Searching for Molecular Markers for Salt Tolerance in Rhodes Grass (\u3ci\u3eChloris gayana\u3c/i\u3e Kunth)

Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth), a C4 forage grass, is regarded as salttolerant and exhibits intra- and inter-cultivar variability for this trait. Plants of cv Boma were selected for salt tolerance at the seedling and adult stages, cloned and characterized by RAPD and AFLP amplification patterns. Both techniques were equally efficient for fingerprinting these clones. More bands were obtained by AFLP but the ratio of polymorphic bands and the proportion present only in tolerant clones were the same by both methods. These bands, along with those exclusive for sensitive clones could be useful as markers for assisted selection

Dimensions of professional competences for interventions towards sustainability

This paper investigates sustainability competences through the eyes of professional practitioners in the field of sustainability and presents empirical data that have been created using an action research approach. The design of the study consists of two workshops, in which professional practitioners in interaction with each other and the facilitators are invited to explore and reflect on the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours necessary to conduct change processes successfully towards sustainability in a variety of business and professional contexts. The research focuses on the competences associated with these change processes to devise, propose and conduct appropriate interventions that address sustainability issues. Labelled ‘intervention competence’, this ability comprises an interlocking set of knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that include: appreciating the importance of (trying to) reaching decisions or interventions; being able to learn from lived experience of practice and to connect such learning to one’s own scientific knowledge; being able to engage in political-strategic thinking, deliberations and actions, related to different perspectives; the ability for showing goal-oriented, adequate action; adopting and communicating ethical practices during the intervention process; being able to cope with the degree of complexity, and finally being able to translate stakeholder diversity into collectively produced interventions (actions) towards sustainability. Moreover, this competence has to be practised in contexts of competing values, non-technical interests and power relations. The article concludes with recommendations for future research and practice

Heterogeneous solar photo-Fenton treatment of industrial wastewater via δ-FeOOH

68-76The wastewater from the textile industry has been treated with heterogeneous solar photo-Fenton using iron oxyhydroxides (δ-FeOOH and FeOOH)nanoparticles. δ-FeOOH and FeOOH catalysts have been prepared, respectively, from ferrous and ferric ions as precursor species using an easy and low-cost method. The FeOOH catalyst exhibits slightly higher catalytic activity than δ-FeOOH in the heterogeneous solar photo-Fenton process but is less stable. The oxidation efficiency of basic blue 9 and acid green 50, analytical textile dyes, is compared to that of wastewater dye. The as-prepared catalysts are highly efficient for the wastewater treatment and the synthetic solutions prepared from the analytical textile dyes. High mineralization (over 90%) of the organic components of wastewater was achieved at 5 h of solar photo-Fenton treatment

Inhalación de agua destilada, una prueba de reto y una alternativa a la prueba con metacolina para pacientes con asma

Inhalación de agua destilada, una prueba de reto y una alternativa a la prueba con me-tacolina para pacientes con asm

Response of phytoplankton to enhanced atmospheric and riverine nutrient inputs in a coastal upwelling embayment

Original research paperOver the past decades, as a consequence of human activity, there was an increase in nutrient inputs to the ocean and they are expected to enhance even more in the future. Coastal areas, accounting for a significant proportion of marine primary productivity, are the most vulnerable zones to anthropogenic impacts. The response of phytoplankton communities to an increase in organic and inorganic nutrients levels from natural allochthonous sources was assessed in microcosm experiments conducted in a coastal system affected by intermittent upwelling events (Ría de Vigo, NW Iberia). Three nutrient addition experiments were performed in spring, summer and autumn, when surface water was supplemented with 5 and 10% of atmospheric and riverine matter. Pico-, nano- and microphytoplankton abundances, chlorophyll a concentration (Chl a) and primary production rates (PP) were measured and compared with those in the control seawater sample (without additions) after 48 h of incubation. Simultaneous experiments with controlled additions of inorganic and organic nutrients were also performed in order to describe the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth at each experiment. The composition of the matter inputs and the structure of the phytoplankton communities determined the type of response observed. Phytoplankton responses varied among seasons, being positively correlated with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations. As expected, the phytoplankton responses to external nutrient inputs were stronger under low nutrient levels (summer) than when phytoplankton was already growing in nutrient replete conditions (spring). Null and negative responses to the natural inputs were observed in autumn, which suggests that the oceanic phytoplankton advected to this coastal system during downwelling events could be occasionally inhibited by these nutrient inputs. In a future global change scenario, characterized by enhanced nutrient inputs from riverine and atmospheric origin, the response of phytoplankton communities will strongly depend on the concentration and chemical composition of these inputs and on the structure of phytoplankton communities able to respond to themSpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project REIMAGE CTM2011-30155); Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiviness (project iSmall, reference CTM2014-56119-R); Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (reference SFRH/BPD/188485/2015); ESF (reference JAE DOC 040) and MINECO (project FERMIO reference CTM2014-57334-JIN)Versión del edito