Air conditioning in the region of Madrid, Spain: an approach to electricity consumption, economics and CO₂emissions

An understanding of electricity consumption due to residential air conditioning (AC) may improve production and environmental impact strategy design. This article reports on a study of peak and seasonal electricity consumption for residential air conditioning in the region of Madrid, Spain. Consumption was assessed by simulating the operation of AC units at the outdoor summer temperature characteristics of central Spain. AC unit performance when operating under part load conditions in keeping with weather conditions was also studied to find cooling demand and energy efficiency. Like wise final electricity consumption was computed and used to calculate energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Cooling demand, when family holidays outside the region were factored into the calculations, came to 1.46x10⁹ kWh. Associated seasonal electricity demand was 617x10⁶ kWh and seasonal performance of AC units around 2.4. Electricity consumption in the whole region was observed to peak on 30 June 2008 at 5.44x10⁶ kW, being the load attributable to residential AC 1.79x10⁶ kW, resulting about 33% of the total peak consumption. The seasonal cost per household was about €156 and the total equivalent warming impact was 572x10³t CO₂. The method proposed can be adapted for use in other regionsThis study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under Projects INVISO, sub-project SP3 “Sustainable power generation in housing” and ENE2010-20650-C02-01. Author A. Gonzalez-Gil is grateful to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) for its support while he worked toward his PhD. The authors also wish to thank J. Cabetas from Iberdrola de Distribución Eléctrica S.A.U. for the information furnishedPublicad

Changes in the foraging strategy of female South American sea lions (Carnivora: Pinnipedia) after parturition.

This study tests the hypothesis that female South American sea lions shift from off-shore, pelagic prey to coastal, benthic prey after parturition in order to reduce the foraging trip duration and hence the time pups remain unattended on the beach during early lactation. The δ13C and δ15N values of the serum and blood cells of 26 South American sea lion suckling pups from northern Patagonia were used to track the dietary changes of their mothers from late pregnancy to early lactation, after correction for differential isotopic fractionation between tissues. Primary producers and potential prey species were also analysed to establish a baseline for interpreting the stable isotope concentration of serum and blood cells. Isotopic ratios revealed a generalized increase in the consumption of coastal-benthic prey after parturition. Such a generalized post-partum shift will allow females to spend more time on land and look after their pups. The effects of this foraging strategy on the nutritional quality of the female"s diet are discussed

Influencia de la dieta sobre indicadores de calidad de carne de novillos con diferente composición de Bos taurus y Bos indicus

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la incidencia del componente índico sobre la calidad de carne y su interacción con sistemas de alimentación de alta productividad. Se utilizaron cuatro proporciones de sangre índica: Hereford (0 % índico), Braford 1/4, Braford 3/8 y Braford 1/2 sangre. Cada grupo fue sometido a tres dietas: pastoril exclusiva sobre una consociación de alfalfa y festuca (D1); igual base pastoril que D1 más suplementación con grano de maíz quebrado equivalente al 0,7% del peso vivo animal/día desde ingreso a terminación con interrupción entre noviembre y febrero (D2) y engorde a corral con grano de maíz quebrado, heno de alfalfa, expeller de soja y núcleo vitamínico mineral (D3). Se asignaron 10 animales por tratamiento que ingresaron con un peso promedio de 189,1 (±21,4) kg. Se faenaron conforme alcanzaban estado de terminación comercial determinado visualmente. De cada tratamiento se tomaron 6 novillos al azar de los que se obtuvieron muestras del músculo Longissimus dorsi entre 9º y 11º costilla anatómica a fin de analizar indicadores de calidad. Los pesos de faena fueron estadísticamente diferentes entre genotipos (p0,05). Salvo en AGPI el efecto de las dietas fue significativo (p0.05). On the other way, except in PUFA, the diet effect was significant (p<0.05). Feedlot diet generated the lowest CLA levels and the greatest omega-6/omega-3 ratio without significant effects of genotypes (p<0.05). When the indic component exceeded 25 % a loss of tenderness was detected.Fil: Latimori, Néstor Juan. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Córdoba. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; ArgentinaFil: Kloster, Andres María. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Córdoba. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; ArgentinaFil: Carduza, A. M. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Grigioni, Gabriela Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: García, Teresa Pilar. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

Quemadura corneal grave debida a la aplicación accidental de ácido salicílico envasado en un frasco gotero plástico

Eye burns due to the accidental application of pharmacological or nonpharmacological substances packaged in plastic dropper bottles have been described for more than three decades and continue to occur. These burns can cause potentially serious corneal injuries. We report the case of a patient who mistakenly applied salicylic acid to the right eye after confusing it with an eye lubricant, which caused him a severe corneal burn. Fortunately, after aggressive medical and surgical management (including oxygen therapy and amniotic membrane grafting), the visual results were good.We suggest conducting educational campaigns and taking legislative measures in our country to avoid packaging corrosive substances in this type of dropper bottle to reduce the risk of accidental burns.Las quemaduras oculares por aplicación accidental de sustancias farmacológicas o no farmacológicas envasadas en frascos goteros plásticos, se han descrito desde hace más de tres décadas y siguen ocurriendo. Estas quemaduras pueden causar lesiones potencialmente graves de la córnea.Se presenta el caso de un paciente que se aplicó ácido salicílico en el ojo derecho al confundir el envase con el de un lubricante ocular, lo que le causó una grave quemadura corneal. Afortunadamente, tras un manejo médico y quirúrgico agresivo (incluida oxigenoterapia e injerto de membrana amniótica) los resultados visuales fueron buenos.Se sugiere hacer campañas educativas y adoptar normas en el país para evitar el envase de sustancias corrosivas en este tipo de frascos goteros, con el fin de disminuir el riesgo de quemaduras accidentales

Long-Term Stability in the Trophic Ecology of a Pelagic Forager Living in a Changing Marine Ecosystem

Natural or human-induced environmental changes can modify the structure of ecological communities and thus alter food web interactions. After the collapse of hake stocks (Merluccius hubbsi) provoked by fisheries over the Patagonian shelf in 1997 profound changes have taken place in the community, including long-term dietary shifts in some marine vertebrate predators. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios in bone collagen of subadult and adult male South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) were measured for the period 1976–2017 to investigate if the changes occurred in the marine community from northern and central Patagonia affected the diet of this predator. Suess corrected δ13C values and δ15N values in bone collagen of fur seals did not change significantly over the study period. According to this, male fur seals have remained as pelagic foragers without changing their trophic position nor switching their main preys in the Patagonian food web over the last four decades. This long-term stability in the diet of fur seals contrasts with dietary changes reported for benthic foragers in the region. Although long-term diet studies are restricted to a few marine predators in the region, current evidence suggests that benthic-demersal foragers were more prone to dietary shifts than pelagic ones after perturbations that occurred in the marine community of northern and central Patagonia.Fil: Vales, Damián Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Cardona, Luis. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Loizaga de Castro, Rocio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: García, Néstor A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Crespo, Enrique Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentin

An insight into transfer hydrogenation reactions catalysed by iridium(III) bis-N-heterocyclic carbenes

A variety of [M(L)2(L′)2{κC,C′-bis(NHC)}]BF4 complexes (M = Rh or Ir; L = CH3CN or wingtip group; L′ = I– or CF3COO–; NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) have been tested as pre-catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and imines. The conversions and TOF's obtained are closely related to the nature of the ligand system and metal centre, more strongly coordinating wingtip groups yielding more active and recyclable catalysts. Theoretical calculations at the DFT level support a classic stepwise metal-hydride pathway against the concerted Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) mechanism. The calculated catalytic cycle involves a series of ligand rearrangements due to the high trans effect of the carbene and hydrido ligands, which are more stable when situated in mutual cis positions. The reaction profiles obtained for the complexes featuring an iodide or a trifluoroacetate in one of the apical positions agree well with the relative activity observed for both catalysts.The authors would like to acknowledge the support by the Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Arabia, in establishment of the Centre of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals at KFUPM (KACST-funded project ART-32-68). The support under the KFUPM–University of Zaragoza research agreement is also highly appreciated. This work was further supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO/FEDER) (CONSOLIDER INGENIO CSD2009-0050, CTQ2011-27593 and CTQ2012-35665 projects) and the Diputación General de Aragón (DGA/FSE-E07).Peer Reviewe

Tres condiciones contribuyentes al complejo respiratorio aviar en pollos de la región del Sumapaz (Colombia).

15 granjas localizadas en la región de Sumapaz y destinadas a la explotación de pollos de engorde fueron estudiadas serológicamente para establecer la prevalencia de bronquitis infecciosa y micoplasmosis aviar y, además, para determinar el estado de protección contra la enfermedad de newcastle en dicha región. La única vacunación aplicada a los lotes de pollos en estudio fue contra newcastle. Se encontró una prevalencia serológica de 41.0 por ciento para bronquitis infecciosa y de 60.7 por ciento para mycoplasma gallisepticum. Se calculó un nivel de protección del 78.7 por ciento para la enfermedad de newcastle con respecto a un título mayor o igual a 1.4. La prevalencia y estado de protección se calcularon según la edad de las aves y la localización de las granjas. Se recomienda realizar controles para micoplasma a nivel de plantas de reproducción y considerar la inmunización contra bronquitis infecciosa en caso de necesidad. Así mismo, se sugiere adelantar estudios similares en otras áreas avícolas del paísAvicultur

Cannibalism in an Introduced Population of Cyclura nubila nubila on Isla Magueyes, Puerto Rico

In the mid-1960s, Cuban Iguanas (Cyclura nubila nubila) were introduced to Isla Magueyes, a 7.2-ha islet in southwestern Puerto Rico (Rivero 1978). Anecdotal information affirms that this population originated from a single pair of individuals

Population genomics in Rhamdia quelen (Heptapteridae, Siluriformes) reveals deep divergence and adaptation in the Neotropical region

Rhamdia quelen, a Neotropical fish with hybridization between highly divergent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages, represents an interesting evolutionary model. Previous studies suggested that there might be demographic differences between coastal lagoons and riverine environments, as well as divergent populations that could be reproductively isolated. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity pattern of this taxon in the Southern Neotropical Basin system that includes the La Plata Basin, Patos-Merin lagoon basin and the coastal lagoons draining to the SW Atlantic Ocean, through a population genomics approach using 2b-RAD-sequencing-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The genomic scan identified selection footprints associated with divergence and suggested local adaptation environmental drivers. Two major genomic clusters latitudinally distributed in the Northern and Southern basins were identified, along with consistent signatures of divergent selection between them. Population structure based on the whole set of loci and on the presumptive neutral vs. adaptive loci showed deep genomic divergence between the two major clusters. Annotation of the most consistent SNPs under divergent selection revealed some interesting candidate genes for further functional studies. Moreover, signals of adaptation to a coastal lagoon environment mediated by purifying selection were found. These new insights provide a better understanding of the complex evolutionary history of R. quelen in the southernmost basin of the Neotropical regio

The economic cost of losing native pollinator species for orchard prodution

The alarming loss of pollinator diversity world‐wide can reduce the productivity of pollinator‐dependent crops, which could have economic impacts. However, it is unclear to what extent the loss of a key native pollinator species affects crop production and farmer's profits. By experimentally manipulating the presence of colonies of a native bumblebee species Bombus pauloensis in eight apple orchards in South Argentina, we evaluated the impact of losing natural populations of a key native pollinator group on (a) crop yield, (b) pollination quality, and (c) farmer's profit. To do so, we performed a factorial experiment of pollinator exclusion (yes/no) and hand pollination (yes/no). Our results showed that biotic pollination increased ripe fruit set by 13% when compared to non‐biotic pollination. Additionally, fruit set and the number of fruits per apple tree was reduced by less than a half in those orchards where bumblebees were absent, even when honeybees were present at high densities. Consequently, farmer's profit was 2.4‐fold lower in farms lacking bumblebees than in farms hosting both pollinator species. The pollination experiment further suggested that the benefits of bumblebees could be mediated by improved pollen quality rather than quantity. Synthesis and applications. This study highlights the pervasive consequences of losing key pollinator functional groups, such as bumblebees, for apple production and local economies. Adopting pollinator‐friendly practices such as minimizing the use of synthetic inputs or restoring/maintaining semi‐natural habitats at farm and landscape scales, will have the double advantage of promoting biodiversity conservation, and increasing crop productivity and profitability for local farmers. Yet because the implementation of these practices can take time to deliver results, the management of native pollinator species can be a provisional complementary strategy to increase economic profitability of apple growers in the short term.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio