Water-Covered Roof Versus Inverted Flat Roof on the Mediterranean Coast: A Comparative Study of Thermal and Energy Behavior

Reservoir, or water-collecting roofs present greater thermal inertia than inverted flat roofs due to the mass of water they contain. This feature gives them better thermal performance and leads to greater stability in the indoor air temperature Ti and the wall surface temperatures. In the summer, they can dampen the effect of solar radiation and regulate external thermal loads thanks to their greater effusivity and thermal capacity. This research compares the thermal behavior of the roofs of two buildings located in Alicante on the Spanish Mediterranean coast: a loft flat in the city center and a water-covered roof in the Museum of the University of Alicante (MUA). Values for effusivity, diffusivity, thermal capacity, decrement factor, time lag and internal, as well as external thermal admittance were obtained. After monitoring both roofs during 2014, behavior simulations were performed in Design Builder using 6 different scenarios reflecting different combinations in both buildings of water-covered, inverted and conventional roofs and marble or terrazzo paving. The water-covered roof led to a higher decrement factor and time lag, as well as to a reduction of annual energy demands between 8.86% and 9.03%.This research was funded by the Vice-rectorate of Campus and Technology of the University of Alicante, in grants awarded by the Own Programme in 2014

Evaluating environmental and socio-economic requirements for improving desalination development

The continuous increase in global freshwater demand highlights desalination technology as one of the most feasible options for addressing global water scarcity. This increase has occurred more rapidly in certain countries owing to certain factors that can influence the development of desalination projects. A survey of 34 international desalination experts was carried out to evaluate the main requirements and most limiting factors for the development of desalination projects in different countries based on a semi-quantitative analysis. The obtained results showed high heterogeneity of environmental and socio-economic requirements across different countries. The main barriers identified for desalination development were the cost of produced water, low financial support, and stringent environmental requirements. We observed that social acceptance of desalination projects is normally high and does not represent a limiting factor for their development. However, low levels of environmental requirements and/or public involvement have been identified as issues and these should be improved in some countries. The knowledge obtained in this research may be used to inform scientific advice and advance toward the sustainable development of desalination projects.I.S. and C.S. were financed by project CORFO CAPTA Nro. 9CTIGH-121349

Ulva compressa from Copper-Polluted Sites Exhibits Intracellular Copper Accumulation, Increased Expression of Metallothioneins and Copper-Containing Nanoparticles in Chloroplasts

In order to analyze the mechanisms involved in copper accumulation in Ulva compressa, algae were collected at control sites of central and northern Chile, and at two copper-polluted sites of northern Chile. The level of intracellular copper, reduced glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs), PC2 and PC4, and transcripts encoding metallothioneins (MTs) of U. compressa, UcMT1, UcMT2 and UcMT3, were determined. Algae of control sites contained around 20 μg of copper g−1 of dry tissue (DT) whereas algae of copper-polluted sites contained 260 and 272 μg of copper g−1 of DT. Algae of control sites and copper-polluted sites did not show detectable amounts of GSH, the level of PC2 did not change among sites whereas PC4 was increased in one of the copper-polluted sites. The level of transcripts of UcMT1 and UcMT2 were increased in algae of copper-polluted sites, but the level of UcMT3 did not change. Algae of a control site and a copper-polluted site were visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the existence of copper in electrodense particles was analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). Algae of copper-polluted sites showed electrodense nanoparticles containing copper in the chloroplasts, whereas algae of control sites did not. Algae of a control site, Cachagua, were cultivated without copper (control) and with 10 μM copper for 5 days and they were analyzed by TEM-EDXS. Algae cultivated with copper showed copper-containing nanoparticles in the chloroplast whereas control algae did not. Thus, U. compressa from copper-polluted sites exhibits intracellular copper accumulation, an increase in the level of PC4 and expression of UcMTs, and the accumulation of copper-containing particles in chloroplasts.This work was financed by Fondecyt Regular 1160013 to A.M and by Dicyt-USACH

Extensión del rango de distribución de Lithobius obscurus Meinert (Lithobiidae, Lithobiomorpha) en plantación orgánica y convencional de manzanas en Chile central

No summarySin resume

Daily changes on seasonal ecophysiological responses of the intertidal brown macroalga Lessonia spicata: Implications of climate change

Global climate change is expected to have detrimental effects on coastal ecosystems, with impacts observable at the local and regional levels, depending on factors such as light, temperature, and nutrients. Shifts in dominance between primary producers that can capitalize on carbon availability for photosynthesis will have knock-on effects on marine ecosystems, affecting their ecophysiological responses and biological processes. Here, we study the ecophysiological vulnerability, photoacclimation capacity, and tolerance responses as ecophysiological responses of the intertidal kelp Lessonia spicata (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) during a year through different seasons (autumn, winter, spring, and summer) in the Pacific Ocean (central Chile). Six different daily cycle experiments were carried out within each season. A battery of different biochemical assays associated with antioxidant responses and in-vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter showed that during spring and summer, there was an increase in photosynthetic capacity in the macroalgae, although their responses varied depending on light and nutrient availability in the course of the year. Lessonia spicata showed maximal photosynthesis and a similar photoinhibition pattern in summer compared to the other seasons, and the contents of nitrate and phosphorous in seawater were less in winter. Thus, high irradiance during spring and summer displayed a higher maximal electron transport rate (ETRmax), irradiance of saturation (Ek), non-photochemical quenching (NPQmax), nitrogen and carbon contents, and photoprotector compound levels. Antioxidant activity increased also in summer, the seasonal period with the highest oxidative stress conditions, i.e., the highest level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In contrast, under low irradiance, i.e., wintertime conditions, L. spicata demonstrated lower concentrations of the photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a and carotenoids. Our study suggests that macroalgae that are subjected to increased irradiance and water temperature under lower nutrient availability mediated by seasonal changes (expected to worsen under climate change) respond with higher values of productivity, pigment contents, and photoprotective compounds. Thus, our findings strengthen the available evidence to predict that algae in the order Laminariales, specifically L. spicata (kelp), could better proliferate, with lower vulnerability and greater acclimation, than other marine species subject to future expected conditions associated with climate change.Financial and logistical support was granted by the project of Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico, Chile through grant Project FONDECYT, Chile N° 11180197, ANID, Chile - provided to Paula Celis - Plá

Desalination brine effects beyond excess salinity: Unravelling specific stress signaling and tolerance responses in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica

Desalination has been proposed as a global strategy for tackling freshwater shortage in the climate change era. However, there is a concern regarding the environmental effects of high salinity brines discharged from desalination plants on benthic communities. In this context, seagrasses such as the Mediterranean endemic and ecologically important Posidonia oceanica have shown high vulnerability to elevated salinities. Most ecotoxicological studies regarding desalination effects are based on salinity increments using artificial sea salts, although it has been postulated that certain additives within the industrial process of desalination may exacerbate a negative impact beyond just the increased salinities of the brine. To assess the potential effect of whole effluent brines on P. oceanica, mesocosm experiments were conducted within 10 days, simulating salinity increment with either artificial sea salts or brines from a desalination plant (at 43 psμ, 6 psμ over the natural 37 psμ). Morphometrical (growth and necrosis), photochemical (PSII chlorophyll a fluorometry), metabolic, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) and ascorbate/dehydroascorbate (ASC/DHA), and molecular (expression of key tolerance genes) responses were analyzed in each different treatment. Although with a still positive leaf growth, associated parameters decreased similarly for both artificial sea salt and brine treatments. Photochemical parameters did not show general patterns, although only P. oceanica under brines demonstrated greater energy release through heat (NPQ). Lipid peroxidation and upregulation of genes related to oxidative stress (GR, MnSOD, and FeSOD) or ion exclusion (SOS3 and AKT2/3) were similarly incremented on both hypersalinity treatments. Conversely, the ASC/DHA ratio was significantly lower, and the expression of SOS1, CAT, and STRK1 was increased under brine influence. This study revealed that although metabolic and photochemical differences occurred under both hypersalinity treatments, growth (the last sign of physiological detriment) was similarly compromised, suggesting that the potential effects of desalination are mainly caused by brine-associated salinities and are not particularly related to other industrial additives.This investigation was funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (888415) granted to C.A. Sáez. F. Blanco-Murillo was supported by a grant from Universidad de Alicante (Grant ID: FPUUA98). F. Rodríguez-Rojas was financed by the ANID project FONDECYT 11220425. C.A. Sáez was also financed by project ANID InES I+D 2021 (INID210013)

Phaeoviral infections are present in macrocystis, ecklonia and undaria (laminariales) and are influenced by wave exposure in ectocarpales

Two sister orders of the brown macroalgae (class Phaeophyceae), the morphologically complex Laminariales (commonly referred to as kelp) and the morphologically simple Ectocarpales are natural hosts for the dsDNA phaeoviruses (family ) that persist as proviruses in the genomes of their hosts. We have previously shown that the major capsid protein (MCP) and DNA polymerase concatenated gene phylogeny splits phaeoviruses into two subgroups, A and B (both infecting Ectocarpales), while MCP-based phylogeny suggests that the kelp phaeoviruses form a distinct third subgroup C. Here we used MCP to better understand the host range of phaeoviruses by screening a further 96 and 909 samples representing 11 and 3 species of kelp and Ectocarpales, respectively. Sporophyte kelp samples were collected from their various natural coastal habitats spanning five continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. Our phylogenetic analyses showed that while most of the kelp phaeoviruses, including one from , belonged to the previously designated subgroup C, new lineages of in 3 kelp species, , , , grouped instead with subgroup A. In addition, we observed a prevalence of 26% and 63% in kelp and Ectocarpales, respectively. Although not common, multiple phaeoviral infections per individual were observed, with the Ectocarpales having both intra- and inter-subgroup phaeoviral infections. Only intra-subgroup phaeoviral infections were observed in kelp. Furthermore, prevalence of phaeoviral infections within the Ectocarpales is also linked to their exposure to waves. We conclude that phaeoviral infection is a widely occurring phenomenon in both lineages, and that phaeoviruses have diversified with their hosts at least since the divergence of the Laminariales and Ectocarpales

Disposición al estudio, autoeficacia y atribuciones causales en estudiantes universitarios chilenos

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between (1) willingness to study strategies, (2) causal attributions (to effort, ability and external causes) and (3) student´s perception of self-efficacy about their ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study. Method: An instrument built by the researchers called Willingness to the Study Self-Regulation Questionnaire was applied to a non probabilistic convenience sample of 695 Chilean university students from 5 universities of the Province of Concepción. Outcomes: Strong correlations were found between selfefficacy for the willingness to study self-regulation and the willingness to study strategies (r=0.54 to r =0.55). the willingness to study strategies had positive and moderate correlations (r=0.38 to r=0.42) with causal attributions for success to effort, weak correlations (r=0.15 to r=0.28) with causal attributions for success to ability and to external factors, and negative weak to moderate correlations (r=-0.19 to r =-0.38) with causal attributions for failure to effort, ability, and external factors. Conclusions: Students with high levels of willingness to study strategies show positive beliefs about their own ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study, they make causal attributions for their success mainly to effort, and they attribute their academic failure less and less to ability and external factors.The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between (1) willingness to study strategies, (2) causal attributions (to effort, ability and external causes) and (3) student´s perception of self-efficacy about their ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study. Method: An instrument built by the researchers called Willingness to the Study Self-Regulation Questionnaire was applied to a non probabilistic convenience sample of 695 Chilean university students from 5 universities of the Province of Concepción. Outcomes: Strong correlations were found between selfefficacy for the willingness to study self-regulation and the willingness to study strategies (r=0.54 to r =0.55). the willingness to study strategies had positive and moderate correlations (r=0.38 to r=0.42) with causal attributions for success to effort, weak correlations (r=0.15 to r=0.28) with causal attributions for success to ability and to external factors, and negative weak to moderate correlations (r=-0.19 to r =-0.38) with causal attributions for failure to effort, ability, and external factors. Conclusions: Students with high levels of willingness to study strategies show positive beliefs about their own ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study, they make causal attributions for their success mainly to effort, and they attribute their academic failure less and less to ability and external factors.El objetivo de este estudio es: analizar la relación entre (1) Las estrategias disposición al estudio, (2) atribuciones causales (al esfuerzo, capacidad y causas externas) y (3) la percepción de autoeficacia que tienen los estudiantes sobre su capacidad de autorregular sus procesos de disposición al estudio. Método: Se aplicó un instrumento construido por los investigadores denominado Cuestionario de Autorregulación de la Disposición al Estudio a una muestra no probabilística por conveniencia de 695 estudiantes universitarios chilenos de 5 universidades de la provincia de Concepción. Resultados: Se encontraron correlaciones fuertes entre la autoeficacia para la autorregulación de la disposición al estudio y las estrategias de disposición al estudio (r=0.54 a r=0.55). Las estrategias de disposición al estudio presentan correlaciones positivas y moderadas (r=0.38 a r= 0.42) con las atribuciones causales de éxito al esfuerzo, débiles (r=0.15 a r= 0.28) con las atribuciones causales de éxito a la habilidad como a las atribuciones causales de éxito a causas externas, y correlaciones negativas, de débiles a moderadas (r=-0.19 a  r= -0.38), con las atribuciones causales de fracaso al esfuerzo, a la habilidad y a causas externas. Conclusiones: Los estudiantes con altos niveles de estrategias de disposición al estudio presentan creencias positivas acerca de la propia capacidad para autorregular sus procesos de disposición al estudio, realizan atribuciones causales de sus éxitos principalmente al esfuerzo y disminuyen las explicaciones de fracasos académicos a su esfuerzo, su capacidad y a causas externas.

Radon gas as a constructive element in the Chilean Pacific coast the case of a manor house in Viña del Mar (Valparaíso)

The presence of radon gas in buildings is an indicator of indoor air quality. The study presented analyses the amount of radon gas in the city of Viña del Mar in the Valparaiso region (Chile), in a manor house that currently serves as the Center of Advanced Studies at the Universidad de Playa Ancha. Radon gas is an element considered highly harmful to people by various scientific agencies in the field of medicine and health, including the World Health Organization (WHO). The main effect of the presence of radon in the human environment is the risk of lung cancer. This radioactive gaseous element is present in almost all construction materials, and in the land where buildings are located. This article provides the measurements made by the Center of Advanced Studies of the Universidad de Playa Ancha and analyses the levels obtained according to their danger to humans. These values have been used as comparisons to analyse the differences in the presence of this gas between the Chilean Pacific coast and Europe. The values have been analysed with respect to the requirements that are currently being implemented