 § 1.87 cm versus 33.09 § 1.85 cm) and 1 min Apgar scores (8.96 § 0.87 versus 8.89 § 0.96) were also similar between 6% and atmospheric O2 groups, respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The number of liveborns finally analyzed is still small and not all obstetric and neonatal variables could be evaluated. Furthermore, a small proportion of the obstetric and neonatal data was obtained through a questionnaire VC The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected] Human Reproduction, Vol.0, No.0, pp. 1-14, 2020 doi:10.1093/humrep/deaa152 One reason for the lack of effect of oxygen concentration on pregnancy outcome could be the absence of trophectoderm cells at cleavage stage, which may make Day 3 embryos less susceptible to hypoxic conditions. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Nowadays many IVF laboratories use a more physiological oxygen concentration for embryo culture. However, the benefits of using low oxygen concentration on both laboratory and clinical outcomes during embryo culture are still under debate. Furthermore, long-term studies investigating the effect of using atmospheric O2 are also needed. Gathering these type of clinical data is indeed, quite relevant from the safety perspective. The present data show that, at least in egg donation cycles undergoing Day 3 embryo transfers, culturing embryos under atmospheric oxygen concentration seems not to affect perinatal outcome

Intrasession repeatability of refractive and ocular aberrometric measurements obtained using a multidiagnostic device in healthy eyes

Purpose: To evaluate the intrasession repeatability of refractive and ocular aberrometric measurements obtained using a new multidiagnostic device in healthy eyes. Patients and methods: A total of 107 eyes of 107 patients, age ranging from 23 to 65 years, were enrolled in this study. A complete eye examination was performed in all eyes, including an ocular examination using the VX120 system. Three consecutive measurements were obtained using this device to assess the intrasession repeatability of different refractive and ocular aberrometric parameters. The within-subject standard deviation (Sw), intrasubject precision (1.96×Sw), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Results: Sw and intrasubject precision for refractive data were below 0.12 and 0.20 D, respectively, in all cases. The ICC ranged from 0.947 for the J45 power vector component to 0.997 for the sphere. Concerning aberrometric measurements Sw and intrasubject precision values were below 0.05 µm and 0.10 µm, respectively. Likewise, the ICC ranged from 0.805 for the quadrafoil root mean square to 0.954 for the primary spherical aberration. Poor correlations were found between most of the refractive parameters and their Sw (–0.033≤r≤0.053, p≥0.064). Moderate and significant positive correlations were found between the magnitude of the aberrometric parameters evaluated and their Sw (r≥0.446, p<0.001). Conclusion: The new multidiagnostic device evaluated is able to provide consistent measurements of refraction and ocular aberrations in healthy eyes. Future studies should confirm if this consistency is also observed in highly aberrated eyes

Some inferences on the mechanism of atmospheric gas/particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) at Zaragoza (Spain)

Gas-particle partitioning of pollutants is an important mechanism determining atmospheric processing and its impact to environmental and human health. In this paper, the gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) has been studied with the aim of determining the main mechanism of PAH partitioning in Zaragoza (Spain) aerosols. To reach this goal, the ambient concentrations of PAH (gas and particle phase) collected in this city for one year period (2003-2004) have been analyzed. The partitioning between the particle and gas phases was studied according to three different models: the Junge adsorption model, the absorption into the organic matter model using the octanol-air (KOA) partition coefficient and the absorption into the organic matter plus the adsorption onto the soot carbon model using the soot-air (KSA) partition coefficients. Experimental gas/particle partition coefficients (KP) correlated well with the subcooled liquid vapour pressures (P0 L) of PAH but with slopes higher than the expected value of - 1. Experimental Kp values were well fit to the modelled ones when, in addition to absorption into organic matter, adsorption onto the soot carbon was considered. It could be concluded that the main partition mechanism in Zaragoza aerosols was explained by adsorption onto the soot carbon. However, Kp modelled values were affected by the different thermodynamic parameters related to soot types. The influence of the organic matter and elemental carbon fractions on the Kp modelling was also studied. The different particle characteristics, local factors, the presence of non exchangeable fraction and non equilibrium were considered like main keys to explain deviations of the experimental Kp values from predictions according to models.Authors would like to thank the Government of Aragón (DGA) for the grant to M.T.C and the Spanish Government for the JAE doctoral contract to J.M.L and for the Juan de la Cierva contract to M.V.N.Peer reviewe

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities and their functional traits mediate plant–soil interactions in trace element contaminated soils

There is an increasing consensus that microbial communities have an important role in mediating ecosystem processes. Trait-based ecology predicts that the impact of the microbial communities on ecosystem functions will be mediated by the expression of their traits at community level. The link between the response of microbial community traits to environmental conditions and its effect on plant functioning is a gap in most current microbial ecology studies. In this study, we analyzed functional traits of ectomycorrhizal fungal species in order to understand the importance of their community assembly for the soil–plant relationships in holm oak trees (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) growing in a gradient of exposure to anthropogenic trace element (TE) contamination after a metalliferous tailings spill. Particularly, we addressed how the ectomycorrhizal composition and morphological traits at community level mediate plant response to TE contamination and its capacity for phytoremediation. Ectomycorrhizal fungal taxonomy and functional diversity explained a high proportion of variance of tree functional traits, both in roots and leaves. Trees where ectomycorrhizal fungal communities were dominated by the abundant taxa Hebeloma cavipes and Thelephora terrestris showed a conservative root economics spectrum, while trees colonized by rare taxa presented a resource acquisition strategy. Conservative roots presented ectomycorrhizal functional traits characterized by high rhizomorphs formation and low melanization which may be driven by resource limitation. Soil-to-root transfer of TEs was explained substantially by the ectomycorrhizal fungal species composition, with the highest transfer found in trees whose roots were colonized by Hebeloma cavipes. Leaf phosphorus was related to ectomycorrhizal species composition, specifically higher leaf phosphorus was related to the root colonization by Thelephora terrestris. These findings support that ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition and their functional traits mediate plant performance in metal-contaminated soils, and have a high influence on plant capacity for phytoremediation of contaminants. The study also corroborates the overall effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on ecosystem functioning through their mediation over the plant economics spectrum

Evaluation of the transport properties of copper ions through a heterogeneous ion-exchange membrane in etidronic acid solutions by chronopotentiometry

[EN] The transport properties of copper chelates across an anion-exchange membrane were investigated by means of chronopotentiometry. Several solutions containing etidronic acid, copper sulfate and potassium chloride were evaluated. Tests were accomplished in a three-compartment reactor using a heterogeneous membrane containing quaternary ammonium functional groups. Results showed a strong relation between the amount of chelated anions and the limiting current density, the electrical resistance and the concentration polarization. An increase in the anionic equivalent charge of the solutions modified the three regions of the current-voltage curves. The acid medium was found to be less favorable because of the possibility of the formation of non-charged species in overlimiting regions. The presence of chloride anions increased the limiting current density, especially when the chloride concentration exceeded the etidronic acid concentration.Authors would like to thank the Institute for Technological Research (IPT), the Institute for Technological Research Foundation (FIPT), to the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp - processes 2012/51871-9, 2014/21943-3 and 2014/13351-9) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.Scarazzato, T.; Panossian, Z.; García Gabaldón, M.; Ortega Navarro, EM.; Tenório, J.; Pérez-Herranz, V.; Espinosa, D. (2017). Evaluation of the transport properties of copper ions through a heterogeneous ion-exchange membrane in etidronic acid solutions by chronopotentiometry. Journal of Membrane Science. 535:268-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2017.04.048S26827853