The inorganic part of green roof substrates impacts differently on the growth of two Mediterranean plant species

[SPA] Los sustratos para cubiertas verdes deben reunir una serie de propiedades fisicoquímicas y nutricionales para poder ser usados como base para el desarrollo vegetal. El impacto de diversas dosis de materia orgánica así como del espesor del sustrato son factores ampliamente estudiados en este tipo de cubiertas. Sin embargo, el efecto de la parte inorgánica del sustrato sobre el crecimiento vegetal en este tipo de cubiertas no ha sido ampliamente estudiado. Para ello, se diseñaron cuatro sustratos compuestos por un 10% en volumen de compost mezclado con diversos materiales inorgánicos. Estas mezclas se dispusieron en mesas de cultivo con un espesor de 10 cm. En ellos, se sembraron dos especies vegetales típicas de la zona Mediterránea: Lotus creticus L. y Asteriscus maritimus L. Con el fin de estudiar la evolución de cada sustrato, se realizó un estudio de las propiedades fisicoquímicas, y nutricionales de cada sustrato. Se observaron mayores niveles de nutrientes en las mezclas con suelo que en aquellas que no lo presentaban (CB y CsB). Los resultados sugieren que una dosis de compost del 10% es capaz de mantener un aceptable desarrollo de ambas especies, aunque su comportamiento varía en función de la composición del sustrato. [ENG] Extensive green roofs substrates should meet a list of physicochemical and nutritional requirements to be used as a basis for plant growth. In recent years, the impact of different organic matter doses and the substrate depth on plant growth have been studied although little is known about the effect of the inorganic component of these substrates on plant development in Mediterranean green roof systems. Four substrates were made by mixing the same compost, at 10% by volume, with different inorganic materials. These were placed, with a depth of 10 cm on cultivation tables. Two endemic species were sown in each substrate: Lotus creticus L. and Asteriscus maritimus L. Physicochemical and nutritional properties of the substrates as well as the plant development were evaluated. We observed high levels of C and N in the soil-containing substrates than in the soilless ones (CB and CsB mixtures). The results suggest that a compost dose of 10% was able to maintain acceptable plant growth, but a different pattern was observed depending on the inorganic composition of the substrate.We thanks the INNPACTO project (IPT-2011-1017-310000) for the financial support. Authors are grateful to the Department of “Ingeniería Agromótica y del Mar” of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena for their assistance with the RSI ENVI 4.0 software

Compost, leonardite, and zeolite impacts on soil microbial community under barley crops

There is little information about the potential effects of compost and zeolite or zeolite with leonardite as soil amendments in barley cultivation. Thus in this study, the following objectives were proposed: i) to compare the effects of the addition of compost, alone or simultaneously with zeolite, and of the addition of leonarditeenriched zeolite with those of the conventional NPK fertilization used in barley cultivation, on the soil nutritional status, microbial community structure, and enzyme activity in different stages of barley cultivation; and ii) to establish relationships between the different soil parameter trends, soil microbial community structure, and barley crop yield. In the field experiment carried out with a barley crop, the alternative fertilization treatments tested had an overall positive effect, in comparison with conventional fertilization with a mineral NPK fertilizer, when soil quality parameters, the nutritional level and yield of the barley crop were analyzed. Zeolite with leonardite increased barley yield in comparison with the compost treatments, either with zeolite or without, but had an excessive contribution to the water soluble contents of Na and N in soil. So, using environmental and agronomic criteria, the most rational action would be the use of compost in agriculture.The authors are grateful to National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) of Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and ERANET-ARIMNET programme for funding this study as a work action inside the project ARIDWASTE (Ref. number: 219262 FP7-ERANET ARIMNET) entitled: “Development of Specific Agricultural Practices with the Use of Recycled Wastes Suitable for Intensively Cultivated Mediterranean Areas under Degradation Risk”. The authors also are grateful to Dr David J. Walker from Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, Murcia, Spain for his language edition and writing assistance in this paper

Oral Calcidiol Is More Effective Than Cholecalciferol Supplementation to Reach Adequate 25(OH)D Levels in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases Chronically Treated with Low Doses of Glucocorticoids: A "Real-Life" Study

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the cornerstone of the therapy in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, it is well known that their use is a double edged sword, as their beneficial effects are associated almost universally with unwanted effects, as, for example glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). Over the last years, several clinical practice guidelines emphasize the need of preventing bone mass loss and reduce the incidence of fractures associated with GC use. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation, as adjunctive therapy, are included in all the practice guidelines. However, no standard vitamin D dose has been established. Several studies with postmenopausal women show that maintaining the levels above 30-33 ng/mL help improve the response to bisphosphonates. It is unknown if the response is the same in GIO, but in the clinical practice the levels are maintained at around the same values. In this study we demonstrate that patients with autoimmune diseases, undergoing glucocorticoid therapy, often present suboptimal 25(OH)D levels. Patients with higher body mass index and those receiving higher doses of glucocorticoids are at increased risk of having lower levels of 25(OH)D. In these patients, calcidiol supplementations are more effective than cholecalciferol to reach adequate 25(OH)D levels

Uso de composts de lodo de depuradora para la mejora de la calidad de los suelos de zonas áridas : efecto de su contaminación metálica / José Luis Moreno Ortego ; dirección Teresa Hernandez Fernández, Carlos Garcia Izquierdo.

Tesis-Universidad de Murcia.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. ARCHIVO UNIVERSITARIO. T.M.-1425.CRAI CIENCIAS. DEPOSITO. T.D. 282

Recalculation with SEACAB of the activation by spent fuel neutrons and residual dose originated in the racks replaced at Cofrentes NPP

In order to increase the storage capacity of the East Spent Fuel Pool at the Cofrentes NPP, located in Valencia province, Spain, the existing storage stainless steel racks were replaced by a new design of compact borated stainless steel racks allowing a 65% increase in fuel storing capacity. Calculation of the activation of the used racks was successfully performed with the use of MCNP4B code. Additionally the dose rate at contact with a row of racks in standing position and behind a wall of shielding material has been calculated using MCNP4B code as well. These results allowed a preliminary definition of the burnker required for the storage of racks. Recently the activity in the racks has been recalculated with SEACAB system which combines the mesh tally of MCNP codes with the activation code ACAB, applying the rigorous two-step method (R2S) developed at home, benchmarked with FNG irradiation experiments and usually applied in fusion calculations for ITER project

Recalculation with SEACAB of the activation by spent fuel neutrons and residual dose originated in the racks replaced at Cofrentes NPP

In order to increase the storage capacity of the East Spent Fuel Pool at the Cofrentes NPP, located in Valencia province, Spain, the existing storage stainless steel racks were replaced by a new design of compact borated stainless steel racks allowing a 65% increase in fuel storing capacity. Calculation of the activation of the used racks was successfully performed with the use of MCNP4B code. Additionally the dose rate at contact with a row of racks in standing position and behind a wall of shielding material has been calculated using MCNP4B code as well. These results allowed a preliminary definition of the burnker required for the storage of racks. Recently the activity in the racks has been recalculated with SEACAB system which combines the mesh tally of MCNP codes with the activation code ACAB, applying the rigorous two-step method (R2S) developed at home, benchmarked with FNG irradiation experiments and usually applied in fusion calculations for ITER project

Recalculation with SEACAB of the activation by spent fuel neutrons and residual dose originated in the racks replaced at Cofrentes NPP

In order to increase the storage capacity of the East Spent Fuel Pool at the Cofrentes NPP, located in Valencia province, Spain, the existing storage stainless steel racks were replaced by a new design of compact borated stainless steel racks allowing a 65% increase in fuel storing capacity. Calculation of the activation of the used racks was successfully performed with the use of MCNP4B code. Additionally the dose rate at contact with a row of racks in standing position and behind a wall of shielding material has been calculated using MCNP4B code as well. These results allowed a preliminary definition of the burnker required for the storage of racks. Recently the activity in the racks has been recalculated with SEACAB system which combines the mesh tally of MCNP codes with the activation code ACAB, applying the rigorous two-step method (R2S) developed at home, benchmarked with FNG irradiation experiments and usually applied in fusion calculations for ITER project

Response of soil chemical properties, enzyme activities and microbial communities to biochar application and climate change in a Mediterranean agroecosystem

Changing climatic conditions (warming and decreasing precipitation) have been found to be a threat to the agricultural sustainability of Mediterranean croplands. From the climate change perspective, biochar amendment may interact with the effects of warming and drought stresses on soil ecosystems. However, the responses of soil microbial communities to the joint effects of climate change and biochar in Mediterranean croplands are not sufficiently known. To help fill this knowledge gap, in this work we used a field experiment to determine the effects of partial rain exclusion alone or combined with a soil temperature increase in biochar-amended (20 t ha) and unamended plots under crop rotation on soil chemical properties, enzyme activities, and the microbial community activity, structure, composition, abundance, and functions. The biomass, composition, and activity of the soil bacterial and fungal communities were more responsive to biochar addition than to climate manipulation. Thus, soil chemical parameters, enzyme activities and the relative abundances of bacterial populations were not responsive to the interaction of biochar and climate manipulation, while the predicted functionality of the bacterial community was modified by both factors. Soil β-glucosidase activity significantly decreased in response to biochar addition and climate manipulation, while urease activity was significantly increased by biochar, and protease activity was significantly decreased by climate manipulation. Gram negative and fungal biomasses were significantly affected by the interaction of biochar with climate manipulation. Climate manipulation produced changes in the composition of the soil fungal community without loss of diversity. This study illustrates how the interactions between biochar amendment and future climate change scenarios influence microbially-driven ecosystem services related to the maintenance of nutrient cycles and biodiversity in a Mediterranean agroecosystem.This research was financially supported by the Spanish MICINN MINECO, AEI, FEDER, EU), through the research projects CGL2015-65162-R and AGL2016-75752-R. The authors are also grateful for the AEPP CSIC funds (2020AEP004). We also thank the Spanish Ministry and FEDER funds for the project AGL2017–85755-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), the i-LINK + 2018 (LINKA20069) from CSIC

Construction of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infectious cDNA clone and a replicon to study coronavirus RNA synthesis

The engineering of a full-length infectious cDNA clone and a functional replicon of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) Urbani strain as bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) is described in this study. In this system, the viral RNA was expressed in the cell nucleus under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter and further amplified in the cytoplasm by the viral replicase. Both the infectious clone and the replicon were fully stable in Escherichia coli. Using the SARS-CoV replicon, we have shown that the recently described RNA-processing enzymes exoribonuclease, endoribonuclease, and 2′-O-ribose methyltransferase were essential for efficient coronavirus RNA synthesis. The SARS reverse genetic system developed as a BAC constitutes a useful tool for the study of fundamental viral processes and also for developing genetically defined vaccines. Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.This work was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia of Spain (BIO2004-00636), the European Community (Frame VI, Projects DISSECT SP22-CT-2004-511060 and RIVIGENE SSPE-CT2005-022639), and Fort Dodge Veterinaria