A set of rapid-response models for pollutant dispersion assessments in southern Spain coastal waters

Three rapid-response Lagrangian particle-tracking dispersion models have been developed for southern Spain coastal waters. The three domains cover the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean), the Alborán Sea (Med iterranean), and the Strait of Gibraltar with higher spatial resolution. The models are based on different hydrodynamic submodels, which are run in advance. Tides are calculated using a 2D barotropic model in the three cases. Models used to obtain the residual circulation depend on the physical oceanography of each region. Thus, two-layer models are applied to Gibraltar Strait and Alborán Sea and a 3D baroclinic model is used in the Gulf of Cádiz. Results from these models have been compared with observations to validate them and are then used by the particle-tracking models to calculate dispersion. Chemical, radioactive and oil spills may be simulated, incorporating specific processes for each kind of pollutant. Several application examples are provided

Effects of Pre-storage Incubation of Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Eggs on Hatchability and Incubation Length

This is the first study to investigate whether pre-storage incubation (PRESI) of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs improves hatchability. To this aim, 420 red-legged partridge eggs were organized in a 2 × 3 factorial design consisting of two levels of storage length (storage for 7 and 42 d) and three levels of PRESI (incubation for 0, 6 and 12 h at 37.8C and 55% RH), resulting in six treatments consisting of 10 replications of 7 eggs each. For each treatment, egg weight losses during conservation and incubation, hatchability, chick weight at hatch, incubation length, and developmental stage at embryonic mortality were measured. It was found that 6 or 12 h of PRESI did not influence on hatchability of the fertile eggs stored during 7 d, and 6 h of PRESI did not improve the hatching rate of 42-d stored fertile eggs. However, 12 h of PRESI highly deteriorated hatchability of 42-d stored fertile eggs, increasing embryo mortality at positive development stage. Pre-storage incubation and the interaction PRESI × storage length increased egg weight loss during the storage period, though they did not influence either incubation length or chick weight at hatch. Thus, in contrast with other poultry species, PRESI does not offset the detrimental effect of the storage length on the hatchability and performance of A. rufa eggs, but even aggravates it in case of 42 d of storage. © 2014 Friends Science PublishersJunta de Andalucía AGR-23

Incorporación de metodologías participativas al proceso de formación del alumnado universitario

Con el objetivo de mejorar la participación del alumnado en las aulas y la calidad del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje, se han utilizado técnicas participativas en el desarrollo dela asignatura de Agricultura Ecológica en la Escuela de Ingeniería Técnica Agrícola. Las técnicas empleadas proceden del ámbito del Diagnóstico Rural Participativo, la Educación Social y la Animación Sociocultural. Los resultados nos han permitido concluir que, a pesar de la escasa formación previa de los alumnos en la materia, la adopción de técnicas participativas estimula al alumnado y mejora el proceso de aprendizaje y su interés por la asignatura. Es interesante seguir trabajando en la aplicación de estas metodologías en la docencia universitaria porque facilitan al alumnado la adquisición de un conocimiento holístico en la materia y habilidades para el trabajo en grupo

Consumo de drogas en las prisiones de la Región de Murcia: características en función de la nacionalidad

Comparar las pautas de consumo de drogas entre la población autóctona y extranjera penitenciaria en los Centros Penitenciarios de la Región de Murcia. Método: estudio transversal analítico con una muestra formada por 659 participantes. La recogida de datos se realizó por medio de un cuestionario formado por 40 ítems con respuesta tipo Likert donde se recogen variables sociodemográficas y de consumo de drogas durante el último mes en prisión. Resultados: un 29,8% (n=197) de los encuestados son extranjeros, el consumo de drogas es superior en los nacionales que en los extranjeros (66,2% vs 49,7%, respectivamente) siendo el cannabis, alcohol y cocaína las drogas más frecuentes para ambos colectivos. Por último se han analizados las correlaciones existentes entre las variables nacionalidad y consumo por medio de las pruebas de Odds ratio y valor de P.To compare patterns of drug abuse among the native inmates and foreign inmates in the Prisons in Murcia Region. Method: a cross-sectional study with a sample of 659 participants. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire consisting of 40 items with Likert-type response in which variables on sociodemographics and drug abuse during the last month in prison are compiled. Results: 29.8% (n=197) of respondents are foreigners, drug abuse is higher among national inmates that among foreign inmates (66.2% vs. 49.7%, respectively), cannabis, alcohol and cocaine being the most frequent substances for both groups. Finally, we have analyzed the correlations between nationality and drug abuse variables through testing Odds ratio and P value

Effects of storage temperature and length of the storage period on hatchability and performance of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs

The aim of the present study was to investigate, in red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs, the effects of 7- and 42-d storage periods with different storage temperatures (15, 12, and 9°C) on egg weight loss, hatchability, chick weight at hatch, incubation length, and development stage at embryonic mortality. A total of 420 red-legged partridge eggs were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design with 2 levels of storage length and 3 levels of storage temperature, resulting in 6 treatments consisting of 10 replications of 7 eggs each. We found that the storage length significantly reduced hatchability of the fertile eggs (P = 0.001), increasing late embryonic mortality (P = 0.001). Storage temperature did not influence on the embryonic mortality at any stage (P > 0.05). Egg weight loss during storage increased with the storage length (P 0.05). Nevertheless, incubation period decreased with the storage temperature for 7-d storage, and increased with the storage temperature for 42-d storage (P = 0.005). It can be concluded that in this study red-legged partridge eggs stored well with little deterioration up to 42 d at 9 and 12°C and 80% RH, in contrast to the lesser durability of eggs described in the literature for other poultry species. In case of 7-d storage periods, hatchability of A. rufa fertile eggs is higher when they are stored at 15°C. These findings are useful to address specific demands of game farms that require fertile eggs for hatching whose shelf-life should be long enough to maintain hatchability until further incubation. And, due to the marked reproductive seasonality of red-legged partridge, long-term storage of hatching eggs could permit the distribution of batches of chicks throughout the year.Junta de Andalucía AGR-23

Efecto del Locus CSN3 sobre la composición de la leche de cabra de raza murciano-granadina

CICYT AGL2002-04304-C03-01-02- 03 GA

Evolution des exploitations ovines et caprines en Méditerranée durant les dix dernières années. I. Proposition d'une méthodologie d'étude

L’objectif de ce travail est l’élaboration d’une méthode d’analyse comparative interrégionale de la situation et des évolutions des systèmes de production ovine et caprine. Des questionnaires d’enquête différents sont élaborés à destination des éleveurs d’une part, des agents de développement puis des personnes chargées de la commercialisation d’autre part. Des analyses statistiques de variance sont utilisées pour construire des typologies d’exploitation sur la base de la situation actuelle et de l’évolution des exploitations au cours des 10 dernières années. La méthode d’analyse clinique des écosystèmes a pour objet : (i) de connaître les points forts et les points faibles des systèmes et les relations de cause à effet ; (ii) de prévoir de manière prospective l’évolution future de chaque type d’exploitation ; et (iii) de proposer des actions concrètes pour optimiser les perspectives favorables de chaque système. Cette démarche s’inscrit dans l’Observatoire des systèmes de production ovine et caprine du réseau FAO/CIHEAM de recherche coopérative sur les ovins et les caprins.“Evolution of the sheep and goat farms in the Mediterranean over the last ten years. I. Proposal of a study methodology”. The main objective of this paper is to develop a methodology that could be used in diverse regions to make a comparative analysis of situation and changes that may occur in goat and sheep sectors among different regions from the same or different countries. This process has been elaborated for breeders on one hand, for extension and commercial agents on the other. Statistical analysis of variance is used to build up a typology of farms on the basis of the actual situation and changes in farms for the 10 last years. The method of clinical analysis of variance of ecosystems is used to: (i) determine system strengths and weaknesses and the cause-result relationships; (ii) foresee system evolution based on the established cluster; and (iii) propose actions to optimize future evolution in every system according to real possibilities in each particular case. This initiative is an action of the Monitoring Body of sheep and goat production systems of the FAO/CIHEAM network of cooperative research on sheep and goats

Comprehensive metabolite profiling of Solanum tuberosum L.(potato) leaves by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS

The objective of this work was to study the non-targeted metabolite profiling of potato leaves using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). The mass accuracy, true isotopic pattern in both MS and MS/MS spectra provided by QTOF-MS made possible the tentative identification of 109 compounds present in potato leaves, including organic acids, amino acids and derivatives, phenolic acids, flavonoids, iridoids, oxylipins and other polar and semi-polar compounds. Among them, 32 compounds have been found for the first time in potato leaf and in the Solanaceae family. Quinic acid and its derivatives represented more than 45% of the bioactive compounds quantified in the extract. Derivatives of hydroxybenzoic acid and gentisic acid were also founded at considerable concentrations. This study shed light on the composition of potato leaf extract and will serve as a base for further research into activities of the various compounds found in this matrix which has demonstrated a potential use as functional ingredients