Wetland restoration and nitrate reduction: the example of the periurban wetland of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, North Spain)

Changes in land use and agricultural intensification caused wetlands on the quaternary aquifer of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) to disappear some years ago and nitrate concentration in groundwaters increased very quickly. The Basque Government recently declared the East Sector of this aquifer a Vulnerable Zone according to the 91/676/CEE European Directive. Recently, the wetlands have been restored through the closure of the main drainage ditches, the consequent elevation of the water table and the abondonment of agricultural practices near the wetlands. This is the case of the Zurbano wetland. Restoration has allowed the recovery of its biogeochemical function, which has reduced nitrate concentrations in waters. Nitrate concentrations which exceed 50 mg l–1 in groundwaters entering into the wetland are less than 10 mg l–1 at the outlet. Conditions in the wetland are conducive to the loss of nitrates: organic matter rich wetted soils, clay presence allowing a local semiconfined flow and very low hydraulic gradient. Water quality monitoring at several points around the wetland showed the processes involved in nitrate loss, although some aspects still remain unresolved. However, during storm events, the wetland effectively reduces the nitrate concentration entering the Alegria River, the most important river on the quaternary aquifer

Experimental determination of the absorption strength in absorbing chaotic cavities

Due to the experimental necessity we present a formula to determine the absorption strength by power losses inside a chaotic system (cavities, graphs, acoustic resonators, etc) when the antenna coupling, always present in experimental measurements, is taken into account. This is done by calculating the average of the absorption coefficient as a function of the absorption strength and the coupling of the antenna to the system, in the one channel case.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Fatty acid composition of Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae fed on different micoralgal diets: effect on larval growth and survival.

The influence of dietary essential fatty acid on bivalve larval growth and survival has been reported by several authors. The objectives of the current research were (1) to describe fatty acid composition of Mytilus galloprovincialis D-larvae and (2) to investigate the influence of algal lipid composition on larval growth and survival. Larvae were fed with two diets, A (Tetraselmis suecica + Isochrisis galbana) and B (Tetraselmis suecica + Chaetoceros sp). After fifteen days the larval growth was significantly higher with diet B than with diet A. The survival was also different, being 28% in diet A and 22.4 % in diet B. The percentages of veliger, pediveliger and amorphous larvae were higher in group A than in B, while in the latter there were not amorphous larvae and the 21 % were postlarvae. So, the microalgae Chaetoceros sp seems to enhance larvae growth and development. The difference in diet also produced changes in fatty acid profiles being the most important change ones (1) the increase of 14:0 in both groups, (2) 16:0 decreased in group A but it increased in group B and (3) total MUFA showed higher levels in both trials. Total PUFA n-6 level was higher in group A due to the 18:2n-6 increase. Arachidonic acid level was augmented with both diets. EPA level diminished in group A but it augmented in group B, DHA behaviour was opposite, increasing in group A but decreasing in group B. This is due to the high level of EPA in Chaetoceros sp and DHA in Isochrysis galbana (Fern&aacute;ndez-Reiriz et al., 2006). These results do not coincide with other studies which suggest that DHA is a key requirement for larval development and growth of other bivalve species (Caers et al., 1999). In our case diet rich in EPA seems to be better in mussel larva culture than the diet rich in DHA. This work was supported by Interreg Project 0251_ECOAQUA_5_E, financed by the EDRF (European Regional Development Fund). www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/ecoaqua. &nbsp;La influencia de la composici&oacute;n en &aacute;cidos grasos de la dieta ha sido estudiada por diversos autores. Los objetivos de este trabajo fuero (1) describir la composici&oacute;n en &aacute;cidos grasos de las larvas D de Mytilus galloprovincialis y (2) investigar la influencia de la composici&oacute;n lip&iacute;dica de las microalgas en el crecimiento y supervivencia larvario. Las larvas se fueron alimentadas con dos dietas,A (Tetraselmis suecica + Isochrisis galbana) y B (Tetraselmis suecica + Chaetoceros sp). Tras quince d&iacute;as el crecimiento larvario fue significativamente mayor con la dieta B que con la dieta A. La supervivencia tambi&eacute;n fue diferente, siendo 28 % en la dieta A y 22.4% en la dieta B. El porcentaje de las larvas veliger, pediveliger y amorfas fue mayor en A que en B, mientras que en &eacute;ste no hubo amorfas y el 21 % fueron postlarvas. Por lo tanto la microalga Chaetoceros sp mejora el cultivo larvario. La diferencia en la dieta tambi&eacute;n produjo cambios en el perfil de &aacute;cidos grasos siendo los m&aacute;s importantes (1) el incremento del 14:0 en ambos grupos, (2) el 16:0 decreci&oacute; en el grupo A pero aument&oacute; en el B y (3) el total de monoinsaturados mostr&oacute; mayores valores en ambos grupos. El total de PUFA n-6 fue mayor en el grupo A debido al incremento de 18:2n-6. El nivel de &aacute;cido araquid&oacute;nico aument&oacute; en ambos grupos. El nivel de EPA disminuy&oacute; en el grupo A pero aument&oacute; en el grupo B, el comportamiento del DHA fue el contrario, incrementando en el grupo A y disminuyendo en el B. Esto fue debido al alto nivel de EPA en Chaetoceros sp y DHA en Isochrysis galbana (Fern&aacute;ndez-Reiriz et al., 2006). Estos resultados no coinciden con otros estudios que sugieren que el DHA es un requerimiento clave para el desarrollo y crecimiento larvarios de otras especies de bivalvos (Caers et al., 1999). En nuestro caso la dieta rica en EPA parece ser mejor para el cultivo larvario de mejillones que la dieta rica en DHA. Este trabajo fue apoyado por el proyecto Interreg 0251_ECOAQUA_5_E, financiado por el FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional). www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/ecoaqua.</p

Exóstosis cartilaginosas múltiples como causa de compresión medular en un husky de 6 meses

Se describe un raro caso de Exóstosis Cartilaginosas Múltiples en una localización poco frecuente como es la lámina dorsal vertebral, produciendo una mielopatía comprensiva. La paresia posterior progresiva resultante fue tratada con éxito quirúrgicamente mediante una laminectomía. El animal recuperó el estado neurológico normal en el postoperatorio inmediato, manteniéndolo a lo largo de un periodo de seguimiento de un año y medio

Psychological elements explaining the consumer's adoption and use of a website recommendation system: A theoretical framework proposal

The purpose of this paper is to understand, with an emphasis on the psychological perspective of the research problem, the consumer's adoption and use of a certain web site recommendation system as well as the main psychological outcomes involved. The approach takes the form of theoretical modelling. Findings: A conceptual model is proposed and discussed. A total of 20 research propositions are theoretically analyzed and justified. Research limitations/implications: The theoretical discussion developed here is not empirically validated. This represents an opportunity for future research. Practical implications: The ideas extracted from the discussion of the conceptual model should be a help for recommendation systems designers and web site managers, so that they may be more aware, when working with such systems, of the psychological process consumers undergo when interacting with them. In this regard, numerous practical reflections and suggestions are presented

Effect of different micro-algae mixtures and rations in hatchery broodstock conditioning of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Reproduction of the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in wild populations follows seasonal changes of environmental factors such as food availability.The aim of this experiment was to analyse the effects of three conditioning diets on the maturation and development of M. galloprovincialis. We experimented three different algae-based treatments: two Non-Tetraselmis (NT) groups and one Tetraselmis (TS) group. Those in the NT groups received a mixture of Isochrysis galbana (clon T-Iso) and Chaetoceros sp. (1:1, based on cell volume). Those in the TS group received Isochrysis sp. (T-Iso), Chaetoceros sp., and Tetraselmis suecica (1:1:1, based on cell volume). Mussels in the NT-1, NT-2 and TS groups received, respectively, 1%, 2% and 2% of the mussels dry weight (MDW) based in algae dry weight (ADW) a day. After 2 months of conditioning, significant changes between wild mussels and the NT-1 group were not detected either in condition index (CI) value or in gonad stadia percentages. On the opposite, after conditioning CI values of mussels having received 2 % ration were higher than those of wild populations and NT-1 group, and ripe female percentage was higher in the TS group than in the NT-2 group. As a conclusion, this study demonstrates that for M. galloprovincialis conditioning, 1% of the MDW in ADW is not enough, and that a varied diet is more suitable.This work was supported by Interreg Project 0251_ECOAQUA_5_E, financed by the EDRF (European Regional Development Fund). www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca/ifapa/ecoaqua.La reproducci&oacute;n del mejill&oacute;n Mytilus galloprovincialis en las poblaciones naturales sigue los cambios estacionales de factores ambientales como la disponibilidad de comida. El objetivo de este experimento fue analizar los efectos de tres dietas de acondicionamiento en la maduraci&oacute;n y el desarrollo de M. galloprovincialis. Para ello, se experimentaron tres tratamientos diferentes a base de microalgas: dos grupos sin la microalga Tetraselmis suecica (NT) y un tercero con esta microalga (TS). Los mejillones de los grupos NT recibieron una mezcla de Isochrysis galbana (clon T-Iso) y Chaetoceros sp. (1:1, basado en el volumen celular). Los del grupo de TS recibido I. galbana (clon T-Iso), Chaetoceros sp., y T. suecica (1:1:1, basado en el volumen celular). Los ejemplares de los grupos NT-1, NT-2 y TS recibieron, respectivamente, 1%, 2% y 2% del peso seco de la masa corporal (PSM) basado en el peso seco del fitoplancton (PSF) al d&iacute;a. Despu&eacute;s de 2 meses de acondicionamiento no se detectaron diferencias significativas en el valor del &iacute;ndice de condici&oacute;n (IC) ni en los porcentajes de estadios de madurez gonadal entre los mejillones del medio natural y el grupo NT-1. Sin embargo, despu&eacute;s del acondicionamiento valores del IC de los mejillones que recibieron el 2% de raci&oacute;n fueron superiores a los de las poblaciones del medio natural y el grupo NT-1. Adem&aacute;s, el porcentaje de hembras maduras fue mayor en el grupo TS que en el grupo NT-2. Como conclusi&oacute;n, este estudio demuestra que para el acondicionamiento de M. galloprovincialis un 1% de la PSM en PSF no es suficiente, y que una dieta variada es m&aacute;s adecuada.Este trabajo fue apoyado por el proyecto Interreg 0251_ECOAQUA_5_E , financiado por el FEDER (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional). www.juntadeandalucia.es / agriculturaypesca / IFAPA / ecoaqua. &nbsp;</p

Integral field spectroscopy of type-II QSOs at z=0.3-0.4

We present and analyse integral-field observations of six type-II QSOs with z=0.3-0.4, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Two of our sample are found to be surrounded by a nebula of warm ionized gas, with the largest nebula extending across 8" (40 kpc). Some regions of the extended nebulae show kinematics that are consistent with gravitational motion, while other regions show relatively perturbed kinematics: velocity shifts and line widths too large to be readily explained by gravitational motion. We propose that a ~20 kpc x20 kpc outflow is present in one of the galaxies. Possible mechanisms for triggering the outflow are discussed. In this object, we also find evidence for ionization both by shocks and the radiation field of the AGN.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted by MNRAS Letter

Chaotic scattering with direct processes: A generalization of Poisson's kernel for non-unitary scattering matrices

The problem of chaotic scattering in presence of direct processes or prompt responses is mapped via a transformation to the case of scattering in absence of such processes for non-unitary scattering matrices, \tilde S. In the absence of prompt responses, \tilde S is uniformly distributed according to its invariant measure in the space of \tilde S matrices with zero average, < \tilde S > =0. In the presence of direct processes, the distribution of \tilde S is non-uniform and it is characterized by the average (\neq 0). In contrast to the case of unitary matrices S, where the invariant measures of S for chaotic scattering with and without direct processes are related through the well known Poisson kernel, here we show that for non-unitary scattering matrices the invariant measures are related by the Poisson kernel squared. Our results are relevant to situations where flux conservation is not satisfied. For example, transport experiments in chaotic systems, where gains or losses are present, like microwave chaotic cavities or graphs, and acoustic or elastic resonators.Comment: Added two appendices and references. Corrected typo