121 research outputs found

    How do ectotherms perform in cold environments? Physiological and life-history traits in an Andean viviparous lizard

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    Material complementario: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.974968/full#supplementary-materialBoth the mean and the variation in environmental temperature are increasing globally. Indeed, the predicted increases in temperature range from 2 to 4°C in the next 50 years. Ectotherms control body temperature by means of behavior selecting microsites with different temperatures, which makes them more susceptible to changes in climate. Nevertheless, lizards living in high mountain environments have developed several mechanisms to inhabit and colonize variable environments with extreme temperatures. These mechanisms include a high metabolism to be active at lower temperatures and viviparity to improve embryonic development. Despite behavioral thermoregulation acting as a buffer to changes in environmental temperature, other traits such as lifehistory traits may be less flexible. Consequently, in an attempt to understand how lizards cope with harsh habitats, we evaluated some physiological traits and responses of females of Liolaemus bellii from two contrasting slope sites with differences in environmental temperature and humidity, but at the same altitude in the southern Andes range. We collected pregnant females from opposite slopes and maintained them until parturition in a commongarden experiment. Females from the south-facing slope (S-slope) had higher preferred body temperature (Tpref) values before and after parturition and exhibited higher daily energy expenditure before parturition. Nevertheless, no difference in Tpref was shown by their offspring, suggesting a developmental plastic response or adaptation to lower environmental temperature. For instance, the higher metabolism during pregnancy could be associated with a shorter activity period on the snowy S-slope. Additionally, females from the S-slope had larger kidneys and gave birth later than N-slope females, likely due to developmental plasticity or genetic differentiation. How fixed these traits are, in individuals from the contrasting slopes, will determine the response capacity of the L. bellii population to climate change

    A Modal-Based Partition of Unity Finite Element Method for Elastic Wave Propagation Problems in Layered Media

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    Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] The time-harmonic propagation of elastic waves in layered media is simulated numerically by means of a modal-based Partition of Unity Finite Element Method (PUFEM). Instead of using the standard plane waves or the Bessel solutions of the Helmholtz equation to design the discretization basis, the proposed modal-based PUFEM explicitly uses the tensor-product expressions of the eigenmodes (the so-called Love and interior modes) of a spectral elastic transverse problem, which fulfil the coupling conditions among layers. This modal-based PUFEM approach does not introduce quadrature errors since the coefficients of the discrete matrices are computed in closed-form. A preliminary analysis of the high condition number suffered by the proposed method is also analyzed in terms of the mesh size and the number of eigenmodes involved in the discretization. The numerical methodology is validated through a number of test scenarios, where the reliability of the proposed PUFEM method is discussed by considering different modal basis and source terms. Finally, some indicators are introduced to select a convenient discrete PUFEM basis taking into account the observability of cracks located on a coupling boundary between two adjacent layers.This work has been supported by Xunta de Galicia project “Numerical simulation of high-frequency hydro-acoustic problems in coastal environments - SIMNUMAR” (EM2013/052), co-funded with European Regional Development Funds (ERDF). Moreover, the second and fifth authors have been supported by MICINN projects MTM2014-52876-R, MTM2017-82724-R, PID2019-108584RB-I00, and also by ED431C 2018/33 - M2NICA (Xunta de Galicia & ERDF) and ED431G 2019/01 - CITIC (Xunta de Galicia & ERDF). Additionally, the third author has been supported by Junta de Castilla y León under projects VA024P17 and VA105G18, co-financed by ERDF funds. This work has been funded for open access charge by Universidade da Coruña/CISUGXunta de Galicia; EM2013/052Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/33Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/01Junta de Castilla y León; VA024P17Junta de Castilla y León; VA105G1

    A revisit to the region of Collinder 132 using Carte du Ciel and Astrographic Catalogue plates

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    Aims. Based on stellar positions and proper motions, we aim to re-analyse the region of the controversial open cluster Collinder 132. Methods. We have developed a model which analyses the proper motion distribution and the stellar density to find moving groups. The astrometric data were obtained from four Carte du Ciel (CdC) and one Astrogaphic Catalogue (AC) plates of the Córdoba Astronomical Observatory collection (Argentina). Results. We detected an open cluster from the field stars and calculated the mean proper motion and the membership probabilities of the region's stars. We report new coordinates of its centre αc = 108\fdg347, δc = -31\fdg011, the components of mean proper motion μ αcosδ = -2.62±0.44 mas/yr, μδ = 4.79±0.88 mas/yr. Thirteen stars are astrometric members giving a value of 20' for the cluster angular diameter. Six stars fulfil the astrometric and photometric criteria for being cluster members and locate the cluster at 360 pc from the Sun. We propose a simple model for the analysis of the proper motion distribution of an association. We report the components of the association mean proper motion μαcosδ = -1.38±0.14 mas/yr, μδ = 2.26±0.16 mas/yr. We found 149 astrometric members, 11 of which have reliable photometric data that locate them betweeen 417 and 660 pc from the Sun.Este documento tiene una corrección (ver documento relacionado).Instituto de Astrofísica de La PlataFacultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

    A revisit to the regions of some van den Bergh open clusters using photometric and astrometric parameters

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    We present results of a study that combines photometry and astrometry for the open clusters vdB80, vdB85 and vdB130. We apply a model which analyses the proper motion distribution and the stellar density to find the kinematic parameters and stellar membership in the region of the mentioned open clusters. The astrometric data are obtained from UCAC4 catalogue. For each cluster, we report the centre coordinates, the components of mean proper motion, the angular diameter and the astrometric members. They are: α=97°.73938±0°.00846,δ=-9°.66953±0°.01177,μαcosδ=-2.13±0.47mas/yr,μδ=-0.95±0.47mas/yr,12′ , 15 members; vdB85: α=101°.71670±0°.00808,δ=1°.34392±0°.01253,μαcosδ=0.89±0.43mas/yr,μδ=3.24±0.43mas/yr,8′ members; vdB130: α=304°.44001±0°.01407,δ=39°.32745±0°.00726,μαcosδ=-4.14±0.25mas/yr,μδ=-5.15±0.25mas/yr,9′ 9 members. We analyse the incidence of the proper motion errors in the determination of the cluster parameters and of the stellar membership and find that they are not significantly changed. We finally compare the astrometric members with the photometric ones given in the literature.Instituto de Astrofísica de La PlataFacultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

    Prefrontal cortex and behavioral disorders: Theoretical framework and neuropsychological evaluation

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    Los trastornos del córtex prefrontal (CPF) permiten explicar la sintomatología de importantes cuadros neurológicos y psiquiátricos, tales como las secuelas de traumatismos encéfalo-craneanos y las esquizofrenias. Sin embargo, y a pesar de la gran importancia de sus funciones, su estudio se ha visto dificultado por razones teóricas, experimentales y clínicas. Recientemente han surgido dos nuevos modelos que intentan explicar los mecanismos a la base del funcionamiento del CPF. Presentamos una revisión de las principales manifestaciones clínicas ante su disfunción, los modelos explicativos postulados tradicionalmente, además de las dos propuestas recientes de Koechlin y Mesulam, para finalizar con una revisión de los instrumentos más utilizados en el ámbito clínico para la evaluación de las funciones propias de esta región, denominadas funciones ejecutivas y de autorregulación del comportamiento Dysfunction of prefrontal cortex explains the symptoms of many neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as the consequences of cerebral trauma and schizophrenia. Although the importance of frontal lobe functions in complex cognition has long been recognized, systematic research efforts to specify the nature, organization and roles of these functions have been difficult for theoretical, experimental and clinical reasons. Recently, two new theoretical frameworks have been proposed to explain the role of prefrontal cortex. In this paper, we present a revision of the main clinical manifestations secondary to prefrontal dysfunction, the frameworks proposed by Mesulam and Koechlin to explain the role of prefrontal cortex in behavior and the principal instruments available to evaluate executive and strategic self-regulation function

    Fluxes of the 238U-series isotopes in the industrial production of dicalcium phosphate and the radiological impact due to the incorporation to poultry diets

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    La roca de fosfato se utiliza como fuente para la producción de suplementos alimenticios, como en forma de fosfato dicálcico (DCP), que es un suministro de calcio y fósforo para animales domésticos

    Drivers of variability in blue carbon stocks and burial rates across europeanestuarine habitats

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    The implementation of climate change mitigation strategies based on the conservation and restoration of Blue Carbon ecosystems requires a deep understanding of themagnitude and variability in organic carbon (Corg) storage across and within these ecosystems. This study explored the variability in soil Corg stocks and burial rates across and within intertidal estuarine habitats of the Atlantic European coast and its relation to biotic and abiotic drivers. A total of 136 soil cores were collected across saltmarshes located at different tidal zones (high marsh, N = 45; low marsh, N = 30), seagrass meadows (N=17) and tidal flats (N=44), and from the inner to the outer sections of five estuaries characterized by different basin land uses. Soil Corg stocks were higher in high-marsh communities (65±3 Mg ha-1) than in low-marsh communities (38 ±3 Mg ha-1), seagrass meadows (40 ± 5 Mg ha-1) and unvegetated tidal flats (46± 3Mg ha-1) whereas Corg burial rates also tended to be higher in highmarshes (62±13 g m-2 y-1) compared to low marshes (43 ± 15 g m-2 y-1) and tidal flats (35 ± 9 g m-2 y-1). Soil Corg stocks and burial rates decreased from inner to outer estuarine sections in most estuaries reflecting the decrease in the river influence towards the estuary mouth. Higher soil Corg stocks were related to higher content of silt and clay and higher proportion of forest and natural land within the river basin, pointing at new opportunities for protecting coastal natural carbon sinks based on the conservation and restoration of upland ecosystems. Our study contributes to the global inventory of Blue Carbon by adding data from unexplored regions and habitats in Europe, and by identifying drivers of variability across and within estuaries.The authors acknowledge the financial support fromthe Government of Cantabria through the “Fénix Programme”. IM was supported by a Juan de la Cierva Incorporación postdoctoral fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (JC2020-045917-I).OS was supported by I+D+i projects RYC2019-027073-I and PIE HOLOCENO 20213AT014 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and FEDER. The IAEA is grateful for the support provided to its Marine Environment Laboratories by the Government of the Principality of Monaco. PM was supported by the Australian Research Council. J.G.O. acknowledges the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through the “Maria de Maeztu” program for Units of Excellence (CEX2019-000940-M) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (MERS; 2017 SGR–1588). This research was carried out with the contribution of the LIFE Programme of the European Union to the Project ADAPTA BLUES (ref. LIFE18 CCA/ES/001160). This document reflects only the authors' view and the Agency/Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains

    Drivers of variability in Blue Carbon stocks and burial rates across European estuarine habitats

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    The implementation of climate change mitigation strategies based on the conservation and restoration of Blue Carbon ecosystems requires a deep understanding of the magnitude and variability in organic carbon (Corg) storage across and within these ecosystems. This study explored the variability in soil Corg stocks and burial rates across and within intertidal estuarine habitats of the Atlantic European coast and its relation to biotic and abiotic drivers. A total of 136 soil cores were collected across saltmarshes located at different tidal zones (high marsh, N = 45; low marsh, N = 30), seagrass meadows (N = 17) and tidal flats (N = 44), and from the inner to the outer sections of five estuaries characterized by different basin land uses. Soil Corg stocks were higher in high-marsh communities (65 ± 3 Mg ha−1) than in low-marsh communities (38 ± 3 Mg ha−1), seagrass meadows (40 ± 5 Mg ha−1) and unvegetated tidal flats (46 ± 3 Mg ha−1) whereas Corg burial rates also tended to be higher in high marshes (62 ± 13 g m−2 y−1) compared to low marshes (43 ± 15 g m−2 y−1) and tidal flats (35 ± 9 g m−2 y−1). Soil Corg stocks and burial rates decreased from inner to outer estuarine sections in most estuaries reflecting the decrease in the river influence towards the estuary mouth. Higher soil Corg stocks were related to higher content of silt and clay and higher proportion of forest and natural land within the river basin, pointing at new opportunities for protecting coastal natural carbon sinks based on the conservation and restoration of upland ecosystems. Our study contributes to the global inventory of Blue Carbon by adding data from unexplored regions and habitats in Europe, and by identifying drivers of variability across and within estuaries

    A revisit to the region of Collinder 132 using Carte du Ciel and Astrographic Catalogue plates

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    Aims. Based on stellar positions and proper motions, we aim to re-analyse the region of the controversial open cluster Collinder 132. Methods. We have developed a model which analyses the proper motion distribution and the stellar density to find moving groups. The astrometric data were obtained from four Carte du Ciel (CdC) and one Astrogaphic Catalogue (AC) plates of the Córdoba Astronomical Observatory collection (Argentina). Results. We detected an open cluster from the field stars and calculated the mean proper motion and the membership probabilities of the region's stars. We report new coordinates of its centre αc = 108\fdg347, δc = -31\fdg011, the components of mean proper motion μ αcosδ = -2.62±0.44 mas/yr, μδ = 4.79±0.88 mas/yr. Thirteen stars are astrometric members giving a value of 20' for the cluster angular diameter. Six stars fulfil the astrometric and photometric criteria for being cluster members and locate the cluster at 360 pc from the Sun. We propose a simple model for the analysis of the proper motion distribution of an association. We report the components of the association mean proper motion μαcosδ = -1.38±0.14 mas/yr, μδ = 2.26±0.16 mas/yr. We found 149 astrometric members, 11 of which have reliable photometric data that locate them betweeen 417 and 660 pc from the Sun.Este documento tiene una corrección (ver documento relacionado).Instituto de Astrofísica de La PlataFacultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

    A revisit to the region of Collinder 132 using Carte du Ciel and Astrographic Catalogue plates

    Get PDF
    Aims. Based on stellar positions and proper motions, we aim to re-analyse the region of the controversial open cluster Collinder 132. Methods. We have developed a model which analyses the proper motion distribution and the stellar density to find moving groups. The astrometric data were obtained from four Carte du Ciel (CdC) and one Astrogaphic Catalogue (AC) plates of the Córdoba Astronomical Observatory collection (Argentina). Results. We detected an open cluster from the field stars and calculated the mean proper motion and the membership probabilities of the region's stars. We report new coordinates of its centre αc = 108\fdg347, δc = -31\fdg011, the components of mean proper motion μ αcosδ = -2.62±0.44 mas/yr, μδ = 4.79±0.88 mas/yr. Thirteen stars are astrometric members giving a value of 20' for the cluster angular diameter. Six stars fulfil the astrometric and photometric criteria for being cluster members and locate the cluster at 360 pc from the Sun. We propose a simple model for the analysis of the proper motion distribution of an association. We report the components of the association mean proper motion μαcosδ = -1.38±0.14 mas/yr, μδ = 2.26±0.16 mas/yr. We found 149 astrometric members, 11 of which have reliable photometric data that locate them betweeen 417 and 660 pc from the Sun.Este documento tiene una corrección (ver documento relacionado).Instituto de Astrofísica de La PlataFacultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica
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