The second Feng-Rao number for codes coming from telescopic semigroups

In this manuscript we show that the second Feng-Rao number of any telescopic numerical semigroup agrees with the multiplicity of the semigroup. To achieve this result we first study the behavior of Ap\'ery sets under gluings of numerical semigroups. These results provide a bound for the second Hamming weight of one-point Algebraic Geometry codes, which improves upon other estimates such as the Griesmer Order Bound

Diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria from Andalusian paddy fields and analysis of their potential as bioinoculants

The marshes of the Guadalquivir River contain the largest area of rice cultivation in Spain, where more than 40,000 ha are used every year for rice production. These wetland areas provide a perfect place for rice cultivation, and represent a unique aquaticterrestrial habitat that hold more wintering waterfowl than any other European wetland. Paddies require large amounts nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth, development and production. Though, flooded conditions used for rice cultivation drastically diminish efficiency inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, being only 30–40% used by the plant, and in some cases even less. Large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are dissolved in the surface water and lost, causing environmental pollution and health problems due to losses through N2O and NO volatilization, denitrification, and leaching (Ishii et al., 2011)

Shelf Transport Pathways Adjacent to the East Australian Current Reveal Sources of Productivity for Coastal Reefs

The region where the East Australian Current (EAC) separates from the coast is dynamic and the shelf circulation is impacted by the interplay of the western boundary current and its eddy field with the coastal ocean. This interaction can drive upwelling, retention or export. Hence understanding the connection between offshore waters and the inner shelf is needed as it influences the productivity potential of valuable coastal rocky reefs. Near urban centres, artificial reefs enhance fishing opportunities in coastal waters, however these reefs are located without consideration of the productivity potential of adjacent waters. Here we identify three dominant modes of mesoscale circulation in the EAC separation region (~31.5−34.5°S); the ‘EAC mode’ which dominates the flow in the poleward direction, and two eddy modes, the ‘EAC eddy mode’ and the ‘Eddy dipole mode’, which are determined by the configuration of a cyclonic and anticyclonic eddy and the relationship with the separated EAC jet. We use a Lagrangian approach to reveal the transport pathways across the shelf to understand the impact of the mesoscale circulation modes and to explore the productivity potential of the coastal waters. We investigate the origin (position and depth) of the water that arrives at the inner-mid shelf over a 21-day period (the plankton productivity timescale). We show that the proportion of water that is upwelled from below the euphotic zone varies spatially, and with each mesoscale circulation mode. Additionally, shelf transport timescales and pathways are also impacted by the mesoscale circulation. The highest proportion of upwelling (70%) occurs upstream of 32.5°S, associated with the EAC jet separation, with vertical displacements of 70–120 m. From 33 to 33.5°S, water comes from offshore above the euphotic layer, and shelf transport timescales are longest. The region of highest retention over the inner shelf is immediately downstream of the EAC separation region. The position of the EAC jet and the location of the cyclonic eddy determines the variability in shelf-ocean interactions and the productivity of shelf waters. These results are useful for understanding productivity of temperate rocky reefs in general and specifically for fisheries enhancements along an increasingly urbanised coast

Late Palaeozoic lithostratigraphy of the Andean Precordillera revisited (San Juan Province, Argentina)

New data on some neopalaeozoic lithostratigraphic units of the central sector of the Argentinean Precordillera are presented. The western Precordillera displays occasional outcrops of siliciclastic rocks of the Late Palaeozoic. These rocks are separated by two main unconformi­ties related to the development of the Chanic (Upper Devonian-early Carboniferous) and Gondwanan (late Carboniferous-early Permian) orogens. A major unconformity marks the beginning of the Andean cycle in middle Permian times. The Del Ratón Formation (800 m) in the studied area is made up of conglomerates and can be divided into two units. The basal part (Lower Member) was deposited in a fjord environment. The Upper Member was generated by an alluvial system that was mainly dominated by upper flow-regime plane beds, whereas its uppermost part accumulated in a fan delta setting. The clast provenance and the main palaeocurrents suggest the existence of a significant topographic high to the W and NW of the present outcrops. The El Planchón Formation (1400 m) is mainly composed of shales and sandstones as a result of sedimentation in a deep-sea fan environment. These lutite-dominated materials graded laterally north­wards into conglomerates in a glacial setting. The Del Ratón and El Planchón formations of the Lower Carboniferous correspond to the synorogenic Chanic sedimentation (Chanic foreland basin). Thereafter, the stratigraphic succession underwent deformation which led to its prolonged subaerial exposure and rubefaction. In Permian times, a marine transgression gave rise to the Del Salto Formation (600 m), which is constituted by beach deposits with some aeolian reworking and which lies unconformably over the Lower Carboniferous rocks. Conglomerates (Quebrada del Alumbre Formation, 100 m) produced by an alluvial system prograded episodically into coastal areas. The Escombrera Formation (350 m) is composed of beach deposits prograding seawards. This formation probably represents the end of the Palaeozoic sedimentary record. Thereafter, a playa-lake and an alluvial fan system were generated (Quebrada de la Arena Formation). This unit (750 m) was the last infill of the Gondwanan retroarc foreland, the total thickness of which was about 4000 m.Se presentan nuevos datos sobre las unidades neopaleozoicas aflorantes en la parte occidental de la Precordillera andina. Esas unidades litoestratigráficas estan separadas por dos discordancias angulares principales asociadas al desarrollo de las orogenias Chánica (Devónico tardío-Carbonífero temprano) y Gondwánica (Carbonífero tardío-Pérmico temprano) respectivamente. Otra nueva discordancia sugiere el inicio del ciclo andino durante el Pérmico medio. La Formación Del Ratón (800 m) está constituida principalmente por conglomerados y puede dividirse en dos unidades de rango menor: la parte basal y la parte superior respectivamente. La parte basal (Miembro inferior) fue acumulada en un fiordo. La parte superior (Miembro superior) fue generada en un sistema alluvial dominado predominantemente por la acumulación de capas planas de alto régimen de flujo, mientras que la parte más alta fue depositada en un entorno de abanico deltaico (fandelta). La procedencia de los clastos y las paleocorrientes principales indican la presencia de un relieve topográfico alto y significativo, situado al O y NO de los afloramientos actuales.La Formación El Planchón (1400 m) constituida principalmente por lutitas y areniscas fue acumulada en un contexto de abanico submarino (deep-sea fan). Estos materiales predominantemente lutíticos pasan lateralmente hacia el norte a conglomerados acumulados en un ambiente sedimentario glacial. Las Formaciones Del Ratón y El Planchón corresponden a la sedimentación sinorogénica Chánica (cuenca de antepaís chánica). Posteriormente, la sucesión estratigráfica sufrió una deformación que dió lugar a una prolongada exposición subaérea y su consiguiente rubefacción. Durante el Pérmico, una transgresión marina produjo la acumulación de la Formación Del Salto (600 m), que está constituída por depósitos de playa con algún retrabajamiento eólico y que recubre discordantemente los materiales del Carbonífero inferior. Un sistema aluvial conglomerático (Formación Quebrada del Alumbre 100 m) pogradó episódicamente sobre las zonas costeras. La Formación Escombrera (350 m), que está constituída por materiales arenosos coste-ros progradantes hacia el mar, representa, muy probablemente, el final del registro sedimentario paleozoico en esta zona. Posteriormente se generó otra discordancia sobre la que se acumularon materiales arenosos en un contexto de cursos fluviales trenzados sobre los que se disponen materiales lutíticos acumulados en una ciénaga (playa-lake) que gradan, primero a cursos trenzados, luego a cursos sinousos y finalmente a abanicos aluviales (Formación Quebrada de la Arena). Esta unidad (750 m) corresponde al último relleno sedimentario de la cuenca Gondwánica de retroarco, cuya potencia es del orden de unos 4000 m.Fil: Colombo, F.. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Limarino, Carlos Oscar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Spalletti, Luis Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Busquets, P. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Cardo, R.. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Mendez Bedia, I. Universidad de Oviedo; EspañaFil: Heredia, N.. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España; Españ

Driving the blue fleet: Temporal variability and drivers behind bluebottle (Physalia physalis) beachings off Sydney, Australia

Physalia physalis, the bluebottle in Australia, are colonial siphonophores that live at the surface of the ocean, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters. P. physalis are sometimes present in large swarms, and with tentacles capable of intense stings, they can negatively impact public health and commercial fisheries. P. physalis, which does not swim, is advected by ocean currents and winds acting on its gas-filled sail. While previous studies have attempted to model the drift of P. physalis, little is known about its sources, distribution, and the timing of its arrival to shore. In this study, we present a dataset with four years of daily P. physalis beachings and stings reports at three locations off Sydney's coast in Australia. We investigate the spatial and temporal variability of P. physalis presence (beachings and stings) in relation to different environmental parameters. This dataset shows a clear seasonal pattern where more P. physalis beachings occur in the Austral summer and less in winter. Cold ocean temperatures do not hinder the presence of P. physalis and the temperature seasonal cycle and that observed in P. physalis presence/absence time-series are out of phase by 3-4 months. We identify wind direction as the major driver of the temporal variability of P. physalis arrival to the shore, both at daily and seasonal time-scales. The differences observed between sites of the occurrence of beaching events is consistent with the geomorphology of the coastline which influences the frequency and direction of favorable wind conditions. We also show that rip currents, a physical mechanism occurring at the scale of the beach, can be a predictor of beaching events. This study is a first step towards understanding the dynamics of P. physalis transport and ultimately being able to predict its arrival to the coast and mitigating the number of people who experience painful stings and require medical help

Low molecular weight ϵ-caprolactone-pcoumaric acid copolymers as potential biomaterials for skin regeneration applications

ϵ-caprolactone-p-coumaric acid copolymers at different mole ratios (ϵ-caprolactone:p-coumaric acid 1:0, 10:1, 8:1, 6:1, 4:1, and 2:1) were synthesized by melt-polycondensation and using 4-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid as catalyst. Chemical analysis by NMR and GPC showed that copolyesters were formed with decreasing molecular weight as p-coumaric acid content was increased. Physical characteristics, such as thermal and mechanical properties, as well as water uptake and water permeability, depended on the mole fraction of pcoumaric acid. The p-coumarate repetitive units increased the antioxidant capacity of the copolymers, showing antibacterial activity against the common pathogen Escherichia coli. In addition, all the synthesized copolyesters, except the one with the highest concentration of the phenolic acid, were cytocompatible and hemocompatible, thus becoming potentially useful for skin regeneration applications

In memoriam of Andrés Pérez-Estaún

Non