Hydrological impacts of large fires and future climate: modeling approach supported by satellite data

Fires have significant impacts on soil erosion and water supply that may be exacerbated by future climate. The aims of this study were: To simulate the effects of a large fire event in the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) hydrological model previously calibrated to a medium-sized watershed in Portugal; and to predict the hydrological impacts of large fires and future climate on water supply and soil erosion. For this, post-fire recovery was parametrized in SWAT based on satellite information, namely, the fraction of vegetation cover (FVC) calculated from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The impact of future climate was based on four regional climate models under the stabilization (RCP 4.5) and high emission (RCP 8.5) scenarios, focusing on mid-century projections (2020–2049) compared to a historical period (1970–1999). Future large fire events (>3000 ha) were predicted from a multiple linear regression model, which uses the daily severity rating (DSR) fire weather index, precipitation anomaly, and burnt area in the previous three years; and subsequently simulated in SWAT under each climate model/scenario. Results suggest that time series of satellite indices are useful to inform SWAT about vegetation growth and post-fire recovery processes. Different land cover types require different time periods for returning to the pre-fire fraction of vegetation cover, ranging from 3 years for pines, eucalypts, and shrubs, to 6 years for sparsely vegetated low scrub. Future climate conditions are expected to include an increase in temperatures and a decrease in precipitation with marked uneven seasonal distribution, and this will likely trigger the growth of burnt area and an increased frequency of large fires, even considering differences across climate models. The future seasonal pattern of precipitation will have a strong influence on river discharge, with less water in the river during spring, summer, and autumn, but more discharge in winter, the latter being exacerbated under the large fire scenario. Overall, the decrease in water supply is more influenced by climate change, whereas soil erosion increase is more dependent on fire, although with a slight increase under climate change. These results emphasize the need for adaptation measures that target the combined hydrological consequences of future climate, fires, and post-fire vegetation dynamics.The project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 641762. FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.,under the project FirESmart “PCIF/MOG/0083/2017”

Structure-guided engineering of a receptor-agonist pair for inducible activation of the ABA adaptive response to drought

Strategies to activate abscisic acid (ABA) receptors and boost ABA signaling by small molecules that act as ABA receptor agonists are promising biotechnological tools to enhance plant drought tolerance. Protein structures of crop ABA receptors might require modifications to improve recognition of chemical ligands, which in turn can be optimized by structural information. Through structure-based targeted design, we have combined chemical and genetic approaches to generate an ABA receptor agonist molecule (iSB09) and engineer a CsPYL1 ABA receptor, named CsPYL15m, which efficiently binds iSB09. This optimized receptor-agonist pair leads to activation of ABA signaling and marked drought tolerance. No constitutive activation of ABA signaling and hence growth penalty was observed in transformed Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Therefore, conditional and efficient activation of ABA signaling was achieved through a chemical-genetic orthogonal approach based on iterative cycles of ligand and receptor optimization driven by the structure of ternary receptor-ligand-phosphatase complexes

The use of full-setting non-invasive ventilation in the home care of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-motor neuron disease with end-stage respiratory muscle failure: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Little has been written about the use of non-invasive ventilation in the home care of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-motor neuron disease patients with end-stage respiratory muscle failure. Nocturnal use of non-invasive ventilation has been reported to improve daytime blood gases but continuous non-invasive ventilation dependence has not been studied in this regard. There continues to be great variation by country, economics, physician interest and experience, local concepts of palliation, hospice requirements, and resources available for home care. We report a case series of home-based amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-motor neuron disease patients who refused tracheostomy and advanced non-invasive ventilation to full-setting, while maintaining normal alveolar ventilation and oxygenation in the course of the disease. Since this topic has been presented in only one center in the United States and nowhere else, it is appropriate to demonstrate that this can be done in other countries as well.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present here the cases of three Caucasian patients (a 51-year-old Caucasian man, a 45-year-old Caucasian woman and a 57-year-old Caucasian woman) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis who developed continuous non-invasive ventilation dependence for 15 to 27 months without major complications and were able to maintain normal CO₂and pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation despite a non-measurable vital capacity. All patients were wheelchair-dependent and receiving riluzole 50 mg twice a day. Patient one developed mild-to-moderate bulbar-innervated muscle weakness. He refused tracheostomy but accepted percutaneous gastrostomy. Patient two had two lung infections, acute bronchitis and pneumonia, which were treated with antibiotics and cough assistance at home. Patient three had three chest infections (bronchitis and pneumonias) and asthmatic episodes treated with antibiotics, bronchodilators and cough assistance at home. All patients had normal speech while receiving positive pressure; they died suddenly and with normal oxygen saturation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although warned that prognosis was poor as vital capacity diminished, our patients survived without invasive airway tubes and despite non-measurable vital capacity. No patient opted for tracheostomy. Our patients demonstrate the feasibility of resorting to full-setting non-invasive management to prolong survival, optimizing wellness and management at home, and the chance to die peacefully.</p

Successful wide hybridization and introgression breeding in a diverse set of common peppers (Capsicum annuum) using different cultivated ají (C. baccatum) accessions as donor parents

[EN] Capsicum baccatum, commonly known as aji, has been reported as a source of variation for many different traits to improve common pepper (C. annuum), one of the most important vegetables in the world. However, strong interspecific hybridization barriers exist between them. A comparative study of two wide hybridization approaches for introgressing C. baccatum genes into C. annuum was performed: i) genetic bridge (GB) using C. chinense and C. frutescens as bridge species; and, ii) direct cross between C. annuum and C. baccatum combined with in vitro embryo rescue (ER). A diverse and representative collection of 18 accessions from four cultivated species of Capsicum was used, including C. annuum (12), C. baccatum (3), C. chinense (2), and C. frutescens (1). More than 5000 crosses were made and over 1000 embryos were rescued in the present study. C. chinense performed as a good bridge species between C. annuum and C. baccatum, with the best results being obtained with the cross combination [C. baccatum (female) x C. chinense (male)] (female) x C. annuum (male), while C. frutescens gave poor results as bridge species due to strong prezygotic and postzygotic barriers. Virus-like-syndrome or dwarfism was observed in F-1 hybrids when both C. chinense and C. frutescens were used as female parents. Regarding the ER strategy, the best response was found in C. annuum (female) x C. baccatum (male) crosses. First backcrosses to C. annuum (BC(1)s) were obtained according to the crossing scheme [C. annuum (female) x C. baccatum (male)] (female) x C. annuum (male) using ER. Advantages and disadvantages of each strategy are discussed in relation to their application to breeding programmes. These results provide breeders with useful practical information for the regular utilization of the C. baccatum gene pool in C. annuum breeding.Juan P. Manzur thanks Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for a research predoctoral grant (2011-S2-4264, programa para la formacion de personal investigador). Authors are grateful to Centro Inv. Agr. Mabegondo, S. Larregla from NEIKER, P.W. Bosland from NMSU and the Consejos Reguladores of IGP Pimiento Asado del Bierzo, DOP Pimenton de Murcia, and IGP Piquillo de Lodosa for providing us with seeds from Arnoia, Guindilla de Ibarra, Numex, Bierzo, Bola and Piquillo, respectively.Manzur Poblete, JPA.; Fita, A.; Prohens Tomás, J.; Rodríguez Burruezo, A. (2015). Successful wide hybridization and introgression breeding in a diverse set of common peppers (Capsicum annuum) using different cultivated ají (C. baccatum) accessions as donor parents. PLoS ONE. 10(12). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144142Se0144142101

Evaluation of a solar/UV annular pilot scale reactor for 24 h continuous photocatalytic oxidation of n-decane

A pilot scale single-pass continuous-flow annular photoreactor (r(annulus) = 21.3 mm) was designed and manufactured featuring a compound parabolic collector (CPC) to capture both direct and diffuse solar radiation and, simultaneously, artificial UVA lamps, in order to examine the possibility of working continuously day and night. Cheap, lightweight and easily shaped cellulose acetate materials, which are transparent in the TiO2 activation range, were used as supports, as an alternative to classic porous solid monolithic structures. Such configuration allows that only 1% of the reactor volume is filled with photoactive material. The photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of n-decane (C-dec, (feed) = 10 ppm, Q(feed) = 2 L min(-1), tau = 44 s) over cellulose acetate monolithic structures coated with different TiO2-based photocatalytic films (L-catalytic (bed) = 144 cm) was studied under solar and artificial UVA radiation. Gas-phase n-decane conversions up to 100% were attained using P25 or PC500 photocatalytic films under solar irradiances starting from 16 W-uv m(-2) in the morning (sunrise, increasing temperature) and down to 3 W-uv m(-2) in the afternoon (sunset, decreasing temperature). An increase of the UV irradiance at total n-decane conversion promotes the formation of CO2. The excess of photons reaching the photocatalytic bed favours the direct reaction pathway of CO2 generation. The PCO of n-decane enhanced 29% resulting in 100% of conversion using PC500 film instead of P25 film, under artificial UVA radiation (I = 29W m(-2)). Results indicate that combining both radiation sources, a 24 h continuous PCO process towards the removal of n-decane can be accomplished

Newly identified synergy between clopidogrel and calcium-channel blockers for blood pressure regulation possibly involves CYP2C19 rs4244285

International audienc

Gas phase oxidation of n-decane and PCE by photocatalysis using an annular photoreactor packed with a monolithic catalytic bed coated with P25 and PC500

Perchloroethylene (PCE) and n-decane are persistently present in the indoor air of several industrial/corporate: facilities and households. The present paper reports studies on the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of n-decane and PCE using an annular photoreactor equipped with a compound parabolic collector (CPC) and packed with transparent cellulose acetate monolithic structures coated with two commercially, available TiO2, namely PC500 and P25, under simulated solar light. Such configuration allowed the illumination of the whole tubular reactor perimeter and catalytic bed, enhancing therefore the photonic efficiency and to take advantage of the low pressure drop and the high surface-area-to-volume ratio, typical of honeycomb reactors. The influence of the type of TiO2, feed flow rate, pollutant concentration, relative humidity, gas-phase molecular oxygen and irradiance on the pollutants PCO was assessed. PC500 film showed higher conversion of both pollutants in comparison with P25 despite the lower mass of catalyst used for film coating. n-Decane (C-dec,C-feed =71 ppm) and PCE (C-PCE,C-feed =1095 ppm) conversions close to 100% were obtained operating at Q(feed) = 150 cm(3) min(-1) (tau = 88 s), I = 38.4 W-UV m(-2) and RH = 40%. The mineralization's of PCE over both photocatalytic films were similar. However, n-decane was 100% and 69% mineralized respectively over PC500 and P25 films, under the same operating conditions. In addition, competitive adsorption between the pollutants and water molecules on the TiO2 film surface was observed above 20% of RH. Results obtained at low RH suggest that Cl-center dot radical chain propagation reactions may be included in the PCO mechanism of PCE. Finally, the absence of oxygen drastically impairs the photoreaction

Perchloroethylene gas-phase degradation over titania-coated transparent monoliths

Perchloroethylene (PCE) has been detected as one of the major pollutants in indoor air of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with closed facilities. Its hazardousness requires the complete PCE removal from air. For this reason, gas-phase photooxidation of PCE was studied in a continuous-flow tubular photoreactor under simulated solar radiation. Since negligible degradation of PCE was observed by photolysis, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) experiments were carried out employing a catalytic bed of cellulose acetate monoliths (CAM) coated with TiO2 (TiO2-CAM). The three TiO2-CAM samples tested (3, 6, and 9 TiO2 dip-coating layers), showed that the catalytic activity increases considerably with the number of layers (similar to 92% for the 9-layered TiO2-CAM). Different conditions of feed flow rate, pollutant concentration, feed relative humidity, and incident irradiance were tested for the 9-layered TiO2-CAM photocatalyst in order to assess the most relevant operating parameters. Taking into consideration the small path of the photoreactor employed (0.16 m length), PCO of PCE showed interesting results, achieving degradation efficiencies between 90 and similar to 98%, depending on the operating conditions used. The mathematical modelling of PCE kinetics through PCO suggested that there is no competition between PCE and H2O molecules to the surface active sites, even considering them as independent molecules that target distinct surface active sites (Langmuir-Hinshelwood bimolecular competitive two types of sites rate model). The validation of the PCO mathematical model at lab-scale allowed predictive simulations for PCO of PCE that can be used for possible scale-up a unit aiming at completely mineralization of PCE under solar irradiation. Finally, identification of PCE by-products allowed the complete formulation of a feasible reaction mechanism

Hemodinámica. Estudio MAREC, diagnóstico de la situación de Enfermería en España

The research on the situation of Nursing in Hemodynamics in Spain by the MAREC study arises in the Spanish Association of Nursing in Cardiology. Objective: to describe the available resources, the participation, the tasks and the level of autonomy of Nursing in Hemodynamics in Spain. Methodology. Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out with the aid of a self-administrated questionnaire on the nursing characteristics, staff and role in Hemodynamics units of public, private or state-contracted hospitals in Spain. Results. Participation was of 66.14% (n=84) of effective candidate centers (n=127). Out of these centers having been studied, 74 (88.1%) had a Hemodynamics unit. Murcia stands out with 2.40 hemodynamics units per million of inhabitants (national mean 1.59 units/ million of inhabitants). 86.3% have an attention program for infarction code and 63.5% have an outpatient clinic. 54.1% have two nurses per ward and 33.8% have three nurses. Four centers have nursing consultation managed by hemodynamics nurses. 62.2% have checklist or pre-intervention verification list. In 6.8% of centers, there are Nursing Doctors, and in half of them no nurse has a master‘s degree. 52.7% had an average of 3.1±1.9 nurses certified as «Expert in Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology» by the SHCI-AEEC. Conclusions. There is a big difference as regards to the resources available, the participation and the level of autonomy concerning hemodynamics nursing at national level. Future lines of study should analyze the unification of organization and human resources management criteria.La investigación sobre la situación de la Enfermería de Hemodinámica en España mediante el Estudio MAREC, surge en la Asociación Española de Enfermería en Cardiología. Objetivo: describir los recursos disponibles, participación, tareas y nivel de autonomía de la enfermería de Hemodinámica en España. Metodología. Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado mediante un cuestionario autoadministrado sobre las características, dotación y papel de enfermería en las unidades de Hemodinámica de los hospitales públicos, privados o concertados de España. Resultados. La participación fue del 66,14% (n=84) de los centros candidatos efectivos (n=127). De estos centros estudiados, 74 (88,1%) disponían de unidad de Hemodinámica. Destaca Murcia con 2,40 unidades de hemodinámica por millón de habitantes (media nacional de 1,59 unidades/millón de habitantes). El 86,3% dispone de programa de atención al código infarto y un 63,5% cuenta con hospital de día. El 54,1% cuenta con 2 enfermeros por sala y el 33,8% con 3 enfermeros. 4 centros disponen de consulta de enfermería gestionada por enfermeros de hemodinámica. El 62,2% cuentan con check-list o listado de verificación pre-intervención. En el 6,8% de centros hay Doctores en Enfermería y en la mitad de ellos ningún enfermero posee un título máster. El 52,7% contaban con una media de 3,1±1,9 enfermeros acreditados como «Experto en Hemodinámica y Cardiología Intervencionista» por la SHCI-AEEC. Conclusiones. Existe gran diferencia en recursos disponibles, participación y nivel de autonomía por parte de la enfermería de hemodinámica a nivel nacional. Futuras líneas de estudio deberían analizar la unificación de criterios de organización y gestión de recursos humanos