Technical Note TN 2.2 Fuel load sampling of a Cupressus sempervirens hedge

In this document, data from a destructive sampling of a Cupressus sempervirens hedgerow are shown, as well as the followed methodology. Measures of sizes and weights have been taken. With these data, moisture content, fuel load and bulk density have been calculated. Different fuel classes (state and diameter) have been taken into account.Postprint (updated version

Propuesta de defensa frente a Incendios Forestales de la Sierra de Los Filabres en base a la gestión de Tramos Dinámicos

Premio extraordinario de Trabajo Fin de Máster curso 2016-2017. Máster en Ingeniería de Monte

Identificación de Puntos Estratégicos de Gestión y Priorización de Tramos Dinámicos en el entorno de la Sierra de Los Filabres

Premio extraordinario de Trabajo Fin de Máster curso 2016-2017. Máster en Incendios Forestales, Ciencia y Gestión Integra

Technical Note TN 2.4. Fuel sampling, tree ignition and burning tests in ADAI facilities

In this document, the followed methodology to characterize several natural fuels (trees of Cupressus arizonica, Cupressocyparis leylandii, Prunus laurocerasus and Thuja occidentalis) is presented. Also, the ignition method and the equipment used to monitor the burning of these fuels in two different configurations are described. These activities were performed in ADAI facilities (Lousa, Portugal).Preprin

Characterization of wind-blown sediment transport with height in a highly mobile dune (SW Spain)

The Valdevaqueros dune is located at one of the windiest points of Europe, where the frequent occurrence of strong easterly winds has generated a highly mobile dune. Several rotating cup anemometers in vertical array and a self-designed vertical sand trap, were placed to retain the drift sands at different heights over the surface in order to determine theoretical and actual sand transport rates in the Valdevaqueros dune system. General results show that 90% of the wind-blown sand is transported within the first 20cm above the dune crest surface. Theoretical transport rates based on different empirical formulae were 0.33 to 0.78 times the in-situ sand transport rate detected, which was 2.08·10-2kgm-1s-1 under moderate wind power (mean speed ranging from 8.4 to 17.9ms-1). Analysis of different statistical grain-size parameters helped to understand sand transport distribution at different heights

WUI state of the art and regulatory needs in Europe

The document summarizes the state of the art of the regulationsrelevant to WUI in Europe, providing an organized set of references to the specific regulatory documents. It is focused on three main relevant topics: i) fuel-reduced fringes; ii) Building codes and standards; iii)Wildland-Industrial Interface. Current regulations are analysed and compared, leading to the identification of important needs and limitations of the current European regulatory frameworkPreprin

Main specifications of CFD codes for WUIVIEW activities

CFD simulations will be the core activity of the WUVIEW performance based fire safety analysis. The purpose of this document is to provide WUIVIEW partners with a general overview of the CFD codes to be used in the Action. The general simulation framework is described, particularly highlighting data inputs and scenario description requirements, to be developed in subsequent WUIVIEW WPs. This TN provides the technical foundations and main specifications of the databases to be designed within the WUIVIEW working program (ongoing action by UPC).Postprint (updated version

Redox-dependent and redox-independent functions of Caenorhabditis elegans thioredoxin 1

Thioredoxins (TRX) are traditionally considered as enzymes catalyzing redox reactions. However, redox-independent functions of thioredoxins have been described in different organisms, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are yet unknown. We report here the characterization of the first generated endogenous redox-inactive thioredoxin in an animal model, the TRX-1 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that TRX-1 dually regulates the formation of an endurance larval stage (dauer) by interacting with the insulin pathway in a redox-independent manner and the cGMP pathway in a redox-dependent manner. Moreover, the requirement of TRX-1 for the extended longevity of worms with compromised insulin signalling or under calorie restriction relies on TRX-1 redox activity. In contrast, the nuclear translocation of the SKN-1 transcription factor and increased LIPS-6 protein levels in the intestine upon trx-1 deficiency are strictly redox-independent. Finally, we identify a novel function of C. elegans TRX-1 in male food-leaving behaviour that is redox-dependent. Taken together, our results position C. elegans as an ideal model to gain mechanistic insight into the redox-independent functions of metazoan thioredoxins, overcoming the limitations imposed by the embryonic lethal phenotypes of thioredoxin mutants in higher organisms.NIH Office of Research Infrastructure P40 OD010440Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness BFU2015- 64408-PFondo Social Europeo BFU2015- 64408-PNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health R01AI07640

Clinical impact of acute kidney injury on short- and long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the CoreValve prosthesis

AbstractBackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased mortality, but few data exist on the occurrence and clinical impact of AKI associated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and prognosis of AKI after percutaneous implantation of the CoreValve® (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) prosthesis.MethodsA total of 357 patients with severe aortic stenosis and 9 patients with pure native aortic regurgitation were treated with the CoreValve prosthesis. AKI was defined according to Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria as the absolute increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3mg/dl at 72h post percutaneous procedure.ResultsAKI was identified in 58 patients (15.8%), none of whom required renal replacement therapy. In patients with AKI, the mortality at 30 days was 13.5% compared with 1.6% of patients without AKI, [odds ratio (OR)=12.2 (95% CI 3.53–41.9); p<0.001] and total mortality after a mean of 26.2±17 months was 29.3% vs. 14.9% [OR=2.36 (95% CI 1.23–4.51), p=0.008]. In the multivariate analysis, AKI was an independent predictor of cumulative total mortality [hazard ratio=2.151, (95% CI from 1.169 to 3.957), p=0.014].ConclusionsThe deterioration of renal function in patients undergoing TAVI with the CoreValve prosthesis is a serious and frequent complication. The occurrence of AKI was associated with increased early mortality and was also a predictor of worse outcomes in follow-up

Spraying agro-industrial compost tea on baby spinach crops: Evaluation of yield, plant quality and soil health in field experiments

Compost tea is a liquid fraction extracted from composts, and it is of great interest in sustainable agriculture because it reduces the unsustainable use of chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers. In this study, during two spinach field cycles, we evaluated the potential beneficial e_ect of the foliar application of a compost tea made from onion and vineyard composts either by itself (CT) or implemented with the beneficial microorganism Trichoderma harzianum T78 (CT + Th) on the “healthy quality” and yield of baby spinach. Results showed that both the CT and CT + Th treatments produced a higher spinach yield than the control, but these treatments did not result in an increase in soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) or soil nutrient content. Furthermore, CT + Th treatment showed the highest yield, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and flavonoid levels. Nitrate levels were below legal amounts, and they were significantly (p _ 0.05) lower in the CT and CT + Th treatments than in the control. Data suggest that compost tea extracts from onion waste and vineyard compost and/or enriched with T. harzianum can be used in a sustainable agriculture to increase yield and quality of baby spinach.This work was supported by projects AGL-2014-52732-C2–1-R and AGL-2014-52732-C2-2-R from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain